Life with Baby Ava: 6 — 7 weeks old
Tags: Baby Milestones, Parenting, Newborn, Baby

Ava is already 7 weeks old! Where did the time go? We have definitely noticed a difference in her development after 6 weeks, which looks to be on par with many newborns at this stage. As for mom and dad, thankfully we are getting better sleep these days and have established more of a routine. We now also have a better understanding of Ava’s cues and have discovered some tricks to help soothe her.

Here are some of the changes, milestones, and things we’ve experienced over the last two weeks:

1. Ava smiles!

We noticed Ava has started smiling a whole heap more (and not necessarily from having gas like in the previous weeks). And I have to say, there is nothing better than a baby responding to you with a big smile, and we have no doubt been loving seeing her happy baby smile!

See the photo and video below. The video was taken when Ava was 6 weeks old. We captured the precious moment when she gave her big sister Aria a big smile. It was so cute!

Ava smiles at her big sis (6 weeks old)

2. Ava is starting to make sounds and trying to communicate.

One of my favourite times of the day is when Ava is alert, relaxed and responsive. We love to have our time chatting with her. Now she locks eyes with us and stares around very inquisitively. She is able to follow us or an object with her eyes as they move. I wonder what she is thinking about behind those beautiful, blue eyes. We will speak to her, then pause and see her moving her mouth, trying to respond back. And now she will make many different kinds of sounds. (See one of the earlier videos below of Ava making sounds.)

Ava chats with us (6 weeks old)

3. Ava’s neck is getting stronger.

My husband will carry Ava against his chest or shoulder and we can see that her neck is getting a lot stronger as she holds her head up for short periods at a time. She is also holding up her head a little longer and longer, as time goes by. This is a game changer for her. The force is strong in this one.

Ava and her father, Daniel

4. Ava has a favourite side of the bassinet.

We started to notice that Ava has a favourite side of the bassinet where she prefers to sleep. We usually lay Ava down to sleep in the middle of her bassinet. Later we would notice she had wriggled her body over until she was in her usual position, with her head next to the end/side of the bassinet and her body laying diagonal across the bassinet, with feet barely touching the other side. (See photo below.)

We have a couple theories why she does this and likes to sleep here. One, her head is positioned closest to where she can see mommy sleeping. (I like this theory because as the mommy, I too like to sleep where I can have an optimal view of little Ava sleeping.) Another theory is she likes to feel enclosed where she can press against things whilst she sleeps, which mimics what it was like in the womb. Hence her head against the bassinet and her feet also touching a side of the bassinet. My guess would be a combination of these two theories.

5. Baby massages for Ava.

I was curious if babies enjoy massages. In my curiosity I did a little internet research, watched a few quick YouTube videos and purchased some MooGoo lotion. When Ava is relaxed and alert I give her a massage, following some of the YouTube videos I found. She seems to relax, respond and dig it! Especially when massaging her cute little feet. It is something I’d like to do everyday with her.