The weather has been very varied this week, one day it was beautiful and Maisie is out for walks with Mummy, then the next day there's strong and cold winds. Not a lot of chance to get out for walks with Megan to enjoy the fresh sea air for Maisie.

Megan the dog is always around Maisie looking after her. If Maisie is crying Megan will let Daddy know and then go back and lie down next to Maisie to make sure that she's safe. If Daddy is too long then Megan will come running through to see what's slowing him down. Megan really pays Maisie a lot of attention and only leaves her side to chase the cats from the garden.

Is Maisie already bored of playing with Megan? 

Recently Maisie has been paying more attention to Megan and in the last week or two has started interacting with Megan. Anyone who knows Megan will know that she is always ready to play and chase her ball - hopefully it wont be long before Maisie learns to throw the ball!

Megan is very good with Maisie and also also understands the boundary of what belongs to Maisie and what belongs to her  although she has been know, on occasion, to over step the mark.

"but I'm just trying to look out of the window Dad"

Maisie continues to love her porridge but is still not keen on other foods yet. Carrot doesn't hit the mark, neither do potatoes - we'll have to keep trying. 

What has Mummy got to eat? 

Greedy Maisie took one for each hand

Unfortunately for Daddy on Thursday Mummy found his secret supply of Cheesy Puffs, and even worse for Daddy they caught Maisie's eye and yes you've guessed it she loves them. Daddy will have to find a better hiding place.

"I'm bored of this - what's next Daddy?"

As Maisie is getting so much bigger and more active she needs more and more attention to keep her amused and entertained.

Maisie doesn't help Mummy and Daddy with this by not resting during the day - at least Maisie is still sleeping through the night. What will it be like once she starts running around?

Maisie has just cut her first tooth and it's not recommended to let her bite your finger as it's very sharp. Maisie is coping well with teething at the moment and not too crabbit.

Maisie was wee fidget all the way through the service at the Kirk on Sunday morning even with cuddles from Mrs Mathers -and she blew raspberry's throughout the ministers sermon, cheeky girl. Once again Daddy was told how lovely it was the Maisie joined in with the prayers.

Maisie is starting to find her tongue and really enjoys blowing raspberry's. This has of course been actively encouraged by Daddy. It is also very funny to watch Maisie try and grab her tongue with her little fingers - she'll get a shock when she eventually manages to get it.

It was a lovely day on Sunday so Maisie decided to spend some time in the garden catching the sun;

A lazy day sleeping in the garden

Maisie, as expected wasn't at rest for long and soon wanted to get up and disturb Daddy;

"Yes! Daddy's going to take Megan a me out for a walk!" 

It was off to the hospital on Sunday evening for the monthly sleep study. As usual there were alarms sounding throughout the night and not a lot of sleeping being done. Maisie's oxygen saturation wasn't quite as good as her last visit so her oxygen flow wasn't turned down again. Her saturation may not be so good due to Maisie being a little under the weather with her teething.

Mummy and Daddy had hoped her oxygen may have been reduced as Maisie seems to be coping a lot better. At least the level stayed the same and wasn't turned up again.

"What is this I'm wearing?"

 More visitors on Tuesday and more clothes, Lucy and Jeanette came to visit. Maisie was happy as she got yet more lovely cuddles.

Maisie also got some much needed trousers which were lovely and summery - Thank you, although Maisie didn't seem so happy with the head bands.

everyone else was amused even if Maisie wasn't

The occupational therapist came to assess Maisie on Wednesday. She was truly amazed with Maisie. Maisie has come on so much in the last four weeks and is getting stronger and stronger. Maisie's  development is going really well and she is doing everything expected from a wee one between the ages of 6-9 months, and a few things for over 9 months.

What are you up to Maisie?  

With Maisie getting bigger and stronger she is playing with more interactive toys and is now loving the house with balls that Charlie and Gracie gave her at Easter.

Maisie would have been 8 months old if she'd been born on time so her development is on track. Maisie knows that it going to be her first birthday anniversary very soon and is working hard towards catching up with her true age.

Caught out! Maisie stole the noisy bells rattle from the therapist

There was some great weather on Wednesday so Daddy and Maisie went for a long walk. This weekend looks as though it will also have good weather and Maisie is hoping she can go for more walks and also spend some time out in the garden - which is maybe why, unfortunately for Mummy and Daddy that she decided to awake so early.

