Great expectations

39 weeks - so tired!

The time has come! Well nearly.

'Gordon' [don't ask me where on earth my partner got THAT as a nickname for the yet unborn grandson!] - his entrance in to this world is imminent. Due next Friday 11 Feb 2011 [11022011 - fabulous date!] and so i winged my way to Christchurch last Thursday morning to stay with my daughter and her husband until the 16th. Let's hope he's born on his due date! It was a risk booking before he was born, but hey - sometimes in life you have to do that!

It's lovely to be spending time with Jessica and Hamish before 'Gordon' arrives [they aren't letting anyone in on his name before he's born] and the build up to his expected due date is delicious.

Over the months since i found out i was to become a 'grammy' i have been working away on a 1:12 scale miniature child's bedroom. I was rather pleased with how it turned out.



Wrapped

Unwrapped [$1 coin to left for scale]

This was huge fun to do. My partner 'Poppa Mike' worked on the exterior so it could be a special gift from us both :-) Most in the diorama I made, and the baby doll is even anatomically correct [i bought this] but i have put a tiny little nappy on him off the nappy pile on the floor. I miniaturised real family photos and even included tiny little photos of his scans [back wall right].

The full set of construction photos are here.

When i got to Christchurch we went shopping for a new toy box as an extra present and to put all the presents in that i'd collected over the months.

Presents above before wrapping and below close ups

Special touches :-)







Token for baby and ephemera: From The Foundling Museum, London
bought when i travelled to England in November 2010

The lovely exhibition "Threads of Feeling" was on when i visited the museum - perfect timing. The poignant stories behind each real little token on display are heartbreaking. As a momento for 'Gordon' with ephemera from the exhibition i thought would be nice.

"In the cases of more than 4,000 babies left between 1741 and 1760, a small object or token, usually a piece of fabric, was kept as an identifying record. The fabric was either provided by the mother or cut from the child’s clothing by the hospital's nurses. Attached to registration forms and bound up into ledgers, these pieces of fabric form the largest collection of everyday textiles surviving in Britain from the 18th Century. "

Continuing with the baby's gifts...

I thought a parcel of care goodies and mainly clothes for an older age was probably order of the day as so much was given over the weeks for newborn!

Cutey little swimming costume amongst that that i couldn't resist! Note the luggage tag [with frog on] he can put on his wee suitcase when he comes to visit Grammy and Poppa Mike in Auckland :-)

And so we wait :-)

©2011 Sarndra Lees