“You’ve got a front row forward,” the nurses told my father, back in the day men waited outside birthing rooms.
“Oh, another boy?” dad said in (what I imagine to be) a not-too-disappointed way.
“Oh no, it’s a girl,” he was informed.
And that dear friends, was my introduction into the world.
Of course I knew nothing about this conversation until I was much older, but now of course I wonder if I started overeating while still in the womb? Maybe I was like the baby from the Twilight books, eeking (ie. eating) the life out of my poor mother?! And perhaps I was doomed to have weight and self-confidence issues from the get-go.
I’m sure the nurses meant nothing by their comment and – in almost every culture – a chubby baby is actually a good thing. Plus my father was a (then) fairly well-known footballer – hence the comment. However in retrospect I’m kinda glad he wasn’t a sumo-wrestler. Or a Eastern European Hammer Thrower… cos that kind of comparison would be really traumatic. 😉
Perhaps all of these people came to visit and commented on my size and I’ve been stigmatised ever since. #Ornot cos I became a normal-sized kid so… there goes that excuse theory!
But at 9 lb. 10 ounces (about 4.5kg) , it’s true I wasn’t petite. But I hafta say, in all modesty… I was kinda cute.
What were you like as a baby? Petite or… ummm… less-so?
November 12, 2013
I was tiny 6lb7oz. But apparently made up for it quickly. My daughter was also small 6lb 12oz…but made up for it quickly. My Dad apparently wanted to call me Reg Gasnier Lyons. It was possibly lucky that I was a girl.
November 12, 2013
Oh dear… My dad’s best friend played for St George (probably in the RG era) and the only negative thing I ever heard my dad say about this guy was that he was asked if dad would like to join the club but he (Elton) told the coach / managers that my father wouldn’t like to move south. I think it was one of dad’s regrets….
November 12, 2013
You were kind of cute. And your Dad looks a little like Shane Warne in the bottom pic. He didn’t like to send a lot of texts did he?
I too was generously proportioned baby – I was 8 lb 14oz but I’d done a great big poo on my Mum when I was delivered so heavens knows what I would have weighed had I been able to hold on. Seems like some of my continuing issues started at birth too.
November 12, 2013
Oh that’s so funny Char – about the poo! Though also kinda gross. 😉 And yes… I guess it was a sign of things to come I guess! (Although less about running and presumably more about stress when you were a newborn!)
November 12, 2013
You were kinda cute I think too! I was a normal 7lb 5oz and was always short and small. Obviously some of that changed as I got older but I wouldn’t change anything – lessons learnt along the way.
November 12, 2013
I don’t know how long I was, but think I was always taller than my friends. My brother was tall from a young age and was 6ft 2 inches at 14 and didn’t grow again. Mum used to feel grumpy when he played sport as a youngster and opposition mums didn’t believe he was the age he was as he was so much taller than everyone!
November 12, 2013
lol, I think I was pretty average but my little (or not so little) third child (who is just 18 months old) is a real chubba bubba!! She even popped out with great big chubby rolls. But she is certainly the cutest thing, so there must be something in it :))
November 12, 2013
Exactly… chubbiness is cute until a child gets to a certain age I guess! (Although I don’t look too bad in the pics. I must have lost weight pretty quickly. Or started dieting early!)
November 12, 2013
I’d like to blame my birth weight for my weight issues today but sadly, given I am 5’7″ and weighed 45kgs when I got married, I don’t think that will work !!!
You certainly don’t look like a chubby baby !
Have the best day !
Me
November 12, 2013
I agree – I suspect the chubbiness disappeared quickly – although perhaps I was just big in general. I must ask my mum!
November 12, 2013
You were adorable!!! I have to say as a mum who had tiny babies (both under 5lbs or 2 kgs), because they were twins and tad early. Big babies are much healthier generally and according to my OBGYN calmer and better sleepers during those initial weeks. Probably less fun to deliver though haha
November 12, 2013
I have to admit I don’t know much about my habits as a newborn Jess – if I slept well and was calm etc. I’ve certainly made up for that in my older years (bad sleeper and well… slightly manic!) 😉
November 12, 2013
Love the smiling pic of you and your dad! And I don’t think you look chubby at all! I was very slight my entire life until I discovered alcohol and bulk-made food at university! Love the story about your arrival to world – CUTE
November 12, 2013
Thanks Emily! It is a nice pic. I don’t have any like that of mum and I use this one occasionally now that my dad has passed. (PS. I’m with you on the booze and junk food!)
November 13, 2013
On that picture, you look like an absolutely normal toddler to me 🙂
November 13, 2013
Yes, I think I grew out of the pudginess quickly. (Back then, anyway!!!!)
November 13, 2013
Such sweet pics! I love the christening one!
I’ve had huge babies and tiny babies and they all end up evening out to about the same. I was little and still am!
You were a very pretty little baby!
November 14, 2013
Aw…. thanks!
November 14, 2013
Oh, I didn’t get the front row forward allusion.. Anyway, I remember reading that it’s rather the tiny babies who tend to have weight problems later in life than the other way round. At least I’ve ended up quite plump (and short) myself!! 🙂
I think I was 2.5 kg max when I was born and as a child I and my older sister were quite thin. One of our grandmothers used to call us the children of Biafra!
I love 60’s style! Your father was quite handsome. 🙂
November 15, 2013
He was a handsome bugger when he was younger, wasn’t he?
And yes, I should have made it clear that the front-row-forward thing was a rugby league football term for my non-aussie readers! 😉
December 11, 2013
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