Learning New Skills

Nov. 30, Dec. 5, Dec. 8

      Esme has been incredibly active over the past couple of weeks picking up new skills and abilities.  We love watching her examine her hands and gradually bring them closer and closer to her face until they dive into her mouth.  She is clearly trying to grab, or at least poke, objects that are near her -- she doesn't quite have the awareness to open her hands to grasp objects, but the neural pathways are clearly being forged.

  

     Another interesting evolution is watching her with her bottle.  These two pictures show that she has some capacity to hold on to things, though these are the only two times she's held her own bottle.  Not only do I prefer to have that connection with her as I feed her, but, even if I wanted to let her feed herself, she doesn't hold the bottle near her mouth for more than a few sips.

      Her major accomplishment over the past couple of weeks is making the attempt to sit up on her own.  She's not there yet, but she's giving it all the effort she can.  From a slight incline, she's able to get her head or feet (or both) up in the air.

      Feet pump wildly as she starts her exercise routine.  Sometimes she even gets distracted by her feet as she's getting her head off the ground.

      Then it can be back to square one as she sits back and relaxes for a moment before her next stomach crunch.

     Sometimes I wonder just how great a shape I could get in if I simply mimicked her activity throughout the day.  The thought alone makes me tired!