November 23, 2003: Great new accomplishments

It's been quite a while and Veronika's life has stayed exciting. As of 17th November she can grab things with both hands. Yes, it happened over night. It's amazing to watch her go crazy in her activity gym trying to get hold of something. Her hands are still too clumsy to effectively grab something for a longer period of time but she's working on it. Today she also grabbed her legs a few times so I'm hoping playing with her toes isn't far away.

Since I'm assuming she will outgrow her cradle soon, I'm trying to teach her how to fall asleep on her own. I'm opposed to the traditional cry-it-out method and so far I've been successful with other alternatives. Instead of nursing her until she is completely asleep, I nurse her until she's drowsy and let her do the rest in the cradle herself. By now she's mastered that although now and then she does need to complain a little.

Also in connection to this development she has started to accept the pacifier and now uses that for additional comfort. She's not too attached to it though. She'll take if she feels like it but otherwise - it will fly across the room.

On a more serious note, she has recently received her passport and now is officially an American citizen WITH papers - the kind not even her mother is in possession of!

All this aside... she is the cutest, most friendly baby. Lincoln and I are completely smitten and in love. Now and then we get a little scared of what kind of future she will have after we spoil her rotten but usually we just push those silly ideas aside and cuddle her some more!