My baby girl is just over 7 weeks old now.
She is the cutest damn thing.
The routine has become easier. Nappies and feedings and sleepings are more predictable. She doesn't cry much, she's very calm and sweet.
I'm worried about the immunisations that are happening in a week. Will be the 1st time I am there while they happen. The nurse explained to me that the medicine will be burny to my baby. And she will cry a bit. Bitterly, I expect. I hope she will be able to forgive me for it, it can't be helped. I hate that sad look she gets on her face sometimes. Heartbreaking.
Hopefully the husband will be able to go with. I don't know how I'm gonna handle my baby in pain. Live and learn, I suppose.
The grandparentals have been almost swooning over the little baby. It's awesome.
Everything is turning out just... wonderfully.
Going back to work is gonna be ... awful.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Monday, December 8, 2008
Living Doll
It’s been a week and a bit since I brought home my baby. It’s been a helluva learning experience.
Boobie feeding
I am doing the boobie feeding thing. No bottles. The advantages far outweigh the drawbacks, which are mostly comfort related. By the 3rd day since the delivery REAL milky white stuff started coming from my boobies. Score! The key here is the latching of the baby onto the boobie. I can’t explain the pain associated with sore boobies though. It’s fire and soreness. And full boobies that require drinking… sigh. The nipple cream has helped, however. She munches every 3 – 4 hours a day. Sometimes more, sometimes less. I don’t plan to enforce a routine. I will feed her when she is hungry, and make sure she munches for at least 15 minutes every time I whip out my boobies.
Nappy changes
At first, this seemed a daunting challenge. The first stool was handles by nursing staff, thankfully. The whole first night was taken care of, actually. My husband has been … beyond wonderful. I got a crash course in nappy changing at the hospital. My mother changed her when the baby was brought to us. Then, my cousin, who has 2 younger sisters did a few changes as well. By the time I actually HAD to, I’d seen it done a couple times. So, I play assistant to my husband when he changes her. During the day, I’m on duty. At night, he does most of the changes, as I do the feedings. I can’t explain what a help he has been. I’ve been ridiculously tired these days; must be the boobie feedings.
Sleepy time
After she eats, she sleeps. The mosquitoes have been bothering us at night. My parents bought her a mozzie net for her crib, however. Thing is, she sleeps better between me and the husband, and I don’t have to jump up and out of bed every time she makes a muffled groan.
Bath time
I had one demonstration in the hospital on how this is supposed to be done as well. Easier shown than done. Once again, the help of my cousin was invaluable. She washed the baby 3 times, before she had to go home. Varsity holidays have started, after all. So, by the time I had to do it, I’d seen it done 4 times in total. I heard of a neat trick from a work colleague – wrap her in a towel and wash her in the towel. She only cries when she is cold, so as long as I can keep the cold at bay, bath time is fine. My husband has washed her by himself as well. It went very well. Have I mentioned that he is awesome?
So, in conclusion, I have a living breathing doll. And, it’s… overwhelming at times. She is so fragile, so dependent. Very beautiful. I hate it when she cries. It’s so awful. She is such a sweet kid, she deserves only every bit of happiness that comes her way.
I finally have the angel baby I’ve always wanted. She is beautiful and sweet. She only cries when she is cold, hungry or needs a change. Other than that, she sleeps the deep sleep of the righteous. She is just gorgeous. She is developing this permanent tan, without ever seeing the sun. (haha) I suppose that’s what happens when you have an eclipse of pale and dark.
I can’t screw this up. I only have this one shot, after all. It’s gonna be a while before we do the baby thing again. It’s really expensive!
Boobie feeding
I am doing the boobie feeding thing. No bottles. The advantages far outweigh the drawbacks, which are mostly comfort related. By the 3rd day since the delivery REAL milky white stuff started coming from my boobies. Score! The key here is the latching of the baby onto the boobie. I can’t explain the pain associated with sore boobies though. It’s fire and soreness. And full boobies that require drinking… sigh. The nipple cream has helped, however. She munches every 3 – 4 hours a day. Sometimes more, sometimes less. I don’t plan to enforce a routine. I will feed her when she is hungry, and make sure she munches for at least 15 minutes every time I whip out my boobies.
