Here I am again. Aria has just turned two (yAy) and I have some hope of resurrecting my blog.
Alex is on sabbatical but I would like to say "we" are on sabbatical as the three of us are doing this whole six month hiatus together. I have a lot of time on hand and Aria is two; good enough reasons to fill in a new page here? Nod, nod.
Let's keep this one really short and crisp as I must admit I do feel a bit rusty on expressing my thoughts on paper. Or even think my thoughts through to their end?
Sitting in NL, it's almost three months since we left Sydney and I do feel a bit lost. A bit nomadish. Full stop.

This week I am officially full term. 37 weeks. This means, I can have our baby anytime now in the next 3 weeks. A scary yet happy thought. Scary thought: Are we really ready to be good, responsible, example-setting parents? That's more a long term worry. In the short term, am I really ready to go through with the whole 'labour' rigmarole? I haven't really pictured the whole scenario in my mind as yet, which is not very consoling. Packing bub's and my bags, washing and disinfecting baby's new clothes, getting the cot accessories set up and contemplating writing the infamous birth plan have all been fighting for undivided attention. Happy thought: The long wait is finally coming to mean more than just the number of weeks pregnant we were. I simply can't wait to see those smooth little toes and fingers for real now. I have a 100 different images in my pregnant, slow head re how our baby will look. Lean and sober like AE or short and bubbly like me? Pouty hot lips or thin dainty ones? I don't beg to differentiate the nose as both AE and myself are quite geometrically blessed in that regard. A head full of hair like Papa or a bald plate like Daddy? Funny images indeed and I can go on and on. :)
On more technical matters; at the last OB appointment, Dr Bellingham felt I was a bit big for size. So off we went down the corridor to 'weigh' our not so lil one. It turned out to be an approximation and 3.2 kgs is not too bad (I think). Hopefully I wouldn't have it too hard. Well, let's wait for Bellingappachan's pearls of wisdom at our appointment next week.

The date is getting closer and suddenly there has been a lot of baby related activity. We attended our intensive antenatel weekend class, which was, to put quite mildly, overwhelming! It was a fun 10 couple group; a lot of laughs and fun, yes. BUT, towards the end of the session things got a bit serious and graphic. I left the class that day seriously contemplating an elective caesar.
A few days later friends in Sydney had organised a "surprise" baby shower :) Sorry to disappoint but the surprise didn't quite last 4 days leading to it. I happened to hear a voicemail that AE was listening to on speaker on his swanky new mobile.
At my weekly OB appointment that week the usual rigmarole ensued. Position: C; BP: Normal; Swelling: none; Pee: Perfect!; Fundal height: 34; Heartbeat: a horse gallopin away...well what more can I ask for? :)
A hospital tour last weekend delivered us into the transitory birthing units and post-natal wards at the Westmead Hospital. Nothing fancy at the birthing unit. Four walls, a ceiling, a floor, a bed, some gas etc. The newly built wards were swanky and had the looks of a 5 star hotel. That's something to look forward to while cuddling and relaxing with bub.
And to top it all, we have been on this shopping spree, gearing up for the baby's arrival. Our garage space is getting smaller and smaller as I get bigger and bigger!
This weekend, Sunday, September 9th to be precise, mama will arrive in Sydney. Coincidentally it's Grandparents Day! I'm sure she will be super-thrilled when she hears that!

For the first time since the start of this year and other good things, I am alone. Very alone. AE is in the US and it was meant to be a fly by night trip. Unfortunately airports, the weather and runway conditions don't make things as smooth as we would like them to be. I have never felt this alone before when he travels. It might have to do with my hormones or plain boredom. Uni is over and I really have nothing to do to keep myself occupied. The weather is so pathetic, I can't even take a walk for a breath of fresh air. I was hoping he would get some vague connection and make it back as per plan. But no. He is going to be delayed by another day and night. And to think, I have been watching the hours tick away and counting the nights alone on my fingers: 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 and now 2 again. I am feeling as low as one ever can. I don't even feel upto hanging out or catching a movie, which is not me at all! My emotions are running sky high. I really don't know how to handle this.

After a long and busy weekend, Monday morning came along. (What is it with me and Monday mornings??) I simply didn't feel up to going in to work and decided to stay in. Looking back on that decision now, I'd say it was a good one. Around 10am, last night's Thai dinner didn't seem to agree with my bub; and an hour later, he/she gave me my first bout of morning sickness! It came as quite a bolt of reassurance. The last few days I hadn't been feeling much, rather, feeling pretty much like myself again and was beginning to wonder if I really was pregnant after all! Well, a reassurance is quite welcome though it is rather uncomfortable. I better lie down now.