Week 14, Day 2 (Welcome to the second trimester!)

Wow.. we made it. In honour of this I sat down with a calendar and marked out the weekly milestones to 6th Oct. Then I went backwards to Day Zero, and realised that the most likely day Tadpole sprang into existence was New Year's Eve. Serves us right for declining all those party invitations. Kinda remember something about a trek I was supposed to be going on around that time too, and having to back out of that because of Mum-care issues. Just think.. if not for a series of things to break our plans, we wouldn't be expecting Tadpole.

Weird how the universe works out!

So far I'm enjoying this trimester. Perhaps it's the power of positive thinking, but I expected everything to get a lot easier to deal with, and I hoped for a return to most of my functionality. My body did not let me down - the last four days I have been able to put in very long hours, operating at close to full mental capacity most of the time (yikes.. that's a scary thought.. fully mental Karl!). Apart from a killer sore back and finding myself too tired to fuss much over meal preparation, it's been all good.

Fixed the back problem yesterday by finding a contour pillow and using it behind my back while at the desk. Then last night tucked that pillow under my knee (I sleep on my side), which allowed the back even more of a break. No pain at all today, which is a treat.

People do not always react to your pregnancy like you would expect them to. Maybe this indicates that despite my loathing of 'labels' and preconceived (excuse pun) patterns, that I'm as much to blame? Perhaps.. and I'm okay with being jolted out of my preconceptions from time to time. Does ya good, ya know.

As a matter of courtesy, the time has come to inform clients as I see them that something significant is going to impact on the concentration and available time of their pet bookkeeper. You expect the women to be excited (and most are), but the mens' reactions have been most interesting. One or two paused, baulked.. then had to regroup. Intelligent questions re if I would keep working and such like were then asked and answered. (A: Being self employed means no maternity leave, so I have to keep working but I have great support at home and in the office). But most of the men just about whipped out the imaginary knitting needles in their delight at my news. Good on you, boys!

But the most surprising reaction came from someone very unexpected. As far as this person is concerned, Tadpole does not exist. I won't 'out' them by disclosing gender or relationship, but I did expect some kind of reaction, even if it was a muted 'congratulations', as this person knows very well what I went through all those years ago and how it broke my heart to be barren. Not being one of the grandparents or close mates, this person did not hear it as soon as perhaps they would have liked, but we're not exactly in close contact these days, so what's the big deal?

I sent them the url for this blog when I started it, and the picture of Taddy when we had one to show, but the response has been zero. They found out sooner than many did, and I've seen them a couple of times since and each time they have been so chilly towards me that it's bizarre and incredibly amusing. Apart from a tell-tale eye flick at my abdomen (such a giveaway, LOL), absolutely no response at all to indicate they even know I’m pregnant.

Yesterday Tadpole was mentioned in front of them (ignore THAT!) and still they failed to manage even the most basic of courtesies. Embarrassing as hell for others present, but I don't get embarrassed that easily; I get amused. I think I'm supposed to feel great dollops of rejection and hurt, but I just find it funny. A not very nice part of me wants to play right along with them, upping the ante as we go, just to see how ‘in your face’ I can get about this before they crack.

I do wonder how long they're going to keep this up, because others are noticing and asking me when this person and I fought.. the answer is "I must have been asleep and missed it". (Hey now, that's entirely possible.. I did sleep most of the first trimester!!)

Ah well.. as Mum would say, "They'll come out of it the same way they went into it". Shame though, I really did think they'd get great pleasure out of the new addition. Guess you never can tell, eh.

Now let's cheer things up by handing out an award for "Being A Simply Superb Specimen of Humanity".

The other night I was travelling home some hours after dark via Doyleston (teensy country hamlet), following the same car for most of the way. We both turned off down a quiet road, and as we left the township, both of us increased speed to take advantage of the open road limit.

Suddenly the car in front braked hard, swerved to the right, then slowed to a crawl. In their headlights I could see a cat running across the road, and as I crept along behind them I could also see another cat and a little kitten playing a great game of ‘tag you’re it!’ in the middle of the road.

What impressed me about the driver in front is not only did they show lightning reflexes and manage to avoid hitting any of the felines, but that by their behaviour they made sure I saw them too, and in case I was an idiot, I was made to slow down and take evasive actions as well.

They only drove on once they saw I had safely avoided all the cats. I thought about stopping and getting the cats off the road (ever tried to catch three playful cats at night?), but the cats took matters into their own paws and went streaking off across the road again, over the drainage ditch and towards the nearby houses.

So whoever you were in the car in front, WELL DONE, and I hope the universe bestows on you special blessings for being a thoroughly kind and considerate individual. I’m sure the people who are owned by those cats would thank you if only they knew.