The 4.37am feed and the Dawn Chorus.

Well, the birds are awake (just) so why not us too?

Now, I know that with a newborn feeding takes over your life be that feeding by bottle or breastfeeding. Feeding on demand can be …well..demanding (obvs!)

Currently we are experiencing the 2 hourly night feed situation and I must admit that this time round, with one little mouth to feed, so far, this seems to be a doddle! Having had twins to feed when we first became parents was, without a shadow of a doubt, a MASSIVE shock to the system! One of my best friends ‘Bean’ and her fella found out they were expecting twins, 2 years after we had ours and on a Twin Group night out, her Fella and my Hubs had a chat..

Bean’s Fella “Go on, tell me the truth; what’s it really like? Having twins?”

Well, ask a stupid question….Hubs is not one to mince his words and his response totally hit the mark.

Hubs “Carnage mate. Carnage!!”

Talk about a conversation killer! Bean snorted the lemonade out her nose! Fella looked ready to cry. The rest of the table fell silent. A tumble weed drifted past.

So, like I say this time around, with one Bub, we are coping insanely well! Taking the Night Shifts in turn seems to be a stroke of genius! One night I do my shift of nappies and feeds; the next Hubs does his shift. One of us gets a night’s sleep! Huzzar!!

I’ve always said that all I ever wanted to be was a Mum. Now I am a Mum to 3! Bit of an age gap but it is actually very beneficial. The Twins adore their baby sister and are so actively involved in her needs that it’s like having live-in entertainers!! (So far this week I’ve managed to wash my hair twice! Woo hoo!!)

For the time being, and it will be short-lived as time passes so cruelly quickly, our new Bubs needs us. We are her world and her world runs on a  24 hour clock.  So at 4.37 am with the birds in full song, whilst giving Bubs a bottle it occurs to me that all those Mum & Dad birds out there have their own little baby birds to feed too; with their wide gaping mouths eagerly awaiting a juicy caterpillar or crunchy moth.

We are all busy parents, whether we be feathered or freckled but this is the joy of my life. And, to be perfectly honest, sitting up in bed at 4.37am cradling my beautiful Bubs whilst she drinks contentedly, and listening to the magic of the Dawn Chorus right outside my window, is blissful.  It is good for the soul, a moment of meditation of sorts; knowing that all my neighbours, Hubs and Twins slumber on but I get to share this wondrous moment with my baby and Mother Nature.

From experience I know that this stage, although all-consuming at the moment, will only last a relatively short time. Twin 1 and Twin 2 are 10 – where the heck-a-roonies did that time go?! (Pretty sure that I’ve accidentally missed out a school year or two and that no one has picked me up on it!) We have to consider Secondary Schools now!! Again…What the heck?!!

I guess what I am trying to say is, embrace this time. Take those precious moments into your heart. Smell your baby’s hair (Sorry…sniffing things again! See Debut Blog Post ‘How many things have I sniffed today!) stroke your baby’s cheek, snuggle into your baby’s cosy neck and gaze in wonder at your baby’s tiny hands and wide glistening eyes and think to yourself how you, you clever Mum, made such a gorgeous little human. Well done!!! These moments and thoughts are what will get you through those times when your baby is crying. Loudly. Inconsolably. Like a banshee!  Remember the magic you have given to the world. I salute you, you fellow baby vomit covered Mumma!!

The Aloha Mummy 🌸