Ariyah-mai is 1

 Happy 1st birthday 

Our rainbow is 1, this happened in a blink of an eye. I can't believe we noww have a one year old. Thhe time really does fly by and glad we  herished ever moment and I hhavee been able to document her jounery in this blog. Especial her milestones, funny little things and all her adventures. So as she grows up she can read through these post and know how she was as a baby. It's very special to have these memories.

We wanted to makee her birthday special and planned a hug party at our house, we Brough so many decorations handed out invites and had many plans for games cake smash ect.. 

But... Due to covid and this current virtual pamedic spreading the glode. Moore restrictions meant we could only have up to six people in our home at ones. This meant completly no party! We were devistated at first as we planned it and wanted her to celebrate being one. But also being our miracle rainbow who we didn't think wee ever get to this milestone as a family, so Wass even more to treasure and celebrate. All taken from us people people could not be sensible and stop thhe spread.

However nothing we could do so plan 2 it was. So we had to stragger people coming round to see her. We had Ben's 25th birthday the weekend before and his cousins 6th. So ariyah ended up with a month of birthday celebrations.

First of the celebrations began the first weekend of October. My mum and step dad ariyah gran a and grandad come over, we had some takeaway ariyah got first taste of KFC. Then they gave ariyah her presents. She loved the tea pot that sung. It come with little cups and cakes to role play with. This is technically older toy but straight away shee surprised us poring thee tea pot pretending to drink for the cups and giving them to us too. This kind of role play is very advanced ad wee aall could tt believe it. She amazes us everyday. She Wass also feeding her baaby the cakes. This is has started doing with her snacks, feeding her toys teddies aand baby. 

Next day we went to margate to have a joint birthday tea party for her and her big cousin. We had balloons party food, with some other cousins joining in, they played and danced. It was lovely as ariyah Hadd just started walking too so she was up running and  dancing with her older cousins. We estranged presents and had cake. Singing happy birthday to them both. It was ariyah first experience of blowing out a candle bless her. And opening presents because she Wass to young to understand at Christmas.

Next celebration was Ben's birthday weekend, we had our friends round Ron and scott with gi. Where they gave Ben aand ariyah there presents, the kids played sand we had cake. Again singing to the both. Ron had made a dairy free cake.

On Sunday was bbens birthday, we actually spend day with close friends at soft play, our friend then had ariyah for a while whilst I took Ben out for nandos. It was nice to have some just us time. 

After that we had the lead up to her birthday where presents were sent from family we couldn't see, we had zoom chats to other family and friends. On Thursday ariyah other cousin on my side who are 2 1/2 twins, and 14 month old. There is like 8 weeks between thee girls which is lovely for them to grow up together. So I was at work but managed to. See them abit before the left. But they had aa good day with mc Donald's and playing. More cKe aand presents too. My cousin made dairy free chocolate brownies and cupcakes which was sweet of her.

Actual birthday day

On Friday ariyaah actual birthday. Me and Ben stayed up all night decorating the living room ready for her in the morning. We placed all her presents out and made cake. Could wait to see her face in thee morning.

So Friday came we both got her put her in her birthday outfit and took her down stairs. Ben carried her as I filmed her reaction. She was mesmerised, standing there saying woow. It was the most presious thing. As she run jumping on the balloons. That morning wee spent playing, opening presents doing little photoshoot. And had pancakes andd chocolate brownies for breakfast.

Sadly I had to go to work, but Ben sent me pictures. She took her out in her new trike. 

When I got home, we had ariyahs little baby group friends over. Keeping to rule of 6ish (babies not included) it was lovely seeing the playing, opening presents together. We then did a cake smash where we first sung happy birthday then just just put the cake in front of ariyah and llet her grab it and eaat it, smashing it up. Her friends then joined in and they all got every messy, but had three happy babies eating cake. It was so messy but so much fun.

She had a lovely birthday but was very tired and did get overwhelmed with the llresents and that was just in a small group. We actually realised it was a good thing we had to slit it up because she would have gotten so overwhelmed and stress. 

Next day came, I took her to ballet while daddies Ben had well deserved rest time to himself. We got to see our ballet friends, danced and played. After ballet we stayed talking to onee of the family from ballet who we formed a bubble with. (this is term for the small groups in which people can interact with due to covid restrictions). They are a lgbt family which is great for ariyah. So her friend brought hher a present and we gave him some of her birthday cake.

After we numbed into Ron and gi as she goes ballet at the same place afterwards. So we hung around and got some lunch with them after. It was nice to spend more time with them as unfortunately girl don't get to see to much of each other because of the virus, making traveling and stuff without cars too risky for them. 

