Farewell to 2013

I decided to finish 2013 on a positive note and finish the nursery. Everything is now completed and I am officially ready for our new arrival.

36 weeks

36 weeks and only 20 days to go. They are clearly not going to be an easy 20 days.

The Mum mobile

It's official - I now have a Mum mobile!

The end is nigh

Merry Christmas to you all! I hope you all had a lovely day and enjoyed your festivities. We had a great day celebrating Christmas, and my husband's birthday but it also demonstrated that the light is most definitely at the end of the pregnancy tunnel!

New sensations

Funnily enough, as this pregnancy draws to a close, there are new symptoms to deal with. Mind you, no one ever said pregnancy was easy at the end!

The unglamourous side of pregnancy

This my friends is a true reflection of how unglamourous pregnancy truly is. For those of you earlier on in pregnancies, prepare yourself!

Fabulous Friday

Happy Fabulous Friday! I hope you've all had a great week. What's fabulous about to Friday is coming full circle!

The weight arrives!

I had my 34 week appointment at the obstetrician today. I've managed to put on 2 kilos in 2 weeks - the most ever. Sticky is starting to show herself!

Confessions of an organisational freak

I've never hidden the fact that I'm an organisational freak. I love being organised, having routines and writing lists! Oh, how I love a list. So today, I have written down a routine for Sticky for the first year of her life. A little over the top? Not if you know what I know!

Bottles, steriliser and breast pump oh my!

So today I decided it was time to acquaint myself with the bottles, steriliser and breast pump I've been given. After perusing all the different components, I'm now all over teats, bottle caps and pump construction!

Weekend festivities

Well, I survived the hectic weekend with my baby shower and first aid course. Just!

Fabulous Friday

Happy Friday all. What's fabulous about today is I only have 5 more Fridays until Sticky arrives!

Final shopping done!

Ok, I know I said baby shopping was done with the car seat purchase last week but I decided I wasn't quite done!

40 days to go

When I first got the pregnancy countdown app, I had 183 days until Sticky's due date. Now, I'm down to 40. Where did the last 143 days go!

33 weeks

Today marks 33 weeks and the onset of all the challenges that come with surviving the last few weeks of pregnancy. Thank god there's only 6 weeks to go!

Fabulous Friday

Happy Fabulous Friday all! Can you believe there are only 3 more Fridays left in 2013? Where has this year gone?

Boredom strikes

What do you do when boredom strikes on maternity leave? Get the sewing machine out!

Staring fear in the face

I so love my friends. Sometimes, they are the only ones who can take you on the journey you need to go on to reach your destination.

32 weeks - 1 milestone down

I'm 32 weeks today which means one of my milestones has been reached! 

Fabulous Friday

Happy Fabulous Friday all. What's fabulous about today, is actually tomorrow!

A lesson in slowing down

Today I've gone from the giddy heights of happiness to the draining collapse of exhaustion. If it wasn't for being in the 3rd trimester, I'd assume I was bi-polar!

Celebrating happiness

I suddenly realised today that I feel really happy. My body feels light, not weighed down by all the fears and anxiety I've been carrying for so long. The sad thing is, I can't remember when I last felt happy.

Showered with baby love

I came home this afternoon to find a large package waiting outside our door. This was the amazing contents inside it!

Information overload

On Saturday we had our last baby class which was with the Australian Breastfeeding Association. It was meant to be 4 hours on the joys of breastfeeding. I lasted 3!

Fabulous Friday

Happy Fabulous Friday all. It would be far too obvious for me to say what's fabulous about today is I'm not at work, so I'll got for a few other things instead!

Setting up my village

Today I’m thinking of the old adage “It takes a village to raise a child.” It’s at the forefront of my mind as I start to see the members  of my village start to emerge.

Last day of work

Well I made it – my last day of work. It seems to have snuck up quickly but I’m very glad it’s finally here!

3rd trimester trials and tribulations

I always suspected the 3^rd trimester would be the hardest and now I know why. The physical toll is mounting, exhaustion is rising and last night I had my first labour scare – 61 days to go!

