Alder's Tone

......I've ironed, cleaned, washed dishes, made beds, walked over to where she lay to change the TV channel for her and masaged her when ever the need arises. To quote Jim from the Royle family, "New Energy my arse"! She's still knackered and the beginnings of a sore back is not helping matters - 4am awakenings are not good. For me they are not great either as it normally means an "Are you awake?"......"ARE YOU AWAKE!!".... "What, am I late for School, whats going on.....Sarrrrrah!".

Perhaps its the bodies way of adapting to next year. Sarah was reading scary stats on the amount of crying a baby does in its 1st year, I dont even want to quote it. I replied "Yeah, but you have to remember that its the babies way of speaking to you pal, it cant talk". Sarah laughed, "I'll remind you of that when its 'talking' to you at 3am next April then shall I..." Point taken.

Anyway the main things that have happened in the past 4 weeks is that Sarahs trousers have begun to not fit. She realised this as whilst taking a seat at work there was the very distinguishable sound of a zip, well, unzipping. Having givne up on the top button at around wk 12, the zip then gave up the ghost around wk 13. And so we had our first trip to the shops for new clothes for Sarah. She needed trousers and decided on maternity ones, simple black ones with an expandable waist. The next day we walked to get the train only to find that she was perhaps a little hasty in going for the maternity range. With the crotch of the trousers sitting around about her knees it became obvious it was too soon for maternity wear! Back to the shops we went for normal trousers, just a size up. Even if it is for a matter of weeks it meant the kids on the train would stop with their "You cant touch this, it's Hammer time" chants.

Last word on clothing - M&S....why??? I take Sarah to the maternity section to look at the stylish clothing she will wear later in the pregnancy to cheer her up and right next to it, not 10 metres away is the "petite" section. Wonderful. May as well just set up a ring and bell and count down the 3 minute rounds each weekend.

The big difference between the 1st trimester and 2nd..so far...is the pace. This past few weeks seem to have been slower than the same period in the 1st. Saying that I cant believe its now 16-17weeks, but its slowed down just a little. Between work, weddings and holiday bookings I've actually been frustrated at not being able to give 100% of my time to thinking about junior, but I know that that quite simply cannot and should not be the case for 9 months.

Finally, up until now the difference in the way Sarah and I are coping with impending parenthood is something I am only now noticing. Sarah is looking up web sites to see what is happening with baby this week, I am not searching for the best book to tell me how to potty train our child. I have gone off like a hare to Sarahs tortoise. I have read countless books, read magazines, in fact I have studied every bid of literature I can find. Sarah seems more calm just wanting to take it one stage at a time. I like the fact we differ, it seems to be working. Perhaps the scariest thing about reading books was not reading about labour, what to do when its first born, or in fact anything to do with the while....whispering this...responsibility side of things...but rather the excercises Sarah is advised to do to help with the labour when the time comes. As I read Miriam Stoppards guide to pregnancy she advised the women (children look away now) to flex...well parts of the body that I did not even know existed. Thank god they are all Latin names as quite frankly I want to forget all about it.

So thats where I am at the moment, 16-17 weeks. The scan looks like a boy, Sarahs body is apparently shaping up as if its a girl and I couldn't care less either way as long as it comes out healthy.......more to come.