it's been a while

Oh, where did the last nine months go? All of a sudden I am 38 weeks pregnant and patiently waiting for baby's arrival.

Things have finally started to slow down now... (some of) the house renovations are complete (we have abandoned 90% of them until we've settled in with the little one), the baby clothes and blankets are washed and dried, the spare room is finally empty of junk/boxes and ready for our homebirth, and I am mentally prepared as much as I ever will be about finally meeting this little life we have created.

This poor blog has been quite neglected, and I have also been incredibly lazy at taking photos the last few months, hence the one decent photo of my breakfast taken over a month ago (showing off the Donna Wilson egg cups the husband bought me for my birthday), and two dodgy iPhone pics - my henna belly at 37 weeks, and my beachball bump at 38 weeks.

confused about cots

I am struggling to find beautiful, but not over-priced, nursery inspiration. The baby industry is much like the wedding industry - it takes a whole lot of extra leg work, research and patience to create a beautiful wedding (nursery) without spending your life savings.

Until yesterday we were buying the Ubabub Nifty Timber cot as we were able to get a 20% discount at a local store, but alas! - we have just been told their manufacturer is backed-up and it won't be available until May (when our little one is due!). So back to the drawing board we go. Prior to deciding on the Ubabub we were going to go with the IKEA Gulliver in white - it is simple and beautiful (and did I mention only $229!)

Seeing it above in this gorgeous nursery is certainly giving me inspiration...

P.S. Does anyone know where I can get my hands on that gorgeous butterfly mobile?

Jo Carmichael's home, via The Design Files

inspiration

This kid's room is just amazing! (From Weekday Carnival, found via Lily).

baby belly

Just past the halfway mark! Baby belly at 21 weeks (+ 4 days, if we're being pedantic). She is moving around a lot more now, kicking and punching me daily. She also likes to give me a good wallop in the bladder when I am obviously encroaching on her personal space - always a great toilet reminder.

So, yes, we're having a girl! I was quite convinced for some months there was a little boy in there, so it was a beautiful surprise! I should have known - a few weeks ago I dreamt of a baby girl, about 9 months old; she wasn't walking yet but was sitting up and had quite a personality, smiling and giggling. And then she laughed - oh! the most devine laugh! - a sharp, loud laugh ('Just like her Mum,' Mark said, when I described it to him). So it was quite a surreal moment being told 'it' was a 'she'.

We can't wait to meet her!

black + grey

I have been in bed the last five days with a fever and chest infection (my immune system kindly telling me I must take my vitamins every day), so I am feeling a little uninspired.

The postman has been good to me though.

[above: Tiny Mammoth hooded jumpsuit and musical owl from mimishop]

going dotty

The husband and I always joke about our unlucky streak - the kind where it starts to pour with rain just as you get out of the car (one of us seriously must have done something awful in a past life!) - so I was super excited when I received an email from the Natalie Walton herself of Daily Imprint letting me know I'd won a print of my choice from Ubabub.

I couldn't decide which one to choose, so ended up going with the Dotty print as it seemed the most unisex and it was also the husband's favourite. I finally opened it today, after it arrived in the post before Christmas, and it's simply lovely! If only I had a baby's room to hang it in... ha! (We have made some progress - the spare room is almost cleared of boxes, so we should be able to start painting later this month when we have a weekend free.)

Our 20 week scan is this afternoon, so hopefully we'll be able to find out if the Little One is a he or a she! Knowing our luck the cheeky bugger will have it's legs firmly crossed!

first things for the little one

My sister and brother-in-law gave us a little package of some things for the Little One, including two onesies, some striped bibs and a gorgeous little beanie. These are the first and only things I have for the impending arrival, so I am a little excited! I haven't felt like buying anything yet, probably because the baby's room is still full of junk. We are slowly getting there though. The study/work room is painted and half completed - I just need to make a trip to IKEA for table legs and wall shelves. Then we can begin clearing the other bedroom and start making it the Little One's cave.

Christmas is only two days away - oh, where did the time go? I still have a few small things to buy for presents, and I am still yet to wrap anything. The tree is up, but still undecorated. I honestly haven't had the time. Billy had us worried for a few days - he was sneezing violently, twitching and drooling, so I was watching him constantly. He went to the vet on Monday where they sedated him and removed a large grass seed from his right nostril. He's much happier now!

I've been spending all my spare time with my beautiful sister - oh how I missed her! - and the rest of the family, relaxing at the beach, going for long walks, and getting (unintentionally) sunburnt. After all the dreary weather, it appears summer is finally here!

Merry Christmas everyone! x

triangles

I'd like to make a quilt like this, either for our bed or as a play mat for the little one who will be arriving in five months.

Too ambitious?

(In other news, I am seeing my gorgeous sister in less than hour. She is driving over from Melbourne with her husband and her two cute puppies Rosie and Poppy. I am just a little excited!!!)

Photo from anne louise likes via where the lovely things are.

eensy weensy toes

I am having one of those. Well, not that one exactly. (How cute are those little striped legs and eensy weensy toes? Photo is from the delightful Anna at one of my favourite blogs ever.)

But, yes. Up there. A baby.

Now that it's common knowledge amongst friends and work, everybody is asking me questions: What have you bought for the nursery? What clothes have you bought? Have you started stocking up on nappies?

The baby's room is currently the 'dump room', where everything-we-own-but-don't-desperately-need-right-now is living, while we paint the rest of the house.

And, honestly, baby clothes and nappies hasn't even crossed my mind. Now that I have my appetite back after weeks of nausea, all I can seem to think about are the three things I will get to eat/scoff/inhale in 6 months time:

1) Gooey, runny, delicious, organic poached eggs on toasted sourdough.
2) Soft, stinky, creamy, gorgeous cheese. Bring me some Cremeux D'Argental - stat!
3) Creamy, wake-me-up strong, earthy, organic coffee. Preferably accompanied by the aformentioned poached eggs at my favourite café.

(Oh and I could just eat up those little toes, couldn't you?)