When we got back that afternoon Ben's olld youth worker friend, ariyahs auntie came to see her. She took us out for dinner which was lovely. She was so surprised how grown up ariyah had got since she last saw her. As it had been a few months. We were meant to have more friends came with her however they were in London which unfortunately as of Friday night went into tougher lockdown restriction where they could not mix with other households. This was sad as ariyah would have met her tiny baby cousin. But we make sure we catch up with them. 

On Sunday mum dad and step mum came over, my brother and his girlfriend were meant to also but again him being in thee navy and covid he got called back to base early because number as rising again. We arranged to facetime them and see them hopefully before Christmas. 

But yes we had a lovely Sunday with her grandparents. More cake, presents and food, what more could she need. 

Over all see had a great birthday month. Now leading to her first proper Christmas as shee. Was too young last year. Oh andd Halloween next too. We have lots planned and will keep you all updated. 

I will still continue to blog where I can however many be less updates and more events and bigger milestones now. Bfurthermore I want to thank everyone who wished hher happy birthday, who has followed our story from the beginning and just supported us. 

She is getting so clever and grown up, to much for her own good I think sometime. Our  little saying 'let your boy catch up with your brain' still very much is her moto. She so advance and wants to do everything but sometimes forgets she is still little. She funny and sassy getting a really little attitude and humer now to. She always laughing and smiling and generally is such a happy bubble baby. She has crazy weird little quirks which we love.

including, putting musy over her head and running around. We could not be prouder of her and just over joyed to have shared her precious first year. To be here after thee loss of Nico and just she herr grow everyday is aa treasure. We know he Wass celebrating with us this weekend, he is always watching and guiding us. With this little spirt living through his sister. 

Onwards to our next jouneries. 

11 months update

11 months leading to 1! 

This last month has been crazy, ariyah has been growing up so much. Learning more words, walking, running and just getting to clever. She so tall and grown up. 

Ariyah-mai is a little whirlwind, she is non stop all day. from 5:30-6 in the morning, full off life, which is great when we sleep but not when she has her bad night's and we have all been up and down all night.

She still is not a great sleeper, her naps in thee day are much better, she normally has 2 one around midmorning 10ish, for half hour. Then another longer one around 2/3. However she has been abit poorly again with a cold, cough and teething which means she been up all night, and napping more times in the day. We have noticed is she has a later nap around 4 she can actually last longer until bedtime at 7:30, meaning she is not as many. Therefore settles and sleeps better. This is because overwise she gets over tired and needs to go bed earlier but will be up all hours of the morning at like 3am.

Keeping her active and busy is the key, but with more lockdown restrictions and covid rising again, plus it is now cold and winter this is harder to do. As there is not mucch in doors to keep her so active. As I said she is non stop, loves climbing and being outside. The park is her favourite especially the swings. She will run over shouting at them and will scream when we take her off. She is  now able to start climbing, crawling through the tunnels and sliding down the slide more indepently. But still needs help, not that she let's us. She is so independent if she can't do something she gets very frustrated, furthermore is reluctant to let us help her. However she never gives up and will keep trying which is an amazing trait to have especially so young.

We took her to soft play for the first time since lockdown. (she last went at 3 months old) She was so excited. When we arrived she stood looking saying wow. It was so special to see her face light up. As she ran around, climbing and playing. So glad we can now do these things again. Plus she had her best friend theo and his brother Chris there.

Ariyahs friends

So since going to met ups in thee park with other parents we have formed a little baby group, as well as a very close friendship with another family. Their little on theo is 6 months, he also has reflux and allergies like ariyah so it's nice to swap stories and support each other as parents too. They have another boy who's 5 and on autistic sprecrum which I have been able to offer tips and advice too. Ariyah loves the boys, her and theo's bond is the most precious thing. She will stroke his head, kiss him and give him toys. She is so gentle and caring its beautiful. He loves her too, whilst starting to follow her lead, chatting, clapping and just watches everything she does. Won't be lonng their be running around causing trouble together. 

Ballet going well we made another friend there who is an 8 month old boys with two mummies. It's nice to have more lgbt families for ariyah to interact with. Ariyah seems to get on long with boys more, her boy cousins, who are 2 and 4 she loves, where ass girls she just not interested in playing with. I think Ruby who 5 her big cousin, but that's all other girls or babies she eirther takes no notice off or can be rough with hem, by taking toys even pushing them sometimes. No sure why this is. Maybe having two Daddies and more male figure, where we rough play aand joke with her. 

