Fashion & Style, Kenyan Kids Fashion, Mommy Musings
50 days of Kenyan Kids Fashion- Day 20
After going through the most excruciating labor pains ever, I knew that I was never going to have another child. Ever. Thank God the intense labour only lasted a total of four hours and the moment I held Xena in my arms, I said a prayer then turned to my husband and whispered to him with all the strength I could muster “Never again!” As soon as she started walking, Xena wanted to be all over the place and she would always get so irritable if one tried to force her to just chill and cuddle either on the couch watching movies or in the bed chatting away. Once this happened, I jokingly started threatening her that I would get another baby, one who I could hold in an embrace for as long as I wanted. This became all I could think of for a while. I mused on having another daughter, named after my mom and hopefully with the same temperaments as her. So I went through the whole process yet again even after vowing that I would never get another child. Of course the baby making bit was fun (isn’t it always hehe), the pregnancy was harder (I think it gets harder with age: Xena-27, Xia-30) and the labour was twice as painful (I lost all my composure this time round and screamed like I was at a funeral in Luhya land!) but quite fast (intense labour lasted only 1 hour).
There is a lesson here guys. We go though so much to bring babies into this world but they grow so fast and become independent at such an alarming rate. One moment the kid can’t even swat a fly off their face and the next they are rolling over and you can’t leave them on a high surface, unattended. Then next thing they are sitting, crawling and breaking all your photos- the ones on the low-level console. Before you know it, they don’t want to cuddle and once they start going to school, at some point they are even embarrassed to be seen kissing you goodbye (I hear toddler boys are like that).
I have therefore learnt to cherish all these precious moments because clearly nothing lasts for ever. Especially the warm embraces. For as long as I can, I will grab my Toto Wrap carrier and secure Xia safely on my front or back, or even my side and enjoy her warm embrace because I know there shall come a time when she shall authoritatively tell me “Mommy put me down, I know how to walk!” (famous words by Xena)
Today, my mom turns 60 years old. While I don’t think I can ever repay her for all the headache and heartache she went through just to ensure that my three siblings and I made something of ourselves, I am grateful to God for blessing her with two granddaughters, and certainly one who will carry her name and legacy! And so I dedicate this post to her, pray that I can be half the woman she is and wish her many more happy years filled with love and laughter. Mom, your life has just begun!
Featured Kenyan Retailer: Toto Wraps
Baby carrier from Toto Wraps: Website, Facebook page, reach them on (+254)717-993 884
Photographer- Charles Ngomo
Shoot location Haven Decor . Check out their wonderful interior decor ideas on their Facebook page Haven Decor . You can reach them on 0710-644939.
Love, Joy & Xena
Tribute to all the mommies…don’t know how we do it but we do it anyway!
Thee carrier looks comfy, I love the thick straps.
Happy birthday your mom and God bless her wit many more and give her good health. N yes cherish every minute you have with your little ones.
Amen Amen and Amen Lilian.
Wow… A really touching post. I would be proud to be your mother and proud to be your daughter… Hope she had a fun birthday wishing her a couple of hundreds more?. Day 20?? good one
Awwww that is so sweet of you to say Annie. Thanks alot. And amen to your prayer 🙂
This is so beautiful, thanks for giving us ideas on how to fashionably dress our little girls.
My pleasure Wilma!!!
wow! Joy i love reading this post.you are such an inspiration.Happy Birthday to your sweet Mom.You are and will still be my role model.
Shelly you know I will forever be honoured. Glad to inspire you 🙂
awww sweet sweet sweet.. a very happy birthday to your mom dear..she’s worth every word and sentence from you on this post mama.. they really do their best to see us do well..I truly love and cherish my mother.. yees these babies grow up so fast.. like the only time I get to cuddle with mine is when she’s asleep or too tired and sleepy hehe.. great post Joy.. I thank Heavens for having met and known you from here..you one mommy who makes my days..really..and i pray to meet up with you in person sometime..xoxo
awww sweet sweet sweet.. a very happy birthday to your mom dear..she’s worth every word and sentence from you on this post mama.. they really do their best to see us do well..I truly cherish my mother.. yees these babies grow up so fast.. like the only time I get to cuddle with mine is when she’s asleep or too tired and sleepy hehe.. great post Joy.. I thank Heavens for having met and known you from here..you one mommy who makes my days..really..and i pray to meet up with you in person sometime..xoxo
awww sweet sweet sweet.. a very happy birthday to your mom dear..she’s worth every word and sentence from you on this post mama.. they really do their best to see us do well..I truly cherish my mother.. yees these babies grow up so fast.. like the only time I get to cuddle with mine is when she’s asleep or too tired and sleepy hehe.. great post Joy.. I thank Heavens for having met and known you from here..you one mommy who makes my days..really..and i pray to meet up with you in person sometime..
Happiest Birthday to mum! Wish her many more blessings and good health.
Joy some of us have not been there, but for sure now I’m freaked as hell to get a baby. especially knowing I fear pain like crazy. But the thing is every time I look at babies, especially Xia, I wish I had one.
Jay, you will be fine. Having been there twice, I would say the hardest bit is the first month when the child comes home. It is such a confusing, frustrating, overwhelming period but still filled with precious moments. The pregnancy is managable unless it threatens your health and the labour comes and goes. The pain immediately passes once the baby is born.
Happy birthday Mrs. Migongo, just to let you know your daughter is doing you proud. Nice shoes Joy and I enjoyed today’s post. you got talent.
So kind of you Livy 🙂 I hope she sees your comment. Much appreciated.
Happy birthday to your mum… That was a very nice post. Can’t wait to get there ??
Glad you enjoyed it Nelly. And you will get there, in God’s time.
Happy birthday to your mum. Such a gracious and lovely soul. May God give her many many more years.
Amen mama Julia!
…*sob*sob* this post touched my heart …such a beautiful story of how u got into motherhood ..?? . .. I got my Sheyce when I was 20,it was through an emergency CS ,it still scares me to get another baby and her baba was so freaked out because of what he had to watch as I get whisked to the theatre ,and having to receive a baby all by himself and hold onto it for at least 3hrs hoping the mommy wakes up…he wants no other babies(yet),at least from me ,he just wants to have me in his life for… Read more »
Wow!! Waceke you should totally tell your story. I applaud you for getting Sheyce at such a young age and raising her like you were born for motherhood! Not many people your age would put in half the effort you do to ensure that your child becomes the best she could ever be. Your man is such a gem for standing by you and being unrelenting in his support for you. Don’t be in a rush to get other babies, you are still young. You can take this time to build your life and grow your career. But don’t wait… Read more »
Tear shed, reminded me of all our mothers did to get us to where we are.
I will sleep very grateful. Thanks
The sheer tenacity of mothers and the stoiscm with which they deal life’s challenges is remarkable. I wonder if our kids will look at us and say the same things. I sure hope and pray that they do. Thank you for reading Wanjiru, relating with the story and finding inspiration.