Baby Can I Upgrade You?

19. Knitting

Imani

"No mama you don't have to come over. See, everything is fine. Candi checked on my earlier too." I move my phone to the left and right of me so she can see me and my surroundings fully during our video call.

"Okay. But call me if anything happens." She grudgingly agrees with worry still evident in her brown eyes.

"Ma, relax. I'm in bed following doctors orders and I have my medication right here. You can come see me in the morning if it will ease your mind?" I offer her with a sympathetic smile.

"Okay, I'll come in the morning. I'll bring proper food for my mzukhulu (grandchild) too. What do you want?" Mama asks enthusiastically.

"If it's not too much trouble can you make idombolo (steamed bread) and lamb stew? Oh and amagwinya (fat cakes) nama-chips!" I request
excitedly, my mouth watering at just the thought of the food to come.

"Yazi uzonona (you're going to get fat) Imani." My mom chuckles and I see her walking around her kitchen checking that she has the necessary ingredients.

"Nginonile (I'm fat) already...what's a few more kilos? Plus I'm not ordering for me but unana (the baby)." I defend my carb-heavy order.

"Hmm blame it on the baby. But you'll be crying when it's time to get the baby weight off!" Mama laughs at me as he starts placing ingredients on the counter.

"Whatever. Anyway let's talk later...I don't want you burning my baby's food." I tease her.

She sucks her teeth loudly. "Like I ever burn food. Yazini (You know what) your pregnant mouth is too big. Bye bye!" Mama drops the call in a huff as I laugh uncontrollably with tears filling my ears to the brim.

I keep laughing long after my screen has turned black and I have to wipe the tears from my eyes and face. My mom's dramatic reactions never fail to amuse me. I'm so happy to have my family back in my life after avoiding them for so many months. After my big scare gogo melted some and she seems happy about the baby now, he will be her first great-grandson after all. All my cousins have had girls so far. I kind of feel sorry for my boy, he's going to be surrounded by some very strong and opinionated girls if their mothers are anything to go by. Poor boy.

Although gogo has warmed up to Munchie she is still angry about his absent father. She is not impressed that they haven't had any luck in contacting him, I'm pretty sure he changed his number. And his parents are impossible to track down because they immigrated back to his father's village in Nigeria, apparently he's a chief or something there. Jaden told me his full names once but I can't remember them, they were so long and complicated. I'm glad they weren't able to track him or his kin down cause I really don't want or need him. He made his choice to walk away and I think we should leave it at that. I would rather he be gone now than to come back because of tradition only to abandon his son later down the road. I don't want my son to experience such pain. As far as I'm concerned he's dead.

Now that everything is on track I just need to figure out what to do on this medical house arrest called 'bed rest'. It's been a week and I'm about to rip my hair out. If I'm not contending with hovering loved ones, it's the endless hour's that tick by slowly. I'm not used to having so much time on my hands. I'm not used to doing nothing! There is only so much one can sleep in a day. I've been trying to figure out placenta-safe activities I can do but very few interest me. I'm so bored I'm even trying this granny hobby called knitting.

I pick up the thin metal knitting needles next to me which are intertwined with fluffy lime green wool. I'm attempting to knit Munchie a pair of mittens. I read that babies nails grow really quickly and they tend to scratch their faces so I'm knitting him some mittens to keep his handsome face safe, plus they looked really cute in the instructional book I bought. I look down at the book open on my lap to make sure I'm still on the right track. Yep...20 more rows to go.

Five hours later and my little man's mittens are complete! They're pretty adorable if I do say so myself. Even better than the ones in the book if you ask me. I'm proud of myself for making something for him with my own hands. I could always buy him mittens but these are made with love and I think I'll keep them long after he's grown out of them, maybe to even give them to his son one day. I smile ruefully at that idea. I rub my belly as I look out of the window at the setting sun. I still have all evening to entertain myself. Sigh.

As much as I unexpectedly enjoyed knitting I don't see it becoming a regular thing. My mind needs far more stimulation and being in bed all day just doesn't cut it. I am itching to get back to work. Just then Munchie decides to presses on my bladder and I suddenly have the urge to pee. I get off the bed and pad my way to my en-suite bathroom as fast as my pregnant body will allow.

I make it just in time. "This is not the kind of stimulation mama needs boy!" I playfully scold my bump as I relive myself. When I'm done I flush, wash my hands and waddle my way back to bed.

Yes, I have officially joined the waddle squad. I never understood why pregnant women waddled before but now that I am pregnant, I totally get it. It's because it feels like the baby is sitting between your hips and forcing them apart. It's really uncomfortable and don't even get me started on the back pain! Good Lord pregnancy is hard but also such a beautiful experience. My heart skips a beat everytime I feel my baby move. I appreciate his sometimes painful kicks even more after our scare because it let's me know he's still alive and well. I've read so many heartbreaking stories of mothers who lost their babies due to placental abruption and I just can't even imagine what I would do if I lost my little munchkin. I don't want to imagine it!

I flip the TV onto the music channel to distract myself from the scary thoughts that threaten to overtake my mind. A big smile spreads across my face when I find one of my favourite songs by Davido, "If" playing. I rub my baby bump rhythmically as I sing to my son.

I love you, I love you
There's nothing above you
There's nothing above you
Above you, above you