FuShMuSh - Notes




	Happy 1st Birthday Oscar! Oscar is now confidently pulling himself up into a standing position. We're trying to teach him to cruise but he's a cautious little boy. If we put a block out of reach on the lounge he'll cruise along the lounge and until he can streeeeeeeeetch to reach it. Oscar's favourite games at the moment include: - Putting blocks in a bucket and then tipping them out. - Knocking over the towers Auntie Jess builds out of blocks. - Pulling things off shelves, the lounge and the coffee table. - Shouting competitions. Trying to shout "rah rah rah!" louder than each other. He loves to wave goodbye when you leave for the day. He waves both arms and says "bah bah bah bah!". Does bah count as a first word? Oscar's Progress: Happy birthday, baby! Believe it or not, your first year is over. The boot camp of babyhood is behind you. Hold on for the toddler years! In the coming months, Oscar will seek more independence, discover the world from an upright position, find his sense of humor, and learn to say he loves you.


	Only one month to Oscar's 1st Birthday. Oscar is a master at crawling now. He is now so confident he will crawl right over the top of you if you're in his way. "What Auntie Jess! Why go round you?!?! I can just crawl right over the top of you!". He's Oscar in 4WD mode. We think Oscar will grow up to be an expert soccer player. One of his favourite things to do is crawl along while "kicking" a ball with his hands. He'll roll the ball all the way down the hallway, turn around and roll it back. Great ball handling skills Oscar! Let's hope he earns as much as David Beckham g. We now play several games with Oscar. We play: - Pick it up and throw it away, which involves Oscar picking up and dropping a toy over and over. - Peekaboo, where's Oscar? Oh! there you are! - Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, if you sing the song, Oscar will sing along. Oscar is beginning to pull himself up into a standing position. He'll use furniture or anything that's handy (your leg, your arms, your shoulders). He'll be walking in no time! Still no teeth! Although, apparently both Richie and Annie didn't get teeth until after they'd turned one. Oscar's Progress: Ask for a kiss and Oscar should understand what you're saying. Babies at this age can follow simple instructions, passing a cup or giving a hug. And in addition to "Mama" and "Dada," Oscar is able to babble short, fully inflected sentences that sound like a foreign language. Keep talking to Oscar, naming and labeling objects and people — the more you do, the faster Oscar's vocabulary will grow. By now, Oscar should respond to simple questions — for example, "Where is your mouth?" — by pointing to the named object. Get your camera ready! Many babies take their first steps at this age — usually on tiptoe with their feet turned outward. You might want to snap a picture of Oscar during meals too. Eleven-month-olds can use a spoon all by themselves — even if more food gets on the floor than in their mouth at this point. About now, Oscar's play will probably change from working fine motor skills to exercising larger muscles. Your little rascal is likely to think it's fun to push, throw, and knock down everything in sight. Giving toys to others or taking them away is also new in Oscar's repertoire of talents.


	yay Oscar is crawling! Oscar is crawling comfortably. He's become quite curious about his surroundings and goes off in search of new lands! Sometimes he gets tired and from a sitting position will fold over and lay his head on his feet. So funny! He is beginning to test Annie and Richie. He loves to crawl after the things he knows he's not allowed to touch, like the heater or the wine rack. Telephone conversations with Annie are often puncuated with "No Oscar!" and two minutes later, "Oscar, I said No!". Exasperating. Oscar's Progress: Oscar continues to improve his communication skills this month. He's experimenting with new sounds and stringing syllables together. You can encourage him interest in language by avidly listening and responding to his words and babbling. This give-and-take is crucial: It teaches him about two-way communication and that what he says affects others. Even if Oscar doesn't talk much, he can probably communicate his wishes by pointing and grunting. Does Oscar find small objects completely engrossing? He may spend fairly long stretches of time picking up and scrutinizing each and every toy he lays his hands on. He can probably also stand alone, stoop, and squat, and may walk while holding your hand — but it's more for emotional than physical support. Oscar may begin to assert himself among siblings and engage in parallel play. He may also have chosen a favourite blanket or stuffed animal as a security object.


	Oscar isn't quite crawling yet but he's almost there. He can now get himself into a sitting position. He rolls onto his tummy, then up into a crawling position, and then into sitting. He is almost mobile. It's a strange circular path which means he does move from one side of the room to the another. It just takes a long time and I don't think it's deliberate. Oscar's Progress: Now that he's discovered how to stand and cruise in the last month or so, Oscar will likely take this time to perfect his new skills. He'll sit up more confidently and try to stand without holding onto anything. These brief attempts are a prelude to walking, so watch out. His language skills are also developing rapidly. He's listening intently and taking in everything he hears. He may even begin to understand simple words and phrases. Encourage him by talking to him as you would any other person. Avoid baby talk, so he'll learn the correct way of pronouncing words. His personality is emerging as well. You'll be able to tell if he'll be Mr. Social or Mr. Sweet and Shy by the way he responds to others.


