My niece is expecting. It’s a fun and uncomfortable time all rolled into one. Come to think of it, the newness of each stage from conception on through adulthood forever brings a combination of fun and uncomfortableness.
The baby clothes are cuter these days, the bottles shapelier to assist baby’s assimilation and digestion, diapers are designed for the boy or girl anatomy, and more gadgets for making anything we did in the olden days easier. (I actually washed my own diapers for my first three, but converted after two weeks on the youngest, wondering how I’d ever done it.)
We played Baby Scatterories and listed baby items for letters of the alphabet. The concept of the game is to come up with a list of legitimate baby items that no one else has thought of. If you match someone else, the answer doesn’t count. I never knew there were so many types of thermometers. One participant got credit for the letter B, E, P and U just by naming temperature measuring sticks — bath, ear, pacifier, under the arm. Then there was the cousin who cleverly added refills or pads to any baby item commonly thought of — like wipe refills, Diaper Genie refills, and mattress pads. There wasn’t any Diaper Genie around when I had babies. Wouldn’t have lasted long any way. I would have used up my three wishes after Hot Wheelz’ three night colic marathon.
Your body is never the same again, you’re never eating for one again (even after birth, you’re picking up leftovers from someone’s plate, because mom taught you never to waste the food), you’ll never feel rested again (because you won’t be). And just when you think your job is done and you can get caught up — age, grandkids, and early nightfall comes along.
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