2nd March 2016

**This post may be a little ranty. Well, it's my blog, damn it, and therefore I shall do with it whatever I like!**

So here we are in March already. How time flies!

Except for me, it doesn't.

You might recall my little revelation in the last installation of this blog, back in October when I admitted to the world (which isn't massive...my readership is limited) that I was expecting a bambino!

We were given a due date of 26th February 2016. Back in August when we were given that date at our 12 week scan, it was an age away. To see it come and go...and then a few days after go as well (including leap day, which is a bit of a shame - that could have been fun. Probably not for the kid, I guess) it's a PAIN. Literally.

I am now 40 weeks + 5 days. Yes, 5 whole days. Which doesn't sound a lot and in normal day to day life it's not. When you've been preparing for something and are given a date to work towards, only for that not to happen...it's a bloody long time.

Plus I am getting loads of messages from people asking if I have had the baby yet and when I say no, I get the 'try this' or 'why not' messages back. I'M TRYING! I DON'T KNOW WHY I HAVEN'T HAD THE BABY YET. BABY DOES NOT WANT TO COME! I know people are just excited for us but it feels like we're being judged and doing it wrong because it's not here yet. I have no control over it, soz. All the usual methods of trying to encourage the baby to come have been tried. I won't list them here but you know what they are. Spicy food is the most commonly suggested one. We eat spicy food all the time. Was never going to be the winner!

Anyway.

I finished work when I was 36 weeks pregnant which was also right at the end of January. Perfect. That would give me 4 weeks with which to get everything sorted for the baby and have some time to relax.

I should have worked longer. I'm so bored.

Granted, I couldn't really work longer as I have developed carpal tunnel syndrome with my pregnancy which means my hands are in agony pretty much every single day and typing is a mare. Yes, it is actually paining me to write this post. You're lucky people.

I do get to wear these gorgeous accessories to bed every night though.

My gauntlets. So attractive. It's supposed to help ease the pain. It doesn't. Plus they're attached with velcro straps. Yeah - when you have carpal tunnel, your fingers hurt, go pins and needles-y and sometimes you lose your grip. So getting them off of a morning...not easy in any way.

Grr.

I have done as much nesting as I can. There's more I could do but all my enthusiasm has gone out of the window because I have no idea how long I'll have before baby comes! I might still have AGES to need things to do!

So yes, this baby, whomever it is, does not want to come and meet you, world. Are you offended? I am! My midwife says to consider it a compliment. That it's so happy and comfortable where it is, it doesn't want to go anywhere. I'll just take it's really expensive crib back to the shop then, shall I?

Sorry. That episode of Friends where Rachel is really cranky because she is overdue...it's true. I am Rachel.

ANYWAY. That's me. Grumpy McGrumperson.

So while I sit here in bed, because walking is painful because I have a fully grown baby in my belly that isn't coming out and it weighs quite a lot, I may as well see if I can catch you up on what's been happening since I last wrote.

Not a lot. I'm pregnant and therefore fun things (to me) aren't fun any more.

The end of last year brought lots of annual leave for me. Which I needn't have taken but they only told me that after I booked it all off and made plans.

The office was supposed to be moving from around the corner from here to a place in town. That didn't happen. No idea why. It was also supposed to happen whilst I was on annual leave. At least I didn't miss that, I guess. Although if it does happen now, I'll be on maternity leave. I don't think I was ever meant to be involved in the moving process!

We saved a hedgehog from suffocation. It had buried itself in a load of plastic sheeting and we weren't comfortable with it, so we put it in a box with some cat food, water and blankets. We don't have a garden so didn't want to leave it to roam the alleyways by us, with the rats and broken glass. We called the vets and they asked us to weigh him to see if he would survive winter on his own. He was on the border of the safe weight so we made the decision to keep him overnight.

Yeah, after emptying his bowels everywhere, he did a runner in the night and we never saw him again. Ungrateful so and so.

November was also Paul's birthday, so we went for a few lemonades (me) and beers (him) and a slap up Jamaican meal. Curry goat and rice and pea with dumplings. Delish.

We also decorated the spare room, ready for our little Puddin. Ha. Why did we rush? Sorry. I'll snap out of that.

You know me, I love decorating. This room hadn't been done since I bought the house (which completed on the 26th February 2008...why is that date such a big deal in my life?!) except for a bit of wallpaper and a few shelves. It needed a lot of TLC which we gave it. It still took FOREVER to do though. The walls were dreadful and unevenly plastered so we had to sand EVERYTHING. The paint had chipped on all the skirting revealing that previous owners had painted the whole room bright blue. Bright royal blue. Which required a LOT of primer and gloss to cover. Still probably needs another coat. Which I would do if I could hold a paint brush. But carpal tunnel means I can't.

