Of Antenatal Classes and Other Adventures

Christmas was my benchmark. It feels like now that it's over (why does it always pass so quickly anyway?), the floodgates are open and anything can happen when I least expect it - I feel a little bit like a ticking bomb. And strangely, while until a few days ago I was still somewhat terrified of things to come, I am now suddenly excited and (mostly) at peace with it all. Eager, even.

Yesterday saw me get down to business: I've finalised my birth plan (not that anyone will really look at it... I believe it's more for me and David to go into this with a clear mind than for anyone else), and have more or less finished packing my hospital bag.

Emily is very active lately, despite the decreasing amount of space (tell me about it). David and I sometimes just sit and watch her (well, my bump) tumble around, and all I wish for is a little window to be able to peak in and see what she's really up to. I can't wait to be able to hold her and snuggle her.

For the record, our NCT classes proved to be invaluable. We'd heard so many jokes (literally) about the NCT misguiding women, and perhaps this is sometimes true. However we were lucky enough to have a rather unbiased and really lovely group leader called Rachel, who, despite of course having her own opinions about things, didn't force anything upon us and was more than glad to provide us with whatever information we requested. I'd recommend these classes to anyone who's expecting in the UK.

So there it is: As I end this whirlwind of a year bouncing on my gym ball, feeling like a small elephant and running (in the way a penguin would run) to the loo every 20 minutes, I know there'll never be another year quite like 2010!

Here's hoping your year ends positively, dear reader, and that 2011 brings everything you wish for! x

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The Feast

The feast was a success! The Cranberry Sauce was impressively divine - and we of course have loads left over, which I am later on today going to try to make muffins with - watch this space! (Update: I never did end up making the muffins...) The Brussels Sprouts concoction was also very tasty - David even gave in and tried some, and he really hates Brussels Sprouts! The gravy, bearing in mind I'd never made gravy before nor was even familiar with the concept of how it's made (I was always simply served it until now!!), was also a success. Had I remembered to purchase a gravy boat, I'd have been that little bit happier.

The Turkey was popped into the oven around 09:30 before we sat down for presents and was really tasty, if ever so slightly dry at the core. Ultimately, it was my meat thermometer that let me down - I was sure it was done but the thermometer thought otherwise and I chose to listen to it. In the end, the thermometer and I agreed to disagree - I was so sure it was done that I chose instinct over gadget and wished I had earlier! Still, yummy.

And the Victoria Sponge, despite some mathematical mishaps on my part (of course) while baking, turned out really well and it was all gone by Boxing Day breakfast!

(And we're still alive!)

The day was exactly the way we wanted it to be: quiet and intimate and happy. We dropped by my sister's in the afternoon for a couple of hours and some more great presents. It was a fantastic Christmas Day, and it will only get better from here...

Best Wishes

Merry Christmas! Wishing you a very happy day, filled with loved ones, good food, lovely presents, peace in your hearts and smiles on your faces. Wherever you may be - near or far, in a hot or cold climate - here's wishing you the very best for the day x

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The Christmas Menu

I've a busy couple of days ahead of me. I've never cooked Christmas lunch before - we've always been guests at someone else's. This year we made an active decision to enjoy it as a family of two for the first and last time. And with that comes the responsibility of providing lunch, which if I'm honest, I'm quite excited about. I have some big plans but, assuming I remember to take the turkey out of the freezer tomorrow morning, I'm confident I can pull it off successfully.

Here's the menu:


I'm feeling very efficient... Wish me (and David) luck!

Recipes: Fruity Mango Chutney Stuffing · Cranberry Sauce · Gravy · Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Pine Nuts · Victoria Sponge

Spreading the Christmas Cheer

Baby brain is affecting my inspiration. And I have no inclination to try and fix it. So in place of words, might I instead offer you the opportunity to spread some Christmas cheer..?


"Many of the children here at Great Ormond Street Hospital are simply too ill to be allowed home for Christmas. That’s why, for the past 11 years, our Christmas appeal has invited our kind supporters to send messages of hope by completing a Christmas stocking. We then decorate the wards and hospital to make sure the children and staff feel special at Christmas time."
(Great Ormond Street Hospital website, The Great Big Christmas Stocking Appeal)



To send your message-on-a-stocking and make another person smile this Christmas, click here:


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10 Days

Just ten days left till Christmas. Is anyone else as excited as I am? There are gifts waiting under the tree - I can't wait for Christmas morning when they can all be ripped open. Our day this year is going to be a quiet one - just the way we wanted it to be. Next year will be so completely different!

It's already been an excellent December so far. My family was over visiting last week, which was lovely. Unfortunately I've now caught a cold which has me feeling pretty miserable and yet very reluctant to miss my last antenatal classes. I'm holed up at home on a diet consisting mostly of chicken soup, and mugs of hot water with honey and lemon, and I've even given in and am now taking paracetamol (I'm terrible about taking medicine on a regular day, let alone pregnant).

Speaking of which, Little Miss Emily seems to be picking up on my excitement for Christmas, rolling around and dancing all day long. That, or she's firmly fighting the ever-decreasing amount of space she now has to move about in ;)

I am loving being able to make out her little body parts as she moves. Her tiny hands actually tickle me sometimes. It's pretty incredible. I'm dying to meet her. (...7 weeks...)

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X Factor 2010

Has anyone actually missed this? I doubt it. But still... Matt Cardle won the X Factor last night, much to my pleasure. As much as I love Rebecca's voice, her stiffness/discomfort on stage began to bother me more and more as the competition went on (besides, I have no doubt she already has a recording contract in the bag).

So here's the winning single, When We Collide (originally named Many of Horror by Biffy Clyro, though I struggle to imagine a song with that name doing well in the run-up to Christmas...)

Ramblings

Where has this week gone? No seriously. Where? I've been so caught up in my little life, antenatal classes, nesting is setting in (I caught myself cleaning the doorposts yesterday...), and above all, preparing to welcome visitors from the Little Rock.

My 32 week midwife appointment yesterday went swimmingly (apart from the fact that I still won't get into the car and drive myself anywhere since our carport is in essence an ice rink - I called a cab).

But baby's heartbeat is strong, everything seems ok with me, and bump measures a perfect 32cm. I so love order. *pats bump*


So this entirely useless post is simply me wondering where time has gone. Something that seems to be the bane of my life at the moment. People assured me the last few months would go slowly. What planet exactly were these people from?!

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A Different Kind of Christmas

One of my little sisters is off on a soul-searching trip of sorts. She's been in Nepal for a few months and has recently moved on to India. While many people here mutter under their breaths (and behind scarves) about the cold, this is where she's spending her December...









The weather is warm. She has a daily swim, yoga, and sleeps to the sound of the waves. Jealous, much?!

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First Wash

The other day I washed the first load of Emily's clothing.
It felt like I was eight again, playing with dolls' clothes.
Such tiny, tiny things ♥

December Spotlight

How can you not love these whimsical hand-crafted pieces...



friedasophie: visit the store

Single Digits

31 weeks of pregnancy. Which in turn means 9 weeks officially left until the end of the pregnancy.

Nine.

Give me a minute, won't you? I'm not panicking, it's just that this unsettles me somewhat. Nine weeks is nothing. I remember a time when I was 9 weeks pregnant, and here I am with 9 weeks left. Don't mind me, as excited as I am, I'm just having some trouble wrapping my head around it...



*gulp*