Pre-Writing Skills

Nicholas is advanced in his ability to hold a pen correctly (with a little persuasion) and draw horizontal and vertical lines (if he wants to) so I have been looking up ways to develop this skill.

I was surprised to find that a lot of the ways to do this do not involve a pen at all, and we do a lot of these activities already! Spooning, transferring, pouring, pinching... all help develop the muscles and coordination for writing.

This is what I put together this morning:

Nicholas used his bucket and spade set to transfer packing peanuts, using either the spade or a little hollow dinosaur mould to scoop them up. He could also use his rake to move them around the big container. He LOVED this activity!

I also set up some red plastic crystals to spoon from one bowl to another, but he quickly realized it was quicker to use his hands... we'll have to work on his stamina!

My Little Escape Artist

Whenever it is time to get dressed (or undressed) I get this:

That is a vest, not a bandana. I usually have to chase him down at least three times every time he needs a change. Sometimes, I'll be getting the nappy out of the cupboard and he'll say 'poka' (bye in Russian) and shut the door before zooming off. Mostly, he'll just wait until I let go...

Physio and Psychologists

Yesterday we had an adventure in hospital.

First trip was to the children's ward, where we met a psychologist. We had been invited to be part of a study involving the psychological development of premature babies, and help test a new home-check booklet that a local university is developing.

The booklet was full of little games to play at home, and I have been attempting all week to pin Nikki down long enough to complete them. They are simple assessments of baby development from 10 - 24 months; build a tower/open the box/find the hidden toy etc. Nicholas did really well with everything apart from matching similar objects. He just doesn't get the idea of 'same' yet.

The psychologist did a much more in depth test - they played lots of games while I watched and encouraged. For some reason he behaved for her! I think she was surprised by some of the things he could do - especially puzzles. He let himself down there, though, because she was timing him and he had to stop and clap himself after every piece - and when it is an 8-piece puzzle, that works out almost doubling the time! Silly. Not that it matters really.

The final result was that we stopped at the 'find the same object' games, because he just didn't get them. She wouldn't tell me anything beyond that his level is 'above the normal range for his corrected age', and I don't know whether the report they'll send out will be any more detailed than that. I suppose it is hard to be too specific at such a young age, as babies all learn different things at different times.

She really just confirmed what I already knew - he's a smart little boy! It was an interesting experience, and all in good fun.

Next stop was our routine physio checkup. We have been seeing the physio every 4-5 months since Nikki was born, just to keep an eye on his development because he was so premature. Finally she was really happy at where he is (before she has been saying that he seems fine, but slow) and wants one final check up in November when he his hopefully running circles around me! I have the option of cancelling that one if I feel he's doing really well, though. So finally he is at a point in his physical development that makes the professionals happy that there are no impending mobility problems. Not that I was really worried, but he is right at the slowest end of normal in starting to walk etc. so it is a big relief that he's nearly there!

Make-up

While I was trying to sort out the drama with the lack of functioning monitor for my new computer, Nicholas was quietly playing at the other end of the room.

I should have known that when he's being that quiet, there is something afoot, but I was distracted.

I'm not really a make-up person, but somehow the single tinted lipgloss that I own made its way into Nicholas' hands. I mentioned in an earlier post that Nikki loves lipgloss. He saw me use it once, then every time he spotted it, demanded I apply it again. So I gave him a toy one and hid mine.

But Nikki found it, and was apparently not satisfied with dabbing it on his lips this time...

He pulled out ALL the lipgloss from the holder (it was solid lipgloss, lipstick style) and smeared it all over himself and my BEIGE CARPETS!!! He also smeared the skirting, but fortunately didn't put any handprints on my white walls. Unfortunately, I had dressed him up in a white shirt...

Computer Drama

I just spent a fortune on a new PC that I can't use!!!

My faithful old laptop must be bearing 6 years old and has a fairly advanced case of digital dementia - it takes forever to start up and frequently crashes. Trying to do more than browse the web will cause it to panic and freeze, the mere thought of Media Player causes complete system failure...

So, I dug deep and splashed out on a new and shiny PC. It certainly looks the part, all black and shiny and sleek... unfortunately they didn't bother to send the monitor's power cable, so the whole setup is unuseable!

