My awesome husband...

He has just done so brilliantly this year at uni and I am so proud of him!
I'm not sure if anyone will remember, but it was a really big deal for him when he got into uni, and he was quite nervous and worried about how he would go at it.
The first year or so was a bit of a struggle as he got used to writing assignments and things like that which he hadn't done for at least 5 years.

He is doing an education degree, minoring in early childhood. He did a prac last semester with a year 1 class, and enjoyed himself but lacked confidence and was quite disapointed in the rating he got. They range from 1:Outstanding, 2:Quality, 3:Satisfactory, 4:At risk. He got a 3, which is quite acceptable but wasn't what he wanted.

This semester he has totally thrown himself into his studies (I've hardly had to nag him to stay on task at all, lol) and has completely blown me away. He has not let me so much as look over his assignments (which I used to do because he wasn't sure of spelling and grammar) and has got brilliant results. He has improved so drastically in his spelling etc. and now churns out excellent assignments all on his own. His last assignment he got 35.5/40 for, and I think he even surprised himself.

He finished his prac last week, with a year 5 class and had an absolute ball. He's really blossomed and become so confident. He had so much fun on his prac, and did a lot of teaching with some awesome feedback from his mentor teacher. He ended up with a 2 and grinned for about 3 days! I nearly burst I was (and am) so proud of him. He loved working with the older kids, which I think surprised him, and related so well with them. He had a class full of fans, who were very sad when he left.

He is right now working on his last assignment for the year - it's a 2000 word essay about behaviour management in early childhood. The sort of thing that he would have crapped himself about 2 years ago (lol), and yet here he is, only managed to get it started on Wednesday because of other work he had to do, and he has submitted the thing already!! And it wasn't due 'til Monday!

This is the guy who at the age of 20 had never completely read a novel. These days I have to nag him to put a book down, lol.

He is feeling so reassured of his career and what he wants to do with his life, he is going to be such an awesome teacher and I wish I could be a fly on the wall and watch him teach one day!

I love him so much, and I especially can't wait to see him as a Papa. He is so in love with our baby, and I can't tell you how much that makes me fall in love with him all over again. Every night he lays his head on my tummy, and tells our bub that he loves and can't wait to meet him or her. Usually he is rewarded with a few swift kicks to the head, which he LOVES. He plays games with bub and pokes me tummy and bub pokes back, it's very cute. Bub loves Papa so much already, and if he is cuddling me or has his arms around me bub always snuggles up to whichever part of him is touching me. Aww I just love him so much, and I'm so proud of the amazing man he has become.

So yes, a shameless brag post but I just had to get it out. My husband is AWESOME!

Our lucky baby!

One of our homegroup friends came around today with a lovely gift pack from our homegroup. It was full of bits and pieces, both practical and pretty and we feel very spoiled!!! Silly me didn't think to take a photo before I unwrapped it but it was all wrapped up with cellophane in the white basket in the top right hand corner of the pic below. But here are some pics of what was in the basket. The lotions and potions aren't all from small group - the ones in yellow are yummy smelling dutch lotions that Papa bought me from the Dutch shop in Perth. Then we have a yellow giraffe all-in-one, a collection of little tupperware containers and spoons, baby nailcare set, teething toys and a parenting book, a stack of singlets in various sizes and a cute lion bib with two stretchy wraps. There was also one of those baby record books which I've started filling in already. Isn't our baby blessed!!!

Here is a photo of our pram and carseat which we picked up from Target layby yesterday. Attached to the pram are some little toys from our baby hamper today.

And here's our groovy baby bath. I know it's not strictly necessary to have things like this, but what the hey, why not? It was on a *really* good special ... lol


And this is Mama's corner of bubby's room. This is the rocking chair which we were blessed with by my lovely friend Lisa. It's a gorgeous place to sit and ponder. I like sneaking in there to read and imagine sitting there feeding our little baby. The room is really starting to feel like a baby room, and I can't wait to bring our little one home to live in there!

Allocation Exhausted

Totally devastated. We've missed out on tickets for The Importance of Being Earnest. I wish I had have been able to buy tickets earlier in the week when there were some left, but I had to wait to pay day.

