Nine months in the making - part 6

Nearly four months have past and life has become a 'before' and 'after' her arrival. This is how I felt and it's probably how Haythem and Shahy now feel.

We met up for picnic on Anzac Day and it was lovely to see little Haya. My family came along as well and my daughter introduced Haya to the playground :D.
Children definitely change our lives in more ways than one; rest is minimal, worries are many, but the happiness they bring overshadows all of the above.

A mother's love

The weather has been gorgeous this Easter break and I was very lucky to do a mother and daughter shoot, just in time for mother's day coming up.

My little sister and her daughter are so much alike myself and my daughter, and we can relate in a lot of things. Seeing my little niece grow up has been an amazing journey, that I'm now reliving through my own daughter. Our relationships, mothers and daughters, remind me of a quote from the Louis CK show, which goes something like this:

"Because of these children, our love travels through time. We love other people more, because of how much we love them. They give value to our lives that didn't exist before."

Be patient with me

I listen, I see New words, new things. Absorbing sponge End result of your time. The ancient, once prayed: “Be patient with me” And so, I ask today It is nurture I need. Being sawn, many seeds In both, heart and intellect These memories and knowledge Will flourish one day. Right now, random stories Meaningless to some But I’m slowly building My body of work.

© Maria Mastrogiuseppe - 2014

And then you were five

There were long winter days,

Waiting for you

The body coped ok

We couldn’t wait to see you

And then, there you were

Your tiny presence, amazed

Being weighed and checked

Every hour, needing care

Our house evolved

First nappies, then toys

Fluffy animals, dolls

Every room, was yours

Before our eyes you grow up

A schoolgirl in true form

Readers, pencils

and homework all-round

It’s challenging and exciting

To see you like this

Learning, experiencing

Life at five years of age.

© Maria Mastrogiuseppe - 2014

Nine months in the making - part 5

It's been a weather roller coaster in our part of the world. Days of 40 degrees celsius plus, then strong wind causing wide-spread damage, then back to 40 degrees plus heatwave, then rain!

Luckily our little ones have handled it really well. Stefania is no exception. She is now home and is enjoying lots of cuddles from her proud parents, sisters and extended family.

Nine months in the making - part 4

A month goes by really quickly. Little Haya is transitioning from a newborn, to an infant; growing and becoming more aware of her environment.
She looks at her parents and cradles herself in them, nowhere else is safer :).

The learning curve

It's been a busy and magical week; the start of our first school year!
There's lots to do, for our child as well as us (mostly paperwork!).
We are glad we took the week off to be on 'standby'; doing our best to make sure the transition goes smoothly; but the emotions are overwhelming and there's been a couple of hard mornings.

I can appreciate how she feels: small, overloaded with information and noise, and sometimes lost. But she takes deep breaths and holds on; that makes us proud as we know she will embrace the learning. The experience of failing and learning never stops, overcoming your fears takes practice and we see the rewards all around.

Recently I've been calling her 'baby girl' more often, perhaps the nostalgia of not having a little baby around the house anymore. The feelings every parent goes through I'm sure. But it is amazing to watch and experience this little person gain her independence and the knowledge she needs to survive. I too am learning from her everyday.