	Wow, Oscar is growing so quickly. Not long to go until his first birthday. A little progress with crawling. He now makes it to a crawling position, on his hands and knees, but doesn't get any further. In his attempts to move forward he moves backwards, which can be very frustrating as he watches that desired toy get further and further away. It amuses me grin. Sitting is a skill he has mastered. Annie places a V shaped pillow behind him to cushion him when he loses balance or get sick of sitting up. He can't get himself back into the sitting position after he falls though, he does try very hard. We've been teaching him to stand by himself while hanging on to the funiture. He can do it by himself, although we're always nearby to catch him as he isn't very stable. Sometimes he thinks it's a game and pushes away on purpose to fall back into our arms. I've propped him against the side of the bath so he can watch his bath run. He loves to watch the bath fill. I think it's the sound of the water and all the splashing. He loves Bert! Andrew and I did well with that present. Whenever Bert is near Oscar giggles and kicks his legs. He loves grabbing Bert's big orange nose and chewing on his arm. Annie is worried he'll get attached and she'll have to drag big Bert around everywhere. Maybe Oscar needs a little Bert too :D. Oscar's Progress: It's happening already...Oscar is showing the first stirrings of independence. By seven months he can sit well without support and may begin crawling (or bottom shuffling). Some babies this young can even pull themselves up to a standing position while holding onto furniture. If he's not yet a puller, he's more than likely a good propper; that is, if you stand him next to the sofa, he'll probably be able to maintain the posture, hanging on for dear life. With this new independence comes the inevitable bumps and falls of childhood. No matter how carefully you childproof, he's bound to bonk his elbows or knees someday, so don't get too upset when it happens. On the emotional front, Oscar's feelings are becoming more apparent. He may throw a kiss to familiar people and repeat an act if applauded. As he continues to grow, he'll learn to assess and imitate moods, becoming more empathetic.


	Oscar is 7 months old! Oscar has just discovered his toys. He actually wants to play with them. You can hand him a toy and he will happily play with it for a while. He can pick up his toys, hold them, pass them from hand to hand and even shake them to hear the noises they make. He can now sit by himself. He's not very stable, though, and has to sit with his hands out in front to steady him. He's still thinking about crawling. When his toys are out of reach he'll kick his legs and flap his arms (reminds me of a penguin) in an attempt to move forward to get them. He can also rotate on his tummy but no forward motion yet. Annie is having all sorts of problems feeding Oscar because he wants to do it himself. It makes for very messy meals :D. Annie uses two spoons, one for Oscar to play with and one for the food. When Oscar opens his mouth to put his own spoon in, Annie then quickly pops in some food. It's a long, slow process. He's "talking" quite a bit now and we are hearing both "dad-dad-dad" and "mum-mum-mum". No Auntie Jess yet though grin. Oscar's Progress: It's happening already...Oscar is showing the first stirrings of independence. By seven months he can sit well without support and may begin crawling (or bottom shuffling). Some babies this young can even pull themselves up to a standing position while holding onto furniture. If he's not yet a puller, he's more than likely a good propper; that is, if you stand him next to the sofa, he'll probably be able to maintain the posture, hanging on for dear life. With this new independence comes the inevitable bumps and falls of childhood. No matter how carefully you childproof, he's bound to bonk his elbows or knees someday, so don't get too upset when it happens. On the emotional front, Oscar's feelings are becoming more apparent. He may throw a kiss to familiar people and repeat an act if applauded. As he continues to grow, he'll learn to assess and imitate moods, becoming more empathetic.


	Oscar is now 6 months old! Oscar can now pick up his toys, hold them and move them to his mouth to chew on them (He used to lose control and doink himself in the head with his toys). He's now confidently rolling over onto his stomach (although only one way). Oscar is fascinated by the different textures and colours of things and will spend long periods of time touching and feeling the items sewn onto his playmat. He is making the first moves towards crawling. When on his tummy he will push his bum up in the air and try to move forwards. He's now eating solids. Although, some days he is interested in eating and other days his mouth clamps shut and he shakes his head from side to side. Oscar's Progress: It's all about fun these days. Your six-month-old loves playing hiding games (such as peek-a-boo) and remembers that the Jack-in-the-box pops up at the end of the song. He's also beginning to understand how objects relate to one another in three-dimensional space. He may be able to sort blocks or other toys by size, and if he admires his reflection in a mirror and you suddenly appear behind him in the image, he's likely to turn and look for you instead of believing that you're in the mirror itself. His fine motor skills are coming along, too. Some of his new skills may include transfering a toy from one hand to the other, sipping from a two-handled cup with your assistance, banging objects together, clasping his hands, and grabbing for a toy using only one hand.


