Update!

My promise of being a better blogger ended up being a lie!! Oops. So, I thought I would come and do an update on life. Firstly - James turned 26 last Wednesday, I had actually written a Happy Birthday post, which I thought I had published but musn't have... So - Happy belated Birthday to my love.

Kahlei is meeting milestones in leaps and bounds now that she is mobile. Last Thursday she said "Mumma" for the very first time - I was sooo thrilled as I've been hearing Dadda for quite some time. She also says hello, mostly in reply to Ellie and I swear I have heard her say Ellie, too.

That same day she started pulling herself up onto her knees, trying to stand up and cut her third tooth. It was a big day! Today, she has finally started crawling on her on her knees - before she looked like she was swimming, she would reach out with her hands, put them together and pull her body towards them. It was a very effective way to crawl, as she was so fast!

Unlike Ellie, Kahlei is happy to show off her newest skills on command. If I say wave, she will. If I ask her to clap she obliges. Very cute.

Ellie's growing up fast, too. She is forever telling us stories. While this is not new in itself it is new that she's actually telling us things she remembers ... and sometimes elaborating on that memory. Her favourite story is from when my mum and brothers came to visit for her party. She loves to talk about the 'Pileww' (pillow, ie jumping pillow). She will tell us about people jumping on it. Joshy, Max, Caleb, Nanna and Casey. At the start of these stories she would tell us 'a bit scary' but these days she is also jumping on the pileww. As is Kahlei. Sometimes, Daddy's on there and even more amazingly, sometimes Grandpa's having a jump (he didn't come). Once we've discussed this in detail we move onto the pool.

She's not been swimming in a pool before, but she saw Ethan and Caleb doing so. She'll tell us about the 'mawter' (water) and about swimming and splashing while making very convincing swimming actions for someone who has never actually swum.

Ellie is also treading very close to the Terrible Two line. She sure has some attitude and can often be heard saying no, mine, give me it, no, no and no. We've started using the naughty chair, which actually worked like a charm the first few times we did it, however she is now pushing the boundaries. The other day she didn't want to stay on it, I had to put her back on numerous times.

As for me, I am enjoying watching my girls grow up and the way they interact with each other.  I have been working on a full kit, which I hope will be ready in the not too distant future and have recently joined two more awesome CTs. One for Honey Designs and as a Pixie at Enchanted Studio Scraps. I am loving all the kits I have been able to work with recently. Honestly, I have not had one I've struggled with ideas. They've all spoken to me in different ways and I have been so happy with what I have come up with. I honestly can say that I work with some of the most amazing designers.

Speaking of which, if you're interested in going into the draw to win one of four cluster frames pop over to my CT Blog and leave a comment to go into the running! While you're there check out my newest LOs ;)

This is just one of the frames you could win.

Made by Holly - check out her blog here.

Right, I must be off now. I will try and be back sooner rather than later. If you leave me some love I'm sure I'll find the motivation ;)

Inconsiderate + Layout Overload + Freebie

I haven't written much here about our neighbour, possibly because I have nothing positive to say about the lady. As a rule I disagree with the use of 'Bitch' to describe women, but in this case it is truelly fitting. She hasn't spoken to us in 6 and a half months after she decided to yell at James on our front lawn. We were in a hurry to get to the Doctors and he didn't have time to stop and talk to her about the fact taht she had hired a man to prune (hack) the trees in our front yard (on common property) and had taken the money out of our joint account without so much as a word to us. Once we got home, she had a fit about how we parked our car and came around banging on the front door while Ellie was having a sleep. Since that day (a day before Kahlei's birth) she hasn't said a word to us. Instead, she makes it known that she doesn't like us by being as loud as possible when the babies are trying to sleep -  stamping up and down her front steps, practically yelling when she speaks and general annoyances. But, today she surparssed all, even the times she used to yell for James to come talk to her from her verandah or phone us and demand he come around for any whim that took he fancy. More so than her ripping us off in how we split our bills and suggesting that she should pay even less.

This morning she had a garage sale. On common property. Without a single word to us. Luckily, James's mum phoned last night to warn us, otherwise I think James would have stormed out there when all the noise drew his attention to the people milling around on our driveway, near his car and all the cars in our street parking us in. Last night her family arrived late, making as much noise as could be possible and then this morning they started scraping the furniture from out the back to take down to the street (which is right next to my head in bed).