I love being pregnant, can you tell?! ;)

We chose a shade of pale yellow, after I got obsessed with neutral paint swatches and had about 50 on the wall to choose from. It's a sickness. We both looked at them in different lights at different times of the day and narrowed it down to the yellow or a pale green. I did like the green but it was colder than the yellow.

It took 3 coats of the premium paint to get even coverage. I'd expect that with cheaper paint but not the quality stuff! Never mind, it got done and we're pleased with it. It's just the wood and metal work that needs some extra love but quite frankly I don't think the baby is going to care, somehow.



This is a before pic. Sort of. You can see where I've attacked the cracks etc with the filler!



Paul and sander trying to get rid of the blue under the white and pretty much failing miserably!



This is the best we could do without using paint stripper, which I can't use because oh, I'm pregnant.



A sort-of after shot. This is in bright sunshine with a clean carpet! It is nice and pale in real life, honest!

We also bought some stickers to decorate the walls so it felt a bit more like a baby's room. We can easily remove them and transfer them wherever we want and we're really pleased with them. Here's a sneak peek!

It's so tempting to put googly eyes on all the animals. It almost looks as though we have aready!

Just so you get an idea of scale:

There's a rather dishevelled Paul. Who is 6'3" tall.

So synthetic light makes it look REALLY yellow in there. Ah well, yellow is my favourite colour so I don't mind!

We have very kindly been given a cot bed by one of Paul's colleagues so that has also gone up in there.

The cats have claimed it. Along with the car seat and the pram carrycot which are being stored in the cotbed. We have had to cover everything with towels and cat beds to protect them!

Hmmm. What else...?

We went to visit Ted to pass all Christmas presents on to the family in the Midlands. He got to (sort of) meet his little cousin!



Patting my belly and saying 'baby' is just the cutest thing ever. Fact. Although he now calls me Caiyine and that is also pretty darn cute! He turned 2 yesterday! How can that be?!

What else...?

Oh yes. We had our baby classes! We paid to join a local group to meet other people who have babies due at a similar time to ourselves. They were good. We got to learn things and socialise. Plus Paul got to pretend to be a Daddy to a little one...although he may be demanding a DNA test in the near future...

We named him 'Smash' after a character in 'Friday Night Lights' which we binge watched.

What else?

Paul got a new company car. A shiny red one. I am a non-driving female. I know nothing about cars. It's shiny and red and goes brum. That's about it!

That's about it really. Everything has been about preparing ourselves for our little one's arrival. And we're still waiting.

There were 7 other couples in our baby classes. One couple didn't complete the sessions but we know they have had a little boy. The other 6 couples have also all had their babies. 1 boy and 5 girls.

Does this make my gut feeling that we're having a boy any stronger? Yes. I have thought we'd have a boy since pre-conception and that opinion hasn't changed. I am drawn to boy clothes and toys. I don't know whether that's because I'm used to looking for Ted or general instinct.

Now, to the cats!

Do they know I'm pregnant and things are going on with their Mummy? I really think so. I have to contend with this:

Unflattering bump shot!

Yes, it's a dirty rotten job. Maia loves bump. Bump loves Maia. They kick each other. It's cute. Except when it gets painful. Maia has some sharp claws on her back paws.

I was also extremely privileged this last Sunday when I was feeling sleepy and a bit sorry for myself.

 

I GOT A BARNEY CUDDLE!

An actual 'he came to me and wasn't forced into it' cuddle from a Barnacle! He was purring too!

Paul was upstairs (I take up a lot of room so no space for him on the sofa) and I had to send him a Facebook message from my ipod to come and have a look for himself. Couldn't reach my phone to text him and he couldn't hear me shout - the football was on.

It's a dear diary moment! He has been a little bit clingy recently. Cats are very perceptive, it seems. I have no idea what they are going to make of Junior if when (s)he eventually quits being a lazy bum and decides to be born. Maia is 10. I have had her for 9 1/2 of those years. She's Mummy's girl. Barn is Daddy's boy but apparently loves his Mama a little at the minute.

So I guess we shall see. I'm a bit worried - I'm not going to lie. They're used to being our babies but then having an actual baby who needs all our attention may put their noses out of joint. Maia will be terrified, of course, but Barn...jury is out.

And that's that.

Except for one last thing. Because I couldn't leave you all without a proper 'bumpie' showing how pregnant I am, could I?! Yes, there's a bump in the pic up there but that makes it look like I have a monster of a belly and that was a few weeks ago...oh...yeah...I DO have a monster of a belly!

Make up free and fake smile. You're just lucky I brushed my hair! The postman didn't get the same luck this afternoon! This pic was taken especially for this post as I typed. You're welcome.

