Six weeks old.

I swear that it was just yesterday that we met our second daughter, and now here she is, booked in for her six-week old immunisations, a smiling bundle of long limbs.

I just wanted to write a little about who she is at this moment in time, or at least who we know her as. In short, she’s absolutely lovely and we fall more and more in love with her each day.

At first it was strange not having that familiar loving with her that we do with our oldest. The knowing type of love that grows with time and snippets and experiences. The type of love that only develops as your relationship together expands. But we are getting to know her and it’s the best feeling, learning about who this little human is and building a relationship with them. Somehow you love them a bit more each day, even though today the love already feels like SO MUCH that your heart might burst.

So, here she is. These past few days she’s started smiling; a deliciously sweet grin. She loves it when you lay on the ground next to her, just chatting away and making funny faces. She coos happily and heartily. She loves baths and excitedly waves her little limbs when she sees her big sister. She loves being swaddled and being in the carrier, but she hates the car. All the typical newborn stuff.

We had no idea who our child would be, but here she is. And she’s perfect.

We’re still all figuring stuff out, but that’s the thing with being a parent. You always are figuring stuff out, and especially so when you think that you finally have figured it out. We’re all still learning each other and it’s a privilege to constantly be challenged to grow, despite how relentless it can feel at times.

She’s a big wee thing too! Apparently, she’s the second biggest baby our midwife has ever discharged from her care, despite a snack bang average birth weight. She’s off the charts for height too and is moving into 3-6 month clothes. It’s been very cool to see her chunk up.

We’re breastfeeding still and the journey this time around has been very therapeutic in a way from my first postpartum experience. I don’t know how long we’ll continue for, and I could write a gazillion pages about this that would be all rambly and incoherent, but I am really proud and happy for making it to six weeks. Either way, if we continue indefinitely or if we stop tomorrow, I’m happy. We’ll see what happens.

Our amazing midwife (who we miss terribly, already!) told me that each baby brings a different lesson to their parents. With our first, we were painfully carved into the people we needed to be for her. This growing hurt, but was necessary, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. With this small (big) chickpea, however, I think that we’re learning something about releasing expectations and control, to allow yourself to be led by your children. To walk forth without fear of the unknown and to be open to the unbridled joy that this brings. Watch this space though, because we’re still very much in the thick of it all.

We feel so dang lucky to be loving these two small poppets. It has been pretty chaotic for this past six weeks, but it has been a really happy time too. Things are flowing easily in a way they never did during our first time around, despite the challenges of having two little ones close together.

It has been incredible to watch the relationship between our toddler and newborn develop and I’m so excited to see what happens with time. Our toddler adores helping with everything to do with the baby. A few times I’ve walked into the room to find our toddler trying to undress the baby, having picked a new outfit for her or wanting to give her a bath. Our toddler also loves to put stamps and stickers on the baby. She pats her head and says “shhh” gently whenever she cries. It’s the sweetest! It has still been a big adjustment for her however, but we’re navigating this day-by-day.

So here we are at six whole weeks. Halfway through the fourth trimester! What a privilege it is to be here. Her fluffy hair after a bath really is the best thing.