belgianwaffle

Twins

Revenge


Posted in: Reading etc., Twins

Me: Hee, hee, hee.

If you type “Venetia Quick” into google, guess what site comes up first in the list?
Mr. Waffle: Don’t know.

Me: Oh come on.

Him: Belgian Waffle?

Me: Oh yes, indeedy.

Him: Well, I hope you didn’t say anything actionable.

This is a good point because having twins is going to beggar us. Yesterday I paid a €400 deposit to ensure creche places for the little mites. On the plus side we will be a “famille nombreuse” which will give us all kinds of rights under the generous Belgian social system.
Comments
Locoteson 09 June 2005 at 18:28

Such as a free massive family estate car? Or a new home with many bedrooms? How lovely…

belgianwaffleon 09 June 2005 at 21:29

BHM, I am glad that you would not begrudge me, very important!
Locotes, um, generous, but not that generous, I was hoping for a tax rebate on creche fees since you ask.

Locoteson 10 June 2005 at 11:12

Oh. Well all help is good help I suppose… You never know though, pushing for that house might bring rewards……or annoy them so they give you nothing. But life is full of risks eh?

beachhutmanon 10 June 2005 at 13:39

I’m a very unbegrudging type really. ‘Cept for MEPs.

belgianwaffleon 11 June 2005 at 15:11

Locotes, am I you in drag? Jack wants to know.
BHM, good stuff. Suppose I’m really an MEP though? No, of course, I’m not.

Locoteson 13 June 2005 at 11:56

The funny thing is, if he was right, then I’m just having a conversation with myself. But of course he’s not right. Nope. Not at all.

belgianwaffleon 13 June 2005 at 17:00

No, we’re talking to each other. Of course.

Things not to say to a pregnant woman


Posted in: Reading etc., Twins

“Gosh, you seem to get bigger every half hour”
“Do you know you pant when you climb up to the third floor?”
“How can you bend over to pick up your little girl?”
“Were you this enormous last time?”
“If the babies are 375 grams and 410 grams now, that means they have to increase 10 times in weight before they’re born”
As the pregnant one takes off her coat “Oh my goodness, you’re pregnant”. As she turns to hang it up “Very pregnant! What are you:8 months?”

And while we’re on the subject of tactlessness and pregnancy, you may not have had the opportunity to read about Venetia Quick who is a presenter on some Dublin radio show.

Herself and her partner were in the Irish Times weekend magazine (itself a publication inspiring both pity and horror) last Saturday. Here’s what the article says:

“Eight months pregnant with her first child, Q102 presenter and producer Venetia Quick is never out of her killer heels and refuses to spend money on maternity wear. “My only concession to pregnancy has been a pair of size 12 low cut jeans and some stretchy combats,” she says. “I’ve covered the bump with belts, cardigans, scarves.  I’ve been as creative as I can.”

Yes, Venetia, making friends and influencing people, eh� No, I am not just jealous.

Comments
Minkleberry

on 05 June 2005 at 17:55

belts? Is she a leprechaun??

gingerandorange

on 06 June 2005 at 01:32

everyone else is just jealous and ‘Venetia’ is clearly in denial

poggle

on 06 June 2005 at 10:54

I feel sorry for the woman – imagine being called Venetia Quick. Dear me.
And I bet she’s bought American size 12s. Innit.

Kate_Sith

on 06 June 2005 at 17:39

I worked with a girl last year who was pregnant with twins and still wearing size 12 trousers from top shop ‘with the top button undone’. I think I was at school last time I fitted into a Topshop trouser.

belgianwaffle

on 08 June 2005 at 20:30

OOOH, you are all so nice. Well, assuming the best in your case JD. And TWO sweeties G&O, too kind. Pog, I would love to agree with you but there was a photo in the bloody magazine and she does look nauseatingly svelte. Kate, distressing. Minks, I liked your comment the best, could you are the bees knees.

dmts

on 08 June 2005 at 20:34

Good lord – I can’t cover up a big lunch with a belt – I think I may be in trouble.

belgianwaffle

on 09 June 2005 at 21:20

No, not at all. It’s when you can’t cover yourself with a double decker bus that trouble looms.

Beth

(Homepage)

on 10 June 2005 at 18:56

Hey, can I come rub your belly? I like that even better than the boneheaded comments.

belgianwaffle

on 11 June 2005 at 15:09

Yeah, that is annoying…it’s still my stomach, in there somewhere.

Sarcastic Journalist

(Homepage)

on 15 June 2005 at 04:39

I also love “Wow. You’re huge!” or another personal favorite
“You planned this so why are you freaking out?”

belgianwaffle

on 15 June 2005 at 22:04

Hello, sarcastic journalist. I like your blog. I also like the simplicity of “Wow. Your’re huge”. Obviously, that’s not the kind of thing you’d notice by yourself.

Low standards


Posted in: Travel, Twins

The Princess appears to be better. And my genius husband has found us a house for a fortnight in Normandy so it looks like we won’t be spending the Summer in our flat after all.  Rejoice.  My friend who I met for lunch says that my doctor probably won’t let me out of the country so close to my due date. A month before isn’t close, is it?

