I thought it was time to upload another chickpea shot, so here I am at about 29 1/2 weeks. On Monday I'll be 30, with only 10 weeks to go.. how on earth did that happen?!Productive week so far (in terms of baby stuff... not so sure about work, as I almost feel like I've checked out mentally already!). We've got nearly everything organised, there's just some stuff to do when it gets a bit closer (such as pack bags, etc). Kids at school are fascinated now. They keep asking so many questions, the main ones being how exactly does it feel when it's moving? And can I name the baby after them? If I said yes to each kid, it would have about 67 names by now!
Snapped up yesterday: The Julie bag by Storksak that I desperately wanted for under half the normal retail price. Although Ebay can be ridiculously overpriced, I won out this time.
flickr- Boreainz
This weather is bliss. No, it's not warm-sunny-picnic in the park type of weather, but dark-rainy-stay under the covers type of weather. Bit of a shame I have to go to work, but the up side is that I only have one lesson on today, so I can spend most of it hibernating in my office with the heater on and my fave music playing.
I'm working on a Surrealist theory assessment task for my Year 9's, and feeling quite productive this morning. I LOVE having the first lesson off. I remember when I used to have the last sessions off on a Friday, and although that sounds wonderful, I used to spend it in the P.E office doing nothing but socialise with my workmates, waiting for the bell to ring so we could escape for the weekend.
On a side note.. I tried the Cadbury crunchie ice-cream last night. No go. Waaaay too much honeycomb and not enough chocolate. Why, oh why, did they get rid of the Cherry Ripe one?
5 more working weeks to go.
Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the fact that it's Friday, and I have the whole weekend stretching out ahead of me. However, I tend to feel a little empty each Friday as I trot off home after work, knowing that all my friends are heading out for drinks at the Sandbar.I miss that.I feel a bit disconnected from them. I miss the days of gathering somewhere for tea then heading out and not coming home 'til closing. I know, I know... I have chickpea on the way, which I'm incredibly grateful for, but I just feel a bit out of it now. I really don't want to lose myself and just become a 'mum'.. I still want to be Rhi as well. Bleh, I feel like I'm not explaining myself properly. Blame the fuzzy, tired brain. But anyway, enough of the pity party. I'm about to head out to Video Ezy to see what's been released, and grab some takeaway for tea. I'll pick up Twilight while I'm there, so I can watch it again tomorrow. I'll have to find someone who has copies of True Blood too.. I'm quite intrigued by it but unfortunately we don't subscribe to the Showcase channel, so I haven't been able to see it!
Hmm. This has been a tough week, especially after having two lovely weeks of relaxation. I've had 2 extras already, a lesson (year 9 maths, ugh) and a yard duty. If I get another one today, I think I'll crack. I'm focusing on getting through today and just having a lovely weekend. I've been covering some numbers to put up in the nursery, so I'll finish them and pick up some nice baskets to put in the change table area. Maybe I can even convince Deon to put some shelves up.I think I need to start writing a list of what needs to go in my hospital bag, as a 'just in case'. Not that I don't trust Deon, but it will take the stress off him in case I need to go all of a sudden!I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed after antenatal classes last night about everything I still need to do. I'm keeping my eye on my favourite nappy bag on ebay, although I'm a bit disheartened as the price has jumped up rapidly in the last 2 days. I didn't want to pay full retail price for it, as it's quite exxy. A good point- the weather is just how I wanted it today. It's a rainy, cool, cuddly type of day. We haven't had one of these for about 2 months now. Please, please continue over the weekend... nothing is more soothing than the sound of rain on the roof while you're curled up on the couch watching a great DVD. Happy Friday everyone!
Saturday was going to be a super day. I'd waited a long time for it. Saturday was the day where Deon and I were picking up all the baby gear we'd had on lay-by for a few months, and changing our spare room into a nursery. Finally. I'd been so impatient, and frustrated, and grit my teeth many times over the state of that room, but it was happening.
