Wednesday 10 September 2003

Avauntular

Did I happen to mention that I'm going to be an aunt in a matter of a few weeks?  An AUNT.  That feels so weird and grown up ... goodness knows how David and Micah feel.  We've known since the beginning of the bulge, actually I knew before the beginning because David insisted on telling me all the details about Operation: Conception.  Fortunately it only took them about two months to get knocked up, so gory details were left to a minimum (I know a lot more about ovulation, temperature and vitamins than I did, however ... ).  So the baby is due in early October and the family is tremendously excited.

Micah is ENORMOUS, I have to say.  She's been enormous since the four and a half month mark, and I wouldn't have been surprised if she'd got triplets and a bar fridge partying on in there, but apparently there is only one baby, but it is a large one for all that.  All has gone well during the pregnancy, thank goodness, Micah only having episodes of the queasies but nothing in the way of bad back, puffy ankles, crankiness (that you can tell) and the really squicky stuff you get to see in TV hospital dramas.

David and Micah are very proud of course.  Well, Micah is proud but in her lovely low key, relaxed easy way.  David has been by turns insufferably smug ("look what I did"), shocked, terrified and proud.  They are going to make fabulous parents, they really are.  They've been insanely busy the last month or so, in a frenzy of nest-making activity or something, renovating the house in minor and not-so-minor ways, orgies of painting, and lots of planning.  They've been exceedingly fortunate in the arena of amassing baby stuff, as many of their friends and Micah's siblings have young kidlets, so they've been inundated with romper suits, clothes and bunny rugs to keep the child clothed until about pre=school age.  My contribution is going to be in the toys and cool accessories area (I'm totally mercenary about it; its the most fun for me and babies love that shit).

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As aforesaid, I am really looking forward to the whole auntie gig.  While I'm not clucky myself, the thought of a wee baby who's going to grow up into a bright individual who Tuxedo and I can corrupt I mean, entertain and do groovy auntie and uncle things with is very, very cool.

And yes, of course I'm going to be Auntie Jules - how could I not?  Its going to be great and fun and amazing and wonderful.  Strangely though, the only thing that makes me back up is; what do you CALL the state of being an aunt and having auntie-ish feelings?  Obviously for a guy, its avuncular, right?  An uncle or uncle-type guy behaves in an avuncular fashion, etc etc.  But what does a freaky aunt do?  Answer me THAT.  Its like the whole misogynist = woman hater but a man hater is a fucked up lady thing.  Hypocritical and patriarchal and patronising and condescending and all those ick concepts.  (okay, okay, getting feminist rant under control again ... )

So I'm hereby inventing and will hereon use the term "AVAUNTULAR" because it fits, sure it sounds weird but that's okay, I like that its weird.  I'm going to be the best fucking avauntular woman there ever was.

Roll on early October and welcome Baby X.

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