Nappy changes
At first, this seemed a daunting challenge. The first stool was handles by nursing staff, thankfully. The whole first night was taken care of, actually. My husband has been … beyond wonderful. I got a crash course in nappy changing at the hospital. My mother changed her when the baby was brought to us. Then, my cousin, who has 2 younger sisters did a few changes as well. By the time I actually HAD to, I’d seen it done a couple times. So, I play assistant to my husband when he changes her. During the day, I’m on duty. At night, he does most of the changes, as I do the feedings. I can’t explain what a help he has been. I’ve been ridiculously tired these days; must be the boobie feedings.
Sleepy time
After she eats, she sleeps. The mosquitoes have been bothering us at night. My parents bought her a mozzie net for her crib, however. Thing is, she sleeps better between me and the husband, and I don’t have to jump up and out of bed every time she makes a muffled groan.
Bath time
I had one demonstration in the hospital on how this is supposed to be done as well. Easier shown than done. Once again, the help of my cousin was invaluable. She washed the baby 3 times, before she had to go home. Varsity holidays have started, after all. So, by the time I had to do it, I’d seen it done 4 times in total. I heard of a neat trick from a work colleague – wrap her in a towel and wash her in the towel. She only cries when she is cold, so as long as I can keep the cold at bay, bath time is fine. My husband has washed her by himself as well. It went very well. Have I mentioned that he is awesome?
So, in conclusion, I have a living breathing doll. And, it’s… overwhelming at times. She is so fragile, so dependent. Very beautiful. I hate it when she cries. It’s so awful. She is such a sweet kid, she deserves only every bit of happiness that comes her way.
I finally have the angel baby I’ve always wanted. She is beautiful and sweet. She only cries when she is cold, hungry or needs a change. Other than that, she sleeps the deep sleep of the righteous. She is just gorgeous. She is developing this permanent tan, without ever seeing the sun. (haha) I suppose that’s what happens when you have an eclipse of pale and dark.
I can’t screw this up. I only have this one shot, after all. It’s gonna be a while before we do the baby thing again. It’s really expensive!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Delivery Day
Kyra was born 2,5 weeks premature, on Saturday, 29 November 2008, at 17h05.
She popped out after a mere 5 pushes-it was a vaginal delivery, with epidural.
Here is a brief overview of my weekend:
Saturday morning, at 4am, I wake up due to menstrual cramps. "More Braxton Hicks." I think to myself. With a sigh I head to the bathroom, for the 10th time that night. The pain then migrated to my back, which was when I decided, no time like the present for a bath.
An hour and a half later, the bath water is cold, and the pains, erratic as they are, are not going away. And, I'm getting hungry. So, I get up, get into a towel, and head to the kitchen to get some cornflakes. Pain courses through my abdominal and back area as I ambulate up the hallway and back.
When I return to the room, I decide to call the hospital to ask what pills I can take for this pain. They tell me to come in to the hospital for a check up. Just basic foetal monitoring. So, I finish my cornflakes and get dressed. Off to the hospital we go. It is 06h50.
We make it to the maternity ward without incident. I get hooked up to a foetal monitor at 07h00. "Great" I think, the cramps have stopped. The nurse tells us that I need to be on the monitor for at least 20 minutes. Also, my stomach is "hard". Don't know what that's supposed to mean.
So, after 20 minutes of only 3 cramps happening (they were erratic as I said, not regular, one bad, one not, etc) the nurse told me my obstetrician is in the building, as another lady was in labour. The monitoring wasn't conslusive, so I should wait for the obstetrician.
In the mean time, the cramps are still coming, and I wonder about getting some Panado at least. The nurse said I'm not to have anything till the doctor has seen me. "Wonderful" I think.
At 09h00 the obstetrician shows up. She does an internal exam of my bits. It hurt. Then it was just uncomfortable. Anyway, she felt up my cervix, said that it was squishy (meaning soft), and proceded to puncture my amniotic sack. So, she broke my water, and it rushed the bed. Felt like I'd wet myself badly. So, the doctor told me, no going back now - the water is broken, the kid is coming today.
Turns out I was in real labour, even though I thought it was false, cause it didn't happen as the book said it should.
I called my parents, who got in the car and drove the 5 hour trip immediately.
I’m told the anaesthetist showed up at 10h30, it felt like hours later. The labour cramps were intense – worse than any menstrual pains I’d ever experienced. I am lucky in that my husband is patient. I was telling, nay yelling at him to rub my back harder, softer, DON’T TOUCH ME, etc. Then there was the sweet sweet numbness as the epidural took effect. The rest of the day was downhill from there.
