Everyone knows that parenting changes you, but few reveal that it’s a constant, malleable transformation, reflecting the depth of your understanding of your offspring, and the deepening of your love and interest in their life.
When your eyes first connect with your baby, your ears penetrated by their earth-side cry, you meet a beloved mystical stranger. The connection is there, but they are totally new, yet to share their secrets with you, their highs and lows, their needs and wants.
Before motherhood rose to lead my identity, babies were simple, small and soft – mere silent extensions of their parents. The truth is uplifting and so important. So much depth and personality reveals itself early in life, crying out for recognition as an individual, with individual requirements.
Every layer of your baby’s personality is welcomed with open hearts, cherished as you’re gifted further knowledge of the love of your life.
A love letter to Eirik at 8.5 months:
Your smile cannot but lighten my heart
Your laugh, hilarious, my reward for joyously connecting with you
You climb everything, instinctively trusting in your abilities, though I fear for you
I am your safe space, your touch base, your extension
You want to stand, and already do so unaided, a shaky few seconds
You fight sleep, though daddy’s arms and mummy’s milk help conquer your misgivings
Your independence flourishes when you stay close-by
Peek-a-boo and repeatedly falling objects could not be more hilarious to you
You’ll try any food, and demand it if we are eating, flashing a mischievous knowing smile
Water is not a necessity, it’s an obsession
Nappy changes are always an invitation to wriggle
You cherish your freedom and don’t like being tied down
Things with faces make you laugh
You poke your new teeth, and impress with your willingness to take teething powder
You communicate through coughing, and smile because you know I understand
You talk into cups and bash them together
I know your secret tickle spots
You wrap your lips over your gums when you’re deep in thought
Every piece of technology is like gold to a magpie when you’re close
You love to shout and use your voice, and freely show your frustration
You discovered your tongue, and now make silly tongue noises and poke it out
I remember when you first sucked your toes, you still sometimes do
Every 7 minutes is the right opportunity to shuffle-crawl out of the room, at speed
You rub your eyes every single time you’re tired
You help yourself to mummy’s milk, and pop on, and off, and on, and off…
Baths are exciting, but any accidental dunking and you’re outta there!
You sleep in mummy’s arms, and on mummy’s chest, and on mummy’s face
You are the tower destroyer, and the ark dismantler
You’re loud when you’re tired, noisy and animated
You imitate us, you clap, wave, and slap your mouth, going wah-wah-wah
Daddy is your biggest entertainer
Clothing challenges your comfort with naked freedom
You hug, and it melts my heart
You love all animals, and yearn to explore them freely with your tiny hands
You’re the explorer, the entertainer, the inquisitive mind
And I love you deeply and unconditionally.
Rachael ♡
nourishing eirik 