Scary moment

This morning we had a very scary moment – and I wasn’t sure whether to include this in the blog for fear of looking like a bad and irresponsible mother, but there is no point in keeping this record if I only write about the good experiences. I want this account to be honest and real.

I nearly dropped her. There were some flowers in a glass on the mantelpiece, and when we came down this morning they had fallen over. I tried to pick them up at the same time as holding her – she was resting over my shoulder and fell backwards slowly (or was that me seeing in slow motion?) onto the mantelpiece. It was so horrible. Until now I think I have managed to remain fairly relaxed about the awesome responsibility that is having a child, but today I thought – what if something were to happen to her?

She cried for a second, probably mostly due to my screaming ‘Oh my god!’, then was fine. After a very long cuddle and thorough examination I put her in her vibrating chair (which she loves more than anything!) – where she sat smiling and cooing at me as I cried. She was totally well, but I was distraught thinking that I could have caused her harm.

My dad said that they bounce, and that apparently it’s always newborn babies that survive earthquakes (can this be true?!) - which did make me feel slightly better, but she is the most precious thing in the whole world and it was an awful moment.

She is looking at me now, still smiling and trying to talk to me – more beautiful than ever in a green cardigan knitted by her Great Auntie Marian – I think we are over the trauma now, but I am feeling even more enamoured than usual with my gorgeous girl, and quite humbled at the thought of my duty to take care of her.

She is definitely getting more interactive as the days go by – she has been smiling apparently at random for a while, but this weekend she started to respond to Rob and me, and Zelia too last night – that lucky lady, by returning smiles when smiled at. This smiling game is enormous fun, and we have been practising extensively! She also just laughed again as I was changing her – a definite laugh for only the third time – it is amazing how something we all do almost every day is actually the most mesmerising thing imaginable. I wonder what it is she finds funny, or whether it is just an expression of her happiness… either way it’s gorgeous!

This is a picture of Elsie two days after she was born (and feeling very festive as you can see!) I will upload some more pictures now, so that they catch up to date.