Mrs Negative

Mrs Negative embraces her tardy Positive. Life after IVF and loving the son I never thought I'd have.

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Wishy Washer

On the weekend I fulfilled a lifelong fantasy.
I washed baby clothes & hung them out to dry.
Mundane?
No. Thrilling!
I rarely have those daydreams where I am actually holding, rocking or bathing a Baby. I still can't picture myself with a wee one.
But strangely I do daydream about buying baby items in aisle 5, chatting to my kid...and hanging out tiny singlets to dry.

Baby clothes are sooo darling. Ridiculously small. Needy. They barely warrant a peg on the clothes line. But standing in my backyard, admiring those little garments flapping, I thought my heart should surely burst.

And folding baby clothes to put away in minuscule drawers is almost as intoxicating.
Sigh. 23 weeks today.

27 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I heart those little tiny clothes!

15/8/07  
Blogger JW said...

Your post almost made me cry! Such a *mundane* task would surely be taken for granted by so many women. I'm so happy you're getting to do this!

15/8/07  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Beautiful. And I remember the excitement of washing my first load of baby clothes -- fondling each piece as I hung it in the closet in anticipation.

15/8/07  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh how I too remember the emotional thrill of shopping finally for baby clothes for a baby of my own....and then waiting till the last moment and washing each tiny gorgeous item, pegging them on the line - standing back and watching those small things flutter, and cried. The joy I got from folding each precious singlet and onesie and sorting out the dresser was incredible. Like you I didn't imagine actually holding my baby - I was still to emotionally scarred from IF to actually imagine that, but I did let myself enjoy the preparations in the final weeks and allowed faint hope to peep through.

Just you wait till you are dressing your precious baby in those tiny clothes!

Wishing you all the very best
Jennette

15/8/07  
Blogger Dramalish said...

Oh, yesssss.

It was the week before Miss D made her debute, and I finally opened a package of newborn diapers (*nappies, right?) and put them in their little drawer. Each one could fit in the palm of my hand.

J walked in to the nursery and found me weeping with joy over these teeny tiny little diapers.

"What's the matter with you?" he asked, and I responded:

"I just can't believe she's going to be here... and that she going to be THAT small!"

And my loving husband said:

"She damn well better be, or we wasted an assload of money on diapers!"

;)
-D.

15/8/07  
Blogger PCOSMama said...

Ah, I SO remember the day I did that for my daughter. Especially since it meant spending hours at a hot laundromat then coming home to find the air conditioner broke in 90 degree weather. But I was in too good a mood for even that to get me down! I'm so thrilled to be experiencing it all over again with boy clothes this time! I can't wait until I have enough to justify a wash load!
Have fun... and every now and then pull out those clothes and snuggle them, because before long they are going to be filled with the most precious gift!

15/8/07  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Isn't it the best? I don't know how to fold all those little things? I haven't washed yet, but just fondling with the sweet little things makes me all teary eyed. Oh well, that'll pass quickly once I am wrestling a baby to put on clothes. Enjoy the washing part. I am already looking forward on this.

15/8/07  
Blogger Topcat said...

Ohhh, Happy 23 Weeks. That's wonderful, just wonderful!

15/8/07  
Blogger Gemini Girl said...

Aww mony.. how sweet. I love your writing.

Your almost on the home strech! How exciting?

The only thing that I allowed myself to purchase was two onsies from the Gap that say "Bad Hair Day" on the front. I couldnt pass it up (my husband and I are not blessed with the best hair and so we know the kids will inherit our locks).... It's hard to resist shopping for the little ones. The clothes are so tiny and adorable and cost next to nothing....

16/8/07  
Blogger Lut C. said...

A friend of mine gave me two boxes full of tiny baby clothes. Sorting through them was rather exiting.

16/8/07  
Blogger Dr. Grumbles said...

Sigh...that sounds awesome!

16/8/07  
Blogger The Oneliner (Christina) said...

so, so sweet.

16/8/07  
Blogger Sitting In Silence said...

Oh I so remember doing this. I used to walk into the nursery just so I could smell the clothes and wonder what a teeny tiny little body would look like in them. I think I washed and ironed everything 5 times just so I could sit outside and watch them flap in the breeze.

23 weeks !!...

16/8/07  
Blogger AshPash said...

23 glorius weeks! So happy for you. Have immensely enjoyed going back and reading your old posts. Your writing is a joy. Enjoy that mundane laundry.

16/8/07  
Blogger Drowned Girl said...

Hello! Thanks for stopping by my blog

x

16/8/07  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I haven't had the courage to buy anything yet. I keep saying it's because I'm waiting to find out if s/he is a son or daughter, but really it's because I can't yet bring myself to do it. I DO fantasize about it, though.

Happy 23 weeks!!

16/8/07  
Blogger singletracey said...

WOW... how exciting!!! Little tiny clothes are just adorable.. I can imagine the feeling that overcame you..

I am so glad to hear that things are moving along and you are enjoying your pregnancy!

17/8/07  
Blogger heleen + rod said...

Yeah I remember around 23 weeks you're just glowing, you've never felt so happy and beautiful and loving before and it's not uncomfortable or heavy yet. I was shocked to find out I started enjoying laundry and housekeeping. After the twins were born I hovered every day, did the dishes as if it was my hobby. Now a year later I feel I am back to my old self. I love being a mum, but all the housekeeping that comes with having kids I just don't like.

17/8/07  
Blogger Runergirl said...

It IS the small things that make it so precious!

17/8/07  
Blogger Geohde said...

*smile*

Baby clothes *are* just gorgeous.

I have a stash of baby clothes, donated by well meaning friends, but I keep them well hidden. It's too hard to look at them until I know that I can use them.

17/8/07  
Blogger Betty said...

Congratulations on the clothes washing! It really is a special milestone. I remember the thrill of hanging a newly washed bag of newborn clothes on the line and then calling my husband to come and look at them with me. It filled my heart with pride and so much excitement to see those little clothes on MY line! The funny thing is that Baby girl is almost 5 months old and I still enjoy washing, hanging and folding her clothes (not mine or my husbands though!). Isn't it great that we are able to enjoy this small pleasure. And perhaps we wouldn't be able to recognise it as a pleasure if we had not walked a bumpy road.

17/8/07  
Blogger Sara said...

Ain't it the truth. I did my first baby clothes wash over the weekend too, and felt that my heart might burst with joy.

17/8/07  
Blogger Sarah said...

oooh, wow, you are really getting ready! i'm feeling behind on my laundry...

18/8/07  
Blogger Becks said...

Ooh reading that gave me a lovely warm feeling inside!

18/8/07  
Blogger Pixxiee said...

Oh. The little clothes! That brought a tear of happiness to my eyes that you are doing that :-) Thinking of you. Tough at my end, but so happy for you.

Pixxiee

20/8/07  
Blogger Kir said...

Mony,
that's was a beautiful post. I can't wait to be able to feel that excitement too. I am so happy that your heart is so full of love for that baby already.

:)

22/8/07  
Blogger Bugsy said...

not long now and you will be washing every day. It is not unusual for Alex to have three changes in one day. Today he threw up over one set of clothes, and peed all over another (and me, lucky me). being in 0000 still, I don't have many outfits for him, so I am washing tiny dainty clothes daily and rushing to get them all dry in time to use again. p.s. I heart it too. I still wonder whose baby he is. lol

22/8/07  

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