Tiny is coming up to 2 weeks old. 2 weeks of breathing, snorting, pooing, wriggling and looking around at this big world. We have a long way to go, but I feel like I'm starting to get to know her - and let me tell you, Clementine and Adelaide may have the same parents but they are nothing alike.
Addie kicked more in the womb, Tiny wriggled. As a newborn Addie threw her arms and legs around, but Tiny actually covers distance by wriggling forwards on her belly and sideways on her back/side. Tiny is dark, Addie is a light ginger with blue eyes. Addie was born with epidural drugs in her system and I was so exhausted, feeling sick and awful that though I cried tears of joy and relief when she was pulled from me, that I couldn't breastfeed her on my own until the next day. Tiny was born completely drug free, placed directly on my chest and fed immediately. I felt an intense passion and connectedness with Addie right from the beginning, but a slower but no less deep love for Tiny that grows every moment.
Tiny sleeps apart from me quite happily. Addie could never sleep apart from me - nor I from her. [I can't sleep as well away from Tiny, so when I need sleep, she still comes with me]. My milk came in slowly, painfully and reluctantly with Addie. This time it has come in sufficiency and almost "on time" and even very well for someone with small infrastructure and a PPH. Addie fed 1-2 hourly, and was awake for up to 10 hours at a time as a matter of course, Tiny feeds at greater intervals [except when she needs to cluster feed which is normal anyway] and sleeps they day away.
Addie looked at the world with great excitement, eager to see everything. Tiny looks straight at you, and into you, drinking in what she sees with intensity and insight [at least thats how it seems].
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| Chalk- Addie |
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| Cheese - Clementine |
I find myself worried that there is something wrong with Tiny because of the ways in which she is different to Addie. Its impossible not to compare them. I'm so grateful that she is more relaxed and "easier" than her sister, and I'm curious to watch as she develops and we learn her strengths, weaknesses and character. I'm glad that she's not Addie - I have two beautiful but quite different daughters who will each teach me different things and contribute to this world in their own way. How blessed am I?
I love to hear about the girls! If I had two adorable little ones, I would write about them ALL THE TIME!!!!
ReplyDeleteI wrote such a similar post when my son Charlie was just two weeks old. (He is as different to Olivia as chalk is to cheese.)
ReplyDeleteI am constantly amazed that babies (and indeed the children they grow into) that are created using the same "recipe" can be so dramatically different.
And that second babies always seem easier.
Which leads us to the connundrum, is it the baby that is easier, or the Mummy that is just more chilled and confident?
Nature or nurture?
Either way, is is lovely to read about them, and Clementine is quite delicious.
It is quite fascinating to what characteristics and personality take place. Especially being able to recognise bits and pieces so early in life.
ReplyDeletei would love you to talk abut them! tiny name does mean mild ans gentle,
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