Mum to Be here!
As you can probably tell by the posting time it is a wee bit late and I just cannot sleep... I've had a long day at work to wear me out, I've spritzed my calming pregnancy mist, a nice cup of tea and I just can't sleep. Not sleeping isn't a new thing for me. I've never been a great sleeper and am on first name terms with one o'clock, two o'clock, three o'clock and all their little friends. When friends with kids caution me to get ready for sleepless nights now we are expecting a baby I feel that I have been in training for years!
But today I at least have a reason. Tomorrow is scan day. THE scan. The scan where we finally get confirmation of what 'flavour' of baby we are expecting and a little more reassurance that everything is ok. It is fair to say that I am mildly interested in the results of this scan. Ok so I admit it - ridiculously over-excited might be a better description... I seem to recall Dad to Be mentioning that I like Christmas a tiny, weeny bit. Well this is like every Christmas Eve during my childhood all rolled into one for pure anticipation.
I am particularly keen to know the gender of the baby. One thing I have noticed is that people have strong opinions on this subject. A lot of the ladies who I work with are my Mum's generation and keep reminding me how lucky I am as they didn't even have scans and just waiting until someone plopped a soggy baby on their chest with the words 'congratulations Mrs_, it's a ...' Others get very confrontational about the whole thing. A while ago I bumped into a work acquaintance in a sandwich shop one lunch time. This is someone I know to say hello and have irregular professional dealings with. Having undertaken the basics of congratulating me on the pregnancy her next conversational gambit was 'you aren't going to find out the gender are you?' Not a question so much as a statement. Now I am someone who has an opinion on everything (as I am sure my darling husband will testify) but I am not a 'ram my opinion down the throat of innocent strangers' kind of a gal. I've always thought that everyone else was entitled to their opinion just as I was entitled to mine. I don't have to agree but I respect their right to have an opinion. I've noticed, however, that babies and parenting seems to be one area where people just cannot help sharing their opinion, quite often forcefully. 'Do you know what you are having?' remains the number one question I am asked.
Now I totally see that some people might choose not to find out the gender in advance, whether this be to spin out the excitement, leave nature to take its' cause or whatever. At the same time I can see that others, ourselves included, might wish to know the gender in advance. I've never been great at surprises and, as anyone who knows me would agree, organisation is my middle name (actually it's Beryl but you can't have everything...) I like to plan ahead.
I feel totally bonded with my baby. Baby M_ is a constant wriggler just as I was and I think might keep Mummy every bit as busy once she arrives as I kept my Mum (who I think sees this as some sort of divine retribution for my years of hyperactivity)! However, all the way along the baby has been a 'she' to me. It just seemed natural and it has never seriously entered my mind that 'she' might actually be a 'he'. For me it makes sense at this still relatively early stage to find out one way or the other so that I can adjust my mindset accordingly. It has been no secret that I would really would love to have a little girl but despite my natural feeling that 'boys are yuk' I have always loved my nephew like he was my own and have no doubt that I will love a baby boy every bit as much.
I guess all that remains now is to wait and see, which brings me back to where we came in- it's one o'clock and I just can't sleep...
As you can probably tell by the posting time it is a wee bit late and I just cannot sleep... I've had a long day at work to wear me out, I've spritzed my calming pregnancy mist, a nice cup of tea and I just can't sleep. Not sleeping isn't a new thing for me. I've never been a great sleeper and am on first name terms with one o'clock, two o'clock, three o'clock and all their little friends. When friends with kids caution me to get ready for sleepless nights now we are expecting a baby I feel that I have been in training for years!
But today I at least have a reason. Tomorrow is scan day. THE scan. The scan where we finally get confirmation of what 'flavour' of baby we are expecting and a little more reassurance that everything is ok. It is fair to say that I am mildly interested in the results of this scan. Ok so I admit it - ridiculously over-excited might be a better description... I seem to recall Dad to Be mentioning that I like Christmas a tiny, weeny bit. Well this is like every Christmas Eve during my childhood all rolled into one for pure anticipation.
I am particularly keen to know the gender of the baby. One thing I have noticed is that people have strong opinions on this subject. A lot of the ladies who I work with are my Mum's generation and keep reminding me how lucky I am as they didn't even have scans and just waiting until someone plopped a soggy baby on their chest with the words 'congratulations Mrs_, it's a ...' Others get very confrontational about the whole thing. A while ago I bumped into a work acquaintance in a sandwich shop one lunch time. This is someone I know to say hello and have irregular professional dealings with. Having undertaken the basics of congratulating me on the pregnancy her next conversational gambit was 'you aren't going to find out the gender are you?' Not a question so much as a statement. Now I am someone who has an opinion on everything (as I am sure my darling husband will testify) but I am not a 'ram my opinion down the throat of innocent strangers' kind of a gal. I've always thought that everyone else was entitled to their opinion just as I was entitled to mine. I don't have to agree but I respect their right to have an opinion. I've noticed, however, that babies and parenting seems to be one area where people just cannot help sharing their opinion, quite often forcefully. 'Do you know what you are having?' remains the number one question I am asked.
Now I totally see that some people might choose not to find out the gender in advance, whether this be to spin out the excitement, leave nature to take its' cause or whatever. At the same time I can see that others, ourselves included, might wish to know the gender in advance. I've never been great at surprises and, as anyone who knows me would agree, organisation is my middle name (actually it's Beryl but you can't have everything...) I like to plan ahead.
I feel totally bonded with my baby. Baby M_ is a constant wriggler just as I was and I think might keep Mummy every bit as busy once she arrives as I kept my Mum (who I think sees this as some sort of divine retribution for my years of hyperactivity)! However, all the way along the baby has been a 'she' to me. It just seemed natural and it has never seriously entered my mind that 'she' might actually be a 'he'. For me it makes sense at this still relatively early stage to find out one way or the other so that I can adjust my mindset accordingly. It has been no secret that I would really would love to have a little girl but despite my natural feeling that 'boys are yuk' I have always loved my nephew like he was my own and have no doubt that I will love a baby boy every bit as much.
I guess all that remains now is to wait and see, which brings me back to where we came in- it's one o'clock and I just can't sleep...
I can relate to the anxiety over a first born. I think it goes away after about 30 years! I'm not sure though, because my oldest one just graduated. For the insomnia, maybe you could try some Valerian root...no side effects. Enjoyed your blog.
ReplyDeleteTim