Once again we are sunning our baby... luckily we have a great spot in our bedroom so it’s quite convenient to give him his daily dose of rays. The first day he was really not too keen to have his body all exposed but he really is starting to enjoy just lying there. Zara has also been enjoying helping us with massaging the calendula oil and passing us what we need when we need it. As you can see she takes her role very seriously as she also gets into her “birthday suit” to keep Eli company...
This morning we had a leisurely start to the day... Chris brought me breakfast in bed ;~)
We have been trying to encourage Zara that Eli’s feed times can also be story time. So this morning whilst I was having my breakfast she decided she wanted to read to Eli...
Eli is just two days old and I have just seen Sharon off after a her home visit to check on how Eli and I are doing... I went back upstairs to find our little boy happily sucking his thumb... Personally I would prefer him to have a dummy but we have decided to hold back on giving him one until we have fully established the breastfeeding. In the meantime, we'll just have to wait and see what happens next ;~)
Little Eli and Jett were born in rooms next door to each other only 5 minutes apart in the wee hours of Tuesday morning! It is absolutely bizarre how three of us had our babies at Genesis on Monday night... The first baby, Indigo, was born on Monday night. Her parents, Andrew and Clara and Jett’s parents, Toby and Taiya were with us in Sharon’s ante-natal classes. Eli at was born next at 03.22 am and Jett was born at 03.27am on Tuesday morning. The chances of this happening are pretty slim as our “due-dates” all differed by at least a week but clearly these babies needed to be born together – long may their friendship last!
Unfortunately we just missed Andrew, Clara and Indigo for the photo...
A mere 2 hours after Eli was born, we were packed up and ready to go home and would have been back in good time to be settled back into our bed at home ready to introduce Zara to her baby brother. Chris and I then decided to rather make use of a served breakfast & lunch (which we would be billed for anyway) and give Zara the “adventure” of coming to meet her new baby at the birthing centre. So by 7.30am Chris was back with Zara, he had told her that the baby had been born in ther night and she came into the room very quietly... I then asked her if she knew who had come out my tummy and if she would like to come and see. She carefully climbed up onto the bed and met her baby brother. She immediately wanted to hold Eli and was an absolute pro holding him – a natural born big sister, so comfortable and confident!!!
What an amazing experience! Monday morning started off as any other day I have had in recent weeks...I had been having early labour signs for the past 10 days and knowing you can have early labour for up to 4 weeks, I was getting used to them thinking that our baby would never come.
Zara and I went off doing some chores, had a nap and then went to swimming. On the way to swimming I asked her when our baby was going to be born and she said “Mommy on Monday – no Tuesday” Little did I know then that she would be quite right and in fact things were really imminent. After swimming we came home, I made her dinner and then went off to Yoga as usual. On my way to Yoga, I spoke to Andrea our Doula and she told me that Andrew and Clara (from our ante-natal classes) were in having their baby, so I kept talking to our baby, saying that even though we were ready for him/her, we needed to wait just a little longer so that we could all have Sharon.
Chris and I had supper, I had a lovely relaxing bath and then at about 10pm, I got a message from Taiya (another mommy to be from ante-natals) asking me if I was with Sharon... Guessing this meant that she was also in labour, I called her to let her know Clara was with Sharon at Genesis and they should probably get themselves to Genesis. Thinking we were still safely incubating early labour, Chris and I joked about the likelihood of three babies being born in one night... Little did we know that I would go into labour an hour later! Low and behold, by 11.45pm I was feeling strong contractions. I got into the bath again while Chris rallied around cooking me potatoes, trying to time contractions, make phone calls and pack the car... Mirriam came in to be with Zara and she helped Chris pack the car – we eventually were packed and ready to go – we got to Genesis at about 1.30/1.45am and I was very happy to have Sharon meet me at the car! She took me through to our room and it was all stations go.
