This is how my grand daughter is carried when the maid is busy in the kitchen and do not have the time to let her free crawling around

9 months

The parents as well as us the grandparents have been anxiously waiting for this little girl to take her first big step forward. Since her developement had so far been very fast we thought that she will start working by 9 months. However so far she has not attempted at all though we have seen her standing for split seconds on her own two feet. She has learned to lower her legs from the bed and going down to the floor. Her sleeping habits has so far remained the same. She can hardly sleep when she is at my place during the day. At the most it is only for half an hour. However when she is back home she can sleep longer and yesterday I understand she slept for three hours!

However I find it hard to understand or accept her sleeping time at night. Her usual habit is to sleep after midnight. Lately there were two occasions where she slept after 1 and 2 am. We suspect she is seeking attention from her parents probably she sensed a younger brother or sister is on the way! Her parents can accept her to sleep just after midnight as they felt that it suit their lifestyle. Firstly sleeping late gives them more time to spend playing with her. Secondly since she sleeps late she gets up late usually around 9 to 10 am and that also suits her parents well.

This picture shows the scratch marks made by the teeth of my grand daughter 

Her teeth must be very strong and itchy at the same time. Here you can see her biting the wood of her cot. 

8 months

My grand-daughter has just crossed her 9 months. Her teeth must still be very itchy as she loves to bite things especially the wood frame around her cot. Scratch marks can be seen and also tiny strips of wood coming out. Anything that she holds, the first thing she does is to put it in the mouth. Perhaps one way of learning is to taste everything.

She enjoys very much using the baby walker. It gives her the freedom of movement. She moves around the house with it and even out onto the porch area, sometimes laughing joyfully. At my place she enjoys using the poof(foot rest) as a support to walk around. However she has not taken the first big step unaided although I have seen her standing for short period unaided.

She now likes to get me to carry her by putting her arms out and making sound like someone pleading for help. It is very noticable whenever I am near her. Perhaps that is why most people say that grandparents always spoil the grandchild. When I hear the pleading sounds she makes I just cannot ignore it. I have to come forward to help rescue her.

When it comes to eating it is like a big battle. She will move her head left to right and vice versa and so it is difficult to put the food into her mouth. When at my place the granny will try her best to entertain her so that the maid can put the food into the mouth. The food she eats are all ready made stuff when one needs to only add water to make it into something like dough. She also eats the food packed in bottles. So far home cooked food is still a no no for her. We boiled the porridge with chicken or fish but she does not want it at all. Recently a neighbour gave her porridge preparation which she prepares for her child who is only 6 months old but my grand-daughter vomitted while eating it.