Baby Whisperer

First her mother caught it, and then poor, little Nikki-Dee caught it. A cold. Mom says that the little munchkin is really feeling and acting woebegone. But this clip is from a day or two before the viral attack when she was being her perky self. She was in my lap, and I decided to whisper in her ear. The sensation seemed to interest her, and she kept putting her head back to my ear for more of the same. Now if that isn't the cutest ...

Fetal Pout

With Smudge's appearance imminent, the doctor wanted a final ultrasound to check things out. The result say that she is 7.5 pounds and well positioned. Doesn't she seem to be pouting though? Maybe she doesn't like the attention. "Let me sleep, will ya?"

Baby Thoughts

Here I am, where I often am in the morning, reading blogs and, occasionally, looking out the window. I expect to see weather out there this morning, but I don't. So far today, yet another weather warning is bypassing us. The Weather Network has been predicting freezing rain this morning, but it had better happen soon because morning is slipping rapidly away. If freezing rain doesn't eventuate, I hope that their next prediction does — warmer weather beginning with some normal rain this afternoon. Please may it be so.

Speaking of blogs, I just read Pearl's most recent post, Born That Way?, which was mainly a link to Nordette's, Are babies really born a blank slate? Of course they're not, but these blogs caused memories to surface.

With Smudge's arrival only a month away, I have been wondering what she'll be like. Will she be a placid little thing like her mother or a going-concern like her daddy, or will be be something altogether different? Will she be a quiet, doll-loving girl like Mom, or a more active sports-minded girl like Auntie? The differences between the two are rather remarkable and the type of thing which Nordette spoke of with her two kids.

Saturday morning is not the time to write a complete history, but let me share one difference between mom-to-be, Thesha (which is what I now propose to call daughter #1 who has previously been known as Butterfly), and Althegal (daughter #2, previously Bug or Lady Bug).

When we first got Thesha home on Christmas Day way back then in the mists of time, we were soon totally flummoxed. She wasn't at all happy, and we didn't know what to do with her. Rocking her, changing her, attempting to feed her produced no results. Then, MIL arrived with Christmas dinner and much expertise. That was one time that I was glad to see MIL, and she didn't disappoint. She took the disconsolate Thesha upstairs and came back down alone in ten or twenty minutes or whatever. Baby was asleep. Young parents were greatly relieved.

MIL explained the proper way to handle this baby. Wrap and hold her very tightly and rock her furiously as if you were trying to timewarp her, you and rocking chair into the next century. Strange but true! It worked a like a charm with Thesha. For whatever reason, it was exactly what she wanted. When we'd take her for walks in her carriage, we would furiously bounce it and her up and down ... and she'd be lulled to sleep.

Six years later, baby #2, Althegal, joined our family. We soon discovered that all babies were not the same. When I first wrapped Althegal tightly and began to rock frenetically, her petrified and frantic screaming quickly alerted me that such shenanigans were totally unacceptable. This was most definitely not how she wanted to be treated. Not in the least. No, Althegal wanted gentle cuddling and rocking. Oddly enough, she turned out to be the more active of the two, but that's enough recounting for the nonce.

And so, I eagerly wait to get to know Smudge and learn about her. Will she be quiet or boisterous, studious or rambunctious, musical or athletic? I look forward to getting to know her and appreciating whatever and whoever she is.

A Moving Moment

Yesterday, Cuppa was summoned by Butterfly to help put some finishing touches on the nursery. Company is coming next weekend, so although Smudge is not due for two months, it was time to more or less complete the decorating. No doubt, Cuppa will want to fill you in on all of the details, and since I have no idea what the details are anyway, I won't even try.

Often, when we drop in to see the kids, we'll first make a stop at Tims and take an offering with us. The photo shows me with travel mug in hand. What it doesn't show is my favourite afternoon choice, a blend of hot chocolate and coffee — with double cream of course. Mmm mmm good.

But get a load of Butterfly's cup on the dresser! Do you think she had a craving, or what?

Anyway, the gals did their thing while the boy and I watched tv, ate chips, and drank Diet Coke. Then, we all had pizza and watched the hockey game while playing Trivial Pursuit. At some point in time during the evening, Butterfly said, "Dad, I think if you put your hand right here and are patient, you'll feel the baby move." So, I did. Butterfly placed her hand on mine, and Smudge kicked or elbowed (probably elbowing as it was hockey night in Canada from coast to coast to coast) from below, three generations of Clouds coming together.

Three generations. The moment moved me.