Waiting for baby...

Since this baby seems to want to take its time, we have forged ahead with getting little jobs done around the house. Most people are calling this 'nesting'. I'm calling it 'necessary'. As we tick things off our list, I love this house even more. Sure, she's damn ugly on the outside (and will be for awhile) but slowly, slowly, her insides become more and more delightful. And don't they say that beauty is on the inside??

Here's a little peek at our accomplishments.



We bought this old Cottees sign for $5 at Camberwell Market years ago. We were going to put it in the kitchen when I suggested we turn it into a coat rack. I like it.



These fantastic space savers are only $1.49 from Ikea. The tubs are $1.49 from Ikea and the S hooks are about $2 for 10. Love it.





We wanted to save money ($800 to be exact) so we are painting our wardrobes ourselves. Well....I'm painting them. Ben is busy with restoring and painting the bedroom doors. See below.



I am now 40 weeks pregnant and feeling it. I woke every hour on the hour last night with period-like pains and Braxton Hicks tightening but woke this morning with not a sign of things progressing. This has been happening for a week or so now and while it's a promising sign, I feel so disheartened when things stop. Hopefully, over the next few days, I will get my wish. For now though, it's back to my chilli pizza, tweaking nipples and occasional clumsy sex.

Sew much done.

I've been busy. Busy finishing things before this baby comes along. Here's just a touch of what's been going on at my machine lately.

Miss Maggie loves to claw her bed. She tore up the one we bought so I fashioned this up out of left over material. She loves it. And I like how funky it looks in the house.



This is a bag I made for my hospital stay. All our other bags were just too big or too small. This will do nicely for my things and the babies items are in a wicker basket. So...we're all set



The front of our very old Victorian house is a bit ugly to say the least, so I thought I would make a cute little cushion for the verandah and add a few plants to pretty things up until we have money to renovate. I recycled some old buttons on this and I love the look it created.



We were given an sofa bed recently, in excellent condition. It has some horrid fabric on it though, so I have covered it with a white sheet and made these cushions to funk it up a bit. The fabric is from Ikea at only $9 a metre. Love. A. Bargain.

Soon to be Big-Sis.

Dearest Miss Annie Jane,

This morning you would not let me shower on my own. You wanted to be in there. With me. Keeping an eye on me incase I went to work or something. I did go to work. But by that time we had distracted you with 'Babe' the movie. You simply love animals at the moment. Although you seem to be confused between a pig and a horse and point to the DVD cover saying 'Horsey? Horsey, Mumma?'. It's hard to resist.

You're 19 months now. Nearly two and getting so much bigger. In about three weeks time you're going to be a big sister. You have no idea what's coming. You're like Kevin Rudd before Julia Gillard turned up and slapped him in the face. Absolutely no idea. Sometimes you point to my ridiculously big bump and say ;'tummy' or 'baby'. But I think that's just because we taught you, not because you know the actual miracle that's happening in there.

Of late you're a little cranky pants. You want things your way. ALL THE TIME. This gets tiring to fight/discipline, especially when you're 37 weeks pregnant. I choose my battles with you. I give you chances to behave yourself (most of which you take) and when you don't you end up in your cot - pretend crying while Mumma waits outside for two minutes before saving you.

I need to harden up.

You have so many words now my lovely. You start each day with 'Mumma?'. Our bedrooms are pretty close so I think you know I can hear you, even with three pillows over my ears! Then you follow it up with ' Wow, look at that'. 'It's in there' 'Hi Hashim' (our neighbour). I always respond to you talking which can sometimes lead to us chatting for twenty minutes. Most of it is baby babble but you throw in a few notable words for good measure. I ask you things like 'Did you play with the babies at child care today?' and you nod and say 'yes'. This form of communication/conversation really delights me. We are chatting. You and I. Finally.

I think Dada is the favourite at the moment. He has so much more energy and time for you at this late stage in the pregnancy. I beat myself up over this all the time. I cant stop thinking about all that needs to be done or cleaned before this baby arrives and as such I find myself giving you less time. The guilt is gut wrenching.

You've really noticed Maggie lately. In fact, you think she's the funniest thing you've ever seen. She literally cracks you up. Whenever food drops on your lap in the highchair Maggie is there to clean it up. I think it must tickle or something. And besides being really unhygienic it's very cute. I think you two will be good friends in the end. I hate to think about when Maggie is no longer around. I know you'll be old enough to understand her passing and I dread to think how I will explain it to you.

