For Kaysee and her fiancé, Reed Bonat, life has changed completely since welcoming their baby boy.
Kaysee said life had taken on a completely new rhythm since becoming a mother.
“Your time certainly changes,” Kaysee said.
“I don’t know what I was doing before. You just can’t imagine life without them now. It’s amazing.”
Hamish arrived seven weeks ago, a surprise for the couple, who did not know they were expecting a boy until birth. Kaysee said meeting him for the first time was an unforgettable moment.
“The biggest joy was finally meeting him after having him in your stomach for nine months,” Kaysee said.
Mother’s Day itself was a milestone that felt both “strange and beautiful” for Kaysee.
“You imagine it for so long, then suddenly it’s your day,” she said.
“You just get the warm fuzzies. Having your baby there makes it really special.”
The morning began quietly at home with coffee, cuddles and a content newborn who had only recently started smiling.
“He was very happy yesterday morning, giving us lots of smiles,” Kaysee said.
“It was nice just being the three of us together.”
Hamish also marked the occasion with a small gift for his mum, a pair of earrings, before the family gathered for lunch at the Blacksmith Provedore with extended family.
While Kaysee’s parents are currently overseas in Vietnam, Reed’s family joined in the celebrations, making the day a shared family occasion.
Like many new parents, Kaysee said the biggest challenge so far had been adjusting to sleepless nights and midnight feeds.
Despite the exhaustion, she said motherhood had brought unexpected confidence and instinct.
“What surprised me is that you do know more than you think you know,” Kaysee said.
“There’s an intuition that just happens when they’re yours.”
Kaysee, who teaches science at Sacred Heart College, said the support around her during the early weeks had made a significant difference.
“Every little bit helps when you’re a new mum,” she said.
“A message, a phone call, a meal drop-off, it all matters more than people realise.”
Kaysee also praised the care she received from midwives and maternal health nurses following Hamish’s birth at Wangaratta Hospital.
“We are so lucky in Yarrawonga. The midwives and maternal health nurses were incredible. No question was ever too silly, and they made me feel completely supported coming home with a newborn.”
The level of care made a lasting impact during her transition into motherhood.
“You don’t realise how important that support is until you’re in it,” Kaysee said.
Looking ahead, she is excited to watch Hamish grow and develop his personality.
“I think he’ll be very curious,” Kaysee said.
“He already loves looking around at everything.”
When asked to sum up her first Mother’s Day, Kaysee said it was “special, memorable and joyful”, adding it was something she would never forget.
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