Maisie enjoying an early start to the weekend

Daddy and Maisie have a sleep study at the hospital on Sunday night - it would be fantastic if Maisie could have her oxygen turned down again.

amazed her daddy

It was a lovely day on Saturday so  leaving Daddy to do some work in the garden Mummy and Maisie went out for a walk but not before Colin (who'd popped by to pick up his motorbike from Daddy's garage) gave Maisie a big cuddle.

As it was such a lovely day Mummy dressed Maisie appropriately as this may be the only chance to wear summer attire this year;

"How cute am I?" 

Mummy and Maisie enjoyed their day out particularly Mummy as they ended up in the Chocolate shop at  Pittenweem again!

Sunday wasn't such a good day for Maisie to be out and about as it was very windy so after a visit to church to see all the Sunday school children get awarded books Maisie decided that she'd like to go for a run out in the car and get some proper bowls for her to eat out of rather than the wee plastic tubs that mean old Daddy had been using, Maisie picked some pretty pink things with help from Mummy.

While out and about it seemed a good idea to stop off and see Uncle Carl and Aunty Eleanor for tea and cake, Maisie loves these visits as she gets lots of attention although she never to sure when the next cuddle is coming or who from as Aunty and Uncle continually fight over whose turn it is.

"Aunty Eleanor, it must be your turn now!"

Monday Maisie went out to play at the Child Development Centre. there were 2 other little girls for Maisie to play with. Maisie and Daddy arrived a little early and the lovely lady who was running the session told Daddy that he could sit Maisie on the mat to play with some of the toys while they waited for more playmates.

Daddy started explaining to the lady that Maisie wasn't quite able to sit on her own yet but proving just how Amazing my Amazing Maisie is when Daddy put her down she happily sat there all by herself - Daddy was amazed! Maisie is such a clever girl, always out to impress and of course to prove her old Dad wrong.

The session started with Daddy giving Maisie a massage, this is usually Mummy's job however Daddy wasn't too bad at it although maybe a little heavier handed than Mummy.

Then it was onto the "messy mat" where Maisie was stripped off to allow her to have fun experiencing different textures. Firstly Maisie played with jelly which she wasn't so keen on, Maisie was more interested in watching the other wee girls. Then Maisie tried shaving foam but still wasn't to keen on getting too messy.

"there Daddy, I did it - happy now?"

It was good fun and it ended with a sing-a-long, Daddy and Maisie love having a wee sing and are looking forward to the next session which is in a couple of weeks time - one visit to a play group and already getting a weeks holiday - luck Maisie.

in three months

The eye doctors visit went very well. He was very pleased to see Maisie and couldn't believe how much she had grown in the last few weeks. Maisie showed that she had a strong will of her own while at the eye doctors and decided that she didn't want to have photographs taken of her eyes. The first picture was a  good one but all the rest were a battle. The eye doctor is happy to see Maisie again in 3 months time.

The weekend came very quickly and it was off to Edinburgh for Mummy and Meghan for another girls weekend away to eat and shop. Maisie is looking forward to being old enough to join in these trips.

Maisie playing with her favorite toy of the moment

Daddy and Maisie had a wonderfully relaxing weekend after such a busy week and didn't really do to much. Sunday Morning Maisie thought that she'd join Daddy at church as it was his turn to do the reading and as Mummy's Aunt, Stella was in the area she decided to join them which was handy for Daddy as Stella could get some cuddles from Maisie while Daddy went up to read.

Happily feeding, or should that be sleeping with Aunt Stella

Maisie was very well behaved for the service and even joined in some of the hymns. Everyone at church was so pleased to see Maisie and it was noticed that she had perhaps said "Amen" at the end of the prayers although Daddy thinks it was more likely that she was asking him to pick up a toy off the floor at the time.

Tuesday the health visitor came to weigh Maisie; she has put on almost whole pound in the last month and weighs 14lb 8oz or 6.6kg (with her vest on).

"look Daddy, I've eaten it all!

Maisie has grown so much since Easter is really changing into a little person, everything is now of interest to Maisie and she is now taking on the world with both hands and enjoying every moment of it. Maisie is using both of her arms remarkably well now and is very good at grabbing for anything that might be to hand.

Maisie is giving most people smiles at the moment and finds Daddy's bedtime stories very funny and laughs out loud. When Maisie isn't smiling she's probably sticking her tongue out.

"you're right it's actually all over my face" 

Wednesday it was off to the hospital to see the Consultant and the Dietitian. Mummy and Daddy went for a coffee before the appointment as getting a parking space was much easier than usual. While enjoying their coffee they bumped into Brian who's been doing some work at the hospital. Maisie didn't give Brian her usual big grin but just a small smile however she did make a grab for his face with "great gusto" (as Mummy put it), particularly his nose - just as well Alfie, Olivia and Harry weren't there to see it as they would have been sure to make fun of their Dad and his nose.

