Summer begins down under 2013

Live down under continues to be busy for us. October ended with a Halloween party at Jeff and Gayle’s house. This is an annual fancy dress party and is great fun. Mark’s costume was the talk of the party. He appeared to be the children’s favourite.

Can you guess what he is?

Jeff and Mark

November this year saw Mark try and grow a moustache for Movember.

After a relaxing holiday with Jane we have spent most weekends getting the house ready for our new arrival. I have reorganised all the house cupboards, so we can make space in the spare room. Mark’s office has been moved to the dining room and Mark has been learning the first thing to fatherhood, how to put the cot up. Just a few more things to do and the room and Mark and I, I think will be ready.

Cot cover made by my godmother when a was a child. 

 

As well as preparing the house we have been attending weekly antenatal classes at the hospital where the baby will be born. We have learnt how to swaddle babies, change nappies, how to put to bed to avoid cot death. We have also learnt about what is happening to my body and what will happen during labour. I am happy to say that I am feeling a little better about it all, following these classes. Last week we visited the labour ward and Mark checked that he would be able to park the car in the car park (high raised parking, meant he was worried that the car would be too tall with the roof rack to get in.). I am glad to say that all is fine. Our last class next week is about breastfeeding. I have to give Shelly our midwife during these classes a shout, because she has been fantastic and so understanding.

In November my friend Liz held a baby shower for me. I have to say as my first experience of a baby shower. It was great fun and she did an amazing job. So again a big thanks has to go to Liz. I had a lovely afternoon. She had set the room up like an English garden party and she even had cucumber sandwiches Dad. After I told her about what you ate the night before Anna and I were born. We played a number of games. One of my favourite game was, guest the baby. This is when everyone brings a picture of themselves to the party and people have to guess whom the baby is. I have to give mum and Sue a thanks for the baby photos. I think I may have to work out a way of getting some photos of Mark and I when we were kids. I thought I might do a collection of photos to hang up somewhere. Family history in a picture, I think I will call it. This may have to be a 2014 project.

Chris and Azizh

Georgia

Liz

Claire, Chris, Annette, Chris

Azizh, Lynne, Yasmine

Me at 31 weeks

Work has been keeping us both busy. I have been settling into the Neurological Vision Team and learning about how neurological vision loss effects people. I have really enjoyed the last few months in this team; they are a great group of people. This work sadly has to be put on hold from 24^th December, as from 25^th December I will be on a year’s maternity leave. To round my time off with this team we held our Christmas party last weekend. We hired a bus and spent the day in the Barossa Valley wine region. As wine is off the agenda for a pregnant lady I spent the day playing croquet, eating pizza and enjoying some lovely views. During my Barossa wine tour Mark enjoyed the day at the cricket with Jason.

Gareth and Peter

Abby, Mel and Holly

Laura and Janelle

Left to right top row - Gareth, Holly, Adrian, Azizh and Janelle

Left to right middle row - Abby, Mel, Laura, Peter

Left to right bottom row - Claire, Tracey, Kris, Sandy

Since I last wrote the blog I continue to work on the Professional Development Committee for the Australia Occupational Therapy Board of South Australia. In mid October I helped organise and run a state breakfast for OT week and I have helped arrange the Professional Development calendar for 2014.

The list of papers that Mark has written continues to grow and he has had a number of field trips to enjoy. Including a week in New South Wales to learn a computer stats program. He has also been very busy with grant writing and interviewing for a post doc position, which he won the funding for earlier this year.

Last weekend after my day in the Barossa I met Mark at Jason and Georgia’s house for a BBQ with the children. I haven’t seen my godson Ben since late October. He has now started walking but still has some time for a hug. Juliet (3 Years old) has become more and more interested in my bump and spent some time on Sunday evening trying to undress me so she could see the baby and Rhys continues to develop his skills as a big brother.

Ben

 

Ben and Juliet

This weekend the baby prep continues and we have to collect our Christmas tree and attended my end of year staff party on Saturday afternoon. Thanks to mum I am beginning to feel it is a bit more like Christmas. I may even have to decorate the Christmas cake this weekend.