So long weekends

Well parental leave has officially begun! I'd be so much more excited if this stupid cold still wasn't getting the better of me but I think it's just at night/in the mornings because I'm starting to feel better during the day.

I had a huge send off at work, we have lots of different people based all over the metro area and everyone came to farewell me, it was really sweet and so appreciated. 3 of my co-workers put on an amazing spread and one of their daughter's made the sweetest cake (shaped like a bottle). I'll post photos once I've gotten them sent through. My boss gave this amazing speech as well and I've never felt so appreciated, it was just really nice to know everyone was gathered their because they liked working with me and to support me in my next 'chapter'. It was a little odd though because I know I really want to come back as they're a great bunch of people to work with.

I got some awesome goodies as well and everyone kept apologising that the hamper was in a pink basket and I also asked if the pink flowers were hinting at anything. So who knows maybe this is the universe's way of saying I'm having a girl either way I honestly don't mind.

It was hard at the end of the day saying goodbye to everyone but I know I'll be popping in to see them a lot especially because work is right around the corner. They've all said they'll happily babysit as well which is sweet although I think I'd wind up with a 'missing' baby if I took some of them up on their offer ha-ha.

My boss surprised me at the end of the day with an awesome present. She has this uncanny ability to get me the best presents and I know I'm a hard person to buy for. It was even better because when I was last in the city I was saying to Hubby how much I'd love to be able to buy a Fossil bag - so unless she was right behind me (which I doubt) she did very well, it even suits my crazy elephant obsession.

So my last day was great but I know I'm going to miss it (at least until Pecan comes) and it still doesn't seem real. Hubby and I didn't do anything to celebrate me finishing or him no longer having any more uni classes EVER but it was still a nice Friday night with a home cooked meal and curling up on the couch.

Today the weather is so beautiful and I think we're planning on spending it shopping - seems a bit of a waste. But Hubby wants a cover for his brand new iPhone (spoilt!) and I want to get Christmas fabric to force myself to start making Christmas Stockings as presents for the in-laws (plus Pecan and Hubby). We're going to be on a very tight budget until money starts coming in so hopefully that will be a cheap present option.

I hope everyone else is enjoying their weekends.

Housewife

Only 8 more work hours to go until I have 12 months off to become a Mummy and Super Duper Housewife (ha-ha).

It's sad and I'm going to miss work like crazy (I never thought I would say that). All the managers (who can't attend my surprise farewell tomorrow) either called or came around to wish me all the best and promise I would bring the baby around. Grown men are so sweet when it comes to little babies. It's made me really appreciate working there though which I'm extremely grateful for.

It's crazy to think that after tomorrow I'm going to be planning/sorting out my life for this new little baby that is about to turn our lives upside down. It is so exciting to think that this baby, part of me and part of my Husband, can be anything he/she wants to be and the future is wide open.

Final Countdown

I've been a bit M.I.A with this damn cold. I haven't wanted to do anything other than sleep and this combined with being pregnant and working full-time does not make for a happy blogger!

Everyone at work keeps asking me if I'm looking forward to Friday and today I can say (even sick) that I'm not. I know it will be great to have no work but I'm going to miss seeing everyone. I guess it's the camaraderie not the work that I will actually be missing and it's funny but I can picture myself visiting a lot once the baby is born (until they eventually ban me ha-ha).

At least my first week off I've already got things booked like a hair appointment and photo shoot. Very exciting! Then my focus will be on Hubby & his exams, and after that PECAN!!! I just hope the nesting desire kicks in there at some point.

I hope everyone else is having a good week, I'm going to go back to drinking copious amounts of water and wallowing on the couch as Bubs uses my tummy for karate time.

A Tickle & Work Post

*Grimace*

I think someone has infected me with a cold. Everyone at work has been sick plus my Mum but I thought I might be immune - starting to think I was kidding myself. My throat is tickling me and I've been exhausted all day. I wanted to put it down to being pregnant and having a bad sleep but I think it's that combined with coming down with something. NOT FAIR! It's my last week of work and I have to help train up my replacement's replacement - yep even though we're in recruitment we completely got it wrong! Big huge waste of 8 weeks of training and even though I really loved working with her I'm so angry that she wasted our time (especially because she knew it was a parental leave contract!). I feel worse for my boss though because it's the last thing she needed on her plate.

