The 52 Project: 19/52

 'A portrait of my children, once a week, every week in 2016.'

Dear Ruby,
Your first week of life as a sister has been filled with lots of highs and a few more lows than normal. Understandably, you are feeling a little more sensitive than normal, and we are doing our best to navigate these new parenting waters together. One of the most helpful things for you is if we spend as much time outdoors as possible, and thankfully, we have had an incredible week of sunshine which has made this possible. I took this photo on one of our many trips to St. Andrew's Park. The day had started off rainy and grey, but by the time Grandad had taken some photos of the four of us, the sun was shining beautifully. So, you did what any other water loving child was doing - went to play in the shallow pool with all of your clothes on. Eventually, you stripped off, as wet clothes are not the most comfortable thing in the world, and we all paddled in the pool together. I am thoroughly looking forward to a Summer filled with many more trips to this park, complete with sun suits, towels, picnics and sun cream.

You have been coming out with some wonderful questions and statements recently, so here's a list of some of my favourite things that you have said this week:

'Why don't I have pedals on my bike, Mummy?'

'I spread my toast....Marmite...it's all sticky...because it's hot.'

'You're like a sausage! You're like a sausage!' (To Jude)

'I'm just going upstairs wash my hands. Back in a minute! See you soon!'

'I'm just doing some knitting like Nanny do's.'

There's a small calculator we have which you like to use as a phone. You know it's a calculator but tend to call it an 'escalator'. The conversations you have go a little like this:

'Hiya we just went to swimming we did tiger arms. Bye!'

'Hiya we just planting some seeds. Bye!'

It doesn't seem like very long ago that I was marvelling at your three-word sentences, and now you are communicating so many thoughts, ideas and constructions with your language. Watching you learn and grow is one of my favourite things.

All my love,

Mummy xxx

*********************

Dear Jude,

You are one week old today!

I have lost count of the number of sleepy smiles you have done this week but I never expected to capture one on camera - this happened to be a serendipitous moment - you just happened to break into a perfectly timed smile as I raised the camera to my eye. I love that it also captures your dimple which only shows up when you smile, just like Daddy and Ruby. Seeing as babies don't tend to start actively, socially smiling until they're around five weeks old, your sleepy smiles have been a lovely surprise every time they happen.

There was a moment in the middle of the night last night where you had just finished nursing and you lay outstretched along my arms, and as I watched you sleeping peacefully, I thought about how much I love you, just as you are. You don't need to be able to do anything for me to love you, and I hope that you always know that - love is not conditional upon anything. I love who you are now, and I love that as your parents, we get to watch who you will become as you learn and grow, and discover the things you love in the world.

All my love,

Mama xxx