Yawn...

I hate night duty at the best of times.

I hate late/early turn around shifts at the best of times (ie. finish late at night one day, start the next day's shift nice and early in the morning).

Throw in pregnancy - I am downright LOATHING night duty. Hate hate hate hate hate. Seriously - there have been floods of tears right up to the minute I leave home.

That is all.

(Can you tell I'm right in the thick of my return to work/night duty shifts?).

21 weeks til Maternity Leave... 21 weeks til Maternity Leave...

Soccer has started

Last night was the start of pre-season soccer. The Salvo team B plays in field a team for 'lightning league' between January and February to try and get their fitness up again for the traditional season.

Lightning League is quite fun, actually. 30 minute halves, smaller playing field, and only 7 players each side. It's fast and furious and they play two games an evening (which is fun when they play one at 7pm and another at 930!).

Last year I ended up doing a whole lot of late shifts on Fridays, so I didn't get much opportunity to go. This year, however, I seem to have managed quite a lot of earlies (at least for Jan & Feb), so I should be able to go to nearly every game.

B was happy - he's got his #14 shirt again; and he played quite well last night. Onya B!

Perks of Pregnancy

I have found that alongside the constant nausea and the endless feelings of fatigue, there are some pretty good side effects of being pregnant.

My skin is clearer than it has ever been since I was a teenager. Not that I've had massive outbreaks of acne since being a teenager - but there's always been two or three hanging around stubbornly. Since being pregnant my skin seems to be better than ever (and I don't think it's just the increase in water intake).

My hair is growing so fast. Okay, so this is mildly frustrating after a great haircut - but usually my hair is just painful. Since being pregnant it just seems to 'work' a lot more.

But I think the main 'wow' has been my nails. I have been an obsessive nail picker (and occasional biter) since childhood, even to the point that mum bribed me with a ring if I stopped picking them when I was 8. Not even that was enough to stop me. If I've had long nails, it's been because of acrylics and nothing more.

But within two weeks of finding out I was pregnant, my nails were so long and so strong. I would literally stop and stare at my nails some days, not believing they could look so good.

And yesterday was my first ever manicure. Oh my goodness - bliss! It is such a nice thought that I can go and have a manicure now, and not be wasting anybody's time.

Now I just have to learn how to paint my nails. I have (for the first time ever) bought some nail polish (in a metallic cherry red and Metallic midnight blue); and I need some tips! This is the first time I've ever tried nail polish, and I'm a bit scared of it!

But here are my nails, beautiful and long and shiny!

I think my mother owes me a ring!

Reflections of 2009 - a Montage

Rather than my usual post highlighting the highs & lows of the previous year, I've got something a bit different for 2009.

Sit back and enjoy the slideshow we did for my parents to tell them about Abeje.

My Adorable Niece...

So Z, who is four, was told during our stay with B's family that we were having a baby. During a quiet moment on Christmas Day, I thought I'd ask her what she thought about the whole thing, and if she had any thoughts about what Abeje would be like. The following conversation ensued...

Me: Z, do you think Aunty Sasch's baby is a boy or a girl?

Z: A girl

Me: Why?

Z: Because you're a girl, and girls have girl babies (interesting, considering she has a brother!).

Me: What colour eyes will the baby have?

Z: Blue, just like mine (has to be a recessive gene then, seeing my eyes are black almost, and B's are hazel).

Me: What colour hair will the baby have?

Z: Blonde, just like mine (again, recessive genes must be strong, as both of us have dark brown hair; as do both of our parents).

Me: And what should we call the baby?

Z: Carrie-Anne (she was quite firm on this point, but we don't know quite why. It's not the name of a Disney Princess and she doesn't know anyone with this name).

So there you go - Abeje as described by Miss Z. Will be interesting to see how accurate she is!

New Years Resolutions...

Do you do these? Do you think they are a waste of time? Do you have goals that try to be achieved every year, and have you been successful?

I try to make more 'life philosophy' type resolutions, so here are mine for 2010.

* Be kinder towards everyone I meet and not let my passion act like a steam roller over people's feelings and emotions.

* Be more thoughtful, encouraging and helpful towards my husband.

* Prioritise my time with God better than I have this year.

* Deliver Abeje safely and healthily in July.

* Get onto some kind of fitness plan for the year. Even if that just means using the wii fit we just bought with the Christmas money!

And my scripture of the year? Actually, it's been mine for most of this year as well - but I think it sums up what I see my role as quite well...

He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8).

Blessings everyone as we start 2010 together.

Our Miracle

Well after eighteen months of tests, drugs, tears and prayers, our miracle has finally arrived.

As of Monday, I am twelve weeks pregnant and due on the 19th of July.

We have had three scans thus far (at 5.5 weeks, 7 weeks, and yesterday at 11.5 weeks) and bub is doing really well. Yesterday we even saw bub stretching and kicking!

We are so excited about what the next little while has in store for us, and it has been VERY hard to not shout it from the rooftops!

We have named our bub 'Abeje' for now, which is Nigerian and means we asked for this one.

God bless you all through 2010, and I pray that all your prayers come true this year.

Love Sasch, B & Abeje