Monday 23 July 2007
Saturday 21 July 2007
Fantasic news from our friends
It's amazing how a few words, when put together, can put you in such a fantastic mood.
Wednesday 18 July 2007
Signs everywhere
Maybe it's because I'm being too attentive than I was before, but this pregnancy thing seems to be something like a fasion accessory.
Informing the parents - Side 2
Last night the wife and I had dinner guests; my parents. This would be the ideal opportunity to spread the good news even further. The problem being we are still early in the stages of the pregnancy, and holding in information is very hard.
You want to shout out to everyone, but the sceptics tell you not to mention anything until the 12th week. This is when you are less likely, as a woman, to suffer from any complications that may lead to miscarriage. That word isn't in my vocabulary.
The feeling betwwen the missus and I is of pure excitement once more, and I'm finding it difficult to keep my energy inside me. The smile that appears on your face, as soon as you start to think about what you're going to tell the person opposite you, is all new to me. In fact, I'm beaming from ear to ear right now, just at how our lives, and the lives of those loved ones around us, will change.
"Are you nervous?" the wife asked.
"No. Very happy. I hope that they will be too. No tears though!"
My parents are already Grandparents, therefore the excitement will still be high for them, but maybe not as much as it was for their first grandchild. My brother has beaten me to that by all of 2 years.
The wife's parents, on the other hand, do not have the need to sellotape pound coins to a child's birthday or Christmas card.
I took the pair of them for a tour around the house, informing them of the changes that we'd made since the last time they were around. Little bit's here and ther, a baby on the way, you know, run-of-the-mill conversation.
This was quite subliminal, but it was a way of informing them that the house was nearly complete to how we wanted it to look, and the next progressive step was to bring new life into our lives.
You want to shout out to everyone, but the sceptics tell you not to mention anything until the 12th week. This is when you are less likely, as a woman, to suffer from any complications that may lead to miscarriage. That word isn't in my vocabulary.
The feeling betwwen the missus and I is of pure excitement once more, and I'm finding it difficult to keep my energy inside me. The smile that appears on your face, as soon as you start to think about what you're going to tell the person opposite you, is all new to me. In fact, I'm beaming from ear to ear right now, just at how our lives, and the lives of those loved ones around us, will change.
"Are you nervous?" the wife asked.
"No. Very happy. I hope that they will be too. No tears though!"
My parents are already Grandparents, therefore the excitement will still be high for them, but maybe not as much as it was for their first grandchild. My brother has beaten me to that by all of 2 years.
The wife's parents, on the other hand, do not have the need to sellotape pound coins to a child's birthday or Christmas card.
I took the pair of them for a tour around the house, informing them of the changes that we'd made since the last time they were around. Little bit's here and ther, a baby on the way, you know, run-of-the-mill conversation.
This was quite subliminal, but it was a way of informing them that the house was nearly complete to how we wanted it to look, and the next progressive step was to bring new life into our lives.
Informing the parents - Side 1
The timing couldn't have been any better. It was the outlaws birthday last night so the wife went over for a meal, along with her sister. The outlaws family was complete, so now was the best time to mention the news.
During the daytime the missus informed her mother of the expecting addition to our family, and I can honestly say, she wasn't surprised. What a let down!
"What took you so long?" was the opening line to myself when I met mum that evening.
"Well, you know, we wanted to get married first; I'm a bit old fashioned, so I wanted a strong family bond to be there before we though about children. Then we both decided that the house we were in was not going to be sufficient enough for a family, so we wanted to move first so that we wouldn't have that stress later in life".
"I knew you were trying." I'm glad it was met by positive approval. You still want these things to happen. It gives you a warm feeling knowing that the outlaws aren't going to be angry at you for putting their daughter in the club.
"So, what are you going to say to him?" - The wife's sister was beckoning her dad to give me praise. This is a man I admire for all the worldly things he has given the wife to make her as she is.
An with that, an outstretched hand and beaming grin meet me.
"Well done son, well done."
During the daytime the missus informed her mother of the expecting addition to our family, and I can honestly say, she wasn't surprised. What a let down!
"What took you so long?" was the opening line to myself when I met mum that evening.
"Well, you know, we wanted to get married first; I'm a bit old fashioned, so I wanted a strong family bond to be there before we though about children. Then we both decided that the house we were in was not going to be sufficient enough for a family, so we wanted to move first so that we wouldn't have that stress later in life".
