Baby Shower. Baby Buys. Other Buys.

On my last day at work I walked in to find my desk like this:

This is as close to a baby shower as I'm going to get and it was really nice. I didn't have a baby shower for Bubby or this baby as I'm just not into that sort of stuff. Yes, my desk was already a complete mess before the decorations were put up. I had a super hectic last few weeks and had no time to file anything or tidy up before rushing out in the afternoon to get Bubby from daycare on the other side of Sydney. I work in the West, Bubby's daycare is in the East and we live up North. Crazy.

We are pretty much set for the baby, there are only a number of things I still need to get. I have bought the new baby some new clothes and bedding just so he's not going to be in hand me downs all the time. I still have to get:

1. A baby carrier. I have decided on the Ergo Baby carrier but can't decide which design to get. I really want this but hubby will probably say no as it's a 'girly' colour. Hello, I'm the one who's wearing it. But then maybe he'd want to wear the Ergo too. I doubt it.

I also thought this zebra one is very fashionable:

but I can already hear his reaction to that idea and it's really not very nice. He really shouldn't use language like that even if it is just imagined in my head.

This is the third option:

It's not as fun, I like the colour but I don't really like the stars. I wished it was plain except for the insert pattern.

I'll probably go with boring khaki at least it's not black and it will match the Bugaboo Bee which Bubby is still using.

Source

Speaking of the Bugaboo Bee and Bubby, I thought I would just get a skateboard attachment for Bubby and but the baby in the pram but Bubby can't be trusted not to run off as he has done a couple of times. Plus Bubby's daycare has no parking so we park on the street and walk, I can picture him running away and I'll have to abandon baby in pram to chase Bubby. I'd rather have free hands to hold Bubby and his bag. The daycare also has lots of stairs so I can't bring the pram anyway.

2. A second video camera for the baby monitor. Some people say a baby video monitor is a waste of money and I couldn't disagree more. It would be at the very top of my list of baby must haves. In fact, I think the video baby monitor is the only baby item that I still use now and will probably continue to use until he moves out. I'm dead serious.

And those are pretty much the only two things I still need for the baby. I've already even stocked up on newborn nappies.

And now on to the Other Buys. I had to buy new shoes as during this pregnancy I went through 3 pairs of shoes. I know I've been literally dragging my feet a lot what with the hip instability and all but 3 pairs of shoes!

They're from Diana Ferrari and ended up being 50% off retail price. Too bad Myer didn't have this style as I had lots of Myer gift cards. I usually shop around before buying things but I didn't have the energy. Anyway, who can go wrong with Chanelesque, quilted two-tone with patent leather toes and a bow? Everything good in the one pair of shoes. I haven't had a chance to tell hubby that I bought new shoes. Now he knows. Just so you know, babe, my last pair of cream shoes has a hole in the sole which explains why my foot got wet when it was rainy.

I also got this navy cardigan from Target. It's nice and soft, and better still, marked down from $35 to $3.71. That's less than what you'd pay for a mocha. 

I also got this dress also from good old Target. Also 50% off. This is obviously for when I return to pre-baby size. 

This is current size (37 weeks). I have a loooong way to go before pre-baby size.

The Real Maternity Leave Starts Now.

Well, yesterday really. I took the car in for servicing and went to the city for a spot of retail therapy. I was hungry so I had to have breakfast:

I've been craving big breakfasts like this lately.

I then took care of some business for the upcoming hotel hospital stay.

You know what it's like when you have official forms to fill in but only have pink or purple pens. No? It's just me?

I didn't end up buying anything but it was still nice to be able to window shop even if it was a quick one. I did try on these shoes in various colours.

There's just something about patent leather and bows. 

Then I had to have lunch.

Don't be fooled. This was my dad's lunch. I couldn't force myself to eat if I wanted to after my big breakfast.  I nibbled on some of his chips.

Finally took Bubby to ride on a carousel. He was going "Wee!" as it went round and round. He didn't want to get off but I managed to convince him that other kids need to have a turn too. Luckily, he's a pretty good kid. Most of the time. 

I tried to catch up on Game of Thrones but didn't know how to work this.

Damn you, stupid smart tv.

Hubby is home and he showed me. So now you know what I'll be up to in the next few days. Game of Thrones, Mad Men, Breaking Bad and whatever else is on Netflix and Hulu. In between shows I probably ought to wash the baby's clothes and bedding and cook big batches of food to fill the freezer with.

Maternity Leave, Although You'd Never Guess It.

I am very annoyed. I have been on maternity leave for a week now but it looks like this:

I had reports I needed to write but I couldn't finish because I didn't have all the data and wasn't available until a couple of days ago. Then today I got emailed a revised version which wouldn't even have been passed on if I didn't harass my colleagues for a final version. I really should be spending this time with Bubby instead of having this hanging over my head. Really annoying. 

Anyway, almost finished. I was just having an oreo and tea break and having a whine. Tomorrow i have to take the car in for servicing and I will be treating myself to some EOFYS and a good lunch and hopefully have enough time to take Bubby to those ride on carousel things that malls have. I've been promising him for so long.