I'm so appreciative of this last bit of time at work. All our employees have been fantastic, even if some of them are teasing me with waddling (I swear I'm not!!!) and anyone who has gone off on holidays - who I won't see until after I've had Pecan - has come in and given me a huge hug. I've even been invited to the December Christmas Party which is really nice of them. I feel so spoilt and lucky to be able to work with such a great group of people. I'm definitely grateful for the break from my job though because it was getting just that bit too repetitive and boring. I even broached with my boss about returning to work part-time and a pay rise and neither were ignored or flicked aside. Even so I'm getting a bit freaked out about leaving the workforce and soon having to live off savings (even if it's only until Pecan is born)!

On the plus side though today Mum took me and my little sister shopping (technically for my sister's boyfriend's birthday present whoops!). We got so spoilt! An awesome maternity hospital outfit from Peter Alexander (I kept saying I didn't want to because it would get ruined but my little sister did say these photos would be FOREVER - yay for putting that fear in me and here I was thinking labour would be the hard bit!); lots of Bonds stuff including some more much needed leggings; some awesome Revlon long lasting lip gloss (the only thing I purchased); some tops which actually cover my maternity bras (YIPPEE); some other random on sale pj/hospital/maternity items and... a bag of lemons!

Now I'm finally off to bed for some much needed rest and I'll most likely fall asleep reading about breastfeeding - oh how my life has changed.

5 more days

Life is getting a little crazy! I only have 5 days left of work before starting parental leave and Hubby only have 5 more days left of uni classes EVER (granted he still has exams but no more classes!). I'm way more excited for him to be finishing up than me. I remember when I finally finished after 5 years of uni, my girlfriends and I kept it pretty tame but it was still such a great feeling knowing we never had to sit through another mind-numbingly boring lecture ever again. I have advised him that I will be his taxi and that I expect him to go crazy with all his buddies, but even if he doesn't we'll definitely have to do something special that Friday - I should probably organise something whoops.

Yesterday was our last parenting class and we got to see 2 gorgeous 8 week old girls and hear about how their births had been etc... I'd been worried because earlier that day there'd been a baby bought into work (one of our 800 staff members bought in her daughter) and I just felt absolutely nothing towards her. Sure she was adorable but I felt nothing and every time I felt bad about that Pecan gave me a big jab haha. So it was comforting that my first thought upon seeing those babies was that I wanted to steal them. It's gotten to the point where I can't wait to hold Pecan in my arms and find out if I'll be lucky enough to have a little son or daughter (and what he/she will look like - please have my hairline bubs).

I'm amazed how fast time is flying now and so very very excited.

2.5 Weeks

Totally unrelated but Pecan & his/her first club stamp - I am a terrible Mother!

So only 2.5 weeks left of work (but who really counts Thursday and Friday, once Wednesday is over it's all uphill from there). 2 more Mondays is still my favourite thing to say but I know I'm going to feel lost when it's over. Until the nesting bug kicks in, which I really hope it does with the state of my house at the moment!

I've already got a haircut lined up for my first week of leave and Mum has organised a sort-of family photo shoot. I can't wait to get some proper bump photos (yes I'll be posting more soon, according to Hubby I have a beachball in there), my cousin who is getting into photography really wants to get some but I'm not very camera friendly and would feel slightly uncomfortable but we're definitely taking him up on his offer of doing baby photos. I'm still tempted to get some professional ones done but then again saving $100s is lots more tempting.

I've got lots of fun plans to do before Pecan makes his/her debut including a yummy 7 year anniversary dinner with Hubby at Rockpool. Our anniversary falls on Melbourne Cup this year so I'll definitely be taking advantage of that during the day (plus his exams will be over so triple celebration, unfortunately he still has thesis work to complete the week after).Hopefully I'll have a win on the horses this year, if I was really organised I'd do some kind of lunch but I think I need to calm down with the baking and organising and just relax.


Speaking of which this weekend (& Tuesday night) will be dedicated to making dessert on Sunday for my sister-in-law's birthday and organising an Engagement Dinner for my Mum and her partner. My other SiL who moved interstate is coming back for her birthday which means I get to see my beautiful nephew and fast-growing niece again, definitely looking forward to that. They both seem to have grown so much (just from looking at photos!) since we last saw them in July, but kids have a habit of doing that.

Life

So we had my little sister as a house guest. Apparently they think she has gastro but could still be appendicitis if she gets a sharp pain in that area it's straight to hospital. Then her boyfriend had to leave to deal with family troubles over East and we wound up with her and her huge shedding slobbery dog!

