Happy New Year!

Roll on 2009!

The snow has started falling, and it looks set for a cold night ... the beers (Foster and alcohol free ones) are in the fridge cooling - perhaps they could just go outside?

Hope it is a good new year for everyone!

Love Little Tigger, Mum (Sarah) and Dad (Brett)

Week 33

The last couple of days have been nice and relaxing - well, the lying late in bed, reading good books etc part, but Mum still seems to keep going!!

On Boxing Day the garage had a big clean-out - the renovation gear was sorted out, bits and pieces thrown out and some more order was found. Not sure how long it will last though, but at least it is a start. Still more that could probably be done, but we'll save that for a rainy day! It was actually lovely and sunny, so Dad went and raked up all the leaves - but golly was it chilly! Brrrrr. Costa had fun being outside with Mum and Dad though!

Dad has made a start again with the renovations / finishing off stuff. All the cracks have now been sealed, so just another quick paint should do the job! The cupboard doors are back on in my room, so it is all coming together now. Meanwhile, Mum went out to see if she could snaffle up any bargains. Plenty to be had, but I think she was quite restrained ... hmm, that is unusual!! She did get a nice fluffy dressing gown, which will be good for the early morning feeds I imagine! She did also buy me a few bits and pieces, which is the main thing! I now have a mattress to sleep on, in addition to the frame! Hoorah!

The hospital bags are all packed - but I'm not planning on anything too soon ...???

Last night Mum and Dad treated themselves to Indian, and today to tea and scones at a nearby farm shop ... hmmm, fresh, warm scones!!! Must of made them feel guilty, and they then decided to go for a swim. Dad managed a lengthy 3.4km, I wonder if I'll inherit any of that fitness! Oh, Mum did 1.25km too ...

Merry Christmas!

Hoorah - Christmas Day!! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

Last night Mum and Dad went to The Ferry for a few celebratory beers (Dad) and water (Mum). Then it was off to midnight mass .... Dad woke up with a bit of a sore head, but after a lie-in came back to life!

Here are a few thoughts from Mum and Dad.

VIDEOS TO COME :)

Week 32

Well, what a week it has been. Lots (3) Christmas dinners ... no wonder Mum's tummy is looking bigger this week - maybe next week (after the main Christmas dinner, her belly might be extending past the bookcase!). Oh, I might be growing a bit more too, but who knows really!!

Another mid-wife appointment on Tuesday. Mum must be pretty lucky, as she had 3 midwives fussing over her. Too many really, she didn't know whose question to answer first! All is going well apparently.

Mum confirmed with work her finish date - 16th January. So that means only 11.5 days (half day on Christmas Eve) left at work. Certainly not long to go, but Mum thinks it will be busy finishing everything off!

On Friday night they went out for Dad's work Christmas Party. It was in the HUGE (and very impressive) castle not too far from home - Peckforton Castle (www.peckfortoncastle.co.uk). Certainly not something that you would do in Australia! There have been a few movies filmed there. The dinner was resplendent with a Court Jester and all! Dad was up singing christmas carols (Good King Wenceslas), but he didn't know the words!! He was also up to play a gazoo, but only succeed in laughing rather than make much noise - he claims it was quite difficult!? Seems like everyone else was laughing too!!

Mum decided on Saturday it was imperative to scrub the dining area tiles - much to Dad's disappointment. There is no stopping Mum apparently! Well, she claims it was something she has been wanting to do for the past couple months, ever since she first started ... well, at least it is done now I guess! Dad ordered her to stop on Saturday afternoon, and do you know what - she even listened!! But didn't stop her from finishing it off today! That Mum of mine can be difficult sometimes!

Jess and Gordie are up to visit for a couple of days now - on their way up to Glasgow. Another feast tonight planned. Dad is cooking his signature dish - steak and ale pie. He has even bought some extra of the special ale to complement the dish.

