Who are all these people???
22 March 2006, 11:10
...and where the bloody hell are they now??? Yep, we’re back in Melbourne, trying to wean Scout of all the adoration of family in Adelaide…
Scout was an absolute trouper the whole trip. Our flight to Adelaide was delayed by an hour and a quarter and as I’d timed feeding her to coincide with the original takeoff time, we were asking her to wait quite awhile (so that her ears can equalise, one is encouraged to either feed or shove a dummy in mouth during takeoff and landing, so I went for the former). She did so without a fuss, and with continuous rocking in Baby Bjorn. She loved the flight and didn’t cry once.
The next four days was a parade of rellies, all of whom wanted a cuddle (as can be expected!) I was absolutely fine with this, with the caveat that people wash their hands before handling her (and all other unspoken caveats, such as don’t pick your nose and feed it to her). We still do this, 2 months down the track (wash our hands that is, not pick our noses), just to be on the safe side, so it’s not like I think people are dirty or anything. The responses to this were somewhat varied. Most people were of the “I’d wash every part of my body if it means I can have a cuddle” variety but we did encounter the occasional reluctance and “Pfffth. You’ll get over that…” attitude. News flash. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions about child raising, but story is, if you don’t wash your hands, you don’t get a cuddle. Period. My daughter’s health is far more important than possibly offending someone’s ego.
Scout loved all the attention, though. She passed out in grandpa’s arms within an hour or two of arriving at McG’s folks house (she’d had a big morning!) and I was able to get a few catnaps during the day, whilst she charmed arses off the adoring crowd. I was concerned that the 3 nights of social events would put her routine out. I’d rather been enjoying putting her to bed at 8 and not having to feed her until 2 in the morning. On the Thursday she didn’t wake until 3.30 am. 8 and a half hours. Unfortunately, this was an anomoly, and we are still trying to get her back up to that 7 hour break.
McG’s brother’s wedding on Saturday was rather overwhelming for her (actually, probably more so for me!) There were perhaps 120 guests, many of whom I’d never met and everyone wanted a piece of her, to tickle her, touch her, watch me breastfeed etc. et al, blah blah blah. I know this shouldn’t be a big deal as everyone loves a baby and a boob, but after hours of this, she wouldn’t settle and was crying incessantly. It was kind of a shame, as the guests seemed so genuine, having Scout there was obviously an “in” for people to come and chat, but I was a little too stressed to take advantage of it. Too much stimulation. It was a long day as well – ceremony at 2.30, drinks and canapes from 4, then reception from 6.30 to midnight so we were asking a lot from her. She finally passed out from exhaustion just as the reception started.
The wedding itself was wonderful. V. emotional ceremony (McG’s bro has a 2 year-old who kept wanting to chat to mum and dad during proceedings. This prompted a gush of waterworks from bride and groom. Nyah…) Reception was also lovely – the DJ was a 70’s and 80’s music fiend, so much fun was had on the dancefloor with McG’s cousins (McG is not much of a fan of 80’s culture – can you believe he’s never seen “St. Elmo’s Fire??? We are truly of different generations…).
Catching up with McG’s rellies (aka “The Outlaws”) was really really good (I’m so grateful I can say that, I know not everyone is lucky enough to have truly cool in-laws). It’s rare to get everyone in the same room, scattered as they are across Adelaide, Mt. Gambier, Melbourne, Newcastle and Cairns. When I first met the Outlaws, socialising was a bit of a chore as I’m naturally rather shy (yes, I really am, shut up everyone who thinks I’m not…) but 7 years down the track they’re like my own family-by-proxy. And they sure know how to have a good time.
In keeping with my paranoid leanings these days, I’ve decided not to post anymore photos of Scout (or McG and I) on this site. Although most people’s viewing intentions are good rather than evil, our family’s privacy is the most important thing to me now. Fear not, though, regular readers, I will be posting updated photos available to family and friends to Kinki’s Flickr account, so if you’d like to access them, please let me know your Flickr login and I can add you to my Friends/Family list.
Here is my fave photo of Bro and Sis-in-law (and nephew) from their wedding.
“Mum… what’s that thing on your head???”
And a photo (the last for this site) of our beautiful girl. She is two months old today!
“Aren’t I perfectly charming?”
Permanent Link | - I’m with Matt on the music, it was very 80’s commercial radio! (ala Mt Gambier and Summer of 69 Bryan Adams which I spent the better half of my 20’s trying to escape from!) But unfortunatley I’m stuck in a family that thrives on it (in particualr Boney M!) so if you can beat ‘em join em (it’s family so I’m stuck with them!) Tessa is still too young to be affected by it. where’s the real music from the 80’s? Michael Jackson in his prime, Metallica and Iron Maiden in their skin-tight pants, Jacko I’m an Individual! Plenty of good stuff from the 80’s that never gets played anymore!
— Nick Mar 23, 11:32 AM # - Why is it that the candid photos from a wedding are the most adorable? Why pay an expensive photographer who insists on getting in the way and demanding everyone stand here or smile, when a small flicker camera at the moment the little one looks under the bride’s skirt gets the best pics?
— Leonard Mar 23, 01:46 PM #