It was nice to know that she'd like to hang out with us though when she's not feeling her best. I even Skyped with Mum (something I refuse to do because it weirds me out!). She kept wanting to see my belly but at the same time kept saying she was in a pub full of people. All I have to show at the moment is a food baby, no cute bump for awhile.

Work has been slow this week which always sucks but at least I've been managing to get the mundane bits of pieces done for this new contract area we're taking over. I know I'll be wishing I had this week back when it starts to get insane. Especially if I wind up getting 'morning' sickness later on.

Yay for only 2 more days until the weekend!

Bits & Bobs

I'm exhausted! Definitely looking forward to the weekend, even with the long weekend this week seems to be dragging :(

Last night I went out to a YUMMY work dinner at the Boathouse in South Perth. I thoroughly recommend it (and the gnocchi!) the views are some of the best I've ever seen of the city (and right on the river). It was pretty pricey so yay for it being on the company dime ha-ha but I'm definitely taking Hubby there, he loves views of the city at night. It was great to catch up with everyone from around the country and I was definitely amongst the big guns (all the managers from HQ), I felt really lucky to be included seeing as I'm not even a supervisor or anything!

Tuesday night I cooked a really yummy roast pork and gravy for the family and even though we didn't eat until late it went down well. I always feel like I live up to the title of this blog during those moments.

Tonight is RELAX TIME, I think we'll just make a simple chicken basil/lemon pasta dish. I feel like something really filling. Probably not good for the waist line though but oh well! I'm still hovering around my 73/74kg mark. I just feel proud now that I'm no longer ashamed of my body and I'll pretty much tell anyone who asks how much I weigh which I know is not a common thing (especially amongst women). It just feels so liberating to be at that point in my life especially because I'm not even 25 yet.

Still feeling a little off and hoping so much that I'll have good news to share soon but I don't think I will :( Oh well if it doesn't happen that's fine and we'll just continue going with the flow.

No Red

Well I went blonder instead of red. I decided with all the money that red would cost (it fades so quickly!) I might as well keep going lighter. I don't know if I'm in love with it, I still don't think I've gotten to 'that' shade but it doesn't help that I've got so much dark dye in my hair. I love my new hairdresser though and she's going to get me there (fingers crossed)! Once I get a decent photo I'll pop it up my camera is not doing it justice.

Work is getting so insane and it doesn't help when people are no shows! So rude, I can't believe some people's attitudes towards finding a job. I was always bought up to leave early so you're never late - wear a suit if appropriate and if not business clothes. It's just a sign of respect but I guess when you're working in an industry (transport) like I am not everyone gets that! Still I love my job. In fact *insert drumroll* I won employee of the month for December!! I got nominated by 2 of the managers which I'm really happy about. I love the people I work with the vast majority of them are awesome :)

In other news I cannot believe the number of people announcing pregnancies/engagements - it's all such lovely news!

Deck the Halls

More festiveness (especially now that I've located my camera charger!). I'll let the photos speak for themselves...

Unfortunately our tree couldn't handle the weight

Luckily it can also hang! It's Georg Jensen (Danish designer) so Hubby gave it to me and we plan on making it a family heirloom...his idea - SO DAMN SWEET!

Something for the fluffy member of the family.

From a Christmas market in New York

My ornament to Hubby - our 'odd' tree topper

On Friday we'll be celebrating Hubby's Christmas and hopefully dancing around the Christmas tree (provided that doesn't bring on SiL's labour!). As much as I've had issues with his family this year I'm still really looking forward to it. We had a pre-Christmas dinner at my Mum's tonight because for the first time ever my little sister won't be here for Christmas (she's visiting with her Boy's family over East). I thought I'd be ok with that but this dinner made me realise I'm going to miss her. We get on so much better now that we don't live together. I can finally believe what people used to say when I was younger that when she finally grew up we'd get on a lot better, hurrah for that prediction coming true.

In non-related to Christmas news I got a pay rise and a bonus HURRAH! It still isn't much but it's more about knowing how much they not only appreciate my hard work but acknowledge it. I want to (or rather should) put the bonus into savings (aka Goal Bubba) but I have promised Hubby a trip over east next year and I think a visit to Quay might be on the cards. I still can't get that guava egg from Master Chef out of my mind!

We have also gained my other family dog as he's become to neurotic and THE DESTROYER at Mum's boyfriend's brand new house. He's our little Christmas project and luckily Loki loves having him around because by the sounds of things he may be becoming a permanent fixture. They're so funny together so Hubby and I don't mind in the slightest but I'm scared of what he'll do when he's left all alone! Mum's got him on prozac though so fingers crossed! The downstairs door already has gouge marks from when he first lived here with Mum.

