Oooh came home from work (yes, working on my holiday, argh) to find Mark and his dad have done a great job sanding the floors. They look brilliant. Especially against the newly painted walls. Probably would have made sense to do this BEFORE he sold the house but what can you do.

Finished the work I had to do earlier than expected so hit the shops. Figured that I would try to get any Oxford Street shopping I needed to do out of the way so I don’t have to go into the centre again and I can focus on doing things at home. I think I accomplished it, also managed to get a few extra bits along the way. Bought earrings for wedding. Hit Confetti, the overpriced wedding store, one last time. Finished favour purchases, including an extra one for Mark’s cousins’ baby (not really fair for her to get candies and chocs!). And picked up an Old El Paso kit to reward the men with dinner for their hard work (plus Mexican seems to work for me right now).

The dog is discombobulated (this is Mark and I’s favourite word with her for some reason) because she’s been shut in the kitchen or outside all day, poor thing. And we keep getting visited by a fox! It’s a little baby one, scrawny and needing food. I even took some video of it the other day. It’s been here so often I think I need to name it. Piper actually chased it and barked at it today. I think it’s about the fifth time I’ve heard her use her bark in her whole life. She’s very quiet mostly.

Oh crap am missing Big Brother! Must run, it’s my only entertainment these days.

Okay I have to admit to an addiction. I’m only 17 weeks and I’ve bought WAY too much maternity clothing. Today I added to it with a cheap bathing suit, two bras and a top from Mothercare (all on sale except for the bras). I picked up a couple of things that shouldn’t really fit but sort of do from H&M maternity in their sale. I’ve spent stacks of money on ebay buying gap maternity tops and a Motherhood Maternity dress, all from the US and not available here. Hopefully the best thing I’ve invested in is a very cheap (on ebay again) Belly Belt kit that expands your normal pants to a bigger waist. And thankfully my mother brought me some sweat pants (for those extra fashionable days) from Canada as I haven’t been able to find any plain boring ugly ones here. So I have a hell of a lot of tops, most of which are really cute (the gap ones are all silk and lovely patterned) and I’ve already started wearing them as they are nice and not huge in the tummy area anyway, but just longer than normal. The pant department I think will be a problem but I will cross that bridge when I come to it.

I find it annoying that we don’t know what this kid is as baby clothes are on sale everywhere. The perfect little dresses in Monsoon… but I shouldn’t buy stuff this early anyway, should I.

I saw a picture of Jennifer Garner’s perfect little bump (holding Affleck offspring) on the Celebrity Baby Blog. She’s about the same amount pregnant as I am. I don’t have a perfect little bump. I have the same amount of flab as before, it’s just that the lower bit has seemed a bit harder lately. What can you do. I think it’s going to turn into a double roll/bump soon – I’ve seen photos on babycentre.com of American women in my situation! And I seem to grab it/rub it/hold it more than normal.

Received my welcome pack to the Tesco parent and baby club today. The magazine had an expert that said all pregnant women stop losing their hair. Okay I still have hairs falling out of my head when I wash it/comb it when blowdrying. Does this mean that there is a problem?

Also it hurts when I sneeze. Is this normal?

We haven’t been thinking about the bean very much as we’ve been so busy with the wedding preparations (11 days now…eek) but just recently we received two baby-on-the-way congratulations cards from my friends in Canada which was a nice surprise. I don’t even know if they make those kinds of cards here as all you see are ones for when the baby actually arrives.

So unfortunately it’s being ignored while we face the onslaught of family and friends arriving, and getting things like the house all ready. However, my mother has just been here for the weekend and it’s pretty much ALL she wants to talk about but it’s not like there’s a lot to say as we haven’t bought anything for the sprog yet, and as we’ll likely be moving before it arrives, I can’t set up a bedroom or anything anyway.

