ready for baby?

It's been a week of normality(?) now that the renovating has mostly finished.

New tenants have moved in, rent has gone up, and it's really only another day or two of working on the investment properties before everything is finished (for a while anyway). There is relief to know that we are at the end of renovations and not at the beginning. I think I could actually cry if I had to do that much work again being this pregnant! (Did I mention I have 4 weeks to go?)

I'm not sure if it's just me, but I think it takes about a week to settle back at home. You know, unpack the bags, do ALL the washing and unpack the trailer of tools and mattresses, not to mention clean the house that has been pretty much vacant except for the spiders and our odd sleepover. It's like camping with all the EXTRA bits. I think there we even unpacked some spare pickets to tease us for the fence that we desperately need at our house.

But the inspiration for today's blog is the comment made by a friend assuming because of my anally retentive nature, that I was all ready for the baby.

Confession: I haven't been. That is, until just very, very recently.

I guess with all the busyness of renovating there hasn't been much time to think about the baby actually coming. Plus there's been a part of me that hasn't cared too much. Why? I guess I'll just be unorganised again 6 weeks the other side of childbirth so who cares? And the other part (obviously the more organised side) that's freaking out about not having absolutely everything ready right this minute.

The organised side won. And this week is evidence of that.

On Thursday I bought a newborn grobag and a bunch of Avent plastic containers and grobag baby wrap, Friday I bought newborn nappies in bulk, some wraps and cradle sheets (after a very, very thorough clean of the house - no corner was left unturned) and today. Well, that's something else.

There have been lots of little jobs outstanding for some time now (backdating Christmas) and today I found the hammer, drill and screwdrivers (all still in the boot of the car) and did every single job (except one - I really need DH for that one). Then I finished painting the wardrobe in Madison's room (it's been at this stage also since before Christmas). I cleaned off the paint on EVERY hinge in the house (the wardrobes that we finished before Christmas), then cleaned the new wardrobe. And without trying to give away what we're having, I culled and went through all of Madison's baby clothes.

Then I did something very exciting.

I put up the cradle. Yes! It was so exciting that even Madison said the baby was kicking in his stomach (did I mention that he has a baby too?). He was quite the excited little boy.

So, apart from the baby's and my hospital bags, I'm ready for this baby.

THE PICKET FENCE ON OUR MINER'S COTTAGE.

While we were working on the last extension, a tenant from another property gave notice and so we decided some work ought to be done on that one too.

It's a beautiful property, my husband's first home. His girls were born there, and it was his chance at a real self-sufficient hippy life. So it has lots of sentimental value. And did I mention it's a beautiful property? It's an old miner's sandstone cottage, built in the 1850's, ruined and rebuilt in the early 80's (by my hubby). Three acres of farmland in a quiet pocket on a tourist track. The road is actually the old coach road to Melbourne from the gold mines in Castlemaine.

The picket fence was getting quite derelict and so we decided on a whim that, hey, we could whip up another in just a few days. Plus other minor repairs like fixing a very rusty water tank, some glass panels and some other odds and ends.

We did it all, and I think the fence particularly is gorgeous. It's amazing what a new fence can do to make a place look great again.

Above: The fence pulled down, the fence beforehand, and after.

excitement building

I just had to share how excited I am to be having another baby.

With only ten weeks to go, I am aware that my days are numbered where I get to feel kicks and movement inside of me. This personal, wonderful thing that only we share between us.

And before I know it I will be looking at my new baby in wonder and amazement.

Things I can't wait to do:

1. Smell my baby (why do they smell so good?)
2. Touch that soft, velvety baby skin
3. Look at that perfect face and study every curve and bend, neck, fingers, toes
4. Feed my baby (oh, SO beautiful)
4. Kiss my baby all over

But mostly, I just can't wait to meet him/her.

I just can't wait.

Above: Definitely the best moment in my life - meeting Madison Edward Piez for the first time (25 May 2006).

THE BIASES OF MOTHERHOOD.

I am like any mother, and think my children are gorgeous (of course).

But just this week at playgroup a friend was looking at Madison and said, "He is just SO good looking. Like Hollywood Good Looking."

At first I thought, oh dear - pretentious and self loving. Luckily she reclarified that he was JUST that good looking. The compliment has just made my week.

Even though you won't see me pushing him to be a child star, I am still like any other mother...

RENOVATING AGAIN. DURING BLACK SATURDAY. WITH A LITTLE HELPER.

I know it's been a long time between posts, but if you knew what we have been doing (at seven months into my pregnancy mind you), you'd suddenly be very understanding.

You see, we've decided to do some renovating on an investment property (yes, I've mentioned this one before). And it started out small - just a couple of weeks. Which has turned out to be a little more than four weeks now, and still not quite finished.

My standard line to sympathetic friends is: it's not over, but I'm over it.

Our timing hasn't really helped zoom things along. The first two weeks were the mid to high 40's - the weeks of Black Saturday. And working in an uninsulated tiny room in that heat is enough to make any woman miserable! I also might be happy to mention that Hubby was a little slow with the heat too :-)

Perhaps I should go into more detail... the idea was to renovate the laundry/toilet and put an extension on the back which would serve as a generous size study or bedroom. Sound like two weeks of work? Usually it might be unrealistic for the expert builder, but a totally overwhelming order for us!

So, we decided to do it in stages. First the laundry/toilet (which took two weeks), then the bedroom/study (which has taken two weeks so far). For me, I was very happy to say goodbye to the green lino, and see lovely polished hardwood floors and carpet. The exposed plumbing and salmon coloured walls were something else.

The first stage: BEFORE, DURING and AFTER.








The second stage: BEFORE, DURING and AFTER. Now this one's harder to compare since it was basically stripped right back, and made much bigger! And remember, although the inside is finished, there's still a little more work to do on the outside (more pictures to come later).







As you can tell by the pictures, we've had a little apprentice happy to help wherever possible. Although we have been working pretty hard, have been mostly tired and at times to the end of our tether, Madison has just been the happiest little boy. He's had the best time playing on a construction site. Why, there's a little paddle pool, a sandpit, nails, hammer, drill... you name it! This week he's been asking when we're going back to Castlemaine. And - this I cannot believe - not one injury, or nail in his (mostly) barefoot feet. How's that?

And to top it off, amongst the renovations, the little man has been totally toilet trained too. He's such a trooper. Now he's proudly telling everyone that he's just done poos on the toilet! And he keeps reminding us that he's a big boy now.

So, now Hubby is considering a plumbing apprenticeship when he turns 18. A little premature I think at this stage, but Madison sure does love watching and learning. It is just amazing!

Stay tuned for more renovation pics...