	Oscar is doing so many new things! He's starting to think about rolling over. Annie says he has rolled over a few times but obviously isn't that interested in it yet. If you place a toy beside him he will roll onto his side to have a look. Oscar is a very happy little boy. When I visit him in the afternoon I am greeted with smiles. When you tickle his tummy you get a loud giggle! It's a funny sounding "hur hur hur" chuckle. Sounds completely wrong coming out of Oscar's mouth. He has discovered his hands and feet and the fact that he can move them. He'll often sit mesmerised, staring at his feet. Or he waves his hands above his head watching them move. Oscar has also discovered his mouth and the wonderful sounds it can make. His favourite thing to do at the moment is blow raspberries. He is very talkative now and will babble happily to everyone. Last night he started to say "da-da-da-da-da". Richie was very happy :D. Now we are trying to teach him "mum-mum-mum-mum". Oscar's Progress: You've probably noticed that Oscar is becoming much more social lately. Not only will he tolerate attention from others, but he may even initiate it. He thrives with your attention and is learning how to engage you. As he masters more physical skills, from lifting his head and shoulders off the ground to extending his arms and legs and arching his back, expect Oscar to seek your attention by wriggling or making noises before crying. Over the next three months, Oscar will develop his own way of letting you know what he thinks, wants, and needs.


	Oscar enjoys sucking on his hands and his fingers. Sometimes he sucks on his little finger and he looks just like Dr. Evil (or maybe mini-me). It's hillarious! Oscar's Progress: This month he may be eating less and socializing more. Feedings will likely diminish to four or five a day (exclusively breast-fed babies will probably still need to eat six to eight times a day), and you'll notice his attention starting to gravitate toward other people and things during mealtimes. He may be strong enough to sit on his own for a moment or two, but stick close by to provide support should he start falling. Many researchers believe 4-month-olds understand all the basic sounds that make up their native language. He may develop the ability to say ma-ma and da-da this month, but he won't yet connect them with you and your partner.


	Oscar is growing at an amazing rate! I see him every couple of days and each time he looks bigger. He prefers it if you hold him facing out so that he can watch the world. Last week at Foster, Annie let him have a swim in the ocean (just in a rockpool) and he hated it! I think he is used to warm bath water :D. He can now: hold his head up straight by himself, although it gets wobbly when he is tired smile and giggle recognise Annie and Richie. He has extra special smiles for them Oscar's Progress: Better joint flexibility allows many three-month-olds to wave and kick more forcefully, too, and to open their fingers and bring their hands together. Chances are your little charmer is still bestowing smiles on everyone he meets this month, but he's getting pickier about the company he keeps. In large groups or with people he doesn't know very well, he may need some time to get comfortable. The temporal lobe in Oscar's brain — which handles hearing, language, and smell — is bustling with activity this month. Make the most of it by talking to Oscar, playing music, and reading out loud.


	Happy 2 month Birthday Groucho!!! Oscar's Progress: In a word — fast. From here on out he may gain as much as 1 kilogram a month. You'll probably notice him staying awake longer too — some babies this age are awake for up to ten hours a day. Oscar is also getting stronger. He still can't hold his head steady, but you might notice him keeping it up for a few seconds at a time. Other changes include the ability to focus on objects 20 cms away, and track them as you move them from side to side. He might also glance at his own hand when you do this. Being able to "regard" his hand, as development experts call this activity, is the first stage in reaching out and grabbing things.


	Oscar is becoming a chubby baby now with chubby little legs and arms and a chubby little face. Oscar's Progress: Oscar has lost his pinched newborn look and appears steady and alert when held upright. When on his tummy, he's able to lift his head and chest for short periods, almost as if he's doing mini-pushups. He might even be able to roll from back to front, or front to back. He's tuning in to you more each day. When you speak, he may stop sucking his thumb or interrupt a feeding to listen to you. Use your voice to connect with him. Repeat his coos and noises. Narrate your actions — speaking to Oscar stimulates language development and is comforting. Make him the center of conversation. When you're with friends, include him and let him hear the richness of human interaction. He'll soon start to make all sorts of different noises himself.


