Love it or hate it

A friend asked me on facebook whether I was enjoying the pregnancy - and I had to think about it for a moment...

It is undoubtedly the most surreal thing I've ever experienced... I thought my wedding day was that moment but it has quickly been replaced by this experience.

So I drew up a list of pros and cons:

I'M NOT ENJOYING

* weighing the heaviest I've ever been in my entire life

* not fitting into my clothes

* waking up four/five times a night to pee

* not being able to sleep on my tummy

* feeling guilty when I eat sushi

* being stared at when I have a glass of wine dammit!

* having to see the doctor every month

* having to deal with an already exhausted medical aid

* the bad dreams

* always feeling tired and listless

* feeling nauseous and vomiting if I've eaten something even slightly off

I LOVE

* not having to pull my stomach in

* it when she kicks - I feel like she's reaching out and trying to talk to me

* not having to buy tampons although having my period now seems like a distant memory

* spending time on my own 

* having clear skin

* having a legitimate excuse to leave a party if I'm bored

* meeting other new mothers

* being fussed over and being given special treatment

* discovering new products for baby and me

* buying clothes for her

* thinking about how we're going to decorate her nursery

* planning what she's going to wear

* looking forward to meeting her

* the way she's brought her daddy and I even closer together

The good outweighs the bad - I'm definitely enjoying it!

Image http://www.clker.com/clipart-16483.html

Pink and blue

I was cruising through the baby and tiny tots department in Woolies the other day and couldn't find a single item of clothing that got me all excited. The reason: everything for little girls seems to be pink and blue. Individually, I don't mind the colours, but together the combination makes me think of polar fleece, bubblegum ice cream and feeling car sick... my worst things ever! 

I love yellows, browns, greens, reds, whites, wheat and all the other nice colours that aren't the obvious choice for girls...

What's the bet she's going to love pink and blue! 

Image: www.jeongmeeyoon.com

Supergran!

My mom is  the best! She's a blogger, a facebooker, and the two of us like to sms and/or conversate on blackberry messenger. I don't know any mom who's as tech-savvy as she is.

She has raised four girls (all now in our 20s and 30s) and still manages to be both the most trendy and traditional mom out!

Last night she mms'd me three pics of jerseys she has already knitted for our little girl. Granny's got some skills!

Mom is already a gran to a grandson so this little one will be her first grand daughter. For the Valentine contingent, she'll be the first grandchild. 

Soon to be homeowners

It has been the longest month we've endured... but finally we're going to become homeowners. I won't even go into the messy details about Standard Bank's inadequacy, our banker's stupidity and all the other unnecessary players who have been involved in making our loan application the most painful process THE most frustrating experience ever! Jassus!

But finally, our home loan has been granted, the ball is rolling and we're on our way to becoming homeowners! Yay! See the house... my mom calls it quaint! Yep! It's definitely old-fashioned with its red stoep, pressed ceilings, wooden floors and huge garden in the suburb of Victoria. This suburb is made up of only two streets, and is right next to Norwood - on this side of Louis Botha. 

Can't wait to move in!

Eureka!

We finally found a hospital and are extremely satisfied with it. A few mothers had told me about Linkwood Clinic and there I was imagining it was on the way to the airport - on that boring, slow highway... 

Instead, it's tucked away just on the other side of Orange Grove and shares a large parking lot with Linksfield Hopsital. You just go down 11th, which becomes Ivy and then Louis, turn left on Louis Botha and then right on the very next road. Drive all the way and at the end of that road is the hospital. Now if we get the house we want, we'll be even closer...

The nurses and even the security were super friendly and the atmosphere there is so peaceful - not like the mad rush at Parklane! Each mom gets her own room (there are only 8) and a bed for her partner, and a basket in between mom and dad for the little one. You give birth in your room and each room has a bath if you want to go the water birth option. That idea has piqued again now that I've seen the facilities. The bath looks like a jacuzzi bath in your own home essentially. If I don't go this route, I'll definitely be making use of it!

Also, we've decided on a midwife - finding a new OBGyn at this point is going to be an expensive and frustrating so we have our first appointment with Xoli in two weeks' time. I'll tell you all about it when it happens!

What a relief! And I'm actually looking forward to the birth now...