Even when he's doing something he shouldn't...like pulling the gliding footstool away from the wall and climbing on top...I can't help but smile because he's so proud of himself for his little achievement in that moment.
The New Blackheath Library opened on the High Street in Blackheath last Monday, but I was working so I wasn't able to take Ryan down to check it out. During our trip today we picked up a book about tractors (which is a new word that Ryan recognises -- he doesn't say it, but recognises it thanks to his own John Deere tractor sent from Nanny). We also got a book about Noisy Farm Animals and the story Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See?
Ryan picked each of these off the shelf, along with some paperbacks that I promptly returned to their rightful place. I decided that 3 was a sufficient number for the moment for him to check out (on Mommy's card, of course).
We also signed up for the Bookstart Book Crawl where he only has to make 3 more visits to the library by mid-July and he will receive a prize!
He certainly wasted no time when we returned home. Straight into his books, he was...turning page after page while Mommy read 'The Sheep says Baa!' and 'The cow goes moo!'
Despite the sporadic, light rain today, we made the trip up to Trentham to check out The Monkey Forest with our own little monkeys! Ryan watched and pointed from his pushchair and I'm sure he thought they were just big cats or something.
This is the first "close up" one I spotted and he or she was about 10 feet from us as we walked along the path! Yep...just chillin and munching on some grass. Not a care in the world!
We stayed in one area to watch a little presentation and feeding talk by one of the park workers there. You could see some of the "older" babies, one of which (centre) was hitching a ride on its mommy's back. Ryan even burst out into laughter after two of the males were seen chasing after one another playfully.
They're so used to humans just walking around and snapping photos that it doesn't even phase them at all. We even saw one walk right up to a man who was sitting down along the path and reach out to touch his leg before a park worker shoo'ed it off.
It would have been a bit better if it hadn't been so gloomy and wet, but it didn't keep us from seeing our fair share of monkeys! I definitely want to try to go back when the weather prediction is a bit more accurate.
On the way home we stopped in at The Round Oak Pub near Merry Hill to have a nice roast dinner. Ryan ate his like a champ and proceeded to play with my mobile when he was finished. I was quite proud for this being his first time out to eat at a restaurant!
He likes holding it to his ear and mumbling something close to "hello" only sounding more like "huh-whoa."
Since we skipped afters at the pub, we made sure he got his yummy treat of yogurt when he returned home.
We had actually made some plans today with Em, Daz & Amy to head an hour North to Trentham to visit the Monkey Forest. It's 60 acres of land where monkeys roam free and, from what I am told, walk across the paths right in front of you!!
However, after a trip to Merry Hill to get myself a much-needed new pair of jeans, we picked up the Sat Nav from David & Josie and headed to Em & Daz's just as it started to sprinkle. We checked the weather in Trentham and decided not to chance getting rained out considering it was a bit of a trek up the M6. Instead we decided we could just go tomorrow.
The kids didn't mind, of course, as I'm sure they were just as content sitting on the settee and watching Peppa Pig.
Ryan received a special parcel today in the post from his Great Aunt Lisa in America. He was lucky enough to chat with Aunt Lisa and his Great Nanny not too long ago on Skype and Aunt Lisa mentioned then that she had a gift she made that she was planning on sending. So, today when it arrived he discovered a really cool hooded-towel! It's nice and big and perfect for the beach or the bath!
As you can see in the photo...he loved it straightaway! Here's a little video I took of him "opening" the envelope (with a little help, of course)...
A pretty lazy day was had, otherwise...
Picking flowers in the sunny garden...
Collecting stones on the porch while Mommy watered the flower boxes and checked for slugs and snails...
Ryan even shared his envelope...with Daddy's FACE when he got home from work. He decided to make a little game of 'Pee-po!' and would cover Daddy's face up before pulling it back off and laughing hysterically.
If someone would have told me when Ryan was a newborn that he was a "high needs" baby, I might have taken it as an insult. However, through some reading and research, I have learned that it actually pretty accurately describes Ryan and why he is and acts the way he is and does.
"High Needs" isn't considered a disability or limitation, nor is it an excuse for a child to walk all over their parent. It just means that Ryan reacts to many things with more intensity than another baby his age might. It's just a part of who he is and it means having to deal with him a little differently.
Things that identify a high-needs baby: They cry loudly, feed voraciously, laugh with gusto and protest with more force than a typical baby. These babies feel things so deeply that it causes them to react more powerfully if their feelings are disturbed. This was very apparent in Ryan from day one in addition to him wanting to be held and be close to Mommy ALL the time.
Thank goodness for the Moby Wrap!
Hyperactive/hypertonic are two more words that describe "high-needs" babies and although it doesn't mean a negative thing or that they need medication when they're older to control things, it simply means they're tensed, ready and "always on the go." It's only a term to describe them, not to label them.
One of the biggest traits that we struggle with most at home is Ryan and his "Separation Sensitivity." He is fine with his childminder, Julie. Completely content with Nan and Grandad while Mom & Dad are gone at work. And he is easily comforted by Daddy alone...when Mommy isn't in sight or in earshot. Throw Mommy's voice or face into the mix and it's all over from there because he wants nothing else! It's to the point where I can't even leave the room to go to the loo or fill up his water bottle without him having a complete meltdown!
Ultimately, this is one area that he will simply learn to outgrow. But until then, Matt and I have to do everything we can to accommodate and help to make him feel secure. This is why I have allowed him to follow me into the kitchen on a morning to make his porridge or so he can throw his nappy in the bin. Or if I need the toilet, looks like it's a group date, the pair of us anyway. I find myself going into explanation over and over, that "Mommy is just right here," when I have to pop round the corner to get the vacuum or put it back and then I have to make up for it with a HUGE distraction and theatrical entrance to get his mind off of it.
Having a "high-needs" baby can be draining and it can be really easy to get upset quickly or lose my patience with him, however, the calmer I stay, the better example I provide for him on how to stay calm on his own when he needs to be. If that means breaking into a little of this...
...then so be it.
Until then, we just go with the flow and deal with things as they come.
I found Ryan watching TV this way when I came in from watering the plants this morning. Matt and I have decided this weekend we will be getting him a chair of some sort...maybe a rocker...since he likes to overturn his Leapfrog Musical Table all the while and use it as a seat.
He woke up a bit late today, but was also up at 4am, which is now out of character. Perhaps it's the toothy-peg takeover again?
We thought we might head out on the bus somewhere today. Maybe to Merry Hill so I can buy some new jeans or maybe even just to the park. By the time we got around to seriously thinking about it...and by "we" I mean 'just myself,' it was the end of the day and Matt was home from work. Ryan promptly "stole" Daddy's keys and shook them to see if they made the same sound as Mommy's.
We still managed a bath and story with Daddy at a decent hour. He gets SO excited for his Noisy Day book now because Daddy lets him open the curtains and "start the show" at the end!
After two and a half years in a long-distance relationship, I packed my life of 29 years into 21 boxes and moved to England to marry and be with my husband, Matt. Now I'm reveling in the youth of my 30s in Great Britain, supply-teaching in primary schools near Birmingham and enjoying newlywed life, being a mommy, and all the surprises they bring!
