Introducing A Very Special Little Someone - The New Chapter Begins

Well, as those that are familiar with this blog, you already know that I've been posting a whole heap less these days, and for good reason. T-chan and I have been expecting the arrival of our second child. And I am very happy to announce that she arrived (only 3 days ahead of schedule), and both baby and mother are very fine. I'll go into all the weights and measures (for people seem to want to know these things) in the next post.

And as parents, we are amazed just how similar she was to her bigger brother, L-kun... they could almost have been twins (separated only by a mere 5 years)... and a few bits different of course.

For those that are also familiar with my blog, you'd realise that it wouldn't be right unless we had a code-name for our little bundle of joy... so let me introduce you to C-chan. By the way, if you've ever wondered about the -chan part it, it's a Japanese honorific, or 'diminutive suffix'. It's used quite simply when expressing your love/care for that person (and in Japanese society that means close relationships, or more commonly for children). Our sons blog name is L-kun, which is typically used for boys (or younger men). Whilst -chan itself is unisex, it's more associated with girls. 

 Now, T-chan's parents arrived last week, and we've been on tenterhooks ever since then, expecting the birth any and every day. Of course, I've been going to work, but I didn't really believe I'd be getting any phone calls during the day. Just didn't seem that was the way it was going to happen. Then, of course, things rarely work the way you think they will. Therefore on queue whilst I was at work, I received a phone-call from my wife to say that she had pains, every 3-4 minutes. 3-4 minutes!... our obstetrician had said we should head to the hospital at 10 mins. By the time I had driven home from work which is about 25-30 mins away (almost running out of petrol on the way... and I mean ALMOST), picked up my wife and detoured to the obstetrician's office. Yes... she was in labour, and yes, we should get to the hospital ASAP. Only another 3 hours later, and our baby girl, C-chan,  was born. Not bad - L-kun had taken 15+ hours with 2 hours of pushing, whilst C-chan was born in a speedy 5.5 - 6 hours with 30 mins pushing. No time for messing around!

The other great thing was that this time around, T-chan's body was not as distressed either... indeed the next day she was happily walking around the hospital, complaining how boring it was. And after a grumbly first night, C-chan was an excellent newborn (feeding and sleeping very easily). She discharged after the third night, happy to get home and to establish that rhythm of life. Of course - what happens in hospital doesn't always translate to homelife... and we've now had two nights of very little sleep. I suppose it couldn't all be roses and lollipops... but every moment of sleep deprivation is a happy, if tiring (and sometimes stressful) reminder of  how lucky we have been.

Now I have to admit that my wife, T-chan, has been not so secretly hoping for a girl - and it came as a huge relief when we found out that there was a more than 50% chance that our baby was going to be a girl at the 19 week ultra-sound. Of course, sonographers are a cagey lot, and don't tend to go out on a limb too readily (lots of rooms, and wardrobes, may need to be re-decorated if they get it wrong). But we were confident that we were having a girl... BINGO!  We were right!

And T-chan was overjoyed and much relieved! I see my future... and it is looking pink 

Welcome to the world, C-chan!