Isaac was born on 4 December 2010 at 12.04pm, and in a hurry. A healthy 7 pounds 6 ounces, 49 centimetres, all was normal and good. Maria’s pregnancy had also made an impact on my Mum in a year where new memories were almost impossible for her to make. Mum was able to count down, practically to the week, Maria’s due date. It was a memorable oddity for me.
That there was a 10 year gap between grandchildren in my family, and that Isaac was to be the first in Maria’s immediate family, meant that we were gearing up for a spoilt child.
Apart from the pregnancy, Isaac’s birth coincided with a very busy period in life where I was torn between trying to do as much as I could for Mum without missing out on too much with Isaac. I justified it to myself by saying that I would have a lifetime to make up for it. I have now learnt that a ‘lifetime’ is an imperfect measure of time.
I will be honest and say that it took me a few months to realise that we were not babysitting Isaac for someone else; that he was our own. A model baby – sleeping well, eating well – we knew we had it so good. Perfect.
Our large families with lots of celebrations meant that we got a good routine for feeding, going out, coming home late and transferring Isaac locked in early.
We gushed behind closed doors at his development from 3 months onwards, rolling over, sitting up, a famous bum shuffle to get around – all the while making us work very hard for a smile. Perfect.
Back at work one day a week for Maria meant that a new routine was learned – Thursday at Nonno and Nonna’s. Isaac never had a problem staying with others, especially those that would give up their whole day to play with him. I don’t think Nonno could get home for lunch quick enough for an excuse to see and play with Isaac. Perfect.
By now Isaac was working out some of his favourite things; real, not toy iPhones, real, not toy, remote controls and buttons on things that really weren’t meant to be toys, rocks and bark in garden beds, driving the real car down the driveway and utensils from the kitchen.
While not walking solo, Isaac was mobile, so managed to get around the house, testing the limits of what he was allowed to do. An outstretched arm and a cool look over the shoulder waiting for his first spoken word to be called out ‘No!’ He even took to touching what he shouldn’t with another toy as if to say ‘I didn’t do it!’. Perfect.
A big first birthday celebration led into the Summer/Christmas period with many trips to the beach so Isaac could get across the sand, splash in the shallows and dig holes with his treasured orange spade. Summer was great with our regular longs walks in the afternoon and Isaac insisting on holding the dog lead and just being outside. Perfect.
Late February saw our first family holiday – a road trip to Merimbula. Something we will always treasure, just a relaxing treat of being together, enjoying the sun, water and each others company. Perfect.
Being lucky enough to work from home, I was able to spend all of your 572 days with you. My work was just a way to fill in the gaps from my Isaac time. Maria tells me of his excitement to hear the study door opening, knowing that Daddy would be sneaking around the corner, or ready to play a silly game. Perfect.
The last 3 months is when things really started to sing. Well and truly mobile, words making their way through precious lips, Isaac had moved on to iPads and coffee machines now as new toys. To get his way with some things, and even the special random occasion, Isaac would serve out a big ‘WHHAAA’ – a kiss that was made up more of noise than kiss, but meant just as much. He had even started kissing Maria’s growing belly, when asked to give the baby a kiss.
Cooking dinner was just another part of the day, swimming lessons on the weekend and breakfast with Sebastian, dancing to the Wiggles, calling out “Bath!” and then closing out the day with ABC friends Giggle and Hoot and ‘In the night Garden’. Perfect.
One Wednesday night, we had our dinner and a play, got changed into pyjamas, blew Daddy a kiss and had milk with Mama before bed. Perfect.
That was our last perfect night.
