What’s a Year in a Mother’s Life?

Somehow I have been unable to regale my readers with my tales of motherhood. Motherhood is not just something you can easily put into words, it’s not a just a feeling or a journey or an experience; it’s all that and  it’s also beyond that. It’s more than a transformation from an upbeat, care-less 20-something year old to who I am now.. I feel more deeply, I empathize more, I am more grateful, etc.. and I always look forward to going home at the end of the day. I feel such a deep sense of joy, gratitude to God for giving me a wonderful child and I live each day with purpose; to be the best mother (ever) to my son, to be there for him and encourage him to live up to his full potential, to create wonderful memories of childhood for him.

I quite easily remember the first time I laid my eyes on him, sleeping peacefully in the hospital cot. He slept a lot that first month.

Jeremy in the first month

Subsequent months saw him become more alert and playful.

He was my wallpaper in his second month 🙂

 

Even before the word selfie was inducted into the dictionary, we had mustered the art. He used to reach out and try to grab at everything.

Jeremy at 3 months

 

Then after he turned 3 months, my maternity leave drew to a close and I went back to work. I realized that if I had the option, I would have stayed home longer, freelancing or doing some other work that I could do from home.

He was 4 months in this picture and we were heading to clinic for weigh-in.

In most ways, I am lucky to have my parents support me. I still live at home and my parents are not just dotting grandparents, they are co-parents! This has afforded me peace of mind over his care, and although we all work, my mother always goes home earlier to check on him. We’re having a challenge getting a full-time nanny for him, but we take it a day at a time.

5 months old, and sometimes pensive.

By halfway through his first year, a baby hits milestones such as sitting and recognizing you, especially when I come home in the evening. He was starting to crawl and it was quite a sight watching him spend so much effort to move forward. He’s such a happy baby though, he’s always been so!

A jolly Jeremy at 6 months.

Watching him make that transformation from a helpless tiny baby to an energetic infant who can kick, scratch, scream, cry, laugh, give hugs, grow teeth and bite people has been the highlight of my life.

Black and white selfie at 6.5 months, say 7 months.

He loves his food, he plays with everything apart from his toy and he seems to hate unfamiliar environments. From the moment he started crawling, he’s never been in one place for longer than a second. He is constantly on the move, always exploring, pulling, poking, chewing things. His currrent favorite is opening and closing lids of various containers like flasks, hotpots, bottles..

8 months

He now imitates phonecalls. He’ll put a toy up to his ear and pretend to be talking. He talks, but it’s gibberish for now. If you teach him a trick, he’ll remember it. If you teach him a word, he repeats it. Too cute.

At 10 months.. still crawling around.

He finally started standing, for quite long periods of time. He now takes a few steps forward, then tumbles to the floor to continue crawling at crashing speeds.

On the eve of his first birthday

On his first birthday, 30th March, we had a party at my aunt’s place. Her daughter was turning 4 at the same time (31st) and it was a joint bash. He had too much cake and soda (I know he’s just one but it’s his birthday!)

My brother gifted him the Barcelona kit he’s wearing below.

On his first birthday!

What can I say? Motherhood is the best thing that ever happened to me 🙂