30 weeks

Today feels like a massive milestone. I am officially 30 weeks and now on the downhill run!

Fabulous Friday - the 300th post

Happy Fabulous Friday all. What’s fabulous about today is this is my 300^th post, so I thought I’d celebrate by acknowledging all the fabulous things in my life.

The little things that bring you joy

Our new couch arrived yesterday and I’m so excited to finally be able to sit down in comfort. But, the best bit – I have my very own, electric recliner!

Baby on the move

Sticky is well and truly on the move. Here’s my belly and notice the rounded end – that’s what it looks like when she tries to poke her head out through it!

Clinging on

Today is one of those days where I feel like I'm just clinging on. My friend gave me this card early on in the pregnancy and I'm reminded of its message again today!

29 weeks - 10 weeks to go!

I am officially on the downhill stretch – 10 weeks to go! It suddenly became real over the weekend so I’m glad I’ve got 10 weeks to mentally prepare myself for our impending arrival.

Fabulous Friday

Happy Fabulous Friday all. What’s fabulous about today is releasing expectations and baby classes!

Stupid things to say to a pregnant woman #1

Yesterday I had my first experience with “stupid things to say to a pregnant lady.” I was quite taken aback by it but think I handled it pretty well.

Glucose tests and a growing baby

 My glucose test results are in and I don’t have diabetes – yay! I have something that fills me with even more dread than diabetes – low iron.

A breakthrough

I had a major breakthrough yesterday – I bought my first baby clothes! Yay me!

28 weeks and counting!

I am 28 weeks today. We are ever so slowly creeping towards the 30 week mark. It feels painfully slow at the moment but slow and steady wins the race I guess!

Fabulous Friday

Happy fabulous Friday all! What's fabulous about today is breakthroughs and blood tests!

Throwing caution to the wind

This week one of my closet friends told me she was pregnant. It's funny how one piece of good news can raise you out of your slump!

Looking for a lift

One of the things I’m trying to be very conscious of as I make my way through the depression journey, is making sure I speak to people about how I’m feeling. The challenge is finding those who are strong enough to lift me and listen with open ears. 

5am tears

Ahh depression – there’s never a dull moment. From the highs of reaching third trimester yesterday, to waking up in tears at 5am this morning. You just never know when the joy is going to hit you.

Third Trimester - A marvelous Monday!

Today represents two major milestones - I am officially in my 3rd trimester and Sticky is now deemed "viable." It's a Marvelous Monday indeed.

Fabulous Friday

Happy Fabulous Friday all. What's fabulous about today is letting go.

Finding the peaceful path

Yesterday, a friend messaged me on Facebook telling me about the craziness that was happening in her life at the moment. She said “I’m just trying to find a peaceful path through it.” Those words really resonated with me. At the end of the day, that’s all any of us can do.

Obstacles to being happy

Yesterday I was talking about the obstacles I face to feeling happy – and they’re rather large as I haven’t been able to shake it. The biggest is how do you reconcile the fact that as one of your most beloved people in the world enters the world, another will leave it?

Deciphering depression Part 2 - It's ok to be happy and excited

One of the questions you’re constantly asked through pregnancy is “Is this your first baby?” I always say yes but everytime I do, I feel it chip away a little at my soul because of course, it isn’t. The sad thing is, I didn’t realise the impact this was having on me until my good friend pre-natal depression decided to visit.

Fabulous Friday

Happy Fabulous Friday all. What's fabulous about today is what's meant to be one of the simplest and purest things in the world - a woman I know had a baby!

National Pregnancy Loss Remembrance Day

Yesterday was National Pregnancy Loss Remembrance Day. I only realised this when I checked Facebook last night and saw all the beautiful posts from my friends who were remembering their lost babies. I posted this photo in tribute to my own lost babies.

We have a name!

So, it’s official – Sticky has a name. Only a first name at this point but I guess that’s the most important one.

