*kaf* *kaf* baby *kaf*

[dalekboy]

I have a cold. It's to be expected. I'm mixing with a lot of people with swimming and such, not to mention going from a heated pool to the Canberra cold. It's slowing down my progress on getting through things, but I'm not fussed.

I was actually feeling crap enough that I spent several hours lying in bed yesteday. At one point, as I was lying there, I thought "Ahhhh.... this is a luxury I won't have shortly." Once my Manitou demon-spawn comes bursting out Sharon's back (how many people get that reference?) being able to actually rest while sick will become a thing of the past.

I'm looking forward to the oncoming insanity and chaos. It helps that both Sharon and I are bright enough to know that no matter how much we know, we're still fully unprepared for the impact the little bugger will have on our lives. That all those things that we'd rather not do with our child, well, some of those are going to get smashed through by the reality train. We want the baby in our room, to make life easier on Sharon having to get up and feed, etc., knowing full well that we may give up and put the baby in its own room out of sheer desperation for a night's sleep.

I'm still hoping that it'll pop out and be a girl. I've heard three different stories of babies being firmly identified as male during scans, only to have it come out female. But as long as it's born healthy, has all its limbs, a head, teeth, claws, and a prehensile tail, that's all that matters.

It's also going to be an interesting experiment. I've had a few people comment on how small children always want the comfort of mum when things go wrong, and I can't help but wonder how much of that has to do with mum usually being the primary care-giver. At the moment, I'm the only guy I know who is going to be primary care-giver for their baby, so will be interesting to see down the track who Lex goes to for comfort.

Music will be interesting, too. Lex will get to hear a broad range of stuff - blues, classical, euro-pop, techno, 1920s and onwards, John Barry soundtracks to Bond movies, rock, Devo, Big Pig, Garbage, the Goons, KLF, Swedish death metal, the Residents... what will appeal? I like Hi Five, but how much of their music can I listen to on endless repeat? How many Doctor Who soundtracks can Lex listen to before he starts screaming?

I'm looking forward to the firsts... first word (quasinuclearphaseinterlockeddipthrungretarders), first laugh, first steps, first tattoo... looking forward to reading to him, myths and fables, childrens classics, Dr Suess, Tintin, Asterix and Obelix, various Shaun Tan... and introducing the film and TV that I love, Doctor Who, Star Wars, Twilight Zone, Catweazle, Hammer Horror movies (though not til the age of six, of course), Gamera, The Adventures of Superman, The Day the Earth Stood Still, the Disney classics, Pixar films...

Can't be prepared for any of the twists and surprises (Lex, why did you set fire to Parliament?), or the nasty shocks (You want to be a chartered accountant?) but I'm looking forward to the adventure.

Comments

[fe2h2o.livejournal.com]

See... we picked our son's name to be uncommon—and what do we find? I'm reading my friend's list and someone commenting has a child of (essentially) the same name:-(

(Of course, we were only aiming for uncommon, not unique:-) )

[frzn-mmnt.livejournal.com]

Your son's name is Aerin?

[fe2h2o.livejournal.com]

Near enough... (your daughter is the 'Robin McKinley' spelling? Our son is different, but I'm guessing the pronunciation is pretty similar)

[frzn-mmnt.livejournal.com]

I don't know who Robin McKinley is (although I have just googled her and saw she is an author).

We chose Aerin because we loved the name Erin, but there is a tradition of "A" names in my partners family, so we added the A to the front, but it's pronounced the same as Erin. It's a spelling I hadn't ever seen anywhere at that time, so we didn't get it from anywhere. It's a name that has personal meaning for us.

[fe2h2o.livejournal.com]

Author of some fabulous children's fantasy:-) She has an Aerin in one of her books as a main character, and as a mythical figure in a second (Blue Sword, and The Hero and the Crown, but I can't remember which is which—I do recommend them both:-) ). I was rather surprised after my (spelt with a 'y', although 'o' is the traditional Welsh way, meaning 'berry') child was born, and I was re-reading these books, that the character was there... I had completely forgotten her.

I fell to the rash assumption that _of course_ anyone of Danny's friends _must_ be into the same SF/F as me:-) Which is _so_ true—even of the people I know:-)

We pronounce ours with a long first syllable—although, unless you know to listen for it, most people don't pick the difference.

[frzn-mmnt.livejournal.com]

I googled her books, and I think I may have to pick up the ones with Aerin's name in them for her book collection. I think she'll get a kick out of seeing her name in a book. :)

While I am into SF/F, not as much as Danny and a lot of his friends. I'm more part of the Who Crew and that's how I met him.

[dalekboy.livejournal.com]

Haven't really been a part of the Who scene with the new series on, mainly because I've just had other stuff to do. I'd dropped out of old Who fandom because it seemed mostly full of intolerant, self-important, ignorant, arrogant, humourless bastards.

There just weren't many folks you could actually have a real conversation with, so meeting you and Whochick was a pleasure. Never got to know you guys well, but enjoyed our interactions :)

[frzn-mmnt.livejournal.com]

Here here about the old Who Fandom... say the wrong thing and you become crucified where you stand. And heaven forbid if you should have your own opinion.

Same with meeting you too! I won't ever forget the Who panel we were on at Continuum. That was just awesome!

[dalekboy.livejournal.com]

If we go with Alexander, it's not common but not unusual either. If Lex pops out and is female (fingers crossed) the name would probably be Alexandrovna, after my grandmum. An unusual name, but only because it's old and... I can't remember if it's Russian, Jewish, or something else.