Barcelona – Feb 2007

So here we are, enjoying a short break in the lovely Barcelona, just the two of us.

We had been trying for a baby for a little while, but not a long time. Laura had bought a pregnancy test while in the airport before we had left England but she decided not to tell me. After dropping our bags at the hotel before we head off to have a look round and grab some dinner Laura heads to the bathroom and a few minutes later comes out with a look on her face, straight away I can tell “We’re having a baby!”

The words you’ll never forget, the words that will change your whole World.

By this stage we’d been a couple for 6 years and married for almost 3 years so we knew we were ready to start this next chapter.

Before we left for this little break we’d just had the news that the landlords wanted our flat back by the end of March. Laura at the time had said that these things happen for a reason and now we knew what that reason was.

Straight away I wanted to tell everyone but was told I had to wait and that is by far the hardest part. Once we got home Laura had made the doctors appointment and it was confirmed that she was pregnant. Shit! It was starting to hit home and the next stage was the 12 week scan.

I didn’t really know what a 12 week scan involved but I knew I wanted to be there and I was nervous. This would be the first time that I’d get to see my baby and even know 5 years later I still have the photo (even if I don’t know what I’m looking for).

Was everything ok?

Can you tell what it is?

So many questions but at that moment when you see your baby and hear the heartbeat everything stops. The lady said everything looked normal and as expected but it was too early to tell what sex it would be.

20 Week Scan

The next time we saw anyone was at the 20 week scan and this is normally the one where they can tell what sex the baby is likely to be.

After all the checks and measurements had been done the question was asked “Can you tell what it is?” Her reply was I’m 99% sure it will be a girl (they don’t like to sat 100% because people have actually sued them when they got it wrong)

BINGO! We now have something to work with, a colour if you will.

Colours

Finally I get to feel like I can do something. By this time we’d moved into our new house which would now become a family home. Granted I’d lose my office but I could live with that, I mean how much stuff can a small baby need?

Oh how wrong could I be. First there’s a moses basket – why? What’s wrong with a cot? A baby bath – but we have a bath! Changing table – can we not just use the floor? Wardrobe – she’ll be tiny can she not just use my sock draw? Then there’s the stuff like sterilizer, bottles, monitors (not to be used as walkie talkies when you want a cup of tea), the list is endless and when it’s your first you need everything new as the baby will be able to tell.

The most expensive outlay is the pram/travel system. Its important to get the best you can afford and make sure it’s easy to fold down and lightweight. We went for a complete travel system which included a car seat. This system lasted until she was almost 3.

So we’ve decorated and bought the entire contents of several baby shops all we need to go is wait until the due date of 5th November.