Babies: the joy, heartbreak and cuteness of a baby's first year

LAST year we introduced you to Generation Alpha, 100 beautiful babies born in 100 days. Now our cheeky little boys and girls are celebrating their first birthdays.

Evelyn Jeffrey Father James Jeffrey: She is very, very happy and very sociable and has ju

LAST year we introduced you to Generation Alpha, 100 beautiful babies born in 100 days. Now our cheeky little boys and girls are celebrating their first birthdays, and we’re thrilled to bring you this collection of photographs and interviews with their exhausted parents about everything from teething to tantrums.

Evelyn Jeffrey

Evelyn Jeffrey Father James Jeffrey: She is very, very happy and very sociable and has ju

Father James Jeffrey: She is very, very happy and very sociable and has just started daycare and loves it. The lack of sleep in the early days was the hardest and teething and seeing her upset has been hard. The best bit has been the little milestones Evelyn meets each month, the things she learns to do for herself like eating. Our advice is be involved and be around as much as you can.

8 April 2013

Tillie May

Tillie May Mother Skye Williams: Tillie is such a happy baby, she is walking and talking

Mother Skye Williams: Tillie is such a happy baby, she is walking and talking and content and very funny — she is like a 30-year-old in a tiny body. The best part was when she took her first steps (at 10 months); she was laughing at herself, it was so cute. When Tillie was two months old she had bronchiolitis and she was in hospital for a week. She choked and didn’t breathe for about three minutes, I thought she was gone, it was so frightening. She is perfect now and weighs 11 kilos.

15 April 2013

Emily Beattie

Emily Beattie Mother Anitta Beattie: Emily is very energetic; she is a bolter so she is e

Mother Anitta Beattie: Emily is very energetic; she is a bolter so she is exhausting to run after. She said ‘mummy’ a few weeks ago, that was the highlight. The worst part has been the teething and the sleeplessness. I got up ten times the other night to settle her. Childcare fees are so expensive it is not worth me going back to work for what I earn, it would all go on childcare and I’d be missing my daughter for nothing.

23 April 2013

Mia Cabrera

Mia Cabrera Mother Sussan Cabrera: Mia loves to smile and talk, she is a really little ch

Mother Sussan Cabrera: Mia loves to smile and talk, she is a really little chatterbox and a happy little girl. We did a sea change from Sydney’s west to Umina — Sydney was just way too expensive, we sold the house, got out of debt and we’re way better off now.

23 April 2013

Adam Malekzada

Adam MalekzadaMother Nadia Mansoury: His personality is very friendly, he loves his cousi

Mother Nadia Mansoury: His personality is very friendly, he loves his cousins and loves dancing and is saying daddy and my name so I think he is very clever. He is my fourth child so I was very confident. I am back at work, I run family day care from home and Adam loves all the other children. My advice is be patient and if you have a good husband who can help it will be OK.

23 April 2013

Willow Stojanovic

Willow Stojanovic Mother Ellie Stojanovic: Willow is fun-loving and very social and a peo

Mother Ellie Stojanovic: Willow is fun-loving and very social and a people person. Our relationship is a lot stronger, we’ve been blessed with this little creation and we want another but not for another year or so. My advice to new parents is just enjoy it.

27 April 2013

Oscar Menant

Oscar Menant Mother Evelyn Woolcott: Oscar is pretty cheeky, but he’s a happy and relaxed

Mother Evelyn Woolcott: Oscar is pretty cheeky, but he’s a happy and relaxed little fellow and very inquisitive, he wants to explore everything. Everything is so new to him so it’s a whole change of life for me to see everything through a new set of eyes. I think about going back to work and after paying transport and day care I might end up with only and extra $100 a week, so is it worth it? My best advice is don’t make plans to do a lot of things.

27 April 2013

Naya Pasion

Naya Pasion Mother Nikka Pasion: Naya is nearly walking and we taught her sign language s

Mother Nikka Pasion: Naya is nearly walking and we taught her sign language so she points at everything. She loves books and the water, and seems to be in love with boxes. I think the whole year has been the best year of our lives. The division of labour with the chores and who does them has been a huge adjustment. My advice to parents is get as much help as you can. You might think you can do it all, but the burnout shows as time passes.

27 April 2013

Emily Snow

Emily Snow Mother Sally Snow: Emily is dominant and one going on six years old. She knows

Mother Sally Snow: Emily is dominant and one going on six years old. She knows what she wants and she knows how to get it. The twins (now two) were good sleepers and I expected Emily to be the same but she has been a lot harder than twins. There’s been a lot of coffee and crying due to sleeplessness. There is definitely no chance of more babies and my advice to parents is hang in there, it does get easier.

28 April 2013

Capri Nazombe

Capri Nazombe Mother Kristyn Nazombe: Capri is a vivacious baby; she is very independent

Mother Kristyn Nazombe: Capri is a vivacious baby; she is very independent but social at the same time. The best bit honestly is waking up to her every morning and seeing her smiling face and hearing her giggle. Capri hated the car and her pram so even a drive to the local shops meant enduring her screaming which was really heartbreaking. I’ve had to learn to take Dad’s opinion and suggestions in, and not automatically assume Mother knows best. Try not to get caught up in all the dos and don’ts and just do what comes naturally.

29 April 2013