I'm so over being a poor person and living from pay check to pay check :( :(

If this is nesting...

then maybe I've started.
I felt a weird compulsion to clean out my fridge thisafternoon. And I mean really clean it. I took everything out (I'm embarrassed to say how many bottles of out of date sauces/salad dressings etc etc I threw in the bin), scrubbed the shelves and interior of the fridge and now the entire thing sparkles.

It's looking very sparse, which is okay since we're going away for about 7 weeks on Saturday. But isn't it just lovely???

Stoopid blood pressure and other ramblings

I had to go to my doctor today because she was giving me all of my records and everything to take to Noosa with me. My blood pressure was back up again - 130/96! It went down to 130/86 when she checked it again 10 minutes later. Still too high though. I'm so disappointed because I was really happy with my low reading earlier in the week. To be fair I was rushing around town all morning trying to get things done and only just got to the docs on time so didn't get a chance to sit and calm down. It was also really hot in her surgery and I was feeling quite uncomfortable, all of which may have attributed to high reading.

She wants me to see a doc on the coast this time next week to check up on the blood pressure, and I got more bloods taken today (my arms still hadn't recovered from the last one!) to check against my preeclampsia baseline. I'll get the results from that tomorrow. Oh and of course they needed some pee also. I think it's the first time since I've been pregnant that I actually didn't need to go, so I had to wolf down a few cups of water so I could deliver!

So, everyone, prayers that this is just a glitch on the system and nothing to be concerned about would be appreciated.

In other news, bub is still head down, and heartrate was still 139bpm. Once again bub was very excited to visit Dr Elizabeth and wouldn't stay still so it took a while to get those stats, lol. The doppler was picking up lots of *thump thump, squiggle squiggle* noises which were much louder than the heartbeat.

I've been really tired *pregnant brain MUST remember to take those iron tablets!!* - not sleeping well because I've been so uncomfortable. I've been waking up with my leg from the hip down feeling kind of numb, and I toss and turn all night - between getting up to pee -to four times a night(!!!!) even when I stop drinking water before 7pm. Apparently I've turned into a bed hog, and Pete tells me that he's sick of sleeping in the crack between the bed and the wall. Deal buddy! lol. Did I mention I love being pregnant? Because really I do.

Bub has been SO active for the last few days. Last night my laptop nearly went flying off my lap because of how hard s/he kicked! I'm really enjoying all the movement, and Pete and I have fun trying to figure out which little lump is a foot or a knee or elbow and where the little wriggly bottom is.

We're heading to Noosa on Saturday, so have been trying to get things done - picking up layby's, taking back library books etc. before then. Tomorrow I'm getting together with a group of uni friends to do our online quizzes and to just hang out. On Saturday on the way to Noosa Pete and I are hoping to go to the matinée session of "The Importance of Being Earnest". It's the last day of it playing at QPAC. I haven't been to the theatre in ages. The last show I saw was the Scared Weird Little Guys, and I can't even remember what the last actual play I saw was. Something in year 12 probably. So hopefully it all works out and we get to go!

Anyway, I'm spending the afternoon in the air conditioned library bumming around while Pete is at a class. Yay for free, fast internet. If all else fails I have a Gilmore Girls DVD in my laptop and Pete's earphones ready to go. Oooh and a new Karen Kingsbury book in my handbag!

I'm off to make the big decisions, lol.

Later!

Belly Shot

As promised :)
Here is bubby and I at 28 weeks, 5 days. To me it looks like bub's sitting higher than in my last shot. My tummy is very hard today, bub's bum is pushed right up against the top of my tummy with back against my left hand side still. Feels very weird and I look slightly lopsided. Pete likes poking my tummy and trying to figure out which bit is which. Every now and then bub does these massive kicks where its back pushes hard against my side and what feels like both arms and both legs push hard and quick against my other side. Ouch! I think it might be starting to feel a bit squishy in there. Sorry hon, mummy can't help that!!

28 week appointment

Was today.

Everything went really well. I got to meet one of the stream 3 midwives, so there's a good chance she may be there when bub is born. She was lovely and very helpful and positive.

Everything was really great. Bub's heart rate was 139bpm (which we were told is perfect), and bub is measuring at 29 weeks. It's still lying head down with bum up under my boobs and back against my left side.

My blood pressure was 130/65!!! That's bordering on low for me, but midwife said she's very happy with that.

