baby smilingWEEK two of Naomi from Seven Cherub’s Cherish Your Cherubs project is to “remember” a moment of your child/ren’s life. Regular readers will be familiar with my From bump to baby in six hours post. This was Ella’s birth story. It was a dream – six hours, no drugs and a huge three-course meal to follow. Ah, the memories.

However, rarely do I discuss Baby Holly’s birth and I most certainly haven’t recorded it. But I should. Here’s why:

There’s something about our li’l girls and national sporting events. I sometimes wonder if it’s their first little message to their Dad that they’ll forever keep him on his toes. Princess Ella was due Melbourne Cup Day, but came six days later. Much to The Bloke in The Shed’s relief.

Baby Holly was due a week after the AFL grand final. That was until his beloved Collingwood Pies and St Kilda ended the big game in a draw – and had to come back for a rematch a week later. “You know what’s going to happen, don’t you?’’ he asked. “She’ll come right in the middle of next week’s grand final and I’ll miss the game.’’ I laughed – because I’d been thinking the exact same thought.

baby smile

One week passed. The three of us sat down to watch the big game – again. Well, one of us did. Two of us watched The Fairies. At quarter time, I went off to do what every woman does at this point in a footy game – a whizzer.  However, I got more than I bargained for. “Ahhh, I think she might be on her way,’’ I announced on my return. The Bloke in The Shed’s face turned whiter than my legs at the end of winter. Unless of course some major deforestation needs to take place and then who knows what’s going on down there.

His panic was partly because, well, the game’s not over yet and Collingwood were a chance. And partly because Ella came in a major rush and apparently these babies get quicker each time. Should we hit the road now? In typical Baby Holly style, she teased us for the rest of the day. Unlike Collingwood, which pulled off a victory and prompted the first of many tears to come from The Bloke in The Shed over the next 24 hours.

baby's hand

After lying awake all night, by 5am she was well and truly packing her bag and preparing for her journey. I figured I’d best do the same. I woke The Bloke in The Shed and had mum pedal faster than the Flinstones to come look after Ella, who was still blissfully sleeping.

At the hospital we settled into a room and then the bath and then… waited. I was constantly asked if I wanted drugs. I obviously looked like I was in a lot of pain. “No, I’m fine,’’ I said. I’d done Ella’s birth drug free, this one should be a piece of cake. Besides, I don’t do drugs. But I will do a pina colada.

baby smiles

When nothing continued to happen – or not happen –the decision was made to break my waters to get things moving. Bear in mind, I’d only really been in labour a few hours. I was advised pethidine would be a good idea, so I reluctantly took it. And regreted it. But that’s another post for another day. In just seven hours (I know, really, what was the rush?) Baby Holly was on the cusp of taking her first breath. This birth hadn’t gone as I’d planned and was mostly a blur, but it didn’t matter.

At that moment, one of the midwives grabbed our camera. Even thinking about that now makes me shudder. A million thoughts ran through my head. The loudest was: No, woman, put that thing away. Please. Unfortunately, the snaps were taken. It was like the paparazzi chasing Paris Hilton, trying for every angle possible. I kept those photos. I have no idea why.

baby's eyelashes

Within seconds, those thoughts had gone and instead I was totally focused on the li’l princess in my arms. As far as dried up prunes go, she was gorgeous. The tears from The Bloke in The Shed said it all. While those early moments together – just the three of us – were precious, there was a moment that superseded them all.

The magic moment, the one I most want to have recorded, is when Ella walked into the room. She burst through the doors, face beaming and, without giving her Dad or I a second glance, squealed: “Where’s Baby Holly?’’. Just like that. She then ran frantically around the room, trying to figure out where she was meant to be going. It had been such a long nine months for her, that the reality of her sister being here was all too much. The look on her little face when she caught sight of her brought me to tears. She was just so overcome with this little person that would now and forever be in her life.

Sisters

Nearly 11 months on, that love hasn’t diminished. Constantly I catch them cuddling and kissing each other unprompted. I can’t imagine their lives without each other.

two sisters cuddling

Princess Ella and Baby Holly cuddling

If you have older children, what were their first reactions to seeing their new sibling? What about you – how did you react?

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48 Responses to Cherish your cherubs: The birth story I rarely tell

  1. Tania says:

    When Will was born I couldn’t wait for Evie to come to the hospital. It was the longest I’d ever been away from her! I heard her come charging up the hallway and I was so excited to see her. She burst into the room and came and stared at the baby with an amazed look on her face. Then she looks up and says “Mummy, I said I wanted a girl”. Classic!

