The house is buzzing with activity as Bridget's baby shower is in full swing, we decided to invite both of Bridget's parents, our friends and some colleagues, not bothering to stick with the 'women only' tradition, as most of our closest friends are couples. The baby really could come at any point now as Bridget is classified as full term. Last week we packed our hospital bag and placed it at the foot of our bed, making sure it is on hand for when the time comes. At our Doctor's appointment yesterday everything looked really good, however the baby is still quite high up and Dr Cooper doesn't think they will be gracing us with their presence any time soon. One thing that was mentioned to us though was that we should start to do something called a kick count, I'd never heard of it before but basically once we're in bed each night, we need to set a stopwatch and see how long it takes for the baby to make ten movements, it's just so we know that nothing is wrong, and if these movements take longer than a few hours or we don't feel the baby as much then we should head to the hospital just to be safe. I just want Peanut to be out already, I want him or her to be here with us now. Having said that, it really doesn't feel like over ten months since we had the conversation about expanding our family that night at the beach on out first wedding anniversary. It's very overwhelming at times when I think just how much things are about to change – for the better of course – in just a matter of weeks, we'll finally have everything we've always wanted. I wouldn't have it any other way.
"Hi darling, are you having fun?" I am taken out of my thoughts as my very pregnant wife walks (or should that be waddles?) up to me.
"Hi babe, yeah I am, it's a good party, although Amelia is setting up games – you know how much I can't stand games, maybe we can skip that part and open presents?" I say with a very hopeful expression, praying that Bridget will agree with me.
"I'm sure they will be fine, let's just play one or two to keep her happy, after all she did plan this whole baby shower. Also, have you seen the amount of gifts there are – Franky I'm seriously worried we have no room for them all!" Yup, Bridget's voice is very serious as she says this, has my wife really forgotten just how large our house is? We have a double garage and everything!
"Umm Gidge, we have all that space in the garage, your Porsche is only taking up half of it, any items we don't need right now I'll put in there. Is this you getting that 'pregnancy brain' I've been warned about? I must say if that is the case thank god you go on maternity leave in two days' time, god only knows what you're teaching the students!" Uh, oh I really should know better by now not to piss her off, she hasn't really been taking my jokes well recently. So it should be no surprise when she slaps me hard on my arm – I swear this baby has given her super-human strength!
"Shut up Franky, you think you're so funny, but you're not!" Yup, time to keep my mouth shut 'don't poke the bear, don't poke the bear' I keep repeating in my head as I stare at her.
"No I'm not funny, and I'm really sorry – I shouldn't have said that." I wrap my arms around her for a hug, or at least as close as I can get for one, Peanut's home has been making that task rather difficult lately.
"I can't wait to feel you close to me again Franky, when we hug like this you seem so far away."
"I know, but just think soon we'll be hugging like this with our little baby sandwiched between us, only they'll be on the outside."
"Hmm that will be nice."
"Game time!" Amelia yells from the other room.
"Where did the mummies go off to? Come on today is all about Bridget, Franky and their little one." I hear Vera add in. 'The sooner it's over the better' I think as we go toward the group.
Once in the Livingroom we are greeted by a much too excited Amelia.
"Jesus, calm down – what the hell do you have planned? I can already tell I'm not going to like it one bit!"
"Finally nice of you both to join us! So I have a few different games – don't worry they're not too bad!"
"I'm warning you Amelia" I say in half joking, well maybe slightly more threatening.
"Okay…anyway first game we are going to play is 'Guess the Baby' everyone has brought a photo of themselves as a baby, I've taken the liberty of putting them all up there on the wall, basically whoever matches the most photos to names, is who wins!"
"Well now doesn't that just sound like a bundle of fun, come to think of it, I don't think I've ever been more excited for a game! God, I just can't wait to see what we play after this!" I whisper in to Bridget's ear in possibly the most sarcastic voice I can manage, my wife however just tells me to suck it up and play nice. Ugh.
Thirty minutes later and the game is over.
"In your face everyone! Ha!"
"So much for not wanting to play any stupid games Franky – bit competitive aren't we?"
"Just because you didn't even place in the top three Vera, someone is just jealous!"
"Now come on Franky be nice, I didn't think we'd bring this side out of you – maybe just one more game after all!"
"What? No, I was just starting to have fun! I want to play everything Amelia!" I protest.
