The baby shrine

This weekend was a double-whammy of baby purchases.
My tax refund bought us our stroller. It's small, folds very compactly, and most important...was on sale.

The crib is courtesy of Aidan who has outgrown it.

Bedding is from the Barnslig collection at IKEA.

 
 
 

Chimborazo, Cotopaxi

Yesterday, John and I were talking about poems we remembered from Childhood. He has a favourite book "Alligator Pie" (which he's just bought for the baby) full of very Canadian poems. He remembers reading it and re-reading it.

I had favourites too, except that I can't remember the titles of the books at all. I had a few anthologies of children's poetry. A lot of stuff by A.A. Milne, a certain Mr. A. Nonny Mouse, Lewis Carroll and others.

Yes. I read VORACIOUSLY as a child (and still do).

There was one particular poem that I remembered last night. I had no idea who wrote it or what it was called, all I remembered was that I loved the way the words sounded when I said them out loud.

The internet is great for research. I found it:

ROMANCE

by: W.J. Turner

HEN I was but thirteen or so

I went into a golden land,

Chimborazo, Cotopaxi

Took me by the hand.




My father died, my brother too,

They passed like fleeting dreams,

I stood where Popocatapetl

In the sunlight gleams.




I dimly heard the master's voice

And boys far-off at play,

Chimborazo, Cotopaxi

Had stolen me away.




I walked in a great golden dream

To and fro from school--

Shining Popocatapetl

The dusty streets did rule.




I walked home with a gold dark boy,

And never a word I'd say,

Chimborazo, Cotopaxi

Had taken my speech away:




I gazed entranced upon his face

Fairer than any flower--

O shining Popocatapetl

It was thy magic hour:




The houses, people, traffic seemed

Thin fading dreams by day,

Chimborazo, Cotopaxi

They had stolen my soul away!

'Romance' is reprinted from An Anthology of Modern Verse. Ed. A. Methuen. London: Methuen & Co., 1921.

April 1 update

I am most definitely up the duff.

It's now week 15 and counting.

Everything is going well and I'm getting bigger.

There have been quite a few doctor visits in the past 2 months due to my 'advanced maternal age'.

The first prenatal visit about a month ago went well. It basically consisted of us hearing the heartbeat (SO COOL!) and getting all sorts of consultation requests for various specialists, ultrasounds, and blood tests.

One of the consults was for the GARE clinic (Grossesse a Risque Élevéé). My first visit there I was expecting to have my high blood pressure confirmed and get put on pills. I was right...I was. She also put me on blood thinner (SUBCUTANEOUS blood thinner...with a needle every day in my belly), and I'm checking my blood glucose levels every day as well, no thanks to a wonky result from the initial blood tests.

Hopefully, when I go back to this clinic this week, I'll be able to stop the blood glucose testing.

We've had an early ultrasound and saw the baby moving around. It looked like an alien.

Other than that, we have our second prenatal appointment this week and I'm looking forward to seeing the doctor and hearing what he has to say.