More so she loves dancing and will dance to anything that has a beat. She will twists and waves her arms, bopping to music. She will come over and say radio or on, to the Google dot clapping for us to play the radio. She loves it. Much more then TV as she is not much of a TV watcher which is a good thing but also not on another hand. Wheree sshe is getting older it would be nice to be able to sit as a family and watch films or for her to watch TV if we are busy. She maybe will manage 5/10 mins when she in the mood but definitely preferrs running round causing trouble.

The last 3 weeks she not only learnt to walk, but she now so stable, she walkes everywhere and doesn't really crawl anymore. If she falls she get straight back up and carry on. She been walking outside too and around the park which is amazing. She so much happier because she can go where she wants. She is also running to, it didn't take long. One Wednesday she took her first steps, then withing 3 days she was fully walking, in direction to where she want to get to. By a week after she was able to turn herself and actually stabilise herself from falling. Now 2/3 weeks later she was off, running, turning, climbing. The is no stopping her.

She loves to climb, she gets up stairs easily now, gets on the sofa, our bed. But more recently she is climbing on tables, she stands up on the sofa and dives off it laughing. We have to watch her constantly. She also, after not even a week of having it stands on her toys and tries to climb over the edge of her playpen. We have to ensure any big toys are out the way. She just too clever.

She also loves getting into kitchen and opening cupboards, pulling all her plates and saucepans out. Which is then banged together. (daddies need to buy cupboard locks) she slide the kitchen door open now which I think is very clever that she learnt as its quite hard to slide across and knowing to do that instead of pulling it. She is very cluded up. She watches what we do and copy. Will not be long before she learns to open baby gates as she gives it a good try.

Other things is just her understanding, which in last week or so just seems no longer a baby. She is able to follow instructions and know what we are saying. Mai ly ssimoke ones like go to the kitchen, upstairs, bathtime, go to daddy, come here, putting arms in clothes. But also we be chatting aand laughtinng and she suddenly laugh at something we said and join in the conversation.

Her speak is coming on so much to, she always chatting and babbling but say more and more words. She is now a little parrot, coping everything we say. More so being able. To begin to have conversation, like what's that, look, go...., help. She say yumm when she hungry and the cutest is she will cuddle a teddy, her dolly or stroke the cat while saying awwww. She feeds the doll and covers it up. She just starting to. Role play with play food and cups. But yes she speaks all the time. Sometimes with attitude to. The otherr day wee called her and she goes 'what' with such sass.

Some of her favourite words: (most said and newer ones) 

• Daddy to Ben 
• Dad or dada to me. 
• Bath
• Snacks
• Cat
• Park
• Duck - quack
• Dog
• More
• No
• Yes
• Whats that
• Nan
• Brother
• Ador (Theodore) 
• Hello
• Byebye
• Bed 
• Yumm
• Wow. 

Can't believe she is now 1! Keep posted there be a birthday update over the weekend. 

We have a walker !!

 Help us! We not ready for this. 

This baby amazes us everyday. So those of you who are following will know that ariyah has always preferred to be upright. Even as aa young baby 2/3 months she wanted to sit and stand. She would stand on our legs. By 4 months she was standing up with some support from us and Wouold even take steps when we held her by her waist.

At 6 months she was craising round furniture and standing her self up. Sshe Wass so persistent and would try and let go standing momentarily on her own. On occasions she try take one step but follow. But this girl is determined. There no stopping her. By 7 months she was crawling so less determined to. Walk but still craising and standing when she could. At 9 months she was stand independently, walking holding just onee hand. 

Exactly 10 months that morning she took her first three independent steps where she stood herself up and walked. She stock herself I think and sat down. Then every timme she took the odd one or two steps if we noticed her she just sat down. She then gott ill and that throw her off for a while. But as I said nothing stopped her she was soon back up in her feet, taking the odd step or two. Leading up to 11monnths shee did start taking small. Steps in between things or to us I think 5/6 was most we counted. 

On 22/09/20 at 11 weekss and few days she was off. She walked abit which I missed as I was at work. She had a friend over who is almost 2 so he is toddling around so this helped as she tried to copy and walk after him. Also being at baby groups she was seeing other older toddlers learning and walking. 

Then when I got home we facetime her cousin GI. Whilst gi was on the phone ariyah walked across the room to the phone it was so sweet as she laughed realising what she done. Gi was clapping and saying we'll done ariyah for walking. It was a precious moment that thankfully we also got on camera. Every since that there is no stopping her now. She walking everywhere. 

So here where the fun starts, although she not very fast right now so wee can catch her, on that note she is already trying to run so she going to give us the run around. Getting everything andd climbing more then she already does. So spend two Daddies help hehe.