To save James from making a scene (mainly because we have to stay in this street) we went to visit his mum. Ellie had a lovely time playing with the dogs, cat and watching the fish.

And when we came home we decided to get into the house as noisily as she normally doe (yes, a little childish, but it was fun) and boy she must use a whole lot of energy to be so loud and annoying!!!!!!

Anyway, she will be gone soon and we'll have new neighbours. I really hope it's somebody nice and we don't have any dramas.

Now, I have some layouts to post :)

Digiridoo Scraps Designers:


Spice of Life collab kit by The Digiridoo designers


Sweet Turtles by Designs by Pebbles


Counrty Charm by DigiDesigned byWilma


Country Charm by DigiDesigned byWilma


Tangerine by Sarah Barber Designs


Template Pack 2 by Felicia Staulters
Zoo Friends by Felicia Staulters


Family Time Word Art by Felicia Staulters
A Day Just For Dad Remixed by Inspiredbydominic Designs

Oh, also - I have some Sims 3 Inspired Papers available for download here

Weigh In Wednesday!

To mark our 300th post I am beginning my weight loss journey. I had written in my diary that I wanted to lose 20kg by June, starting February 1st. However, somehow I managed to completely forget to actually start my new eating plan and exercise regime. Oops. For whatever reason I decided to hop on the Wii Fit board, weigh myself and get started today, something which has surprised even me.

As soon as I got the board down Ellie hopped on it, so I registered her Mii and weighed her first before popping on myself. James got a pez Wii remote, which we give her to play with when we have our remotes out, so she was pointing it at the screen to 'play'. We don't get the chance to play much (like once every six months lately) but she has already picked up what you're supposed to do, by the time she's 3 she'll be flogging us!

She was not impressed with me being on the Wii board and I ended up having to re-weigh myself three times, it kept telling me I was a little restless and to stand still but Ellie was trying to push me off so she could use it! Apparently, I have lost 2.4kgs since I last did a test. That was a nice little boost to begin this adventure with! Especially given that I have two pregnancies worth of losing to do! When it became apparent that Ellie was not going to let me back on without a fight I decided to do some Tae Bo Total Body Fat Blaster. Ellie had a blast dancing around, laughing at me while I was literally KILLED by Billy Blanks! Maybe I should have started gentler, tried something soothing like Pilates, but I find I am easily bored by things like that. Plus, if I am going to work out I want to feel like it's doing something and when you're drenched in sweat, red in the cheeks and every muscle in your body burns you know what you're doing is working! The thing I love about Tae Bo (or Billy Blanks to be more precise) is that when I get to that point where my arms and legs are on fire, my face is flushed and I have sweat beading on my forehead and I want to stop because I can really feel it he looks at me down the camera and tells me to keep going. So I do. In the end I feel refreshed, positive, proud of myself and maybe a little bit sore in today's case.

After our workout Ellie put herself to bed (in our bed) while I was trying to make it.

Pram Wars

James and I have been having a 'discussion' about prams since before Kahlei was born. Late in my pregnancy I started to peruse some forums about having more than one child; I read about people getting ready and buying a new pram that would accomodate both children. It got me thinking that maybe our setup might need some looking at.

With a Bugaboo, a Quinny Zapp and a Baby Bjorn we weren't lacking means of transporting our babies but I was reading things that made me realise it wasn't going to be as easy as we had assumed. I talked it over with James and we decided it would be fine, the combinations were obvious - Ellie in the Quinny, Kahlei in the Baby Bjorn or Kahlei in the Bugaboo, Ellie walking. Easy.

Not long after Kahlei's birth James had to get his hair cut and I experienced my very first 'just me and the girls' moment. We figured the best way to go for that outing was Ellie in the pram and Kahlei in the carrier, mostly because I was still healing from my c-section and running after Ellie really was not an option. Unfortunately, Kahlei didn't like the carrier and I found the pressure of her (even her tiny amount of weight) on my stomach painful.