For comparison's sake - he's the last pic I gave you at about 20 weeks pregnant. A whole half-pregnancy ago!

OH LOL! I felt massive there as well! HAHAHAHAHA PAST CAROLINE. Little did you know!

The one teeny tiny consolation I have is that if you look at me from behind (which I encourage, by the way), I don't look pregnant! I'm all bump and all up front. I've not really put any weight on as such (except in the belly and the udders) so hoping I won't need a whole new wardrobe after this child decides to grace us with it's presence!

I'm just grumpy because I'm impatient to meet our baby. Paul and I are so ready to get to know the little person that likes to dance at silly o'clock in the morning! We want to know if it's Phoebe or Phoebo!

What do you guys think? Girl or boy? Tiny baby or chunky monkey? WILL IT EVER ARRIVE?!

Feel free to comment with any guesses. And name suggestions. We're still on the market! My colleagues were suggesting loads of boy names before I left and all I kept thinking was 'great cat name'. Doesn't help with the baby thing!

I will post again after baby is here. No idea when. I'm sure there will be a social media announcement. Probably made by someone else, not by us, completely stepping on our toes to tell the world that our baby has come before we are ready to tell the world. Not that it's a pet hate of mine or anything...

Borrowed from the Kicks Count Facebook page. 

So to sum up - due dates are a load of rubbish that should be taken with a pinch of salt and should be renamed as guestimate date because only 5% of babies actually arrive on their due date which should therefore indicate THAT IT IS WRONG. Pregnancy makes you no fun and extra grumpy towards the end, except when you're all nesty, which is actually kinda fun and please let us tell the world we've had a baby - if you want to congratulate us, do it via direct messaging or text. Yeah.

Sort it out, science.

Y'all have missed me, haven't you?!

Catch you on the flip side, when I'll be a Mummy! Unless this baby never comes and I feel the need to rant again...

23rd August 2014 - Cutie Pies!

No lazy morning lie in for us. Paul had a bad night's sleep so that was extra crappy. We had places to go and people to see!

We sorted out a few things then headed on down the motorway to go and see a couple of old friends and their kids! We hadn't seen them since the wedding so it was good to have a catch up. We're all going on a little break away for a few days next June so we were talking about that as well!

I didn't take any pictures there, as I was saving my camera for the next big deal. Wait for it...

This will be the most overused gif. Thank you again, Tumblr!

Yes, we took a trip to see my bro and sis-in-law and of course, the gorgeous little Ted! SQUEE! It's been nearly 2 months since we've seen him and he's now nearly 6 months old!

Want to see how cute and gorgeous he is? Well ok, then!

YAAAAY!

He's got so big and smiley and cuddly and he's ace. Yes, I'm bias. I don't care!

Here we are having fun with Daddy!

I could just eat him up! But I won't, as he wouldn't be here being cute!

The other cuties of the house were busy being cuties. Naughty, but cute!

Bella really shouldn't be there...but she looks cute so how can you say no?!

Meanwhile...

SUPERTED SHOOTS THROUGH THE AIR!

Meanwhile, there was belly.

Boris Belly! I heart Boris belly. Always.

Time for more Ted cuddles? Go on then! He then managed to grab my phone, suck on it a little, change a few settings and take a selfie! YAY! Go Ted!

I think he's a genius. He's smiling and almost got his face in shot and in focus. He's only 5 1/2 months old! I say it's brilliant! (Bias again, perchance?!)

We watched the Grand Prix qualifier and Annabel knocked together a mean Victoria Sponge just like that! We enjoyed a slice, then decided to head to the local pub for a beverage! It's only a short distance, which is good and as the sun was shining, it was a great idea!

Ted was very enthusiastic about having his first pint!

The beer has some sort of hypnotic effect on Ted! This depleted the more of the beer that was consumed.

So Daddy had to get another pint. Uncle Paul had to get one too. For the hypnosis, you understand!

I walked around with Ted for a while, getting sips of my drink whenever I can! We also had some more selfie time!

Not sure Ted was as eager to have his pic taken with his Auntie Whiney as I was with him but I'll get a grin one day!

He was getting a bit grouchy so went back to Mummy for comfort. We then went home for a few giggles (too CUTE!) and bathtime. It was time for us to make another visit. This time to my parents' house for tea! WHOOP!

We had a very nice roast beef dinner, some wine and a chat. All too soon it was time to head back up the motorway and back to our very extremely hungry kitties! We had a cheeky gin and tonic when we got in and then headed to bed!

PREVIOUSLY...

2013

17th August 2014 - Fun times!

We slept quite well last night! Not amazing, but not bad! This is progress, people!

Paul got up early to have breakfast as he was going to a Military Fitness course in a nearby park. When asked if I wanted to go, I may have laughed in his face. Just a tad.

