– 9:57 am

Well for starters, your mother and I spent four and half hours last night putting together an IKEA baby changing unit. By the time we were done, I had a footprint the size of an elephant’s. I had pain all over my back from trying to be nimble with a fractured leg. It took a few yoga poses to relieve some of the tension. That I miss. Yoga that is. I’m going to attempt a class one of these days (like I usually do via the app).

The decision to put it together was a spontaneous one. We were going to do it last weekend right after assembling the bedside crib we bought from Snuz. We’d unpacked all the pieces and all it took was a glance at the manual to shelve it.

We agreed to get someone from IKEA or Airtasker to do it but Valentina (who helps us clean) volunteered her husband. They were going to pop round yesterday but six was too late for us. That’s when we decided to give it another go – terrible fucking idea!

Dear IKEA

You can do better. You really can.

Thanks
Kilian et Liza

PS – But we got it done.

Midway through this writeup, I had to dash upstairs with my drill and toolbox to help put up a blackout curtain in the second bedroom. That’s been my morning so far.

Yesterday was also day two of the NCT classes we’ve been taking. This session was about labour and childbirth. I took some notes. Honestly, I have not the faintest clue why anyone would want to put their body through pregnancy and childbirth. It ranges from uncomfortable to downright excruciating throughout. But your mother keeps repeating the female hormones override any input from a logical standpoint. Good thing I’m not the one who has to bring you into this world. You’d be abandoned son. I would never do it.

What else? Umm… We bought another sofabed to go in the studio downstairs. I foresee myself sleeping in there a lot, especially if I have to work while your mother is on maternity leave. There is currently no reason to believe you will spare us and sleep throughout the night. Most babies won’t and you won’t be any different. I’m prepping for the worst-case scenario. But the idea is a catch-all for anyone who offers us help and needs a bed. It gives us flexibility.

I also started reading Cribsheet by Emily Oster. It’s a data-driven approach to parenting. I read the chapter on circumcision this morning when I woke up. I was but you won’t be. Medically speaking, there is no real reason to get it. Historically, it’s more for cultural and religious reasons. And we know where I stand on the latter. You can be circumcised at any point in your life so if you decide otherwise when you’re older then it’s your choice.

Ah yes, you’ll be on a plane again tonight. This time to Riga. Your mother is flying out for a work conference. It’s a project she spent a solid six months working on and this event unites all her “Central and Eastern grantees”. You’d have to ask her what that means.

I just had to help her put on compression tights as she’s too big to do it herself now. They are also quite tight to be fair. You’ll get to hang out with your grandparents. I joked she could bring anything but COVID back. I still have a bad cough I seem unable to shake. Thinking about it, I wonder if I should get it checked out…

Anyway, I have to run. The car needs cleaning and charging. I have to drive myself to the hospital and back tomorrow morning for a progress update and an X-ray. The part of the leg which had an infection just won’t heal. We’ve been managing it with iodine since Friday but I’m keen to speak to Mr Culpan about it. It’s doing my head in quite frankly.

Also worthy of note are the Braxton Hicks contractions your mother reported having. I think it may be prudent doing a dry run to the hospital and finding a 24 hour and over car park. I have a ticket raised on my Trello board to complete this task. I want to minimise uncertainty on d-day as much as possible. Where to park shouldn't be something to worry about.