Dad is on holidays now ... Mum has a couple more days left. Bring on the holidays!

Week 31

... and boy is the time zipping now! 

Christmas is almost here, and I am making the most of Christmas parties. I like to celebrate with my Mum and do lots of dancing in her belly :) Dad finds it weird when I am dancing around, and doesn't like touching Mum's belly. He he, I keep him on his toes already!

Friday night Mum went into to Liverpool to celebrate Christmas with her work colleagues. Very nice bar/restaurant, especially the butterscotch tart. Unfortunately I found it a bit too rich and so gave her a bit of belly ache on Friday night and Saturday. My tastes just aren't that mature just yet!

On Saturday Mum and Dad drove down to Coventry to meet up with Mum's friend Katie. They hadn't seen each other since Nice, so they had a good 'ole chin wag! It was good to catch up again, and Mum is hoping Katie does enough smoozing at the meeting to get a transfer to Switzerland! Dad couldn't sit still that long, so went off exploring the shops. Maybe that is why I like moving about so much?? Still, Mum didn't see any sight of Christmas shopping ...

Everyone says that they have been 'sent to Coventry'. Apparently this dates back to the 17th century, when some soldiers of one of the Kings (Henry the 8th?) were shunned by the monarch and sent to Coventry. Humph, there's a bit of history for you!!

On Sunday Mum had a big baking day ... shortbread and banana cake (yum)! Maybe Mum's belly is not all me!

 Here is a shot of Dad having a rest on the weekend. They can be tiring. Apparently Costa thought so too ...

Aquanatal class ...

Mum took today off work, so we had a nice mid-week sleep in! Hoorah!!

In the afternoon Mum and I went along to her first aquanatal class. After the years of watching the old ladies do aqua-aerobics at Aquarena, it was finally her turn to give it a go. Well, surprisingly Mum found it could be quite tiring!! There was lots of underwater arm resistance work, which tired her arms out a fair bit. I imagine they will be a bit sore tomorrow.

Even in water, Mum is still quite unco-ordinated, and still managed to move in the opposite direction to everyone else. Some things never change, even if she is in the water! Ha ha!!

Week 30

Well it has been quite a lazy week for Mum this week - off from work sick all week. Most unlike her! There have been lots of bugs going around though, so one must have struck at the right time. Dad chose the right week to head away for work, and luckily by-passed most of it. Poor old Mum had to look after herself though - made sure I gave her a good few kicks to remember to look after me as well!

There were car troubles early in the week, but I think they've learnt from their past errors (i.e. doing nothing) and got it fixed. Something to do with the cam belt and a leaking water pump, but enough to say is that it is all running well now :)

Today we went out and bought a Christmas tree - hoorah! Hopefully they manage to keep this one alive longer than the last (although Dad still says there are a couple of green branches amongst the dead ones, and it hasn't died yet!!). Mind you, they did get 2 years out of the last tree ... Apparently this one smells a bit more than the last - hmmm, Christmas tree smell!!!

The blind man is coming tomorrow to put up the new blind in the bathroom. The bathroom should then be pretty much finished! Mum was busy finishing off around the window frames, and it is all coming up a treat. Dad was busy replacing light switches (only gave himself an electric shock once, otherwise, he was THE man!) and doing a few other finishing off jobs around the house. It was all quite rewarding according to them both :)

My pram and car seat arrived during the week - Mum was able to drag herself off her sick bed to put it all together. Dad found some funky curtain rails at B&Q, so it sounds like they are getting themselves all organised. I think Mum has plans for tidying up my room on her day off on Tuesday - don't know why it should be messy when I am not even in it yet??

Tonight Mum and Dad popped down to 'The Pickering Arms' for dinner with Ellie and Paul. Quite spur of the moment and it was good to get out of the house!

Even colder today ...

.... woke up and it was -7 deg C. It is now 10:45am and everything is still covered in frost! Brrrr, crank that heater up!