the sudden realisation

On Thursday it eventually hit Daddy, hard and somewhere deep in his tummy - the sudden realisation that this was the last week that Maisie and Daddy would have together before Daddy goes back to the world of employment.

It will most likely be the last week for a long while that Daddy and Maisie will spend so much time together. Life will be changing in a big way for both of them.

Daddy felt very emotional.

Maisie doesn't seem to understand that she'll not see so much of her Daddy and so doesn't seem to be upset in the same way - next Monday will be a very different day!

lunch at Grandpa and Grandma Jan's

Maisie has been busy as usual, she had an extremely enjoyable weekend down in Yorkshire visiting family;

Playing with Uncle Jim

fighting off Aunty Cat's kittens

learning from Gracie

annoying Charlie

lots of fun playtime with Aunty Rhona

loving stories told by Aunty Cat

more playtime at Gracie's 7th Birthday party

Maisie is continuing to eat well. Maisie was weighed this week and weighs in at exactly 8kg which is 17lbs 10oz and is 72cm high, 2ft 4.

"mmm what else is there to eat?"

Maisie met with her consultant on Wednesday, he's very happy with her progress off the oxygen. Daddy mentioned that before coming off the oxygen Maisie slept through every night but unfortunately since then has not had a good nights sleep. Maisie wakes up Mummy and Daddy several times a night.

avoiding bedtime using her cousins as an excuse

It is probably psychological as Maisie is not comfortable without her tubes - she feels like she's missing something.

It was decided so to help Maisie sleep (and Mummy and Daddy too) that her tubes would be put back on at bedtime without the oxygen.

Great in theory but not so great in practice, Maisie enjoyed it for about 5 minutes before tearing them off. We will persevere to see if we can get a decent nights sleep.

Maisie gave Aunty Cat a neck massage in return for all the stories

Maisie is very close to walking, she can walk around the house holding on to things, she's also able to stand by herself.

After all the time Daddy has spent with Maisie her first steps will most likely be the first day they are apart!

Maisie is now saying a few words quite clearly and is also having conversations with us which we don't understand, much to her frustration.

Daddy with his wee Smiler! 

At least Daddy can go off to work knowing that Maisie is able to call out his name to tell everyone how much she is missing him!