By the Numbers

Now that my big surprise has had a few days to sink in I’ve got a little follow up post. First let me say that this is not going to become a baby blog. I will not subject you all to endless reports about doctors, and tests, and my various aches and pains. Likewise there will be not ultrasound pictures and any bump sightings will likely be draped with a finished knit. What I’m trying to say is that this blog will mostly remain as it has ever been - knit focused with a bit of life in general because I need normal more than ever right now.

When I called this post By the Numbers it was because the numbers just seem inescapable. The first thing that people think when they hear the news is either 41 or 12. Forty-one is my age and people who don’t know me that well tend to assume that’s why I’m a little more reserved about this pregnancy. Obviously it’s a concern but, as everyone tells me, there are many, many, women my age having babies now. Great!

Twelve is the weirder number, the one that has induced stunned silence in many of my friends and family. That and laughter – lot’s of laughter. That’s the number of years between Stinkette and the new baby. 12! (DQ is 15) Let’s put that in perspective.

• I will spend the latter part of this year changing diapers and teaching DQ to drive at the same time. In fact, there will likely be an occupied car seat in the vehicle when DQ practices driving.
  
• I will likely be potty training and looking at colleges simultaneously.
  This child will be 3 when it’s oldest sister goes off to college.
  
• When this child starts kindergarten, it’s older sisters will be a High School junior and a College sophomore.
  
• When we celebrate it’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah both of it’s older sisters will be of legal drinking age.
  
• At that point, I may even be a grandmother since DQ will be 28 – 2 years older than I was when she was born. I shudder to think.
  
• Here’s a good one. This child will be 18 and likely in college well before I hit retirement age. Whew!

These are the things I think about all the time now. It’s extremely weird. I have plenty of time to think about it though because I’m not really doing a lot to prepare for the baby. We have many things already from when the girls were young and I have no doubt that it will be well taken care of but I couldn’t bear it to come home to a house in full baby mode without a small person so I’ll wait until after the arrival for most things – and that means knitting. It’s so tempting to make endless sweaters and blankets now but I’m going to wait until I know who I’m knitting for. I can, and will, look at lot’s of patterns though. Count on that.

One more number for you – 30%. That’s the percentage of parents these days decide not to find out their baby’s sex in advance. We are in that minority so we are calling it "Peanut" for now while the 4 of us pitch possible names and consider the possibilities.