Ho Ho Ho

So, so, so, here's the gang for lunch including the Bains...Carmel's in-laws.  We ate, we drank, we conquered.  

Christmas Day magic

What a morning!  It was hot in Perth for Christmas this year so to the beach we went with Cam'n'Libs for a mid-morning swim.  It was fab.  The water was crystal clear for miles in all directions.  I can't tell you how beautiful it was.  We had been to church the night before and so there were no other agendas for today except frolicking and eating.  Our menu was delicious but no fuss and so we grazed all afternoon before the traditional Panel Christmas wrap up at 8:30pm.  Ahhhhh. 

...and this is before I ate a massive Christmas lunch.  I think there's no denying it now that I'm officially up the duff and not just hiding a muffin-top.  Michael is glad my arm is strategically covering his .... six pack.  

Whoa! There's a wave coming.

I'll be West for Christmas

Well here we are Westside enjoying a few weeks in Perth for Christmas festivities. I've willingly offered my tummy for stroking or patting and I think I felt my first 'flutters' of baby wigglingly around last night. It's all novelty at this stage but I'm sure I'll be wanting to give it an inutero smack it if it ever keeps me awake in months to come.

We are staying with Cam and Libs so it's great to spend everyday time with them. This year has been massive for our families with big decisions, serious illnesses, pregnancies, retirements, house extensions, surgeries and just the issues that normal day-to-day living throw up at you. We made it to the end with more upheavals promised in 2008. In the light of all this, I'm still convinced that the promise to us is that we are children of God. My faith is not in a God who answers all the tearful prayers for what I want but in someone who gave me "a right" to be a child of His. This is more than enough. Let it be.

Every time we quietly eat dinner or enjoy a coffee in a funky cafe, we make note that our luxurious time of just-the-two-of-us is coming to an end and being replaced with something more unpredictable. We just take everyone's word for it that parenthood is the hardest yet most rewarding role we'll do. I'm up for the challenge although I'd be happy if labour was extracted from the contract.

Well, if we don't see eachother between now and then, Happy Christmas to you.

In 3D

Here's our Lil' Bebe....19 weeks and 2 days. We had these pictures taken last week. Very amazing experience to see live and moving pictures of this little thing inside you. We counted fingers and meansured skin thickness and saw all the details. Even watched the valves opening and closing in the four chambers of the heart. Wow wee. This picture shows the umbilical cord pressed up against the face, making it look like a trunk. Therefore we have named the little thing Babar Barr until further notice. The scan showed all is very well. The sonographer kept saying words like "perfect", "no problems", "beautiful", "fine" the whole way through the checklist. The size of Barbar's renal drainage is 0.06cm more dilated than it could be at this point which means I'll have some more pictures taken closer to the birth just to be sure all is right for delivery.

We are off to Perth for Christmas on Sunday after a week of partying here. All fun and lots of nice eating. Putting on weight is not a consideration this year. Can't wait to be Wes'side again for a few sleep ins and some decent family time with a bit of tummy stroking to boot.

Lil' feet

Two hands