Since then I can count on one hand the amount of times I have been out alone with both girls.  These times I have had Ellie walking, with her little doggy backpack lead, and Kahlei in the pram. One word: Drama. Ellie is at such a naughty stage. If there are things she can touch or pull off shelves, she will and if we've been somewhere like the park and it's time to leave then she throws a doozy of a tantrum. Kahlei has issues with the start-stop nature of our walks and ends up very upset as I am forever stopping to pick Ellie up to cross a road or put her down because she's so heavy or Ellie simply wants to stand and look at something that has caught her eye.

Popping Kahlei's dummy back in, putting my sun glasses on, readjusting my bag on my shoulder and especially 'picking up a few things' from the shop are almost impossible as I am tethered to Ellie's doggy lead and the pram lead. Doing anything other than simply walking at a slower-than-slow pace requires at least five minutes to put on the breaks, unattach myself, do what needs to be done, reattach and get Ellie moving again. And generally, by the time I've done all that Kahlei's spat her dummy and is protesting having been motionless for so long.

After each disappointing outing I have tried to make James have a look at other pram options with me and for sometime he has been very anti. Obviously, we have literally spent a fortune on the prams we already have, but I am honestly of the opinion that we need to at least talk about getting a pram that will fit both girls. Maybe it wouldn't really help, I knew that but I wanted him to show me his point of view to give me more perspective.

I had all but given up on him seeing my point of view and resigned myself to the life of a hermit when suddenly, on Valentine's night, he was doing some research!! Now, I am not sure if it was spurred on by a need to shut me up about the pram issue or if our most recent Sydney trip had something to do with it, but who cares? At last, I was able to have a proper conversation about what I thought I needed, what the options were and what might be an issue should we choose to take this route.

At first I was looking at tandem prams, namely Phil & Teds, but as I read more and thought about it I decided a twin (or double) pram might work better for us. I had been worried about maneuvering a twin pram through shops and checkouts, but James found they weren't much wider than a normal pram, especially the Bugaboo. So, turned out our first decision was easily made; if we get a new pram it will be a twin. Then we started looking into what's out there. Oh. My. Gosh. The options. The more we looked the more confused I got. James was easily sold on the Mountain Buggy Double Urban and I have to admit I thought it looked pretty awesome, too, but I didn't know if we wanted to fork out so much money for another pram. Especially when Ellie might not be in it for too much longer... But then there's the fact that we might have another baby at some point while Kahlei's still little (like when she's 2).

I liked the look of the Firstwheels City Twin Stroller as oo.com.au has a sale on that, but when I looked at reviews found there wasn't much positive information from parents with this pram. The Phil & Teds double appealed, too, however it only comes in red. I thought the Emmaljunga Twin Cangaroo looked good, too.

We looked at the cheaper options and found the one we think we will go with. The Baby Love EzyGo Twin Odyssey. It has the basic functions we require such 5 position recline and, more importantly for us, each seat reclines independently,  it has adjustable foot rests for each seat, fits through a standard doorway and easily folds away into a managable size (unlike the Bugaboo...). The key, though, is that it isn't expensive, so if Ellie decides she never wants to go in a pram again sooner rather than later we wont feel ripped off. Kahlei will just go into the Quinny and then when we have our next baby they can both go in this. If Bubba #3 comes along later than expected and Kahlei has completely transitioned out of needing a pram or stroller it wont be an issue that we're not using it (unless we have twins, haha. No, that's not funny, I take it back).

The plan is to purchase my sanity saver (that's what I've named whatever pram we buy) late this month or early next. I feel so relieved. I won't have to worry about our next nightmare 'adventure' or, worse, keep the girls and myself at home.

Finally!!

Yesterday was a big day for the three of us. We eventually got on the road (after some stressful moments on the phone with Mum, a change of plan and some directions), Ellie slept for most of the trip which was great.

We met Mum, Ethan, Caleb and DJ (Mum's long-time friend from school) at Cockington Green. I'd never been there before, it was so amazing. It was really hot, though, so we did it quicker than I would have liked just to get out of the sun and heat.

Ellie had a great time playing with Uncle Max and Uncie Caleb, especially after lunch when they ran around on the grass - it even drew a crowd! So cute.