By 14h00, I was 5cm dilated. My parents arrived at around 16h00. By 17h30 I was 9 cm dilated. The last cm took an hour and a half.
They put me in these leg brace things on the bed. The pushing part of the situation took about 15mins, then Kyra was out. I cracked up laughing the 1st 2 times I was told to push. The doctor and nurse were like, “Push like you’re constipated!” Yes, the epidural was that good.
I recall the first thing I said as she popped out and they immediately put her on my chest, was “Euw, gross.” So, they took her away and wiped her clean. Then they gave her to my husband (Who had cut the umbilical cord, by the way). He went to go show the grandparentals, who were waiting outside.
Then, out popped the placenta, all intact.
The paediatrician checked her out. Everything was fine. She went to the baby room with my husband in tow. Then all the tubes were removed from me. And, the wait for the numbness in my legs to away ensued. I’d needed extra drugs to get my right side as drugged out as my left side. It took roughly an hour or so. The husband migrated all my and the baby’s stuff to our hospital room. I had a private room for some reason.
The nurses helped me to the bathroom, where my husband helped me wash. In salt water. I walked like a drunk person, cause the feeling in my feet hadn’t returned yet. Also, my blood pressure was a bit low again, now that the baby was out. So, I was a bit dizzy as well. After the bath, I went to the room.
The first breast feeding attempt, which happened before Kyra was taken to the baby room, was … weird. I had some water-like substance appearing from my boobie. They called it colustrum. Or something. Anyway. The nurses were awesome, they helped me get the baby to latch and do some sucking. This is vital as soon as possible after she pops out. The baby needs to learn to suck properly.
Then every 4 hours, the nurses would bring the baby in for boobie feeding. Sunday my parents bought the baby a bath, and bathing stand, and nappies, etc etc. They left around 14h00. My husband slept on the lazyboy all weekend. And he helped with the nappies. Sunday afternoon and Monday, the baby spent most of the time in our room. And we had a crash course in baby care on the job. Monday morning the husband had to go to work to secure some leave. He was back in a couple hours.
We left at 18h00.
And, that’s how Kyra made her appearance.
She popped out after a mere 5 pushes-it was a vaginal delivery, with epidural.
Here is a brief overview of my weekend:
Saturday morning, at 4am, I wake up due to menstrual cramps. "More Braxton Hicks." I think to myself. With a sigh I head to the bathroom, for the 10th time that night. The pain then migrated to my back, which was when I decided, no time like the present for a bath.
An hour and a half later, the bath water is cold, and the pains, erratic as they are, are not going away. And, I'm getting hungry. So, I get up, get into a towel, and head to the kitchen to get some cornflakes. Pain courses through my abdominal and back area as I ambulate up the hallway and back.
When I return to the room, I decide to call the hospital to ask what pills I can take for this pain. They tell me to come in to the hospital for a check up. Just basic foetal monitoring. So, I finish my cornflakes and get dressed. Off to the hospital we go. It is 06h50.
We make it to the maternity ward without incident. I get hooked up to a foetal monitor at 07h00. "Great" I think, the cramps have stopped. The nurse tells us that I need to be on the monitor for at least 20 minutes. Also, my stomach is "hard". Don't know what that's supposed to mean.
So, after 20 minutes of only 3 cramps happening (they were erratic as I said, not regular, one bad, one not, etc) the nurse told me my obstetrician is in the building, as another lady was in labour. The monitoring wasn't conslusive, so I should wait for the obstetrician.
In the mean time, the cramps are still coming, and I wonder about getting some Panado at least. The nurse said I'm not to have anything till the doctor has seen me. "Wonderful" I think.
At 09h00 the obstetrician shows up. She does an internal exam of my bits. It hurt. Then it was just uncomfortable. Anyway, she felt up my cervix, said that it was squishy (meaning soft), and proceded to puncture my amniotic sack. So, she broke my water, and it rushed the bed. Felt like I'd wet myself badly. So, the doctor told me, no going back now - the water is broken, the kid is coming today.
Turns out I was in real labour, even though I thought it was false, cause it didn't happen as the book said it should.
I called my parents, who got in the car and drove the 5 hour trip immediately.
I’m told the anaesthetist showed up at 10h30, it felt like hours later. The labour cramps were intense – worse than any menstrual pains I’d ever experienced. I am lucky in that my husband is patient. I was telling, nay yelling at him to rub my back harder, softer, DON’T TOUCH ME, etc. Then there was the sweet sweet numbness as the epidural took effect. The rest of the day was downhill from there.
