25 Weeks.

25 weeks today!

It's incredible to think that if for some reason chickpea was born today, he/she would have a chance of survival.

I thought I'd finally do a full length shot so everyone can see exactly how big I've gotten. It sounds silly, but I was blown away when I saw this photo... I can't believe how big I am! It doesn't look like that in the mirror! No wonder I'm getting a sore back by the time I get home from work.

Thank God I'm staying the same size everywhere. By rights, I should be HUGE with the amount of chocolate, carbs, sugar and salt I'm eating. Although, I have vowed to eat a lot better from now on, and only indulge on the weekend.

Now, for a quick whinge. Locally, maternity clothes are ugly as sin. I can't find anything that I would look at twice. Now, just because I'm bigger out the front, does that mean I have to wear clothes that look like they've been designed for an older, frumpy woman who enjoys wearing tents? No!

Now to the second part of my whinge. I have found some gorgeous, funky stuff online, from sites such ASOS, Crave and QueenBee. But WHY oh WHY do you have to be so expensive?! Just because they have the word maternity in front of it, does not mean you should jack up the price!

Crossing my fingers for a sale in the near future...

The End Product.

Dee's Blocks- Finished

28 Today!

I am such a spoilt girl!



Well, this weekend has been lovely! I feel like my birthday has gone for 48 hours, not just the normal 24!

It started off on Friday, with a lovely lantern from Niccy and a gorgeous teaching angel from the 'Willow' range from Nina.

On Saturday, mum and I met Summer and Deon's mum Vicki for coffee, which went for 3 hours! I recieved 2 beautiful presents from them, a gorgeous calander from Summer and a beautiful perfume holder from Vicki. It was such a special time, and I feel so lucky to be part of their family. After, mum and I went to pick out a new pair of flat boots for me (as the heeled ones are killing me at work now!) but we'd talked for so long that the store had closed! So, I'll have to duck in some time this week.

I also invested in a body pillow to support my growing belly.. it's getting harder to sleep at night!

When I got home, Deon had just arrived home from work. I chatted to him for a bit, then wandered into the bedroom to change into trackies... where I found a new little ornament in the bookshelf! I was sooo excited, as he'd bought me a 16G Ipod Nano! Yay! This little baby will be getting a workout for sure.

Today I had lots of lovely calls and messages from friends, and mum and dad have come around tonight to cook roast chicken for tea.

This weekend reminds me of how wonderful my friends and family are.. thank you for everything!

Little Animals.

A quick update of all 3 paintings.. they just need a few tiny touch ups then they'll be ready to frame!

Uncomfortable.

Yesterday was the first day that I've really felt any pain while being pregnant.

It started around 2pm- short, stabbing pains in my lower pelvic area on the right side that just wouldn't go away especially when I walked. Thank God I had the last session off, so I didn't have to move much. I caught up with the girls for coffee after, but was extremely uncomfortable the whole time, so as soon as I got home I chucked the trackies on and lay on the couch.

However, chickpea was still being a little bugger, and obviously pressing down hard on something. Every time I moved- pain. Argh!

Luckily, it's disappeared this morning, so chickpea has obviously found a better spot to settle in. I have 3 sessions and library duty today, but I'm hoping to keep off my feet as much as possible.. the kids can come to me!

Oh, and Dee bought me an early birthday prezzie as well.. a voucher for a pedicure since I can't see my feet anymore! Yay!

23 Weeks...

23 weeks today.. the time is just flying!

I'm finding that I'm becoming quite airy-fairy and vague (yes, even more than normal!) and tend to forget things quite a bit. I'm now writing everything down that I need to do at the start of each day on a post-it so I don't leave anything out!

Deon asked me on Saturday what I'd like for my birthday. Hmm, I replied, give me a few days to think and I'll give you a list by the weekend. He looked confused, and remarked that it didn't give him much time to get something.

And then I realised, my birthday is this Sunday, not in about three weeks time like I originally thought. God, my head is all over the place..

I'm slowly getting over this cold. Isn't it annoying when you're sick and rest all weekend, only to feel better by back-to-work Monday?

Why is it, that the moment the word 'maternity' is thrown in front of a garment, the price increases dramatically?

I finally found a website that has gorgeous, modern maternity clothes (I love the stuff from ASOS, but unfortunately our dollar is too weak to justify me buying anything from overseas at the moment).

Elephant Progress

Just needs a bit of greenery in the tree now.

Flat.

Feeling really flat today. I've woken up with a headcold, and can't take anything for it. I'm going to have to go into a health shop tonight to see if there's any extra vitamins I can take to try and help me get over it.