The results from my glucose challenge came back perfect and so did my haemoglobin count. So all is good on every front!

We have the all clear to go away for the 1.5 months (they wouldn't have been so happy if something had come up in my last blood tests) and bub and I are both healthy. Pregnancy is treating us well.

I'll update a belly shot a little later this week...

Later,

Zoey and her perfect and healthy bub!

really cool

I am *pretty sure* my baby has the hiccups.

Wowsers!!!

Word to the wise...

Do not read books like "The Notebook" (by Nicholas Sparks) under the following circumstances:
1) on the way to your great-grandmother's funeral (which yes, I did, the first time I read the book back in 2005)
2) while you are pregnant, hormonal, and tired (which I did this afternoon).

Seriously, it is not pretty.

I'm very dumb.

I finished it just before, I was totally bawling- like hiccups and all, I felt like I was going to puke. I was well and truly in the ugly cry. Pete's mascara and snot smeared shirt is a testament to the fact.

Dumb dumb dumb.

Pretty new necklace

I made this gorgeous piece for my mum to wear to a formal function next week. It is to go with her lovely new deep blue/turquoise-ish formal dress which we found on the weekend.

The necklace is made mostly of gorgeous swarovski crystals, and a few other shiny bits and pieces. I'm so happy with it - haven't really done anything like this before, and I've impressed even myself.

Sore arms!!!

I had my glucose challenge test today. You go into the pathology collection centre (often at the hospital, but we have one at our doc's surgery), where the nurse gives you a really sweet glucose drink - it tastes like extra-sweet lemonade that's slightly flat. Lots of people really whinge about how it tastes and I was a bit nervous of it, but it really wasn't that bad at all. Then you sit there for 1 hour and 5 minutes (or so - can't be longer than 1 hour 10 minutes) while your body processes it. Then you go back into the nurse who takes a blood sample which is tested to see how your body it processing the glucose. It's basically to find out whether or not I have gestational diabetes -- they're not expecting me to have it, it's just a run-of-the-mill everyone-has-it-type test. I'll get my results on Monday when I go to my next antenatal appointment with a midwife at the hospital..

So why sore arms??? Because I wouldn't bleed!!!! The nurse put the needle in my right arm, and hardly any blood came out, it was just dripping into there. She was using a syringe, and trying to use suction which actually hurt a bit - but nothing. So she poked around a bit to try and hook my vein better... nothing. Just discomfort for me. She ended up getting *just* enough for the glucose test, luckily, as by then we were right on the edge of the time limit and if she hadn't I would have had to do it again!! But my doc wanted a full blood count, so she needed more. So she had to go into the other arm!!! There was nothing wrong with that vein, and it bled really well... once she hooked into it that is. It hurts enough when the needle goes in but then she's standing there poking it around trying to grab a vein.. ouchies!!! I'm not a fan of the syringe-style of blood collection, I've never had it done that way before.

Anyway, so now I've got sore bruised arms with welts from where I reacted to the adhesive in the bandaids they used. Ironically enough, both arms bled for quite a while after the needle was taken out.... typical!

Anyway, here's hoping it was all worth it, found nothing and I don't have to do the 2 hour glucose challenge!!!

Got my grade...

Our group ended up with 32.5/35 after handing in the last part, and after moderation. I'm very happy with that!

The Eye Saviour

Is what you may call me. Out of the kindness of my heart I made my blog *that* much less pretty, but *that* much more readable.

I don't think it looks too bad.... any comments/suggestions etc are quite welcome. I may ignore them, but that's okay :P

My seminar went really well. At this point our mark is standing at 33.25/35. It may change a little after we hand in the last little bit, but that last bit is only worth 3 marks, so I'm not too worried.

See. The control freak wins again. I knew there was a reason I was one.

By the way, I didn't even realise that I was a control freak until my (lovely) mother told me the other day. Quite fitting now that I think about it though...

update

I'm a psycho blogger today.

They came at about 9:10 and then this really loud alarm went off and we got kicked outside!!!

We just got back in and we don't know what the alarm was for but nothing blew up so that's a good sign.

They're both really nervous. I'm not. That's because I'm a control freak and I have worked damn hard to make sure this is going to be good. Just cos they don't know what's going on!!

