Day Two Hundred and Forty Four

Today Jada and I were back at the town library. This time for her pre-school class' visit for Book Week. It went much the same as last weeks visit, but with a lot more excited 4 year olds! This is Jada and her friend exploring the children's books in the all new library.

Day Two Hundred and Forty Three

Week 39 and feeling fine .. well as fine as one can feel with a 10 pound tumour attached to their stomach! Another bird's eye view of the big baby. It feels like she has been there so long, I can't imagine her being outside my body. I bought some milk today and felt a sense of relief knowing that by the time it expires she will be here! Come on baby .. tick tock, tick tock ...

Day Two Hundred and Forty Two

Jada washing her hair in the bath! All you could see was this cheeky face peeking through the bubbles! Kind of reminded me of that weird kids show Mulligrubs!

Day Two Hundred and Forty One

Trying to get these two pests to bed, and Dad thinks it's a good idea to 

encourage them to play horseys! I wonder if he'll think it's funny 

in the not so distant future, when he has to put them

to bed!?

Day Two Hundred and Forty

Today I got a lovely email from my Aunty Raylee. She sent me this picture of purple flowers (my favourite!) It was a nice reminder that Spring and new life is just around the corner, just what I needed, thank you xx

Day Two Hundred and Thirty Nine

Cousins Jada and Harry. 

"I like playing with him and I love him"

(Typed by Jada).

Day Two Hundred and Thirty Eight

Happy 60th Aunty Judy! Tonight we travelled to Goulburn to celebrate Aunty Judy's birthday. We had a nice dinner at a Chinese Restaurant with some close family. She was mortified to know that someone had posted a Happy Birthday message in the local paper, I hope she doesn't mind being part of my blog!
Ps. Can you see any family resemblances!?

Day Two Hundred and Thirty Seven

Among many other bizarre OCD rituals I've adopted since being pregnant, is my inability to go to sleep without eating a piece of fruit first. Early on in the summer months it was a stone fruit such a nectarine or peach. In Winter it graduated to oranges. I remember eating a lot of mangoes with the girls, as they were Summer babies. They both now love mangoes just as much as I do. I wonder if I'll still crave my nightly orange when I'm not preganant? Probably not, and it would be a bit hard to juggle an orange and breastfeeding anyway .. !

Day Two Hundred and Thirty Six

The view from the top at 38 weeks!! And yes my feet do look this blurry and far away! Actually I had to lean over a fair way to even see my feet! I've spent this week getting myself ready; manicure, hairdressers, waxing and dentist .. Guess I'm now ready as I'll ever be!

Day Two Hundred and Thirty Five

 

 Today Trevor, Jada and I headed down to the town library. Trevor read "There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly" to the Kindy and Year 2 kids from Bella's school. He was asked to be a "Reading Champion" as part of celebrations for Book Week. I also got to watch him and Jada play fun games, such as an egg and spoon race (they both lost!). Jada had a great time and didn't want to leave Jesse and the other school kids when it was time to go.

Day Two Hundred and Thirty Four

Another achievement today after months of waiting, finally we have a bed. If only I could sleep, I'd be a bit more excited! Now we just need some lamps and pictures to match..  Guess we'll have to go shopping!

Day Two Hundred and Thirty Three

After about a month of nagging Trevor to put the capsule in the car, my Dad finally put it in for me!! It was the last thing that needed doing before the baby's arrival. I think Trevor was secretly avoiding it because he isn't ready, not for the baby, but for the birth! Hopefully now that we are all ready it will spur this baby into action! Thanks Dad! xx

Day Two Hundred and Thirty Two

I thought I wouldn't subject Bella to any more Chicken Pox pictures. 

This pretty much sums up our day today. They have now spread to her legs, face and scalp. She is very miserable, and it's no wonder when she didn't get to sleep until 4am! I hope the Claratyne and Phenergan I bought today helps, and fingers are still crossed that Jada stays pox free!

Day Two Hundred and Thirty One

My beautiful sister ready to go out for our cousin Glenn's birthday. 

Wishing I could go with her instead of staying at home with sick kids and big bellies, but I guess staying home and watching Mrs. Doubtfire with a big bowl of popcorn isn't all that bad!

Day Two Hundred and Thirty

My poor Bella came home from school covered in Chicken Pox. Even though she has been immunised, it has taken a pretty strong hold over her body already. Her whole upper torso including neck and scalp are covered in the angry blistery spots. She is being very brave and showing a lot of self control with trying not to scratch. I just hope the symptoms will ease quickly for her, and that Jada manages to avoid getting it. Not a great start to our weekend.

Day Two Hundred and Twenty Nine

Baby bump at 37 weeks. Now measuring at 40 odd weeks, and not a stretch mark in sight. Not long to go now, "you can't stay pregnant forever" has become my new mantra. At this stage all the lovely symptoms have taken full affect; heart burn, itchiness, insomnia, back and pelvic pain.

Jada has been talking to her and trying to coax her out. She tells her how much she wants to meet her, and she also kisses her goodnight everynight. Bella is convinced that she will be just like her. Trevor is nervous about the birth, and I ... just can't wait to hold her in my arms.

Day Two Hundred and Twenty Eight

Jada refuses to be defeated by her pre-school boredom and continues to invent games that Mum can play from the comfort of the lounge! Yesterday it was Snakes and Ladders, today it was a cafe/nail bar on the coffee table. She made me a nice cup of tea and painted my nails and toe nails while I relaxed. I think she might be onto something with this business idea! She did such a good job pampering me that I fell asleep! She then took herself downstairs where she made her second get well card for Nana, Bless her!