Mum and Ellie came with us to the UltraSound, which was lovely, Ellie even looked at the screen a few times! The lady was lovely and it was a very relaxed environment. I would recommend Bundles to anyone wanting a great 3d scan experience. This Bubby didn't want any face-on pics and had arms, legs - everything up in front of it's little face, just like Ellie did when we had her scan. So, we have lots of nice piccies of Bubby's hands and feet. I'll put some up soon. 

The thing we wanted to know we found out practically straight away, I was so thrilled that it was so easy, I was very nervous that it would take too long and we would miss out.

BUT ...

 

 

 

Little Tikes

Just letting all the keen readers out there that had already read Becky's entry before the edit you can now vote for Ellie in the Little Tikes Comp http://faceof.littletikes.com.au/view.aspx?Id=6cebd487-b638-418c-9f08-cac5c3452c3a

Go on what are you waiting for?

Stupid, Stupid Batman

So, I haven't written in awhile. Last Sunday night I started feeling so sick and started getting really bad cramps. By Monday morning I was in quite a lot of pain and tried to get into my doctor, but he was away so James took me up to Emergency. I was told I had gastro. We were there for ages, they wanted to put me on a drip but for some reason the nurse who started putting it in took it out and I had to wait for the doctor. I was given a horrible glucose ice block to eat while I waited. By the time I saw the doctor, Ellie was grumpy and needing a sleep and I just wanted to go home to rest. The doctor told me she wanted to send James home and put me on the drip then she disappeared for ages again. When she came back I said that I would prefer to not go on the drip if Bubby was alright so she decided to get the doppler for a listen, she still wanted me to stay there but I was in a little cramped room where I was very uncomfortable and knew I wouldn't sleep or rest with all the hustle and bustle going on. Plus, hospitals stress me out. The Triarge Nurse came in with some fluids for me and another horrible ice block, she suggested that I could probably do it at home if we lived close and I promised to return if I got worse. Yay. We just had to wait to hear Bubby's heart beat before we could go. It didn't take long for the doctor to find the heartbeat and it was nice and strong so we came home.

James stayed home Monday and Tuesday to be with Ellie and look after me while I rested and drank my water. On Wednesday and Thursday, James went to work and his mum came to take Ellie for a walk so I could rest. I got to Friday and felt like I had barely even seen her all week! But, I really needed those days of rest.

I am feeling okay now. Things seem to be back to normal, thankfully neither James or Ellie ended up with what I had.

Now, onto my title. On Saturday night James and I watched Batman Begins, which is one of my favourite movies ever. I have waited and waited for the release of Dark Knight, which premiers on Thursday. Gone are the days when I can go to any movie that might take my fancy, now if I am to go to the movies it has to be for something I really, really want to see. Dark Knight is something I do really, desperatly want to see, unfortunately, I wont get to. I knew I would be diasppointed as the release date came near, but having watched Batman Begins again made me all excited about what was coming in the next instalment.

Months ago I thought maybe James and I could have a date afternoon, have lunch and then go and see the movie but rate rises, broken irons, bills and all the things we have decided we need to purchase for Bubby and Ellie in the next few months means that is a no-go. If only I had known long ago, then I wouldn't have waited years for this! Ah well. It would be nice to go on a date, though...    

Blame it on the Baby Brain

I've spent this week believing I will be 16 weeks this Saturday, when it turns out, I will actually be 17 weeks along. How exactly I miscounted I have no idea! I even have all the weeks noted in my diary, as well as tickers all over the place, so I guess I just have to say "I've got Baby Brain"!

I have to say that this time around I don't have the fog I had with Ellie, last time I knew I should know such-and-such or be able to remember things, this time I just forget and have no idea I'm being a dill. I wonder if that's normal of a subsequent pregnancy?

It is only a week and a day until I have my booking in appointment at the hospital. I feel almost as nervous about it as I did when I had to do it last year, which I find a little strange but I made it for a time that James can come and help out with Ellie as well as support me.

17 weeks also means it's just over three weeks until our 20 week scan. I can't wait!

Tomorrow we're off to visit family so I can see my mum and show off Ellie to an Aunt who hasn't seen her yet.

I'm just watching the news and wondering how a man had a natural birth?  I know that he has all his female sex organs but doesn't being legally male mean that giving birth naturally would be a tad difficult? Or am I having another baby brain moment??