By 14h00, I was 5cm dilated. My parents arrived at around 16h00. By 17h30 I was 9 cm dilated. The last cm took an hour and a half.
They put me in these leg brace things on the bed. The pushing part of the situation took about 15mins, then Kyra was out. I cracked up laughing the 1st 2 times I was told to push. The doctor and nurse were like, “Push like you’re constipated!” Yes, the epidural was that good.
I recall the first thing I said as she popped out and they immediately put her on my chest, was “Euw, gross.” So, they took her away and wiped her clean. Then they gave her to my husband (Who had cut the umbilical cord, by the way). He went to go show the grandparentals, who were waiting outside.
Then, out popped the placenta, all intact.
The paediatrician checked her out. Everything was fine. She went to the baby room with my husband in tow. Then all the tubes were removed from me. And, the wait for the numbness in my legs to away ensued. I’d needed extra drugs to get my right side as drugged out as my left side. It took roughly an hour or so. The husband migrated all my and the baby’s stuff to our hospital room. I had a private room for some reason.
The nurses helped me to the bathroom, where my husband helped me wash. In salt water. I walked like a drunk person, cause the feeling in my feet hadn’t returned yet. Also, my blood pressure was a bit low again, now that the baby was out. So, I was a bit dizzy as well. After the bath, I went to the room.
The first breast feeding attempt, which happened before Kyra was taken to the baby room, was … weird. I had some water-like substance appearing from my boobie. They called it colustrum. Or something. Anyway. The nurses were awesome, they helped me get the baby to latch and do some sucking. This is vital as soon as possible after she pops out. The baby needs to learn to suck properly.
Then every 4 hours, the nurses would bring the baby in for boobie feeding. Sunday my parents bought the baby a bath, and bathing stand, and nappies, etc etc. They left around 14h00. My husband slept on the lazyboy all weekend. And he helped with the nappies. Sunday afternoon and Monday, the baby spent most of the time in our room. And we had a crash course in baby care on the job. Monday morning the husband had to go to work to secure some leave. He was back in a couple hours.
We left at 18h00.
And, that’s how Kyra made her appearance.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Oh woe!
So, last week I noticed for the first time, and despite many daily applications of miracle stretchmark creams, that I now have brand spanking new stretchmarks on my belly.
Not kewl.
It seems that, regardless of whatever promises made on the bottles of these lotions and potions, the fact of the matter is, if you are meant to get stretchmarks from pregancy, you will get them. And no cream is gonna stop the body from doing what it does. I.e., stretching to accommodate the parasite.
My ribs feel like they are moving outward as well, much to the discomfort of my chest. Likewise, the bones in my pelvic area seem to be moving to the side. Dull aches that don't go away accompany this perceived movement.
Monday marked the first of the now weekly visits I must make to the obstetrician. At R330 a week, I wonder if I'm in the right business. And I know that if I have any more kids, I will be skipping the larger amount of these visits. I'm fine, the baby is fine. Nothing is wrong. So, this cash could be much better spent elsewhere, methinks. Especially as there are no warning signs that anything may be wrong in this pregnancy.
I am basically done with packing my hospital bag. All I need to put in now, is a toothbrush, some jammies and an outfit or two. Problem is, I only have 1 toothbrush, 2 sets of comfy jammies I can still wear and 3 comfy outfits. If I pack them, I'll have to hang around naked in the house for the next 3 weeks. And, that, friends and neighbours, will not be happening. So, I figure, the house is only 3 mins away from the hospital; if all else fails, the husband could always go get my toiletries and an outfit during the "waiting around" part of the labour.
All systems are go for the big event. The baby's goodies have been ziplocked and are ready for use. We have many glucose rich treats for energy (Though, I can't imagine the sugar release will give sustained energy. Also, I'm planning on an epidural, but one never can know how these things will pan out. If I get to hospital too late, I may have to forego the epidural. Yikes.) The challenge now is to NOT eat the goodies in the bag before the event...
*sigh*
How the sugary treats taunt me!
I'm at the office this morning, doing some final review work. I just wanna get everything in order and done before the manager returns tomorrow. After I finish this document, I will finally be free of this place till next year. I am officially on leave. But, it's just bad sportsmanship to leave review work for someone else, even though I did receive the work a week late.
