matthew's statistics
as of 15/09/98

age
3 months

weight
5.8 kg

length
62.3 cm

head circumference
41 cm

nurses comments
very alert boy, holding head well. breast feeding on demand, usually 6 times a day. breastfeeds frequently in evenings, sleeps 7-10 hours at night.

I can close my eyes and visualise Matthew's smile. It's a shy smile, slowly unfolding across his face. His cheeks pucker up, and his lips open, and his eyes twinkle, and suddenly it's there. Like he's learnt all over again how to do it, and delighted himself in the process.

When I got up this morning he was asleep, head pressed up against the side of his cot. He stirred as I looked down at him, and woke, blinking in the half light. He looked up at me, focused, and slowly smiled.

Smiles are wonderful inventions.

When you read this, sit back for a minute, think of good things, and smile.