Not coherant enough to think of an appropriate title

We bought some Christmas decorations yesterday! :) Yay. James has put up some lights and they're looking good, I have gone through and moved 'The Pile' so that our tree can go next to the lounge, near the lights he has put up. It's so exciting, I love Christmas! I love decorating, looking at lights, buying pressies.

I really wanted to get Ellie's picture taken with Santa yesterday, but honestly, I found the guy they had there just a little scary! Maybe when we go see my parents on the weekend we can take her... unless I am going to find any Santa scary, which could happen. I haven't really ever had that much to do with Santa, except that my Great Grandfather used to dress up as Santa, apparently he used to freak me out whenever he put on the big red suit. Even the day he put it on in front of me so that I would know it was him ... So, maybe I have a Santa fear?

***

Michael Buble is coming to Australia next year around the time of my birthday *Hint, hint, nudge, nudge*

***

Okay, gonna go clean some more so we can be all Christmasy :)

 

 

We have a Wii

Yesterday Ellie and I went for an adventure to Kmart so we could buy a Wii. I had forgotten what it gets like just before Christmas time, even though we were only there on Saturday! It took us a while to find a park and when we did it was an awkward one to get into and not at all anywhere near where we normally park. Eventually we got sorted.

I've come to realise lately that there are not many pram friendly places. Even shops that I once thought would be fine for prams (before we had a baby) are really hard to navigate. So many times I find myself having to go a long way around to get to where I am going and often once I get there I I'm stuck and have to go back! So, once we made our way to the electronics counter with our carefully written list from Daddy (wouldn't want a sleep deprived mummy to buy the wrong thing!) we were set. One by one I requested what was listed. Everything that came out got me just that little bit more excited. Has anyone ever found a box sexy? Anyway, we ended up buying the Wii console with Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, Big Brain Academy with Wii Remote, an extra nun chuck and a component cable which would make it look good on our TV.

Then I lost my car!! I searched for what seemed like forever before I found it on the opposite side to where I was looking for it. Duh.

Somehow I managed to wait for James to come home and get it out. I was actually surprised by how hooked you get, especially after first seeing the remotes you have to use - I was skeptical that I would be able to do anything with it. We played Wii Sports first, which I quite liked but eventually we were both so tired from it we decided to put on Big Brain Academy. Now, I have to admit that I wasn't really sure about this game. I was happy to buy it because it meant we would have a remote each to play two player games but I thought it would be a silly game that would sit there gathering dust... No! I'm so hooked! We had so much fun trying to beat each other and testing the 'weight' of our brains.

James had already ordered Super Mario Galaxy which also turned up yesterday and Ellie bought me My Sims for Christmas (but it's wrapped so I don't know about it!).

You don't know how fun a Wii is until you have one!! The only reason I wanted one was because Mario Kart will be coming out next year and James and I really enjoy playing Mario Kart 64 together and I wanted to have kid friendly games for when Ellie gets older to avoid her playing the more realistic, violent games. We want to focus on more family friendly games that we can all play. Plus James and I are reliving our childhood with these kinds of games - everyone wins!

Okay, I have to go and clean while Ellie finishes her nap so that when she's asleep tonight we can play again :)

Bits & Pieces

Ellie today

I bought the cutest little singlet for Ellie today, it says 'My 1st
Christmas' and it comes with a santa hat. It's adorable. I can't wait
for Christmas so she can wear it.

****

Speaking
of Christmas, I was oh-so-excited about the gifts we had chosen for
people and now it's turned into a HUGE drama and with only two weeks
before we go to see my family I am worried that we won't be ready,
which will be so disappointing because I want to see them opened...

***

Ellie
rolled twice again yesterday, she was trying to get to her toys on the
other side of the mat. I was doing the washing up and we were 'talking'
when she went very quiet so I turned around and she was concentrating
so hard on what she was doing, it was adorable.

