By now most people have found out that we, (ok Jennifer) are (is) pregnant. The reactions to our news have been varied. I don't remember reacting to anyone's baby announcements in the past. It was never on my radar to jump up and down with excitement over prenatal announcements. I used to think: "well, if you wanna do that...", but I didn't necessarily get excited about other people having babies and families.
Of course now it's different. Now it's ours, and we're excited. When we told our friends and family over the last month, we got reactions from "Oh God!", "Well you'll have to move", and "Are you going to get married then?" to "Oh, you two will be great parents", "That is so great", and "I didn't think you had any lead left in the pencil".
That last comment was for me from the men I told. It was amazing. About 80% of the males had a similiar comment. I didn't know this response. Of course! A joke about the possibility of not being virile enough to get the job done. All the guys know it. I didn't, but now I'll join in on unsuspecting future dads with similair jokes in the future. Maybe I'll try: "I didn't know there were any tadpoles left in the stream" or, "I thought Elvis had left the building". I'll keep working on this.
The women have different responses. The ones who've had kids are mostly happy for us. You can tell some of them had rough times raising kids. "You're too old for this" one said. I know I'm too old. So what? Then there are the women who want a child, but can't conceive, or aren't in a serious relationship and want kids now. We feel for you, and are hoping for the best, but right now we're dealing with the fact that our baby is unborn, and I just broke the news to Jennifer that I think I had quite a large head when I was a kid. Hope that's not genetic. Ouch.
-Bill
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Friday, January 18, 2008
The Doppler Effect
Monday January 14th, I threw myself out of bed and rush to get ready to head downtown for a doctor's appointment. Well, as it turns out, I screwed up the time and had to re-schedule. (is this the beginning of what everyone is calling "baby-brain"?)
Thursday Bill and I head down to the office. I thought it would be just a routine check up, pee, weigh, blood pressure etc. (To be honest I was beginning to worry a little. I haven't really had many symptoms that are talked of. I never got any morning sickness, I'm not really that much more tired than I would be at this time of year, I don't seem to be eating more. My tummy IS however sporting a different kind of firmer bulge than normal.) I told Bill just to wait as I didn't think any of this would be important stuff for him to be there for. Well, little did I know....I was in for THE DOPPLER! Wow, technology is amazing. Like a mini, portable sort of ultrasound with a speaker on it. Dr. Clarke found a beating heart and explained to me that it was the baby's as it was much faster than an adult heartbeat. Junior was pumpin' a good 150! What a relief to hear that! Now it seems as though I'm more aware that there's someone in there. To know that the heart was beating that strong and quick........unbelievable really.
It's nice now to not just be feeling fat, but feeling like there is really something there to show for it.
More to come soon! My next ultrasound is on February 6th and this week we arrange prenatal classes, a possible midwife and our meeting with BC Women's hospital.
Thursday Bill and I head down to the office. I thought it would be just a routine check up, pee, weigh, blood pressure etc. (To be honest I was beginning to worry a little. I haven't really had many symptoms that are talked of. I never got any morning sickness, I'm not really that much more tired than I would be at this time of year, I don't seem to be eating more. My tummy IS however sporting a different kind of firmer bulge than normal.) I told Bill just to wait as I didn't think any of this would be important stuff for him to be there for. Well, little did I know....I was in for THE DOPPLER! Wow, technology is amazing. Like a mini, portable sort of ultrasound with a speaker on it. Dr. Clarke found a beating heart and explained to me that it was the baby's as it was much faster than an adult heartbeat. Junior was pumpin' a good 150! What a relief to hear that! Now it seems as though I'm more aware that there's someone in there. To know that the heart was beating that strong and quick........unbelievable really.
It's nice now to not just be feeling fat, but feeling like there is really something there to show for it.
More to come soon! My next ultrasound is on February 6th and this week we arrange prenatal classes, a possible midwife and our meeting with BC Women's hospital.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
New Year's Eve and Maternity wear break through.
On the morning of the 31st, we got in the car and headed for Seattle at 9:30am. The border had no wait at all, which was a pleasant surprise. With one stop at Bellis Fair to hit Target and the Food Fair we hit our destination, The Westin in downtown Seattle by about 2:30pm. A quick jaunt around the neighbourhood to hit Macy's and Nordstroms and then back to the hotel to get ready for dinner.
An observation I made from combing through Bellis Fair and all the amazing sales....maternity wear. How the hell does it work? Now, some of you who know me, know I'm not the most patient shopper. (Bill will vouch for that..the slightest distraction and I give up) When you walk into some of these stores or even maternity sections of department stores...it seems as though you are destined to look a certain way. Well, what if you just never dressed like that to begin with? Flowers and bell sleeves. Just because my stomach is going to bulge out doesn't mean I need extra room in my wrists. Or are you supposed to suddenly fly away with those sleeves? Well, my first venture into the THOUGHT of having to wear "special" clothing for my new state was mind numbing. After speaking to our friends Michael and Sarah in Seattle, I was informed they actually have stuffing for you to try clothing on with to get an idea what it will look like with a big belly. I'm not sure I could go through that process without dying of laughter. Sarah also tipped me to Old Navy which is much more up my alley as far as clothing styles go. Less flowers, more cargo pant, t-shirt kinda girl. I'm proud to say that I found an incredible sale and picked up a pair of MATERNITY cargo pants (funny big fold over stretchy waist band) a MATERNITY pink velour track suit and then I stepped over to the "normal" section to pick up some other yoga style pants that measured the same in the waist as the maternity pants. These combined with a few new plain coloured t-shirts in size L and I was set for $70 US! (Thanks Sarah!)