Not that this is a permant thing, but I really really want to play with my new toy!!!

Look What We Made!

There was the most adorable craft activity at toddler group this morning - Nikki was a bit young to appreciate it (though he enjoyed putting on the glue and bashing when I put the pieces in place) but I think it is just adorable and will definitely re-create it in a year or so, when he 'gets' what to do.

I know it's too neat for a 'real' toddler creation, but like I said, he added the glue and bashed the pieces down - he just wasn't interested in the intermediate stage of placing the pieces!

The teddy and blanket were already drawn on the paper. We were supplied with a big bag of pre-cut fabric squares to match to the squares on the teddy's blanket, and pre-cut teddy shapes. I suppose you can make it harder by having to cut out the fabric (or squares of coloured paper) for the quilt and maybe even the teddy's body!

Language Pick 'n' Mix

Nicholas has, it seems, inherited my love of languages.

Not long ago at playgroup, the other mums were discussing their kids' favourite tv programs - almost exclusively divided between Peppa Pig and In the Night Garden. Nicholas shows absolutely no interest in either.

He would much rather watch something in another language! Most of the time we watch the Wink to Learn dvds in Chinese, and occasionally (when I need an electronic babysitter) I allow him to watch the full twenty minutes of Little Pim the Panda. Usually  in Chinese, but sometimes in Japanese or Spanish.

I don't force this; he demands to watch his Wink to Learn Chinese every time he's near the computer. And he will come running from the other side of the flat, or instantly stop a temper tantrum at the sound of the Pim intro music...

But, it seems, he has started getting picky! About 80% of the words he uses are English, and almost all the rest Russian (since he hears both languages frequently during the day). He does know a couple of Chinese words, too.

However ALL words are spoken only in one language. It seems that he picks the one he likes best and sticks with is. The word 'dog' has dissappeared from his spoken vocabulary since he learned the Chinese word. Similarly for the word 'bellybutton' and Russian.

It is not that he chooses the easier option, though. Initially he said, very clearly, 'peese' for please. Then I taught him the Russian (pozhaluysta) and he went through a long transition of 'pee-poo-da' and similar mixes until he could pronounce the Russian word with accuracy (for his age, at least!).

I find this quite a bizarre, if cute, practice. I know that he understands a lot more Russian than he says (presumably he prefers the English word) and I suspect the same is true of Chinese, though I can't check with any accuracy.

I know this is a phase - he's not going to be ten and still using one language per word - so I'm not really bothered by it. Though it is hard to explain why he says 'goa' instead of dog...

 He is excited by and willing to use other languages - I can't fault that! I just hope it lasts a lifetime!

Haircut!

Today, Nikki had his FIRST HAIRCUT!!!

I've been putting it off and putting it off, but although I don't have a problem with long hair on a boy, I don't like long fine hair that enjoys sticking up in every direction no matter how many times you brush it.

The mullet had to go...

And so it did! It may not be the most instantly noticable haircut he'll ever have, but it is very much smarter and  easier to manage. I wanted to get a picture of Nikki in the barber's chair, but unfortunately he screamed as soon as I put him in it and had his haircut with me holding him up, instead. My arms ached, but other than the refusal to sit in the chair, he was an angel about staying (mostly) still and didn't even try to grab the scissors once!

Bathtime Fun

Nicholas LOVES his bath. If it were up to him he would have three or four baths a day... or just never get out!

Look at that bruise! Much more visible on a wet head, for some reason.

Tonight I decided to do a little experiment and see what he made of having his washing-up bowl in the bath (the one I bought especially for Nicholas to use when he 'helps' me in the kitchen). I filled the bowl with water and added bubbles. He was quite careful about containing them to the bowl, right up until he realised that the water in the bowl was deeper and made even BIGGER splashes. He was also enthralled by the fact he could easily move the bowl in the water...

If you couldn't make it out, he's saying 'round and round and round...' which is one of his favourite phrases at the moment.

After all that splashing, at least he makes an effort to clean up after himself...

Getting him out of the bath is another thing entirely!

Big Bruise Day

Today has not been a good day for Nicholas. We should probably have spent it in a padded room! First off, he somersaulted over the back of my armchair and landed head first on the floor. This is the bruise he has to show for it!

