Daisy Suzanne Allen
Born Sunday 6th March 2011
7 to 8 months old
Her life: Birth ♥ Week 1 ♥ Weeks 2-3 ♥ Weeks 4-7 ♥ Weeks 8-13 ♥ Weeks 14-22 ♥ 5-7 months ♥ 7-8 months ♥ 8-10 months ♥ 1st Christmas ♥ 10-12 months ♥ 1st birthday party ♥ 12-15 months ♥ 15-18 months ♥ 18-21 months ♥ 21-24 months ♥ 2nd birthday ♥ 2-2½ years ♥ 2½-3 years ♥ 3rd birthday ♥ 3-3¼ years ♥ 3¼-3½ years ♥ 3½-3¾ years ♥ 3¾-4 years ♥ 4th birthday
In summary: Index ♥ From birth to four years old ♥ Four years old onwards
Special features: Daisy translator ♥ Daisy cookery ♥ Daisy phrases ♥ Golden Bear
As she hit seven months in early October, there was a definite sense of moving into a new phase. Over the next week or two, she suddenly found herself being able to sit up without assistance (although she couldn't really be left as she had no way of stopping herself falling over when she inevitably went) and not just flipping over onto her front, but doing it regularly and flipping back too.
That said, she still had a routine involving sitting in the corner of the sofa, watching TV, playing with her new musical instruments and waiting for her milk to be ready.
We ditched the jungle mat (not literally) and it was replaced with this, a soft pink donut thing from her Grandma and Grandad.
The idea was to put her toys on the outside. She would reach for them, knocking some off but holding on to others. They would then accumulate on the floor either inside or outside the donut. (It's a rabbit, you can see here.)
She was usually very contented in here.
The above photos were all from just after turning seven months. A week or so later and she was really starting to enjoy swimming. But given that any length of time out of the house is going to clash with one of her nap times, it was inevitable that such exertions would tire her out. This was taken by Lynne on her phone and messaged to me.
I realised that not many had been taken of Daisy in her cot. When we first put her in, it seemed huge and her tiny, although it she was a couple of months old before she was out of the Moses basket. Here she is, seemingly doing a good job of filling it. She quite often is on her front when we first see her in the morning. Later on this weekend, she had turned 90 degrees during a nap. She's been doing that sort of stuff for ages, though. It was a bit crazy the first time we went in and she was upside down from where we had put her. I found it amazing that her little crab movements could get her in exactly the same position just completely rotated. This is before 8am on the Saturday of the weekend where I get to look after her all to myself, as Lynne is getting a train to Edinburgh to see Erasure with the rest of the Schofields.
(Cot update. Funnily enough, the next day I went in on the Monday to find her upside down as previously described. Ever the camera wary, she hunts it out for a pose.)
I gave Lynne updates throughout the day. She was very slightly emotional leaving so I thought it would be nice, but she was soon out on the lash. The mind can be strong, eh. The first update: "Jumping nicely...", although it's a bit blurry cos she doesn't like to keep still.
"Pretty in orange." She has now become extremely interesting in mobile phones and TV remotes. I try to take her photo and, while she poses nicely, she tries to grab for it.
The same happens with the cord on the camera. We need to invest in fakes. Here she does dutifully pose for me, smiling at me as shoot the camera from lower down. I posted this on the facebook too, getting many generous comments and "likes", with the caption: "My blue-eyed baby girl."
"Bath time!" This is Daisy's fourth bath receptacle, and by far the most effective. For her age, anyway. Her very first bath was in the sink, which she did not like, although that was partly due to the temperature of the water I suspect (a paranoid tepid). We then tried on a pink plastic reclined seat, but that was also not popular (also perhaps because she was being partially dipped in mild water). We invested in a specialised plastic bucket (which was far more humane that it sounds) and that has worked wonders given she was unable to support herself, although it was still a two person job.
However, she is getting too big for that and so we went for the natural next step. A large inflatable duck bath. Lynne just wishes that she had one, I think. Anyway, with her new sitting up abilities, it's relatively easy to bathe her alone, particularly with the added distractions of plastic floaty creatures, although I shied away from washing her hair on this night, which can have her squirming and crying. I'd had a good day with her and basically wanted to bank it ("the cash you won earlier, that's safe").
The next day also passed relatively serenely, although she got a bit upset when Uncle Matt came round to affix the roof and bike rack to my car (a favour returned for last minute subbing for a friend's 60th birthday meal - just the six courses, ahem). Inevitably, she was just ridiculously tired (too much so to actually sleep). And foodwise she consumed everything brilliantly bar a bit of lamb and vegetable stew, which was too bitty for her liking. But otherwise, the mission was a success!
More soon.
Lynne took the opportunity to take a photo of Daisy in her custom-made baby grow as she clasps one of her little animal books.
As you can see, she has little (and, it must be said, chubbly) pink cheeks, a consequence of teething. Her middle bottom toothy peg has made a bid for freedom.
Later in the week, Daisy holds on to her first proper balloon, yet again posing nicely.
Well ok, not for me then.
As the twins' second birthday, this not a true reflection of the chaos, and in truth is from before most guests arrived. It gave the perfect opportunity for a mummy and Daisy photo, though, both in party outfits.
And later with Dan, in between some heaving crying sessions (she was tired and not really up for lots of people with and without beards, it turned out). She was happier later, after a sleep, however.
That's that for now.
Right then. Approaching 8 months old, here's Daisy in her high chair, covered in stuff. Before meals we often give her something to chew on - a rice cake, a stick of pepper or cucumber, or in this case a light crisp. She doesn't actually really eat them - she just holds on to them and eyes them suspiciously. The crisps have a habit of sticking to her hands too - and that's what's happening here (there's also one stuck on her right hand).
This is the kind of food she is having right now - slightly solid risottos, casseroles, curries or pasta dishes, generally out of a jar although sometimes she has a bit of we've had. (She's not really ready for the fulsome flavours we are used to and, specifically, things like salt and chilli.)
She's a day under 8 months in these next few shots, and here demonstrating how to sit still quietly, grasping one of her little animal books. She can generally sit like this for a while...
...but sometimes she will lose a bit of balance and her legs will shoot up, either in vain or in a successful effort to stop her falling back. Just in case, I have placed cushions at first slip, wicketkeeper and leg slip.
I just couldn't choose between this photo, where she eagerly poses for me...
...or this one, where she does the same but with a Daisy bib on.
Auntie Katie pops round for a hold, but Daisy eyes up Jordan suspiciously. He occasionally prompts tears but she is gradually getting used to him.
Daisy teaches Katie how to read...
Sometimes it's the unconventional baby holding positions that work best.
She is 8 months old today and it's time for a swim with Mummy and Daddy. Unfortunately, I distracted her from a more casual position where she had her arm draped across the arm of the sofa, but she shows off her cossie nevertheless. Thanks to swimming lessons, her comfort in the water is really starting to show, and she even spent a couple of seconds unassisted in her next swimming lesson after this photo.
More soon.
Later that day, Paul and Vicky came round to say hello. To Daisy, not us.
Vicky helps Daisy out with one of her mini animal books.
And now we need a new page.