So much STUFF...

At last, I have discovered an advantage to NOT being the eldest sibling.

It comes in the form of having an older brother, who has 'been there, done that' in the children department. Having completed his set of two boys, my brother has a loft-full of devices and contraptions of which he has no further need.

That is to say, he HAD a loft-full. Now, we have a back-room full - Cot, Bath, High-Chair, Bouncy Seat Thing, Travel Cot, Moses Basket, Bottle Sterilizer, and more... Even a bag full of toys!

The reciept of such items adds another hefty dose of reality to the currently intangible (for me) situation. Just seeing these type of items in our house is a strange feeling.

Not to mention that you also suddenly realise that you need a bigger house.

I must admit, that I was in the 'nothing in the house til the baby is born' camp, in contrast to Maxine's 'Let's get everything NOW' stance. However, it does seem uncharacteristically superstitious for me, and we have already recieved an amazing amount of baby clothes (Thanks Sue & Nige, Rose and Jackie & Sean!), so I guess it's OK. I doubt that we will attempt to arrange anything to resemble a nursery until much closer to the date, but then with Max around.... :)

I'm aware of my 'list of things I would never do on becoming a parent' being depleted, so at this rate, I'm ready for the possibility I might end up sitting my six-month old down in front of Cartoon Network for 10 hours straight, with a MacDonalds Quarter-Pounder meal and 2 lb bag of Midget Gems....