You're a social butterfly at the moment. We catch up with a few friends a week and venture to the local café every week where you play with new friends all the time. You're an observer. Watching the other kids to see what they do. Some of the bad habits you take home with you, but overall I get such joy to see you potter around and share toys and smile with glee when kids share with you.

We started you in occasional care recently. It was rocky at the beginning but now you are motoring along. I walked in the other day to pick you up and you didn't even move from the chair. You said 'Hi Mumma' and then returned to your food. Your arm lay casually over the back of your chair as you surveyed the room. I had to turn my head for fear of laughing at you. What a character we have on our hands.

Just so you know little one. I love you. I know the next few months are going to be tough on all of us, but with it will come much bliss too. You're going to have a sibling to love, to fight with, to play with. At first it might be confusing. You might wonder why I don't have as much attention for you. It's not because I don't find you utterly delicious. It's just because I am trying to help your new brother or sister to become as fantastic as you. Be patient with Mumma. I promise to be patient with you.

This baby is lucky to have such a wonderful Big Sis.
Love Mumma
x

Time. I demand you, stop flying!

There are now about 4 weeks until this baby should arrive. Five at the most. This pregnancy has gone by so quickly. I can't even believe it. I think it doesnt help that it's been overshadowed by the new house, the renovations, Miss Annie, being back at work, my sick mum (who's now much better) and just everyday life. I hope this little one can forgive me for not lying on the couch more and giving it a rest. Mumma plans many movie evenings to make up for it.

I am frantically trying to get last minute projects completed, knowing full well that a little newby and his/her sister Annie will zap all spare time. Here are a few things completed in the last week or so.

A pram blanket for my friend who is due a boy in December:



For backing I used the cot top sheet that they provide in cot sheet sets. No one ever uses them (for SIDS reasons) so I thought I would be thrifty and use this lovely blue spotted one to finish the blanket.



A snuggle blanket for a friend having a C-Section on Monday - she doesnt know if it's a boy or girl yet - fun!



A doll for my beautiful niece Caila who turns 1 late August.



The next post will have to be about Miss Annie, who grows more delicious every day. Until then, I better get back to yelling at time.

Keeping up with the crafty projects.

I am delighted to say that there has been a few crafty projects completed of late. Most of them are adjustments to old curtains found in savers to try and keep the heat in our fer-fer-fer-freeezing old home. I won't show you photos of them, they're just not that exciting. What I will show you though, is the things that have been on my list for...oh...like...forever.

I made a doll to give Miss Annie when she comes to visit me and bubs 2 in the hospital.



It has a reversible smock. The most difficult thing to turn out, but well worth it. I am extremely happy with this doll because I have NEVER MADE A GOOD TOY! The pattern was simple and so, so cute.



I also made a new lining for the car capsule for bubs 2. I wanted something nice and fresh and clean as the capsule we have has been borrowed from a friend and pre loved.



I also really liked the dress (featured in the photo of Wild Hair Miss Annie and her Dada below) and wanted to make her a few more.



The design is so simple and putting it on and taking it off is pure Mumma happiness. Simply slip over the head and secure using buttons. They are great with winter tights and warm thermal tops. Here are the two I lovingly finished last night for my baby girl.










Next on the sewing agenda:

More curtains
Pillow cases for our verandah
A blanket for my lovely friend Karen.
A little gift for bubs 2.
Mending Ben's jeans (these are always last, poor guy!)

The renovations in pictures.

Here are a few picture of the house, before and after the renovations. We are by no means finished either inside or out so take note when you see bare walls and patchy paint. We have so much more to do. The list is like a huge weight. But, weekend after weekend we manage to get something done and this slow progress makes us blissfully happy.

::hallway before/during::



::hallway after::



::bedroom before (we bought it like this - are we mad??)::



::bedroom after::



::living room before::



::living room after::



We havent actually started renovating the back of the house (kitchen, bathroom, laundry) as this will be expensive. However, we managed to make some small changes to the existing kitchen to make it a tad more livable.

::kitchen before::



::kitchen after::



::kitchen after (different angle)::

photo booth - what fun!

*Mumma so distracted looking at herself that she doesn't realise Miss Annie is ringing Japan*



'Hello? Japan? We need to talk about how much fish you're eating over there!'