The death of the baby shower

25 weeks – Sticky now weighs about 700 grams and is about 35 centimetres long. I can’t believe that something that long is growing inside of me. But, the strangest thought is she could easily grow another 15 to 20 cms before she pops out!

Fabulous Friday

Today I celebrate the fabulousness of friendship. I’ve been feeling disconnected from my friends over the past few weeks and this week they reminded me of how valued and treasured they are.

Pre-natal depression - the gift that keeps on taking

Yesterday, I commented on how in my previous life I was a physically stable person. I was an emotionally stable person too. I am no longer.

Deciphering depression

One of the most frustrating things about battling depression is how it turns your brain into total a mess. I liken it to the moment you pull out the Xmas tree lights, ready to decorate the tree, only to find they are a jumbled mess that you have to painstakingly untangle.

24 weeks and counting!

So I am now 24 weeks. As you can see, I’m still not showing a huge amount but we’re slowly but surely getting there. Clearly, there is a lot of room to grow!

Happy Birthday Peanut

Today is Peanut's 1st birthday. That's how I choose to remember it. My options are clear - either remember today as a day of loss or a day of birth. I choose the later.

Fabulous Friday

Happy Fabulous Friday all! It's been a day of highs and lows but a strangely fabulous one overall!

Pregnancy frustrations

As this pregnancy progresses, there are a few things I’m really starting to get over. They are the frustrations that can add seconds, which add up to minutes, which add up to hours of your life over your 40 week confinement. Then, there are just the stupid things people say that make you want to punch them in the face. Here are my gripes.

Wriggly baby

Now that Sticky’s movement has become more consistent, I’m starting to notice she has a routine. It’s quite funny as I start to note the different locations she likes and things that impact her. She’s already starting to show her personality!

23 weeks - pre-natal depression, hiccups and kicks!

I am officially 23 weeks today. It seems to be a significant milestone because literally, just over the weekend, I’m feeling many things for the first time. It also means I only have 3 weeks until I reach 3^rd trimester!

Fabulous Friday

Happy Fabulous Friday all. I hope you’ve all had a good week. What’s fabulous about today is cleaners, breast feeding chairs and major milestones. To have all on the same day makes this the most fabulous Fabulous Friday I’ve had in some time!

Tears, obstetricians and ducks!

 As we pulled out of our driveway on the way to the obstetrician’s today, I saw the most amazing site. Just 100 metres from our driveway, a family of ducks was trying to cross the road. It was weird because we live on a very busy street and not close to water. But what I saw was a good lesson in parenthood.

Remembering my Spirit Babies

Towards the end of last year, I came across the following passage. I found it enormously comforting at the time as I think I found it a few weeks after my miscarriage. For some reason, I’ve been thinking of it a lot of late so had to delve into some old Facbeook messages to find it. It’s a story about moving on from loss.

20 ways to be a good Mother

Yesterday’s post got me thinking about the mistakes I’m already making as a Mother. It was a rude wake up call to a few things I need to get sorted before Sticky arrives. So, in thinking about that, I’ve come with my list of 20 ways to be a good Mother.

22 weeks - the dodgem cars begin

22 weeks – My Mother sent me this pic which I just love. It couldn’t come at a better time as I had another meltdown over the weekend when my brother told me about a woman at his work who lost her baby 5 weeks before it was due. While I love the fact that I will be Sticky’s protector when she gets here, I worry about who’s protecting her until then?

Fabulous Friday

Happy Fabulous Friday all! I really can’t complain about this week as I’ve only had a 4 day week, but man, I’ve had to cram a lot into those 4 days. So, the thing that’s fabulous today, is finding 5 spare minutes to actually post!

The joy of leg cramps

One of the joyful (and I say that with every ounce of sarcasm I can muster) experiences of pregnancy is excruciating leg cramps in the middle of the night. They are now a regular part of my pregnancy experience and they suck!

21 weeks - a carrot with legs!

I’m officially into my 21^st week. Sticky is approximately the size of a carrot and will now put on an average of 60 grams a week for the next 6 or 7 weeks.  She must be getting big because she decided to make her presence felt over the weekend!