July 6, 2007 by Barbara.

I wish that I had blogged from the moment we decided to try and conceive, barring that, I wish I had captured my thought while I was pregnant or, at the very least, that I had written about Reid’s life from when she was born. My memory is so poor and she changes so quickly that I know I’m losing memories at a startling rate. But I didn’t. I started writing when Reid was 2 years old. I’m not about to spend my life regretting this, though. I’ve decided to create my own meme and maybe others will pick it up. Or maybe it’ll be just something Reid and I look at and enjoy. I’m going to beginning and move forward though time, except that I’m leaving open the possibility of goint back even further or maybe returning to an earlier point in time once I’ve passed it.

The day I found out I was pregnant was one of the happiest days in my life but I have to say that *I* was the easiest person throughout the day. I’d gotten up and peed on the stick on a lovely Saturday in November. Okay, I made part of that up, I don’t remember what sort of a day it was but finding out I was pregnant after more than a year of trying probably made me think that it was a good day. I went out and bought groceries while Ken was still sleeping. I’m an early riser and he isn’t. Plus, I wanted to find a clever way of telling him that I was pregnant.

I returned home mid-morning with the groceries and found Ken quietly cleaning out the refrigerator. I couldn’t believe he would be so blatant in his criticism of my housemaking abilities! I know that I snapped and snarled at him, I’m pretty sure that he was taken completely aback. I’m not positive, though; he might have had enough experience with my innate unpredictability that he was only partially taken aback. Needless to say, I didn’t tell my beloved husband about his impending fatherhood right at that very moment.

After supper, when we were sitting together in an uneasy peace - I think Ken was afraid I might do something equally as unpredictable as flipping out when he did something as non-threatening as cleaning out the fridge and I was probably worried about something similar or maybe I still harboured resentment that he’d cleaned the fridge. Finally, I handed him the *What to Expect When You’re Expecting* calendar that I’d bought as a segue into the BIG news. Ken looked at the calendar and then at me and said something about not getting my point. Poor man. I told him that we’d need a calendar to keep track of my weight and the pre-natal appointments. Understanding gradually dawned. Ken will tell you that I am the least subtle person he knows but in this case, I was too subtle or maybe I was trying too hard to be clever.

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July 6, 2007 by Barbara.

Most of this was written last night

Ken and I name the equipment that we use on a frequent basis. It was one of those quirky things we discovered we had in common when we first dating. When we bought our purple Cirrus in 2000, we called her “Grace”. The Le Baron had been “Sophia” but it was a bit exotic, bearing a French model name. Grace, though, was solid and ready for fun. We were both excited to be buying our first car together and it didn’t hurt that was also our first brand new, built just for us car, either. We’ve had to put a fair bit into it lately but it was Grace and how could we complain. We’d planned to get a new car when Reid went to school - daycare fees should go down then and it seemed to make sense. Alas, I took the car for service this morning and they said it needed brake work - more than I thought the car was probably worth. I hoped that I was wrong but wasn’t. Sigh. I called Ken and told him the news and suggested that maybe we needed a car sooner than later.

The little purple car that has taken us so many places is just too sick to continue. The car that took us to the hospital as a couple and brought us, with Reid, home as parents won’t be around much longer. How sad this makes me! I’m sitting at the car dealership waiting for them to do whatever happens behind the scenes - I suspect a lot of officious nothingness - while Ken has gone to get Reid from daycare. I suggested that we should do as much as possible as quickly as possible because Reid will be here soon but still I sit here.

Update:
Ken and Reid got to the car dealership before I made it into the business manager’s office. The salesperson had given me a Mountain Dew, though, and so Reid didn’t mind the delay. She ate some cucumbers that I hadn’t eaten at lunch and was very good as the wait when on. They offered crayons and colouring book for the office time and we got through the process with only one small complaint. Reid got squished when I was signing the paper work but her protest was certainly within the bounds of acceptable office noise levels.

So, we have a new car. We’ll miss our purple car, though.

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July 6, 2007 by Barbara.

Ben asked us for weeks if we would come to watch him play soccer. Unfortunately, his games and Reid’s swimming lessons conflicted. Reid’s swimming lessons have wrapped and so when he asked on the Thursday night after swimming lessons were over, I said that I’d check with Ken to see if we could come. Ben called me himself (with Melissa’s help I imagine) to ask for an answer on Friday. I was flattered and caught up in his excitement. Ben is only one of the kids to invite us - or if the others asked when they were his age, I’ve forgotten. I think I’m closer to Ben because he was born here and Reid and I spent so much time with Ben and Melissa when I was off on mat leave.

Unlike so many other days lately, that Friday was mild and sunny - instead of hot and humid. We got to the soccer pitch about 6:30 and were still able to find a place right on the sideline. Reid watched a bit of the game but spent a good deal of the time kicking a soccer ball back and forth with her dad. I enjoyed watching the boys play and hope that Reid will have as much fun if/when she plays soccer. I know no rules other than you aren’t allowed to touch the ball with your hands unless you’re the goalie but Ken follows soccer and so will be able to educate me. Provided I can pay attention and not interrupt. I’m a poor student when Ken is trying to teach me things. (Surprised? ;+)

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