Second day of Winter

There's a theme started here for June, but it's really just because I am not feeling very creative with my blog-post titles. Please don't expect that you will be getting two posts a day for the rest of the month!

Anyway, today is another glorious Winter day in Melbourne. Started off cold and frosty, but then the Sun came out and it seems like Spring. After taking BallFiend to kinder, Thumper and I headed off to a local cafe to meet The Librarian and LittleMissF for a coffee and catch-up. It's school-selection season, and all us mums of 4-and-a-bit-year olds are busy touring local schools and trying to decide which one to go to. So The Librarian and I had lots of notes to compare.

My morning had been a real rush, because I slept in, because of Thumper's night antics, and I had rushed out of the house with no breakfast. So it was nice to indulge in a yummy cooked breakfast, even if I did have to share it with Thumper. After a while, LittleMissF and Thumper tired of playing at the cafe, so we decided to go across the road to the park. As we were preparing to leave the cafe, I heard my name being called and turned around to see a mum from my former "Mothers' group" - I hadn't seen her for about 3 years, since our Mothers group sort of petered out. She was there with her second and third children. Her eldest daughter who is the same age as BallFiend was at kinder too. After a bit of a catch up (and more school-choice talk), The Librarian and I wandered over to the park and let the girls have a run about.

With Kinder pick-up time approaching, it was time to say goodbye to the sunshine and go on our way. I stopped in at Creche to retrieve blankie and popped in to say hello to SingingCheese who had just finished up a RhymeTime session. Thumper enjoyed playing chasey with SingingCheese's daughter MiniBabybel but it all ended in tears when Thumper decided to live up to her name and gave MiniBabyBel a shove.

So we said goodbye and I hurried off, to collect my pants from the tailor and get home in time for Thumper to squeeze in a nap before we go out again to collect BallFiend from Kinder. Then it will be off to visit CutLuce and so we have some stern words to baby cousin about coming out soon!

--

Conflict resolution 101

Another new word from Thumper today. It happened when I was visiting a local primary school, the one that BallFiend will most likely attend.

The school tour was organised by The Librarian and when she told me about it, I asked if I could tag along. She was there with LittleMissF and The Bibliophile and LittleMissIz also joined the tour. Both MasterF and MasterW were at kinder. BallFiend was also meant to be at kinder, but was home sick, with Gran minding him.

So the six of us were in the Principal's office, listening to him talk about the school, or at least trying to with three active toddlers mucking about. I had taken along a magnetic drawing toy to keep Thumper entertained and when she left it unattended on the table, LittleMissF started to play with it. Moments later Thumper noticed and started to throw a tantrum... and then I heard it: "Mine!".

It seems we have arrived at the terrible twos, about 5 months early.
--

Happy New Year to me

Tuesday was my new year, the anniversary of my emergence into the world, thirty-something years ago.
It is also not long after the ten-year anniversary of my mother's death from breast cancer (on 14 January 2001).

I find that being motherless has a whole new dimension now that I am a mother myself. There are so many times when I ache for my mum and wish she was here to help me, to understand what it means to be a mother and to ask about her about her experiences of raising me. But this cannot be. All I can do is accept the way things are and do my best to remember my mum.

So I decided to mark the occasion of my birth and of the day that my mother became a mother with a small gathering at my place, with family (DeepSpice, CutLuce and DesignerMonkey, DesignerSis and Wigward) and a few friends (VolubleK and AussieG with PetitAmi, The Bibliophile with MasterW and LittleMissIs, The Librarian and The SchoolMaster with MasterF and LittleMissF).

In addition, I haven't had a birthday party since my 30th, and given that my 40th is only a few years away, I thought it would be a good idea to sneak in at least one more party before the big 4-0. (Which is going to involve a trip to France where VoluableK and I will celebrate out birthdays together in style... but that's another story for another post).

