getting things done.

I am proud to say that I am actually achieving things on the home front. At 27 weeks pregnant I think I am in a good place to welcome a little new born. of course there are some major things still not accomplished eg. getting the car seat safely fitted, but should the baby magically appear on our dining room table, I'd be able to pop him/her in a little bassinet and get on with finishing my sandwich (cause...ya know...that's how it happens)

One of the first things I would like to share is the kindness of my good friends George and Yael. They have offered Ben and I a loan of their beautiful, spotless cot. How good are these people? I warned Ben that if he couldnt put it together he probably shouldnt be a dad. With beads of sweat pouring down his face and fierce determination, he managed to erect our babies second bed.



You will notice a half finished blanket hanging over the edge. That's my current sewing project - fun! Here is a better picture of how it's all coming together:



We also hung up (badly) the prints that I got from Sugarloop on etsy. I love these prints. Ben's mum framed them for us for the wedding and now they belong to our little cotton socks.



I also felt overwhelmed to make our baby something cute. Felt toys are fun and so I copied some designs from a book called 'softies'.


Introducing Mr. Yellow


Introducing Blue Elf

In other news, we had our lovely friends come to visit us at the beach house recently. They brought their 2 month old baby Mae and I was hoping she would give Ben and I a good dose of reality re: crying, pooing and general baby craziness. She didn't. Instead she was perfect. Lovely, sweet and quiet. *sigh* I just hope our bubs is as good when we visit friends :)

"...once, twice, three times-a-crazy!.."

Ok, today I am tired. Shitty and tired. I had to get up three times during the night to pee the tiniest drop of pee. On my way to the toilet I also had to take great pleasure in negotiating my way around three amps, a guitar and a clothes horse. Not. Happy. Jan.

Needless to say, today I am less the riveted about being at work. Why lie. Who is ever riveted about being a work? I'd rather be sipping coffee somewhere, rubbing my massive belly and reading about how turbulent America is right now and how little Miss Palin will save the day. (check out her recent chat with Katie Couric - disaster!) As funny man, Pete Helliar said recently, with 72 yr old McCain in office, they are one slippy shower away from disaster!!

I've totally lost my train of thought now...um, oh yeah. Have some photos to share. A friend of ours recently had an Italian themed dinner party. They are all for dress ups these folks, so we decided to get inventive and come as something Italian. Ben scratched his head for days. Finally, at like 15 minutes before we were due to arrive for dinner, he decided to don this outfit:



*Ben dressed as one of the victims of Pompeii*

And then there was me. I needed something that was going to be comfortable and also Italian. I could have gone as a fat mamma with my belly, but instead of taking the easy option I tried for something a little more inventive. Can you guess what I am?



*Me as Melbourne's infamous Lygon Street - note the car. Belly acted as a speed hump on the night*

This weekend we had a little focus and started clearing the room (again) that would house our baby when he/she arrives. In my cleaning spree I came across a old magazine rack that Ben had. I gave it a good wash down and reinvented it as the portable house nappy bin and accessories.





I also managed to fashion my very own feeding pillow. It's very soft and sits nicely under my breast. I think bubs will like it to. Plenty of room to stretch out there!

23 weeks and counting...

Did you know that at 23 weeks a baby can blink and apparently has a predisposition for Vivaldi? It's amazing the things you learn from the internet!

I'm feeling bloody wonderful, it has to be said. The last few weeks, littered with little kicks, have been the absolute best! Ben got to feel that all important first kick and we are now immersing ourselves in the excitement of the whole event. It' so hard to believe that in a few months time we will be parents. Responsible for someone else. Waking up at 3:12 in the morning. Functioning on burnt toast and cold coffee. *bliss* i cannot wait :)

As the days roll in I have made many attempts to up-the-ante on the sewing. It's been so bloody busy here at work that when i get home I just want to roll around on the couch will elevated legs, carbs and Benny. I did however start a dress making course this week - hurrah! It's three Tuesday nights in North Melbourne at a funky little place called Thread Den. I already love it. I'm obsessed. I stayed back an extra half hour just because it made me feel warm and cosy. We are making a 60's shift dress (mine will be mat style) and I cannot get enough!

On top of that I am still working away on the baby's quilt. I might wanna hurry up with that one. I don't want to be handing it over as a wedding gift to the wee tacker. Tonight I am dedicating to the many patches still unstitched and perhaps a little TV action.

In other news, we had a very relaxing weekend at the farm. I wanted to share this photo of Maggie and Ben as they head off for their morning walk. Such a steely stare!

two dollars and a kick.

Well...my oh my...haven't we been a little absent from the blog lately? Naughty, naughty Em. Well I'm back again and absolutely buggered from work. The ups and the downs and early starts and late nights can only go on for so long before a pregnant woman with a sore back throws her mouse at the computer screen, violently kicks her ergo chair that doesn't work, and storms out never to be seen again*.

I had a moment the other day, sitting at work at 8:30pm at night. My whole vagina felt like it was going to fall out onto my $11 ballet flats. The pressure from the baby was full-on and before long I started cramping. I totally shit my daks. Not literally, just totally.

