Father's Day

Dear Matthew, Toby and Josie

For Father's Day this year we had a few different activities to celebrate the wonderful dads in your life. On the Friday evening beforehand you had your annual bowling event run through your school Matt, and you and your friend Michael (and his dad Steve) shared a lane, and you had fun with a few other school friends who were also there. 

On the actual day we gave your dad his presents in the morning, including a t-shirt that you had decorated at school Matt, and we filled in a page of our book that you all draw in on Mothers and Fathers days. We then celebrated further with your Grandad and Maree, Aunty Chantel and Andrew, Saffy and Quentin by enjoying breakfast together at our place. 

The next day Tobes, Josie and I visited Gumps at his place to celebrate further and had morning tea with him and Ma Ma, along with my Nanna and Grandad, Aunty Sharlene and cousin Brianna (who were yet to meet you Josie). It was lovely to spread out the celebrations this way, and especially so given you were only about ten days old Josie, so you and I were still moving pretty slowly!

Love you all, 

Mum xxx

 

Josie at 1 month

Dear Matthew, Toby and Josie

Below is my summary of Josie’s first moth from Instagram: 

1 month old today 💕

And because I know I’ll forget, here’s a little summary of your pregnancy and your first month earthside, Josie Ruth:

You were the baby I never thought I’d get to have- a third child, a daughter, via a natural birth. I was in denial for a large part of your pregnancy because 2020 had thrown a few hundred curveballs at us (plague, anyone?) and I just couldn’t handle the thought of anything else adding to the never-ending storm. When contractions started on your due date I didn’t even want to acknowledge them because I was adamant I still had 2 weeks before you were to make your appearance. But, in typical 2020 style, you had other plans, and a quick 71 hours later you were in my arms. You shattered any thoughts I ever had about how my body wasn’t capable of doing what it was made to do, you linked me to the generations of women before me who had pushed a baby out drug-free and you gave me the opportunity to experience parenting a daughter. All in your first breath. 

Your first month has been one of celebration. You’ve been warmly welcomed again and again. You’ve slotted into Team Keene in a way I still can’t quite believe given the catastrophe I had imagined parenting three kids would be. You sleep on me in my bed and we get plenty of sleep because we stay connected all through the night. Incredibly, you don’t cry when you wake up, just grizzle a bit and look around, something I still can’t quite fathom. In fairness, you are a spewy baby but you make up for it by never crying when I change your nappy. Like your big bothers, you are not a fan of the car, but you’re happy to sleep in your carrier or pram. You have moved up a size in clothing and nappies and although I’m still not sure how much you weigh, your rolls suggest you’re doing ok. I still call you ‘buddy’ and say ‘good boy’ to you sometimes because 7 years of parenting only boys is proving difficult to shake. You are starting to smile and you’re relaxed in your bath. 

Thank you for the first wonderful month, baby girl. How surprisingly beautiful it turned out to be 💕

Love you all,

Mum xxx