Time 8.40am 16 September. I glance a the clock as Miss Em comes through the front door. There is something important about that time today. She gives me a hug and tells me that Daddy is collecting her from school this afternoon and then she is away down the hall and out through the door in her eagerness to be in school. Her Daddy waves his hand briefly as he rushes to keep up with her.
I glance at the clock again and my eye goes to the envelope on the shelf below the clock. Of course! 45 years ago to the minute the Midwife was telling me "You have a beautiful boy!"
Memories of the shock I felt make me blush even now, because I had been so certain that this baby would be a girl.
"Gosh, he's a big baby," says the midwife and she cleans him up and measures him, "Let's see 24 inches long. Well he's going to be tall! Now come on baby let's get you weighed." She paused for a moment and rested the baby on the bed before heaving the scales up so that the cloth sling was unsupported. Then she let him down onto the bed again and gave me a look.
"Nine and three quarter pounds, that's the same as a Christmas turkey!"
The assistant midwife chortled, I roared with laughter and the Midwife allowed herself a small grin.
Now my youngest child is 6'6" tall, drives 40 ton articulated lorries for a living and still gives his Mum plenty of hugs.
Many happy returns, Mark.
12 comments:
And she was right about the height! Happy birthday to him too :). And your vivid moment just captures the shock then and now. Thank-you so much for contributing again this month, and it is always lovely to see your name in the Linky :).
Oh a very Happy Birthday to your son too. Very well captured moment - isn't it always a shock when you tot up the years? J x
What a lovely moment! And 45 is a very good age to be ... 1968 was a particularly good vintage year!
Happy Birthday Mark and happy day to you too, full of memories and a few hugs I am sure.
aww this is a very special moment to have shared. Happy birthday to your son.
Wow, that is tall. Great record of your moment. I really like how you switched from the present back to the past.
He was quite a big boy and your recollection makes it feel like yesterday, not 40-odd years ago!
Loved reading this moment! Hope that he had a very happy birthday :)
Wow, what a handsome guy!!! And 6'6"---that's tall. Somehow, I don't see you as a really tall woman, but you can't really tell from little pictures. Great memory!
Happy birthday!!!
cris
lalchimisteartisane.blogspot.com
Happy Birthday! What a great story and memory of the timing. 6'6" is tall too. Ewok hasn't quite got to that.
Oh and Wookie is also having a 'record year' this year :)
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