Morgan Week 12

Marked developments were noted this week – physical, intellectual and social. We enjoyed walking downstairs and through the areas below the apartment. This meant that Morgan was able to look at traffic on the road and the trains, see people and displays in the shops and concourse and observe young children in the little playground. Going out in the fresh air clearly benefitted him and it prompted sleep soon after. He reacted well to the small children in the playground and was very responsive to three ladies sitting at the cafe; he favoured them with a beaming smile. These social jaunts should become a regular feature of his daily activities.He is responding very well to aural stimulation. He watches Joelle, Margaret and Rowena very closely when they look at him and talk opening their mouths widely. He responds with a range of sounds and facial expressions that are particularly appealing. This expressiveness can be seen when he is quietly lying in his cot communicating with his companions like Pooh and Peter Rabbit. He looks closely and intensely at them and smiles beguilingly every now and then. Music now livens him up very well and he greatly enjoys the beating of spoons, clapping and Rowena’s clicking as an accompaniment. He now seems to listen to and enjoy the children’s songs such as Teddy Bear’s Picnic and the Runaway Train. He continues to be amused by Margaret’s whistling and kissing sounds: he seems to realise they are distinctive. It is very clear that Morgan cannot be over-stimulated as far as sound is concerned.Morgan takes an increased interest in stories. Peedie continues to be a favourite and it soon brings out the chuckles, admonitions and general cacophony. He seems to take a more specific interest in the detail which seems to mean more to him. Similarly, the increased familiarity of the Llama llama book brings positive rejoinders. The pictures make him almost agitated and by the end of the week he was keeping up a series of comments as the story unfolded. By the Sunday his reactions were quite comical. His communicative development is enhanced with these stories. He seems to relate directly to those who are talking to him and communication is certainly taking place. He also takes note of the flashcards and certainly takes them in as each is shown to him. The mobiles continue to enthral him and he seems to take great pleasure in studying and observing them. He sounds very amused and chuckles when Margaret moves them to and fro or towards or away from him. It is noticeable that he does not ‘talk’ at the mobiles or even his cot ‘mates’. Communication seems to be reserved for people who communicate with him.He is showing strength and physical changes in a variety of ways. He grasps much more firmly and holds on to fingers and rings. Morgan kicks lustily and had a phase of lifting a ball with his feet and balancing it. He now makes more sustained efforts to raise his head and is managing to push his head and shoulders off the ground with his arms for longer periods. He also edges himself backwards on his back by pushing his legs hard against mine. His attention span is certainly getting longer. What was striking during his visit to Papa’s office and the lunch afterwards was the intense way in which he gazed at his surroundings. He concentrates fiercely and nothing is allowed to distract him when his surroundings have his attention. The waitresses in the restaurant fascinated him. What is emerging is an engaging personality and a capacity for self-amusement.