Morning, readers. This is a post by Aisling. That’s all you’re getting.
Ha. (Love you). Enjoy:
One week ago today…
5am – I wake up. I stare wide-eyed at the ceiling, alternating between staying really, really still so as not to wake Phil with my ridiculous wriggling and blowing into his ear trying to wake him up so he’ll smother me with a pillow keep me company.
7am – I’ve woken Molly the cat (who sleeps wedged into the space between Phil and I) so she’ll think it’s time for her breakfast. When she thinks it’s breakfast time, she squeaks like broken chew toy…I’m hoping that the squeaking will wake Phil up. It doesn’t, for the first time in the history of time ever. Pffft.
8am – I’ve been up to pee 4 times already, tiptoe-ing each time as I know if I wake him up going to the loo, he’ll know it was on purpose. Having given up on all the stealth techniques available to me, I think ‘sod it’ and *accidentally* trip over the yowling cat on my way to the bathroom, causing the hairdryer to fall on the floor.
8.01am – Phil wakes up and gives me the stinkeye. Rolls over and goes back to sleep.
8.02am – Phil wakes up again and catches my eye. He grins at me, throws a pillow in the general direction of Molly, who has now broken the sound barrier, and jumps out of bed.
8.30am – We eat bacon baguettes for breakfast, washed down with a mug of coffee for Phil and decaf Earl Grey for me. Molly has eaten her entire bowl of food and is now staring expectantly at my plate. She doesn’t bother staring at Phil’s, there’s never anything left on it. She’s a quick learner. I throw her the fat from my bacon and let her lick the butter from the bread I don’t eat. (What? She’s CUTE.)
9.30am – I’m bathed, dressed, made up and have my shoes on. I’m sitting on the edge of the sofa doing what can only be described as ‘jiggling’. Phil reminds me gently that we don’t need to leave for two and a half hours. I sulk. Then I make the most of the fact I’ve got my shoes on and hang the washing out to dry. It’s such a beautiful day. Not a cloud in the sky, warm and breezy, the sun shining brightly as the birds sing and the sheep chase each other in the field at the end of our garden. I’m standing in the middle of the garden with eyes closed and head tilted to the warmth of the sun, like a sunflower. I feel Phil sneak up behind me and he envelopes me in a massive bear hug. He whispers, ‘What a perfect day’, in my ear and we both grin and giggle in anticipation.
11.40am – I argue (mostly with myself as Phil stopped listening to me 20 minutes ago) about why we should leave NOW. What if there’s traffic? What if there’s no space in the car park? What if those cows break through their fence again and block the ONLY ROAD OUT OF THE VILLAGE FOR THREE HOURS? I finish listing the reasons we should leave early just as it gets to the previously agreed leaving time. Pfft.
12pm – We leave. I squeal and dance. In the car I turn ‘Summer of 69’ up stupendously loudly and sing my heart out with the roof down. Phil laughs at me and joins in at the chorus, miming the drumming on the steering wheel.
12.40pm – It’s time. But it’s busy. Waiting ensues.
12.55pm – Waiting.
1.05pm – Phil says, ‘You’ve got two hearts! YOU’RE DOCTOR WHO!’
1.06pm – The sonographer says, ‘Your baby is a little girl.’
1.07pm – We cry.
Our baby girl is due in January. She will be called Stella Temperance Alsopp and she has very long legs, apparently. Like her Mum.
89 Comments
CONGRATULATIONS!! I am so thrilled for you.
I can’t take much more of these announcements – way too much excitement for first thing in the morning!
X
Thank you Carly!
A x
Oh Aisling & Phil Such wonderful news for you both.
Ps For a long time I thought this post was about getting ready to go to Bella’s wedding!
To be honest Rachel, I behaved pretty much as giddily and childishly the morning of Bella’s wedding, too!
A x
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! There are no words I can write to let you know how happy I am to read this
Congratulations to you and Phil! Xxx ps tell baby Stella that all the cool kids are born in January heehee!
Thanks Roz – winter babies are indeed awesome because they get to wear FLUFFY SNOWSUITS!
A x
Oh Aisling sweetheart, happiest person ever right here, crying in bed with the door opened to let the cat in so I can have someone to hug in celebration! Beautiful, amazing news – another little Any Other Woman in the making!!
I can’t really even begin to express how happy I am for you – you are going to be the most wonderful mother (you can do cat babies so that’s near enough right?) And Miss Super Long Legs will have more scary, over excited aunties than she’ll know what to do with!
Massive loves, hugs and squishy cuddles from boy bump xxx
Thank you so much Vivienne, I’m sorry for making you cry! I know it probably doesn’t take much at the moment!
