The OB check was fine and Al got to listen to the heartbeat again. She had further good fortune when the sudden increased requirement to visit the toilet disappeared. I'm assuming the baby got bored with that part of the uterus, and moved to areas less bladder squishing.

The baby is moving regularly, particularly in response to external influences like Al eating or drinking, music, bumpy car trips, or even a ride in a lift. There is another external influence that the baby almost always reacts to - but when she remarked upon it she gave me one of those looks, and said that information was just between her and me. I found it interesting - so check the first paragraph out and look at the word before "disappeared"...

Al's been remarking on when I might actually be able to feel the movements. She has been lounging on the couch, hands clasped on her bare belly, waiting for the baby to move. It certainly seems to have a sense of humour, because as soon as her hands touched her belly it would go still. Anyway, during an active period Al called me over and too my great surprise I got to feel the baby kicking. Feel your pulse on the side of the neck. They are like a single extra strong pulse. When I'd comment, Al would say she had just felt the baby kick. That's kind of cool.

We read the pregnancy book tonight - week 23. It mentioned some experts suggest the baby might actually be thinking at around this point. We are certainly having fun interpreting its reactions to what is going on around it, regardless the scientific basis for doing so.

The Melbourne Formula One race is on this weekend. Today (and tomorrow) my work gave an open invitation to staff and their partners to go down to the company unit. It overlooks a surprisingly sizeable proportion of the racetrack. Al caught a Taxi to my work (a horror ride - she figured she was in trouble when he did not know where one of the most well known and travelled roads in the city was). We walked down to the Unit, partook in some of the mass of food being catered, and watched the F1 afternoon practise session. You could take in the full sound of the cars (especially from the balcony), and get a good sense of their speed and massive acceleration. We have gone to the track previously - through a previous employer, but probably enjoyed this more.

Tonight we are just relaxing. Tomorrow we will be doing more running around for baby stuff, and then have friends coming around for dinner. Sunday I might watch the race, while Al does more baby stuff shopping with a friend, who wanted to give tips on brands and good things to buy.

Posted by Doug at 10:45 PM

Slept in a bit this morning, then went shopping. Picked up another print for our house, and a number of baby related wall decorations. These have gone up in the nursery, and already soften the look. Spent the afternoon watching car racing on TV, and doing some cleaning up around the house. Have friends coming around shortly for dinner.

Posted by Doug at 7:18 PM

The visit from friends on Saturday night went fine. The wife was around 34 weeks pregnant now. She has never been overly excited about the whole process, but does now seem to be looking forward to seeing the baby. She just finished a hypnobirthing course, and had brought along some material. One of Al's pregnancy buddies did the same thing, and both have suggested it was worth a look. The initial tone of the literature, and the name of it alone, was enough to raise a sceptical frown. Still, the core of it is simple and makes sense. Birth is a natural thing, that you don't need to stress over, and that doesn't need to be particularly painful. Anyway, I'll let Al read the information we have, and if she is interested, we might find out more.

I then vegetated all Sunday in front of the computer and TV. Al went out baby product shopping with one of her pregnancy buddies - and came home with nappies and wipes and other such paraphernalia. It was good to have some recommendations on what brands to try first, and what items should be more useful than others.

We got the news on Monday that the friend we visited the previous weekend gave birth to a baby boy. I think it was at 36 weeks, so a little prem. Mother and baby are doing fine.

Had a few dreams lately that included babies. In one I was doing something with Al when I had the sudden thought of where we had left the baby. When I asked, Al just pulled a bassinet from behind her back and said "don't worry, I've got it here". Mmmm, strange dreams even stranger.

Posted by Doug at 5:49 PM

The last couple weeks in summary...

