Alder's Tone

...yup, we entered the third trimester on the 23rd December! At the risk of sounding like Richard Wilson "I donnnnnt bellllliiiiiiiieve itttt!" That 2nd trimester flew by, you promised me it wouldn't Lee, promised! Dont get me wrong, I cant wait to meet Junior and Sarah cant wait to get labour out of the way, but we have so much we need to do first!

Anyway slow down eh, here's what we did in the 2nd trimester.

We bought the pram from Glasgow Pram centre. Its got mod cons, convertible this, clip on that and a GSOH. The GSOH is that it's easy to use when others do it but when I try it you're having a laugh. I'm happy with it - its a Pliko Pramette which is an anagram of "Top Prat Like Me"- seems apt. Try it...

Junior had its first holiday, it flew to Sweden. Whilst sitting at Prestwick airport at 7.30am on October the 30th I was swigging my second super size Stella Artois (I dont like flying). Sarah looked at me and smiled - I think I just felt something she said. Thats funny I replied, so do I - and I rushed to the toilet. Sweden was fantastic, I was kicked in the face many times but loved every minute as I felt my child for the 1st time.

Other purchases in the 2nd trimester included a dresser, a carpet for the nursery, a radiator for the nursery, a child on board teddy bear, wipes, nappies, paint for the nursery and a cuddly toy (I'm getting all Larry Grayson!). Many many purchases and a savings account being hit left right and centre!

We also bought the cot - well in fact my parents did but we chose it, eventually. Another trip to Glasgow Pram centre, then John Lewis in Glasgow, then Babies R Us in Livingston before returning home dissapointed and finding it on the internet 15 minutes later. If at first you dont succeed, sod it, use google and let it come to you.

Another thing that happened in the 2nd trimester was Sarah got a little, well, dippy. How we laughed as she forgot to take home turkey from her mothers at Christmas, we laughed till we cried at her coming into a room, looking at me and then walking out, and we chortled hysterically as she stopped at the green light at Sheriff Hall round about causing a Toyota to swerve around her and then started driving again when it turned red causing a large Tescos truck to hit the brakes and sound its horn at us. Once I could breath again and did ask what was going on - apparently I had put her off I was speaking to her. I am now a mute passenger. I have also not found colour blindness in ANY book about pregnancy, not one!

We attended our first antenatal class - the midwife talked for 30 minutes about how hard labour could be, how women would not get any sleep in the ward, how depressing it could be etc. As the kleenex came out she left and the physio came in. She talked about some of the exercises the women could do, some of which were fun to try as the bloke. Especially the pelvic floor excercises! "Imagine you are holding in a pee for 10 seconds and let it out" she said. I felt like shouting "Imagine?? Try every Friday night out in the taxi coming home at the end of the night! My pelvic is trully floored!". I have signed up for fathers to be classes - will keep you posted on how they go. Sarah has her antenatals in January. I have also signed up for 3 fillings and a wisdom tooth to be removed - thats another story though.

Sarah has grown a lot in the past 3 months. Her bump is now very much on show! She still looks great with it, her hairs lovely, face is spotless and all in all she is glowing. She also just mentioned she will read this entry when I have posted it. ;o)

Christmas was a funny time this year! Inevitably we thought of future Christmas days - next year Junior will be 9 months old. I cant wait to have a child around to watch opening their stocking, opening their presents, throwing them all to one side and playing with the wrapping paper! In all seriousness we have talked a lot about it and I said to my own dad yesterday how I would not spoil the kid - he just smiled.

One major event this trimester was that we picked names! After countless Pop Idol vote type moments where one unlucky contender went home dissapointed we narrowed it down to one boys name and one girls. I know Lee and Debs had a number to choose from on the day but for me I could not do that - I am USELESS at making decisions and the child would have remained nameless for months if I had not done it up front. As for looking like its name, I will settle for it looking like me to be honest!! We have not had milk for 6 months...

As a summary of the second trimester I would say it all hit home over the past 3 months! All of a sudden the excitement of first knowing led to "Oh S**t, what do we do now?". The answer was make lists, buy things and panic (me more than Sarah I think). I think the third will be similar. Dont get me wrong, the excitement is still there, but there is more thinking around the practicalities. Sarah is concentrating on labour, I am thinking about the next 18 years. I have bought too many books and read too far in advance. For the third trimester it is time to pull in the reins, slow down and get the essentials done. Right, I am off to buy Gina Fords Book of Good Weaning...

March 18th here we come......fast.

Merry Christmas and I hope you all have a great 2007!