***

It's
taken me forever to finish this entry and it seems that the Christmas
pressie issue might just be okay... We'll see in a few days :)

Carpet Laying day

As I type our carpet is going in ... well, the bits that go in before the carpet anyway. I am so tired. I didn't sleep well last night for many reasons; I couldn't get to sleep at first because of my 'spazzy legs' (restless leg), then I had to pee once my legs had finally settled. Back in bed, warm and comfy ... almost asleep and Ellie starts wriggling and kicking me in the ribs, so I move for her which leaves me uncomfortable! Eventually off to sleep before being woken by a horrible nightmare about Ellie being kidnapped, it was so real and I woke up so upset. After that I tossed and turned, not sleeping well at all. Then, nice and early, the alarm goes off. Argh. I have found that when I don't sleep well and have to get up early I always feel so sick and crap. I have a headache and I feel I may need to run to the bathroom at any moment to vomit (though, I hope I don't get the urge as I can't go on the carpet yet!). As soon as it's all done I am going to hang the sheets and have a nap so I can - hopefully - feel better this arvo. I will be so upset if I don't feel well enough to start doing things in her room after waiting soooo long.
I, of course, need to go to the toilet now that he's in the hallway!!
Our house looks like such a mess. There's a multitude of paint tins at the back door, a change table and pram in the kitchen, a matress in the entrance in front of all of Ellie's furniture. Our bed frame is in front of the TV and the feet and head are next to the couch. I am sitting amongst all our pillows and blankets on the couch. The bench is nice and sparkly, though, that's something! What do people do with their stuff when they get their whole house recarpeted? That would be a nightmare in my opinion.
And I lied!!
There are walls left to paint. Infact, there's a whole room!! Stupid toilet. I was so glad to be done, then James read my entry and was like "What about the toilet." Damn.

I was just going through my emails and one had this written in big letters across the top: Week 35: You have 36 days until Friday, August 10, 2007.

I was thinking in terms of 5 weeks - but, 36 days makes everything seems so much closer! I am beginning to realise we're probably not going to have a weekend just to be. Just for the two of us to relax. Tomorrow is our Birth Class and we'll want to do her nursery. Next weekend we're off to IKEA to get some more furniture as we figure we wont be able to do it once Ellie's here, especially since we always end up filling the boot and backseat of the car when we go. There's still the toilet to paint, as I mentioned and some other bits and pieces like the front door and door frames around the back door. There was something else, too, that I wanted to mention. I'd just like to be able to sit and be together. Maybe go somewhere nice for a walk and some lunch and be a couple without kids for the last time.

I want the carpet to be done now *pouts* I need to go to the toilet and my sheets need hanging and I need a nap!! All this has to happen before my date with Oprah!

Sooky-La-La

James was here. Now he's gone :(

He had to go to back to work even though there's nothing for him to do. I wanted him to stay with me. *pouts* I am feeling very clingy, I don't really know why, I just hate him leaving me right now. I want him to stay close and if he can't then I want to go with him. I always miss him when we're apart, but not to this extent, I can't explain why I am feeling like this, why I get so sooky when he has to go even though I know he has to work. I can feel myself being pathetic but I can't stop it.

He was going to take me to the post office ... I was looking forward to going out even for that. And I suggested shopping, but we're going to wait until tomorrow.

Grumble Guts

This day is just crap.

I am so over work. I just want to up and leave. Here I am left alone to run an office, while pregnant with no support, having never had 'real' training with a more senior consultant. I come in everyday no matter how crap I feel, I continue no matter how overwhelming things get because I know they need me to be here. And I get a slap in the face. I am doing everything I can for this site and it's not enough. I'm feeling so alone and underappreciated. I perform roles that I never expected to and probably would never have if Tracey hadn't got sick, but in the end the fact is that I AM performing them. I tell you, nothing gives a worker a moral boost like being left to fend for themselves and then being given 'challenges' because things are down. Honsetly, my emotional stat is such that I have taken this very personally and I do believe it was meant to be just that.

20 days and counting.