Hope maternity leave is wonderful, I’m looking forward to the arrival of Baby Boy!
A x
Congratulations lovely lady!
It’s starting to sound like I’ll be the only one drinking at AOParty!
I’m OK with that.
Love so much the way you’ve written this x
You must absolutely have a mojito for me on Friday Anna, I can’t wait to meet you!
A x
Congratulations Aisling!! That’s fantastic news!!
And there was me thinking this was a post about meeting Matt Smith!
Oh MAN, I wish I’d met Matt Smith.
A x
Baby! A baby girl! You’re having a baby! BEST Tuesday news EVER!
Seriously, so SO happy for you. I don’t have any more words. *sits at desk grinning like a mad person all day*
xxxxxxxc
Thank you lovely Esme, it really is so nice to be able to share good news with you wonderful lot!
A x
Even though I’d already guessed from twitter what this post was going to be I’m still sobbing into my cereal like, well, a baby! Congratulations guys – amazing news! x
Thanks Amy – I hope you didn’t miss your train!
A x
7.30am tears happening this end… Beautiful news, beautiful name, so many congrats Aisling & Phil!
Thank you Frankie – I’m pleased you like the name, we love it so much I couldn’t help telling everyone as soon as we knew she was a girl!
A x
Congratulations! Lots of AOBabies due next year I think
x
Lots and lots! We’ll have to start a playgroup!
Hope Belgium has been amazing, L – you must be excited to get home!
A x
Welled up a bit…. Massive huge congrats to you and Phil.. So very very happy for you both
Thank you Abi!
A x
Wow. I am on holidays and meant to be internetless, but this is fantastic news that makes peeking worthwhile! What a stunning name, congrats and wishes of all the best.
Cannot wait to hear more!
Right…back to holiday.
X
Have an amazing holiday, Alex and thanks so much for the congrats!
A x
Hi Stella ***giggles***.
Roald Dahl’s Dad (he wrote really good book about a Giant…you should get your Dad to read it to you and Mummy) used to play him classical music when his Mummy was pregnant. You’ll come out knowing all about feminism and what books to read. That is just SO cool.
Please tell your Mummy and Daddy that it’s absolutely amazing news.I got a bit teery and, like Esme, there is a pretty good chance I’ll sit grinning like a mad woman all day at work. We all think you’re a very lucky baby to have such long legs…you’ll probably be amazing at Netball, AND your Mummy and Daddy have an amazing garden for you to play in. Your birthday parties are going to be AMAZEBALLS.
We’re all looking forward to meeting you lots and lots x x x
Also I should add I thought you were going to a Dr Who convention and I almost didn’t read it.
Becca, BEST COMMENT EVER. I just threw the BFG at Phil and told him to start reading. He may or may not have thrown it back at me. In fairness, he is trying to watch the tennis highlights, so maybe not the time.
Thank you so, so much. (Can we still be friends even though you don’t like Doctor Who?)
A x
Yes we can be friends but only on the basis Stella has two birthday parties in the garden. One for all of her amazing cool baby friends and one for all of us.
As soon as I read you’d peed four times I knew it! Such good news. Congratulations!
Thank you, Gemma!
A x
Congratulations Aisling and Phil (and Molly – I’m sure she’s super excited too, in a furry kind of way)! What happy, wonderful news to wake up to in the morning. Little Stella will be so beautiful and you’ve picked such a lovely name for her. Now put your feet up Aisling and eat lots of cake!! Evie xx
Mmmm….cake. Thanks Evie, I think she’s pretty much the prettiest baby in the world already, naturally!
Molly and our other cat, Lucy, are thoroughly put out by the fact when they lie in my lap now, they get booted off in a matter of minutes! In Stella’s defence, I think the kicking is her saying she likes the purring, but the cats aren’t convinced…
A x
Arghhhhhh so delighted for you Aisling, this is absolutely wonderful news!
Px
PS. You lot should all write more on here.
Thanks P-face!
A x
Stella!!!
Love that name. It makes me think of the milky way.
So so happy for you xxx
Thanks L, I love the celestial reference! The name means ‘Star who is patient and kind’ (that’s our favourite definition so far, so we’re sticking to it!).
My dad calls her ‘Tinie Temperance’, like the rapper. Every time he does it I die of cuteness overload.
Can’t wait to see you this weekend, birthday girl.
A x
Massive congratulations, this is brilliant news! When I got to the line about “Your baby is a girl” (yup I didn’t get it until that line, I thought it was about Bella’s wedding) my head actually went “EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKK!” in excitement.
