Standing up!

My baby can pull herself to a standing position already! Though she did it a few days ago, I was only confident of leaving her to support herself just 2 days ago. She pulled herself up on the cot and stood there for a good half an hour and when I tried to pull her hands off the railing, I found her holding on to it very tightly. She could even walk left and right holding the railing (slowly, of course). I took a picture to capture it in case I couldn't find time to blog. So now because she can stand and feels confident, she does so even when on the floor. First she will put her two hands on my stomach, then onto her knees and finally on her feet. She can't stand right up but she will be in a push up sort of position first. All the while she is smiling away! This evening, I noticed her pulling herself up and then slowly letting go of one arm and back to a sitting position. This is fantastic, because I was wondering how she was going to sit down after standing for so long. It's amazing to see that babies learn these things or are drawn almost magnetically to practice these essential skills.

Yesterday, we put her with Koko for 2 hours while we went to visit Pop in hospital. She was very well behaved and Koko can't wait to babysit. I am so proud of her because she can take so well to them. Even though we were not around, she didn't display separation anxiety. I was afraid she would fret cos she couldnt' see us.

In terms of speech, she has been saying alot of 'oohs' and 'ahs' and 'booos'. Today she uttered 'ba ba' very often and sometimes ' ma ma'. I don't think she means mama and papa just yet; it's obvious she is trying a new sound. I reinforced her use of it by using 'baba' to mean daddy and 'mama' to mean me. She seemed quite happy and continued to use it for a while. Oh yes, she can now wave when we say 'byebye'. I think this is the result of my in-laws saying byebye and waving whenever they see her. Babies learn association very fast.

Food wise, she has begun to eat a greater variety of cereals and fruits. I am also starting to offer her green vegs (well soon anyway). So far, though she doesn't eat pumpkin, carrots, pears, apples when they are served to her on their own, she seems to take them when mixed with her cereal. I guess this will have to do for now because at least doing that she will get a variety of tastes and vitamins. The apples and pears can be so soft that I do not even need to steam them!

According to the wholesomebabyfood website, I can feed her pasta and cheese already. They even have menus I can download and follow for breakfast, lunch and dinner, so that a wholesome meal is provided each time. They have recipes that sound so interesting i.e. addition of spices and yoghurt etc.. Scrumptious! I must start doing some of those... oh yes, time to start on fish porridge and chicken soup! I'm going to be so busy!

She attended her first mass today and was very well behaved. She was also very sociable, smiling and waving at people. She also kept bending her body to look at the people behind me, so much so that they were quite distracted... other than that, she was adorable.. I sang songs to her quietly in her ear and teased her, causing her to laugh. So cute! But 1 hour is really too long for a baby to sit still and not engage in activity.. at the end of the mass, she was getting restless so I stood up to carry her. I totally understand why she felt so...

Took her swimming last week and though the water was cold, she adapted very quickly to it and soon was enjoying herself! She can pivot when we call her (thanks to being in leapfrog I think) and also paddle her feet towards us. Of course we support her by putting our hands under her feet so that she has something to paddle off on. The good thing about the float is that I can also hold onto it and push her around and then also let go of it for her to have some independence. I think she likes swimming alot! If I had a pool, she'd go swimming everyday.

Oh did i mention that she likes to sleep on her front? Also she has been sleeping and waking earlier these days. Like sleeping at about 8+ and waking up at about 6.30-7am. On the one hand it's tiring, but on the other, it's good cos it gives V and I more time.. and besides I can go to sleep with her during the day. Helps me recharge. Speaking of zz, I want to go zz now....

Oh yes, she is kissing me quite spontaneously these days. Sometimes when I ask for it, sometimes she just shyly kisses and turns away.. she is doing it well now, with the correct 'muak' sound after she finishes it! :) So happy each time that we do a kissing dance!!