a short break

It is quite a chore to get Maisie to eat different foods and so lunchtime has now become messytime to encourage Maisie to try lots of foods and tastes. Maisie enjoys getting messy but is still not eating a very varied diet.

Maisie enjoying playing with Pasta

Maisie has been enjoying the fantastic weather ;

It's lots of fun playing outside especially now there are more balls in her ball pit.

"I might get lost in here" 

Ar the weekend Maisie took a short break in the Lake District with Grandpa and Grandma Jan. It was really lovely to see them and Maisie enjoyed catching up on all the cuddles she'd been missing out on.

Maisie loves cuddles

Maisie's weekend at the caravan was a little like being at home;

lots of play on her mat;

Meghan was very protective over Maisie
and was close by the whole time

lots of walks;

Maisie found all the walking very easy

lots of food;

"is this all I'm getting? "

and of course a wee drink;

Grandpa! 

It was a really busy weekend and for once Maisie slept in the car on the way home;

enjoying a quick nap to recuperate after a busy weekend

The physio is happy with Maisie's progress and says that Maisie is capable of doing all the movements required to move from lying to sitting, to being on her hands and knees, to being on her knees and to being able to stand - she just isn't connecting how to do it yet.

It's a little bit like when Maisie had to be taught to pick things up. We needed to show her the item, place it in her hand, close her hand around it etc.

It's just a matter of time and lots of homework and Maisie will soon connect it all together.

"I'll soon work out how to open this gate!"

Maisie and Daddy had another sleep over at the weekend which once again resulted in very little sleep. Maisie's oxygen saturation was high and so the nurses turned down Maisie's oxygen straight away. It was turned down to a flow of 0.1 litres. Maisie coped very well at this level and so the nurses tried Maisie without any oxygen.  All was well for about half an hour or so and then Maisie's oxygen saturation started to drop so it was back onto 0.1 litres.

"what do you mean I should be sleeping?
The alarms are keeping  me awake!"

Maisie left the hospital on 0.1l which is fantasic. The consultant will be happy when he sees her next week.

The wonderful weather is continuing in the East Neuk of Fife and so Maisie decided to she'd like to go to Elie Summer Fayre with Darcy. It was quite busy so Maisie decided that she be better sitting in a quiet corner of the pub garden.

Maisie was more interested in her toys than having a beer. 

Maisie - still more interested in her toy 

There were special visitors to see Maisie all the way from Italy. Matthew and Alison couldn't wait to see Maisie and once more she was spoiled with cuddles;

Alison waited very patiently for a cuddle but Matthew wasn't letting go! 

looking very stylish

Maisie tried Mummy's noodles this week in an attempt to vary her diet - although not successfully. This could be because Maisie still prefers porridge and wotsits or could be because she can't use chop sticks;

"it's no good Daddy, I can only hold one at a time" 

Maisie put the chop sticks to better use as drum sticks. 

Maisie loves playing and is really appreciative of all the toys that she has. All Maisie's visitors comment on how many she has and they only see what Maisie is currently playing with! Daddy and Mummy were looking through all her toys and were a little ashamed to see that they had only contributed a toy car (from Daddy), a teething ring and some books.

Maisie loves her toys and makes good use of them all
even using them to perch on

All her toys and books are useful to help Maisie with her development and as Maisie gets bored quite quickly being able to rotate her toys helps to keep her stimulated. (No comments on where she gets her short attention span from please).

There have been quite a few visitor popping by this week;

Tanya is visiting from the States and brought Maisie some lovely gifts ;

an International visitor

Then Mrs Arroll came around to play;

Maisie loves playing with Meghan and her ball

Meghan is always around Maisie making sure that she is safe although it may look like she's only around to help Maisie eat her biscuits. Mummy caught Maisie stretching out to hand a rusk to Meghan the other day which Meghan was very tempted with however managed to resist long enough for Mummy to ensure that it didn't happen. Meghan has been told that the only food deemed "fair game" is food dropped on the floor.

Maisie; " why can't I feed Meghan?"
Meghan; "why can't Maisie feed me?" 

It's been beautiful weather and Maisie has been making the most of getting out and about and spent an afternoon with Mummy and Megan - some shopping was involved and it was decided that Maisie need to be accessorised to keep her curls out of the eyes;

Aunty Eleanor loved the flowers in Maisie's hair

Daddy and Zach aren't so sure that Maisie likes it as much as everyone else.

"are you sure I don't look silly?" 

taking it easy

Maisie went to visit the eye doctor - it wasn't an enjoyable visit for Maisie. The last couple of times Maisie has visited the hospital Daddy is sure that she realises where she is. The initial eye tests went well and showed that Maisie's eyes are working well and Maisie is visually reacting as required to the tests that she is given.

The problems came when the wonderful eye doctor who has help Maisie so much arrived. Maisie cried and cried and cried. Maisie never usually cries. Not only did she cry but she fought back at everything that the eye doctor tried to do. With perseverance the eye doctor managed to get the required checks done and he is  very happy with Maisie's eyes - next visit is in four months.

eating pasta will help Maisie grow big and strong to fight the eye doctor

Daddy and Zach went camping on Friday and then climbed Ben Nevis with some of Daddy's ex-colleagues who were doing the Three Peak Challenge that  Daddy usually takes part in. Daddy really enjoyed getting back out on the hills and Zach seemed to enjoy running up and down the hills, Daddy is sure that he has never been as fit as Zach is right now - although it need to be pointed out the Daddy did carry all Zach's food and gear.  www.sponsorme.co.uk/costafoundation/3peak2013-team-expresso.aspx

Daddy and Zach at the top of Ben Nevis

While Daddy and Zach were away Mummy and Maisie spent Saturday together as Meghan was at work. They had lots of playtime but the best bit was when Mummy decided to bake a chocolate cake;

"Mmm, chocolate!" 

It has been a little bit of a lazy time for Maisie, Saturday spent eating chocolate, Sunday Maisie slept in and missed church and Monday's play group was cancelled as it would be only Maisie attending. To continue on the theme of doing nothing Maisie decided to have an extended bathtime;

doing well to keep her dignity in front of the camera

Maisie has been weighed again and as you may have noticed in the picture above Maisie has put on more weight (maybe due to the chocolate) and is now 16lbs 1oz or 7.3kgs. It's seems that Maisie's growth has slowed down a little - we'll find out more when we see the dietitian at the end of the month.

Maisie has grown up a lot over the last few weeks and is very much more aware of a what is happening around her and becoming more involved.

When Maisie has finished getting her bottle she climbs off Mummy's lap but then quickly realises that once she's done that she can't go anywhere but it wont be long before she gets more mobile - there could be trouble ahead.

In the car Maisie spends all her time trying to turn around in her wee seat to see Daddy and to see what's happening - she loves the car especially now Daddy has treated her to a new seat;

Maisie loves the car even more now that she can see where she's going. 

Maisie is looking forward to going on more adventures in the car the next one being a trip to Edinburgh to say goodbye to Aunty Manu who is off back to Italy for a while.