How did this happen.
We got her weighted and put on a different medicine for her reflux, which we had research and heard from other parents on a Facebook group for reflux and allergy babies. This other tablet seems to be working wonders. It has been two weeks now and she is taking her milk without fussing, falling asleep better. No arching her back or screaming all the time. She generally happier, less constipated with much better bowel movements. She is not really being sick only on very odd occasions, no more rash, crying or arching. Basically a different baby. Still has her frustration moments because of her teeth or when she is tired, in all she is so much better.
As I said she is now sleeping and eating better. We kinda given up on trying to set a routine instead just following her and what she needs. I think it has settled us all, because we are less stressed and so is she. This was mainly due to being away in London to stay with friends and family therefore there was no point when travelling, in a different house and around other people including young children. She was not in her safe, familiar environment therefore no point trying to set or keep a routine. We were out and about so she sleep bits and pieces in the pram. Falling asleep when she was actually tired. I definitely believe this gave us the freedom to just let her sort her self out, allowing us, mainly myself, to just let go of trying to have a routine or plan. Exactly what my OCD needed after lock down.
Whilst we was away we also was able to relax a bit where I felt better in public, I was not as anxious being out, in parks or near people whilst outside. Still did not go inside shops with Ariyah. We did have to get the bus ones which did freak me out a bit. No one was wearing masks or staying the distance. Also some people where really rude tell us they will suffocate if they wore a mask so we should cover our baby. that one thing I will not be doing again for a while especially in London.
We did manage to see lots of people and do so much, it felt so good after such a long time in lock down. It was so good for Ariyah to spend time with our chosen family, see more people and just be out. Being around her older cousins helped her so much developmentally too.
Things we did.
We went to her cousins 1st birthday seeing family again for the first time since Xmas. When she was 9 weeks old. This was lovely to see her with her 1 and 2 year old cousins all playing together. The boys were so gentle and loving with her. This was also Ariyah first train and bus journey since Febuary/March.
In London we went to Battersea park, where we feed the ducks. Ariyah loved it, saying duck and trying to throw bread in. She wanted to get in the lake with them haha. We took some lovely photos of us all and the kids together. Then we even braved going in the playground. We put Ariyah on the swing and slide but with us so she didn't touch anything. First time since lock down so second time ever in the park.
On the Tuesday we went to Tooting Bec Common to met the LGBT playgroup we attended before we moved. Where us adults social distance as much as we could but the kids were able to play together. This was lovely to just chat to other adults and parents again. To see all Ariyahs baby group friends all grown up too. We again played in the park a little, still very nervous of these things.
The following two days we spent with another family member, seeing her little cousin who 3 months younger then Ariyah. We spent time there and Ariyah enjoyed chasing the kitten and her 5 year old cousin around. We also went to see my old colleagues from work who couldn't believe how big Ariyah had gotten. She was amazed at how clever she was. Then back to our cousins on the Friday we went to the park with them were we slashed around in the little pond. Ariyah-Mai loves the water, she was walking through it and slashing her big cousins. She likes all the rough and tumble with her older boy cousins. It was nice to see her building relationships with other children and family again. Then later we went park with her Aunty Shan and MJ. Got to see our friend Chris's again who is a trans guy due to give birth in 5 weeks. More little cousins for Ariyah.
On Saturday we went to Battersea Park zoo to see Ben's friend. Ariyah-Mai first time at the zoo, she loved all the animals, mainly the monkeys and donkey which came right up for us to stroke. She got very spoilt by our friend who got her a sloth toy, as well as her first proper vegan ice cream. which as you can imagine she created a hug mess! After we took a walk through Battersea park where there a water fountain in a large water pool. Loads of kids were swimming and slashing it in so we took MJ and Ariyah in. As she loves water so much, she didn't want to get out so me and Ben took turns taking her in, as she swam and slashed around.
Later that day we had a social distance walk with a young boy I used worked with. It was nice to see and catch up with his family. Ariyah was crawling and trying to run after him. On Sunday we venture home with another friend who drove us back and spent some time at ours with Ariyah. Whilst we unpacked and tidied.
One thing that did happen was Ariyah decided to give us a worry and banged her head hard on a TV unit whilst trying to stand. This resulted in an a&e trip to Kingston hospital due to falling asleep then waking and vomiting. Lucky she was completely fine, smiling and chatting to all the nurses. We were in and out within minutes. She got to go in a blue light ambulance which she was not so keen on this time. She had a small mark on her forehead which vanished the next day, also was her happy chatty self like nothing had happened.
It was a very busy week away, Ariyah-Mai was exhausted but could tell it really did wonders for her social and emotional health, development and just gave her the chance to explore, relax and learn. With lots of first or things she hadn't done in such a long time. Now we have her other cousin, our niece who is 3 staying with us for the week. So very busy. We met some new friends at social distance picnic in our local park with some parents in the area, this was nice to met other parents finial after moving and not being able to met people or go to baby groups. Then to give Ariyah some friends. We also spent lots of time with her cousin playing, going for walks.
Then recently we did another first for Ariyah. She had her first trip to the beach. We went to dymchurch beach with my cousin Beth and her three kids. The ones who 1st birthday we went to. It was there first time at. A beach too. It was so lovely as it was hot, with a nice sea breeze. It was not actually too busy so kids were a able to freely crawl around playing. Ariyah loved it she got to crawl and play in the sand and the water. She completely loved the sea, she was so confident slashing in it, sitting and walking through it. She wanted to go in deeper, so we took her in and she was loving swimming around. She laughed when the big waves came which most kids including one of her cousin were scared of it. Yet she had the best time which was just so wonderful. To see her experiences new things. She also went on her first little ride which was the tea cups and a little boat one that went round. Again she really like it despite the spinning tea cups she was laughing away. Such a dare devil and adrenaline baby we have.
