Sunshine on the Farm

A couple of weeks ago we had a few days of beautiful weather, luckily over the bank holiday weekend. Sadly since the weather has turned cold, rainy and very windy but it's not anything we're not used to! Foz unfortunately had to work on bank holiday Monday but with the weather being so gorgeous I didn't want to miss an opportunity to get some sun so Bee and I headed for a local pick-your-own farm. We'd been once before, back in October, for a little pumpkin-picking at Halloween. Bee hadn't been keen then but months have passed and her confidence has soared so I thought it worth the chance.

Sadly there wasn't much in the way of pick-you-own, it's only early May and the weather has played havoc with crops and plants alike so it was rhubarb or nowt. We went with nowt. I love a good rhubarb crumble but not when I have to make it from fresh rhubarb, plus I don't think the sour taste would agree with Bee!

We made do with a lovely slice of cake in the cafe, along with a cup of tea for me and water for Bee. It was the perfect sustenance for an hour of flower and veg browsing and play time in the meadow!

We went with the play time first, Bee was very excited that we'd brought her Peppa Pig ball along and had a mountain of energy to burn!

We had loads of fun playing throwing and catching, running and chasing, picking flowers and exploring. Bee did really well with the texture of the grass, it was coarse and prickly, unlike the softer grass she's used to. Thankfully her Piedro boots are ankle-high and with her socks above that the grass didn't bother her too much while walking. However she did refuse to sit down, despite my encouragement and would only go as far as bending down to pick up her ball.

Cheeky!

 We played in the meadow for an hour or so before Bee started stumbling over her own feet and the uneven ground, her co-ordination dropping with her energy levels. I decided it was time to head for the vegetables and plants on sale.
 
It's that time, I've been cleaning out the garden pots from last year and we were on the hunt for more veggies for Bee to grow. Once we entered the greenhouse however, I gave up all hope of keeping Bee's attention. She'd spotted the ride-on tractors dotted around, headed straight for the nearest one and climbed aboard.
We took our time looking around, I pointed out flower colours and we tried smelling some of them. Bee's got the hang on sniffing recently and likes to smell things and say "mmmm it nie".
After lots of deliberation we chose a cucumber plant and some pea plants, both of which I know Bee likes to eat and she very much enjoyed picking and eating the peas we grew last year.


We took our plants to the till, where Bee very helpfully gave the lady at the till the pennies and carried our bag to the car. It was starting to get late in the afternoon and I knew we'd need to head into town to collect Foz from work soon but Bee really wanted more time playing on the field with her ball.

Bee's getting much better at throwing, she's releasing the ball from her hands now instead of just passing it to you. She's even started throwing it up in the air and it getting a good height. Plus, we had even more progress on the field that afternoon.... Bee letting the grass touch her bare legs! Winning!

We had a lovely afternoon in the glorious sunshine and by the time we were ready to leave Bee was exhausted. She's done so much physically that her little legs just couldn't carry her anymore. Well done Bee!

Cute Factor

I have nothing of interest to report today, I just had to share some cuteness from over the last few days.

In our town center shopping mall there a two very special rides that Bee loves to have a turn on each time we shop. She calls them her "Pi Pi rye". A couple of days ago we nipped into town to collect Foz from work and couldn't pass one of the rides without having a turn!

(Please excuse the pyjamas, she had a poorly tummy!)

Happy squealing and screeching is something Bee does a lot when she's excited, she also does lots of flapping with her arms! She's a very demonstrative child!

Bee's grandparents bought her a lovely gift this week, a Disney Brave doll. Bee is convinced the doll is her as they have the same hair so she calls her "me doll". I think her gift went down well...

Winner!

Our visit also coincided with my auntie's birthday and we'd bought her a cake. After the 'happy birthday' singing and while my auntie posed for a photograph I just captured my Bee deciding she didn't want to wait for her share any longer...

 

She'd taken herself into the kitchen, got a bowl and spoon out of the drawers and coming running in saying "me eat up!" Cheeky princess!!

Party Time!

Yesterday Bee attended her first birthday party. She doesn't have many friends. Her complete lack of social skills mean she doesn't make any of her own and I don't have many friends with small children that we can socialize with. It was a joint party for four different children, one of which is Bee's little cousin Ryan and I'd been worrying a lot about it. It would be busy, with lots of strange people we'd never met and not to mention noisy. I was worried about the very real possibility of Bee spending the entire party crying on my knee, overwhelmed by it all. It wouldn't be the first time it's happened in busy, unfamiliar situations.

