Elliot

Since my last blog we have welcomed a new addition to our family. Little 'Elliot' was born three weeks ago, seven pounds six ounces. Now a family of four, it has been an exciting but exhausting time! I am now familiar with the rubbish that is on the tv in the early hours...and have been burning up my pregnancy weight, walking up and down the stairs trying to alleviate colic. Elliot is however very beautiful and has brought real joy to our lives.

Dreaming of the sun

Poppies and onions in Brittany, France

Am developing a real interest in photography and am starting to put a collection of some of my favourite pics (that I've taken) up on here. I love France and the mediterranean and most of these were taken whilst holidaying there.

Last minute thoughts

I have reached the turning point! My bump that I have enjoyed seeing grow and change is a bulbous balloon and I am now struggling with everyday tasks. Standing up for more than ten minutes causes my hips to give way and the pain in my pelvis and lower back is unbearable. I don't remember being so immobile with Jess (my first child) but I suppose I was younger and fitter 13 years ago! I don't think I have craved exercise before but I long to be able to go for a walk, run upstairs and even stand at the sink and wash up without needing to rest half way through the dishes! It has made me determined that once our little baby is born, I will get fit and healthy again. Lands End to John O'Groats here I come! ( I have always wanted to walk this!!)

September has always been a time for change and new adventures. Even as a child the excitement of returning to school after the long summer break was thrilling and something to look forward to. I can still remember how it felt to have new shoes, a new bag and pencil case and be returning to a new classroom and teacher. The joy of my new 'material possessions' back then is something I crave now. I have replaced the pencil tin with my pair of size 12 jeans which I long to be able to get back into. I look forward to walking down the road with my new pushchair and long to get the moses basket out of the box and make the up the bed for our little bundle.
And yet these thoughts make me feel guilty. I feel slightly shallow that I am so looking forward to using these new material things. They seem so irrelevant compared to the precious and beautiful new life that will shortly join us. I cannot quantify how much this little baby will mean to me (and us as a family) and we long to meet him.
But I suppose it is also a reflection of todays society and maybe me as an individual, that has succombed to the allure and image of material possessions?

Last weekend we were visited by our kiwi relatives who came in fine form with humour, stories of their travels and the usual bottles of fine kiwi plonk. As a family 'en masse', we like our wine, but there are certain family and friends which allow you to drink more than you probably should! (I on the other hand refrained...and behaved with my bottles of fake non-alcoholic beer..not so much fun I hasten to add!). We enjoyed several lovely evenings and meals with the ultimate party on saturday night. I became chief photographer for the evening and have evidence of the drunken barn dancing in the garden, and my fathers spontaneous Egyptian sound and light show! (This in itself needs photos to be believed and involved my father dressed up as pharoah at the top of the garden, with garden cane framed pyramids...lit by candles, a booming soundtrack and a bonfire finale!
This week has been a little more subdued and with the bump increasing in size I have been taking it easy. My daughter has had friends around and they enjoyed a morning in the local woods, filming their re-enaction of Harry Potter. This is the second scene they have now filmed...and with the current timetable, filming will probably be complete in about 2030. To give them credit though, they have done a brilliant job, obtained costumes, written scripts and learnt their lines...and I look forward to seeing the final cut...at some point!
My daughter has now headed off into Cornwall for a camping trip with her dad and so I am now pacing the house, awaiting the arrival of bump. In truth, I am pacing the house, looking at the clumps of dust gathered on the floor, staring at the pile of ironing, checking the empty fridge incase some food should materialise and contemplating repainting the kitchen! Frustration has set in, but lack of energy and movement prevent me from achieving my perfect nest! Probably just as well!

Time on my hands

Am into my second week of maternity leave and despite having a list of things I had planned to do (Learn french, write my book, paint the landing, learn how to make mosaics..and generally nest!), I haven't the energy or will power to do any it! Todays highlight will be the delivery of my sainsburys shopping, probably followed by a few home improvement programmes and 'A place in the sun'.
Am missing the sun terribly at the moment. I am normally sprawled out in the garden the moment the sun appears, but pregnancy hormones and a warning by my optician that I have a UV sun spot on one of my eyes has made me rethink. I have even worn suncream this year...it goes against my beliefs, but I know I should be more careful!
Four weeks left now until I have baby number two! I have now reached the point where I wish the stork would just deliver a nice little parcel at the top of the garden. If only it was that simple! Still its all very exciting (if terrifying!) and I know once he's here that all will be well again.

Bun in the oven!

Spring has finally sprung after the coldest winter I have ever remembered. I dislike winter at the best of times, but am even more relieved this year to see the sun and temperatures start to rise. Roll on the summer!
Since I last wrote on here lots has happened, but my biggest news is that I am expecting a baby in August (another reasion for the summer to hurry up!). Its very exciting and I now have an ever increasing bump which seems to grow larger by the day (am now 21 weeks pregnant).
I also seem to have an increasing list of jobs that i need to get done before the baby arrives and so as the weather is lovely today I might get outside and spring clean the windows! (the nesting instinct has kicked in early...much to my husbands disapproval!)

Am now officially a Mrs! Am still getting used to it, but it feels right :-)

Our special day was everything we'd hoped it to be..very informal, with lots of family and friends in our garden. Our hay bales worked perfectly, the flower arranging and cake decorating came together and we only had the odd shower of rain to contend with. Everyone told me beforehand that the day would go very quckly and indeed it did..it whizzed by! but we have some lovely photos to remember the day with.

We went to Paris and then to the south of France for our honeymoom...which was again perfect! Costly!, but wonderful and well worth it. I wish we could still walk along Le Racou plage at night (us being the only people on the beach) with the sun going down, listening to the cicadas in the long grass. One day!