The Consultant was very pleased to see Maisie and has reduced some of her many medicines. He also said that as the weather was getting better (really?) that the risk of Maisie catching a chest infection would be reduced at the moment and that she would be able to attend the local Child Development Centre to meet and play with children nearer Maisie's age.

This will be great for Maisie - she was really interested when she met Nicole at Easter and to meet other children in a small group at the CDC should really help her learn to play and socialise.  The group meets on a Monday morning with other children who aren't too well either - Daddy and Maisie can't wait for Monday to come.

The Dietitian was equally pleased to see Maisie who was measured again, this time without her vest and weighed 6.5kg (14lbs 5oz) with a height of 65cm (2 ft 1). Maisie is doing well at growing and the dietitian was also happy with all the porridge she's been eating and suggested that Maisie should be trying other foods including Daddy's Spag Bol again.

Both the Consultant and the Dietitian will be happy to see Maisie again in another 3 months.

Maisie concentrating on making as much noise as she can

"I don't want breakfast, I just want to play!"

Maisie had a busy week ahead of her and so needed to start the day with a good breakfast. However Maisie was refusing her cereal as there were too many other things to do.

The theme of visitors and cuddles continued on Monday; Penny popped around to see Maisie using the excuse that she was looking at Mummy's garden.

Then Mrs Arroll from next door dropped in with no excuse needed - she just loves a cuddle from Maisie.

And the visitors kept coming;
Aunty Eleanor and Uncle Carl were missing Maisie so made up the excuse of bringing material for Maisie's Baptism gown.
Mummy is going to make Maisie's gown out of material left over from Gran's wedding dress - it's going to be so beautiful and make Maisie look so pretty on her special day.

Maisie wondering when Aunty Eleanor was
going to make another grab for her

Uncle Carl and Aunty Eleanor spent the afternoon inbetween drinking cups of tea fighting over who was going to give Maisie cuddles.

"Yuk!"

It was such a busy day there was hardly time for a nap before dinner. Maisie was excited as Daddy had made his special spaghetti bolognese which Maisie had heard so much about - everyone loves it!

But, much to everyone's amusement, particularly Brian (yes yet another visitor squeezed in) Maisie didn't like Daddy's spag bol. In fact she rather objected to it and spat it out.

Tuesday was set aside to practice Maisie's home work as the physio was coming the next day to check that she'd been working hard on her excercises. The community nurse visited and was suitably impressed with Maisie's improvement saying that she thought the physio would be very happy.


Wednesday came very quickly and so it was the physio's visit; Daddy made sure that Maisie was fed, watered and had even taken a wee nap so that she would be fresh to show off all her new skills.

The physio arrived and was "Delighted" with Maisie's progress, she's going to write a letter to the consultant telling him how well Maisie has done.

After a thorough workout with the physio Maisie took some well deserved time out to relaxed and watch the chickens running around the garden with Daddy.

"are you sure there are chickens in our garden Daddy?"

It was a busy week so far with a visit to the eye doctor still to come

new steps taken

It was another busy weekend for Maisie. Saturday morning started off with Maisie rolling over onto her tummy - hurrah, at last! However she has not been seen to do this again since and Mummy isn't sure whether to believe Daddy and Meghan.

Saturday morning moved on quickly through to lunch at which time Maisie took yet another new step forward - Maisie decided that she'd have lunch in her high chair;

Anyone could think that Maisie doesn't get fed

This is a big step for Maisie. Maisie is managing to sit for longer periods in her chair and will now be able  join the family for meal times at the table.

"Please Mummy can I have some more?"

Maisie's new ability to sit comfortably in a chair will really help her development , as well as sitting to eat  Maisie can also sit and learn to play.

Maisie's car is getting more use now. 

One of Maisie's favorite pastimes is standing up and her car is perfect to help her do this - it won't be long before she's driving it up and down the hallway as fast as she can.

Sunday afternoon was spent lazing around, playing and getting lots of cuddles, Maisie was feeling so lazy she didn't even have any pants on.

 

chilling out with cousin Eli 

Grand Uncle Bill came to visit with cousins Lynne and Eli. They came bearing gifts; a lovely pink summer outfit, frogs to play with in the bath and a tartan plaid and a scarf they'd found that belong to Maisie's Gran.

|Maisie wasn't interested in posing for the camera

Daddy thought it was lovely having more visitors but this could be because Mummy made beautiful fresh scones, mmm.