Wendy Frew always knew that one day she would swap her well-worn netball bibs for baby bibs
– she just didn’t realise how soon that day would come. Despite the surprising timing, the former Silver Fern and her husband, Trent, couldn’t be more thrilled at the news they’re expecting an addition to their little family.
“The timing wasn’t ideal as I’d signed with the Southern Steel for another year, but it was one of those things that just happened,” smiles Wendy. “We’re so happy. We were very emotional when we first found out. On one hand, we were over the moon, but I knew I had already committed to the team,” she says. “Luckily, the girls were great, it was hard telling them, but they’ve all been amazing.”
The Invercargill couple has been waiting for years to start a family around Wendy’s hectic netball career, but were hurried along by fate instead. “Trent’s wanted to be a dad for a long time, ever since we got married. There were definitely some teary eyes there,” she smiles.
Now 24 weeks along and proudly showing off her little bump, Wendy’s been forced to sit back and enjoy her pregnancy, watching her team from the sidelines for the fi rst time in her 10-year career. “I’m always on the edge of my seat watching them, that’s for sure,” she grins.
One person who’s not complaining about Wendy’s reduced workload is Trent. “I actually get to see her now,” he laughs. “Although, it’s been quite hard seeing her with morning sickness.” Never one to complain, Wendy dismisses her morning sickness as something you just have to get over. “It’s not a big deal really. It’s a small price to pay when you know you get a baby at the end of it. I was pretty average up until about 14 weeks. I lived on pineapple Fru-Ju’s,” she says.
They have no idea whether the baby is a boy or a girl; Trent says choosing not to find out the gender was something they agreed to early on. “There aren’t a lot of nice surprises in life, but this is going to be one of them,” he says. “I don’t have any feelings about what it is either,” adds Wendy. “We haven’t listened to any of the old wives’ tales.”
One thing they know for certain is that they’re not having twins – something that was a definite possibility, with Wendy being a twin, as well as having two other sisters who are twins. “Debbie, who’s my twin, she’s really excited. I know her and baby will have a special bond. And she’ll be a great babysitter,” she says.
Though she’s missing netball, Wendy’s been keeping busy at home, decorating her baby’s new nursery. “It is hard with colours, so we’ve gone for neutrals and a circus theme. When the baby comes, we’ll get some purple or blue going,” she says. And of course, she will be gearing up for the next season of the ANZ championship. “I do miss netball, but I have been playing at the elite level for 10 years, so the body probably needed a wind down,” she says.
“If the Steel are keen to give me a contract next year, then I’ll be back. But at the moment, it’s time to start the next chapter of our lives. We can’t wait to become parents.”
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