Work is not great today... I've come back to an extra which means I'm teaching all day, and have library duty at lunchtime too. If I didn't have yesterday off, I would have had one session off for the whole week. I'm supposed to go to a staff BBQ tonight, but I think I'll be giving that a miss. All I want to do is curl up on the couch with a blanket and sleep.

I want to go home.

Giraffe Progress

Painted with watercolours.. still needs some work though.

Safari... and Rabbits.

Last night inspiration took hold, and I begun some preliminary sketches of some watercolour paintings I'd like to hang in the nursery. I originally planned on simply buying some prints, but changed my mind when I realised I'd prefer a more personal touch. Also, I was shamed into it by my friends, who kept reminding me that I was an art teacher, and therefore should be doing my own!




So, as you can see I'm keeping the whole safari animal theme going.. with a little rabbit. Now I'm not sure why the rabbit has appeared, but I'm quite partial to him.

All the animals will be wearing stripey socks too, just because they can.

Belly Update

Just a quick one, I'll post a better one later, but here's an update. 22 weeks yesterday...

Pieces of the Puzzle...

Working the nursery in with the rest of the house is turning into a bit of a jigsaw puzzle.

It's a little bit difficult, as the nursery also needs to be our study/office space, seeing as we only have a two bedroom unit. I was originally going to keep the bookshelf in the spare room and use it as display shelves for all things baby, but realised this would be impossible as I would have nowhere to store my books.

So. What we've decided is to do a complete clean out of our wardrobe, and make room for the extra clothes we have in the white tall boy in our bedroom so we can get rid of it. Move the bookshelf into our room, then buy some white cube shelving the baby's room, similar to this:
That way, we can still display any decorative stuff, but also be able to place baskets in there for extra storage. Now I just need to find the energy to do all this.

Progression...

Just a quick update on Dee's blocks...




All the sides are now covered, the letters have their first coat of paint and I've started embellishing some of the sides. Not a bad night's work!

Distractions.

Above is a photo of my work chronicle, outlining the four sessions I have each day. Productive, right? Well, the pink post-its are the ideas I have for the nursery, and what I need for it. Lately, I'm finding that I'm getting more and more distracted, and finding it hard to remain in work mode between the hours of 8:30am and 5pm.

I guess it's frustrating me because I have so many ideas at the start of the week, but by the end of it I'm that exhausted that all I want to do is sleep, and relax watching movies. I don't have the energy to be rearranging rooms or organising cupboards.

If only we had Wednesdays off as well.. that would be perfect.

So Bad.. But Oh So Good...

I decided I needed a chocolate hit (well, not needed, but really really wanted!) and baked this evil delight on the weekend to take to work today. I've never had so many people at my desk before...

Mars Bar mud cake

Ingredients (serves 16)

• 400g butter, chopped
• 400g good-quality dark chocolate, chopped
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 2 cups caster sugar
• 6 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 1/2 cups self-raising flour
• 2 x 60g Mars Bars, chilled, chopped
• double thick cream, to serve (optional)

Method

1. Preheat oven to 160°C. Grease a 4cm-deep, 22.5cm x 28cm (base) slab pan. Line with baking paper, allowing 2cm overhang at both long ends.
2. Combine butter and dark chocolate in a large, heatproof, microwave-safe bowl. Microwave, uncovered, on MEDIUM-HIGH (70%) for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring every minute with a metal spoon, or until almost melted. Add cocoa and whisk until smooth.
3. Add sugar and mix well. Add one third of the egg and stir to combine. Repeat with egg in 2 batches. Sift flour over chocolate mixture. Stir gently until just combined. Pour mixture into prepared pan. Sprinkle Mars Bars over batter and press in slightly.
4. Bake for 60 to 65 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre has moist crumbs clinging. Cool completely in pan. Cut into squares. Serve with cream.

Dee's Blocks...

I spent some time this weekend working on the present I'm making to give to little Colby. Deon sanded and beveled some blocks for me, and last weekend I painted them white with some water-based paint from Bunnings. So, they begun like this...


..and by the end of the weekend I had covered each side with different scrapbooking paper and felt. I'm painting each of the wooden letters white (and, as you can see, I still need the B- Spotlight had run out!) and gluing them on the face of each block.


I'm really happy with how they're turning out, and it definitely makes me want to start on some for myself! I can see them all lined up in a row on a shelf in the nursery.


All they will need after having the letters glued on are some embellishments. I'll be using all the ones pictured below. I love the little dog paws- I thought they'd be a great way to bring Maxi (Dee's border collie) into it! I couldn't find any cricket objects though, so I may have to paint some on.


Next time I'm in Spotlight, I'll start stocking up on some paper and embellishments for ours. It would definitely be easier if I knew if we were having a boy or a girl, but I guess I'll just have to keep everything neutral for now!