Unhealthy pals
I used to declare i hated stuffed toys. But that was before i met these Giant Microbes, featuring the Flu, Sore Throat and the Common Cold, among other unhealthy pals. About a million times actual size. Ah, the good ol' educational toys.

Strong weakness
I'm feeling so dizzy, it's scary. The heat is shaking all the energy out of my body, but there is something else. I get up fast and, of course, i feel i might faint. I get up slow and i feel i might faint if i do it a little faster. I play with Muffin on his playmat and jungle gym, then i get dizzy after four minutes. A rush of sweat leaves me on the verge of passing out, panting for breath and wondering when it'll all go away.

I go to the doctor after a week. I know i'm not pregnant again, i know i generally have low pressure, i do not know what's wrong with me. I tell her. She gets the concerned look in her doctor eyes. I keep telling her. She asks the questions, does the tests, grins. Wait. She grins? It's the baby, she says. My eyebrows take a trip towards my scalp. He's big and strong, she explains. You're nursing him for dear life, day and night, every time he wants to. He's taking part of your strength and that's why you feel weak.

So all i need is to take the iron pills again. Strong breastfeeding, i suppose.

Muffin's Mum in Month 3
I can hardly believe I haven’t seen some most of you in three months, but that’s how old Bruno will be on Saturday and that’s how agendas unfold around here for the time being. I miss you. That’s the hardest part. The best is that I am now used to all things new and I know some aspects of this daily routine will eventually get back to square one. The rest, the main core of life being Bruno’s mum, is boldly settling in.

Since the Muffin landed, i haven't been able to have a fairly normal conversation with anyone, except maybe very close family members after bedtime. This also means that i'm constantly talking to Babe, singing, giggling, repeating vowels and making any adult have strong difficulties to keep my attention for over one minute.

I like the fact that i'm getting back to my body shape, even if it's a tired old body addicted to cramps. My arms are closer to looking thin and muscled, just the way i wanted them years ago, and all thanks to a heavy-eating smiling Bruno. Beats any workout. A good chunk of the tummy is still there, making a comfy seat for B. I don't miss the belly. I don't miss the heart burn (which i had never experienced before -what a terrible way to end a meal!) and i don't miss not being able to sleep face down.

I'd like to have a little more colour in my face, and i've been to the pool enough to have a certain tone, but going with Muffin implies sitting in the shade almost permanently. Time to get the self-tanning lotion and campaign for sun protection awareness. Bruno seems to love hanging out by the pool and has proved it by taking a three hour siesta under a pine tree with a mosquito net over his stroller. The very image of summer, from now on.

Three months of baby babbling and long walks. Three months of learning how to cope with home chaos, body hormone mayhem and raw crazyness in general. Three months of staring at Bruno, watching (out for him), predicting his moves and receiving the world from his smile. Three unique months. Ready for the next three.

Front page news
It started with a soft rubbing with the sponge, two months ago, back when the umbilical cord had barely gone. He quickly passed on to the little blue plastic tub, where we could wash him standing up in his own room and, oh boy, did my back felt grateful for it. But the other day we suddenly realized he no longer fits in there.

So we've taken his water hammock into the bathroom. Muffin Bathtime Hour takes longer and we get to play with him much more. We've even added Mum Duck and the Duckling into the water, thought Babe doesn't seem to appreciate them much yet. He'd rather stare at the pink tiles. And us.

Bruno oficially uses (and luuuvs) the big bathtub now. And that, boys and girls, is front page news in this house.