Tipping

I've not been feeling very...bloggish of late. Can you tell? The season is slowly but surely tipping toward winter, the days are shorter and all my limited spare energies recently have gone on finishing off the nursery. Knox and I painted the whole thing a nice shade of duck eggish blue in one slapdash afternoon- it's a very small room and so we managed to cover it with a minimum of effort, although every time I go in there now I keep seeing patches where a second coat would have been desirable.

I've retrieved my trusty old nursing chair, formerly on loan to a friend and the cot is up- by some miracle, despite the various transitions that the bed has gone through over the last four years, I had managed to actually save all the requisite screws and bolts as well as the instruction manual. Since July, Botany is more than happily bundled in a big girl raised cabin bed, and she has batted nary an eyelash at her old cot reformed in her forthcoming baby brother's room. She's much more concerned about the baby assuming ownership of various toys- which would have long ago been culled off to the charity shop on the basis of non-use, had an eventual sibling not been anticipated. Suddenly, poor old Ugly Tartan Dog, ignored and unloved for months, becomes her new best friend, dragged around the flat for about an hour before discarded under the kitchen table yet again.

I'm still not sleeping very well, although there have been two minor improvements. The first is a gallon sized jar of indigestion medicine, available via prescription from my GP. It helps, sort of, with the burny though not so much with the queasy- which remains a problem at 3am- and not infrequently causes actual vomiting of the last dregs of whatever dinner I consumed at 6pm. The second weapon in the insomnia wars is one of those maternity pillows, the kind that wraps around your back and in between your legs like a python. I had hitherto considered such items as a somewhat expensive but unnecessary pregnancy indulgence- not to mention the fact that we already have approximately nine million other miscelleanous pillows on our bed already, much to Knox's chagrin. But the midwife suggested I give it a try and suddenly overcome with a fit of retail splurgery the other weekend, I bought one. And you know what? I looooove it. I don't know if it's actually helping me sleep all that much  better but it's cosy and supportive, plus I'll be able to use it as a breastfeeding cushion in due course.

At 31 weeks, Caveat is head down but I think- I believe- according to my research, rather fond of the back to back position that likely led to so much bother in Botany's case. So I am attempting to always lean forward rather than slouch back and to spend some time on my hands and knees every day. Tricky when sitting in an office for the majority of my time, although you'd be amazed at how many pencils I've been finding that need regular retrieval from under the desk. I don't know if my efforts will work in the long run-we'll see. In the meantime, Caveat is making himself comfortable with his feet propped up somewhere around my ribcage and his fingers doing some sort of constant interpretive mime in my pelvic region.

All continuing to be well, I have five more weeks of work until I go on maternity leave. I was rather smugly congratulating myself on having more of a prospect of a bit of pre-baby relaxation, since this time round we won't be trying to finish off a house move- and then I remembered that in addition to having a child who will still need looking after including shuffling off to nursery every morning, I have to do something by way of organising an actual and contingent Christmas. Mmph.

Oh, and the location of our holiday, since people asked- I don't think I'd be giving too much away to say we were in Turkey and we went this with this outfit. In terms of the overall expense, it wasn't actually too bad for a two week trip for a family of three, although I booked it relatively late during an off peak time, and we all shared a room, which kept the cost down considerably. None of which is do-able next year given the almost certain need for two rooms and the school schedule with Botany will starting primary one in August. Gasp.

The clocks turn back here next weekend. The heating is on, the leaves have turned. It's cold enough in the morning to need a hat and I've started wearing the winter maternity coat borrowed from a friend, a vast expanse of wool across what feels like my enormous girth. We have not long to go now, even if it still feels like a long plod to the finish line.

Comments

[It Is What It Is]

I am curious as to how it feels emotionally being pregnant this time with Knox and his son vs. with E and Botany especially in terms of just how much your life has changed since then...

[Sara]

Glad you've found a burning solution, even if the nausea still persists. The end of pregnancy is definitely tricky to manage. Good luck planning that contingent Christmas!

[Alexicographer]

Lovely, as ever, to hear from you and glad all is progressing apace, though I know this phase is -- was for me, at least -- indeed a weird blend between a never-ending plod and a breakneck ride. Hang in there (and keep us posted, when you can/want to). Also, v. funny about Botany and the toys ... !

[Sarah]

Sorry about the barfing! Ugh! Has the depression abated? Have I ever told you how happy I am for you? I am! So so happy.

[Lut C.]

Head down is a good place to start. Hopefully Caveat will change his mind about facing forward.
Perhaps one of those special back-activating cushions on your office chair could help? I don't know the proper name, they make you wiggle on your chair while you sit.

[Anna H.]

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo!