Tag Archives: toddler

Word of the Week: Bird

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Today the word that sums up the week that was is:

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Arthur’s had a bit of a thing for birds for a while now. I think it started with the simple swallow mobile that hangs above his changing table: that’s certainly where I first remember him saying the word ‘bird’ back in February. The seagulls that circle round our town might have something to do with it to: as Arthur’s become more aware of the world around him he’s pointed them out any chance he gets. He looks for them in books and pictures too, and has surprised us by being able to identify even very abstract images as birds, excitedly naming them as he realises what they are.

It turned out that Cyprus was a bit of a bird lover’s haven. There were so many little birds flying around the gardens of the hotel, sitting in the trees and delighting Arthur as they hopped on the ground in front of him or swooshed past him as he toddled around. When we finally made it to the Paphos Archeological Site we learnt why there were so many – Cyprus’s geographical location puts it right in the path of migrating birds travelling between Europe and Africa and the Middle East, with over 390 species of bird having been recorded on the island.

One of Arthur’s cutest bird interactions was at the archeological site: strolling between the ruins and mosaics through tree-lined avenues he spotted a couple scratching around in the grass. He headed straight for them, calling out ‘bird’ in his adorable little voice, and staring and pointing as they made their escape just before he reached them.

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His identification of things as birds has expanded now to cover things that fly – or things with wings at least. So when we passed a jasmine bush awash with butterflies he called those birds, and one night we awoke to the sound of his voice as he lay between us, pointing at a moth on the ceiling and marvelling at the bird that had made its way into our room.

And on our flight home, as he started to begin to compute the experience of air travel, he looked out of the window at the wing of the plane and decided that too was a bird. I’m pretty sure at that point his mind was well and truly blown…

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The Reading Residence

 

Chillaxing in Cyprus

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So it turns out that Arthur’s not as bad at relaxing as we initially feared. The above picture of utter chilled out bliss captures his third nap of the four he managed yesterday. Today he dozed off again in the sun after his mid-morning milk feed, enjoying the embrace of the warm air whilst being sheltered from the sun’s rays by our makeshift towel tent.

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This afternoon he zonked out after a supremely relaxing lunch – he was mesmerised by the taverna’s in-house guitarist, and happily munched on octopus whilst Leigh and I enjoyed each other’s company. I’d fully intended to write this post this afternoon, but Arthur’s chillaxing was contagious and I joined him for a nap instead.

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In between his many naps, Arthur has been increasingly delightful company. He is especially loving the water, the myriad stray cats and the birds that flit around the gardens. He’s getting his confidence back, but at the same time being adorably cuddly. I think it is safe to say that we have achieved our goal of relaxing more than just a little, and as our holiday comes to an end are feeling revitalised and ready to face the next phase of our adventures.

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Word of the Week: Relax

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Today the word that sums up the week that was is:

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It’s a work in progress really. We booked this week in Cyprus back in January, knowing that it would be a long hard term for Leigh and that, if all went to plan, I would’ve just finished the first draft of my second novel. The fact that we made it – to the end of winter, to the successful completion of all our deadlines, and then to this little island so very far away from Devon – is achievement enough, really. But I’m not convinced we’ve got the whole relaxing thing cracked yet.

It is beautiful here. And were Leigh and I here on our own then chilling out would not be a problem. Having Arthur with us definitely complicates things a little – not that we’d have it any other way.

It’s the first trip like this that we’ve attempted since being parents – one where doing as little as possible is the main prerogative. Last year we went on lots of adventures, but we didn’t do much staying still. Oddly enough it turns out our fifteen month old isn’t too good at that.

We could of course have put him in the crèche, and we did consider it – although it doesn’t sit too comfortably with our attachment parenting approach, nor with the fact that Leigh and Arthur have missed each other so much over the past few busy months.  As it turns out he hasn’t been very well, has been teething like crazy and breastfeeding like a newborn. He also, though he had been appearing to be pretty confident and independent, has suddenly hit a wall of separation anxiety. And all in all leaving him with strangers didn’t seem like such a good idea.

So we’ve been hanging out together, and Leigh and I have been learning that all the many demands of parenthood don’t go away just because we happen to be on holiday. But we’re working as a team, and managing to grab some moments for ourselves. And Arthur, though he’s undeniably a bit more grouchy than usual, is clearly enjoying being somewhere new. With a pool. And warm air. And lots of other little people.

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To be honest, however much we’ve been yearning for some chill out time I think Arthur maybe needs to be able to relax a little too. To have mummy and daddy around enjoying each other’s company, and not to have to keep to all the different schedules we impose on ourselves back home.

And if we all enjoy some time together, relaxing as best we can as a family, then hopefully by the time we go home he’ll be healthier and happier with newly recharged confidence to face the next set of challenges that lie ahead.

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The Reading Residence

 

Word of the Week: Out

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Today the word that sums up the week that was is:

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It could just as easily have been ‘door’ – both words in Arthur’s burgeoning vocabulary that he’s using to let me know he wants to be outdoors. Permanently, I reckon, if he got his way. Which definitely bodes well for all the camping trips we have planned for this summer!

This week, though, his need for fresh air and open space has definitely saved my sanity. I’ve been in the final throes of the novel: I started the week with about six thousand words left to write, and part of me just wanted to get it done. I was impatient, and excited to see how the details would pan out. I mean, I vaguely knew what was going to happen in the end, but not until it was written would I know for sure.