"I knew you were trying." I'm glad it was met by positive approval. You still want these things to happen. It gives you a warm feeling knowing that the outlaws aren't going to be angry at you for putting their daughter in the club.
"So, what are you going to say to him?" - The wife's sister was beckoning her dad to give me praise. This is a man I admire for all the worldly things he has given the wife to make her as she is.
An with that, an outstretched hand and beaming grin meet me.
"Well done son, well done."
Friday 13 July 2007
Snap, Crackle & Pop
The first naming session has taken place.
No, not boy's names nor girls names. I'm talking about the naming of the embryo.
Last night whilst relaxing on the sofa, I made the fatal mistake of leaning on the wife. This caused great upset. In the split second I realised what I had done, and knew not to do it ever again.
It isn't something that worried me too much that I would notice, until I drove home. The wife sat in the passenger seat and pulled the seatbelt across so much that it was slack. I guess that this is the shape of things to come.
Although the timescale is still in it's infancy (in theory we are in fact 11.11% of the way through the pregnancy already - scary), things need to be put into perspective. And that was achieved by the naming of the kernel inside the wife's tummy.
"Be careful." she informed me as we went to bed that evening. "Don't lean on me or the Rice Krispie". Nice.
"Sorry darling, I didn't know it was tender already."
"Weird things are starting to happen. Today at work I had butterflies of a different type. A weird sort of pain in my tummy, but not really a pain either - it was just strange".
And with that the Dad, along with the Princess and the Pea, fell into a deep sleep.
No, not boy's names nor girls names. I'm talking about the naming of the embryo.
Last night whilst relaxing on the sofa, I made the fatal mistake of leaning on the wife. This caused great upset. In the split second I realised what I had done, and knew not to do it ever again.
It isn't something that worried me too much that I would notice, until I drove home. The wife sat in the passenger seat and pulled the seatbelt across so much that it was slack. I guess that this is the shape of things to come.
Although the timescale is still in it's infancy (in theory we are in fact 11.11% of the way through the pregnancy already - scary), things need to be put into perspective. And that was achieved by the naming of the kernel inside the wife's tummy.
"Be careful." she informed me as we went to bed that evening. "Don't lean on me or the Rice Krispie". Nice.
"Sorry darling, I didn't know it was tender already."
"Weird things are starting to happen. Today at work I had butterflies of a different type. A weird sort of pain in my tummy, but not really a pain either - it was just strange".
And with that the Dad, along with the Princess and the Pea, fell into a deep sleep.
Thursday 12 July 2007
Champagne on ice?
"Is it there?"
"I can't tell. I think it is".
Yet again, not the most conclusive of tests. They do these things to test you, I'm sure. See how far your sanity level can go before they tell you that the results are positive. It's quite simple; binary. True or false. Yes or no. On or off. Baby or no baby.
There seems to a tiny element of doubt, and possibly a very good reason. The wife is only 1 week late with the visitors, and we may be celebrating a bit too early.
It 's been decided that we (Sorry, I have to put this as a collective "we" as I will aid and assist other than just doing the deadly deed!) will book in for a doctors test as soon as possible. That would be fine, expect for when the mother-in-law and series of her friends, work as receptionists at the doctors surgery.
"Hello, can I help you?"
"Yes, I'd like to see Dr. Bunsen Honeydew* for a test."
"No problem, can I ask who's calling?"
"Yes, it's the wife."
"Ah, outlaws daughter. Oh how are you? I haven't seen you in ages! How's the other half? Goood, good. Oh ... test. OK, no problem, I'll book you in." 2 minutes pass before the wife receives a phone call from her mother asking what's going on. Not good.
As this evening is the outlaws birthday, I think that we're going to be fast-tracked for a test (the perks and benefits of being related to someone who works in a surgery) to make sure we're right about the assumptions.
A lesson has been learnt;
1) Don't panic, and wait a bit longer than a week after the visitors normally arrive.
2) Don't purchase products that are cheaper than the common brand as you don't get the full product that you're expecting. It's a bit like buying a bottle of supermarket branded washing up liquid. It's not the same as Fairy or Persil is it? It may be cheaper, but you end up needing twice as much to get the job done.
* This is, obviously, a made up name. I like the muppets.
"I can't tell. I think it is".