9:02

And no-one is here.

Dude! Reading my blog makes your eyes go all funny. Not so sure about that white on black writing. Will I change it or won't I....
It all comes down to how sadistic I'm feeling today. I haven't decided yet. Watch this space.

Last Assignment and other ramblings

Today I have my group seminar - three of us speaking for one hour about, "writing objectives for an IEP or EAP for students with communication difficulties". Fun!!! Way to enthrall your listeners. We have some good activities for them to do so hopefully it doesn't end up too boring.

I'm excited because this is my last assignment for the year! After this I only have two online quizzes and then it's all over. Very happy Zoey here right now.

I'm sitting at the coffee stand at uni (how very Gilmore Girls of me) waiting for my group to get here for our last minute meeting. Gotta love the wireless internet and the beautiful Dell laptop with the battery that actually has a decent life!

Two guys from one of those armoured vehicles just came to stock up the ATM right near the table where I'm sitting. I wonder if I looked suspicious, I kept peering over my laptop at them. The one with his hand on his gun (!) was keeping a sharp eye on me. And I thought I looked so sweet and innocent.

Pete made me waffles for breakfast thismorning (Waffle is very happy) and I had mine with golden syrup and cream. So healthy, and so yummy. I made him coffee. I think bubby liked it all and is feeling revitalized after the few quiet days we had - I think we have had a growth spurt. I think this for two reasons: 1) My tummy is freaking huge, 2) The kicks are beginning to hurt. In a good way though, I love the movement, and Pete can feel it with his hands no worries now, as long as bubs is cooperating of course. It's really funny when bubs changes position and my tummy gets pointy bits - like last night it was sitting hard up against my left hand side and my tummy looked very lopsided. It was really hard and tight on the left hand side and squishy on the right. I'm glad we didn't stay that way for too long, I must have made it uncomfortable when I made Papa poke around to see what body part he thought was sticking out. Bub moved pretty quick, lol.

Oh, I saw on channel 7 today an ad saying that the Yank version of Kath & Kim has been given the flick! This is a very good thing, because it was C.R.A.P. The term "cringe-worthy" was invented for this show. Our real Kath and Kim must be sooooooo embarrassed. They're bringing back the REAL K&K instead. Which is very good. I think it's especially funny because after all the hype, it only lasted for two episodes! Must have had REALLY bad ratings.

In other news today, did anyone else hear about the Elite Melbourne Boys School which suspended all 120 of its year 12 students, the day before final exams begin?? People think it's an over-reaction but I think good on them for proving to these silly boys that even if they are about to leave, they still need to have responsibility for their actions and respect for the school. I mean, they were rough-housing to the point that one fella broke his leg, then when they were all called to an assembly to discuss the matter they let off fireworks before running through the school wearing only their school ties as g-strings. Noice. At least that's the gist of the story. I'm glad I wasn't there to see that. I do wonder though if it was all 120 students that were inlvolved. At least it would be easy to tell who was in on it. Ewwwww.

Anyway, this drovel has gone on for long enough... I will leave you in peace and cross my fingers that my group turns up on time. They're meant to be here in 8 minutes. We'll see.

I'm off to peruse facebook... I think Joelene has put photos up (that's just to let Mum know, get Alexie to show them to you tonight).

Later gaze...

all dolled up...

Because my hubby took me to the movies to see "Wall-E". It is a really cute movie and we both really enjoyed it. We haven't been on a date for aaages. We are going to try to do a few special things in our last few months as a twosome.

I love going out with my husby !

Nursery...

Pete and I had a very productive day yesterday and got all the junk cleared from the "spare room" and made it into an actual "nursery!"

I whipped up the curtains the other night - we chose the colours because I love green and Pete loves blue. You can't really tell in the photo, but they are kind of sparkly also - like they have little tiny pieces of silver glitter through the fabric.




Next week Mum is bringing down the bassinet and a book shelf. Pete is going to make a change table that will sit over the cot, and we still need to get a cot mattress. And other than that our little room is nearly complete and ready for our beautiful bub to come and live in it!!