	Oscar definitely recognises Annie and Richie now. His eyes follow Annie's voice around the room and he stops crying as soon as he is put into Richie's arms. Oscar's Progress: By now roughly half of all babies recognize their parents and openly prefer Mom and Dad to strangers. Oscar may actually smile when he sees you and coo and kick with pleasure. In general, he's become more sensitive to his surroundings. If you ring a bell, he'll respond in some way, by starting, crying, or even quieting. He's beginning to take a real interest in music, whether it's you singing to his, or classical music emanating from the radio. And he notices things more acutely — staring intently at a plush toy, for instance, placed in front of him.


	Oscar's Progress: That smile lighting up Oscar's face may be the real thing. You can tell it's a social smile (as opposed to gas) if he uses his entire face to tell you he's pleased. Though babies will smile only when they're ready, you can get yours there faster by cuddling, tickling, and playing with him. By this time Oscar can focus both eyes on an object and has begun to prefer more complex designs, colors, and shapes. He can track movement, which means that a simple rattle passed in front of his face can transfix him. Or you can play eyes-to-eyes — move very close to his face and slowly nod your head from side to side. He'll follow you raptly, and you may even get another smile, or chuckle, out of him.


	From Annie: Two milestones for Oscar at 4 weeks and 4 days First big smiles (not attributed to wind)... during nappy change with legs kicking about and mum blowing rasberries on the tum (probably very pleased with himself cause he had just pee'd on my Ottoman) Slept through the night... 11pm to 6am!!!! Very impressed.. although I guess we should wait and see whether there is a repeat performance. Oscar's Progress: Oscar is starting to lose his newborn quiver and jumpiness. he's holding your gaze steadily and can probably lift his head when lying on his stomach. If you move your hand side to side over his head, he can track it. But the real thrill is that he's beginning to "talk" — that is, coo, gurgle, grunt, and hum to express his feelings. Be sure to goo and gurgle right back at his and speak to his face-to-face as much as possible. Keep talking even when you walk away — he'll enjoy hearing your voice from across the room.


	Oscar is now more alert and aware of what is going on around him. Last night I was trying to remember nursery rhymes to sing to him. We sang him 'This old man', 'Incy-wincey spider' and 'My highland goat'. Andrew had to remind me of the words every now and again :D. Soon I will be a nursery rhyme expert. Oscar's Progress: By the end of this week, Oscar may be able to lift his head briefly when he's lying on his tummy. he may also be able to turn his head from side to side. his leg and arm movements are less jerky and, as he gains more control of his muscles, he'll soon be the picture of grace compared to those first few weeks. Although you may not yet be able to tell for sure, Oscar is beginning to develop some eating and sleeping patterns. Still, expect a certain amount of change and unpredictability for another month or so.


	Oscar's Progress: Reflexes — sucking, grasping and blinking — continue to be the name of the game as Oscar enters his third week. At times he may catch your gaze and look at you (make the most of these moments by looking back intently, smiling wide, nodding your head, and so on), but he'll be quick about it for now. He won't be able to actually reach specific objects yet, that'll come a few months down the road. He might enjoy a play gym soon as it has lots of fun things to watch, touch, and listen to.


	A week has gone by and Oscar has already grown. He is still a little jaundiced but apparently that sorts itself out. He doesn't do much yet but sleep, eat and cry. Poor little grouch is still getting used to being out in the big, wide world. Oscar's Progress: This week Oscar continues to adjust to his new world, which he finds perhaps a bit too noisy and well-lit for his taste. You'll notice his limbs move in a jerky, uncoordinated way. Soon, probably by the end of the month, his movements will become more fluid as his muscle control matures. Sucking and chewing on his hands are his main activities for the moment.


	Welcome to the world Oscar Bell!!! Oscar was born by caesarian section at 6.58 am, December 12th 2002 and weighed 5 lb 15oz (2.17kg). Oscar's Progress: After nine months inside, so much space, light, and noise are very new to him. So he likes being swaddled — wrapped tightly in a blanket — while he makes the adjustment. For a while, his arms and legs look rather short, but they'll straighten out once he gets used to having so much space to stretch his limbs. Oscar's vision is pretty blurry. He can see well only up to a distance of only about 45 cm, so keep your face close to his whenever he's alert — like all babies, his favorite subject is a loved one's face. He'll be watching you and dad all the time now, memorizing your features and learning to recognize your voices. Oscar's attention span isn't too long yet, and just getting used to the outside world is probably enough stimulation for the next few weeks.

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