Introducing Bruno



Here he is. I don't really know what words i should use to tell you about our baby Bruno, because there are so many. I could say it was amazing to finally meet him on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon. I could say we have never been happier. I could maybe tell you about the way he smells. But i don't think words are really necessary right now. Here he is.

Expect it
I think today was my last pre-labor class so i feel excited and, of course, expectant. Last night i had regular contractions, which has happened before, but after talking to the teacher i pretty much know much when i'm supposed to run for the hospital and when to simply breathe in and out, or change position.

The women in class wished me good luck and said we'd meet again at the parks. It's good to start having acquaintances in town. I realized how lonely my day had been when i started enthusiastically chatting with a girl stretching next to me.

I'm obviously looking forward to seeing the little one's face (and coming up with his name!). Other feelings include a thread of anxiety and a strange laziness. No nesting syndrome for me. I can't find the batteries needed to vacuum the apartment or keep everything as neat as i should. I don't want to imagine how things will look when Baby is around.

Tomorrow at noon i have another monitoring test at the hospital. It may be the regular stuff or i might start kicking fast contractions. In that case, i guess i'll have to stay there and come back home with a baby after a couple of days. Expecting, expecting.

The mouse goes shopping

Once again, we're window dream shopping all over the net. This is what we see.


Because foam is a great invention. 'Sparkability'


Ducks rock. 'Play Sam'


Alphabet soup on the rug. 'Pottery Barn'


You keep your sponges with the blue rabbits!. 'Nursery Window'

Adjusting the calendar

A week. Wow.

I'm a beach ball



So today was supposed to be my due date but a doctor disguised as a Dwalks clone decided, after running a couple of tests, that i'm a full week behind. Baby has no name and hardly a due date. Son of Ambivalence...

I look like i swallowed last summer's beach ball but i'm doing ok. Sometimes i wish i could feel more useful but i guess that's just the unemployment status building inside me. I work around the house and my cooking skills are improving (apple pie or vegetable and cheese quiche, anybody?), and that keeps me happy enough.

I can't remember the last time i wrote something over 100 words but at least i'm back at reading (Tom Wolfe's I Am Charlotte Simmons, loving it) and listening to music: mostly radio still but slowly getting back to the cds. I don't know where the anticultural momentum came from, it may have to do with the pregnancy hormones or something.

It's hard to believe i'm days away from seeing his face. In fact, i can't believe it. Though i can't wait...

Baby atmosphere
Little by little, Baby's nursery is taking shape. I keep entering the room and glowing. And we haven't even painted it, but it already feels like his space to me.


The top part of this library was lost during the moving so we had to steal 'get' a replacement at Ikea. Trix has the same piece of furniture in her living room, Morgana has it at toddler Lucía's room and we used to have it in the kitchen of the other apartment. Talk about versatile.


Changing area. Again, Ikea ruling. This is the place you go if you want to smell different things in life. I've been warned to cover my face as soon as i take the diaper off. Fun, being a baby boy...


First drawer, new born clothes. Second, 3 to 6 months. Etcetera. I love the sweet scent of nothing that comes out of this wardrobe. I also keep baby's bathtub and other gear in there, as well as the how to books. Not that i remember a single word in them.


Part of the trio stroller, already dressed and set to zoom out to the hospital. It took me a good two months to chose the perfect pram for us and this one seems to be Mr. Right. Less fashionable than some, but light and comfy. After all, it is a stroller, not a scooter.


I'm sure i'll post a lot more pics of this amazing rocking cot. It was hand painted for my friend Ona -Arwen- when she was born. Her twin toddlers have used and now she has lent it to us. Magnificent.


The crib, to be set by my side of the bed. Mum did all the redesigning with new fabric, featuring lambs.

After the pause
Baby talk gave way to a long baby silence. I'm so sorry i haven't been able to record these two exciting last months of pregnancy. I'm sure it would have been something to treasure for the future days. Anyway. I'm still expecting and i still have this journal, so no more mom-to-be moans.

Updates:

1. I'm currently 39 weeks pregnant and my due date has been shuffled back to April 19th. Yes, i'm a little nervous. Today i'll be attending one of my last pre-labour classes and i'm expected at the hospital for a few tests tomorrow.



2. Liam. That is no longer Baby's name. We realized it's hard for some people to pronounce it in Spain so we're changing. How does Bruno sound to you?

3. Granted, my belly is huge. And some other parts of my body, too. But the great news is that -apparently- i'm not that big. Really kind people keep telling me there's nothing fat in me besides the babyhouse-tummy. You should be able to judge for yourselves as soon as i build up the courage to post a picture.

4. Though every single manual, paperback or magazine tells me Baby no longer has the space to move as usual, ours seems to be taking tango lessons daily. He's a funny one, i think.

5. I feel good. A little tired at times, especially when i realize the regular lack of night sleep i get, but otherwise i'm doing great. Pregnancy is an exciting and brilliant experience. At least for me.

6. Almost ready. He has his clothes washed, ironed and organized by sizes. He has a stroller and a baby carrier and a bath tub with two rubber ducks. He has a beautiful cot and a crib for our bedside. He has a star-shaped lamp in his room and a soft teddy bear with bells inside. Never say ready, but i think we're pretty close.