Daddy's musings

I guess it’s time for “Daddy” to say a few words and express some thoughts on all of this.

As we’ve both admitted to each other, it has been hard to imagine that all of this baby/pregnancy thing is real. Sure, Sophie has had the physical manifestations of being pregnant such as morning (or in her case, evening) sickness but even then it has been hard to believe that the baby brewing in Sophie’s belly is actually there. What probably hasn’t helped me is that Sophie and I have agreed that, for the time being, she will worry about growing our baby and I will focus on getting our Leeds house sold and ensuring we have a home in the summer well before Bean arrives… Bean being our pet name for the little bundle of joy.

Perhaps the first sonogram images of Bean will be the tangible evidence my brain needs to realise that this is really happening? We’ll see on Tuesday afternoon I guess.

Despite all of this, I am still over the moon about the prospect of our first child entering the world in September. This is something I’ve wanted for a long time and on one level I can’t wait for Bean to arrive. Yes, I am fully aware of everything that goes with having a baby. Yes, I know it will be hard. Yes, I know it will be scary. Yes, I know it will be difficult. And yes, I know it will be tiring. But it will be our baby and from what I am told by all other parents it is the most wonderful thing in the world and all the stress, exhaustion, frustration and financial hardship is more than worth it in the end.

Sophie already has specific designs, themes and colour schemes in mind for the baby’s room and they’re fine with me. No arguments there. I suspect the sticking point will be the baby’s name. We’ve had a list of boy and girl names for years and for the most part we had agreed on our joint favourites. However, I now find myself moving away from these preferences for various reasons.

There are really very few names I like or want to use. I have a definite personal favourite boy’s name but Sophie pretty much refuses to use it. Our joint preferred boy’s name is now not so desirable to me – maybe I will come around to it again over the next 6 months.

As for girl’s names, I have a far-out-in-the-distance favourite. Sophie likes it too but the spelling may be up for significant amounts of negotiation. At least the name, whatever spelling we agree on, shouldn’t be too common so its doubtful there will be a girl with the same name in school classes. Despite not being popular, the name shouldn’t horrify people. Hopefully. Well, I think it is fantastic and beautiful.

At least we have a selection of names to choose from when Bean bursts (not the best choice of words, sorry Sophie!) in to the world and we can pick the one that best fits our child when we see him/her. Feel free to start the name sweepstake now.

Okay, I think I’ve rambled on a little too long. Next time I will try to be a little more concise assuming Sophie doesn’t ban me from posting and clogging up her blog!

If you want to take away one thing from this blog then it is that Daddy is very happy with the baby growing in Sophie!

22nd Feb 2009

Yesterday was the day of the Great Jeans Hunt. It appears that women under 5' 3" don't have babies, or so the high street seems to think. Plenty of maternity jeans out there but barely any in the short leg/petite range. Next and Top Shop both stocked the tall range in maternity but not petite, irritating isn't the word. I ended up going to Mama's & Papa's where there was a great range of style in the petite range. I got a pair of boot cut style, right now they're a little baggy to say the least but I doubt that will be a problem given a few more weeks.

Feeling very tired and irritable today, generally quite down and miserable. Wondering if it's the realisation that comes with beginning the packing process that's triggered it? I packed most of my scrapping stuff up this afternoon and knew I wouldn't see it for several months. *sigh* I've kept a small(ish) box of stuff out to take to Linda & Graham's house, I'm hoping to work on the Disneyland Paris album there. Having that goal helped me minimise the stuff to take with me.

I feel guilty for secretly wanting the solicitors to keep dicking us about with the paperwork for selling this place. Every day they drag this process out is another day we don't have to live under someone elses feet. I always feel like I'm massively imposing when I'm there, even if it's only for a day, I'm gonna feel permanently guilty when we actually move in! At the same time I want this place to get sold quickly to get rid of the niggling worry of it falling through and so Scott can chill out a bit, he's worrying over every tiny detail right now.

No wonder I'm tired and miserable!!!

20th Feb 2009

Woohoo! My baby book arrived today. It's based on "Guess How Much I Love You" and is totally adorable. I got it because it matches the scrapbook I've had for a while so the baby's early life books will all match - I'm making the most of having time to think about things like that! Here's a link:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Guess-How-Much-Love-You/dp/0744561183/ref=wl_it_dp?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1LC91OCSJ1IAV&colid=3INHR6HRF1Y4F

Wendy has given me a load of her maternity clothes, sadly quite a few don't fit but I've got a skirt, pair of trousers and a top from the haul which saves me some money.

19th Feb 2009

Mummy is feeling very sick today. Not as sick as last night though, which is a good thing. On speaking to Susan (my unofficial GP) the sickness is a good thing as it means the hormones are doing their work. Try telling me this when I'm hunched over the toilet bowl feeling like death.

The sickness is especially difficult at Nanny & Grandad Brown's house where the toilet seat doesn't stay up and can unexpectedly whallop you on the back of the skull if you're not cautious. This is not a bonus factor. So far I have avoided the Skull Kracker during the pregnancy (it's got me in the past though) I'm hoping to continue without injury.

Today I have discovered:

http://organizedmommy.blogspot.com/
and the Baby Galileo DVD which teaches babies astronomy!