Minnie's Welcome to the World

Just as we hosted a Welcome to the World ceremony for you, Minnie had one at the start of this month. Once again, a huge number of our friends and family came and had a great time.

We announced Alex as Minnie's fairy godfather honorary uncle.

Mummy did a little speech about your name and read Oh The Places You'll Go by Dr. Seuss, Alex read Sneezles by A. A. Milne, and Daddy said this:

May all years as difficult as this one end as well as this one.

Yes, this has been a difficult year for us. But, looking back, not a bad one. In fact, looking back, our overwhelming feeling is of gratitude. Immense thankfulness for all the gifts we have received.

Our biggest gift was from Minnie. We were expecting a baby, we were not expecting a fundamental lesson in living our lives.

The day to day routines of pouring out breakfast cereal and toddler negotiations were washed out in a new depth of perspective. We had a chance to step out of our normal routines and really appreciate what we have – and we came to the conclusion that of all the people to whom a sick baby could have arrived, we were glad she came to us. Normal life was suspended and we had a chance to ask ourselves what’s really important?

The second gift was one which you all came here two years ago to celebrate. Penny. Her energy and vitality were a tonic during those early days of Minnie’s life. It was impossible to be upset when she was around, being sparky and delightful. She was and still is an empath to the core, affectionate and kind. Her daily distractions and lively intelligence gave us faith.

The third gift was from all of you. In difficult times, friendships and family bonds are tested, and you passed the test with flying colours! Our heads are still spinning and our hearts brimming at the amount of love and support that has flowed our way. Thank you. We love you all so much.

A tiny example of this love and support, among many, was on a Monday four days after Minnie was born. We were visited in the hospital by three wise people bearing gifts.

Seeing Minnie so tiny and helpless, subject to the excellent care of the nurses and doctors, but also the capricious whims of the universe, it was hard to know what to do to help. For us and for those surrounding us.

So these three wise people took their feelings of sympathy, support, hope and solidarity and embodied them in their gifts, all of which reflected their personalities. Like talismans, the gifts seemed to hold mystical properties, all of which helped to reinforce the atmosphere of healing and positivity.

First there was Norris. Ever the creative person, she gave each of us a small animal bead. For Minnie there was a dainty butterfly, so she could fly above the confines of her little incubator cot.

Then came Alex. Inspired by the sacred creature of the goddess Minerva, he brought her a cuddly owl. Clever and strong, this owl watched over Minnie in her hospital cot as she made her recovery. The owl still perches by Minnie’s cot and has been named Alex.

And then Greg. A recent father himself, he still managed to find the time to come to see us in the hospital. And he gave us a beautiful porcelain Buddha, hand crafted by his own father.

These gifts symbolise what we wish for Minnie. They remind us to rise above the strictures of daily life and remember what is important. Beads. Owl. Buddha. Creativity. Wisdom. Love.

I’ve spoken a lot about gifts. Life is a gift. My wish for ourselves and for all of you is to maintain that sense of clarity. May all your lows be outdone by highs, and may we all continue to be thankful for what we have that is most important. Thank you, and happy new year.

About Breastfeeding

Mummy here.

I finished breastfeeding Minnie today (Wednesday 22nd January 2014).  I didn't realise it a the time, as I was lying in bed at 6am letting her feed whilst trying to sneak in an extra few minutes of rest, but it was her last feed.  And probably my last feed.

I have loved breastfeeding.  Truly the lazy mummy's way out, it comes with a unique set of joys and mild annoyances.  Sure, you end up stretching the necklines on all your prettiest tops, and can't wear anything high necked or unstretchy for months on end.  And of course you get occasional nibbles as baby finds their sense of mischief at the same time as their teeth.

But there are endless joys:
- That feeling of closeness to your child that can't be reached in any other way.
- That feeling of pride, being the source of the nutrition that helps them grow, being strong and healthy.
- Being the ultimate source of motherly comfort.

I am lucky.  Feeding came easily to me, to you Penny and also to Minnie.  No mean feat, given that the slight diffusion issues she had when she was born, where her MRI showed she may have some damage in the part of her brain that manages feeding and swallowing.  But Min Min took to the bottle well in the hospital, and to breast feeding too, and I was very grateful as it meant she could be discharged more quickly.

But with Minnie, I had to fight to feed.  6 weeks of expressing while she was in hospital at the beginning of her life was followed up by a 3 week hiatus over the summer while I couldn't feed due to my tonsillectomy, a combination of lack of nutrition, painkillers and antibiotics.

So I intended to feed Minnie till her first birthday, just as I did with you Penny.  But, with a little help from my friends, I realised I was doing it for the sake of it, not because either she or I needed it or enjoyed it.

We were down to two feeds a day, first thing in the morning and before bath time:

• The morning feed consisted of her being unsatisfied, given my milk levels were low, and me desperately trying to keep her latched on as I tried to catch a bit more sleep.
• The evening feed became a token effort, with her rejecting ever more as she started to eat an enormous pile of food for dinner, with no room left for milk.

Minnie's first birthday is in 3 week's time, so we are only finishing a little earlier than planned.

I am a proud breastfeeder, I would encourage any woman to try it.  In most cases, it really is the easy way, to the extent that you feel put out when they start weaning as you need to take food everywhere with you, when for 6 months it has been dispensed from your chest.  I also am a strong believer in a happy child needing a happy mother, so if breast feeding really doesn't work for you then bottle feeding is not failure or a disaster, just different.

My two cents ... 

Your tree

I painted a tree on your bedroom wall when you were recently away in Greece. And I love it. To me it represents the robust foundations of your family, and the beautiful variety of life captured in the colourful and golden leaves.

Oh, and there is a rabbit!

I know better than most that small children can be an obstacle to creating good art, but sometimes you can be both the catalyst and the inspiration.

I hope as you get older there will be more good art created for you, your sister and for me

A Vat of Pandas!

We went to Ikea in December, as we were borrowing Yaya's car... and we laid your little sister in a VAT OF PANDAS!

Oh yeah, and we got a teddy called Bjorn.  Partly because Daddy liked him so much, and partly because after Minnie had cuddled him for about 10 minutes, he was covered in her snottles.

A Flying Visit to Brighton

We popped in to see Yaya and 'Metris in Brighton before Christmas, and it was very jolly to see them.  We ate some of Demetris' very yummy vegetable soup, and generally sat and chatted while Daddy picked up lots of boxes from the loft.

Lila doggy was staying with them, and you found her fascinating.  You were mostly very gentle and sweet with her, and she looked only a little put out when you joined her in her doggy bed.