Sorry the picture isn't very clear - his head kept reflecting the light and shining rather than showing off the massive red mark.

Within ten minutes of this incident, he went on to fall back and bang his head on the floor twice (from sitting, because he was being silly and not thinking about what he was doing). He then trapped his finger in the washing machine door.

Poor baby!

Walking

Nicholas is STILL not walking! He has been wanting to be standing more and more, but refuses point blank to let go. He won't even stand without support (even if that support is simply touching his fingertips to something). He is soooo lazy!

I am not overly worried - he is solid standing and walks with his walker or holding my fingers with no problem. Because of his prematurity, he has follow-up checks with a physio every few months to make sure he has no serious developmental delays, and so far his physio has not been worried - she assures me it is laziness.

He was about 18months before he would pull himself up to standing, and only crawled on hands and knees for the first time a month ago. He has a wacky crossed-ankle stomach crawl that he is using less and less, that he developed at around 10 months.

He is now at that very frustrating stage where he wants to be walking and is capable but will not let go. He can spend an hour bombing from one end of the flat to the other with his walker - the only problem is that he hits a wall or a corner every ten seconds or so, so I am forced to chase him and turn the walker for him.

One of our many corner stops. That is his laminated photo of Uncle Harry that he's taking for a ride.

We have our next physio appointment in two weeks - maybe he'll decide to impress her and be walking by then!

More Painting

We did painting again today. Not for any reason, just because I felt like it. It was too hot to go outdoors (for me at least!) and this is a great two-fold activity for Nicholas - paint and bath!

This time I let him paint at his table. Unfortunately he couldn't really tell where the paper ended and the table began... This is what it looked like at the end of the activity!

Nicholas stacked the paint pots himself to let me know he'd had enough of the activity! And yes, that is the table top covered in handprints...

Yesterday we went over to my Mum's for the afternoon to play in the garden. I spent most of the time cowering away from the sun indoors, but the boys had fun outside for a while. I took Nikki's tent for them to play in but it got ignored in favour of the trampoline. Nicholas LOVES bouncing on the trampoline!

He also loves 'helping' Mummy (and Grandma) with their ice-creams!

Second First Painting Experience

Today was Nikki's Second First Painting Experience! His First Ever Painting Experience was at around two months old, 'signing' his thank you for cards for all the presents he was given when he was born, a week or two out of hospital.

I have wanted to do painting with him for a while, but the more mobile he gets, the more intimidated I became at the prospect. Last night, when I realised that Nikki didn't have a father's day card for his granddad, I finally had the excuse I needed to get the paints out.

Nikki LOVED it! He painted two cards and was still eager for more, so I went and got some paper and he made another four works of art. I'm so glad I waited until he was old enough to understand what he was doing - the smile on his face when he saw the colour go from his hands onto the paper (and floor!) was incredible.

The bath afterwards was fun, too! Though the water went completely blue!

And here's the finished artwork!

Of Antibiotics and Acrobatics

Nicholas has an ear infection. Fortunately it doesn't seem to be bothering him that much - he is just grumpy and very short tempered. The last three times we went to the shops he has thrown massive tantrums about having to sit in the pushchair. They are the only three times he's thrown tantrums in the shops!

Yesterday Nikki took ten years off my life when he fell down the stairs. From the top. Luckily he mostly slid - by the time he tumbled head-over-heels I had caught him enough to control it. There appears to be no lasting damage - he seemed to be shocked more than anything and was cured completely by a Milkybar button. My heart was still racing twenty minutes later. I'm not going to be so easygoing about him climbing the stairs alone for a while!

Cars go beep beep

Despite my best efforts, Nicholas has become car-obsessed. I am against the idea that the only things boys can be interested are modes of transport (look at all boys clothes/bedding/room design ideas etc. etc.) and have purposely avoided buying things with a transport theme, with exception of the traditional train set and a clicking car track.

This hasn't stopped Nicholas. About 95% of his 'conversations' (unless guided by me) include the words 'car' and 'beep beep' in close succession. A lot of them also include 'Halu' or Uncle Harry.