Yet again, not the most conclusive of tests. They do these things to test you, I'm sure. See how far your sanity level can go before they tell you that the results are positive. It's quite simple; binary. True or false. Yes or no. On or off. Baby or no baby.
There seems to a tiny element of doubt, and possibly a very good reason. The wife is only 1 week late with the visitors, and we may be celebrating a bit too early.
It 's been decided that we (Sorry, I have to put this as a collective "we" as I will aid and assist other than just doing the deadly deed!) will book in for a doctors test as soon as possible. That would be fine, expect for when the mother-in-law and series of her friends, work as receptionists at the doctors surgery.
"Hello, can I help you?"
"Yes, I'd like to see Dr. Bunsen Honeydew* for a test."
"No problem, can I ask who's calling?"
"Yes, it's the wife."
"Ah, outlaws daughter. Oh how are you? I haven't seen you in ages! How's the other half? Goood, good. Oh ... test. OK, no problem, I'll book you in." 2 minutes pass before the wife receives a phone call from her mother asking what's going on. Not good.
As this evening is the outlaws birthday, I think that we're going to be fast-tracked for a test (the perks and benefits of being related to someone who works in a surgery) to make sure we're right about the assumptions.
A lesson has been learnt;
1) Don't panic, and wait a bit longer than a week after the visitors normally arrive.
2) Don't purchase products that are cheaper than the common brand as you don't get the full product that you're expecting. It's a bit like buying a bottle of supermarket branded washing up liquid. It's not the same as Fairy or Persil is it? It may be cheaper, but you end up needing twice as much to get the job done.
* This is, obviously, a made up name. I like the muppets.
Another opinion
It's the first night after the news, and we have a guest for dinner - wife's sister. It was agreed that we should attempt to remain tight-lipped about the developments until we had further proof. Hmmm, is that a possibility.
After I was picked up from the terminus, the wife and I went home an ran upstairs so I could get the permission to carry on with the diary.
"What do you think?"
"You've gone and told someone!"
"Yes, well, it's very difficult to try and keep it all in."
"Well, I'm going to tell Fay. She's, well, like a sister to me."
"She is your sister."
And with that, the front door was opened to the call of "Hello?". After a brief period of time (enough time for me to flick the switch on the kettle) a gentle shriek rose from the living room.
"That's great news! I bet you're excited and scared?"
"Yes, it's all a bit much to take in", the wife replied.
"What have you used to make sure? Clear-Blue? First Response?"
"No, just Boot's own test." This was greeted with a frown.
"It's not like it's a Tesco Value pregnancy test!" I interjected.
We'll have to see how it goes with the second test tomorrow morning.
After I was picked up from the terminus, the wife and I went home an ran upstairs so I could get the permission to carry on with the diary.
"What do you think?"
"You've gone and told someone!"
"Yes, well, it's very difficult to try and keep it all in."
"Well, I'm going to tell Fay. She's, well, like a sister to me."
"She is your sister."
And with that, the front door was opened to the call of "Hello?". After a brief period of time (enough time for me to flick the switch on the kettle) a gentle shriek rose from the living room.
"That's great news! I bet you're excited and scared?"
"Yes, it's all a bit much to take in", the wife replied.
"What have you used to make sure? Clear-Blue? First Response?"
"No, just Boot's own test." This was greeted with a frown.
"It's not like it's a Tesco Value pregnancy test!" I interjected.
We'll have to see how it goes with the second test tomorrow morning.
Wednesday 11 July 2007
And then the 2nd phone call
... 10 minutes later.
"Hello, it's me."
"Hello darling, how are you?"
"OK. There is definitely another line. Definitely definitely". Proof positive. I'm now getting the picture; 1 horizontal line is negative, as in the ISO standard for ... erm ... negative. A horizontal line crossed with a vertical line is positive, as in a plus symbol. This visualisation thing is coming along nicely.
"Right, OK babe, that's great news".
"I won't do the other one until tomorrow morning, as allegedly your first wee of the day is the strongest, although there is definitely a line there."
"That's fine baby, we'll do it tomorrow."
"I'll also book myself in to the doctors to confirm that it's all OK."
"Good thinking."
"Are you OK with this?". We're back to the flannel thing, aren't we?
"Well, we wouldn't have tried on holiday if we didn't both think it was a good idea."