Other things that she started doing because of this week away is talking a lot!!! She says so much now and been listening and coping everyone. MJ who is 3 has really helped her learn to share, play with other children and just communicate more. I post on my previous post about all the new words she says, so go take a read.
New words or phases.
She started just randomly talking more everyday. She now replies with yes, no, or a very sassy maybe. She seems to just respond and talk constantly. And there are word that she randomly say in context too. So we trying to get her to use the word for us to know her needs. Like yes, no, more, milk, food, drink, help, up.
Funny things she said. So today stood at the door to the back garden. Which is her favourite place atm because the cats go out so she watches them. She say kitty and cat now. As well as Hayes. She goes hi cat. So today her first little convo. she at the door says
"dada, cat."
I said yes "Hayes is there, he sleeping"
Ariyah. "get cat"
I Said "he doesn't want to come in"
Ariyah "get him in"
It was so cute and her first ever kinda conversation, that we could make out as she babbles replies to us constantly. But this was very clear that Ben heard from the kitchen.
Other things she said.
- Dog
- Help just started this one.
- Good girl (to herself, as her cousin says it)
- Nana.
There more but as I said she catches us off guard with replies and words that we didn't even know she says, she copies us bit also just says things in context like money and picks up her toy monkey. Or ball or baby or cat to those things.
Milestones this month.
Along with talking, Ariyah-Mai is now listen more and can follow very basic instructions like get me the ball, or following us by crawling where we need her. Or give to daddies and she hand us whatever it is she shouldn't have.
She is now clapping too, which happened very recently. She was bring her hands together and shaking them for ages but had no interest in actual clapping. Then whilst we were away she just did it. Now she does it all the time, managed to catch it on camera too.
She is standing now to, she can stand independently without holding on by pushing up off the floor. On top of this she stands there for a long time before sitting back down. When holding on she can easily walk round things and navigate her way around toys, furniture well whatever is in the way really. She very good a lowering herself back down instead of just dropping to her bum or knees, this is so good because she so independent and we do not need to be right behind her every time she stands up. She also able to bend down pick a toy up and stand back up again to then let go. With this she will be stepping in no time.
Ariyah-mai is walking holding one hand, she walks round with just holding a finger. It all about confidence ones she learns if she drops to get back up there will be no stopping her. She has started to run holding one hand now, then will let go and take a couple steps before falling into Ben's or mine arms. She know her daddies will always catch her. 
She eating well as usual, self feeds majority of the time unless it's things like jelly or yogurt, we tend to load the spoon then she take it and feed herself. But now she use her hands and pincer grip for everything else. We do have to just put a small amount on her tray and she has a tendency to just put everything in her month at once and has gagged or choke on a few occasions. But she eats every large bits now, chowing very well. She loves her food. Milk has cut down which is great because she is eating more and drink lots of water in a straw bottle or plastic water bottle, like sports squirt bottle or fruit shoot ones. She could eat all day if she could. We can no long eat or drink in peace because she wants it, she so president and will climb up us to get food.
we went out for dinner again first time since lock down, it still weird being out after 4/5 months being in doors. especial in pubs or shops. to adapt to this new world we living in with masks, social distancing. shops having one way systems, having temperature checked at doctors or work before entering the building. then pubs and restaurant having to do contact-less service from a distance. the pub we went to was a little one by the river, it has a garden which is how they are operating now this is all good on a nice day but when winter hits and its cold and raining i wonder how these place will open. No one other then staff are entering the building, they have spaced out there tables to be far apart to adhered by 2 metre distance that the government have set out. then you order in a make shift bar which is two tables again so staff and the public are 2 metres apart, they take your order, you pay by card. then they bring out your drinks or food put them on the table step back as you step forward and take it. there a Que and hand Sanitiser provided with outside toilets. its all very strange. but it was nice to be out, Ariyah enjoyed exploring and sitting at the table/ on it. she had her first meal out ever! with lock down and her reflux and allergies being changeling when we eat anywhere else. 
She has learnt to climb onto the sofa too which we have to watch as she will roll around and dive head first off it. We have been teaching her to turn around and slide off backwards to stand up, which she can do, however she will go head first and laugh. So she knows what she doing, luckily our sofa is quite low and she does catch and slide off with her arms. She also getting so cheeky as she get something she not meant to have and laugh at us as she crawls away. Or she will start to climb looking at us to see if we are watching and laugh.
No new teeth yet still has 8 but definitely teething badly so we are expecting back ones coming in soon. With this she has now learnt to bit which has not been fun. She crawls up and bit our leg. We have had a few occasions where we had to tell her no and move her when she tried to bit her cousin this week or the cats.
Overall she just growing up at a blink of an eye, she getting very big and clever, we have her 9 month review next week. Then lots to look and plan for. Her big brothers 2nd birth anniversary. Then daddy Ben's birthday and her 1st. As we now are planning for which is scary to think our baby will be 1!
Therefore keep posted and look out for more updates of these exciting times ahead.
some extra photo to see how big she is getting and her bond with her cousin.
(Written in August 2020)
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