Bubby's Birthday and 'Boxing Day'.

We celebrated Bubby's second birthday yesterday. I can't believe that this tiny little thing is now 2!

The days of the 3 AM feeds.

We started the day with blueberry pancakes.

Then Bubby and daddy headed to the city to go shopping for presents and came back with just about every toy that Bubby touched at the stores minus the ride on Lamborghini only because hubby realised he can't carry it back to the car. I wonder if he remembers that Bubby already has a ride on car he got for his birthday last year.

Bubby helping his daddy blow up the balloons.

The "happy birthday car cake". Bubby has been looking forward to blowing his cake for weeks. He'd make a cake out of play-doh at daycare and stick paddle pop sticks in it and pretend they're candles. We had to re-light his candle at least four times. I think he really enjoyed it.

After he licked and chewed on his slice of cake he decided to put it back and 'fix it'. Yeah, we didn't end up eating that cake.

And here are some photos from this morning. The 'Boxing Day'. 

He made this truck all on his own.

And this plane too.

 

I tried to put the balloons in the playpen but apparently they have to be in the kitchen. *Sigh* This house will never be tidy.

Look how happy he is though.

Happy birthday my gorgeous little boy! You are such a joy <3.

Bubby's Big Boy's Bed

Finally, after months of sleeping on a mattress on the floor Bubby's big boy's bed has been assembled and he has made a successful transition. Not only did he transition to a bed he also transitioned into a new room. We've talked about it for weeks so he knew that it was going to be his new room and that he will have a new bed like mummy and daddy's bed. His old bedroom will be the baby's nursery as it's already set up as one.

He couldn't wait to climb on it.

The very first thing that he did as soon as he was on the bed.

More jumping as well as running and rolling around.

Bedmates.

Wrestling his toys. He was wrestling around with the bear and saying "I love you, bear" when he rolled off the edge and landed flat on his front. He was perfectly fine so we decided he didn't need cushions on the floor.The bed also isn't that high anyway which is great. 

He sleeps really well right through the night and hasn't rolled off the bed while asleep. He really loved his new bed and didn't even want to go downstairs for his dinner on the night that the bed was first assembled. He still sleeps in a sleeping bag as I don't think he'll keep the quilt on and it's just way too cold to just leave him in pyjamas. Pillows and blankets will be the next phase. Still need to decorate his room but I have a few ideas and projects in my head while I'm on maternity leave.

One more week of work to go! I finish up next Thursday but have to come back a few times to pack and submit a couple of reports but the end is in sight! Just as well because I'm losing the plot a little. I keep losing things only to find them pretty much right in front of me or filing things in the wrong places. The other night while driving home Bubby shouts "This way!" and points to a road I just drove past. I tried to explain to him that it was not the way home only to realise it was actually our street that I just missed. Definitely time to switch off.

Hello Pregnancy Insomnia.

Why, oh why can't I sleep despite being so tired and sleepy? Is it my body preparing me for the 3 AM feeds? You'd think a few weeks of good rest would be a much better way to prepare, wouldn't you? Six more weeks of this is going to kill me.

There are things to look forward to, other than meeting the baby. Being able to wear my normal clothes again would be great, no more back pains and being comfortable in general. Actually, since I fell down the stairs a couple of weeks ago my back has been very good. All the money I've spent on physio and all I needed was a good slide down the stairs. It would have been wiser not to have taken Bubby down with me though.

I'm also very much looking forward to the following things:

I want a whole platter waiting for me in recovery, please.

Chocolate hot fudge sundae. I will settle for a large one from McDonald's.

Nine more working days to go. I can do this!

Saturday Sleep In.

My Saturday sleep in really started with a 5 AM wake up because Bubby woke up crying. I thought he might have been cold so I turned on the heat but he kept on crying for a while so I decided to lie down next to him. I fell asleep but he kept waking me up because he was trying to pat me to sleep. By patting I mean hitting, being gentle is something he hasn't mastered yet. It actually was pretty cold in his room especially since I didn't have a blanket so it triggered my asthma. Hubby took over and I went back to bed. I woke up at 8 AM to find father and son gone from the house. Hubby ducked in to work with Bubby and drove through McDonald's on their way home.

Not only did I get to sleep in I also didn't have to cook breakfast!

After breakfast Bubby helped his daddy with the gardening and cleaning.

Isn't my camellia just gorgeous? I really wished I wasn't coming home so late these days so I can admire it. Not to worry, four more weeks and I will be on maternity leave!

Who doesn't like pink petals on the ground?

I really wish people would stop telling me I look tired. I'm heavily pregnant, I work full time, I run around after a toddler and hubby has been working interstate for several weeks now, I have been and still am sick, of course I'm bloody tired and look it. Is pointing it out supposed to make me feel better? Anyway, I'm hoping to get a haircut tomorrow. I'm hoping I will end up looking like Katie Holmes pre-Tom Cruise divorce before she looked hobo/boho. 

She doesn't look tired. She probably has an army of nannies and housekeepers and she doesn't really work, does she?