As I told my husband a couple weeks ago, to much laughter on his part - this is just how I roll.
(It's funny, you see, coz I have to roll to one side or the other when trying to get to sleep, or even just to get off the bed. Yes, I'm that big. I'm a beachball smuggler. I'm the Michelin man. I'm the progeny of both the Michelin man and the Oros man. I dun got FAT.)
Have I mentioned that I can't believe I have stretchmarks on my STOMACH?? I'd been so careful about that... *sigh* And they are this awful red-purplish colour. Same on my hips. Those are new, too. The hip ones have nestled in with my old stretchmarks from highschool. But, the stomach ones are breaking new ground.
I'm 37 weeks preggers today, folks. (Give or take a few days) Think of me around December 15th. They say 1st time round babies tend to hang around inside for longer. So, she may be out for xmas. Never thought I'd have a Christmas baby. Thanks a lot, Coke Fest weekend.
Not kewl.
It seems that, regardless of whatever promises made on the bottles of these lotions and potions, the fact of the matter is, if you are meant to get stretchmarks from pregancy, you will get them. And no cream is gonna stop the body from doing what it does. I.e., stretching to accommodate the parasite.
My ribs feel like they are moving outward as well, much to the discomfort of my chest. Likewise, the bones in my pelvic area seem to be moving to the side. Dull aches that don't go away accompany this perceived movement.
Monday marked the first of the now weekly visits I must make to the obstetrician. At R330 a week, I wonder if I'm in the right business. And I know that if I have any more kids, I will be skipping the larger amount of these visits. I'm fine, the baby is fine. Nothing is wrong. So, this cash could be much better spent elsewhere, methinks. Especially as there are no warning signs that anything may be wrong in this pregnancy.
I am basically done with packing my hospital bag. All I need to put in now, is a toothbrush, some jammies and an outfit or two. Problem is, I only have 1 toothbrush, 2 sets of comfy jammies I can still wear and 3 comfy outfits. If I pack them, I'll have to hang around naked in the house for the next 3 weeks. And, that, friends and neighbours, will not be happening. So, I figure, the house is only 3 mins away from the hospital; if all else fails, the husband could always go get my toiletries and an outfit during the "waiting around" part of the labour.
All systems are go for the big event. The baby's goodies have been ziplocked and are ready for use. We have many glucose rich treats for energy (Though, I can't imagine the sugar release will give sustained energy. Also, I'm planning on an epidural, but one never can know how these things will pan out. If I get to hospital too late, I may have to forego the epidural. Yikes.) The challenge now is to NOT eat the goodies in the bag before the event...
*sigh*
How the sugary treats taunt me!
I'm at the office this morning, doing some final review work. I just wanna get everything in order and done before the manager returns tomorrow. After I finish this document, I will finally be free of this place till next year. I am officially on leave. But, it's just bad sportsmanship to leave review work for someone else, even though I did receive the work a week late.
As I told my husband a couple weeks ago, to much laughter on his part - this is just how I roll.
(It's funny, you see, coz I have to roll to one side or the other when trying to get to sleep, or even just to get off the bed. Yes, I'm that big. I'm a beachball smuggler. I'm the Michelin man. I'm the progeny of both the Michelin man and the Oros man. I dun got FAT.)
Have I mentioned that I can't believe I have stretchmarks on my STOMACH?? I'd been so careful about that... *sigh* And they are this awful red-purplish colour. Same on my hips. Those are new, too. The hip ones have nestled in with my old stretchmarks from highschool. But, the stomach ones are breaking new ground.
I'm 37 weeks preggers today, folks. (Give or take a few days) Think of me around December 15th. They say 1st time round babies tend to hang around inside for longer. So, she may be out for xmas. Never thought I'd have a Christmas baby. Thanks a lot, Coke Fest weekend.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Maternity leave
Today is my last day at the office before a 4 month stint of facing the brutal realities of motherhood. This week has been an optimistic one. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of impending “holiday” to get your spirits up. Have I mentioned I can’t wait to get home? Ahhhhhh… To be on holiday again…
On the dark side of the coin, it seems that nausea has returned with a vengeance. And not just up chucking the content of my oesophagus, nooooo. I have that lingering nausea again, reminiscent of my first 3 months of pregnancy. I have no idea what happened to my nausea pills, I may have to invest in finding some more.
