A HEART-To-HEART Q&A witH MYSELF
Q: So… there’s a new nut in the house?
Yes! We welcomed our third child—Baby Macadamia, or Mac for short. Following in the nutty footsteps of her older siblings Cashew and Pecan, Mac completes our trio of little blessings. Each one has brought their own kind of joy, but Mac’s arrival has felt particularly meaningful.
Q: Was she a planned addition to the family?
Not at all. Mac was a beautiful surprise. After experiencing a miscarriage in June last year, we weren’t expecting another child. So when P told me she was expecting, both of us were in disbelief. That moment was filled with so many emotions—disbelief, quiet hope, and cautious joy.
Q: How was the pregnancy journey this time around?
Honestly, it was smooth—for the most part. Things only got a little tense around week 36, when our doctor flagged that Mac was already about 3kg and might be too big for a natural delivery. At the same time, I had just returned to my old workplace and was waiting for a new project to begin. It was a stressful period, and I questioned if I had made the right move professionally, especially with the timing. (I might explore that more in another post.)
But amid all the noise, Mac reminded me what truly mattered. Her arrival gave me clarity—it was time to focus on what was right in front of me.
Q: What were those final weeks like?
Actually… lovely. It was the June school holidays, and we didn’t have any travel plans. Instead, we had our weekly gynae appointments. I’d take leave, not just to accompany P, but to soak in those quiet moments—just us, the baby scans, and the anticipation of meeting Mac. It became something I genuinely looked forward to. A pocket of peace during a noisy season.
Q: Let’s talk about the birth. Was it dramatic?
Oh, 100%. On June 20th, the doctor did a membrane sweep. We didn’t expect much—those had never worked with our previous pregnancies. But at 6 a.m. on Sunday morning, P nudged me awake: “It’s happening.”
Half-asleep, I scrambled to pack, dropped the kids at my in-laws, and then rushed to the hospital. I was even stressed about where to park—note to self: always know the parking situation. 😅
But because it was Sunday, the hospital was quiet, the nurses were amazing, and P had all the care she needed. Our doctor barely made it in time—but he did. And Mac was born safely, surrounded by love.
Q: What did you feel when you first held her?
Relief. Awe. And then… this powerful sense of peace. But the thing that really struck me was this overwhelming joy—not just because Mac was finally here, but because she was entering a world where she already had two siblings waiting to love her.
I grew up with siblings. I know how powerful that bond is. Holding Mac, I felt comforted knowing she wouldn’t be alone in this world. One day, when we’re no longer around, she’ll still have Cashew and Pecan. And they’ll have her. That thought meant everything.
Q: What’s your biggest takeaway from this experience?
That love doesn’t need perfect timing. It just needs room to grow. Mac arrived when life felt messy and uncertain—but her presence brought light, focus, and grounding. Sometimes, life’s greatest blessings are the ones we never saw coming.
Q: Final thoughts for Baby Mac?
Welcome to the world, little one. You were unexpected, but you’ve completed us in the most beautiful way. 💛
“Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.”
— A.A. Milne