So, we ventured into the store, paid off our layby and picked up a few little extras on the way. Frivolous things, like stuffed giraffes and lions, and a gorgeous blanket in cream and chocolate simply because it matched the change matt cover, and all because we were in that happy, new parents sort of mood. When we got home, we begun to set up the cot. I took the obligatory photos of Deon in the role of being a dad, piecing parts of it together. Then, I heard him say, 'Uh oh'. We discovered that there was a fault in the base, and the screw wouldn't line up with the thread, as it was bent. I was more than a little pissed off. This was a Boori cot.. surely it shouldn't have any faults?The store said we'd have to bring the base back in, and order a new one with a minimum two week turnaround. So, our nursery is still a work in progress. I'm keeping myself busy by creating blocks, working on wall art and playing around with the change table area.So.. no photos yet. They will appear, I promise, as soon as it's complete. At least, if anything, this is teaching me to be patient.
Here's our blank canvas, aka 'the nursery'. I've been holding off for so long because I keep changing my mind.. I just never seem to be satisfied with what I have planned out. It might be easier once I start moving the furniture in, and placing things on the walls. 
The wardrobe and cupboards.. so far the drawers are filled with little chickpea's clothes, and rails will be placed above for hanging space (hmm.. dresses or overalls? Who knows?!). 
As you can see, we have desk space built in as it was originally our study. I picked up the white linen basket from Spotlight, and placed brown ribbon around the top. I might pick up another one for storage, and place some more storage wicker baskets under the desk for toys, etc. I'd like some shelves put up on the far left side to put some animals or letters. 
The computer will be moved, and that space will convert into the change area. Wicker baskets will be placed there to hold all the wipes, etc, and I might place the dandelion decal behind it.
Mum is giving me her rocker, so the white cube shelves will be moved so it can fit in the corner. I would like another decal to stick on the wall, amongst the three paintings I've done. 
So, it's going to be a bit of a jigsaw puzzle, trying to decide where everything goes. Will update as soon as we get things happening!
So... first Huff and Puff class was last night. I was feeling slightly apprehensive. You see, up until this point I had taken on the role of an ostrich and pretty much buried my head in the sand about all the hard, messy stuff at the end. These classes would force me to face it, and I wasn't sure how I would go.But.. I was pleasantly surprised. The midwife, Sandra, was not at all scary and cold like the old bat I had at my booking in appointment. It was a nice small group of about 9 couples, which was awesome as the previous night had about 60 people in it! And, it really reaffirmed for me just how invested Deon is in all this, and will be right there with me through the whole way. He was interested, supportive and told the room that he wanted to both catch the baby and cut the cord. He said he'd be there the whole step of the way. Other partners said that they didn't even want to be in the room. I love him so much. He's going to be such a wonderful dad.
A little bit late, but here we go. I was 27 weeks on Monday.. and definitely feeling it!
I had my Glucose test today. Silly me didn't realise that it would take over an hour, so I didn't bring anything to read, and after sculling the sickly sweet drink (that made my stomach churn- not good when I was already feeling anxious about another blood test) I had to leaf through magazines that were several months old. Speaking of anxious.. not sure what is going on, but my hormones are all over the place. Crazy. I'm feeling uptight, anxious and panicky over just about everything. I turned up to my hair appointment 1 hour early. I had a brain lapse and put a vanilla slice in my bag, where it promptly squished all over my purse. Tonight I burnt PASTA of all things because I accidentally left the setting on high.It has to get better than this! I want my sanity back!
Oh, I love, love, love this range from KidsLine manchester.. it's called Bunny Meadows and has the exact colours we're looking at for our nursery. I won't be buying it, as mum and I will be making the linen for the nursery, but I'll be taking a lot of inspiration from it. 
Spent today doing a MASSIVE cleanout of the spare room and laundry so we have space for all our baby gear. I'm hoping we can pick the cot up sometime next week so we can assemble it and really start turning it into a nursery. I have so many ideas that are beginning to take shape!
