60 days and Christmas Cheer

I was thinking the other day that I would have loved to be able to send some christmas cards to some of my blogger friends - but alas - as we mainly converse via the blogging world I don't have any addresses! I may have to investigate what the online world of christmas cards has to offer and send them via email. Or you could all just consider this post as my christmas best wishes to you. In the week I have off between christmas and new year I am going to attempt to catch up completely on everyone's blogs and be dilligent with leaving comments! I do read everyones blogs daily but lately my energy supplies have been low and all the spare energy has been going to relaxation - when it is possible.

Today is my fortnightly day off work and I decided to dedicate it to relaxation. I went to check out the local public library - not quite what I am used to - Brisbane council libraries are much better stocked I think but still OK I guess. After that I took myself to the movies to see Four Holidays with Reese Witherspoon in it. She is one of my avourite actors - I'm not really sure why -but this movie really was just average. Ligh entertainment but I wouldn't have my hopes up about it being great. now I am sitting down to tea and toast for lunch and this afternoon I am going to do some cutting out of pattern pieces for a few christmas gifts I am putting together for assorted family members. I will post some pictures when they are all finished.

I am kind of hoping that the sewing machine my Mum has bought for me as a christmas present arrives by the weekend and then I can use that instead of my ancient one - we shall see if it arrives - if not I will just have to make do.

Little bubs is getting so strong and I can really start to feel little feet and knees when he moves around. 60 days and counting - the next marker point for me will be 40 days.

So here I am - 31 week preggers - this one is really for my mum and also because I have been a little bit slack with the pic taking. I am sure that there will be quite a few pics over the christmas period coming up though.

Today we had what I have been calling "baby having classes" at the hospital. They went through everything and it was all useful information. I am interested in finding out some more about aromatherapy now - I mean it might help!

They also brought in a baby who was born this morning at 8am (It was around 2pm) and they showed us how to bath a small baby. That was very useful. He was very cute but a little bit bigger than I hope mine will be - I honestly dont think I could get one that size out through my hips.

The birth videos were a little scary but it was mainly because they were done in 1986 and the haircuts were scary enough on their own. I think that while the video showed all the gory details, the editing made it a little less than realistic.

All in all a worthwhile day.

Who are Primrose and Avery?

I guess they are just a couple of characters who have been popping up in my drawings lately. Primrose being a shy girl who doesn't really like to show her face and is quite partial to striped stockings and red shoes and Avery the cat.

As this blog is about my fledgeling artistic side I thought it appropriate to subdue the colour in the post title for now - just until I feel like I am more confident with what I am doing and drawing and making.

Sewing and painting are featuring heavily at the moment and I am trying to stockpile a few projects to keep me entertained while I am on maternity leave (but before I have the baby).

I am also a bit keen to expand on my crafty capabilities and to learn a little more about embroidery techniques, expand upon my limited sewing skills and possib;y learn to crochet. That is more than enough to keep me busy!


For any new readers - I have been blogging for a while now - but mainly about fitness related things. I have always enjoyed being creative and making things but in the past few years doing that has been associated with much guilt that I should indeed be doing something else! (i.e. Studying). My fitness/Life blog isn't really the place for posting about crafty things so I thought I needed a new space. I have been trying to find the right angle for a few weeks but I think now I have found it. I am 31 weeks pregnant with a little boy due on Valentines day and most of my crafting activities in the past few weeks have been directed at his nursery. I am almost done so I will post some pics of the things I have made over the next few weeks. I am also busy making a few small handmade additions to christmas presents.
I'm not quite ready to commit to being completely handmade for presents just yet but I think I will work on it over the coming year.
I find the creative process very meditative and calming - but - my brain often gets caught up in thinking too hard about all the things I want to do and create. Mind you - thins may all change once baby come along. We will soon find out I guess!

Rainy Friday

There has been a steady downpour here all day today which is kind of nice.

Chicken has been keeping me company - as you can see above - she settled herself into the lid of the stationary box and has been sitting there for a while now.

I seem to have solved the problem of not having much to do in the evenings - I have simply gotten my nose into all sorts of crafting activities involving the sewing machine, felt, christmas gifts and paint. Every night I find something small to do. I find the creative process quite meditative.
this afternoon I started to make the mobile for the baby's room - well I cut out some felt pieces for an owl - I'm not 100% sure if I actually like it just yet. I may switch to boats but I'm not quite sure. I'm not 100% on how to piece a boat together but I guess I could just have a go until I get one I like.