I don't really understand how, but he has developed a love of all things transport. He spots planes and helicopters, going so far as being unerringly accurate in telling them apart from sound alone. He points out all cars he sees and hears (as well as telling me that they go beep beep) and has started taking note of motorcycles.

Don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with this.  I am against brainwashing boys into the belief that they *should* like cars etc. and am thus glad that he came to the 'boyish' interest in all loud, fast-moving objects entirely on his own. I just hope he doesn't expect me to play 'banging cars together' with him...

Mummy's Little Helper

Nicholas loves helping me. Unfortunately it is not always in a manner that I consider helpful.

For example, yesterday I went to load the tumble dryer to find that Nicholas had pre-loaded it... with half a dozen potatoes, several toys and a plastic cup. Obviously my comments that the washing machine was not to be filled with building blocks somehow led him to believe that the tumble dryer was... More helpfully, he does turn on the washing machine for me - once I have loaded it and he has shut the door (which he also does several times during loading, too) his 'job' is to press the 'on' and 'start' buttons. But only when I say so!

He 'helps' with the washing up, too. Usually by passing me the just-cleaned items to wash. Although sometimes he has his own washing-up bowl and cleans his own (ie. plastic and unbreakable) things. But only when I was planning on washing the floor anyway...

Today he decided to 'help' me with my maths coursework...

While I appreciate his insight (and was very glad that it was a rough draft and not my final write-up that he 'enhanced') I do long for a time when he understands the difference between 'good' help and 'making more work for Mummy' help...

Here's another 'helping' photo - washing the potatoes for me! This allowed me to prepare the rest of the meal in peace!

War Wounds

Nicholas has attained his first major injuries in the Battle for Mobility! On Saturday he was crawling on tarmac down a slight slope and landed nose-first on the ground.

He's scraped the end of his nose and gained a large bruise on his forehead. Poor baby.

Russian

I have been feeling very guilty about Nicholas' Russian skills. My dream was to raise him completely bilingual, but at the moment he only understands a dozen words/phrases and says only a couple of words. This is way below his English understanding. And it is entirely down to me.

I should really be speaking Russian as much as I possibly can with him, English is always going to be easy for him to pick up, as it is the language he is constantly exposed to. Russian is something he hears occasionally from his father (they speak once a week and he visits for a few days every couple of months) and me. And I have been very lazy in speaking to him, for a long time doing little more than reading the occasional poem and putting on a Russian language CD.

My new resolution is to speak Russian all the time when it is just the two of us. So far I have managed two afternoons this week... The hardest part is simply remembering to speak Russian! I no longer care if my grammar is perfect - exposure is key at the moment. We'll fix the grammar when we do Russian lessons in a couple of years.


On a completely random note: I can't believe the amount this child can eat! He has just completely demolished two 1-egg omelets (with peas and mushrooms) and some mini-cheddars in the time it has taken me to type this post. Infact, I had to search the area around his chair because I couldn't believe the speed he ate his egg!

Chinese!

My boy speaks Chinese!!!

I am amazed, really. Nicholas has very little Chinese exposure - in a week he has 5 minutes of his WINK dvd 4-5 times and 20mins of Little Pim once or twice. If that.

But a couple of days ago he was watching Pim and they showed a dog and he said 'gou' (dog) before Pim! I am amazed and incredibly proud. He has since said it several times when looking at picture books with dogs.

I'm raising a little linguist!

Photos!

I had some professional photos taken of Nicholas recently and got them back this week. They are sooo cute! I admit, I spent way too much on a framed panoramic set of 5 pictures, but I don't regret it. They turned out adorable and it is nice to have some 'proper' pictures to put up.

This is by far the best picture of the ones we ordered:

I also *finally* got around to ordering photo prints. It took me an entire evening and then some to sort through and cut down - I ended up with 300 prints out of several thousand. This is only the second set of photos I've actually printed; the first I did when he was still in hospital and they were shockingly poor quality. So I can finally start filling the photo albums he was given when he was born!

Nikki has finally learned to say 'bye' and wave. Before this he would blow kisses to say goodbye. He hasn't quite caught on, though - usually when I put him to bed, I blow a kiss as I leave the room. Now he pre-empts me by waving and saying 'bye' instead of blowing a kiss back at me. I much preferred the kisses!