The pictures of my belly came out rather… okay. Only one was really beautiful, where the artificial light catches me just so. I look like I’m deep in joyous contemplation of the bundle of joy under my hands. Soft glow surrounds me too. I wonder if it’s a photoshop effect.
Despite me needing to have my feet up now, and resting – Next week Monday is already gonna be a full day. I have to go see the wedding photographer (We never did get our professional wedding photos, though we may still get them one day). We are gonna make an album. I have a budget and everything. I also have another obstetrician check up same day. These will become a weekly occurrence until I pop this kid, it seems. It’s a bit heavy on my (and the hubby’s, but mostly the hubby’s) pocket.
Then I also have to go see the UIF woman, to finalise my forms and get them to the Dept of Labour. I hope they will deem me worthy of getting some money. Would suck if this was all for naught.
Also, there are a bunch of little things I still need to add to the old hospital bag.
The husband and I went to my parents’ house last weekend. Yes, a 5 hour trip. My mom washed all my baby clothes for me, and we packed them in the required zip lock bags, to ensure there is a nappy, vest and an outfit in each. Well, to be fair, my mom packed everything. I just sort of watched. My mom also made me lasagne, which I asked for. The fast food places and restaurants just can’t make food the way my mom does.
Home sickness is a weird affliction.
My kid has almost more clothes than me now.
The husband has ordered a cot online. That should be here before the baby is. (We hope.)
We are still struggling with estate agents and sellers on the price of the townhouse we want. Either way, we have no idea when we will be able to move in. And, it looks like we will be in my husband’s parents’ house till quite some time after the kid is born. I don’t think this is a bad idea. At least she will be surrounded by loving family, and a support base like that is nothing to sneeze at. More hands to help feed, bathe, burp and clean. Huzzah!
I also speak to my parentals almost daily. They have confirmed that they will be here to support me for almost the whole of December, depending how bored they get. This is great news. I don’t remember much of what they said in the pre-natal classes regarding child care. At least, with my maternity leave, I will have time to read the book I have on that issue.
It seems the office scanner has taken a scanning quality nose dive. I have been unable to get decent scans of the past 2 sonars of the babbie. My apologies, curious masses. I will be putting them into my baby scrapbook, so if anyone ever comes to visit, just ask to see the scrapbook. Rest assured that it looks like a big headed baby. You can’t see much on the sonars anyway: just a big head and some appendages. Nothing out of the ordinary.
I’m still deciding on the QE. To study or not to study, to do it, or not. This will be the last time I have study leave for it. *sigh* Is it worth it?
Can’t wait to get out of here, pity about the mountain of work!
On the dark side of the coin, it seems that nausea has returned with a vengeance. And not just up chucking the content of my oesophagus, nooooo. I have that lingering nausea again, reminiscent of my first 3 months of pregnancy. I have no idea what happened to my nausea pills, I may have to invest in finding some more.
The pictures of my belly came out rather… okay. Only one was really beautiful, where the artificial light catches me just so. I look like I’m deep in joyous contemplation of the bundle of joy under my hands. Soft glow surrounds me too. I wonder if it’s a photoshop effect.
Despite me needing to have my feet up now, and resting – Next week Monday is already gonna be a full day. I have to go see the wedding photographer (We never did get our professional wedding photos, though we may still get them one day). We are gonna make an album. I have a budget and everything. I also have another obstetrician check up same day. These will become a weekly occurrence until I pop this kid, it seems. It’s a bit heavy on my (and the hubby’s, but mostly the hubby’s) pocket.
Then I also have to go see the UIF woman, to finalise my forms and get them to the Dept of Labour. I hope they will deem me worthy of getting some money. Would suck if this was all for naught.
Also, there are a bunch of little things I still need to add to the old hospital bag.
The husband and I went to my parents’ house last weekend. Yes, a 5 hour trip. My mom washed all my baby clothes for me, and we packed them in the required zip lock bags, to ensure there is a nappy, vest and an outfit in each. Well, to be fair, my mom packed everything. I just sort of watched. My mom also made me lasagne, which I asked for. The fast food places and restaurants just can’t make food the way my mom does.
Home sickness is a weird affliction.
My kid has almost more clothes than me now.
The husband has ordered a cot online. That should be here before the baby is. (We hope.)
We are still struggling with estate agents and sellers on the price of the townhouse we want. Either way, we have no idea when we will be able to move in. And, it looks like we will be in my husband’s parents’ house till quite some time after the kid is born. I don’t think this is a bad idea. At least she will be surrounded by loving family, and a support base like that is nothing to sneeze at. More hands to help feed, bathe, burp and clean. Huzzah!