Thank you so much, Frances – I’m so chuffed you didn’t get it til the end, if it worked on one person then I’m happy!
A x
CONGRATULATIONS! Amazing news and such a beaut of a name xxxx
Thank you, Sharon! Glad you like her name, we love it!
A x
Amazing news! Oh Aisling, I’m so so happy for you both! xxx
Thank you, Emma!
A x
Huge, HUGE congratulations Aisling and Phil! What lovely news to wake up to on a sunny Tuesday morning. Our 20 week scan is next week and we’re still undecided about finding out the sex… there’s a small chance you may have just swayed me (again – I keep changing my mind!)
2013 is clearly the year of the AOBaby – a new generation is on it’s way
So incredibly happy for you and a lovely baby girl with a gorgeous name to boot (is it wrong that I’m already jealous of her super long legs?!)
Hope pregnancy is treating you well so far xx
Any Other Playdate next summer?
Done! xx
The playdate is a date!
If you manage not to find out, Hollie, I will be SO impressed and just a little jealous! We have never considered not finding out if/when we were pregnant and a little bit of me envies those who can wait for the surprise!
Still, we get to go crazy buying the right colour clothes so s’all good!
Feeling ace at the moment, have had a pretty textbook pregnancy so far and Braxton Hicks started last week – my midwife says I’m the only expectant mother she’s known who finds them fascinating and enjoys the sensation! Phil says I’m just weird.
Hope you both (and all three babies!) are feeling good and doing well.
A x
I’m thinking March sounds good, no? I may or may not be planning a trip back to the UK then, and Emmi would utterly adore to play with/sit on/eat all of your teeny tiny beautiful babies.
Eeeeeeeeeeeee! You have totally top trumped Andy Murray this morning!!
This is wonderful, wonderful, stupendously exciting news and I am so so happy for both you and Phil. Hope it’s all going well (surely the super cute kittens were a practice run?) and I can’t wait to hear from you. And Stella. Le sigh.
xoxo
Exactly Mahj, if we can keep 6 ginger kittens alive then a baby should be EASY, no?!
Thank you so much, lovely lady.
A x
Aisling, what wonderful, fantastic, amazing news!
I am so very very happy for you (and Phil) – and imagine all the Christmas food stuffs you can consume under the ‘eating for two’ rule? Hee!
Do Boost chocolate bars and grated carrot count as Christmas foodstuffs? Can I start using that excuse now?!
Thank you, Fee!
A x
Very. Exciting! Congratulations Aisling & Phill!
Thank you, Zan!
A x
Perfect news to wake up to on a sunny day Aisling! Stella sounds beautiful already
x
Thank you so much, Sarah – it is a beautiful day, isn’t it?
A x
AAAAHHHH I knew from “I’ve been up to pee 4 times already”! On iPhone, will be back to comment properly later but couldn’t wait just to say I’m soooooooo excited for you both
absolutely amazing news!! Xx
Thanks Steff – the peeing is CRAZYTOWN.
Hope the peas are doing well and treating you nicely!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hehe!
A x
Such Wonderful news!!
Massive Congratulations Aisling & Phil. x
(Such a fan of AOW but I never tend to post comments – worry that what i write would be rubbish – but I couldn’t not comment today)
Cathie, the crazy pregnant lady demands that you comment more!
Thank you so much for your lovely words!
A x
Huge congratulations to you both. Hmm I wonder how close our due dates are we’re also due in January. We had our scan last week too. Didn’t find out what we’re having though other than it is definitely a baby and not a lobster (weird dream – you getting them too).
Hope you have been keeping well.
Congratulations again.
Oh, congratulations to you too! Very pleased that it’s a baby, not a lobster. Phew. So far my best/weirdest/BEST EVER pregnancy dream was that it was triplets and they were Prince Harry’s. Phil was well impressed. Not.
We’re due towards the end of January, I’m trying not to fixate on the date too much as both my brothers and I were between 14 and 19 days late! Patience is a virtue and all that.
I hope everything has gone well for you so far and continues to do so xx
Hello my dearest, I already tweeted this but just wanted to say again how happy I am for you and Phil and beautiful, long-legged Stella Temperance Alsopp. What a gorgeous name for a gorgeous girl. I couldn’t be more thrilled to bits for you all. Lots of love xxx
Hello gorgeous lady, thank you SO much for your lovely words.
I hope the job is going well and that moving house is a BREEZE. Also, I think I will wear daytime sequins all the time, thanks to you.
