Baby Showers

Thought that you guys deserved a 'latest pic' of the belly progress. I was dressed up today for the baby shower so I enlisted Mark to take a pic. I must admit that I am starting to feel quite big now. I woke up this morning feeling bigger than when I went to bed last night.

The baby shower was lots of fun, we had a 'tea party', there were sandwhiches galore, lots of tea and coffee, party cakes, lemon meringue, cheese and crackers etc - all those tea party type foods.

Then we had a demonstrator from the body shop at home come and we all got to play with some body shop products. I kind of like it because you never get to have a good play at the store - and I always feel as though the shop assistants are stalking me.

I have the Sunday and Monday to recover now. My only priority for the rest of the weekend is to start getting the house back to some sense of normality. As you can imagine - right now it is a big mess! Not only do we have party clean up but also the house is full of stuff that has been brought here from Jo's house. It feels like we just moved in again!

No more parties here for a while!

Hmmn

Was having a fairly decent day today, ticking lots of things off my list of things to do... until things went pear shaped to a degree after lunch - AND i can't really talk about it on here because family read my blog.

So I can see a restless night ahead of me - because my brain works overtime when these things confront me - and in reality there is nothing I can do about any of it.

I figured things out for myself a long time ago and set myself on a path to become the person I was happy with - and really thats what life comes down to - being happy within yourself. I realised that money doesn't buy you happyness - it has to come from within and that sometimes you have to go really deep inside yourself to figure out the things that are important for you.

Unfortunately you can't choose your family - and I don't think that I would have chosen mine any differently to what they are. I have learnt many lessons and am the person I am today because of my family - but being an individual you still have to put your own spin on things right?

I guess I have worked out my way of dealing with things involving family and while occasionally I probably seem cold and disinterested to some - I guess it is my way of dealing with emotions and if I didn't have this coping mechanism then I would be an emotional wreck.

It is difficult when other people can't see it from your perspective though.

Hmmn... not really much else to say..

Wow!

I slept through an entire night! what an achievement.

But (yes there is a but...) I didn't actually go to bed until close to midnight last night because it was too hot to sleep.

Today when I was at work I wrote myself a list of things to get done tonight when I got home.

I have done approximately 1/2 of one of the things on the list because it is so difficult to move fast at the moment. That is put away half the washing. It is my goal for tonight to get the rest of the washing put away.

Any other achievements today?

Not really.. I had a pretty painful day today so I tried to sit at my desk for as much of it as possible.

Time to go and finsh attacking that washing pile!

I constantly surprise myself...

I bought a Tetra snuggle bed for my new bub to sleep in and feel secure when he first comes home with me. I was in a bit of a dilemma because I didn't want to have a bassinet - I wanted him to get used to the cot straight away, but I also wanted him to feel cosy and snug. That is where the snuggle bed comes in.

When I bought it, the one I got was white and had a removeable cover on it like a pillow slip (like the one in the pic above but white). I kept thinking that white was not the best choice, but I would figure something out.

Well tonight I made myself a new heavier duty cover for my snuggle bed - in coordinating fabric to my nursery and I am so happy with how it turned out. I do surprise myself with my sewing abilities because they are limiited - but I am starting to think that I can probably make anything I set my mind to.

I will post a pic another day because it is very late at night and I do have to work tomorrow. But I was just so excited that I could make something like that from scratch.

Back to it..

Back at work today and I was really dreading it. I'm not really sure why because - as it turns out I am pretty good at entertaining myself when I need to.

I just keep telling myself - three more weeks, three more weeks.

I think that it is just because I don't get to wear comfortable clothes when i am at work and I do when I am at home.

However, as it turns out, I was quite happy to be at work in the airconditioning because it was hot hot hot here in Canberra today. Everytime I walked into the building it was so lovely and cool.

I had a doctors appointment today and I asked about the rib pain. Turns out that it isn't that uncommon - especially localised right sided rib pain - which is what I am getting. Apparently your ribs 'stretch' a bit to accomodate the growing baby and this is where the pain ends up. I have to look forward to it from now until the baby comes unfortunately - although it might ease a little once he drops down a bit. If he drops down - which apparently they don't all do.

My solution is to eat smaller meals that don't fill as much stomach space - as that seems to keep the pain at bay a little.

Tonight we had the yummiest Chicken salad - and that will be my lunch for tomorrow as well.
I have been eating lots of fruit and things that aren't too bulky. I am so glad that it is summer!

I think I need to trawl back through my recipie files and find some more light summery dinners for the next few weeks.

I am starting to get really excited about the prospects of running again, starting to plan away in my mind, planning food etc. I was quite honoured today when one of the guys at work came and asked me for training advice because he is starting to get into running a little bit. I do like having someone to talk to about all the technical side of things.

My plan so far - although very basic -involves:
1. Having the baby
2. Waiting until the doctor gives me the all clear to start back with gentle walking. I am hoping that this is before the 6 weeks post partum check up.
3. Spend the next 6 weeks building up to walking 4 - 5 km per day, alternating with spin bike sessions at home and some home based weights work. Restablish good eating habits, routines and preparation.
4. Add running back in. Aiming for 1 x gentle speed work session, 1 x moderate tempo run, and 1 x longer run on weekends. Alternate with walking and spin bike sessions on other days. Investigate joining the local gym because it will be getting cold....

That is pretty much all I have thought about for now. But it is a good basic structure.

Ow my Ribs...

It has been four days now of painful painful ribs. I thought that it was baby feet getting in under there at first but now I actually think that it has something to do with me eating. It seems to be worse whenever I have just eaten.

What else... just general discomfort really. I feel really big now and I get tired far more easily. I am regretting saying I would work until 37 weeks but I think I will try and tough it out. After all - it is only 3 weeks. Perhaps being at work will provide me with enough distraction to make it a bit better.

Sleeping has become more difficult as well I wake up multiple times per night and turning over is near impossible. I have been waking up at 3 - 4 am nightly to have a snack. I'm thinking that is going to be a regular occurrence anyway.

The baby shower has crept up on me and I am nowhere near ready to host a party at my house. I am glad that it will be mostly family members. I need to make a list of the things I still need to do!

Had better go and do that then!

Vintage paper, books etc

I have found myself in posession of a large amount of vintage books (think little golden books), sewing and knitting periodicals, and maps. Only problem is... I'm not really sure what to do with them.

I know that there is potentially some small market value to scrappers and the like but I don't really know how to go about selling them.

Any one who knows or can help - all advice will be greatly appreciated!@!