I also speak to my parentals almost daily. They have confirmed that they will be here to support me for almost the whole of December, depending how bored they get. This is great news. I don’t remember much of what they said in the pre-natal classes regarding child care. At least, with my maternity leave, I will have time to read the book I have on that issue.
It seems the office scanner has taken a scanning quality nose dive. I have been unable to get decent scans of the past 2 sonars of the babbie. My apologies, curious masses. I will be putting them into my baby scrapbook, so if anyone ever comes to visit, just ask to see the scrapbook. Rest assured that it looks like a big headed baby. You can’t see much on the sonars anyway: just a big head and some appendages. Nothing out of the ordinary.
I’m still deciding on the QE. To study or not to study, to do it, or not. This will be the last time I have study leave for it. *sigh* Is it worth it?
Can’t wait to get out of here, pity about the mountain of work!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
35 weeks - So far, so good.
The house hunt is on again, in full swing. Hopefully we will have some property in our names by the end of this month. Time will tell. We signed another offer to purchase last night. The last one was unsuccessful. What the people here do not seem to realise is that the property market is in a slump.
The credit act and the global bank crash has had a profound effect on the lending practices of banks here in SA. I.e. less people can afford loans, and the banks are stricter and more loathe granting them. And, as demand for houses decreases, the supply increases. And, that, friends and (soon-to-be) neighbours, is why the general property prices have fallen.
A turn around is expected by around next year April. Some analysts argue that this is an overly optimistic view. In the meantime, people need to realise that what they paid at the beginning of the year, or 2 years prior, is not what they’re gonna get now. Back then the market was in an upward turn, fuelled by the bubble of granting home loans people can’t afford. The credit act has helped shield SA from the brunt of the credit crunch, but no one could have predicted the rise in interest rates (10 times in the last 2 years).
So, what you could afford back then, already stretching your budget to the max, in keeping up with the Joneses, has become the bane of your financial existence now.
This also explains why repossession of property has climbed. Banks have to take and auction what clients can’t afford to maintain.
It seems that the “nesting” effect is kicking into gear for me lately. I find myself organising and reorganising my meagre cupboard space. My current domain is the hubby’s room in his parents’ house. I have half the cupboard and double the drawer space.
Yesterday, when I got the call that we are gonna put in an offer to purchase a home, my imagination went just wild at the prospect of picking out colours and decorating my first ever home. This has been dampened somewhat by the news that we will in all likelihood only be able to move in at the end of January of next year.
I’m sure everything will work out in the end. Patience is a virtua.
There will be another baby scan tomorrow. I wonder what she looks like these days. Just a couple weeks before she swims out to say hi. Hope we’ll have somewhere to put her when she does!
The credit act and the global bank crash has had a profound effect on the lending practices of banks here in SA. I.e. less people can afford loans, and the banks are stricter and more loathe granting them. And, as demand for houses decreases, the supply increases. And, that, friends and (soon-to-be) neighbours, is why the general property prices have fallen.
A turn around is expected by around next year April. Some analysts argue that this is an overly optimistic view. In the meantime, people need to realise that what they paid at the beginning of the year, or 2 years prior, is not what they’re gonna get now. Back then the market was in an upward turn, fuelled by the bubble of granting home loans people can’t afford. The credit act has helped shield SA from the brunt of the credit crunch, but no one could have predicted the rise in interest rates (10 times in the last 2 years).
So, what you could afford back then, already stretching your budget to the max, in keeping up with the Joneses, has become the bane of your financial existence now.
This also explains why repossession of property has climbed. Banks have to take and auction what clients can’t afford to maintain.
It seems that the “nesting” effect is kicking into gear for me lately. I find myself organising and reorganising my meagre cupboard space. My current domain is the hubby’s room in his parents’ house. I have half the cupboard and double the drawer space.
Yesterday, when I got the call that we are gonna put in an offer to purchase a home, my imagination went just wild at the prospect of picking out colours and decorating my first ever home. This has been dampened somewhat by the news that we will in all likelihood only be able to move in at the end of January of next year.
I’m sure everything will work out in the end. Patience is a virtua.
There will be another baby scan tomorrow. I wonder what she looks like these days. Just a couple weeks before she swims out to say hi. Hope we’ll have somewhere to put her when she does!
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