But here is a picture of the rapidly increasing boy...



I only just managed to not add reindeer antlers.

Born: 25th July 2008
Weight: 8lb 6oz

I can't yet believe he came out of me.

(there's a whole post about the hospital stuff, but later)

Earlier I said you would get one picture of me and the bump. Here it is. 1 week to go (except they are usually late). EEk!

I feel I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place (isn't a rock a hard place as well?)

I am sick of being pregnant. The not being able to stand up, the messed up digestive system, the lower immunity leading to daft little infections, needing a siesta on top of 8 hours sleep, generally aching all over. Rock is an appropriate description since that is what my belly feels like.

However I also don't want it to end, because that means I will have this whole other person to deal with, of which I have no experience. Shouldn't there be some exams or something before they let you take a newborn home? I'm worried I will do something daft or dangerous without realising it. Hard place? Well if the labour/lack of sleep/sore body is anything to go by....

Guess this situation won't go on forever, in fact I've got a max of about 6 weeks and then the hard place will be my life. I promise not every post will be about babies....

There was a dog shaped hole in my living room when I came home today. I came in making a face to say hello to Wednesday and she wasn't there, and I felt sad.

She's staying with friends for a couple of days because we are going through to Edinburgh, and I thought I would relish the break from my busy evening 'throw ball/taker her out of pee' schedule. And I do, but I also miss having someone here who you know is happier because you are home (not that my husband doesn't, but half the time he's not here when I get back).

In another dog related conversation, I was talking to someone at work about how I am a first time parent with no friends of relatives with young children and therefore no experience. I offered that having a puppy from 8 weeks old was just like having a baby wasn't it? They need watching all the time, training, feeding, loving, don't they? The look of horror on the listener's face was both amusing and concerning....

This week my world is going to hell, and I can't do a damn thing about it. Stupid pregnancy. Don't get me wrong, I feel blessed, lukcy etc, but since turning over in bed and walking from the end of my street is getting to be a chore at best and painful at worst, I'm not a happy bunny. I haven't really complained about all the mumps and niggles going on so far, I see them as part and parcel of the whole sharing your body thing, but this is beyond that.

Seems that the happy go lucky hormones that mean you can push the squirmer out though your hips also make them come apart early. Yes, you read that right. My hips are trying to go in different directions and means that anything involving moving them hurts. I get to sit on my couch a lot, which I guess with Sky + and a wifi laptop isn't the end of the world. This is a major problem for someone like me who a) walks to work and b) has a dog and c) doesn't drive. If I don't do my best to get it under control then there could be crutches in my near future. I say get it under control, because there is no cure, just pain management. Great. I'm pretty sure that even if I avoid the sticks there will be some attractive under garments on the way.

I suppose it could be worse. There could be something wrong with the baby (as far as I know there isn't), I could have swollen up like a balloon and be bedridden (not yet). Still, can't help but wish God (or whoever) came up with a better design plan for sprogs than this.

Today I have a random bunch of thoughts in my head: none of which are enough for an entire post so I am just going to write a couple of sentences about each and move on. That means you are going to have to pay attention at the back.

We have now introduced a 'Fridays or Bust' rule to gaming. That means that we are going to meet every friday at my house and play something, as long as 3 out of the 5 came make it. Depending on who shows up it might be Dark Heresy or A State or even Zombie Fluxx, but we've got enough games to cobble something together. Game On.

I've decided to post one and only one photo of me and the spawny bump. For most effect it will be in a couple of months time, hopefully when I am still smiling and before I become like a beached whale clothed in a tent.

Looks like I am going to be spending the next 8 weeks of my life working on an IT project out of Paisley. Good news because it is interesting and different work and being away from the office means the days go faster. Bad news because I don't drive and it is in the middle of nowhere, and my boss, who frequently drives me mad, is also on the project. Also the coffees are quite expensive. So far mood is positive with reservations.

Do you think we are our own worst enemies? I think we do it to ourselves and that's what really hurts.