. Got the car serviced

. Checked out some toy storage solutions - more shopping required

. Had a roleplaying evening at our place

. Parents came down to visit. Dad and I went manly shopping. Mum and Al purchased bedding and related items for the nursery

. Attended a performance workshop dyno day

. Purchased three prints for the Nursery - all of teddy bears

. Enjoyed a public holiday playing Gran Turismo 4. Much needed day of relaxation

. Further work done on the car, highlighted during the service

. Al got a pay rise

. I'm getting a new position description

. Al's Mahogany bookcases delivered. Bigger than expected, but look fantastic

. Went to parents place and hunted both days of the weekend

. Al attended a Tupperware party

. Al attended an engagement party

. Al spent up big on baby items and maternity clothes

. Had tradesman visit, paid a deposit for a custom wrought iron gate

. I visited the dentist, had two fillings and about 8 needles over almost three hours. Blah

Al is suffering from an upset stomach at the moment, and is visiting the toilet with embarrassing frequency. She is still smiling though, and I think is finding the small discomforts easy to accept and ignore as she is so happy with being pregnant. My parents were really pleased to see how fit, healthy and happy Al was looking.

We are going to have to be careful. We commonly refer to the baby by its name - something we are bound to get caught doing. Al was also stopped unexpectedly by her mother as she left the engagement party. Her mum sort of followed her out and laid her hands on Al's stomach. Surprised and thrown out a bit, Al thinks she might have said "insert sex of child here" doesn't kick on demand. Oh well, what will be will be.

Posted by Doug at 10:08 PM

A story I forgot (I think...) to recount..

During one of the OB visits I over heard the receptionist calling a client / pregnant woman. The receptionist asked her to come in to discuss her test results with the OB. She said everything was probably fine, but that tomorrow was no good, could she please come in straight away. She repeated that everything was probably fine, and then suggested the woman bring her husband in for support. She repeated again that everything was probably fine, but that the OB wanted to discuss what the results meant, and what her options were. By this time I'm sure the woman would have been out of her mind.

We are feeling so greatful that things are going so well, but are ever mindful of how quickly it can turn around. A good friend is currently waiting for some serious test results, due tomorrow. It is the same day he is half expecting to be retrenched. Tenuous can be life and what we are used to.

Posted by Doug at 10:25 PM

 

Als new Bookcases in her Study.

Posted by Doug at 10:35 PM

Been very busy again.

Spent Easter at my parent's place. Enjoyed good food and a couple days of hunting. Al also came up, but was suffering from sinus problems. While she enjoyed the break, she rarely felt 100%.

We visited our first childcare centre last week, and another two today. They were all in the local area, and were recommended by friends or friends of friends. Each was different.

The first place had a lot of younger carers. It seemed that the kids played and interacted more directly with the careers. Out of the three, the kids probably had the most freedom and least structure here. We put our name on the waiting list, and think it is possible we would get in some time next year.

The second place was rather outstanding. It was very well structured with formal programs and excellent facilities. The relationship between child and career seemed fare more student /teacher in nature. This is probably our first choice, and we put our name down on the waiting list. We suspect however we won't get in to this place, at least not in the first year or two.

Where the first place had young carers, the third seemed to have more motherly types. That seemed to reflect in how the kids interacted. It was a little more structured than the first, but the facilities were probably not quite as good. It was still another valid option - and we found there wasn't a waiting list, and we were able to have a confirmed position for March next year.

That is certainly a relief, and gives some stability to our plans. It is hard to say what will suite the child best, but we feel it is important that they get used to socialising and different carers. From the examples we have seen, it can make for a more grounded and confident child.

All of them would allow us to start part time, and build up. We could even consider using a couple of them on different days if it came to that. We shall have to wait and see.

Al also had another OB visit (went fine); I've had a haircut, and it took 6 hours of effort to update the budget with the last month of receipts. We had to re-calculate the amount of money we will need upfront for this child (again). All told it will be over double what we initially thought or had suggested. Some will be refunded via Medicare etc, many of the items will be useful for the next child, and still have value to sell second-hand. That will all be well and good then - but upfront, it is a surprising amount of money.

(Not saying it is not worth it. Just that it helps to have a reasonable bank balance if you don't want to be particularly limiting your choices.)

Al is still very happy.

Posted by Doug at 12:04 AM