Catshanghai

Here are a few pictures of Jake that I took in the week, having just added them to a picasa album. Jenny and Jake came home from hospital yesterday. Jake can’t get enough milk whether it’s from his mum or a bottle of formula concoction.

It’s really nice having my family home. I normally get cabin fever if I am stuck inside all day, but it feels very natural and grounding to be at home spending time with Jenny and Jake. He looks like a cross between both of his parents, but it is incredible to look at my son. He looks so clean and pure like a version of my younger self before I was contaminated by the world and its people. Jake is his own person who will eventually make an independent life for himself, including all its triumphs and setbacks. I still look at him and see nothing but possibility.

Mum and baby are much more comfortable here. Jake has been wearing some new clothes and he had his first bath at home, which he really enjoyed. We’ve had a few visitors who think Jake looks very healthy and handsome. I have to agree. We bought some special postpartum health food from a company called Guangheitang. They publish a magazine with pictures of cute babies, but I’m pretty sure that Jake’s peachy complexion and big almond eyes would win him a spot in any advertising campaign.

Colleagues and friends keep asking how tired we are. It’s early days. Jenny has just come home from hospital, but we are lucky that we have a yuesao nanny who is helping us take care of mother and baby for the first two months. This takes the pressure off us a little as we learn how to become good parents. I was a little frustrated that she was taking over to the extent that I didn’t feel I was getting enough hands on contact with Jake, but I made it clear that we want the nanny to help us be better parents rather than pay someone else to do all the parenting for us. We’re getting her to teach us all the tricks she has been employing to keep Jake safe, happy and healthy. It will take a little while to master the arts of nappies, winding and baby bathing. but I’m having lots of fun learning how to be a good dad.