Thursday 9th September 2010 - Three mothers, one father.

This little boy will never lack for a mother. Three in total, here are two of them. Timothy's head is just visible. He is asleep. He spends a lot of time sleeping. That's when he isn't pooing or feeding. He likes feeding. I do remember my father-in-law's description of baby's. Little eating sleeping pooing machines. But that's about all Timothy has done this week. He lost weight. That's normal. Then Stephanie's milk came in. Now he is putting weight on again. For the rest of the time. He sleeps. And sleeps. And sleeps. And when he is done sleeping, he sleeps some more. He does spend some time awake working out who these strange people are who keep looking at him. It's hard when all people do is gawk at you.
Can you imagine life from Timothy's perspective? He has spent the first nine months of life in a warm water bed. We wont go into some of the noises he has heard in there or what he might have felt in there. Such things as that are not spoken of within polite company. Then one day all that changed without warning. Mum does a whole pile of moaning and groaning. Then he finds himself being pushed down this impossible narrow passage that no normal sensible person would attempt to negotiate. Then firm hard hands, solid, grab him and support him and thud he lands, backside first, on some hard squishy object. Then he is towels and washed. He opens him eyes for the very first time and here, not that he knows this, are these really weird people staring at him and crying and blubbering all over the place. And it is cold. And he is feeling a whole range of feelings and all he wants to do is get back in that warm environment that he just was in. As the days go by, Timothy has got to work out which way is up, and what these weird people who cry a lot and plant kisses all over him a lot, really expect of him. Can you imagine seeing for the very first time? Talk about sensory overload!
The girls are fascinated and want to hold him all the time. Or change his nappy. Can some sensible person tell me what is so fascinating about changing the diaper on a baby's backside is? Sure beats me.
The photo you see above is normal in our house with baby's. Some would say we will spoil the baby. Funny about that. Cathy was carried just about all the time until she wanted to move around on her own. We would place her on the floor on a rug. When she indicated she had enough we would pick her up. Some said she would be clingy. Not so. She is one very independent young lady. So for the time being, so long as it is possible, young Timothy will be in some one's arms. He will be carried here, there and everywhere. He will sleep when he wants. And wake when he wants. And he will sleep. He will not be put down to sleep. He will, like his elder sister before him, learn to sleep where ever he is. Like his elder sister before him, he will observe and learn. He will be smothered with love and affection, and occasionally tears. Tears of joy as well as tears of sadness. He will learn by example and observation and, where needed, correction. But that correction will be instance and without malice. Just like his elder sister before him. He does now, and will until he wants otherwise, sleep between his mum and his dad. Just like his sister before him. When he wants a feed, he will feed. Because he is right with us all the time, discipline will be instance and done with love. He will learn to keep his legs down when having a diaper changed and not to touch certain stuff.
Oh, and when I said about being held all the time, that includes meal times. When we eat, some one has him in their arms. He is only just today six days old. But he has not known a time so far when some one did not have a hold of him. And he is one very happy and contented baby. And, what's more the bond between Timothy and his older sisters is growing. Rapidly.
So, if you should come a calling any time soon you will no doubt get to hold a very small baby in your arms and experience parenting against all the rules.
Just one more thing before I exit. Timothy is showing signs now of smiling. And also has begun to study whoever it is that has a hold of him. It is a wonderful thing to observe a child growing and learning.
OK, I lied. But I have just this minute remembered something from this morning. Please be patient, but I am a dreadful bragger. Especially where my wife and children are concerned. This morning I was at Michele's school in her class hearing the children with their reading. I have two chairs just outside the class room door upon which the child who is reading and myself sit. I can see in the class clearly from this point. I glanced in the class room to see Michele and one of her friends looking up at the ceiling with a look of absolute wonder on their faces and in their eyes. I looked up at the ceiling to see what they were so en-rapt with. And some one was using a mirror to reflect a light beam upon the ceiling. The look of wonder on these children's faces was priceless! I am so glad I have the privilege to see such sights.
And if you are a male reading this blog and your married, and your wife has a baby, watch her. Observe her. Admire her. You are witnessing a miracle at work. She is doing something you can never hope to do. I can watch my wife for hours and hours and hours on end. And when I am done watching I can do it all over again. All of the time.
Till next time....