The evening was good fun, somewhat over-catered(!) and a just little chaotic, with 7 kids running amok. I am grateful for everyone's help with cleaning up (AussieG did the dishes - what a star! And a magic fairy tidied the toys up in the kids bedroom. Thank you!). I am yet to wash the watermelon juice off the deck and clean up the watermelon pieces slowly dessicating on the garden path. Though the snails seem to be helping with that! And we still haven't found the icy-pole that LittleMissIz lost somewhere - hopefully outside the house! But this is all just proof that a good time was had by all... especially me.

Thank you everyone for an enjoyable evening!
--

Goin' up country

During the recent school holidays we took a break at Willaura, near the Grampians, staying at the farm of MasterF's and LittleMissF's grandparents ('Pa' and 'Grandma'). The plans were put in place earlier this year when we bumped into The Librarian and The SchoolMaster at a local cafe, popular with parents of small-fry due to it's baby- and toddler-friendliness. They arranged with the SchoolMaster's parents for us to stay in a house that they also own, located 7.5 km up the road from their farmhouse. In the country, 7.5 km is 'just down the road', but to put it into perspective, it's about the same distance that DeepSpice travels to work each day. (Although travelling at 100 kph does make the journey go a little quicker!)

Departure (Thursday)

In a re-enactment of the preparations for our last holiday at Ocean Grove, it took us all morning to get packed and ready to go. Sigh. We finally left at 1.30 pm, about 3 hours after I had planned to leave. We had a few stops along the way and arrived in Ararat at about 3.30 pm. After a short exchange of text messages with The Librarian we worked out they were nearly in Ararat too, so we waited at the tourism information centre for them to meet us. BallFiend and MasterF went completely silly upon first sight and started running laps around the centre, distracting Thumper and LittleMissF from their synchronised-breastfeeding. We all piled back into our cars and drove in convoy to our accommodation: Turascai.

The driveway of Turascai

The house was a cute little 3 bedroom place, originally a soldier-settlement house probably built sometime in the 1950s or 1960s, but sadly had not been shown much love ever since. So the accommodation was very basic, which we didn't mind at all since we were only paying $10 a night, but the bed was rather uncomfortable and Thumper decided to resume 4.00 am wakings while we were away, so I didn't really feel at all well-rested throughout. Nevertheless, the holiday was lots of fun. We spent almost every day with our friends, so that BallFiend and MasterF could keep each other company, thus relieving us adults of the task of keeping four-year olds entertained. This alone made the holiday more restful than it would have been otherwise. However the days were busy, as is dictated by the company of children... 


Sheep (Friday)

On our first morning, I took BallFiend and Thumper (in the Ergo carrier) for a wander around the property where we met MasterF's great-uncle John, who was crutching some sheep. He showed us through the shearing shed, where a recently slaughtered sheep carcass was hanging up - thankfully covered in a bag, but it's skin (hide?) was draped over the rails in plain view. Luckily BallFiend didn't notice this so I didn't have to explain that one. He has been obsessed with death and dying recently so I'm sure it would have been of interest if I had pointed it out to him. 

John dragged out a lamb and a ewe for us to pat. Unfortunately though, BallFiend wasn't particularly enamoured of farm life. BallFiend wouldn't go near the sheep - he stood off to the side cringing. Thumper showed a lot more interest and even touched the sheep. John talked about the ewe, expressed some milk from her teat and then pointed out where she was missing an eye. I asked how that had happened and soon wished I hadn't! Apparently it was pecked out by a crow whilst the ewe 'was down'. I later found out 'down' referred to the time when a ewe is birthing a lamb. As if birth isn't enough to deal with, without being attacked by a crow! John then proceeded to go into detail about all the other things that happen to sheep, including foxes attacking them and eating their tongues or udders, then leaving them alive. Then BallFiend announced that "It's too smelly in here. I want to go out!". I thought this was probably a good idea. Farming is not at all like the sanitised picture that is shown in children's storybooks! 

