Patricia a doting mom
2004-04-19 13:44
Cape Town - It's hard to think of songbird Patricia Lewis as a doting new mom - especially when you picture her skipping down the stairs of their mansion south of Johannesburg with her swinging blonde tresses and willowy body.
Many words spring to mind when you think of Patricia: Barbie-beautiful, sexy, smart, successful, talented...
But motherly isn't one of them.
So we were in for a surprise the afternoon we met Patricia and her new arrival. She was waiting for us in the entrance hall of her house, holding a tiny bundle wrapped in a blanket. As if she were handling porcelain she lifted a corner of the blanket to allow us a peak at the pink little face.
"Isn't he gorgeous," she cooed. "I can't believe I have a share in this. It's the biggest thing I'll ever do."
And not only Patricia has been transformed into a proud parent - husband Mark quickly adapted to the major change in their lives too and has proved to be a hands-on dad.
The day after the baby was born at Linkwood Clinic he was still nameless. But a week later that's been sorted out. "He's Skye Max Lewis-Whitfield," Patricia announces happily and proudly.
Mark still seems a little uncertain about the name. "Of course Daniel is another possibility," he teases.
But Patricia won't hear of it. "We're gong to call him Maxie. He looks like someone who should be called Maxie."
Mark says he and Patricia decided on the names together. He's obsessed with the heavens and likes the name Skye, he says, while Max is a strong-sounding name.
"We realise the two names don't really go together but some day he can decide which name he'd like to use," Mark says.
"My life is just so much better since Maxie's arrival," Patricia adds. "Initially it was a bit of a shock to the system because you have to get used to the new routine.
She's breastfeeding the baby and intends carrying on for as long as possible. Patricia gained 7.5kg during the pregnancy but has already lost 8kg, so she now weighs less than she did before she fell pregnant.
"Breastfeeding is good for me," she says. "Can you believe it - I fit into my size 32 jeans already. If that's what breastfeeding does I won't mind carrying on for some time.
"It's just here where breastfeeding makes you bigger," she says, indicating her breasts. "I had to buy a whole load of new tops."
Mark and Patricia have lots of ideas on how to raise Maxie.
"He must have a wide general knowledge and be interested in lots of things," Patricia says. "We don't want to raise a spoilt little brat who sits in front of the TV all day. We want to raise him to respect others but we don't want to force anything on him."
But of course they'll spoil him too, Mark says.
"We're going to spoil him with love, not with worldly possessions," he says.
Read this week's YOU or Huisgenoot for pictures and the full story.