Oh baby baby, how was I supposed to know.
When Kaylin was just 12 days old, I took this photo and declared her a chip off the old block. Now, four months on, it seems she hasn’t just inherited her daddy’s looks and expressions, she’s also got his adventurous spirit (hopefully) and his strong will (uh oh). Here’s my current favourite photo of my two number one people in the world.
The other day, I was out in the garden with Kaylin after a downpour when I noticed how pretty the flowers looked with raindrops on them. That was when I realised how long it had been since I really looked at flowers. So I took a few photographs. Then we saw a snail, and I realised how long it had been since I saw one. So I took another photograph. And I decided I really must do this more often.
This is probably one of those photos that, if my daughter ever ends up in therapy, will be pinpointed as the source of whatever reason Kaylin is seeing a shrink in the first place. I don’t know why that comes to mind. Must be her slightly… traumatised expression.
…makes all those 4am feedings worth it.
Can you spot the real baby in the photo?
For Kaylin’s full moon, we decided to eschew the usual red eggs, yellow rice and curry chicken in favour of these:
They were painstakingly handmade by a good friend of my mother-in-law and the detail on them is amazing. Look!
This is a photo of baby Kaylin in what her daddy calls her “I am a champion” pose. She likes to sleep like this. And she’s just starting to smile although this photo was a total fluke on my part.
Many people ask me what it feels like now that I’m a mum. I never know what to say, because the truth is, I don’t really know. I don’t feel any different – I’m still me, only these days, I spend most of my time eating, sleeping, breastfeeding and changing diapers. Also, I have the cutest baby girl whose very first talents seem to be feeding endlessly and projectile pooping because I never knew poop could shoot out of somebody like that.
Hubby and I are completely fascinated by baby Kaylin, from her little noises – and believe me, she is full of them – to her many facial expressions. But one month on, there are still days when I look at her and can’t believe we have a daughter. I can’t believe she’s ours, for us to love, protect and raise. I can’t imagine her growing up and going to school and all that other stuff. In short, I can’t believe we’re parents.
Baby Kaylin at two weeks old and a photo of hubby I quietly took one morning with my mobile phone. She’s looking more and more like her daddy everyday.
A photo of my baby bump at 38 weeks, taken eight hours before baby Kaylin was born. Hubby and I used to think we’d really miss my bump and being able to feel baby moving inside me but now that she’s out, I think I like her in the flesh much more. In the excitement and busyness of everything since, I’d totally forgotten about this photo, which hubby took just before we went to the doctor’s. Baby’s estimated due date was supposed to be today but I’m glad she decided to arrive early. It’s been exactly two weeks and I really should get her that birth certificate.
“An ancient species of everlasting plants known as the Resurrection plant that can withstand almost total dehydration for decades (losing 98% of its water content) and return to life unscathed when rehydrated … The Rose of Jericho is also said to have mystical properties and bring peace, harmony and abundance.”
I am so not the gardening type, but I was curious enough to put this in a bowl of water, almost a year after I first received it with a press release. I got it all shrivelled up and this is what it looks like after it has bloomed. It reminds me of those Chinese tea things that start out as a ball and blossom into a flower when you add hot water. This is probably going to be the only thing I ever “plant” in a long, long time to come.