I was already in a pretty sour mood before all this, too. I am so disappointed as we were meant to go tomorrow and pick carpet then we were going to go to the movies. It was to be 'My' Day for my birthday but our stupid neighbour decided to get our fences done on Monday and Tuesday - without consulting with us as to whether it suited us. So, instead of the nice, leisurely day spent together I had been dreaming of all week to get me through the long week James will be pulling down a fence and I will be painting the skirtings in our room. I really felt like I needed a relaxing day, too, after this week being so lonely and draining. I am so annoyed at her. There is never any courtesy on her part. If she wants James to go and see her about something she demands it. She'll stand on her verandah and call him if it's during the day and plague us with phone calls if it's night time. Never again will we live somewhere that is Strata title. I just really needed this weekend.

we plan to go next weekend now and that's good, at least we'll do it (as long as nothing else comes up), but I am so sad that after this long-ass week we'll be doing house things instead of having some time together. I'm feeling so negative and mad.

I'm tired of doing everything alone.

29 Weeks + 6 days

I'm about to go off to work, James left earlier with Scraps in tow as we're having our fence taken down in the next few days, so he's gone to James's parents for a 'holiday'. It couldn't have come soon enough, honestly. Last night he was so horrible. At one stage there were people somewhere up the back trying to make him bark by barking at him. I was so annoyed. I went out in the cold and sat with him and he was quiet but the people just kept trying to get him to react. I am relieved that he will be gone for a few nights, maybe that means I can get a few nights of okay sleep instead of crap sleep.

Last night I was thinking I would really like him to stay there until after Ellie comes. This morning... well, I am still tired and grumpy so I still kind of think that, but I know it won't happen, James wouldn't allow it. He'll be back by next Wednesday I bet. I just want to be able to sleep as much as possible at the moment and lately he barks almost every night without fail.

***

I've spent most of my day worried about James, I sent him an SMS this morning and I didn't hear back, I hate these days where he travels so far and has so much to do - especially after we had such a bad night sleep with Scraps last night. Eventually I messaged him and he replied that he's okay. I wish he would message more often, I am finding it so lonely at work all day by myself. It looks like I will have someone with me on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for the next few weeks. I don't know how that will go, especially Monday's as the lady musn't have her access as she has called me to do somethings for her. Unfortunately I will be all alone for my birthday on Tuesday :( Knowing my luck James will be far away and late home as he has so much work to do. Last year I spent a miserable birthday by myself. I promised myself that this year was going to be different, but maybe it wont be too much different.

I know, it's just another day. I am just so used to birthdays being a big deal, being special. I don't mean they were expensive or anything - there was just always something to make it nice and about that particular person.

***

I am having some pretty intense Braxton Hicks right now. I've just brought in the clothes from the line and put out a blanket and since then I've been getting them.

More of the Same

Looks like I will be spending the rest of this week alone as well as the possible three weeks following. Today has been so draining, unfortunately there have been some problems arising from the last lady who worked here and they all seem to be coming out now when there's just me to figure things out. I've had one lady yelling at me over things that I realy can't change and she knows that, she keeps saying how angry she is that the other lady sold her this particular product without the extra to cover certain things. The thing is that this lady was very ill at the time when these mistakes (if you want to call them that) were made and also, the customer should have read her booklet before now anyway and realised what it would mean for her to have not chosen this particular option. Apparently she is going to come back in to 'sort it out' after telling me to 'just fix it'.

I am feeling too tired to have this much responsibility on me right now. I can barely clean my kitchen let alone smoothly run an office. I cannot wait for July, to be honest. I would love to not have all this stress on me right now. I hope that this time wont affect Ellie, I read somewhere that you can cause (or at least help) your child be a worrier or stresser if you're a worrier yourself or have stress in pregnancy. What choice do I have, though?

My head is killing me, it has been feeling really heavy since about 1 o'clock this afternoon. I've been feeling dizzy and not really 'right' since lunch time. I will have to remember to bring this up when I see the midwives tomorrow. Or TRY to remember, at least.

On a not so whingy note, James and I stayed up a little bit later last night and played Mario Kart. It was so nice to share that time together and do something fun. I sucked at it, but that's okay because I know I'm better at other games ;) (that he wont play with me). It was a really beautiful thing.

James is currently painting the roof in our room. It will be so good to get everything else done so we can get the carpet in. Apparently his mum has bought some pink nappies that she's going to mail to us. So exciting. I am itching to get ito Ellie's room!

