Mel’s Show & Tell — The first (and only) baby gift

Baby stuff before pregnancy. Broad spectrum of feelings about this. My bff has been buying baby/children’s things for decades. She has an enormous collection of children’s books. I’ve been sort of superstitious about it. I’ve bought nothing. But I have one thing.

When I took my pre-IVF European vacation last May, like with IF research, I googled my fingers to the bone. I learned of this company through an article in the NY Times (see item 4). I had a lovely dinner at the home of a young Dutch couple. Their little boy was about nine months old at the time. I met him for a little while before he went to bed. (I have to say, Dutch babies and children are so freaking cute!) We talked about our respective cities, work, vacations, and … well … babies. Yeah, I blabbed my story. Part of taking this trip was to get my head somewhat centered before starting my IVF cycle in June (which was cancelled, hard to believe it took me from then until November to get through a cycle), so it came up. Turns out they had their own alternative babymaking story. Well, not theirs personally, their boy was conceived the non-medical way. But the husband’s sister is a lesbian in a committed relationship, and they are trying to have a child.

It was one of the first times I told anyone other than close friends of my alternative family building plans. They were so wonderful, and wished me much luck. When I was saying goodbye, the wife handed me a small package. The little onesie pictured below. As she handed it to me she said, “Your baby’s coming. I can feel it.”


Don’t forget to see what the rest of the class is showing.