A x
So very, very many congratulations. Another AOW baby girl – Emmi is no doubt delighted. Wishing you lots of happiness, relaxation and as much sleep as you can cram in over the next few months. xx
Congrats Aising and Phil- what wonderful news! You’ve made my day. Enjoy every minute xx
Eeek!!! Another baby, there is defintiely something in the AOW water!!
Congratulations! So happy for you! Perfect news!
Me and my Halloween/Bonfire night sproglet are defintiely up for AOW playdate in 2013
xxxx
This is the best news ever!! I have to confess to shedding a few tears by the end. I can’t express how happy I am for you & Phil. You will be the best parents & have chosen such a beautiful name for such a beautiful long-legged girl. Definitely made my day (& it needed cheering up – my in laws are coming to stay with us today for a week)
So so thrilled & can’t wait to meet the newest member of team AOW in Jan.
Lots of love & hugs xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ps love the way you wrote this & love the Dr Who reference – perfect post!
Oh I was also going to say to Hollie – we didn’t find out the sex (baby James was born on 30th aug) & so many people thought we were mad! It was hard but we loved the surprise & finding out when he was placed on my tummy was magical. Can see the appeal of finding out as well though… Tough decision but whatever you decide will be right for you, all the best for your scan! Xx
Long legs? I’m jealous of her already!
Many congratulations.
THIS is the best news that I have heard in a very long time. So so happy for you, and can’t wait to see little Stella. xx
Such wonderful news! HUGE congratulations!!!
(Sorry for the quick message – super busy today!!) xx
Many, many congratulations to you both!! Another vote for the most beautiful name here!! Hope you have am uneventful pregnancy!! Xx
Eeeeeeeee! I have been so excited about this post going live today today, knowing just how overjoyed people would be for you
I’m wishing you and P so much happiness for your remaining months a deux and so much love and laughter for the years ahead when little Stella arrives. Beautiful news for a beautiful family.
Much love xx
Congratulations!! Loooooooove the name. Didn’t guess from the title but did from the ridiculously early waking and excitement. Looking forward to meeting you on Friday. Is it wrong that I’m sad it’s too early for you to have a bump?!
I love this blog but rarely comment on here however this is too good not to!
Huge congratulations to both of you, such fantastic news! x
Okay, so I am not online. I am on holiday, and I promised myself I would stay offline, then my sister logged on for something, so I thought I’d take a peek. Then I saw the title Dr Who and that it was penned by Aisling, and I thought “I can’t not read about Dr Who penned by Aisling, because that’s clearly going to be all kinds of fricking awesome”. Then I read the post. And it was SO MUCH MORE AWESOME THAN I EXPECTED. I shed a little tear and danced around on my chair. Then I had to explain to my family that I was dancing/crying because someone I have never met is having a baby, and NOW my Mum is casting worried “Oh good lord am I going to be a Granny” looks at me… (she isn’t)
So anyway, the upshot of this here is OHMIGOD OHMIGOD CONGRATULATIONS! I’m so very very happy for you both. Such joy is entirely deserved.
K x
PS: Having two hearts like Dr Who is TOO COOL. You should buy a sonic screwdriver.
Oh my goodness, huge congratulations Aisling and Phil!!
What a lovely lovely post.
I am an ‘everyday reader but very shy commenter’ but this has moved me to break the silence (it would be rude not to really for such amazing news!)
You will make a super Mummy.
C xx
so many congratulations!!! It was so lovely to meet you on Sat briefly in the portaloos!!
Stella is the perfect name (and not just cos it was our Grandmothers name!).
You looked absolutely stunning on Sat – pregnancy obviously agrees with you!
xx
Congratulations to you both! Such a well-written post, I didn’t guess until the sonographer’s announcement! The mention of the weeing and the decaf coffee all then made much more sense. Beautiful name.
I’m not sure why it’s posted my name as Piri – whoops!
Lovely, lovely news. Huge congratulations xx
Waaaaaaah! So exciting. Congratulations!!
Awwww! Congratulations! Such a beautiful name as well xxx
Agggh, Monday was a particularly busy day, and I’ve only just seen this. So so so stupendously happy for you both. Huge grin on my face right now. Massive congratulations to you both!! xxxxx
OMG AISLING! I’m so happy for you!
I knew what this was as soon as I read ‘I got up to pee 4 times’
Honestly, I couldn’t be happier. Congratumalations to both of you
Congratulations!
I dont think Ive ever commented on here before but just wanted to add my congratulations!
x
Aisling, tears in my eyes as I read this. Such wonderful news – huge congratulations to you and Phil. Stella Temperance is a beautiful name and I’m sure she will be gorgeous, just like her mum. We had our 20 week scan at the end of August and I remember well those intervening hours before the scan
Yay for baby girls born in January! xx
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