Chris and Andrea were extremely busy getting photos set up, lighting candles, building the pool and getting our music playing. Chris certainly didn’t have a moment to spare so Sharon stayed with me, encouraging me all the way. At one point I was certain I just didn’t have it in me to carry on. The contactions were relentless - just one after the other with no break! But with Chris and Sharon’s gentle encouragement I managed to keep going. I was desperate to get into the birthing pool and poor Chris was trying to get both - the one we had hired as well as the Genesis bath - filled as quickly as he could! I’m not sure how long we had been there when I could finally get into the smaller Genesis pool. It was just taking too long to fill the bigger, more comfortable pool. The water was such a relief! Before I knew it Eli was out, born in the water, being passed into my arms. My first thought was that he looked exactly like Zara so Chris assumed we had another girl. We had to pry his legs open to see who he was and when I said a boy Chris was so surprised he had to double check. Eli Oscar Atkinson was born at 03.22am in his membranes - "in the Caul" - after a whirlwind 2hr 35min labour – a more perfect birth we couldn’t have wished for!
So having checked that there are no leaks and with Zara having had a great deal of fun swimming in the birth pool it was time to pack it all up so we can just put it in the car when we ready to leave for Genesis...
Zara and Daddy had a ball playing together whilst packing up ;~) and then of course they had to have a "nap" after all their hard work!
We have been priming Zara all week that the Easter bunny may come visit our garden if she is a good girl... Last night, having been reminded that Sunday was today, she went to bed with no hassles and at about 8.40am this morning Chris had to wake her... We had told her that she had to have breakfast first and then we could phone the Easter bunny and see if he had been in our garden. The only problem is that there have been Easter eggs in the larder cupboard so she thought that that was where she had to look...
After breakfast and much negotiation to get dressed we headed out the kitchen door in search of Easter eggs... Considering her usual sharp eyesight she needed quite a lot of help in spotting the prominently displayed eggs... Having found one (huge) chocolate bunny, she was happy to abort the hunt and devour the entire chocolate. I think even Chris would have been defeated by the size of the chocolate but Zara just kept at it till it was all in her tummy... and then wanted more!
After the hunt we went to Delta Park, came home and had some lunch, all had a sleep and now Chris and Zara have gone for a ride on the bike past Samuel's house.
This is probably the first Easter we have spent in Jozi (in 12 years) and I must say, its been a lovely - quiet - family day and I have thoroughly enjoyed being at home for a change...
Having been caught "unprepared" when Zara was born, we have found ourselves quite the opposite for little Flutterbug's arrival.
Chris collected the birth-pool on Thursday and we spent most of Good Friday sorting and packing what we need when we go to Genesis for the birth. Even though this is a fully functional birthing unit, there is still a lot of additional "stuff" Sharon likes us to take with to make everything more homely and run more smoothly.
One of the most important things to do was to check that all the bits and pieces are there for the pool and that it doesn't leak. So, while I sorted,washed,dried and packed baby clothes, Chris set up the pool...
Zara had a good sleep while we were busy and by the time she got up, the baby's room was sorted and most exciting - there was a massive "pool" for her to have her bath in...
With everything packed, ready and waiting, we now just need to relax and enjoy our time together till Flutterbug decides he/she is ready to meet us all...
Knowing our luck it will be another FOUR weeks - so sit back, relax and enjoy the wait with us. We will let you know when he/she is safely here!
Yesterday we had a small Blessing Way Ceremony & Baby shower...
A Blessing Way, which is a North American Indian tradition is fast becoming a great alternative to the traditional 'baby shower'. Having only ever been to one other Blessingway for Antonella, who's son is Zara's age and baby girl is 4 months old, I knew that it would be something I would want to have with my friends and family when the time came to celebrate Flutterbug's imminent arrival.
Two weeks ago, Orsi & Jo offered to organise us a baby shower & I felt it would be great to include parts of this tradition into our family get together...
Each woman was asked to bring a bead or two for a blessing necklace. During the ceremony the women left the Dads with the kids and we all went upstairs to form a sisterhood circle. Then a bowl was handed around and each woman gave her beads and a blessing for me and new baby as they threaded the beads to make a necklace. The necklace was then given to me to wear during the rest of my pregnancy and the birth. I have been totally blown away by the love, support & empowerment this has given me, Chris & Zara as we enter our last faze of preparation to meet Flutterbug.
Afterwards we all went back down to join the Dads and kids, gorged on far too much yummy cakes and treats and got thoroughly spoilt with gifts for Flutterbug...
What a truly magical day that we'll treasure for years to come - Thank you everyone!
