Maisie love

Charlotte just loves books. She is particularly enjoying Maisie right now. I just love watching her find the arrows to pull them to make the pieces move. The illustrations are perfect too: lots of black outlines and a plain white background. I'm so pleased that she is into books, I have always been an avid reader and I really worry that her vision will make books a painful experience rather than the pleasure I have always found them.

Ball Sports 101

Charlotte and I played our first ball game together today. She has a great throwing action and fantastic timing. (But we've known that for ages by the flinging of dummies out of her cot when she doesn't want to be pacified!)

She didn't want to just roll the ball back and forth today, no, she wanted to bounce-pass it; and she did so just beautifully! So she can move the ball, she'll just need to figure out some tricks to receive it.

Achromatopsia Convention

Some of the hard-working Achromats who network heavily through Yahoo Groups have arranged themselves a convention.

While we won't be able to attend (Chicago is a bit too far), I do want to give them a plug: it's 1 - 3 August and while the website is obviously still being compiled, the registration looks like it's working: www.achromatopsiaconvention.org

I like to think that one day I would have the guts to turn up at something like that. Go achromats!

Famous blind people

I love hearing stories about famous blind people. What I love even more is when I have had no idea that they were blind.

3 particular cases:

1. David Blunkett, former Home Secretary of HM's Government.
This guy held one of the most important posts in the government and was in the news almost daily. He resigned from the government twice and was in disgace for cheating on his wife. I probably read at least 50-100 articles about him before I read one that mentioned (in passing) that he was born blind. While I don't agree with his politics or his morals I absolutely love the fact that a blind man is so famous for everything except his blindness. I still haven't exactly figured out (or bothered to find out) what his exact condition is.

2. John Kay, lead singer of Steppenwolf (Born to be Wild).
I got this one from the Achromatopsia.info website because he actually has achromatopsia. I don't personally remember a time when he was famous but I definately know the signature song. Apparently he now lives in Vancouver - maybe we'll stop by with our blind child next time we go to stay with M's mother!

3. APL.DE.AP, singer with the Black Eyed Peas.
I've noticed their quirky glasses but didn't realise one had nystagmus. Thanks to James from the Nystagmus blog for posting this story from The Sun.

Balloons are scary?

Why are balloons scary? Is it because she can't see them properly and they look like people-less heads bobbing in the air, or is it because sometimes toddlers find random things-they-don't-understand a bit frightening? Is it a bit of both? Either way, Charlotte finds them a bit offputting, along with teddy bears (but not Emily's teddy).

She is toddling a few steps here and there. Not many, she doesn't have much confidence although she is much more physical than Emily was at the same age. She is climbing. That's a real worry! Cute, but dangerous. I love seeing her lift her little chubby leg and foot up high and really believe that she can scale the side of the bathtub!

But she did crawl into a wall at the neighbours house on Sunday. She was wearing her sunglasses too. I always worry that she won't be ok. Please be ok, little one.