Showered!

Here are a bunch of shots that Cindy took at the baby shower.

I had a fantastic, special, wonderful day.

I feel loved & spoiled by everyone's best wishes & generous gifts.

Darren & I & our baby to be are very, very lucky to have the friends & family that we do.

Lots

I went back to the endocrinologist on Monday the 19th & he is happy with how things are progressing - I still haven't put on any weight at all - & I still find that hard to believe! He said my numbers are doing what he expects & my dosage of insulin will continue to rise as the hormones do.

I then went over to the Ante Natal Assessment Unit for them to check my blood pressure again. Expecting to do that once & then leave - not quite what happened! Mum & I got there at 11am & did not get to leave until 2.45pm! Talk about monitoring! They strapped me to the monitor again & took my BP about 6 times - every time was normal. So while it was boring & frustrating - I definitely cannot knock the amount of care they are taking to make sure all is ok - and they fed us lunch.

I had my last week at work - so grateful to not be hearing that alarm anymore - it was just getting too much after being up all night peeing & with heartburn. It's extra good now that the weather is cooler & the cats are sleeping in also - some mornings I've woken them up! They are still getting used to the new cat door though - we have to have it propped open a little bit still.

My last day at work was marked with a lunch.

My Team minus Andrew...

Sonia, Sneedha, Patty, Dunia & Andre.

Parthi - not always this happy...

Igor - not always this cranky...

Amanda & Angela - nice face Ang!

Amina & me.

The gorgeous looking & tasting cake.

On the 24th we went to Amina's housewarming & flashback party! Caught up with old workmates & had a great time reminiscing & eating Amina's great food - oh my God - so much food!!!

Matt, Angela, Gregg, Cathy, Johnny...

Amina, Jessica & Alicia.

Anzac Day was spent at the folks place, with the Morphis, Patterson, Langsam & Musico lot. Always nice to get together with everyone & just hang out & eat of course!

Monday of the long weekend Darren got a massage lesson from Jess - she thought it would be a good idea for him to learn some massage techniques to use when I'm in labour. He did a great job & I had a few moments were I couldn't tell if it was him massaging or Jess! I'm really happy he wants to do this also - I feel like it will mean he is more involved than just holding my hand. We are having another lesson this Monday. Yeah - I get to have another massage - without labour pain!

The rest of my first week off has been spent cooking & freezing meals for after the baby comes. I've done stacks already & I even found a recipe for Brunswick Stew which we first had in Virginia with Aileen - we loved it - so Darren said I had to make it. I hope mine tastes as nice. Apparently it was traditionally made with squirrel & onion - we just went with chicken.

On Thursday Jess was my taxi & took me to the clinic. We had to wait for ever. But now I've pretty much got a definite inducement date of the 24th of May. Baby's belly is getting big - which is a symptom of the diabetes, so he said they would induce 2 weeks early not 1 - & that means the 24th or maybe the 25th - either way that's 3 weeks away!!! It feels like I just found out yesterday that I was even pregnant!

THEN on Thursday night we went to trivia & raffles as usual & to my surprise my Tassie Aunties Kathryn & Mary were there to surprise me. I had been told they would not be able to make it to the baby shower. So it was a great surprise. I got all shaky & surprisingly cried! I'm so glad they came.

Friday I spent at Mum's hanging out with the relo's. Then Darren picked me up & went to Randwick to have some pregnancy photo's taken. It was definitely odd to be poking my belly out & trying to make it look big - instead of trying to hide it. We took heaps of shots, & I really hope that I don't hate all of them. Part of the photography package is a newborn photo session. So we are going to wait until we have the baby then go back to look at the before picks the same time we get baby photo's done. We took some with booties on my belly - so have to wait to see whether we want the pink or the blue!

I'm so excited for the baby shower tomorrow. I can't wait to see everyone & get to celebrate. I know I've said it before, but I just feel so lucky.

Six

Woohoo - only 6 more working days to go. I'm so looking forward to turning off that alarm. I know that soon I'll have an alarm that needs feeding & changing but at least I won't have to get dressed & leave the house for that one!

Since my last entry we've been pretty busy. I had a clinic visit on the 30/3 with a doctor. Mum came with me & got to hear the heartbeat again - very strong. I get teary every time I hear it. And just now typing this I got a big swell of excitement at meeting this baby soon - instead of dread at what's to come during labour. I'll just have to focus on the outcome more than the pain!

We've had 3 antenatal classes now & have 3 to go. I'm so glad we did them. And even though Darren was not sure about them in the beginning he now says he's glad too. We've both learnt a lot. Although now Darren is adamant that I not have the forceps or ventouse (vacuum) - like he's got a choice! And like I want to anyway!

We had our annual Easter camping trip, & as usual it rained, but it was bearable & no one suffered any leaking or issues.

Darren in his TARP NAZI pose... he is so funny - meddling with the tarp set up for 4 days only to take it all down again!

Isabella & Sandra, enjoying the sun, before it disappeared.

Tyson in his bike gear.

On Easter Monday Mum, Dad & Jaydan came down - so Mum & Jay could take over the site for 5 days. We then all went to see the Conellan's (cousins) who live close by. It was nice to catch up.

When we got home Darren & I spent the next day sorting out the linen press, getting rid of old stuff & sorting everything into matching sets & sizes. It looks much better now. And I've just realised I should have taken a before shot.

We also tackled Darren's side of the wardrobe - he tried everything on & got to know how it feels when things just don't fit anymore! And I managed to get rid of some of his daggy stuff.

On Thursday we went & saw the 3D Alice in Wonderland - I really liked it & Darren says he did too.

Then on Friday night we went to dinner at a Seafood place called BayBlu - we took Darren's parents as a thank you for the baby stuff they've been doing - & for future babysitting services. We had the seafood platter as you can see below - way too much food for my belly with way too much baby in it!

And this is how my fur kids spent most of the week - the temperature drops a few degrees & they act like it's the middle of a nuclear winter - funny things!