"I know. Alright, I'll see you later then. Remember we can't talk about it too much as Fally is around."
"Alright darling, we'll try and keep it quiet". And with that, I skipped off to the kitchen, made myself a cup of tea, and prominently informed 2 work colleagues.
"Hello, it's me."
"Hello darling, how are you?"
"OK. There is definitely another line. Definitely definitely". Proof positive. I'm now getting the picture; 1 horizontal line is negative, as in the ISO standard for ... erm ... negative. A horizontal line crossed with a vertical line is positive, as in a plus symbol. This visualisation thing is coming along nicely.
"Right, OK babe, that's great news".
"I won't do the other one until tomorrow morning, as allegedly your first wee of the day is the strongest, although there is definitely a line there."
"That's fine baby, we'll do it tomorrow."
"I'll also book myself in to the doctors to confirm that it's all OK."
"Good thinking."
"Are you OK with this?". We're back to the flannel thing, aren't we?
"Well, we wouldn't have tried on holiday if we didn't both think it was a good idea."
"I know. Alright, I'll see you later then. Remember we can't talk about it too much as Fally is around."
"Alright darling, we'll try and keep it quiet". And with that, I skipped off to the kitchen, made myself a cup of tea, and prominently informed 2 work colleagues.
It all starts with a phone call
Well, not a phone call that you wasn't expecting, but the phone call that confirms the future is about to change. Change for all the right (and maybe wrong) reasons. I suppose it's more of a peace of mind thing; I find it very difficult to believe you wouldn't think it was going to happen by not having a sexual relationship with someone. It certainly doesn't happen just by sharing the same flannel.
"So, have you had your lasagna yet?"
"No, it's still in the fridge."
"You should have it, it's lovely."
"Yes I will, when I break for lunch."
"Just to let you know I've been to the shops and picked up a test ... and I'm a bit confused. It says that if there is 1 horizontal line you are not pregnant, but if there is a vertical line going through the middle then you are." - Firstly focus, secondly visualise.
"Well, is there?"
"Erm, there's a very feint line. But I'm not sure if I'm just imagining it, and I'm wishing very hard for it to be there."
"Were there any lines there before you began?"
"No, there wasn't. But it's OK, I bought 2 tests."
"They're quite expensive, aren't they?"
"No, only £7.00 for a twin pack." Oh dear. Does that mean the other half is expecting us to have twins, or that I'm starting to count the pennies already?
"Well, just leave it for a few days and we'll check again."
"I've left it for 10 minutes, and I'm not sure if the line is getting more prominent."
"That's fine we'll try it again tomorrow."
"It says on the instructions that I should throw it away after 10 minutes." That's probably due to some Health & Safety issue with you holding a piece of plastic with your wee all over it. I do hope you've washed your hands before you went back to attending to other peoples bodily hair malfunctions.
"Save the other test, we'll try it later."
"I want this one to tell me."
"I've got a feeling we'll have to wait darling."
"OK, no problem. Any chance you can leave early tonight ...?"
"So, have you had your lasagna yet?"
"No, it's still in the fridge."
"You should have it, it's lovely."
"Yes I will, when I break for lunch."
"Just to let you know I've been to the shops and picked up a test ... and I'm a bit confused. It says that if there is 1 horizontal line you are not pregnant, but if there is a vertical line going through the middle then you are." - Firstly focus, secondly visualise.
"Well, is there?"
"Erm, there's a very feint line. But I'm not sure if I'm just imagining it, and I'm wishing very hard for it to be there."
"Were there any lines there before you began?"
"No, there wasn't. But it's OK, I bought 2 tests."
"They're quite expensive, aren't they?"
"No, only £7.00 for a twin pack." Oh dear. Does that mean the other half is expecting us to have twins, or that I'm starting to count the pennies already?
"Well, just leave it for a few days and we'll check again."
"I've left it for 10 minutes, and I'm not sure if the line is getting more prominent."
"That's fine we'll try it again tomorrow."
"It says on the instructions that I should throw it away after 10 minutes." That's probably due to some Health & Safety issue with you holding a piece of plastic with your wee all over it. I do hope you've washed your hands before you went back to attending to other peoples bodily hair malfunctions.
"Save the other test, we'll try it later."
"I want this one to tell me."
"I've got a feeling we'll have to wait darling."
"OK, no problem. Any chance you can leave early tonight ...?"
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