I'd spent two days talking about the party and trying to answer her many "why" questions about birthdays and parties. We'd also watched the 'birthday' episode of Something Special many times, talking about what was happening and how she would get to do similar at Ryan's party. I was just hopeful it would all help.

On Saturday morning we dressed in our finery, Bee was very excited about her party dress and spent much time wandering around the living room pointing at herself and sticking her tummy out. Not so much fun was the hair brushing, but that never is, stupid curls!

The party was at a local function room and was due to have a DJ, entertainer, the works and when we arrived it was in full swing: loud music and a dance floor full of running, jumping, shouting, dancing, chasing, screaming kids and a DJ orchestrating in the middle of it all. 

We found Foz's sister, Ryan and Fox's parents at a table towards the back (relief) and joined them. Bee, although quiet, seemed quite interested in the children on the dance floor and I asked if she wanted to go and do some dancing but "no" was the fairly firm answer, I didn't push her. I persevered though and asked every few minutes until eventually something changed and she suddenly decided that dancing sounded like the most fun thing ever! She was all squealing and flappy arms! Bee took my hand and led me to the dance floor but I couldn't get her to move beyond the fringe. I crouched down next to her, took her hands and tried to initiate some groovy moves but all she wanted to do was sit and my knee and watch. Which was fine and lasted a few minutes before we were back at our table. This to-ing and fro-ing went on for a while, each trip to the dance floor lasting a little longer than the last. But it wasn't until the DJ brought out lots of large modelling balloons that Bee really forgot herself and went in for the kill.

 

Bee really loves balloons and we had a lovely session of squealing and scrunchy face as she waved them all around, greatly amused at their different to normal balloons.

And look: we made a hat!

The DJ set up lots of games using the balloons: who can stick them to the ceiling, who can make the best model etc etc. Bee doesn't understand enough to join in so we moved back to our table as the party took a more games-based turn.

The buffet opened and Bee was the only child that made a bee-line (ahem) for the platter with raw carrot and cucumber sticks, which she thoroughly enjoyed and followed with more toddler-like behaviour: a plate of cakes! Her dietician would be thrilled!

I can make a hat too Mama!

After food it was back to the dance floor for pass-the-parcel. Bee has never played before but was thrilled by the sight of the DJ holding a present. The kids were split into two groups, boys and girls, and we duly took out place with the girls. Bee was one of the youngest there and sat on my knee to play, partly due to her confidence and partly because she still needs a lot of support and direction to join in. I briefly tried to explain what was going to happen but the music started and we were off. The parcel came to Bee and she eagerly grabbed it, pulling at the paper. I had to swiftly pass it to the next child, which Bee looked a little perturbed about but she took it in her stride. As the parcel made it's way around the circle again I kept telling her that we had to pass it along until the music stopped but this time when it reached her she tried to hold on a little longer. I guided her hands across to the next little girl and she reluctantly let go.

"Let go Bee"         -         "Why?"

As the game went along the parcel kept bypassing Bee and each time it did she gripped a little harder and complained a little louder until finally there was a winner and Bee hadn't had a turn. I tried to explain the game was finished and the tears started. In retrospect pass-the-parcel must seem the cruelest game in the world: you show a child a present, let them hold it then take it away for another child to have. Torture. Ah well, it's all experience and to see her joining in with the other children and not hiding at the back was wonderful.

After her pass-the-parcel meltdown her tiredness started to show through, she was happy just to sit by the side of the dance floor and play with a burst balloon, despite my attempts to get her interested in joining in.

The party came to an end soon after and it was time to leave. Overall it had been a very successful adventure and Bee was thrilled to be given a party bag as we left. The three hours we'd spent there had been plenty enough for her, any longer and I think she would have descended into tired tears and tantrums.

Home again and it was party bag time! There was cake, some sweeties (which mama had to eat), some bubbles and a pink bouncy ball. Winner! All that was left to do was enjoy a quiet couple of hours with cake, a cuppa for mama and some Mr Tumble before it was time to pick daddy up from work.

Our first party had gone more successfully than I could have hoped and, although they always reinforce for me just how delayed Bee's development is, each time we do something like this I see the small steps of progress Bee is making with her social skills and confidence issues. I'm so proud of her.

