She has hands...

...and she knows how to use them!



This is a developmental moment we've been waiting for for weeks! We have been encouraging Olivia to touch and reach out for things, which she has been doing somewhat more of lately, but on Friday she really figured it out! Suzanne had put her down in her chair and was looking around for something new and interesting to tempt Olivia with - and her eyes fell on a toy (in this first photo)that she had meant to send to Olivia's cousin months ago! Well, why not try it?
Olivia was immediately entranced by it's face. Suzanne encouraged her to put one hand and then the other on its soft, round snout and soon Olivia was exploring it all on her own - with both hands! and then grabbing it by it's crinkly ears as well - yahoo! So exciting!



When Bob came home, he continued the game with Olivia, letting go of the toy entirely so that she was holding it all on her own, and expanding the game to include other objects such as Jessica the Giraffe, here in the second photo. Jessica is constantly asking Suzanne (with a little help from Bob) if Olivia can come out and play. The answer is invariably, "Olivia can come out and play with you when she can play with you". I think that now translates to a resounding YES!
Olivia is also getting more practice on her tummy, and each time it seems like she's lifting her head a little higher, and a bit longer.
Oh my gosh, it's fun to see her progress, but a bit scary that it could all happen so fast - Bob was put in mind, the other day, of the scene in Fatherhood where he's looking across the table at his little daughter who says "Daddy, I've met a really nice guy and we're getting married" - Zoom into the present! Fortunately, we really do have years before that happens, but we're beginning to understand how your child can always remain your 'baby'!



Here's Olivia's week 21 picture with the ducky. Take a moment to scroll down and look at the week 1 picture in the previous post- it's amazing how much she's grown in these 5 months!