Pretty new makeup

Today after I dropped Pete off at prac, I went shopping. I can't even remember the last time I went shopping on my own! I had to do groceries, but I did some fun stuff first... shouted myself a coffee, and then I went to Target because I had seen some mineral make-up for a really good price, and have been looking for some for ages, but can't afford the usual cost. So anyway, $16.95 for this mineral make-up kit: foundation, blush, two eye-shadows and two brushes. Bargain!!!


I'm really happy with how it looks on. I don't usually wear foundation (read never!), but this is nice, it's so light, I don't feel like I'm wearing make-up but it makes my skin look really good! The eye-shadows are pearly green and blue, and the blush is a lovely naturally subtle shade. Yay for bargain make-up!!!

My husband says it makes me look REALLY hot ;) He thought I had had my make-up done (as in by someone who knows what they're doing) when I went to pick him up today. I think he likes it.

Third Trimester

Can you believe it???
27 weeks today, which according to 95% of pregnancy books = the beginning of the third trimester.

A lot of people I've talked to said that the second trimester dragged by, but it went in a flash for me. Bub's going to be here before we know it!

Two more weeks left of uni, then off to Noosa until Christmas and by the time we come home bubby will only be a few weeks away! Hooly Dooly. We really should get cracking on that nursery...'

Here's a belly pic to commemorate this auspicious day!

the quilt

I've just finished putting the front piece together. Now I need to figure out if I have enough wadding, and what to use for the backing and border. I'm really happy with how it turned out, it's so pretty huh???

And for those who are wondering, it is not any kind of hint about the flavour of the baby, it is NOT a baby blanket, and I started it well before I even knew I was pregnant ;-)

Zoey xx

The skirt

So here it is!

A very simple one, gathered at the top and the waistband is stretchy material and quite wide so I can roll it down to support bumpy.

I'm not sure if you can see the colour properly, but it's white with little light green stripy bits. very light and summery.

I'm very happy with it!

More sewing

Yesterday I had a day of no uni work after finishing that massive assignment, and I spent the day with the sewing machine. I have made half of a blanket (the one with the cross-stitch feature squares that I made months ago) and last night I got Pete to take me to Spotlight for the 20% off sale and got some more pretty material and made another skirt!! I haven't got a photo yet, I'll have to get Pete to take one this afternoon.
I hurt my back though, because I cut out all the squares for my patchwork sitting on the ground ... bad, bad idea. My body is not the same as it was a few months ago, and the baby isn't so much into me sitting cross-legged on the floor leaning forward either- I got pretty battered from the inside!!

I'll update a little later on with photos.. for now I have a class to get to!

Ridiculous assignment... finally done!

Yay I feel so accomplished! After a week of procrastinating and hair-pulling, it is finally finished.

13,000 words, 85 pages (that's including 35 pages of appendices). And I refuse to even read through the stupid thing in case I'll want to change something. It is done. Pete's going to drop it in for me on the way to school tomorrow.

I have 1 assignment and 2 online quizzes to go and then this year is DONE!

Finished the baby painting

I am SO happy with how it has turned out. Just thought I'd pop in an update...

Since when is it okay?

We were at a grocery store today, and the checkout lady (as in an older lady, at least in 50's) asked me how far along I am. I told her, around 6 months. She replies, "Far out you look like you're about to pop! You are going to be HUGE". She didn't say this once. As she was scanning our items, it's like every time she looked at me she shook her head and muttered, "huge".

Nice huh? Way to make a preggy woman feel great.

I know that my tummy is big - I'm short okay. Bubby has gone up as far us possible and now the only way to grow is out!

Some thoughts do not need to be spoken out loud.

ps. Just so you know, I'm not as irked as this post sounds, I actually did laugh with Pete about it, I just think it's a bit rude.

Thank the Lord for...

They should be called lifesavers. I am SO over heartburn!

Raining in Toowoomba!

It's so lovely! It's been raining since I woke up. I haven't heard if it's anywhere near the dams, it's very deceiving in Toowoomba because the dams are so far from town. But everyone's tanks, gardens and lawns need it in any case.
It's been freezing though, I think about a top of 13! Feels particularly cold because we've been having days between 26-30 for the last two weeks.

The only thing I hate about Toowooba on rainy days is driving. Toowoomba drivers are hopeless at the best of times, but when it rains they're scary. Someone dies on the roads here almost every time it rains. As I'm typing this a story is on the news about a massive car accident involving and truck and a car with a mother and her two children. Luckily there were no fatalities. I think Toowoomba police must cry when they wake up to rain.