"Oh come on Franky, quit the whining, you heard Amelia – one more game. I'm seriously starting to think when this baby is born I'll be a mother of two and not one!"
"Ha, ha very funny Gidge, I just got excited, I was really good at that game!" I pout at her, so she reaches up to quickly kiss my lips into a smile as we await Amelia's instructions for the next game.
"Don't worry Franky, this is a good one! Right, so I'm going to pass around this ball of string and scissors, each person will cut the string at a length they think will fit around Bridget's stomach, the person who gets closest wins! Is that okay with you Bridget?"
"Yeah that's fine with me, god not sure I want to see just how huge I am – maybe I'll keep my eyes shut!" I laugh, poor Bridget, but she's being such a good sport about this game, not sure I would be if I was in her position!
"Yes! Champion again! In your face losers! Shit, I am good at these games!" I know that I'm being extremely annoying and very smug but I don't care because I won – again.
"Well darling I should hope you would win that game since you see it every day! Just please try and be a bit humbler, I do still want to be able to call our guests friends after they leave."
"Just proves I actually pay attention to your body" I wink at my wife and just ignore her last comment, as we move to sit down on the sofa.
"Presents! Amelia exclaims as she points to the coffee table in front of us covered in brightly wrapped presents of all different shapes and sizes.
We get to work opening each gift – overcome with the generosity of everyone. The amount of stuff we get is crazy – a tummy time play mat, baby bouncer, Baby Bjorn carrier, Moses basket, onesies – in all different sizes, little booties, hats and mittens. As well as nappies, bottles, bibs and other essentials. It is truly incredible that all of this has been bought for our baby.
"I…I, umm wow, thank you so much everyone – this is very overwhelming, all of this stuff is amazing – and far too much, but just thank you, I don't know what else to say really, Bridget?" I look at my wife hoping she might come across slightly more literate than me.
"All I can really say is the same as Franky, thank you so much – it is clear how much love this baby is going to have from you all, and they're not even born yet – so yes, thanks so much, we hadn't even thought of most of these items – they will all definitely be put to good use."
After another hour, the shower is over and everyone has gone home, except for Amelia and Greg, they volunteered to help me clean up, I sent Bridget to relax on the sofa while we make sure everything is put back to normal. I walk Amelia and Greg to the door once we're done, thank them and then go and join my wife on the couch.
"Well that's everything cleaned up, I've put the gifts away – I never even had to use the garage."
"That's good honey, what time is it?" Bridget asks while letting out a yawn, I look over my shoulder to check the clock on the wall.
"It's just after 9pm, you want to head to bed?"
"Yes, remember we said we would start to record the kicks tonight, I have no clue how long it could take to get ten movements so the sooner we get started the better."
Thirty minutes later we are in bed, Bridget laying slightly on her left to take some of the pressure off her back, her stomach exposed as I grab my phone to use as a stopwatch to see how long the movements take to happen, we both have our hands on the bump, waiting.
"Oh Franky, I see you brought the Moses basket through to our room."
"Yeah, well I've been thinking maybe for the first few weeks it would be better if the baby was nearer us – oh kick number one, as I was saying, being nearer us will make feeding and changing easier during the night, plus it means we can check on them easier too." Another three kicks happen in quick succession.
"I agree actually, I'd never thought about getting one before today, but must say it seems like a great idea for when the baby is so little." Eight movements now, the last one I swear felt like a flip or something.
"Good we agree then, I must say I hope Peanut does their kicks like this every night – 15 minutes and that's the ninth kick. Come on baby just one more – then your mummies can get some sleep!" I tap Bridget's belly with my fingers and that's when I see what actually looks like the shape of a foot poke out.
"Holy shit! Gidge did you see that? Is that normal? I like seen toes, oh my god!"
"Franky calm down, the baby probably just has less room to move around now, that's why the detail is clearer, or something like that – it's fine."
"That was so cool, oh well that's us finished counting. 17 minutes for ten movements, that seems pretty good to me." I give Bridget a smile before leaning down to kiss her belly a few times.
"Goodnight baby." I then pull my wife's oversized t-shirt down to cover her stomach and lean up to her lips, giving them a gentle kiss, before turning the lamp off that is on my side of the bed.
"Goodnight Franky, I love you so much."
"Night, night Bridget, I love you too, sleep well."