L is for…

… Lala-land.

And that is where we spent the day.

No car, cos being a lovely wife i let Max take it so that he didn’t get all wet in the morning rain but we had a fine time all together. Kids all did bits of work, Fran played Settlers, Maddy did puppet shows and some awesome puppet designs. Amelie drew pictures, Josie was cute (when she wasn’t having almighty tantrums about me saying ‘no i’d actually like to spend some time vertical/on the toilet/interacting with your sisters/just not feeding you “more mummy milk.’ ” Her tantrums would be quite impressive if she was our first, but she isn’t, so we laugh at her. Although she did bite me on the leg today. Ah, my kids, they make me so proud. 🙄

Kate came round, sporting her 14 week baby bump very shyly and proudly, so i had a good feel of that and we talked about babies in a “whisper because we can both hardly believe it is all really happening and going so well so far” kind of a way. Honestly, there is (aside from my sister who messes up my shmultz by being VERY overdue!) no one who deserves a baby like Kate does. I couldn’t be happier for her if… well, i just couldn’t be happier. I’d have 100 horrid things happen to me for this baby to be okay (mmm.. well, maybe 10 – i’d like to get off the pills eventually!).

She is the kindest, nicest, most honest, most giving, most accepting, most feisty woman i know. How many people have to cope day in and day out with a profoundly disabled child and yet not only does she manage to love S with passion and energy and strength, but she loves my children, and her nephew and all the hundreds of kids she coaches and gives time to every week. She stuns and awes me and i am humbled and honoured to be her friend. There was a time when it looked like it would never be possible for this baby to be and i would have done ANYTHING to make it happen for her. I’ve got every one of my healthy baby thoughts (well, all my 14 week ones, niece/nephew ones aside) focused on that little bump.

I’ve told Kate that i’m pregnant twice (or in fact of course 3 times) since we became friends;, we met when Maddy was on her way and her own daughter was very sick already and she has been happy for me both times, even though i went to her nervous about hurting her and said “Kate, i’m pregnant, sorry”. When she told me she was pregnant, she prefaced it with “sorry” – she was worried about upsetting me. She has been there for me through everything, endlessly kind and supportive and loving, even when my life paled into insignificance beside hers. There isn’t anything else i want more in the world than for her to get that child here and for it to be safe and well.

Well anyway, that particular blubber has been saved up all day; it just seems even more important now than it did this morning.

And while we’re at it; G, just how overdue do you think it is acceptable to go, my girl???? 😉 😉 😉 Come along, come along, i’ve got pre-purchased presents here, you know. How often does THAT happen????

Girls were not entirely settled during my natterings with Kate, but then went off and played for the rest of the day in a particularly endearing way. So i forgave them.

And then Max sent me on a bike ride and i went round all the lakes instead of just one and shouted a cheery and no doubt utterly deranged “hurrah for the breastfeeding mummy, i’ve just got to 21 months!” to a young mum sat on a bench on the (very private!) way down there who was feeding a newborn. And she responded with an equally cheery “hurrah for 21 months!” back.

So that was nice. Isn’t it just so much nicer to spread friendship and generosity of feeling, don’t you think?