Next John took BallFiend for a ride on a tractor. Next we went into another shed so John could get us some merino fleece to take home. While we were in the shed, BallFiend spotted a tub of filthy, old golf balls. He immediately turns on his ball-charm. "What are those for?" he asks in a sweet little voice to reinforce the deeper meaning behind his question. "Oh you can have one." says John, falling under BallFiend's ball-magnetism spell. Apparently a neighbour practices his golf in the next paddock and then crows pick up the lost balls and drop them in John's paddock. John hands over a white ball but BallFiend has his eye on the one and only orange one. A swap is quickly transacted. Then I drag BallFiend out of there before we end up leaving with the entire tub. 

We go back to the house, collect DeepSpice (who has finally got dressed!), then drive into Ararat to stock up on some groceries for the week. As it turns out, this was almost completely unnecessary because we ended up having dinner each night with MasterF's family at the farmhouse. 

The Draw (Saturday)

The next day was grand final day. I had sneakily timed this holiday to ensure we were away from all the footy fever, but it followed us. However, on a much smaller scale - just the family and us watching the game with a hot dog in one hand and a beverage of choice in the other. Before the final started, The SchoolMaster led us on a nature walk, down to the dam where we collected some frogs' eggs in a jar, then past the windmill that pumps water back up to the house (BallFiend was fascinated by this, and by all the old broken tyres lying around the place). The boys each picked up a stick and started to whack at everything in sight. Then it started to rain and they were told to put down their sticks so we could all run for shelter. BallFiend fell over and got gravel rash and cried and cried, but mainly about losing his stick. 


When we got back the football had started. I chatted to The Librarian, not really paying it much attention and by halfway through the final quarter The Librarian and I had completely lost interest, so we took the boys outside for a play. 

MasterF and BallFiend play on Pa's bridge
during the last quarter of the grand final.

Moments after the game finished, DeepSpice came out to tell us that it was a draw. When I came back inside all I saw on the TV was forlorn-looking footy players with their hands clasped behind their heads.

Obligatory Minigolf (Sunday)

On Sunday, we drove into Halls Gap, via Pomonal where the monthly Sunday market was on. Of course we had to stop and sample the devonshire tea. I also picked up some homemade beetroot chutney, lemon slice, white chocolate cheesecake, and an everlasting daisy to plant in my garden at home. DeepSpice found a book about aeroplanes, of course. At Halls Gap, we enjoyed a picnic lunch at the park, carefully positioning our picnic rugs to avoid sitting on any kangaroo poo. Then it was time for the highlight of BallFiend's holiday - mini golf! 18 holes proved too much for MasterF and LittleMissF. So they headed back to Willaura early, while we stayed on and finished the course. Then we set off back to Willaura for dinner. Unfortunately we took a wrong turn out of Halls Gap and ended up in Stawell. Oops. The scenic route! 

Volcanoes (Monday)

Our last day was spent touring other country towns in the area, on route to Penshurst where there is a Volcano Discovery Centre (ie. museum). Ever since that volcano in Iceland blew up earlier this year, BallFiend has been fascinated with volcanoes; MasterF is equally fascinated, but from a 'dinosaurs' perspective. We had lunch first, in a little tea room and antiques shop next door. The boys were warned not to touch ANYTHING before we went in, and amazingly they behaved beautifully. BallFiend was very interested in all the 'old-fashioned things'. Next we went into the Volcano discovery centre. Thumper and LittleMissF gave it their seal of approval as a great crawling venue - nice carpet and a few interesting nooks and crannies to explore. Then we went to see the actual real live - extinct - volcano, Mt Rouse, that over-shadows Penshurst. 

Approaching Mt Rouse

Thumper and me on Mt Rouse

BallFiend running amok on top of windy Mt Rouse.
The Grampians can be seen in the background.

The SchoolMaster took us on the scenic drive back to the farm, and it was spectacular. Unfortunately I drifted off to sleep in the car and missed a lot of it. Then the SchoolMaster took us for a drive around the farm in the 4WD. The boys climbed up into the cabin of combine harvester and we drove down to the paddock to look at some sheep. 

