a fractious baby - quotes and descriptions to inspire creative writing

From the back, Ted's scalp was quite visible through his blonde hair, quite like the infant he jiggled in his arms in his panicked way. Mila wasn't sure who was most fractious, him or the baby. With eyes brimmed with tears and a quivering lip he was utterly out of his depth. She went forwards and offered to take the baby, but he shook his head abruptly, his chubby cheeks wobbling with the jarring action. "I have to be able to cope with her! I have to!" The baby's arms became faster, grasping at the air with increased speed, her shrill cries were only broken by her gasping for breaths in-between. Her face was blotched and her little mouth stretched wide. Mila smiled softly at Ted in her soothing way and held out her arms. He handed over his daughter and sank to the floor, hiding his face. Mila held her cousin close, bobbing and swaying to unheard music, humming a lullaby, quite composed, quite serene. Soon the harsh cries softened to snuffles. Now time to help her uncle...