I had the last three days off. Asked for it a month ago, and it took almost the entire time to resource and schedule the coverage. Hell knows what work would do if I was hit by a bus. As I've been indicating, the time off was really required. Got to sleep in, relax and do whatever took my fancy. Watched several DVD's, played some computer games, spent time in the garden. All told just relaxed.

The last few days Al has been feeling big, heavy and more tired than normal. She is looking forward to finishing up work next Friday. She had an OB visit today, and will return weekly now until the birth. Everything is still going well.

Posted by Doug at 9:57 PM

(Email to Lana.) Have a farewell work lunch on Friday. I’ve got a pile of DVDs, books, and taped TV shows awaiting for me over the final few weeks :) Just looking forward to taking it really easy at home. We have a small list of remaining things to buy/organise before baby arrives, but nothing critical so will see what we manage. If they don't get done beforehand, no big deal.

Posted by Al at 5:26 PM

Al had the now weekly OB visit. Everything went well until she was leaving. The OB remarked - "I'll see you next week, unless something happens sooner... " Now that's a reminder you are getting close to the end of the whole process!

We have decided the baby can wait for at least another 16 days. First off so Al can enjoy a couple weeks relaxing at home, and second as the government's baby bonus increases from $3,000 to $4,000 on the 1st of July. While we will work on that date as a point of reference (and for our own amusemnt), I am of course not being serious. The most important thing is the baby being healthy.

Posted by Doug at 6:45 PM

There have been recent media reports about a Chinese diplomat who is asking for political asylum in Australia, and offering to provide details on China's intelligence operations here.

The Australian government's response seems to have been amateurishly muddled, focusing and trying overly hard to protect the political and trade relationship with China instead of simply doing what is right, and dealing with the diplomat. China's public diplomatic responses so far seem fair and professional, in stark contrast to my own countries.

Today there was more news suggesting Chinese Government Officials were given access to their citizens being held in detention and available for deportation. This apparently (and logically) related to the creation of travel documents - but not all of those interviewed might have exhausted their appeal processes yet. Again - this does not seem to have been handled well.

Has the price of the once proud Australian tradition of giving everyone a fair go been found? Or have members of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Immigration Department had collective brain fades. I hope it is the later.

I wonder what will be the best way to teach our child to have a better approach and view on such things.

Posted by Doug at 6:57 PM

We had a consultant working in the office today who looks like the pictures of an undead Lich in the Dungeon and Dragons Roleplaying Game.

She was a middle aged Indian woman, with dark skin, very long skinny face, black plain straight hair, long nose, dark sunken eyes, and skinny frame / arms with long fingers. Her slow mournful and droning voice just added to the whole picture.

She was hired for a client project, but turned out not to be as good as her resume and references suggested. When she was called into the office for a please explain meeting, she did the bizarre thing of bringing in her husband for support. Anyway, now I'm starting to feel her skill sets were not in the technical area required, but were in fact in raising the undead...

Posted by Doug at 7:33 PM

(Email to Jude.) My last day has gone well with a farewell lunch and afternoon tea, and general goodbyes. I have finished off my final tasks so I can now sit back and wind down. Looking forward to getting out of here tonight. It is a big relief to make it all the way through without my waters breaking (touch wood that doesn't happen between now and when I get home tonight!)

I was feeling fairly tired at work last week (after a late night Monday I didn't really recover for the rest of week) but after a relaxing long weekend, have felt fine again all this week. (Probably helped being a short week and knowing it is my last!) I look forward to putting my feet up and relaxing and enjoying whatever time I have left before the little one arrives.

Posted by Al at 4:00 PM

In to week 38, and the baby is now considered full term and fully developed. Al finished up work yesterday with a lunch, afternoon tea, flowers and card. She thinks it won't seem quite real until Monday morning when I go to work and she doesn't. She is hoping for a couple more weeks so she can just relax, watch DVD's, and catch up on TV shows and books. The little one still seems comfortable and content (as does Al), so I think it won't be any time too soon.

Posted by Doug at 1:24 PM

A busy day on the baby front. I had a much closer look at the baby seat yesterday, ensured it would fit in Al's car, and realised I needed an anchor extension strap. I picked that up, along with a second baby monitor, and a couple small toys today. We also packed the babies bag for the hospital stay (a surprisingly big effort to select everything, and which highlighted a couple more things for us to pick up), and put down towels in/on both cars, our bed, and the main chairs Al sits in, just in case her water's break unexpectedly.