Day Two Hundred and Twenty Seven

The kids first visit to see Nana post-op. In true Jada form she circles the bed talking non-stop and looking for things to touch and eat. She found some! Chocolate cake from the tea trolley! If nothing else Mum was distracted from her pain and entertained for a short while!

Day Two Hundred and Twenty Six

This afternoon I took the girls for a play at the park. With the yard still unusable, and with Jada spending most of her days with my sedentary pregnant self, I though it would be a good chance to run around and get some afternoon sunshine. Luckily Bella was willing to push Jada on the swing and chase her around while I watched from the nearby park bench!

Day Two Hundred and Twenty Five

Yesterday Mum had her much needed double knee replacement surgery. The first 24 hours were not very kind to her, as she dealt with coming out of the anaesthetic, along with the pain and a blood transfusion. I got to visit her today in the ICU, and although still hooked up to a myriad of machines, she is feeling a lot better. She has a long road to recovery ahead with a lot of physio and rehab, but the hardest part is now over. I have promised to not go into labour before she is out of hospital, but at the rate I'm going (and growing) I'm not sure I can wait! We are all looking forward to her being able to use her knees again and walk long distances, after all she will have six grandchildren to keep up with!

Day Two Hundred and Twenty Four

My two pretty girls off to dancing and a birthday party today.

 I hope they love their little sister as much as they love each other.

Day Two Hundred and Twenty Three

For almost a year now, our landscaping has been underway. It has so far consisted of various improvements such as new paving, rock walls and garden beds. I have, at times, been frustrated with the length of time it's taking and get particularly annoyed when tradies park in my driveway and I can't hang washing on the line! For 12 months I have had to feign interest, nod and agree, as Trevor goes on about balustrades, render colours and other riveting landscaping topics. Today the grey dust that goes under our new synthentic grass arrived by way of a 12 tonne tipper truck. It was probably the most interesting thing to have happened so far, at least Jada thought so!

Day Two Hundred and Twenty Two

Poppy Kenny, Baby Harry and Jesse, enjoying some time together at Mum's. I don't think I've ever seen my Pop smile so much, or hold a baby for that long! I think he's pleased as punch with his first Great Grandson, I wonder how long it will take him to write a poem about it?

Day Two Hundred and Twenty One

Tonight we had our good friends Bec and Stu over for a catch up, before they head off on their holiday to Thailand. I recently sent Bec a picture of some chocolate coated strawberries that were made using an ice-cube tray. So we decided we would attempt our own for dessert. This was the result! Not exactly like the picture, but they did still taste absolutely delicious! Thanks Bec!

Day Two Hundred and Twenty

Bella and Trevor have finally found a common interest, playing sports on the Wii! 

They love to play baseball, tennis and ten pin bowling. All the while Jada talks, and jumps around in the background trying to get their attention! She also has found a common interest with her Dad. They love to watch the Olympics together, while she asks him endless questions about the athletes and rules. At least he can't say his daughters don't like sports!

Day Two Hundred and Nineteen

Happy Birthday Nana Karen!! 

Nana with all her kids, what else could she wish for on her birthday?! 

(Note Rhys - always front and centre of family photos!) I didn't get her a baby, which would have been the ultimate birthday gift, but I think she had a good day anyway.  

 "A mother becomes a true grandmother the day she stops noticing the terrible things her children do, because she is so enchanted with the wonderful things her grandchildren do" Lois Wyse

Love you Nana xx

Day Two Hundred and Eighteen

In preparation for the new baby I have been encouraging Bella and Jada (and Trevor!) to be more independent. Tonight they had a shower and washed their own hair, with minimal help from me. Other tasks I have been trying to get them to do include: Bella packing and unpacking her own lunch box, Bella putting her washing away in her cupboard and Jada dressing herself. They have been pretty good at trying to help me out, especially with picking up stuff I drop on the floor and fetching me things.. let's hope they keep it up post-pregnancy!

Day Two Hundred and Seventeen

Baby Bump Part Deux

With just a little over a month to go.. I'm wondering how much further I can expand without actually exploding! The weight and immobility is starting to affect all areas of my life, and time feels like it is slowing down. I realise now that women must go through this stage of pregnancy, so that instead of being terrified, we actually look forward to the onset of labour! The next few weeks just can't come quick enough..

Day Two Hundred and Sixteen

Tonight Bree, Mum, Jade, Aunty Gail and I headed out to the movies to see "Magic Mike". I'm not sure about the "magic" part, but it was certainly entertaining! Even funnier when the one male occupant of the theatre stormed out at full pace 10 minutes into the movie (closely followed by his female friend), never to return! The poor guy obviously didn't do his research!

Day Two Hundred and Fifteen

Today I got a few last minute things for the baby. One of them was this very frilly and girly basinette cover. It's not a great photo (I'm getting more lazy in my late pregnancy), but it looks very cute, and it suits the baby's vintage basinette that was used by Trevor when he was a baby.

Day Two Hundred and Fourteen

Today we celebrated Nana Helen's Birthday! First with breakfast at McDonalds, and then at dinner time with some Chinese. Mum even rang her work and dobbed her in, as she was trying to keep the event a secret! 

We also got to visit Bella's school for Education Week and watch her sing beautifully in the school choir. 

 A good day was had by all.