Comments
dmtson 01 June 2005 at 20:48

It’s only a problem if you’re flying? Isn’t it?

formerfilmexperton 01 June 2005 at 22:48

they have doctors in France. Anyhow you have family history of late arrivals!!!

jackdaltonon 02 June 2005 at 10:48

Do a runner. Don’t tell the doctor…. It’ll be like being young again: Run Away! Run Away! 🙂

beachhutmanon 02 June 2005 at 14:28

avoid the calvados and you’ll be fine….

poggleon 03 June 2005 at 11:03

Just make sure there’s plenty of boiling water and towels. That’s what they always did on ‘Little House on the Prairie’ – and they were fine.

JoJoon 04 June 2005 at 12:34

half of all twins delivered before the 37th week, apparently. Bet that’s cheered you up hasn’t it ;o)

belgianwaffleon 04 June 2005 at 13:14

Minks, Jojo, I’m ignoring you (thanks for the sweetie though, M).
Pog, yes, I feel you are entirely right. In fact one of our books has instructions on emergency deliveries at home, so that should be handy.
HJB, um, I hope so.
FFE, just cos Danny’s always late.
JD, very tempting.
BHM, will dutifully steer clear of the Calvados.

Still stalked by illness


Posted in: Princess, Twins, Work

Our poor baby girl was sick again Sunday afternoon. It was pathetic, she just lay in my arms between 5 and 8, when she wasn’t throwing up. She was too scared to leave the bathroom so we moved the bean bag in and sat there. She only raised the faintest glimmer of a smile for her father who put on the duvet cover and sang (something that has to be seen to be fully appreciated). Then she went to bed at 8, slept the night, woke up Monday morning full of beans, ate a full breakfast and played snap with me before departing for the creche in excellent form. Absolutely baffling. We dropped her off with some trepidation and instructions to call us at once, if she seemed even faintly miserable. Picked her up last night and she was in great form. Creche said she had an excellent day and her toilet training appears to be complete. Went to bed no problem. Woke up at 3.37. Got sick. Woke up at 5.08. Got sick. Woke up at 8.00. Got sick. She’s now sleeping in our bed a sad little scrap and Mr. Waffle and I have arranged our day thus: 8.00 he goes to work and picks up stuff; 10.30 he returns to us and I go into work and pick up stuff; 14.00, I return home with my papers and he scoots off.

It’s all very tiring for everyone.�

On the good news front, I had another scan yesterday morning. Would you say that the dominant twin is the one sitting on the other’s neck or the one that weighs a hefty 410grms as opposed to the little one that weighs 375? And, fascinatingly,the doctor suggests that I bring a video casette next time so that I can have a complete record in addition to the stills captured on diskette. Does this mean that I will have to tape over “Notting Hill”?

Comments

Minkleberry on 01 June 2005 at 18:36
(
Comment Modified) In the case of my husband and his twin, the dominant one was definitely the little ginger one who grew up to be a policeman and bodybuilder.
I married the other one.
Poor little sausage-I hope the sickness passes soon xx

belgianwaffle on 01 June 2005 at 19:09

Um, pog, thanks for sympathy. Like you I am confused on the dominant twin issue.
Minks, you are definitely going to have twins. Hah. Thanks for sympathy, she seems to be completely better now. Fingers crossed.  

Minkleberry on 01 June 2005 at 19:29

belgian- not this time round ;0)  

belgianwaffle on 04 June 2005 at 13:03

Aha, you’re coming out…

More consequences


Posted in: Twins

Since we have announced that we are going to have twins, a lot of people have asked whether we have been having IVF treatment.  People have no shame. Mr. Waffle and I had a chat about this the other night.

Me:I can’t believe that people keep asking that. I feel vaguely resentful at the assumption, though I can’t imagine why.
Him: I suppose it’s like if you make a cake for a dinner party and people ask you where you bought it – you get indignant and say, “I made it myself”.
Me: No, it’s not like that at all, I mean there is an intrinsic merit in being able to make your own cake but being able to get pregnant or not is just luck,
really.
Him: I suppose.
Me: I don’t know, it must be some primitive thing where you feel that it is bad to have your fertility impugned.
Him: Well, I’m obviously fine, but non-identical twins suggests that your eggs must be getting on a bit in the fertility stakes….
Comments
poggleon 28 April 2005 at 17:13

Ooh dear, Mr waffle is pushing his luck …… bad lad.  

belgianwaffleon 28 April 2005 at 17:29

Thank you very much, Katy. Yes, pog, he deserves to suffer horribly..

dmtson 28 April 2005 at 21:29

There’s a lot of pregnancy around on 20six at the moment and various stories abounding about what happens to people in pregnancy. I cannot imagine any other ‘state of being’ where people ask the most intrusive questions or where there is a sense of ‘ownership’ about your body within the wider world.
I can fully understand and empathise with your resentment. In my opinion it would be worse if you had had a pregnancy as a result of assisted conception because then the bastards asking the questions would think they owned that too.
I blame everyone from Margaret Thatcher onwards because that’s quite an easy thing to do. It’s very easy for me to make these suggestions, but the next time someone asks if it’s IVF (or whatever the question of the day is), I think you should give your reply and then ask them about the state of their erections, sex life, bowels or whatever. I’d definitely go for the erections. Please blog any replies.

