Raving and Drooling – A lion’s tail

Today I got more photos of Suki’s Christening from family. Some of them were so great, since I only had a few myself. I updated Josh’s web page yesterday with some new messages and fixed some problems that had crept into the photo gallery due to the server change. Tomorrow is his birthday and I’m really missing him today. I went down to the Uni to pickup some textbooks that they didn’t have in stock yet and put up an advert for a flatmate as I’m having real trouble finding someone. It was a ghost town due to holidays and the wind blew tumbleweeds past as I walked around. Couldn’t get an ID card or anything printed either as it’s not close enough to the start of term. Couldn’t get the wifi password as the IT services desk was empty. Came home and saw all the photos that had been sent and cried over how wonderful they all were. Thinking a lot about how long it’s going to be before I see her again under such auspicious circumstances. I just wish I could have parties for her all the time. Oh well, it was wonderful anyway and I’ll always have the memories.

Suki’s christening was a really big deal to me. Even though I’m not very religious myself, I still follow certain traditions, and the christening of my daughter was a really big moment for me in her life. Probably the biggest for many years to come because I’m not going to be there to hear her first word or see her first steps, so short of the first day of school which I hope to be there for, the christening was really the biggest event in her early life.

Suki has a godmother, Catherine on Jo’s side of the family and on my side is one of my best friends Stefan and they were both present as they should be. The church filled up early and I was really surprised how many people were there and so happy that so many that I’d invited had been able to turn up. Among my friends I had many old ones who I hadn’t seen in years such as Frazer, Rebecca and Luke as well as my good friends Tonez and Craig. I wish I’d thought to take photos of all them since I don’t have any but I guess they all have their own photos on Facebook so as long as that never blows up I can always see photos there ! Luke is a professional photographer now so he probably got some awesome photos with his lovely shiny camera *envy*. It was also great to see good friends and business clients the Harphams who took the drive down from Toowoomba just for the short ceremony.

Among family we had Uncle Ken and his wife Brendah and Tony and Aunt Gael, who I probably embarrassed by commenting aloud how much like Grandma Jose she was looking who was present with the other great grandparent Don. So it was amazing to have four generations of Robinson’s all together in the same room. While I guess I must have been present for my brother’s christening I don’t remember it as I was young but I so much wished he could have been present. Just now looking at the photos I can’t help but think how conspicuous he is by his absence, but I know he was there in spirit and I’m sure he would have thought the ceremony was truly wondrous.

It was all a little too much excitement for Suki who slept through most of the ceremony with a beautiful peaceful expression on her face. She was awake and looking around for all the photos outside but once we got in and begun the ceremony she fell asleep and was looking very peaceful and happy when the priest anointed her with the oil. The ceremony was very good and what the priest recited was beautiful and moving but despite being incredibly nervous throughout, towards the end I was just wishing it could go longer because it was such an amazing experience.

Suki I felt like the proudest person in the room yesterday although I’m sure Jo was just as moved by the experience. I’m so glad to have been there to bring you into God’s family and I feel like it was one of the most amazing moments I’ve shared both with you and as a father. It really made me feel responsible for you and proud of all the work we went through for you to make it here. Congratulations on being seven months old and being officially christened in the church. It was an experience I will treasure for my entire life. Thank you so much to everyone who attended. I will post more photos when I receive them from all the friends and family who took them.

Today was the day I had been waiting for for a long time. My first real visit to see Suki indoors with friends around. My dad couldn’t come, so it was just my mum and I driving to Brisbane to Stefan’s house. We got there around half past ten and chatted about the garden and stuff until Jo and Michael turned up with Suki. They handed her over quickly and left, much thanks to them, and instantly the whole day became about Suki. She was just hugged and held by everyone and we all waited for our turn eagerly. Stefan was so great with her, as was his sister Maria who seemed instantly maternal.

She must have been a little bit tired when she arrived because after a short while of me reading to her she cried a little and went to sleep, on me ! I was so glad that she picked me to fall asleep on because I said last time how nice a thing it is to feel that your child feels so comfortable with you that they can fall asleep on you. Of course it could have been anyone, I was just lucky.

After a bit I put Suki in her bouncer, and this was probably the happiest I’d seen her. I’d already read The Poky Little Puppy twice so I moved on to the fairy tales and I’d bounce her as I read. The only problem was, she wanted my eye contact and facial expression but I couldn’t give her much because I was reading from the book. She probably would have been happier if I’d just been looking at her and talking gibberish, but I always run out of things to say and I try to avoid too much baby talk. As such I probably enjoyed reading The Little Mermaid and The Princess and the Pea more than she did listening to them, but it’s something I’ll remember. She laughed and cooed and smiled back at me the whole time and it was just magical.

It was so good to see Suki among friends and everyone was so happy to have her there so I’m so thankful to Stefan’s family for inviting us into their home. Those few hours made it an amazing day and I can’t wait for next time.

I bought a few things for Suki lately. Even though I haven’t seen her since mother’s day she’s on my mind a lot. Everytime I see someone with a baby when I’m out I get a warm fuzzy feeling inside in a way that I never used to before Suki was born. Plus of course I have pictures of her stuck to my monitors to remind me of her all day long. I applied to CSA to make sure Jo got child support from me even though she insisted repeatedly that she didn’t want me to apply. Unfortunately it’s not a lot of money and I feel bad that my contribution is so little so I thought I’d buy some things for her online.

Firstly I wanted some books to read to her when I visited her so I bought a book of Fairy Tales, and a Dr Seuss book “The Lorax” and just today I was buying batteries and I noticed a copy of “The Poky Little Puppy” so I couldn’t resist getting that one. Then I went on eBay and even though I know she probably has enough jumpsuits I couldn’t resist buying these two cute ones that I saw. I also saw a cute winter jacket in her size which she’ll need so I bought that too. Once I started on eBay I couldn’t stop though so I went into the toy section. I bought this awesome Japanese caterpillar toy that you pull its tail and it vibrates as it contracts. I think she’ll really like that one. It came with some stickers and two pairs of baby socks. I also bought two bath toys. One is a bath thermometer that floats in the bath and tells you the water temperature and the other is this awesome little duck that detects when you put it in the water and it lights up in all different colours. I can totally see Suki loving that one when she’s old enough to sit up in the bath. It was such a cool toy I almost wish I had one myself. But my prize item is a Fisher Price turtle that plays music and contains a bunch of little toys that fit through holes in the side. I wanted it so bad I probably paid more than it was worth new but it was fun bidding for it. I know she won’t be able to enjoy this one for a while but it’s hard to buy toys for babies so I can only buy stuff she’ll use later. I know she’ll love it when she gets older though so it was money well spent I’m sure.

I really enjoyed buying these things for Suki for when she gets older and whenever I have some spare money I’m going to be straight onto the net to buy more things for her. Getting toys in the mail really makes me feel like a father and I can’t wait until I have a chance to read these books to her and one day she’ll even be reading them on her own although that’s hard to imagine right now when she’s so small. I hope you like them Suki.