Today

Today marks two months of marriage :) It feels like it has gone so fast and at the same time there are days when I feel like life is dragging something shocking (when at work). We have to shop tonight, but after that I hope we can pick a DVD and snuggle on the couch in front of our new telly. I am really appreciating the time we have together at night and I am so happy when he shuts the lid of the laptop and we can just hold each other. I know I will miss these things once Ellie arrives. I will especially miss the hugs we have in the morning after the alarm goes off. It's just a beautiful moment, neither of us really awake but not asleep. I am hoping we can cherish these moments, make them last even a little moment longer.

Some days I wake up in his arms and am just overwhelmed to know he is my husband. It's an amazing feeling.

I want us to do so many 'normal' things that will soon become harder to get around to. Like watching a DVD, going to the movies, out to dinner, going for a drive for the sake of going somewhere nice for lunch. I know we wont really get around to many things as there is just too much to do in the house. It saddens me, honestly, that we will spend our last free weekends rushing around painting, sanding, getting carpet. There wont be too much spare time to decide to go out to dinner just because we want to (not that we ever did, but I am romantasising here).

I am hoping that we continue to discuss things and talk them out once Ellie's here and we're stressed and tired. I truely believe we're so strong and happy because we were best friends first and always talked about what was bugging us. It's so important to me that we keep sharing and growing together, even though it's not going to just be about us anymore.

Being married is awesome, I didn't think it would change much and technically it didn't, but I love knowing he's mine and I am his officially. I love the thought of him as my husband.

***

I am entering the last week of '20s', that's right I hit 29 weeks today. I am kind of scared to think that in just 7 days I will hit 30, it's like being afraid of getting a year older! She's been moving around just under my ribs all day, which has been nice and uncomfortable while trying to work.

***

Today has been draining. I worked alone. It wasn't too busy but I did get a few rushes and some hard to deal with people. It's tough to not be able to vent when Em's not here and to not be able to go out to do the banking or mail and just get away for a moment. I used to really enjoy a day alone here and there, now I am just too tired and overwhelmed to cope well.

Poor Becky

I'm sick :(

I had the worst night's sleep EVER last night. I was constantly in pain and feeling sick and getting up to either pee or be sick. I went to work this morning, but it was just too much so I rang and organised a doctor's appointment. I have a temperature and was offered an injection to help with the nausia - however, I decided to see if I can rest and be okay. If I get worse or am not better by tomorrow afternoon I will take the injection, but I would rather stay away.

Well, I am going to try and have a sleep now.

It's Broked

People come into the office with the weirdest questions/requests, it's almost as if they expect me to wave my magic wand and make it all better. News Flash! My wand is broken!! I can't fix EVERYTHING.

I am so glad the working week is over - it was so slow and, seemingly, it's been 'grumps week out'. We have had the most random, grumpy, horrible, hard to deal with customers. Unfortunatley the nicer ones have been few and far between!

I'm so over feeling yuck and crappy. And tired. It's only going to get worse :( I don't know if there's anything I can do to get my iron levels up to stop me feeling sick like this all the time, it's not so bad I need suppliments and I don't want to over-do it, I just want to feel better. If that's even why I am feeling crap. Maybe morning sickness simply has just come back.

So, once we're packed and James has unloaded all Xerox parts and the cargo barrier we'll be off to Nowra. It's going to be a busy, tiring weekend, but it will be so worth it. By the time we get home we'll know what our bubba is, have our stools, have our changetable and hopefully have our Telly! As well as any other little bits and pieces we find at Babies Galore :) We will have chosen the colours for the nursery, as well as our room and bought the paint so that we can get stuck into the rooms.

Less than 24 hours! WooHoo!

I've been telling Bubba to be good and let Mummy and Daddy see if it's a girl or boy, so hopefully there will be alot of co-operation. If not I figure we get James to talk to it, which always causes kicking and maybe we'll get a good glimpse. I just know I will be crushed if we don't find out! I don't know how people can stand to wait 9 months! I am so impatient, I've wanted to know from the moment I knew I was pregnant, if only there was stick you could pee on to tell you what you're having once it's told you you're preggo!

26 weeks today and my ticker says only 98 days to go. It's just a little scary when they go from saying it in weeks to counting down the days. Not only is it counting down days, but it's counting down DOUBLE DIDGIT days. That's kinda freaky. I don't remember it getting that close, then again - I do feel like I've been pregnant forever...