Dami Im has welcomed a new baby boy! Arriving just after 8pm on Tuesday, June 3, Rory – whose Korean name is Jiyul – is the second son for Dami and husband Noah Kim, joining three-year-old big brother Harry.
“Before he realised the baby cries and we have to hold him, he was happy,” Dami laughs of Harry’s first reaction to the baby, adding he’s less thrilled now that he realises how much close attention the newborn needs from his parents.
“Obviously he’s used to being an only child and he’s not liking this experience so far. But as heartbreaking as it is for me and Noah to watch it will be good for him to learn to share. It will be a character building thing for him. He gets to have a little brother for life.”
When it came to choosing his name, it was actually Harry who provided the inspiration. One of his favourite books at the moment is about a little lion called Rory, which he’s always clamouring to have read to him.
“When we were searching for names, we went through a bunch and none of them were sticking,” Dami says. “And then my mum was like, ‘Oh, well why don’t you just call him Rory?’ I thought, ‘Oh, that’s such a cute name’. So I guess Harry picked it in a way.
“Rory looks very similar to Harry [at that age]. So it feels like we’re back on a time machine and experiencing it again. But then we can see the differences as well, little features that I guess only parents might notice.”
A self-professed perfectionist, Dami has been open about finding the early days of motherhood tough the first time around. Luckily, she says, the pressure has definitely lifted with her second son.
“As parents, Noah and I are a lot more relaxed,” she says. “I think the first time was actually quite shocking. Almost traumatic in the way that I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I don’t know what I’m doing. I have to get up every three hours and feed and change and burp and log it all in.’
“It was just so crazy and I don’t remember enjoying that very much. Whereas this time I’m just trying to take it slower. You know, if something doesn’t go to plan, it’s not the end of the world. We know it will be okay. This time has been a lot more calm and healing, even though it’s still chaotic. But I think I’m enjoying it a lot more this time.”
Noah, says Dami, is “smitten”, as is she. When Harry arrived, she recalls, “it was a shock and caught me by surprise how much I adored the baby. The second time it’s not as surprising. Maybe it’s not as magical in a way, but it’s a more peaceful kind of love, if that makes sense.”
For the next few weeks at least, the family plan to lay low as they cocoon themselves in the new baby bubble.
“I have travel booked for July sometime, but I’m trying not to, like, fill it up too quickly like I did last time,” she says.
“There’s travel and performances coming up and I’ll be releasing my single in September. I want to ease back into it gently, rather than be ‘I’ve got to get back’. I want to enjoy the moment.
“Someone once told me, ‘When you have a break, don’t rest for too long. It’s good to keep lightly jogging so that the transition isn’t too shocking to your system.’ Yeah, I just want to do a light jog.”
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