The baby list is diminishing now and looks a little something like this:

Here is the list I posted a few weeks ago of what I needed to get:

• Linen - Have plenty of blankets for the pram and for wrapping. Still need to get 2 Cotton cellular blankets for the cot, at least 3 cotton sets of cot sheets and another cot duvet. I have my eye on one by Living textiles but as it isn't urgent (ie - it is harly cold) I'm not too worried.
• 2 babylicious recieving blankets
• 2 white Sheridan towels
  
• A safe- n-sound car seat - am getting this in the week after christmas - who knows baby shops might have sales.
  
• A Nappy Bag (I am going to spoil myself and buy the Oroton one in the after christmas sales)
• Pram Rain and Shade covers
• Car Window shade
• Baby Bathing toiletries - wash, shampoo, massage oil, powder, nappy rash cream
  
• Infra-red Digital thermometer
• First aid and medicines for bubs
• Ikea Shelves and baskets for shelves
• cushions and decorations for Nursery (Halfway there)
  
• Nappies!
• baby clothes - I have lots of clotes in size 00 and bigger but not much in the way of 000 just yet. It's hard because we don't know how big he will be but I do like to be prepared.
• Nightlight for the nursery
  

Afterwards

• Breast pump - I am going to get the Avent Isis manual pump (and I am sure you all wanted to know that!) --> Have decided to buy this after bub is born
  
• Stereliser and cleaning equipment ?? Not sure on this need to do more research - but again I will buy it after bub is born
  
• BPA (Bisphenol-A) Free Bottles for giving expressed milk top ups. as above

Hmmmnnn... it doen't really look smaller at all!

Updates at Week 30

Week 30 = Scary!!

single figure countdown has begun and the reality of having a small baby very soon is starting to sink in. I have had an excruciatingly sore back this week and nothing seems to help it but resting.

I have been faithfully following along with everyones blogs as normal for the past few weeks but I haven't been able to comment much - mainly because I got in trouble at work for spending too much personal time on internet activities at work.Hmmn... I have been very dilligent since then.

In the evenings I have been trying hard to spend some quality time with mark because he is working really hard at the moment both at work and with his mum. I feel a bit bad because I can't really do very much to help. So hence - internet time has been limited.

His mum is still in hospital and not really getting any better but they are sending her home on Monday apparently - which I'm not really looking forward to - it just means more stress for all of us.

The baby's room is nearly finished, Chair arrived today and all I have left to do is hang the paintings and put the cot together and buy toiletries etc. I still feel as though the room doesn't really have much in the way of character but I might once I get everything up on the walls.

Have fun you girls tomorrow on your glam it up photo shoot. I 'm sure you are all goingto look amazing!

HOLY Swollen ankles batman!

LOL. Yesterday afternoon was the first little bit of humidity and real heat we have had in Canberra this year so far and boy did I notice it.

I finished work and went to see Mark's mum and I noticed that my feet were feeling a bit weird. Kind of tight. So I pulled my jeans up a bit and was confronted with the worst puffy ankles I have ever seen on me. Argh! it was disgusting.

So I went home and elevated my feet for a bit once I got home but it didn't really seem to make that much difference.

This morning they are still puffy but not as bad. I think I need to stay off my feet as much as possible today.


Only 10 more weeks of this to go.

At a Loss

Lately I have been at a bit of a loss with what to do with myself in the evenings. It is all part of finishing up with uni I think as I have felt like this before. I inevitably come home from work, and do any little chores and then go "hmmn... what now". Normally, I think this is the time I would get myself wound up in some fitness goal - but right now isn't the right time for that either (for obvious reasons). So I sit and watch Tv for a bit - and get bored. Flick through all the regular internet sites I visit - and get a bit bored. Then I start to get frustrated at not having anything meaningful to do with my time. The daylight savings doesn't help - it just makes me feel even more that I should be doing something useful.

The belly just keeps on growing and now I am at the point where I want the next 10 weeks to go as quickly as possible. I'm not over it really (the belly) but I do want to get on with life and have things stop being so difficult to do (like walk up a hill). I am quite tired a lot of the time and this makes me more frustrated. Most of the time (when I am having a good day) I don't really even notice the belly thing, but by the evenings, when I am full of food and fluid from the day - it does start to feel quite cumbersome.

I am 30 weeks next week so I will attempt to take a pic - maybe even tomorrow night as we are going to mark's work christmas dinner so i will be dressing up in my one dressing up top and low heels - woo hoo!

I made the mistake of weighing myself last night - bad idea - it just messes with my head.

The baby is doing lots of acrobatics in there and by the strength of his little feet he feels big already - but in reality - who knows! I'mnot a big fan of the kicking, but he also does a strething type movement which I don't mind too much.

The whole pregnancy thing isn't all that bad - it's just the being big thing I really dont like.