A baby is not a baby is not a baby

We went to our first ‘New Parents Group’ on Thursday. Penny, in typical fashion, slept through the whole thing (with the exception of a feeding window). I guess I had a little resistance to the whole mother’s group thing. I don’t know why. Hang on, yes I do. In my mind they were bound to be full of bogan mums with children named Rennay or Laneesha or Blayde or frankly anything that ends in a double-e. Very open-minded of me. But as with the prenatal classes, there were no such women. Everyone is lovely, the babies are adorable, and I can already see myself making potential lasting friendships here. And completely by chance, Sebastian’s mum is also in the group, so we’re already one up!

Something else I have come to realise over the past few weeks is just how different newborn babies are. I used to think they all looked the same, now it is glaringly obvious how each has their own little quirks and looks and shapes, not to mention the differences between babies of different ages – to me, a baby used to just be a baby. Now I know that a 3-week-old is worlds apart from an 8-week-old who is entirely unlike a 14-week-old. Obviously. Except it’s not, if you’ve only ever had babies on the peripheries of your life before.

No case in point has been more wonderfully telling as when Penny met her NEW SUPER BEST FRIEND on Thursday morning (me? Pushing friendships on the babe? Never). Little Grace is only 3 weeks younger than Penny, every bit as precious, and yet eye-openingly tiny… I am so used to Penny being such a lovely wee thing, it was quite startling to see her next to Grace and realise just how much she has grown in such a short space of time. I have noticed her face changing and her little legs fattening up; it is just amazing to think ‘wow, you used to be that small, have that same problem getting onto the boob, flail your arms helplessly like that’… she already has so much more purpose in her movements and has such a strong personality, like she is more than just a newborn baby now, she is her own distinct little human.

Meanwhile these photos of them meeting for the first time are hilarious.

Penny – Week 7

This outfit was the first thing mum ever bought for me. Although I like it a lot, it didn’t stop me from pooing on it shortly after this photo was taken.

Week 7 started badly. I’d just had my immunisations and this made me extremely grizzly and upset for a few days. Not to mention my poops. Wowzers.

After a few days of being a grump, I felt so much better and so happy! And I’ve been on loads of adventures, like when we took the train to Newtown and had some feeds that weren’t in my house! It didn’t distract me too much. I also got new nappies put on while I was outside! I felt the breeze on my little butt! Even though I had been to the park before, this week was the first time I got out of the pram and lay on the grass and got to watch all the people and dogs and bicycles go past and it was the BEST THING EVER!!!!

OMG I LOVE THE PAAAARK!

I used to fall asleep every time I got into the pram, but now I manage to stay awake some of the time. I didn’t realise there were so many interesting things to look at when we go on walks, so it is pretty cool.