Friar Tuckon 29 April 2005 at 02:08

Yes, h, that will certainly silence the women who are asking those intrusive questions.

Minkleberryon 29 April 2005 at 07:23

Mr Waffle!

beachhutmanon 29 April 2005 at 09:41

Yep. Give em a blow by blow account of how you made em! (Hmmmm. Maybe “blow by blow” was unfortunate)

Locoteson 29 April 2005 at 16:42

The hormones are obviously kicking in, poor Mr. Waffle is getting the blame for everything…  

belgianwaffleon 01 May 2005 at 14:37

Heather, thanks for this, of course, I am sure that in my past I have been equally bad, however, advancing years have, I hope, increased my sensibility and, for example, I have learnt to stop asking women who’ve been married a couple of years when they are going to have children, mostly because I realised how deeply irritating it was when it started happening to me. Apols for mild digression. FT, it’s only men. Minks, I know! BHM, do you realise that this is a family blog? Loc, eh, what’s that all about? Be off before I beat you round the head.

Consequences


Posted in: Twins

Some random things:

My favourite dermatologist (when you have 4, you can pick favourites) has told me about friends of hers with 3 children who decided, what the hell, let’s go for a fourth, and then had triplets.

Multiple births break down barriers; a colleague of Mr. Waffle’s said to him “oh twins, IVF babies then?” Um, actually, as it happens, no, but thanks for asking.
In Mr. Waffle’s team (I know, stupid term, what are they draught horses?) of 12 people, 3 are already parents of twins. It looks like our double buggy needs are met.  Also, I am now the proud owner of a book entitled “Jumeaux, mode d’emploi”

In fact, people are very nice to you – they offer you lots of things. The Dutch Mama has already offered to drive from the Hague with a carload of goods.
My mother has pointed out that one car will no longer be sufficient to collect us from the airport once the new infants arrive. I have realised that, if we have guests, they will have to take public transport because once our family is in the car, there will be no room for anyone else.
The French Mama has offered by way of comfort, the information that her neighbours who live in a 2 bedroomed, 80 square metre appartment and are already the parents of a 4 year old and a 20 month old are having twins next month and have no intention of moving.  Apparently the mother plans to sleep with the twins until they are weaned and the father will sleep on the couch while the other two children have the second bedroom.� Ah, the joys of living in Paris.
A friend told me about her aunt who had IVF twins at 50 and breast fed them (she was a paediatrician, she felt obliged) and my friend’s abiding memory is of seeing her aunt half naked feeding two babies.

I won’t be able to fly after mid-July or drive very far for that matter. The Belgian coast beckons for our summer holidays. Mr. Waffle is bitter “It’s so unfair, neither the Princess nor I want to go to the Belgian coast.” “Well, firstly, neither do I and, secondly, I represent a majority of this family and what I say goes.”

That’s enough for today. Thanks again for all your congratulations.

Comments

Locotes on 23 April 2005 at 22:36

Am I reading that chart thingy wrong, or are you just about halfway through the pregnancy? Blimey – you kept that quiet. Surely us lot should have been told first, who cares about parents?
😉 Oh, and I agree with Norah, twins have always seemed a great idea to me.
(yes I know I have pontificated here about my future fatherhood only taking place in my 50’s – but even I can wonder every once in a while. Just don’t tell anyone…)
😉  

Minkleberry on 25 April 2005 at 07:46

my Dad is a twin, my husband is a twin and my maternal grandma is a twin. Ay Carumba!!  

poggle on 25 April 2005 at 11:03

I too love it that you now outvote Mr Waff and her maj …..

Peggy on 25 April 2005 at 11:25

Congratulations!
At least, going from 1 to 3 children, you won’t have to argue with hubby about going from 2 to 3 like we do. (I’d like 3 but I can’t stand being pregnant. Makes me too nervous.)
The Belgian coast can be a lot of fun especially when the sun is shining. I’m sure the Princess will enjoy, kids are spoiled there.

jackdalton on 25 April 2005 at 23:00

Hey ‘waf… did you see what they said about Loccie here? 😉

Angela (Homepage)

on 26 April 2005 at 05:25

Augh! I just tuned in! Congratulations times two! Very exciting news, indeed. May the coming months find you healthy and full of energy!

belgianwaffle on 27 April 2005 at 20:43

Norah, Loc, hold off on the twins until second time round, I am sick to the back teeth of doctor’s visits, the ante natal care is, um, trying and I suspect post-natal care presents its own difficulties also.
OK, Minks, I’m holding my breath here.
Pog, not as much as me.
I see your point Peggy, but still a bit scary. Will try to see the positive in the Belgian coast.
Jd, nothing we didn’t know already.
FP, most unlikely to do so as you know…trust tomorrow afternoon will be fine.  

beachhutman on 29 April 2005 at 09:48

OK the belgian coast pretty much sucks, but moules and frites is OK – for a day or three. 

belgianwaffle on 01 May 2005 at 14:31

Beachhutman – it sounds as though you know whereof you speak.