But combining writing with motherhood means I’m not entirely in charge of my schedule. Writing happens when Arthur naps, and in between – well, I have no doubt it did me good to get out and about.

On Monday the grey drizzle of the weekend lingered, yet still at lunchtime Arthur had his face up against the glass doors, longing to escape. I managed to distract him till after the post lunch writing session when miraculously the cloud began to clear and we went to let off some steam around Shoalstone pool.

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On Tuesday it was glorious out, and it was all I could do to force myself to sit down at my computer. The story quickly captured me of course, but once Arthur had woken up I was very glad of the lunchtime picnic we’d planned with friends at Breakwater beach.

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On Wednesday I woke up knowing that today was the day: I was on the final chapter, and as I’d been drifting off to sleep the night before the closing paragraph had come to me, so all I had to do was fill in the gaps. The words flowed as soon as Arthur drifted off for his morning nap, and I finished just as he was waking up so we could both enjoy a celebratory stroll to Berry Head in the afternoon.

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Yesterday the celebrations continued when we spent pretty much the whole day outdoors with some friends at Paignton Zoo. Arthur was in his element – especially when we found an area we’d not discovered before where he could get up close and personal with some friendly goats.

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All in all this week’s been a bit of a whirlwind really. My brain has been on overdrive – first with the challenge of pulling the ninety thousand words of novel I’ve been writing to a satisfying close, then with the realisation that this thing that’s been giving me purpose for the last three months has ended. Having Arthur to shift my focus away from myself has been, as it always is, fantastic. And the fact that he’s wanted that focus to be on going OUT has been even better.

The Reading Residence

Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall

Word of the Week: Exploring

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Today the word that sums up the week that was is:

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Now that Arthur has this toddling thing pretty sussed we’re beginning to venture into the outside world more and more. We had a little bit of a false start when we managed to lose one of his gorgeous new shoes after he’d only worn them a couple of times. I’m pretty sure he’s hidden it somewhere really clever, but having searched for a week we had to bite the bullet and get a replacement pair.

The beginning of this week was actually full of lots of writing – I had a couple if pithy blog posts I needed to get out of my system, and the novel is going really well. For Arthur this has meant my preoccupation with the computer extending beyond his nap time, and whilst he’s getting very good at keeping himself entertained whilst turning my study upside down I thought I should make up for it with a bit of an adventure.

So on Wednesday afternoon we set off on our very first walk out of the house with Arthur standing on his own two feet: I didn’t even take the sling! We were headed for Shoalstone Pool – in summer a glorious seawater lido, but out of season a great place for an explore. It took a while to get there even though it’s right on our doorstep: whilst I held tight to his hand Arthur marvelled at his new perspective on things. He was fascinated by the window ledges, the pavement, the (parked) cars – and had to stop and look at every leaf and flower we passed. But when we got to the empty carpark above the pool I let his hand go – and that’s when the exploring really began.

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He was so excited to be free! He kept looking back to make sure I was following him (which I was, very closely) but was clearly loving the freedom, the sensations of the sea air and the early evening light. He got a bit distracted by the railings at one point…

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He held on and rested his face against the metal, and I’m pretty sure actually licked them too. Can’t do any harm though, right?

When the inevitable happened and he took a bit of a tumble, his feet not quite keeping up with his enthusiasm, I was ready to sweep him up and cuddle away the cry. But then I realised he was exploring the tarmac, taking the time to run his fingers over it before carefully bringing himself back to standing without so much as a whimper.

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After a bit I carried him down the steps to the poolside. I was caught up in the beauty of the setting sun reflecting on the water, watching the fishing boats come in with seagulls circling their catch. Arthur though was more interested in trailing his fingers along the wall by the mural, looking up occasionally at the giant multicoloured fish but just as intrigued by the pebbles and puddles, all the different textures each new step brought.

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It was quite an eye-opener for me, that Arthur-led exploration. I found myself focusing on all sorts of things I wouldn’t usually notice – I’ve really had to rein myself in with what I’ve selected here as I could go on for hours! And all in a walk I’ve done countless times before that would normally take less than five minutes.

After a definite taste of spring this week, I cannot wait for summer with my new little explorer – I have a feeling there’s an awful lot he’s going to teach me over the next few months.

 

The Reading Residence

Word of the Week: Toddling

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The word that sums up this week for me is:

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Yes – our little baby has become a toddler. And it’s made for a pretty exciting week for us all!

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Arthur first began to crawl almost six months ago, and he developed such a brilliantly efficient lopsided style that I wasn’t sure he’d ever need anything else. He’s been able to walk with support for a while now, but as soon as he found himself doing even as much as standing independently he’d carefully lower himself to the floor where he clearly felt much more comfortable.

And then last Saturday he suddenly decided to walk! We watched him take a few steps away from the stool he likes to lean on in the kitchen, and then when he thought I wasn’t looking he launched himself away from the sofa and toddled halfway across the lounge.

He’s grown in confidence every day, picking himself up when he falls down and taking pure delight in his new found toddling skills.

It’s clear he’s proud of himself, and I’m so proud of him too. I know that over the days and weeks to come he’ll pick up speed and stamina and I’ll be chasing him around as he takes his exploring to a whole new level. I can’t wait for our first walks outside – in the woods, on the beach. It’s the beginning of a whole new phase for my baby. For my little toddler.

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The Reading Residence