Homeward bound (Tuesday)

The next morning, we headed back to Melbourne, leaving early so we would have time to stop in Ballarat to visit Great Gran Billy. (We had planned to stop on the way up as well, but ran out of time.) I also took the opportunity to stop and visit the church where my mum's ashes are buried. Then we grabbed some pies at a local bakery and drove to the nursing home. Great Gran Billy was in fine spirits and happy to see us, although she didn't seem quite sure who we were. Still she is doing well for 94 years of age. 

Great Gran Billy tries to get Thumper
to look at the camera.

Most of the other residents enjoyed seeing some children, but when BallFiend nearly knocked one over with his ball, we decided it was time to go. 

Thumper slept most of the journey home and BallFiend nearly slept, so we had a nice quiet drive. After a quick dinner - spaghetti bolognese, of course! - we put the kids to bed and I couldn't wait to follow. After a week on a lumpy mattress, my own bed has never seemed so good. I was asleep by 9.45 pm. 

It really was a nice holiday - being with another family made it much more enjoyable than when we go away on our own. Now to catch up on all the washing! 

--

Happy Birthday Thumper!

It's been a whole year since Thumper emerged into the world (well actually it will be a whole year in about 1 hour's time, since she was born at 4.49 pm).

Her birthday celebrations began on Sunday when we had a lovely little party with family and friends. It was to be a teddy bears' picnic at a local park but the Spring-time weather was not at it's most cooperative, so we invaded Gran and GrandPaul's house instead. In attendance to honour the birthday girl was: DeepSpice, me, BallFiend, Gran, GrandPaul, CutLuce, DesignerSis, Wigward, DesignerMonkey, The Bibliophile, MasterW, LittleMissIz, The Librarian, MasterF, LittleMissF, GreatAuntF and GreatUncleM and ElspethR.

The birthday cake was a raspberry butter cake - raspberries because Thumper is an expert at blowing them!

Today, Thumper's actual birthday, began at 6.30 am, when we woke to hear BallFiend yelling at the poor child: "Be quiet Thumper! You are being too noisy!" Apparently, Thumper was murmuring in her sleep and it was loud enough to rouse BallFiend; he in turn woke Thumper by yelling at her. Sigh.

The morning went by as usual: breakfast, getting dressed, etc. then waving goodbye to DeepSpice. Thumper has recently become very attached to her dad and she always cries when he leaves. Today was no exception - I stood with Thumper in my arms, waving bye to DeepSpice, whilst she attempted to lurch from my arms after DeepSpice, saying "Da! Da!" (no, not channeling our Russian ancestors... she does actually mean 'dad').

Next, it was time to take BallFiend to his Kinder Circus class, so as usual, Thumper was dragged along. During the class I took her for a walk in the pram so she got to have her morning nap. (Essential for today, because she had an important birthday lunch date ahead!).

After Kinder Circus, I took BallFiend for a stroll to allow Thumper to have a full hour's nap. BallFiend wasn't too impressed with having to wander around for a while, but he did enjoy seeing a fire engine, a water-company worker opening up a drain, a local primary school and the opportunity to ask me question after question about the street trees... Why:

• does this tree have a post [stake] next to it?
• does that tree not have a post but it does have a broken post?
• are these little pebbles on the ground around the tree?
• is there a hole there? [a spot where a tree used to be]

At 11.40 am it was time to wake Thumper up so we could head off to lunch at Heide with VolubleK and PetitAmi. Lunch at Cafe Vue was an experience, very nearly civilised... if it wasn't for BallFiend's (lack of) table manners and Thumper throwing her food all over the floor. But Voluble K and I enjoyed ourselves anyway... once we had a glass of bubbles in hand, nothing much else mattered! :)

After lunch, PetitAmi and BallFiend ran amok in the sculpture park whilst Voluble K and I took turns pushing the pram around... until PetitAmi realised she was missing her chance and took over the pram-pushing duties.

Then it was time to go home, where I got the news that Australia now has a (very, very, very minority) government. What a great birthday present for Thumper!

