Are we there yet? Are we there yet?

Bean's ETA is supposed to be today! Yet there still isn't any contraction, cramp, bleeding, pain, niggling, tickling or broken waters in any way, shape or form.

I've started getting a taste of what a stranded whale must feel like. With an average rate of 3-5 toilet visits a night, I have developed a special technique for rolling out of bed without 1) feeling too much pain in my hip, 2) lying over the bump and 3) putting any pressure on my bladder. I'm thinking about patenting it. Summer is getting pretty hot for me - probably one of the rare occasions when I feel the heat more than Bas.

I've started going to hospital on a weekly basis, to keep an eye on Bean and make sure she's doing ok in there. If by next Tuesday she still won't show up, we'll have to decide whether we'll need give a kick up her vernixed bum and induce her out. Last Tuesday's scan actually showed her opening and closing her mouth - presumably taking a sip of a concotion made of amniotic fluid, vernix and urine. I'd have thought that this alone would have been a reason to be born smiling, milk has *got* to taste better. We also saw her poke her tongue out, and while listening to her heartbeat, we heard her kicking the umbilical cord.

The zoo is on the cards later on today - lots of walking will hopefully do to Bean what it did to her big brother.

Nico is 2 years and 3 months today.



Ba Ngoai is over and entertaining and looking after him which is a huge help. He's getting overdosed on attention and cuddles, not to mention toys on a regular basis. His Vietnamese has really improved - must start speaking French to him again so he doesn't forget. Unfortunately his command of English interjections is also improving. His Papa and I got graced with a 'Yuck!' after we kissed in front of him.


Nico has been enjoying his summer with Papa. I think the enjoyment was reciprocal since Papa decided that Friday was looking far too sunny to be away from the beach with his son.

We have Taaroa sleeping over for the night. While Nico was pretty excited to have a mate to play football (that's soccer) and share a bubble bath with, he still hasn't grasped the concept of sharing very well. His ever-so-popular rocking dragon was again the object of contention. He was generous enough to offer Taaroa his own toy car back though.

Wait till this Bean comes out. She's going to stick around and take a good share of his attention, some of his books and toys and clothes, and bicker with him for the rest of their lives. He's sleeping so soundly right now, having no idea what'll shortly hit him...

Manners please...

... Nico is 2 years, 2 months and 1 week and 2 days old today.

He's been learning manners for the past few months now, knowing to say please and thank you and bye-bye.

He's been especially good at remembering politeness when there's the right incentive. On Christmas, Oma Yoke put a box of Ferrero Rocher chocolates on the coffee table for everyone to enjoy. Quick as a snake, he managed to utter a 'Thank you Oma' before making a hopeful move towards the box.

I got yet another reminder today to watch what I say... Papa gave Nico a slice of cucumber at dinner table, and instead of the normal 'Thank you Papa' we were expecting, we got a 'Merci Babe'... Thankfully he hasn't learnt anything rude from me yet.

Went to see the midwife today. 24 days to go and Toni is referring me to get a scan and diagnostic at National Women's Hospital so that we can assess how much of an issue Bean's size is. My fundal height is 2-3 cm behind (should be 36cm) so we'll be expecting a concentrate-sized baby. If she stops growing, I'll have to get induced. Otherwise, all is going well - protein ok, so is blood pressure, and Bean's heartbeat is strong. Her head is well engaged so it can now be any time soon.

I was supposed to do some work yesterday but decided to go to the beach instead, and catch up on work today instead. Today - was so tired I had to head to bed and only woke up till midday. Still, the 2hr snooze helped me feel good enough to be a lot more productive and get some good work done. When I have my own queendom, I will set a decree that everyone should have a siesta.

30mins to go till the end of today, so my primary prediction will be incorrect real soon. Second guess is 17/01.

End of year stuff

I officially have 27 days before our lives is changed (again) forever, but I have a gut feeling (so to speak - the scientific term is fetal movement) that I'll be lucky to have 5 days. If I had to guess a date, I'd go for 07/01.

Tomorrow is my last day of Christmas leave - back to work this Wednesday, and I'll keep on going until Bean's born. Must remember to bring a change of clothing to the office in case my waters break there. DL's waters broke while she was sitting on her chair, and apparently it was unsalvageable because of the smell of the amniotic fluid...

I have packed my hospital bag, put a waterproof cover on the seat of my car, got all my pregnancy paperwork ready, registered with Birthcare, got the kids' bedroom somewhat ready, started freezing the post-apocalypse meals and have had a countless number of labour & birth dreams. Thankfully Yoke's dream of me giving birth on 01 Jan wasn't a premonitory one.

Nico will have no clue what hit him. Used to being the centre of Mummy and Daddy's lives for the entirety of his 2 years, 2 months and 6 days of life, he will have to learn to share - attention, toys, and *gasp* food!

He did us extremely proud during the Christmas dinners, lunches and BBQs this season, generally behaving even though it was past his bedtime. He stayed up till well past midnight on Christmas Eve without throwing any tantrum.

The weather's been great lately so we spent a lot of time outdoors.

Riding Papa's shoulders in Oma Yoke's pool (and once learning the consequences of not properly holding on)

Testing his mini bouncy castle - Christmas present

With Finn at Cornwall Park's water fountain. A picture of two angels if you don't look at all the water on their shirts and on the floor.

Drowning Watering the rosemary

Just chillin' man...

Nothing like food to make this one cheerful

With Briar at the Cornwall Park playground. Neither of them wanted to let go of their ice block.

With Papa at the rock pools at Takapuna beach.

Spending some quiet time with Loki on the lawn