Nursery, Signing and Christmas Market

Noah is doing unbelieving well at nursery, today Pete put him on the bus, he had a bit of a cry and was apparently fine when he got to nursery. I went to collect him and he was playing away posting shapes through holes. I waved at him and he was excited to see me but took his time in coming over to me. I am really happy that he likes nursery. The only problem I have now found is that he has become very clingy outside of nursery. He has started to cry when I go out of site. Its speech and signing is coming along really well. He has started to say a lot more over the last few weeks and he is picking up signs really well. I am now trying to encourage him to either sign or say two words together, last week he signed baby sleep which was excellent. Hopefully nursery will now help with this as he will get one-on-one care. Even though I talk most of the time to him, there is only so much baby chatter I can face.

Noah has got one of my little traits, Pete keeps telling me that I always point out the obvious for example if I see a Christmas Tree, I will point it out. Noah now points at things and names them, for example door, light, shower, dog.

This evening we went to the German Market which is in Birmingham for Christmas. Noah loved the Christmas lights, the carousel ride and the food was really yummy. Whilst going round the stores we bumped into a black Labrador puppy, it was lovely (even though I am not really a dog lover) Noah took to it straight away. And you'd never guess what the puppies name was Noah of course. What a coincidence.

Quick update on nursery

Noah got on really well at Nursery today, he cried when Pete put him on the bus, but apparently fell asleep a couple of minuted later. The nursery staff were able to take his attention to the toys which he loves. Apparently he went in the ball pond and down the slide several times. He cried at dinner time, but I think that was because he was getting tired. So all in all he had a really good day at nursery.

Update on Nursery

Well last week was a very stressful week, Noah just didn't take to nursery. He cried constantly unless I was there. So this week I am trying a different tactic. I stayed with Noah today, when I did go out of sight he started to cry but the guys there took his attention to something else. This lasted for about 10 minutes until he got really upset. I am sure once he gets used to the new surroundings and the people who help out he will settle down just fine.

We have also had a busy weekend, on Saturday we looked after my cousins daughter (6 months old), Noah was really gentle with her and started to sign Baby sleeping. He can sign them separately but has not put the two together until Saturday.

I gave Noah a chocolate on Saturday and I'll leave you with the mucky pup himself.

Hatton Country Park

On Saturday we took Noah to Hatton Country Park, despite it being very cold Noah had a great time, we got to see all the animals, including the guinea pigs which Noah took a real liking to. I can imagine in a few years time on the car journey home finding a guinea pig hidden in his jacket ;-) He liked them that much.

We went for lunch afterwards, where he was given a balloon. He had such fun with the balloon. Take a look at the video clip.

Noah didn't get on well yesterday at Nursery, I took him to Speech and Language before nursery and then dropped him in afterwards. He roared and roared. I went into another room to wait for him to stop crying as I would not leave while he was in such a state, after a long time he still wasn't settling so I went in to get him. I hate seeing him so upset, but obviously nursery will benefit him. He is still very young to be going to nursery and to be honest if he didn't have Down Syndrome I wouldn't be sending him. But he needs to start playing with other children and mixing with new adults to prepare him for pre-school. He has become very clingy and I am a great believer that things that happen in your childhood affect you in later life. Therefore I will not put Noah through anything that may traumatise him. He is going to be collected on the bus tomorrow and Pete will be putting him on so we will see how he gets on. Fingers crossed he will settle in just fine.

First day at Nursery

Well it finally came, Noah's first day at nursery. He wasn't too well this morning, I think it must have been all the excitement from his birthday, but he still had a smile for me. The little bus turned up for him at 9.50am and he was put on the bus. I think he was in shock as he didn't do much when I said goodbye. Apparently he fell asleep on the bus, but woke when he was taken from the bus. I went to the nursery just to check up on him and he was really pleased to see me kept hugging me and coming over to me, which was really cute. I stayed for about 45 min, when I left I said goodbye to him and he waved. I contacted nursery at 12.30 to find out how he was and apparently he had cried but had fallen asleep. His nursery teacher was going to wake him up and give him some lunch. The bus dropped him back just after 2.00pm and he was really pleased to see me, he had a few sobs every now and again. I talked to him about his day and I said to him did you get on the bus and he said bus.
He is really starting to copy words that I say now as well as saying and signing his usual words. At the moment Noah has about 50 signs and words.

How did I get on without Noah? Well it was horrible I hated every moment, I felt lost, I know its the best thing for Noah he gets to meet other people and socialise with other children, it just starts to prepare him for nursery and then school. But I was at a loss of what to do without him. I’m sure it will get easier especially if I know he is enjoying it, at least tomorrow I have more time with him as I am taking him to Speech and Language before I take him to nursery.

Happy 2nd Birthday

Happy 2nd Birthday to the big birthday boy. I cant believe how the 2 years have flown by. You have grown and changed so much in those two years. But you will always be my baby.

The Special Child