Amazing babies

Babies. Tiny little people who can provoke a massive emotional response. Take my Ruby. She is, if I may say so, an extremely fine specimen to use as an example.

Ruby is now 3 months and 1 day old. Being my 4th child, I did have to look that up. I remembered she was born in October (despite being due to arrive in September, little sod. Being fashionable late is good in many situations but not when it comes to your own birth) but I am still having to delve deep into the old grey matter to find the day. To be fair, it was in the early hours, (1.12am? Ummm.....) so almost the day before. Had she been my first child, I could have recalled her age to the minute on demand.

Ruby is just as delicious, if not more so than the other children. It's amazing how your love grows with the more children you produce. Ruby's a 'whoops' child, in that the plan was to stop at 3. Well, it's a little more complicated than that, there was another 'whoops' conception who we sadly lost at 9 weeks, so she's all the more special. Not more special than her siblings, but it was a sweet moment to hold that child in my arms after a loss. After the miscarriage, we thought 'what the hell' - we had gotten our heads around the four children thing, so we might as well carry on with it. It does however amaze me how having four children can give strangers and acquaintances (and friends!) alike the capacity for rude questions. Yes, my children all have the same father thank you, and yes, I do know what contraception is. Ha ha ha, very funny, there was nothing on telly. Heard it, heard it, heard it.

You'd think that watching a baby reach their usual milestones could become a bit tedious, boring, and un-noteworthy by the time you're watching for a 4th time. Maybe this is true for some people, but I am in a constant state of excitement like a wobbly oversized cheerleader. Ruby is trying to use her hands and concentrating on objects within her grasp as if willing them into her hands, and she does occasionally make a small semi-effort to grab them. Cue much clapping and cheering from Mummy. She then looks at me like I've completely lost the plot. Bowel movements are subject to just as much praise. Doing the 'Go Ruby.... Go Ruby....' dance when she fills her nappy is probably not the coolest way to be a mummy. But there you go.

She is currently lying on the floor attempting to roll over, and when she gets onto her side the laptop is almost dropped in my haste to pick her up and praise her. I mean, all the books tell you to be positive with your child's achievements, right? I suspect that a poo is on the way, if we get half a rollover as well I might have to do some star jumps or something energetically celebratory.

I think I may be losing my marbles!