For the record, here's the other gifts that were bestowed upon you:

• a jack-in-the-box (actually a monkey-in-the-box);
• Playmobil 'coastal search and rescue' boat and car, with two people to drive them;
• a stacking ring ball toy;
• "Where is the green sheep?" by Mem Fox;
• "Can you Moo too?" by David Wojtowycz (a board book);
• clothing: a Sooki Baby wrap-around top, socks, hat;
• Miffy blocks that both nest and stack;
• a Roll Along Ball (a large inflatable ball with little bell-balls inside);
• Wooden letters that spell her name (for the bedroom door);
• an oil painting of a teddy bear (a shared family heirloom from VolubleK);
• a soft-toy snowman.

And guess who has had the most enjoyment (so far) out of all the toys? Yes, of course it is BallFiend.

So, happy birthday Thumper! Over the past year you've made us laugh, kept us company on countless nights (sigh), and despite the exhaustion, brought us lots of joy. We love you and we are looking forward to watching you grow up despite feeling sad that your babyhood is fast disappearing.

--

Have a ball at the Zoo

Went to the Zoo today with several other playgroup mums (ArizonaGal, The Bibliophile, The Seamstress, The Librarian and HM) and between us our eleven!!! offspring (BallFiend, Thumper, LittleMissL, MasterS, MasterW, LittleMissIz, MasterF, LittleMissF, MasterL, MasterM and MasterT).

The main purpose of the visit was to see Mali, the baby elephant, but also to have a change from 'the usual' (a local playground). The plan was to meet at the Elephant Barn at 10.30 am and see Mali when she was brought out at 11.00 am.

I was aiming to get to the Zoo by 9.30 am and see a few things beforehand. However, despite rushing around the house since about 8.00 am, we only just managed to make the 9.59 am train. On our way to the elephant area, we stopped off to see a few animals - the platypus, the meer cats and the tiger. Then, whilst walking along the Elephant Trail, just as we were passing the tiger enclosure, we met up with The Seamstress and her boys MasterL and MasterM.

We continued on together, past some very inquisitive pelicans, and arrived at the Elephant Barn right on 10.30 am, to find ourselves at the end of a very long queue. In the queue ahead of us were Jovial Jo with MasterW and LittleMissIz and even closer to the front of the queue ArizonaGal with LittleMissL and MasterS.

We waited half an hour in order to (eventually!) see Mali for 5 minutes along with 150 other people, before we were moved on so the next 150 people could come and do the same.

Mali, the 6-week old baby elephant, out for a stroll.

Might as well have watched a video really. But I do understand why the Zoo has such limited viewing times... Mali is only 6 weeks old after all! I did the same with my 6 week old babies - tried to protect them from too much excitement and ensure they got the rest they needed. But it was a long time to wait - especially for a bunch of three year olds. I was very impressed with how patient BallFiend was.

After Mali, we went on to see lots more: Orangutans, Seals and Little Penguins with the other playgroup friends. Then we all stopped at the cafe for lunch. After lunch, most of the others went home but The Seamstress and I (with our kids) continued on to see the Gorillas, Monkeys and other primates, a crocodile (of sorts), Lions, and Giant Tortoises.

BallFiend and MasterL

And then there was one - just me with BallFiend and Thumper (as The Seamstress needed to take MasterM home for a nap). We decided to stay and see some more, starting with the Reptiles and Frogs. After a stop-off for a hard-earned icypole, we went on to see the Bears, Big Cats, Turtles, Lemurs and finally the Giraffe and Zebras. By this point I was exhausted so we headed for the train station.

So, with all these exciting things to see - I'm sure you are wondering what was the highlight of the day for BallFiend? Was it the Lions (he is a Leo), was it the Bears (nearly - they had a ball toy in their enclosure and he couldn't understand why they weren't constantly playing with it), or was it the Giant Tortoises, which were 'this big'.

BallFiend explaining
just how big the Giant Tortoises are.