New Years eve we went to a great burger joint, Two Bells Tavern with Michael & Sarah and had one of the most amazing burgers I have ever had served up by a waiter that should apply at the Elbow Room here in Vancouver. After dinner we went and checked out some live music at a great restaurant/bar called The Triple Door. The music was great and there was no cover charge. Our table was reserved for a party at 10pm so we head out realizing we just weren't the party animals we all aspired to be. (at least Michael & Sarah had the excuse of Griffin, their 20month year old son to fall back on) Bill and I hit the bar at our hotel where things were roaring along at a good pace. The hotel was packed for the night with people that were ready to party. Well, mom and dad....I guess I shouldn't laugh at you packing it in so early...we were in bed barely able to watch the countdown at 11:30pm.
Just after midnight I awoke to the sound of a full on cocktail party in the hallway outside our door. Now who wants to be the party poop to complain about people having a good time on New Year's Eve? Not me....I just sat and eavesdropped on what sounded like a CRAZY party. As they trickled into one of the suites down the hallway, one lone soul was left talking on her cell phone. In that "too loud to be sober" tone, she was discussing the logistics of relations with another couple with the male of that party.(that's the polite version) It was seriously like listening to a bad movie. I had a good chuckle and went back to sleep. In the morning as we packed up to leave our room we crunched over a mass of potato chips that littered the entire hallway outside our door. Wasn't that a party?!
Michael met us in the lobby and we got to spend a few hours in the life of Super Daddy. Mommy (Sarah) was out with her mother, so Michael came and met us with Griffin. He was so well behaved until we hauled him in and out of the car more than once and then he decided he'd had enough. It's amazing how soothing a piece of bread with peanut butter can be. He was soon asleep, clutching his peanut butter snack, head bobbing, little eyes rolling around trying to stay open. We let them head on their way for a nap and we did a bit more shopping, had lunch and head for Vancouver.
It was great talking to Sarah and Michael as they had so many great ideas and resources that they are passing on to us from their experience. Sarah knit a little hat she called an "umbilical cord" hat. Our first baby gift!
All in all a great way to kick off 2008 and our year of brand new adventures.
An observation I made from combing through Bellis Fair and all the amazing sales....maternity wear. How the hell does it work? Now, some of you who know me, know I'm not the most patient shopper. (Bill will vouch for that..the slightest distraction and I give up) When you walk into some of these stores or even maternity sections of department stores...it seems as though you are destined to look a certain way. Well, what if you just never dressed like that to begin with? Flowers and bell sleeves. Just because my stomach is going to bulge out doesn't mean I need extra room in my wrists. Or are you supposed to suddenly fly away with those sleeves? Well, my first venture into the THOUGHT of having to wear "special" clothing for my new state was mind numbing. After speaking to our friends Michael and Sarah in Seattle, I was informed they actually have stuffing for you to try clothing on with to get an idea what it will look like with a big belly. I'm not sure I could go through that process without dying of laughter. Sarah also tipped me to Old Navy which is much more up my alley as far as clothing styles go. Less flowers, more cargo pant, t-shirt kinda girl. I'm proud to say that I found an incredible sale and picked up a pair of MATERNITY cargo pants (funny big fold over stretchy waist band) a MATERNITY pink velour track suit and then I stepped over to the "normal" section to pick up some other yoga style pants that measured the same in the waist as the maternity pants. These combined with a few new plain coloured t-shirts in size L and I was set for $70 US! (Thanks Sarah!)
New Years eve we went to a great burger joint, Two Bells Tavern with Michael & Sarah and had one of the most amazing burgers I have ever had served up by a waiter that should apply at the Elbow Room here in Vancouver. After dinner we went and checked out some live music at a great restaurant/bar called The Triple Door. The music was great and there was no cover charge. Our table was reserved for a party at 10pm so we head out realizing we just weren't the party animals we all aspired to be. (at least Michael & Sarah had the excuse of Griffin, their 20month year old son to fall back on) Bill and I hit the bar at our hotel where things were roaring along at a good pace. The hotel was packed for the night with people that were ready to party. Well, mom and dad....I guess I shouldn't laugh at you packing it in so early...we were in bed barely able to watch the countdown at 11:30pm.
Just after midnight I awoke to the sound of a full on cocktail party in the hallway outside our door. Now who wants to be the party poop to complain about people having a good time on New Year's Eve? Not me....I just sat and eavesdropped on what sounded like a CRAZY party. As they trickled into one of the suites down the hallway, one lone soul was left talking on her cell phone. In that "too loud to be sober" tone, she was discussing the logistics of relations with another couple with the male of that party.(that's the polite version) It was seriously like listening to a bad movie. I had a good chuckle and went back to sleep. In the morning as we packed up to leave our room we crunched over a mass of potato chips that littered the entire hallway outside our door. Wasn't that a party?!
Michael met us in the lobby and we got to spend a few hours in the life of Super Daddy. Mommy (Sarah) was out with her mother, so Michael came and met us with Griffin. He was so well behaved until we hauled him in and out of the car more than once and then he decided he'd had enough. It's amazing how soothing a piece of bread with peanut butter can be. He was soon asleep, clutching his peanut butter snack, head bobbing, little eyes rolling around trying to stay open. We let them head on their way for a nap and we did a bit more shopping, had lunch and head for Vancouver.
It was great talking to Sarah and Michael as they had so many great ideas and resources that they are passing on to us from their experience. Sarah knit a little hat she called an "umbilical cord" hat. Our first baby gift!
All in all a great way to kick off 2008 and our year of brand new adventures.
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