Making Muddy Puddles

Bee loves to bake and always does a lot of baking with her dad. It's kind of their 'thing' on his days off and I always get some yummy cakes out of it! We've been so busy recently that we've not had much chance for baking but for Easter she was bought a Peppa Pig Muddy Puddles cake pack, a perfect opportunity to get back into the habit!

"That one goes there..."

So, funpod, equipment and ingredients at the ready we got going!

We had fun feeling the ingredients before using them, which is a real achievement for Bee. Her tactile defensiveness has often stopped her from fully engaging in some activities we do. Even with painting she doesn't like it being on her hands. For her to handle the flour and 'messy' textures is a big win!

"I'll stick this here..."

We emptied, poured, measured, mixed and filled. She still struggles a little with the fine motor skills of holding a case still while she fills it but overall she did brilliantly. My real challenge is trying to stop her eating everything in sight before it's cooked!

Of course the eating is the best part though!

Smile Bee!

Partay!

Three has come around so quickly, it almost hit us by surprise. Practically overnight our baby girl has turned into a bright, happy, cheeky, demanding, crafty and tantrum-throwing toddler. Her understanding, speech and mobility is improving all the time and we're confident that it won't be much longer before she's catching her peers.

 
We wanted to spend Bee's birthday doing something she would love, which meant soft play, soft play and more soft play! We chose a sensory play centre about 40 minutes away from us. The pictures on the website looked really good and (as we wanted to take advantage of the last of this summer's sunshine) we planned a picnic in a nearby park for afterwards. So with my mum, brother in tow we set out to meet Clare & Isla.

Photo courtesy of http://www.dfosterphotography.com/index.html

Unfortunately the soft play we'd chosen wasn't as good as the website suggested and it was a long way to go for something that we could have done on our doorstep but our girls had a great time anyway. 

Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/gimbulate

 After an exhausting play session (for the adults!) and a slight detour (thanks sat nav!) we went for dinner at a local park. Thankfully the sun was shining and we found a nice shady place under a tree and by a lake. We munched on sandwiches, crisps, cakes and chocolate.... with some token apple slices and grapes thrown in.

Photo courtesy of http://www.dfosterphotography.com/index.html

 

 

 


 
Each year we have promised ourselves that the next birthday Bee will be able to have some of her own birthday cake. And this year we were finally able to keep that promise! On her third birthday Bee had her first slice of birthday cake!

And it went down very well!

Especially the icing! I think my girl has a sweet tooth!

Isla was also very impressed with her slice of cake and even had a good go at helping Bee with hers. Then they both had a go at each other's soggy leftovers. Lovely!

 

 We finished the afternoon with a walk through the park, Bee on her walker and Isla with Bee's new baby pram. Both girls are doing so well with their mobility. At one stage I could never have imagined walking through a park with my girl walking next to me.

To see her now, so independent and confident, makes me marvel at her strength of character. She inspires me every single day.

Happy Birthday!

Today is Bee's 3rd birthday. It's such a cliche to say that time flies but it really does.

Three years ago today, at 5:12pm, I was being delivered of a tiny bundle that would change our life. Bee had a difficult start: SCBU, feeding problems, breathing problems and even when we got her home she was still in and out of hospital with illness. She missed milestones and we despaired, confused doctors with her undiagnosed problems and still managed to melt everyone she met with her constant smile, curly hair and big brown eyes.

Two years ago today we were throwing a big party in honour of that first difficult year coming to a close. We had answers and medical interventions and life was finally becoming slightly easier. Bee couldn't sit unaided, much less toddle about like others her age but she still tackled every challenge thrown at her with aplomb.

One year ago tomorrow Bee was crawling, making sounds that sounded suspiciously like the beginnings of words and understanding more and more of what was going on around her.

Now, as she's turning 3, Bee has a vocabulary of over 30 words, is flying on her walker and has impeccable manners. She charms everyone she meets and grows in confidence every single day. We still have challenges with feeding and some sensory issues but after her severe developmental delay the fact that she's almost caught up with others her age just blows me away.

Today we spent a lovely day at a soft play centre then a picnic in the park in the glorious sunshine. Bee's Grandma and Uncle Chris came along, as did our lovely friends Clare & Isla. We've had lots of family around to visit and Bee has been spoilt with cards and gifts so thank you to everyone for your thoughtfulness.

Happy 3rd birthday Bethany May.

We love you all the world xx