Being pregnant has opened up a whole new world to me. A whole new world that involves many, many things to learn, and a thousand choices I will have to make both now and in the future.Today I was reading an article on a forum that I frequent by Miranda Devine. Before this week, I hadn't really begun thinking about a birth plan, and was quite unaware that there was a difference between home birthing and free birthing.
I now understand that while both take place at home, the former is done with medical assistance and a midwife, while free birthing is simply the mother, and maybe her partner or someone she feels comfortable with no medical intervention whatsoever. While I understand it's important for women to have a choice, and be comfortable with how they give birth, I cannot understand how a woman can place her baby at risk and refuse medical attention.
I personally feel that now I have little chickpea, my needs to 'birth comfortably' comes second, and I would do whatever necessary and in my power to make sure he or she arrived safely. And, that means having medical equipment close by to use if needed. I just find it completely selfish, and extremely self-indulgent that a woman believes it is 'empowering' to give birth completely on her own, and risk brain injuries, or worse, stillbirth, to their child. How can you place yourself and your own needs first? I find it especially insulting that some women refer to medical attention as 'birth rape'... please. Can we be any more dramatic or hysterical? Yes, my birth will be in a hospital, as I am neither selfish or naive enough to believe that I know better that those who are medically trained. This is not just my body.. I am also the guardian of my unborn child. I will never understand, and I don't particularly want to.
An update on Ruby Ella...
Just the L and A to go! I just adore the pink and chocolate.. if chickpea turns out to be a girl these are the colours I'd love to do for her room when she's a bit older.
The word of the day is... content.These holidays are exactly what I needed. I feel so happy, relaxed and am loving having each day stretching out ahead of me to do whatever I please. I also love that I'm being completely selfish each day, and don't feel that obligation to do something, and have mad cleaning frenzies or clean out cupboards, etc. Instead, I'm pottering around, taking my time to create things for the nursery, and resting as much as I can. I feel like I have my energy and spark back. It must be showing, as two random people stopped me and said I looked 'fantastic and glowing' when I was out shopping yesterday. How lovely, and what a way to make my day. So, anyway, today's list of things I'd like to get done:- Bag clothes to give to St Vinnies
- Pick up some embellishments at Spotlight for Ruby Ella
- Drop into Pumpkin Patch with my extra 15% off voucher (yep, naughty I know, but can't help myself!)
- Pack away spare books in the nursery
- Pay more off our cot layby
And if I don't get it all done.. there's always tomorrow!
I have my first order!A workmate saw some photographs of the blocks I created for Dee, and has ordered a set for her friend who has just had a little girl- Ruby Ella. I've gone with pinks, chocolates and creams this time, with a bit of a classic feel to them. 
I just love creating these, and have so many ideas of what to do next (after yours of course, Danielle!). I'm going to do some words ones next, have them professionally photographed then hopefully try and sell them in some local stores. Spread the word for me guys.. if you know anyone who is interested tell them to email me at vanillakat_21@hotmail.comOtherwise, I had my 26 weeks checkup with chickpea today, and all is still fantastic. I'm getting more and more impatient to find out whether it's a boy a girl.. but we still have a bit to wait! I keep calling chickpea both the names we've chosen, trying to get a feel for which one it could be and I'm leaning towards a girl... but who knows!
This is going to sound stupid, I know, but I still feel the need to get it out. Last night I had parent teacher interviews. I had just met a parent of one of my year 7 girls for the first time, when she asked me to stand up and turn to the side, so she could 'see if I was having a boy or a girl'.So, feeling a bit strange, I did so. She then studied me, and said, 'Well, you're very round at the front, and you've got a puffy bum, so you're having a boy.'A puffy bum? Way to go. Way to make someone feel crap about their body, and bring the insecurities back. I know I shouldn't let it get to me, but when you're tired, mentally drained and a bit hormonal, comments like that tend to stick with you.
29 1/2 Weeks.