Al isn't going to be driving any more - aside maybe short trips to the local shopping centre. While she is still feeling great, even the hour shopping she came along with me for today left her pretty tired. Both of us are feeling pretty relaxed - but realising that every day, every weekend, could be the last for a long long time where it will just be the two of us.

The baby has been particularly active over the last week. It is frequently reacting and responding to external stimuli, and seems to be on the move whenever Al stops. It still seems pretty comfortable inside though.

Oh - the 1st of July date that the papers unexpectedly suggested would increase the baby bonus? Several major newspapers all posted an apology. The increase (as we initially thought) comes along next year. We will still work on the 1st though - Al wants some quality relaxation time.

Posted by Doug at 8:24 PM

(Email to Doug.) Just up and out of bed now and about to have my shower. Hooray for sleep in, hooray for not having to go to work (when I would be about sending you my first email from work about now normally), hooray for relaxations, hooray, hooray, HOORAY!!!

Posted by Al at 9:33 AM

(Email to Curt.) Is getting close indeed - due in a couple of weeks which of course means the baby could arrive anytime in the next 4 weeks. Feels great to now be finished work so I can just take it easy and enjoy whatever time remains relaxing. And of course, look forward to the arrival. I've been really lucky to have felt well all the way through the pregnancy, just a little tired here and there.

Posted by Al at 2:24 PM

I installed the car seat tonight. Read the instructions 10 times through, pulled apart and put back all the attachments until I understood everything. It went into the car well, and it definitely seems like it would be safe in hard braking or an accident. The only problem is it has a fair bit of sideways movement. It doesn't appear as if it would twist undone or the like (I gave it plenty of trial pushing and pulling), but I am a touch concerned. Since I've never really been around child seats, I don't know what is normal or not. I'll have to get it double-checked. Blah.. more running around.

The new guy at work I am training up is far too quick to say he understands, or that he did what was asked, or that everything is fine and there is nothing to worry about - without actually thinking on whether he does indeed understand, or if he did actually do as asked, or if there is something to worry about. I hope he realises quickly that the only correct answer I am after is the stark truth.

Posted by Doug at 12:19 AM

(Email to Donna.) Am very much enjoying some time to veg - just a slightly strange feeling knowing the baby could arrive any time in the next 4 weeks so every day I wake up could be 'the day'. I’m just taking one day at a time and enjoying whatever time I get.

Posted by Al at 10:03 AM

Had a company information session today. The report card was very good. Nice working for a relatively successful and well managed company. (For a consulting firm anyway!)

Back at the office I settled into my work. A short period later my private mobile phone rang. My heart stopped an instance as I paused and looked as it vibrated sideways on my desk. It could be Al calling to say she was in labour... Instead it was a good mate giving an update on a screen I'd ordered with him a while back. While I am feeling relatively calm about what is and will be happening, it will still be a scary shock when it starts for real.

I've decided to work at getting the trainee to think about what he is saying. I was recounting a topic I'd covered previously, and asked if he had remembered. He nodded enthusiastically, and said "yes yes...". I then asked him to explain it to me. He stopped and stared off past my shoulder. I waited, and he mumbled quietly "oh, instant forgetfulness". I answered the question for him and moved on. I think I am going to have to keep doing the same sort of thing.

Al basically finished her packing today. I drive her to the OB tomorrow afternoon for the weekly checkup. She is going well, although it doesn't seem to take much for her to get tired. The baby has been pushing its foot up under Al's ribs over the last day, which has been rather uncomfortable for her. You could feel the foot clearly through the skin.

Posted by Doug at 11:55 PM

(Email to Vanathy.) I am definitely enjoying the quiet time at home. Nice to just sleep in each day (while I still can) and relax watching taped TV shows and reading books. I also have a pile of DVDs waiting. I am treating it like a 'mini holiday' until whenever the baby arrives!