I googled. Big mistake. When you're pregnant for the first time you should have a restraining order put out on you that states you cannot walk within 200 metres of a computer with internet access. Just in case you google. Whilst it's a wonderful invention (Happy 10th B'day BTW) it can also cause serious heart palpitations. I read that apparently I was going into labour. That i could have been losing the baby. And that some positions are just best left to the drawings in the book. *sigh*

After a quick chat with a Midwife at the Sandringham Hospital I ventured home, lay down and waited to feel cotton socks move. She warned that no fetal movement could be a bad sign. Before long the little buggar gave me a good Beckham and hasn't stopped since. I love our baby...

Which is a great segue into my next story. I love our baby so much that I cant wait for it to be old enough to eat bread and then I can justify my insane love for my new bread maker. Holy cow the smell of fresh bread in the morning is enough to turn me all Martha Stewart! My friend Nat picked this little baby up at a garage sale for.....wait for it....$2. You wouldn't even get a loaf of bread for that! The irony....



I'll post a real photo when Ben brings home our camera which has been stashed at his work for the last few weeks. Might even pop one up here of my little old bump....

*the bank manager said I have to put this disclaimer in: not bloody likely.

cotton socks.

Well, I am now a good 19 weeks and 5 days pregnant. It's so wonderful and special. I have to remind myself that some people are not so lucky. Today we found out a friend lost their child at 6 months. I could not even begin to imagine the pain of something like that. I was very upset when i heard. And being in the position I am in, I think I felt it even deeper. I would be devastated if something like that happened to Ben and I.

On Friday we had our 19 week scan. I love hearing that little heart beat more than anything else in this world. And of course, we could see little Cotton Socks (this weeks name BTW). Cotton Socks had two little feet crossed over one another and a hand up next to the chest. We counted 10 toes and 10 fingers and A LOT of really scientific other things that basically mean the heart is in the right place and Cotton Socks has all the right bones. I think our baby is the cutest thing I have ever encountered on TV.

The only negative was that I have a 'low-lying placenta'. It seems Cotton Socks and his dealer are two lazy buggars who would rather get ripped into the world than venture down the dark path. I may have to have a C Section if the two of them decide to stay where they are. Keep your fingers crossed for me that this changes and I can have a natural birth.

IN other news, I get a little eDM every week from this website. It tells me all that's going on this week for little Cotton Socks. I like reading about the progress during the kaos of work. I sent the link to Ben. It contained the following drawing:



When he saw it, he emailed me back saying 'Wow. Cotton Socks is going to be a gymnast?'

cute things.

It's been a lovely week. On Sunday I turned the ripe old age of 31. Man, it's hard to believe that I have been kicking about on this here earth for 31 years. It feels kind of surreal, especially now with a little one on the way. I always thought I would have about 4 kids by now. I'm glad it's worked out this way. With this man and this baby.

Ben and I had a lovely day together. He bought me long awaited pearl earrings that I simply adore. There's something wonderfully upper class about a creamy pair of pearl earrings against slightly tanned skin. I cant wait for summer!

It was also on my birthday at around 3pm that my good friend welcomed (pushed) her daughter into this world. Little Mae is a sheer wonder. So tiny and cute. Her mum was not backwards about coming forward with the delivery details. I spent all of last night with my eyes focused on our bedroom ceiling in frozen terror.

here's a little sneak peak at what can make all that blinding pain worth it - little Mae.



And last night....when I walked in our house after a hard day at work, I found a package waiting for me. It was addressed to Mrs B. Brocklesby but really it was for Ben and I. His grandmother (a crafty nut herself) has sent us a little gift along with a card telling us how she has knitted a similiar cardigan for every new baby to enter the family. I simply had to share it because it's just too cute!



In other news re: sewing - I bought a $15 pair of maternity jeans from an op shop and decided to take them up myself (something I have NEVER done). Using some really good directions, I was even able to keep the original hem. I must say, I'm pretty damn proud of myself :)

what i ate today...

I think there is one area of pregnancy that ought to be documented heavily. It's isn't the feelings of elation or the changes in your body or arse. More importantly we should be sharing what we can manage to put away in a day. As such, I'd like to tell you all what I have eaten today. And before you bombard me with facts about how you actually don't need to eat much more than you do regularly, let me just inform you, I don't give a flying fart. I feel good and I'm hungry and I'm going to eat.

It's only 4pm and here is what I have already packed away today:

This morning to was two...hmmm, let me spell this phonetically...rog-a-la! They are delicious Jewish sweet cakes that make my eyes roll back in my head and can enhance even the worst cup of coffee.


Rog-a-la is the one that looks like a croissant to the left

At about 11am I thought to myself, surely it's time to eat again? It seems I was right, I had a quick piece of fruit and then tucked into these little babies...



For lunch I had left over pasta from last night. It had plenty of spinach and mushrooms in it.....and cheese and cream and butter...

Hitting on 2pm I thought, I will simply fade away if I don't eat a little something more. So I whipped myself up some crackers with vintage cheese from aussiefarmersdirect and Three Three's gherkins.


We have cheese, eggs, milk, fruit and vege delivered every week. It's feels good to spend our money to actual farmers and not the supermarkets of the world.




An finally, just then, I sat back for a little cup of decaffeinated tea and a mini snickers bar.

Right. Come on. Tell me I'm over doing it. I can take it. I won't be offended. I'm tough. After all, I'm going to go through child birth dammit!