Babies

Posted on August 06, 10

Filed under general, mind, body & spirit

It seems that every where I look, there’s babies. I understand that the human race is a perpetually reproducing species (duh), but goddamn it seems they’re just everywhere.

I don’t know if a lot of these parents realise how precious their children are, though. A lot of couples have a lot of trouble getting pregnant, and their life dream is to have a child. On the other side of things, there’s people who really don’t want kids, but are the ones who have them.

Our friends are of the first group – they have been trying for a long time now, I think 3-4 years – to have a baby. I don’t know the ins-and-outs of what procedures they’ve had or anything like that, because you don’t like to ask, but I know it’s been a rough road for them.

Last night we got a phone call; my friend’s hubby spoke to Michael (they’re pretty good mates now), and then Michael handed the phone to me saying my friend wanted to speak. She said, “We came over Sunday but you weren’t home, and we were going to come over tonight but you said you were going for a drive so I didn’t know what time you were going to be home, but we have some news that we want to share before I tell everyone at work tomorrow – we’re having a baby!”

I was OVER THE MOON, to say the least. These two people are just the most loving people – they would do absolutely anything for their friends and family, and I can’t think of two people in my everyday life who deserve it more. I went out today and bought her a card and a giftcard for a baby shop (she’s only 15 weeks along, but I figured they’ll obviously need to buy stuff for the baby before it’s born!). We are just so excited for them.

It did make me think though – I’ve been on the contraceptive pill for about 5-6 years now. I think it would be devastating to me to try to avoid getting pregnant for so long, and then when it comes down to us actually trying, I won’t be able to fall pregnant. It’s a real issue that has just come up recently for me, and been accentuated by my friend announcing her pregnancy after so many years, but I guess I should be hopeful – after all, it’s a reality for them now.

I think I’ll just stick with the cats for a while.

A Baby? Now?!

Posted on June 19, 10

Filed under family, mind, body & spirit

3 Comments

The other night, Michael and I had a bit of an argument – one of those arguments that every couple should have once in a while – and in trying to resolve it, I asked him what he wanted.

“I’d like to have a kid,” he said.

I was pretty astonished to hear that come from him. I know he loves children, particularly his nephew, but I didn’t know he’d be ready for this step so soon.

Since I was about 18, I’ve thought about the possibilities of having a child. The idea of man, woman & child under the one roof seems like one of those romantic ideals. But is it really? I mean, what’s romantic about going to bed at 9pm because your child has been awake screaming and pooping his/her nappy from 2am the previous morning, only for it to happen all over again tonight? There’s nothing romantic about getting your boobs out to feed a baby, regardless of the time or place. I think the idea of being pregnant appealed to me – people cooing and ‘aww’ing over your bulging belly, asking when you’re due, etc. But having a child? I don’t know. The thought of pushing a football-sized being out my va-hoo-hoo makes me cringe.

My other main concern is money. It shouldn’t be the be-all and end-all decision-maker when it comes to having a child, but I would like to be able to give my child the best possible start to life, and to be able to continue that for them, for the next 18+ years.

So I have suggested to Michael that, while I’m not against the idea, I think we should wait. We need to open a savings account (which we have now applied for), save away some money every pay week, and after, say, 6 or 12 months, we’ll reconsider and see how life is treating us then. We will also need hospital cover, which we don’t have yet and once we apply for it, we’ll need to have it for 12 months before being able to utilise it.

I do look forward to the day we start a family – I see women on the street pushing prams or carrying their babies around, and I do think that I’d like to be one of those people – I just think we need to plan ahead.