Posted by Al at 1:38 PM

(Email to Mum Q.) I am enjoying the chance to just take it easy, sleep in, rest up and relax. At the doctor's visit today he told me I was in the middle of a Braxton Hicks contraction - I wouldn't have even realised if he hadn't told me! I have thought in the past couple of weeks I might be having some, but since being my first baby I didn't know what to expect. I thought it could have just been the position the baby was in, or that I might have just been imagining things. Anyway, interesting to have a better idea about what they feel like now.

Posted by Al at 5:37 PM

The OB was feeling Al's tummy today, and remarked that she was having a Braxton Hicks contraction. "I am?" was her slightly incredulous remark. Turns out she has been having them fairly regularly for a week or two - but didn't realise. I've actually felt them once or twice. I found her belly was taut and I had problems feeling for where the baby was positioned. I'd try again a short period of time later and the belly was much softer, and I could work out the baby's outline. For the most part Al barely notices them - unless the little one has its foot up under her ribs. Then it can be rather uncomfortable.

Cleaners coming tomorrow. Need to head off and do the pre-cleaner clean.

Posted by Doug at 9:12 PM

The trainee seems to be insisting on his affirmative responses without thinking. Pulled him up number of times today, but he doesn't seem to be getting the hints.

Went shopping tonight. Picked up some more baby clothes - smaller ones because we realised while packing for the hospital that we didn't have enough to cover 5 days. At the check out the serving lady said "oh, your having a …". Now we have the ultrasound technician, a checkout lady, and the two of us who know.

I've also filled both cars up today - and will ensure from now on to always have enough fuel to get home and to the hospital without having to fill up. Last of all we did a huge grocery shop to fully stock the cupboards. So much preparation - does everyone do all this? (Funny enough we saw one of the other couples from the antenatal courses at our local supermarket. We all smiled, waved and said hi.)

Al's been good today, but still seems a little unsettled. It is a little like she has been concentrating on relaxing and enjoying her time off, and the Braxton Hicks contractions have reminded her of a slightly less pleasurable reality just around the corner. She also worries that she might miss the early signs of the real labour. I remark that woman says they are definite and painful - but she still worries. It is odd - she worries about things I wouldn't, and breezes over things that leave me trembling!

Posted by Doug at 11:31 PM

Spent the weekend relaxing, although was struck down with a particularly bad headache on Saturday. Not a migraine - the worst type of headache I get (by far), but a sinus headache. These are the second worst headaches I get - more for the fact I can't sleep them off, tablets can be hit and miss in providing relief, and they can go for days at a time. They are normally triggered by hay fever - which is now thankfully out of season. This was caused by a relative mild head cold - a rather depressing situation I hope isn't to become normal. Like my mother, I seem to be more and more susceptible to them as I get older. I hope the little child waiting to be born hasn't got those genes from me.

No news on the baby front. Al is now 39 weeks pregnant, so it is still a touch early on when the baby should be expected. It doesn't seem to be in a rush anyway - still frequently moving around and reacting to us, but not being agitated. I don't think it will be early.

Posted by Doug at 9:29 PM

A lot of people around me asking if there is any baby news... I keep responding "No, and it doesn't seem to be in a rush either." Now four days from the ultrasound due date. Hope it doesn't take too long. Al is happy to have a few more days, maybe even one more weekend, to relax.

Posted by Doug at 11:53 PM

My new screen arrived yesterday - very impressed. Nice when something exceeds your expectations - like the pregnancy so far. Spoke to mum and dad on the phone this afternoon. They reminded me that the 3rd due date we were given - as reported by the 2nd Ultrasound, was actually today. We never really put any credence into that date since we were told the 1st Ultrasound scan was the more accurate.

I am working from home tomorrow so I can take Al to the OB. We also expect to go and get my baby seat fitting checked out, and I might even try to squeeze in a haircut. Oh.. and work. Mustn't forget I have to do that as well. Blah, busy.

Posted by Doug at 11:09 PM

Back at the OB's today - arrived to a full waiting room and a Doctor's car spot conspicuously empty. Had a 75 minute wait to get the 5 minute checkup. OB looked tired - had 4 births the previous day. All is well. We have another appointment in a week, and if things don't happen naturally, an inducement date of the 12th. Still a while away, but we both appreciate such a set deadline, so to speak.

Earlier today I had a haircut, and also used our Motoring Organisation's car restraint fitting service to make sure the car seat was in right. Thankfully it was.

Posted by Doug at 7:22 PM