The grainy image above (sorry! couldn’t use flash and my camera is dumb) pretty much sums up my 8 and a half days in Sydney last month. I was either playing with Woolloomoolloo (the dog) or Sarah Hannah (the baby, obviously).
I’d be the first to point out that I don’t like kids (no matter the size). They’re loud, screamy and sweaty, and their behavior erratic. But somehow, when it comes to my flesh and blood (ok, maybe just blood) I make an exception.
Sarah (my sister’s newborn) was amusing to me even when she cried, probably because at 3 weeks, she hadn’t gotten too loud yet. But also because I didn’t have the worries a mom has for her child. I knew she would get fed soon, so she’d be alright. I was more intrigued by the changing rhythms at which she’d cry and how similar it was to babies on TV. Sometimes it was short bursts of sounds but then it would work up to long yells, which would come down again to short bursts. Very interesting.
It was a little weird at first– getting used to the idea of my younger sister being a mom (when I still feel like a kid) and having feeding duties–but soon it felt just like we had a new pet. That’s actually what my sis told me about how she felt just after giving birth.
My sis and I talked to the baby just like we talk to our precious 4-legged pals (none of that cooing business) and we made up songs to distract from her tiny toothless demands to be fed. It was just like the old days except our attention was on a baby and not one of our furry friends. Although, Woolloomoolloo did get that same attention too.
awwwww…. i love both their rhymey names