Swinging

Learning what the dog gets up to everyday!

I think I've gotten into the swing of things with this whole parental leave thing. I still haven't got the nesting bug so it's more 'forced' domesticity. Apparently that's a good thing though because everyone keeps saying when you get a strong urge to nest then you're getting pretty close. I must be one of the only people who doesn't want to go into labour until their due date. Granted Hubby still has his exams so that plays a big part in it all but we've also got so much stuff we want to get done before hand (including 2 very yummy dinners to celebrate 8 years of uni being over!).

I forced myself out by my lonesome yesterday (which is a huge thing with me), it was just a trip to the Post Office but I had no idea where to go that being a naturally anxious person it was scary. How sad does that sound! People would never guess unless I admitted it because I'm pretty good at forcing myself to be a people person but the nerves are insane. I think it just goes to show how important it is to talk about things and not bottle them up. I do discuss it with some friends and family but I still don't think people truly understand it. For example the idea of going shopping alone absolutely terrifies me but when I actually do it it's ok. My next 'scary' thing for this week is going and lodging my Parental Leave forms with Centrelink (Australia's welfare/benefits Government department) but having worked in their call centre and dealing with some of those people I think I'm allowed to be a little nervous.

I picked up my birth pool liner (there's something else to tick off the list), got myself a passport application to change my surname and one for Pecan along with stamps. I'm going to self address and stamp the announcement envelopes - I love finding random baby preparation tips (please feel free to leave any of your own below).

I've started working on Hubby's Christmas present which will be 12 date envelopes for 2012 - I stole the idea from Find joy in the journey. It was/is good fun to work on and I'm uncovering lots of different things to do in Perth (although most of it is done on the cheap because we still don't know what is happening job wise for the Husband). I'm really trying to get into the DiY present mode for Christmas and beyond because I'm over spending so much money and half the time the people don't even really care about the present. Also I feel like last year it turned into a competition with my SiL (and it got a bit mean but in that hidden girl way not outright) and we don't even earn near the kind of money they've got coming in. Plus this year we gave my Hubby's little sister dessert and a little elephant to hold her rings and she loved it and that was all under $20! Although I say all that and I spent WAY too much money on Hubby's end of uni present...but he definitely deserves it and I know he'll love it.

Bonding with Bubs - Week 36

Size: approximately 2.7kg and around 45cm

What's Pecan Up To: really making my belly look like something out of the Alien movies; resting on my bladder; getting hiccups; stretching and elbowing/kneeing/kicking constantly

Symptoms: getting tired in the afternoons again and needing to pee lots more (I feel grateful though that it's taken this long for me to get to the non-stop pee stage!). Feeling really uncomfortable with everything jammed up under my ribs. I'm also not eating as constantly or as much as I used to.

Cravings: coffee, sweet things and citrus

Keep that away from me: still mince and onions plus the thought of cooking any kind of meat other than chicken or fish makes me feel gross.

Weight: remaining around the 82/83kg mark

 

Feelings: Excited but also missing the life I used to have: eg drinks with friends. Not that Hubby and I were ever go out all the time people, we've always been homebodies but still I can't help focusing on how much life will change once Pecan arrives.

Random: I'm writing to-do lists like there's no tomorrow which I guess when you're in the final weeks you never know if there will be! I'm trying to push myself out of my comfort zone and go out and do things by myself. Since Hubby has exams this week and the following two he won't be around much and with Mum's fiance coming back from an overseas trip she'll be wanting to spend more time with him = a lonely Jess. I've just got to force myself to get out of the house and do things, I've always been weird about doing things by myself though and I hope that changes when Pecan is born, I can use him/her to hide behind and build up my confidence...

Got my Kit Off!

So we had our 'family' photo shoot today that Mum and my Aunt booked us in for. All girls with my cousin and little sister and I wound up getting nude! Thankfully with strategically placed scarves haha although there is one with the boobs out. Typical that I'm the one people think most prude (second to my little sister) yet I was the one who wound up wandering around the studio naked.

For obvious reasons there aren't any photos with this post :p But when I get my 40 prints back I'll post some of the 'safer' ones. I'm so happy I did it though and now I can understand why the celebrities do it. I've also become really really comfortable with myself and my body which I'm amazed at...yay for the positive side of pregnancy!

I really suggest that people do a photo shoot, probably with family you're close with or girlfriends because it is so much fun. I went in there thinking it would be ok but wasn't really interested and I had a blast. It does make you so aware of how people think they look so flawed but in actual fact look amazing! My favourite photos were the laughing natural ones featuring lots of laugh lines, double chins and horrible teeth (which only the person the photo was of noticed). It's fun and an amazing insight into how we view ourselves.

