Brooke is 7 weeks old today and we have seen some amazing things just in the past few weeks. First of all (and most notably) she has become (slightly) less fussy. In place of some of those fussy periods we now get moments where Brooke is just happy to hang out with us, play some games and check out some of her toys. It makes for a much calmer home, and both Brooke and her parents are finding our time together increasingly enjoyable.
WhatToExpect.com says that Brooke should be awake and alert more often during the day, and thus it is important to allocate more playtime. They suggest stimulating her senses by providing plenty of opportunities for her to experience her surroundings through sound, sight, and touch. "Small doses are best (if she's fussing or squirming, she's had enough), and simple toys are all you need. For example, now that she can track moving objects with her eyes, try slowly shifting a ball, rattle, or cloth from one side to the other as she faces you. Watch as she plays along by moving her eyes back and forth".
Her eyes continue to develop and "while she could once make out only bright colors and basic, two-toned patterns, she's now beginning to discern more complex designs and a whole rainbow of colors". I recently read that only 50% of 6-week old babies recognize their parents (which was a depressing statistic) but WhatToExpect says Brooke is starting to be able to put our faces to our voices. And that while we talk she is "listening carefully and may soon try to respond with some sounds of her own".