Mid play-fight our puppy is looking at the camera (Loki), Riley is the more blurry one.

Only 2 more days of work and then a mini-break YAY!

Tis the season...to blow the electricity bill!

So I've officially gone insane over Christmas. Today we bought multi-coloured lights for our balcony (they look so pretty!), hanging clear lights for our back patio and a waddling/singing reindeer to annoy the dog!

The only thing we need now is a wreath but I'm not too sure about that because we have a metal gate right in front of our door and I don't think it would work. Plus I'm running out of money and still have more presents to buy.

I'm not doing well with keeping Hubby's presents a secret either. So far he's seen his decoration and today he picked out the two photos of Perth that he wanted (one of the sky-line at night and the other of the City Beach groyne or whatever it's called). So whatever I buy him next has to be kept hush-hush. I'm thinking of getting him an Exercise ball and painting it with silly things - he's suggested an exercise ball to me but that's just too boring for my liking! And he needs to have some sort of surprise. I'm stumped for anything else though, Wii games are just too $$$ and I'm still not sure I want to buy him a bird! Why is it so hard to buy for your favourite person in the world!?

In AWESOME news our house is now rented which means soon we can quit paying rent to a complete stranger and start paying it to my Mum. That's a very nice Christmas present to receive - even if I had to ask for it, the agent wouldn't have bothered to tell me no doubt! Except I asked if we could advertise it in the paper! And in even more awesome news Hubby has an interview for a summer intership WOO HOO After getting stuffed around by a big mining company with a crappy recruitment system (being in recruitment myself I want to throttle them for treating him and others that way!) he's got a face to face interview with another company. I hope it goes well, less for the money and more for his self esteem!

Tomorrow is my work Christmas party and I'm really excited...free dress, great company, free food and drinks and only half a day of work YIPPEE! I couldn't ask for a more awesome place to work I really feel like this year and the next will be MY year and the following year will be Hubby's because he'll finally be finished with his studies.

In other news Europe has been taken off the table, we realised that I wouldn't have enough annual leave by that point nor would we have enough money :( So now I'm leaving it up to the Mr to decide where he wants to go in Australia to celebrate his last year of university. We'll both definitely deserve a break by July.

Munday

Today was a good day. I had an early start at work which always inspires me to wake up early on the other days and do something with my mornings! But then when I'm curled up with my doona, the Hubby and our puppy it's hard to keep that inspiration.

If he was still this cute it would be doubly hard!

Unfortunately there weren't LOTS of applications on my phone or email, not that I've had enough time to really go through them all. 4 interviews (with one running 30mins late!) and lots of requests does not help. I always used to leave on time at work but now I'm doing lots of overtime. I guess it's good though in that I can take time off and leave work early for long weekends and or appointments.

We're both looking forward to going to Albany and visiting my Dad on the upcoming long weekend. We just need someone to house/dog sit because he can't be an inside puppy down there :( Plus the two golden retrievers are down there and our dog has small puppy syndrome and would most likely get himself bitten (which personally I think he deserves!). I miss going down there, not that I've ever been a daddy's girl (they got divorced when I was quite young), it's just so nice to get away. It's also helpful that lots of my family is down there so there are always people to visit when we go. 

I don't know what we'll do down there, I was hoping to leave early because of the long drive to get there but the Hubby doesn't finish uni until mid afternoon so it won't be too quick. We'll be in a hurry to get down there because the kangaroos cause havoc on the roads after the sun has set :( But we'll no doubt meander back on Monday and maybe stop in a few places just to relax!

PS: I can finally tie my hair up WOO HOO.

Just Cos

Today has been a good week (other than working overtime today but I shouldn't complain!). I really enjoy my job, all the people I work with are fantastic and my boss is awesome. Which is important right crappy work is probably the last thing my crazy brain needs right now. Although in saying that some random did leave a message on my machine calling me a bitch. There sure are some crazy job applicants out there!

On a side note my neighbours are currently talking puppy and I can hear them through the wall...it scares me to think what Hubby and I sound like when we talk to our little fluffy baby!

I've got dinner tonight to be introduced to Mum's new boyfriend's daughter...weird, I'm so used to being forced to move in with whoever she is dating that it is so nice to be outside of everything now. Being married definitely has perks that you wouldn't even dream about!

And to end on a funny note, my new surname is causing me to get a lot more spam...thanks Hubby!