    When Olive was born, again I couldn’t wait to see her siblings. It was such a relief to hear little voices outside the door. They came in and Evie had eyes like saucers. She didn’t know if she had a brother or sister yet. I said to her ” Come and meet your new baby…”, her eyes got wider still and her mouth open in anticipation and then I said “sister” and she had the BIGGEST smile on her face! She clapped her hands and then gazed at Olive and wanted to hold her. It was so so cute.
    Will was far more interested in the bed levers at first. He wasn’t terribly interested in Olive, all he wanted was to sit on the bed with me and cuddle up. First thing he did when he got on the bed was drive his elbow into the caesarean incision. Ouch!!! .
    When we got home Evie seemed to think that Olive was her responsibility and used to run to rock the bassinette if she was crying and help with nappy changes and holding the baby if I needed some help. Very sweet. They are both still little mother hens and often I’ll hear one or both of them singing “Row row row your boat” or “Round and round the garden” with her in the car if she’s getting cranky. It is really lovely.

    • Kel says:

      LOL!! I love that she said she wanted a girl, Tania. That’s gold!
      How great is it they turn into little mothers over their younger siblings. You can only hope that’s going to continue well into the future!!
      Thanks so much for sharing that. It really makes me smile. x

  2. Alyce says:

    Aw, siblings are adorable 🙂 Jonathan loves to cuddle Isabelle… sometimes too much so!!

  3. Yeran says:

    Awww Kel thanks for sharing. Both your daughters are magic. I love the whole sporting events thing and how the bloke was worried the birth of his daughter would interupt his fave game.. men ;-D
    I mostly love Ella’s reaction to Holly and that last photo just melts my heart <3

    • Kel says:

      Isn’t that photo great, Yeran? I was aiming for a completely different shot and then this one happened! They’re always the best photos.
      And yes, Ella’s reaction was classic! 🙂

  4. Sif says:

    I loved all the photos! I don’t really remember how each of the boys reacted to each other’s arrival, actually, except that when Ari (our last) was born, the first of his brothers to hold him was Luey (7 at the time) and he was in awe and so gentle and since them he has always considered himself to be Ari’s special brother. The connection between them is very strong.

    • Kel says:

      That’s so lovely to hear, Sif. I hope Ella and Holly’s connection stays strong too. They just love each other to bits right now. Long may it continue! 🙂

  5. Madeline says:

    I think watching the relationship between my two develop has been the best thing about second time parenthood. When Lil met Ed for the first time I was in bed holding him (at home) and my husband was in the shower. Her grandparents brought her home and she marched right in the unlocked front door asking where the baby was even though they hadn’t told her he’d been born. (At the time I was a little disappointed that my husband missed the first meeting but it doesn’t really matter now.)

    • Kel says:

      How incredible that she knew. I have to agree that watching the relationship develop between them has been one of the highlights – and we’re only 11 months in. I can only imagine what it will be like in a few years. 🙂

  6. I wish the nurse had taken pics with my births.. I dont have very many pics at all and i would of loved some.. great post x

  7. I love all your photos! Your girls are gorgeous!
    I couldn’t agree more about your comment ‘I can’t imagine their lives without eachother’. My three girls are very close, although they are very independent, they are a great comfort for eachother. I over heard my middle child say to her big sister, “when your at Pre-primary I miss you but that is okay because I see you at 3 o’clock”. These precious moments………thanks for sharing 🙂

  8. Daisy says:

    Awwwwww! How sweet is Ella!! And those photos of them together are gorgeous! That’s a great birth story, Kellie! Thank you so much for sharing xx

  9. Toni says:

    Good story, Kel!

    My son fell in love with his sister from the first moment, and he’s the typical protective Big Brother still. They get along really well most of the time, even tho he’s nearly 10 and a BOY boy, and she’s just 6 and a girly little girl.

    Having had kids that couldn’t even look at each other without WW3 erupting, this sibling love is bliss.

    • Kel says:

      That’s so lovely to hear, Toni. I’m sure that will bode well for her through school too.
      I think Ella will be the protective big sister to Holly. Can’t wait to see how their relationship progresses. 🙂

  10. Naomi Ellis says:

    Super cute post my friend. Love this story although it is full of different emotions for you and love that everything worked out in the end. My kids have always been excited for the next baby to join our family but nothing beats the excitement my older four felt when they came to the hospital to meet their twin brothers. So lovely and a great memory for me. Thanks so much for linking up. N x

    • Kel says:

      Oh, I can only imagine what it would be like for them to meet the twins, Naomi. How exciting for them!
      Every time I think of that day, it makes me smile. I’ve never seen her quite as excited as she was in that moment. 🙂

  11. rachel says:

    that’s beautiful kel!
    when the lil emp first came to the hospital to meet the smiling tiger, he walked straight past him and said ‘where’s the baby?’ precious! now they too are inseparable and i just love watching them together. 🙂
    oh and on the day we were to go home from the hospital i could hear the little emp running up the hall to my room yelling ‘we’ve come to rescue Mummy!’ aww my little superhero x

  12. Lovely story Kellie. CrashBoy almost made his arrival on Grand Final Day too!
    I was in the special care nursery with CrashBoy and clearly remember hearing CrashGirl coming down the hall saying “Ba-by, ba-by”. So cute.

