Jeremyâs assistant arrived a few minutes later with a warm bottle of feed for me. âNeed to see if she can manage her bottle stillâ she said. She was about to pass it to Mommy when Mommy said âwhy donât you feed her dear, get rid of any fears she may have about being hereâ. Once finished and having been winded Jeremy said âCan we see her standing Julia? And without her dummy for a few minutes pleaseâ. âOf courseâ replied Mommy and I was duly lifted of the special chair and stood on the floor. My dummy was removed and this showed my newly shaped mouth. Everyone smiled, but Jeremy went to his cupboard and quickly returned with a digital camera and proceeded to take a series of pictures. âI would like to put one up in the surgery if I mayâ he said, âlet people see a pretty little girl with her new smileâ. âThatâs sweetâ replied Mommy, âof course you may and please, send me a copy too. I may have a surprise for you too in a few days.â Curiosity aroused Mommy just laughed and said he would have to wait and see. Sarah put my coat, bonnet and harness back on me and ensuring I had my teddy bear with me Robert lifted me back into my pushchair, fastened the harness in and the pushchairs safety strap, Sarah then began fussing over my skirts and coat to get best effect and still show off my rhumba pants. While this was happening Mommy must have been finalising everything with Jeremy finishing with âthank youâs.â and compliments of a job well done.
Once outside Mommy said, âright, firstly we go for coffee and cakes, need to kill some time to Paulaâs next appointmentâ. So it was off to a cafĂ© where Mommy asked if it was alright if she bought my pushchair in and was shown to a table with plenty of space at one side. Once everyone was sat down the waitress came over and was taking the orders and said to Mommy âand what is this beautiful little one having?â Mommy told her nothing as I had only just had a bottle. âNot even a mini bottle of orange?â asked the waitress. âDo you do them? In that case bring Paula one of thoseâ. While having their coffee and cakes and Sarah gave me the mini bottle Mommy outlined the basics of the day. âFirstly Paula has an appointment at Marieâs salon to have her hair done; only this time Sarah no bonnet just a large ribbon bow and tails. After this she has a session at Raoulâs Photographic Studio where Paula will have several portrait pictures done of her alone, hence not wanting the bonnet until later, then there will be some with me with Paula, then Sarah, then Robert and finally a group picture. Once Paula is finished there it will be lunchtime and this afternoon she then goes to Mrs. Pentecost for a dress fitting session. Her special competition dresses so no-one says anything to anyone else, OK?â We spent about three quarters of an hour at the cafĂ© when Mommy decided it was time to leave and take me to my first appointment to have my hair done.
When we entered the shop, me walking between Sarah and Robert, Marie looked and simply sighed and said âhere she is, my prettiest little girlâ not knowing I could not understand a word she said. Mommy soon put her wise to that and the fact I could no longer speak adult speech. Marie was amazed. âYou really do have a baby girl the Julia.â More so than you think dear, she needs changing can we use the back room?â âOf course you canâ. With my changing mat laid out on a work surface Mommy proceeded to remove firstly my rhumba pants, then tights, plastic pants and nappy. âNow what do you think to my little girl Marie?â showing her my new girly feature âOh my, that is fantastic, almost looks the real thing. And would you just look at that adorable mouth; so kissable Jeremyâs work no doubtâ. After being on display and the only topic of conversation for about 10 minutes Mommy told Sarah, âDress her dear then she can have her hair doneâ. âAnd a special hairdo for this special little girl todayâ said Marie.
I was then placed in the raised salon chair; Marie placed a pink cape about me, tying it at the back. âAlright sweetheart, first we wash and condition your hair.â Marie chatted happily to me even knowing I never understood a single word, but it had the desired effect of keeping me calm. Next cam the trimming of the ends, Mommy had instructed Marie the she desired my hair longer. Once trimmed Marie then applied a colour, wrapped a towel around my head and I was then left. Marie asked if she could prepare a bottle while we waited, but Mummy told her I had had quite sufficient for now. Plus I had a long photo session to go through yet. âShameâ said Marie âwould love to give that pretty mouth a bottle.â Time came to rinse my hair again, and once again Marie conditioned it say it now felt silky smooth. With a towel she removed most of the water then began applying rollers and curlers all over my head, a gentle setting lotion applied and then a net to hold it all in place Marie removed my earrings then I was placed under a dryer. Marie said to Mommy âremoved them to stop burning those little ears, but it is going to take extra time dear, want it to set better but do not want to frighten her with too much noise and heat in her new stateâ.
Eventually the time came for the dryer to be removed, then the net and finally the curlers and rollers. Marie then began to very carefully brush it out, first the longest loose curls at the shoulder working up to the smaller ones on the head. Then it was time for the deep fringe and finally the deep, deep ringlets, three each side. Marie then took a comb and carefully set some loose hairs in place and saying to Mommy âWell Julia, what do you think?â âI think you have excelled yourself Marie, can we have the bow in pleaseâ with that Marie tied a large ribbon bow at the back, carefully pinned it out for maximum effect then went very lightly over my hair with spray. Marie turned my chair around to face the salon and all the ladies just cooed. I am sure too I saw a little tear come in Mommies eye as she said âSweetheart, you are the most gorgeous little girl, Mommy is going to have some special pictures taken of you nowâ. I wriggled my legs and reached out my arms, I so wanted a cuddle. Mommy came to me and gave me a cuddle then reaching into her purse took my earrings out and replaced them in my ears. Mommy turned to Marie and said âyou have worked wonders, what do I owe you?â to which Marie replied, âThose special pictures you mention, may I have one to put up in the salon? Paula is the best baby model I have ever had inâ. âOf courseâ replied Mommy, âbut you will always be her personal hairdresser from now on and in a few weeks I am going to need you A LOTâ âBe my pleasure Julia, such a gorgeous model too, just let me know when.â
Very carefully I was lifted from the chair, my coat and harness replaced and then put back into my pushchair. Mommy told Sarah before we left the salon âPut the hood up dear it is windy out there and it is a cold wind too. Put the covers on, I do believe it looks like snowâ. With my pushchair now weatherproof and me safely inside we proceeded to Raoulâs photographic studio.
Whilst Mommy Sarah and Robert were all cold and windswept by the time we arrived, I was as Mommy put it âin pristine condition.â
Raoul greeted us personally and said âis this the little lady?â Mommy said âyesâ. Sarah and Robert were still taking me from my pushchair. However, once out Raoul said âOh yes, with a picture like this, who needs a camera?â followed by laughter. With my harness and coat removed Mommy and Sarah began fussing once more with my skirts and petticoats ensuring they were perfect. Raoul said âthe teddy bear, it has to goâ Mommy said âno way, perhaps her dummy for a few minutes, but teddy, no chanceâ. And so the shoot went on, Teddy and I and then the mixed shots followed by the group shot. In all about twenty pictures were taken of Teddy and I and quite a number without my dummy without me bursting into tears. What no-one had noticed was Mommy whispering in my ear, âbe nice for the picture man petal,â it was one of the many triggers implanted in my mind because once the pictures were all taken she whispered âconcentrate on Mommy petalâ and I was my normal self, take my dummy from me and expect a screaming session. Sarah and Robert were quite amazed at my behaviour.