No, of course not... on our way to the exit, along the Main drive, BallFiend found a ball, surprise, surprise. A small, black one about the size of a walnut. "Can I keep it Mama?" he asked. (He calls me 'mama' whenever he is around MasterL or LittleMissZ who both call their mothers 'mama'. He also calls me 'mama' whenever he wants to suck up to me.) He was ecstatic when I said that he could. (It crossed my mind that we could hand it in to Lost Property, but I didn't think a little plastic made-in-China type trinket would be something any sensible parent was going to bring the child back to the Zoo to find and I was too tired to be bothered anyway).

BallFiend's highlight from his day

at the Zoo - a small, black, plastic ball.

When we got home, BallFiend accidentally dropped the new ball on the floorboards and it was then we discovered this was no ordinary ball - it pops open to reveal a little man inside!

The ball pops open to reveal... a man!
BallFiend's excitement at finding the ball
was nothing compared to this discovery!

So when DeepSpice got home and I encouraged BallFiend to tell him about our day, there was not a mention of the Zoo, just a show-and-tell about the new ball.

Sigh.

--

Pregnancy update: 33+2

Nearing the end now... just over 6 weeks to go! I finish up at work at the end of this week and I can't wait!!

Measurements at 33 weeks pregnant:

• Waist: 119 cm (was 114 cm at 29 weeks)
• Hips: 102 cm (not sure why, but this is 1 cm less than at 29 weeks... weird!)
• Weight gain: 10 kg (in truth, some of it is probably due to the chocolate teddy bear biscuits I have become addicted to!)
  

The bump is big, big, big! Though thankfully has dropped down lower, so I can breathe OK most of the time. Unfortunately it also means that Thumper is lodged right down low in my pelvis (a good position in preparation for birth but bloody uncomfortable for day-to-day living). I can't bend to tie my shoelaces. My abdominal muscles seem have abdicated so I have pathetically low core strength. Took me about 15 mins to push the trolley across the car park when I left the supermarket today! Basically, everything is a great effort - especially getting up from sitting, squatting or kneeling on the floor (something I seem to do quite often due to BallFiend being only 92 cm tall).

Current aches and pains:

• Still have the deep muscle soreness in my right gluteal muscle.
• Sacroiliac joint still aches.
  
• Still get the stabbing muscle pain, like a stitch on the lower right side of my belly, if I walk for more than about 5 minutes.
  
• Also get out of breath quite quickly, even after only mild exhertion.
  
• Ribs sometimes sore around the back, presumably due to being flared out to accommodate Thumper.
  
• Have had a few cramps in my feet.
• Kicks, prods and other movements by Thumper cause sudden, and sometimes painful, twinges at times.
  

I saw a physiotherapist today (after waiting for 2 weeks for an appointment!). Had some massage and got some stretches to do, plus some other tips on managing the pains:

• use a heat pack on sore muscles;
• walk on smooth, soft surfaces eg. grass rather than the footpath;
• use a lumbar support cushion when sitting;
• minimise walking;
• do stretches daily (in particular, on hands and knees do the 'cat' stretch (arching back) and a 'hip-to-shoulder' sideways stretch);
• when standing, shift my weight to the centre of my foot (rather than having it forward on the ball of my foot) as this activates the core muscles and will help take the load off my sacrum;
  
• could try water therapy - eg. walking in a pool;
• keep knees together (or as I put it to her 'be more lady-like'). Eg. swivel with knees together when getting into or out of a car;
• Sleep on left side with a pillow between my knees (I already do!);
• Wearing low-heeled, soft-soled shoes, eg. runners.
  

Nocturnal interruptions

• On a bad night, I wake approximately every hour. There is no comfortable position anymore. Mainly I lie on my left side because of my sore back, bum and leg. But eventually the pressure on my left hip gets too much and so I have to wake up to turn over (as this requires a major readjustment of pillows between my legs). Then I lie on my right side until my sore muscles complain and I turn back to my left side again.
• On a good night, I sleep for 8 hours straight (this is usually following 5 bad nights in a row, when I get to the point of sheer exhaustion, so nothing will wake me, however achy I am!)
  
• One to two toilet breaks on a typical night (usually around 1.30 am and 5.30 am).
• Occasional early breakfast at 4.30 am.
  