    • Kel says:

      What is it with these sporting events, Laney!! LOL!
      Don’t you just love how excited they get at seeing their little sister or brother. It’s such a long wait for them, that it’s no wonder they’re bursting at the seams! 🙂

  13. Gorgeous…i love watching all my boys with their new baby brother…especially the 2 year old who i thought would be a tad jeolous, but instead is just so adoring.

    • Kel says:

      That’s so great to hear, Martine. You never quite know how each child is going to react. Glad everyone is enjoying their new baby brother too. xx

  14. Great post. When Hannah met Meg for the first time it was love at first sight, she was so proud to be a big sister. When Hannah and Meg met Toby for the first time, it wasn’t at all how I planned because he was in special care with some breathing difficulties. In the end it didn’t matter. They both love him to bits (all 3 are making tea in the sand pit as I type – love wifi).

    • Kel says:

      LOL!! How great that they’re making tea in the sandpit! That’s gorgeous!
      So nice to hear that they’ve bonded so well, despite those early hurdles too, Jo.

  15. Photographer-Mum says:

    Your girls are just beautiful, lovely story

  16. Cat says:

    Oh this is just beautiful! I so hope my Bebito & his little brother love one another in this way. What a delight to see a glimpse into your life with your girls. Xxx

  17. Lovely post, there is nothing like the awe on their faces when they meet their new sibling is there?

  18. Miss Pink says:

    Nawww what a beautiful birth story!

  19. nellbe says:

    My oldest was sooo looking forward to becoming a big brother, the hardest thing to tell him was that his new baby brother wouldn’t be able to play footy with him straight away. He still loves him so though. They are best buddies 🙂

    • Kel says:

      LOL!! Oh, that’s just brilliant, Nellbe! Ella was much the same. I think she thought they could go out on the trampoline instantly too!! 🙂

  20. Lisa Wood says:

    I love the photo of your two girls hugging! What a beautiful birth story, where your daughter runs into the room to see her sister!!

    We have five boys. When we had our last baby (who was a big surprise) our second boy said not to bring him from hospital if it was a boy! Gosh were we concerned when he was born 🙂

    There was nothing to be worried about – as soon as our second boy layed eyes on our baby he was hooked. He loved how cute he was, and they now have a special relationship. Love seeing them together and how much they look out for each other.

    Thank you for sharing your Birth Story – the one you rarely tell 🙂

    Cheers
    Lisa

    • Kel says:

      Aww, what a lovely outcome, Lisa. Thanks for sharing that. I think there’s so much going on in their little heads beforehand. It’s not until they meet their new sibling that they realise how wonderful they are – boy OR girl! 🙂

  21. Kirsty says:

    How wonderful that your girls are already so close! And that Ella was so very excited to meet her baby sister…those are definitely moments to cherish and remember. I wish my older two had more loving brother sister moments for each other – they seem to save it all up for their baby sister (who absolutely laps it up, by the way!)

    • Kel says:

      LOL!! Oh, I can just imagine, Kirsty. My sister and I were never very close as kids, but I was very close with my youngest brother. He loved all the attention too! 🙂

  22. Belinda says:

    When I was in recovery after my c section with Jessica, The hubby went out to where my parents and Emily were waiting. Emily demanded to know, “where’s my mummy and my baby sister?”

  23. I’ve been a little slow to cotton on to Naomi’s project but here I am. Your birth story made me think of my recent one. I remember being so concerned about how Miss T would respond to her baby sister. I remember my first thought when she came into the room was, “My toddler is SOOOO huge!”. We introduced her to her sister. She seemed happy enough the first time. The next day, however, she wasn’t so sure. It was also her own birthday so I said we’d focus on making a big deal out of that instead of her sister. That was probably the only day she seemed disinterested. Pretty much every other day since, she’s been happy to see her sister and shower hugs and kisses on hers, sing and dance to make her sister laugh. I hope they become best of friends in years to come.

    • Kel says:

      Aww, that is so adorable, Veronica. Their reactions are priceless! So lovely that Miss T loves her li’l sister so much. Just beautiful. x

  24. […] it seemed a pretty simple task for me. This week’s task is a follow on from Week 1: Record, Week 2: Remember and Week 3: […]

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