Nyatichi Sitati ‘Tichi’

Titchi was Pregnant’s second cover model, gracing Issue 2. Her baby girl, Keza (left and on opposite page), was born on 10 July 2006.

Watching my daughter Keza is like watching a little me—I see a lot of my characteristics in her. She makes us laugh with her new vocabulary. She has learnt so many nursery rhymes just from listening to her brother sing. I am amazed at how fast she learned to speak and sing the songs. By the time she was one, she was singing rhymes that my son could not (before he joined baby class). Her rapid development is amazing!

Keza is a good eater unlike her elder brother who gave me a lot of problems when it came to feeding him. Her appetite is much better compared to her brothers’. She is also very feisty, in-charge, and always knows what she wants!

She has made me turn into more of a ‘homebody’ now. I leave work and rush home to be with her and my son—my husband and I go shopping every other day with them in order to ensure that we spend every available time with them. Keza is now at the age where she speaks her mind and does not take nonsense from anyone. I love watching her as she talks to her brother (and she never minces her words).

A major challenge I have faced, while raising her, has been the periods when she falls ill. I have no clue how to help because she cannot tell me exactly what the problem is! This must be one of the greatest challenges one faces as a mother. You have to sit there and helplessly watch her as she winces in pain.

One of the major problems I had to deal with in my life after I delivered Keza was the weight issue. I had to deal with lots of weight! I gained 25 kilos after giving birth to her and that changed my life completely. I had to get a new wardrobe, new shoe size and many other physical changes.

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