OK so yes, I'm slack but I'm back! (that rhymes!)

So it's been a while, and my good intentions seem to have been forgotten - I was going to write in this blog at least every few days but it just hasn't happened. Part of the reason for that is work - it was so busy there through November and right up until I finished in December - I just was so drained at the end of the day that writing seemed like a chore...

But now here I am at 34 weeks, I finished work on the 21st, and now that Christmas and New Year are over I have some time to dedicate to these pregnancy/baby chronicles! :)

I guess the first thing I should do is update what's been going on over the past 6 or 7 weeks with the pregnancy:

• Well I feel great, have had some trouble with breathing in the past few weeks but that's normal. Baby has been head-down since my 28-week appointment with my midwife and so that's good news!
  
• I'm so glad I have finished work, it was getting really stressful there at the end! Even though it was only a desk job, my co-workers were leaning on me so much and I had to do heaps of training - it was just taking a toll and I didn't need that. I'm still working just as hard at home between catching up on work, planning for baby, looking after my online business and organising a new business - but at least I'm doing it for ME. It's great!


• No - the nursery is still not done! The painter (an acquaintance from work) who was going to do it for us kind of let us down - but now my parents are coming over next Thursday and we'll be doing it then. I will have the carpets cleaned next Friday, then will move all the furniture in and set up the room. I can't wait for that!


• I have a funny feeling baby might come early. Hmmm - we'll have to see won't we? :) Murphy's Law though - my midwife is going away at the end of January, and although I will meet my backup midwife next Tuesday (so I won't entirely be left in the lurch) I just can't help thinking the little rascal may make his appearance then!


• BABY SHOWER! That's on the 12th and I can't wait! Not only do I get to catch up with a whole bunch of friends but it will mean I can finalise what else I still need - I've been holding off on buying things because everyone keeps telling me I will get spoiled at my shower.


• Baby is STILL very active --- a few times today he's taken my breath away with his kicks and movements. It's reassuring that I can still feel him so well :)


• OK - if one more person tells me I do not look like I'm 34 weeks pregnant I will kick someone! LOL! Here is my baby belly, you make up your own mind:
  
  

So there's the basic update. :) Not much to tell really, huh? This is why I really need to come back every couple of days so I can just do a quick update with silly little stuff I want to share or note.

Oh one thing I wanted to include - baby seems to love Santana! Whenever the Santana/Nickelback song "Into the Night" comes on in the car, the baby reacts and kicks out. Maybe he's going to be a dancer or a guitarist? Good to know he can hear though, very obviously!

Oh and another thing to share - on December 15 we went for an early Xmas dinner at Dave's Mum and Stepdad's place, as they were leaving for Canada to spend Xmas there. They live right opposite Sanctuary Cove on the water, and at the end of the evening there were fireworks across the river at the Hyatt hotel. We went down on their jetty to watch them - and when the fireworks started, the first bang was SUPER loud and baby almost JUMPED out of my belly! It was so funny. But what was sweet, was that after that Dave kept leaning over to rub my belly as if he were comforting the baby. How cute is that?

On the subject of Dave - he's being so great, and seems to truly be getting excited now about everything. He chose on New Year's to spend our evening with two pregnant friends - one is due any day - and he seems genuinely interested in parenting and talks to some of his male friends about it. I find that really comforting - anyone who knew Dave wouldn't have picked that he might be the 'father' type. Not that he doesn't like kids - but he's always been a bit more interested in pleasing himself and having freedom - commitment and a family wasn't something that he sought out, but it's something he's come to value. And I'm glad he has...

On another funny note - we were out looking at Christmas lights on Christmas Eve - we drove around to some of the award winning homes and it really helped us get into the spirit. When we were at this one house though, Dave turns and whispers to me "Oh my God, that's L over there...". His ex-girlfriend. The one who was hysterical when he met me because she THOUGHT he was never going to commit to anyone and that's why he left her - but then with me he was SOOO different. When I first met Dave, she was still part of his circle of friends and we all thought she'd made peace with their breakup several years before. Apparently not tho, as she and another ex-girlfriend of his (long story there!) tried to break us up about 4 months into our relationship.

But anyhow - there I am, obviously Dave and I are still together 3 years down the track and I am quite plainly pregnant. Mr No-Commitment Ladies Man is standing there with his arm around me, and hand on my belly, talking to the owner of the house about how we are going to be bringing our 10 month old to see the house next year. I felt bad for her... she obviously saw us... and kept looking. I guess it must be weird to see the apparent 'love of her life' with the love of HIS life. That was surreal.

OK well enough from me for now. I'm going to go back now and insert some pictures into some of my older blogs - I only have a few baby bump pictures taken over the past months but I should include them I suppose! I might also take some video of my belly moving etc... hmmm must get the camera out or better yet - use my new camera phone that Dave got me for Christmas!

Ciao for now but I WILL be back - and soon!

~* Tracey *~