Sunday Still Life is evolving mindfulness project; a weekly invitation to pause the busy of our days, to re-center and celebrate the beauty and depth of life. If you are inspired to join in, please leave a link in Erin’s comments.

As this pregnancy draws to a close I want to still a very special daily moment that I had the pleasure of experiencing both this time and last time. When little Zuzu was just 2 years old, she became very connected to a little in-utero Quail. Each night that I would put her to bed she would snuggle up to my belly, place a child-size blanket over it, sing a lullaby tune, hug, kiss and tell my burgeoning belly, “Night-night Baby Quail!”

This time around it was quick and easy for Zuzu to fall into the same routine. She also added on to it a good morning hug and kiss and a good bye and hello at the beginning and end of our daily separations. For a good number of months I wondered if the Quail just thought we had all lost our marbles and the new family habit was to salute Momma’s belly. Over time though as she saw pictures of babies or met babies in real life she would smile at them, sign baby and reach over to pat my belly. In the last couple of months she has taken to the morning and nightly hugs and kisses of dear Sugarplum as well.

When they can manage to do it at the same time it seems extra special as they enfold each other in their hearts and arms. What a dear little Sistred they already are.