Thank you Jesus for keeping me safe today!!!

RIP little Franchesca :(

One of our fishies died :(
It's so sad! Poor Fernando is now very lonely.
Pete went to feed our babies and little Franny was lying upside down in the bottom of her tank. Am I very pathetic for crying over a fishy? Let's put it down to pregnancy hormones shall we?
Pete buried her in our garden.
She was such a lovely fishy - she was black when we got her, and when we took her on holidays to Noosa she turned orange! She had big googly eyes and loved playing in the bubbles. We've had her for nearly two years.
We need to get our little Fernando a new friend I think. Poor sad fishy.

Follow Me!

In my sidebar, there is a new link which says "follow me". If you read my blog regularly, please click on it and join my blog. I only have one follower, and that's only because I hacked my hubby's blogger account and clicked it myself, lol.
So come on! Make me feel popular!

New Blog Look...

What do you think?
I'm liking it!

I'm a terrible procrastinator. Why do they insist on making assignments so hard??? Why not just tell us what you want instead of leaving us to decipher your meanings??? Why can't you make it relevant to our future career??? No teacher would ever do something like this in real life, my mentor teacher laughed out loud when she looked at our assignment sheet.

*chants to self* : three more weeks, three more weeks, three more weeks

New Cross stitch

How cute!!!
I'm not sure whether to make it into a cushion for bub's room or to frame it.... what do you think?

Sewing and bump!

So after umming and aahing about what to do with that pretty material, I decided to make a skirt. Irealised that I have many shirts, and 1 pair of pants that fit well, and 2 pairs that don't. So I'm really in more of a need for bottoms than tops!
I made it with a shirred waist - so it will continue to fit my growing bump - and it has a cute frilly bit on the bottom. I'm very happy with it. It needs to be washed, as the material is sitting a little stiffly, but all in all I'm stoked!! Not bad for $10 :) And I have enough material to make another skirt!

So here are some pics...

Ooh and a side-on shot - I think my belly has grown even more!!

Trial Run

I did a trial run for my top today. Got a piece of cheap cotton ($2/m) and off I went. I am fairly happy with the result, though glad I didn't go straight for the good material because there are few things I want to do differently. Make it a little longer for one! The real one will also have cap-sleeves (if I can work it out) and I will most likely do the shirring all the way around instead of that little section at the back. I also don't need as big a piece of material as what I used. Instead of twice the amount I actually need (ie across the chest) I think I only need 1.5 times the amount. Live and learn. Here is what I have done today...

Other bubby drawings

This is the picture that my nursery art was inspired by

And this was the other option. We both decided we liked the top one more.

Sewing plans...

I have decided to try my hand at making my very own maternity clothes!
I went to Spotlight and flicked through all their paper patterns books but seriously, some of them REALLY need updating. Pregnant women just don't wear overalls anymore.

Anyway, I've decided to try and make my own pattern.
It's a very simple design, and I have done things like this before so I'm fairly confident.
I found some gorgeous cotton print for only $4.99/m
(for Spotlight VIP members, which, of course, I am). So tonight, I will begin. If successful, I'll be going back for some more pretty summery prints and chugging out a few more!!

Wish me luck.

Nursery Art

This is how I spent yesterday - procrastinating from my assignment. At least it was productive! This is the canvas that will hang over our baby's cot. It is 45cm x 45cm, and I used wooden letters which I papered, awesome texture paste for the cloudy background and the fluffy baby outfit and acrylic paints. I just have to go around the outline of the baby with black and then it will be finished! It looks so good on the wall in the baby's room. Once it's completely finished I will post a pic of it on the wall...

Baby's room phase one

So to begin with we had to clean out our study and our cupboard to make room for what is currently stored in the "spare room". Then we pulled down the single bed, and stored half of it under our bed, and the other half in the garage.
Then we put the cot up!!!
We've put most of our accumulated baby stuff in there - doesn't seem like much but I have to remember the stuff that's on layby too.
So that's enough for today, we'll attack some more tomorrow!
(Oh and the fairy costume was on the wall already, - is coming down when I have finished my painting for bub's room! lol.)