Sunday Brunch

Finding a restaurant that caters to our evolving needs (good food, distraction for Luc, space for large stroller) is a rarity. That's why we were very happy to be introduced to sunday brunch at one of the 5 star hotels in Manila. It has was they call "theatre cuisine" which is essentially a huge buffet but the food at the stations organised by cuisine is largely cooked before your eyes. It was nice to go, eat and not worry about the indigestion I suffered whilst pregnant. Oh and the champagne "a volonte" is a nice touch too!

After brunch we strolled in the gardens and took our first family photo since Scarlett was born.

Business as Usual

Overall, Luc is adjusting well to his new sister's arrival. We are very lucky to have our nanny, Beth, who can spend time with him doing his favorite activities. Here he is doing some painting.

Wanted!

Believe it or not this is the photo that immigration officers the world over will identify Scarlett by for the next FIVE years!!

Gender Issues

If there's one thing that the Philippine people have mastered, it's the art of reproducing. The average square mile must have one of the highest ratios of pregnant woman in the world.

While I was pregnant, random people would announce that I was having a boy/girl based on the width of my nose, whether I was prettier than before I was pregnant, the shape of my bump etc.. What baffles me now is that despite this great insight into pre-natal gender prediction, when I take Scarlett out and she is wearing the obligatory baby-girl pink, I constantly get asked whether it's a boy or a girl. Go figure!

Proof of Life

Scarlett, 11 days

At the ripe old age of 13 days, our little Scarlett is finally showing signs of emerging from her post-delivery stupor. Just when I was getting used to resorting to cold towels and blowing on her face to keep her awake long enough to feed, she now not only stays awake during meals but for a while afterwards. It's fun watching her trying to focus on objects and listen to her gurgles. Now more than ever, she reminds me of when Luc was an infant, especially as she is wearing some of the same clothes.


Luc, 11 days

For the past couple of days, I've been picking Luc up from school on my own and taken him to run some errand or other just the two of us (one of the luxurious affordances of having full-time help at home). He seems to enjoy our brief outings together and actually seems pleased to be reunited with his sister on our return home.

Luc warm

For months we had been wondering how Luc would react to the arrival of his little sister. Would he try to jump on her every time our backs were turned or would he immediately become the doting big brother. We bought storybooks whose central theme was the birth of the main protagonists sibling, we talked about her and even gave her a nickname. In the end, I would say that his reaction was initially one of denial and has progressed to what seems to be a growing interest in Scarlett (her almost constant comatose state notwithstanding). He has yet to accept offers to hold her but he does like to stay with us while she nurses and even asks where she is when I pick him up from school solo.

Scarlett's arrival has also affected him on a subconsious level. He is more weepy than usual and has taken to waking up at ridiculously early hours. Friends tell me that this is normal, it's just a passing phase and that all we can do is show him as much love and affection as possible. So far, seems to be working!

Changing direction and nappies

Recently my Community of Practice focus has switched from innovations in Education Technology to breastfeeding tips and techniques. Scarlett Ann Rosalie was born May 4 which was almost 2 weeks before her due date and 1 week before the c-section that we had carefully planned for her to ensure that her daddy could attend. Best laid plans etc.etc. meant that Bart missed the whole hospital experience and returned from his work trip to India to find his new daughter already installed at home.

For some reason, we like to live from one milestone to another. My milestone for starting to blog again was going to be Mothers Day but of course that day came and went. So today has the milestone of being the day when little Scarlett's remaining umbilical cord fell off (making quite an impressive thud as it fell to the floor I might add). Her dried up cord stump made a hasty exit via the rubbish bin this morning because while the milestone is a cute one, the evidence is not!