No pictures this week. I meant to take a photograph of myself on the due date but just didn't get it done. The baby was due on 22 November. It was hot and windy, with a brooding orange sun in the sky because of the smoke from the fires in the Blue Mountains. It didn't feel like a good day to go into labour, and obviously the baby agreed. Instead Alesia went to play at a friend's house in the morning and I went into the office. I have become a poster girl advocate for paid maternity leave at my workplace. Many people have asked me why I am still at work and I have responded that if there was paid maternity leave I would not be there - but as they don't offer that then I am keeping my annual leave until the baby arrives.
I have been spending plenty of time near the hospital simply because I take Alesia to playgroup there, eat there at the cafeteria when I work and watch Chris play cricket in the nets out the back. So if I do go into labour suddenly I won't have far to travel!
On Thursday we went to see the doctor. This time Alesia and Chris came also. Alesia had fun watching my blood pressure get tested and listening to the baby's heartbeat via the ultrasound. Ever since then she has been poking and prodding her baby doll with a USB cable in the "doctor's office" (our study). We decided to book me in for induction this coming Thursday - giving the baby 9 days of overdue time. That will put the baby born on 30 November. It is a little thing, but I would like the baby's birthday to be in November rather than December.
I picked up a cold from somewhere on Thursday, so maybe the baby is waiting for that to move on. I am four days into it and am nearly better. It has been annoying to have a sore throat and thick head to deal with as well as my massive belly. Saturday afternoon we took Alesia down to the swings and slide at Wahroonga Park. There was another pregnant women there with an 18 month old boy. She is overdue also, and booked into the same hospital as me for induction on Monday. So we may see each other in the halls.
I finished packing my bag for the hospital today, so am finally ready for that. We also hired a baby capsule and had it fitted into the car. My mini eco-nappies arrived and are ready in the cupboard. So basically all we need now is the baby!
I decided Friday would be my last day in the office. I emptied my email inbox, wrote some last letters, had some last chats and left on time happy that nothing is really undone and everything else can wait until February. Chris and I took advantage of our last free Friday afternoon (Alesia goes to long day care on Friday's) and went to see a movie. The only thing that was ok that was on in the time we had was "A Good Year" with Russel Crowe. It was a nice movie, not boring, not earth-shattering.
Chris' parents are holidaying about two hours north of us. We had lunch with them as they passed through Sydney yesterday. It was good to catch up, even though I sat like a blob on the couch all day blowing my nose. They are close enough to get down to visit fairly quickly when the baby comes - which is part of the plan in chosing their holiday location!
Alesia and I made Christmas presents for family this week. Everyone will have to be happy with Alesia original paintings as wrapping paper, as we have a lot of Alesia original works around. I also moved my keyboard from the cupboard so Alesia and I have been playing Playschool songs together to keep ourselves busy.
So next week's update should have some photos of the new baby to share. Thinking about the upcoming labour is like thinking about a physical version of year 12 exams - something I don't want to do but have to do!