• BallFiend still sleeping well (7.30 pm until 7.30 am).
  

The tenant (Thumper):

• Is head down, ready for the big day (at least this according to the midwives and obstetrician, who have examined me at the past couple of visits).
  
• Doesn't really kick or thump so much anymore. More inclined to make lots of large movements, full body turns or lots of little squirmy, tickling movements, and these are often really, really low down in my pelvis.
  
• Still get the occasional thump though, but I guess it is getting pretty squashy in there.
  

Fitness regime

• Continue to do Yoga class each Saturday. No longer accompanied by The Librarian, who brought LittleMissF into the world on July 7 (a week early).
  
• Walking is pretty much out, on advice of the obstetrician and physiotherapist - apparently my aching pelvic area is showing signs of pelvic instability, so I have been advised to keep walking to a minimum.
• Lying on my side on the couch during the day! (Resting is good for the body too!)
  

General Health

• Diet continues to be 'reasonable' - at least some fresh fruit and vegies daily, but well-balanced with chocolate and other sugary delights.
  
• So far, still free of Swine flu. Apparently the epidemic has peaked in Victoria now. Although advice to pregnant women is stronger - ie. wear a mask, avoid crowds, etc. Still taking Vitamin C daily.
  
• Sore throat persists - a background annoyance, but not the worst thing in the world. Doctor has done some tests (which I still haven't got the results for!).

Birth/Baby preparation

• Currently reading Birth Skills by Juju Sundin (highly recommended to me by several people).
  
• Have done two of three Hypnobirthing classes and finished reading Hypnobirthing: the Mongan Method prior to the first class.
• Practicing hypnosis techniques a little bit most days. (Approximately 3 nights a week DeepSpice and I do a session together, the rest of the time are exercises I do alone.)
  
• Still remembering to do pelvic floor exercises most days.
  
• Picked up the sofabed a few weeks ago... ready for DeepSpice on those nights when he needs to sleep away from a screaming infant.
  
• Occasional and usually incidental discussions with BallFiend about what it will be like when Thumper is born. Trying not to make to big a deal about it and at the same time, make the most of opportunities as they arise. Eg. if another mum is breastfeeding her baby, I will point it out to BallFiend; we talk about what babies do (not much but cry, sleep and poo) and I have told him that DeepSpice and I will be very tired when Thumper is born. Also been making the point that once Thumper comes to live in our house, it will be for good. So many others have told me that the older sibling loves the new baby for about 2 weeks, but then gets really peeved when they find out the arrangement is permanent!
  
• Maternity leave sorted out - I am taking 12 months plus another 6 months long service. Handover at work pretty much complete - just a couple of tasks still to finish off. But mostly the last two days at work are catching up with people to say goodbye.
  
• Nesting... still no signs. But have been trying to get those last few home renovation essential projects done: DeepSpice has been nagged into draught-proofing of windows (a couple still to go); I have had quotes for external awnings, internal blinds and a security door for the front door (still trying to finalise which company to use though); have done more decluttering with a successful eBay auction completed last Thursday; Tilers are booked for next week to finish fixing up the fireplace in the backroom. Still, the 'to do' list has plenty more left on it, and no end in sight! I will give up shortly, I'm sure.
  

Overall...

It is really hard to 'enjoy' this pregnancy compared to my first one. The aches and pains have been worse, from much earlier on, and there is no rest time with BallFiend already in my life. More often than not, I find myself thinking "What have I done!! What possessed me to want a second baby?". I am dreading the thought of all-night sleep deprivation that comes with a newborn, and I can't comprehend how I am going to give any time to BallFiend or DeepSpice. Worst of all, with BallFiend being nearly three years old, our life is just starting to feel really 'normal' again - we are getting back some time to ourselves (mainly in the evenings, but also because BallFiend is now old enough to be more easily baby-sat by others). When Thumper arrives, so will the chaos and no doubt it will be another three years before we get back to this stage where life is more managable again. On the positive side, I am still looking forward to having a tiny baby to cuddle, feed and adore again; that and 18 months away from paid work!

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