Super Organised

c/o schoolpsychologyblog.com

Everyone keeps teasing me when I say that I'm bored on parental leave (also sorry for repeatedly calling it that it's just the Human Resources Graduate in me can't stop being 'politically correct' so maternity leave rarely gets used). Mum has said I can't be bored if I haven't cleaned and whilst I did clean yesterday (due to Book Club being held at my house last night) I just haven't gotten in the mood to go crazy and clean the whole house. Apparently once that happens Pecan will be arriving soon so I guess I should be ok to settle into being a bit lazy and just writing to-do lists...

I have been productive though and I've stumbled across some inspirational organisational blogs which have been helpful. I've even started to write a mini To Do list on our fridge each morning - granted I only started that today so who knows how long that will last! It's something I used to do at work all the time though and I just feel that it gives my day a bit more structure. I'm craving that at the moment, I've been getting out of the house and doing something every day but I just feel like having some semblance of structure is really important to me. I've also got to make myself realise that it's ok to laze about on the couch as well and enjoy some me time which is where the increase in blog posts has come from :)

My nerdy side has also kicked in in the form of an excel spreadsheet with a long list of things to get done before (& after) Pecan's arrival. I feel as though I'm not aware of weeks/time anymore and whenever anyone asks me how far along I am I just look at them with a blank face and hope that someone else jumps in with an answer! Hopefully Pecan stays put until his/her due date (or a little bit after!) so that everything can get done, right now the focus is on getting Hubby through his exams and once that's finished I can get a little bit of help. Sadly he's not a handyman so I think we'll be asking my future Step-Dad to help us out with finishing off the nursery - in particular hanging pictures.

Now I must be off to procrastinate a bit more before going up to dust our bedroom and sort through all my jewellery - I swear I should donate half of it and just keep what I wear on a daily basis. No doubt I'll wind up getting addicted to 'unclutter your life' blogs and throw out/donate half my stuff and then go into a mild panic when I realise I have nothing and no money coming in to rectify that either!

The Mum Cut

Back when I went 'blonde'

Today will be my second 'voucher' hair-cut thanks to ScoopOn and hopefully it will be even better than the first. The only problem being I have to get my butt up to the city and I hate, hate, hate driving and parking in there. I could catch the train but I have public transport issues which is ironic considering I work in the industry!

It's funny that whenever I organise a haircut in the immediate days leading up I psych myself out and keep thinking there's nothing I want to change. I like the fact that my hair is long and that I don't have a fringe (easier to hide my hair when it's dirty without one!) and the majority of my hair is a nice brown colour courtesy of my last awesome colour but my roots have become my natural brown and I don't like that. So what to do!? I'm contemplating getting a bit chopped off but enough so I can still tie it up - which is pretty much your stock standard trim - boring and because this voucher covers a cut I really should change it up a bit. I'm thinking about soft layers but then the boring 'logical' side of my brain reminds me how much I hate those random strands of hair (which don't get in the ponytail) flying in my face.

But ultimately I want to avoid the 'Mum/Mom' cut...which means I'm tempted to do something crazy. I'd love to chop lots off but I know that doesn't suit me and I also know Hubby wouldn't be too happy if I did that (not that he'd ever say anything). It'd be so much easier to deal with though and because I'm crap at any hair style that doesn't involve a simple ponytail it might be the best option when Pecan arrives and demands all my attention. I'm also half tempted to dye it some crazy colour again but the only colour I really love is red and the cost of upkeep is just too much.

Isn't it nice when your dilemma of the day is a haircut!

Bonding with Bubs - Week 35

Size: over 2.4kg and approximately 45cm (but I reckon Pecan is longer!)

What's Pecan Up To: making my belly move like crazy! He/she is also putting on the pudge, now has fingernails and fulling functioning kidneys yay!

Symptoms: not sleeping properly when it gets to the mornings and the occasional sore muscle in my butt!

Cravings: coffee; anything with lemon; chocolate; cheesee

Keep that away from me: mince; onions (so there goes spag bog)

Weight: 81.5kg - 83kg I'm really fluctuating between those at the moment

 

Feelings: I can't believe I'm finally on Parental Leave. It's crazy to remember back in the very beginning and thinking that I'd be waiting forever to: finish work; feel Pecan kick etc...

I'm getting scared and excited now. I keep thinking that our lives are going to be changed forever and a big part of me at the moment is so hesitant about that, I'm scared of what we're going to be missing out on but I know I'm in for an amazing ride.

Random: Pecan has definitely found my tickle spot! Yesterday I was getting kicked in my left side and laughing - it beats being uncomfortable/unable to breathe though.

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.