Instead he dropped me off at the shops as I decided I wanted to bake a cake and we had run out of a few things I needed! I had a leisurely saunter round, picked up what I needed (and a few things I didn't expecially need) and then walked home.

I then remembered I takes well over an hour to bake the cake. Hmmm. I did it anyway, because otherwise my trip would have been wasted!

Paul got home, a broken man, showered and cooked a pasta sauce that we had made a few years before and not since. It was  requested by my friend Lucy's husband and as we were taking it over to their house to go visit them, we complied! The cake was also for Lucy's husband as it's his favourite!

We were a little later than intended leaving the house but not too bad and headed a short way down the motor way to see them! I noticed this painted on the bridge overhead.

The Pies. Because that's what bridges should have painted on them?! I think they're a band or something? I don't know! I remember a building I could see from my Uni had pies written on the side but it's been a while since I saw it on a bridge. I now have a hunger for pie.

We got to Lucy's house and were greeted by A! We got to meet A's little brother B! YAY! He's so cute and tiny! Well, they should be at 3 weeks old!

We chatted for a while as Paul and Lucy prepared lunch and it was good to catch up! I got a cuddle with the new little addition to their family too, which was lovely!

After lunch, I had more cuddles with the cutie pie and played with A, who was being a naughty cutie pie...but I'm used to them!

Lucy also showed me some of the cute clothes she has been given or has bought for B!

Totally adorable flat cap! Bit big for him right now, but SQUEE! We also dressed him us as the Very Hungry Caterpillar and he wiggled about which was cute!

We stayed a good while and then came home. We were both still full from lunch so didn't have a big dinner so had sausage sandwiches and watched Dead Poets Society as Paul has never seen it. He enjoyed it. So sad.

Then to bed.

PREVIOUSLY...

2013

8th June 2014 - Mum & Dad's 40th (Ruby) Wedding Anniversary

My Mum and Dad have been married for 40 years! Cripes! That's a bloomin' long time!

As today is a special day, we agreed to go down to see them today! Which involved getting up, dressed and ready at a completely unreasonable hour for a Sunday morning!

Still, it was all worth it to see this cheeky face...

...

Wait for it...

...


...

From Tumblr. This will never get old. Sorry.

"I LOVE THAT JOKE, AUNTIE WHINEY!"

Google plus made me a gorgeous gif of the mountain of pics I took! I love it! You can all coo over him too!

I JUST LOVE HIM SO MUCH!

We all trundled along to my Dad's church for a nice Pentecost service (which was loooooooooooooooong) and were given a nicely decorated pew to park ourselves on by the choir!

The reason we went to Church was to witness Mum and Dad renew their wedding vows! After 40 years their Ruby Anniversary being on a Sunday, it had to be done!

AW!

It was a long service but was worth it to see Mum and Dad do that and they got a jolly big round of applause afterwards! :)

From church, we all headed back to Mum and Dad's to get the party STARTED!

Not before a quick group shot!

Aren't we a pretty bunch?! Photo was taken my my parents' next door neighbour who couldn't fathom out how to use the digital camera. Was quite entertaining!

This is the card I got for Mum and Dad. Mum thought I'd made it. HA! Like I'm this talented. I bought this from the very wonderful Jill Chapman on Folksy! One day I'll be this good...maybe...

Smiling Teddy likes it! :) We got him this little suit and it fits and he's gorgeous!

We had some grub, which was nice and chatted away! Ted was fed and had a nap, it was all nice! Then for the best bit! The cheese!

We got this yesterday, can't remember if I said! It was delish! We even got to bring some home which is extra awesome!

Then time for more chilling!

Teddy had some time with Granddad! I think Granddad enjoyed it very much!

Ted enjoyed it too!

Of course, Grandma had to steal him back!

Then he was passed to Paul!

Aw!

Of course I got cugs too, but no one photographed those. Boo. I got smiles and coos but also gurgles and grimaces. So it was time for Teddybear to go home to sleep!

We stayed a little longer. It was then that Charlie got into a fight with a neighbours cat and was roughed up quite a lot.

This is before the fight. He hid under the sofa and wouldn't come out. His paw was bloodied but he wouldn't let us look at it. He played a little under the sofa but wouldn't come out. We let him stay there. He'd come out eventually.

Before we left I snapped this picture:

This was the rose that Paul and I gave to my Mum as a thank you gift. It's fair to say that it's flourishing just a little!

We headed home and got back so Paul could watch the end of the Grand Prix, then we watched 'Soccer Aid' which was entertaining. Then time for bed after an exhausting day!

Happy 40th anniversary, Mum and Dad! Here's to many more!

PREVIOUSLY...

2013