Keeping Mum

A lot has happened in the last three years and I am only human.  It's to be expected that there would be some things that I would forget.  I'm sure I'll remember how to hold a teeny baby.  I hope I'll remember how to cope with sleep deprivation.  I definitely didn't remember how hard it is not telling people that we're expecting.

Last time around we employed every trick in the book.  Every white lie from food poisoning, hangovers, long weekends ahead, anything to throw people off the scent of our impending joy.  We didn't want to announce anything until after the first scan*.  We wanted to make sure, to see it for our own eyes before we told the world.  We also wanted to tell the grandparents before our friends.

This time around our feelings are the same, we're keeping mum until after the first scan.  The difference is, this time we have been lying for much longer.  We didn't really have any pressure with number one, apart from years of laughing off hints from eager grannies-to-be.  This time around everybody has been asking when we're going to go for number two.

Friends, family, neighbours, the postman.  You name it everybody seems to have a vested interest in when we are planning to extend our family unit.  To start with I was happy with telling everybody that I'd forgotten what it was that I was meant to do!  Having a baby can squish the libido out of a relationship.  Then I started telling people that we were "enjoying the practice" of making a baby.  But when we had been actively trying to have a baby every question was a reminder that we were failing as parents to be.

We should find out next week when our dating scan is.  Until then we're going to keep our heads down and continue the subterfuge.  We haven't even told number one just in case he lets slip at nursery.  Life will be so much easier once the cat is out of the bag.  I don't like fibbing and planning in private but that's just what I'll have to do...don't tell anyone!

*also known as the dating scan

Starting Over

Just when I thought it was safe. Just as I could see light at the end of the tunnel. Just as we are nearing the bliss of no more nappies with our son, we go and get pregnant for a second time.  Don't get me wrong, this was no accident, we've been trying for a second child for some time.  There was a brief moment last year when the touch paper was lit, but sadly, as happens all too often, we miscarried very early.

I'd started to think that we were destined to be a three person family.  I think I had resigned myself to dealing with only child syndrome.  I'd even got the proper big boy Lego out of storage.  But I'm going to have to rethink my childcare strategy again, hide all sharp and small objects, as I am happy to announce that we are pregnant. 8 weeks to be precise*.

Today was our first visit to the Midwife so now it all feels official.  Plain sailing from here on in, right?  Wrong.  We're rightly nervous.  I know we've been through all of this before but we have had one scare already.  NHS Direct and the Early Pregnancy Unit both said it was nothing to worry about but after last year we are a little jumpy.

I hope to use this blog to chart our journey through the next 32 weeks.  To share my thoughts and fears about becoming a dad for the second time.  To give an insight into what I'm doing while the star of the show is being measured, probed, tested and has the world telling her how to live her life.  I'll also reminisce about the first time and how that almost ended in disaster.  Fingers crossed this will be a smooth ride.  Let the adventure begin.

*I'll come back to the vagaries of due dates on another post.