9 months is such an eternity. A friend of mine, who fell pregnant around the time of Hugo's birth is just about to have a baby. Any day now. It's strange and funny to think that we have both been counting the weeks, her with her bulging belly and me, with my growing baby.
We have both come a long way already but it keeps going. Soon, my friend will find it hard to believe she was ever pregnant as she cradles her newborn and Hugo will keep moving on, leaving his current exploits behind without a second thought.
Everyday, I watch Hugo in amazement as he teaches himself the next variation, from his worm-like hopping to crawling to standing to cruising and on and on. He isn't interested in marking any moment in time. He isn't interested in looking back. I sometimes wonder how he knows what to do next. As much as I can, I let him figure things out and he does, slowly and doggedly.
The only time he stops is when he is asleep. It's not always easy to get him there and most of the time, I still feed him to sleep. Once he is asleep, it is so beautiful and peaceful. His naps are quite long at the moment, a well-deserved rest before the next round in his busy little life. He still has two naps a day and they are as vital to him as food and water.
I am almost certain that while there is a genetic element to it, Hugo's calm, easy-going and happy disposition has a lot to do with our peaceful routine day after day. I feel that my job is to organise the universe to minimise interferences with Hugo's needs. Putting him first actually makes my life easier because he is a lot more predictable and meltdowns are few and far between.
My Mum and step-Dad visited us for about 10 days and of course, it went wonderfully. Obviously there is the amazing practical side of having six hands on deck rather than two during the day but more than that, I love the idea of people getting to really know Hugo. With strangers, he doesn't give much away. He doesn't cry but it takes him a little while to get comfortable, laugh, play etc... which is why it's so special when Chris and I aren't the only ones who see Hugo behind-the-scenes.
Last week-end, we celebrated my 31st birthday amongst friends. There was breakfast, cake, music, sushi by the beach. The only thing missing was a sleep-in but you can't have everything. The low-key celebrations brought back memories of last year's festivities. The people haven't changed much but I was the pregnant one then. This year, it seems that just as I regain my pre-pregnancy figure, it is time for some of my close friends to pop. Funny to imagine where we might be in another 9 months...
At 6-7 months, Hugo was using even his sleeping time to learn to roll over but now a big boy at 9 months, he clearly needs it to rest up from and for his active days.
ReplyDeleteThough I hate to use the term "investment" when referring to children, I certainly do agree that now is when it's important to invest your time in being very present for Hugo.
Now and later and ... even later. Parents who don't give up a very busy social life and are often out for dinner and bedtime wind up "paying" (sorry, I know we're not talking finance here) for it later with messed up kids. If it's freedom the parents crave, it will come even later if they try to skip certain steps.
So do what's age appropriate now and later, children and parents will all be comfortable in their respective skins, not that a few "date nights" when you've got loving babysitters around
Sorry, got cut off there ... not that a few "date nights" when you've got loving babysitters around can do any harm. That's a pleasure for all involved! Even when the babysitters are "f_c_e_ Queenslanders."
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