Hey Bun, meet Blogophere

What a ride it has been since my last post!

I thought I should start by introducing the newest member of our family - my little cheerful Bun. This is her, at 4.5 months:

 

God must have known that we needed the extra lift, sending us this wee bundle who generously hands out happy gurgles and heartwarming smiles. I am immensely grateful for her cheerful disposition despite the not-quite-ideal pregnancy. Someone quipped that she should be one of the ushers at the church service we attend, since she dishes out smiles to everyone so readily!

She looks quite like her sister did, but in a smaller size. While Bubbles hit the 95th-97th percentile in height and weight for most of her 1st year, Bun hovers around the 10th. At 2 months, Bubbles was heavier and taller than Bun was at 4. 

I guess I am not a very reliable oven!

When was the last time you were THIS excited about a new toy?

Her hair, of course, is her crowning glory. We've had countless strangers come up to talk to us because of the generous crop she has. I love nuzzling up to it, and know that I will miss this once her hair grows longer and flops down permanently.

Gorgeous blooms I received after the birth of Bun

So how has it been being a family of four? I have two answers to that:

One would be the blissfulness of being a mother surrounded by beautiful kids, with a supportive husband who is a loving father. Our lives are full of baby chuckles, funny conversations, storybooks, languid swims, cycling, scooting, drawing, painting, crafting, singing at the top of our voices, and pretend play. Oh, and freshly baked aromas, many hugs, cuddles and kisses, kiddy parties, picnics, library visits, hanging out at playgrounds, and play dates with small person friends.

It is really all of that.

Remove the rosy tint and you will also see a life where adult 'me-time' starts only after 10pm, and sleep is never enough. Days pass where the brain feels numb from the repetitiveness of baby and child-minding - the endless diaper changes, cleaning bums, feeding, burping, lulling babes to sleep, managing tantrums, school runs, reading a book so many times that it can be rattled off from memory, and answering 'Why' and 'What happens if' questions all day. It is the sheer demand of tuning in to their world, to keep them fed, cleaned and entertained. Schedules are constantly being jigged and juggled to keep the domestic machinery moving, with the aim of reaching a perfect balance somewhere, somehow, sometimes.

More than ever now, I remind myself to Eliminate and Concentrate, even as I dip my toe once again into this world of my old friend, the blog.