I have been feeling better since my two or three days of constant sprewing almost two weeks ago now, and it’s very nice not having to commute in to work standing on the tube right now. Alas I can’t put my feet up totally until our quasi honeymoon at the end of August on the Norfolk Broads but I will be looking forward to that…

My parents arrived from Toronto last Friday night, and it’s been a busy few days since then. We all survived them meeting Mark’s parents, first his mum and nan Saturday at our house for lunch, and then his dad and step-mum and friends in Warwick on Sunday for dinner. We also spent a few hours with my Grandma in Derby in there as well, and took the dog for lots of walks who thoroughly enjoyed having a couple more people to jump on. Last night, we dropped them off at Victoria so they could get to Gatwick for their week long Malta break. It’s been cold and rainy since they got here so I am sure they are happy to be in the heat!

Just when you think you have a breather… Mark’s dad has come to stay with us tonight to help Mark sand the parquet floors and do some painting today and tomorrow, and I’ve got to go in to work tomorrow (even though I am meant to be off for a month). Besides the fact that there is still a million jobs for the wedding to do! And the big bills have come in so I have some banking to be done. It’s going to be painful to dip into the savings…

Before anyone asks, we are okay. I was on a bus so I didn’t know what was going on but I did wonder with all the police driving by, sirens on. Anyway, not clear information coming out so not sure what is going on. But are we going to have to deal with this every week? I suppose they used to with the IRA.

I saw some ad yesterday that said the average age a women gets married in the UK is 28, and that is how old I was on yesterday’s birthday (gawd it sounds old to me), so at least I am average for once!

Uneventful day really – woke up to a dog jumping on me (who is not normally allowed upstairs; I think I did this to Mark in December but she weighed like 2 kilos then and was small and cute – now she’s lumbering and 28 kilos plus), was presented with Body Shop goodies and a large Le Creuset stoneware bowl to add to the collection (like this one). Proceeded to vomit up my coffee as is the normal morning routine (except normally I haven’t had a coffee yet at that time) but felt okay afterwards. Off to work, busy busy, too busy so got a bit stressed out. Came home, put on the pajamas, vegetated on the couch, and had a Nando’s take away. Chatted to Sam for a while then went to bed. The end.

However we aren’t seeing any family until this weekend when my parents meet both sets of Mark’s parents so I will be getting the full birthday effect then too. I can’t believe it’s already time for my parents to get here for the wedding. And there is much still to organise! Eek!

Now I’ve been craving sangria but this is terrible…

Baby drunk at birth; new mother charged
BARTLESVILLE, Okla. (AP) — A woman
who police say had been drinking heavily before she gave birth was charged with
child neglect after the baby was born intoxicated and diagnosed with fetal
alcohol syndrome. (source – http://www.thestar.com)

I did make some alcohol free stuff for our bbq the other week (recipe from What to expect when you are expecting), and I’ve been enjoying plain old grape juice frequently but it’s just not the same!

I was really thinking that I wasn’t suffering from morning sickness but actual stomach flu or something as from Wednesday night until this morning I had kept no food down at all. Not sure what happened there but it’s been a rough couple of days and I’ve been off of work. However, felt almost normal this afternoon after keeping down lunch and actually managed to be very productive.

And I’m getting some tingles and twitches – I know the book says you can’t feel movement until like 18-20 weeks (but the same books also tell me how wonderful I should be feeling now that puking my guts out is over) but I am wondering what’s going on down there. Maybe it’s gas. Or 3 months of constipation coming to an end? Not likely.

At what point in this journey do I manage to stop complaining so much?!

Well I sure am talkative lately.

Mark has his stag do tonight. Apparently I am not meant to expect him home until the wee hours. They’re just going to a pub near Baker Street but he’s invited loads of workmates. I’m feeling deprived (depraved?) and would love a jug of sangria right now… even on my own.

My Smarties finally arrived from Victoria (Canada, not the train station near work)! Hurrah!

I am at home again as I was going to take a half day anyway due to working all day tomorrow at a festival staffing our WAES marquee but I am still not feeling so hot. Well, actually, I am feeling hot. It’s hot.

The dog is appreciating the new cooler-than-carpet-or-lino tiled floor. She’s hot.

I think I am going to melt on the 6th if these temps and sunshine keep up. I am actually wishing for a cold wet British summer just on the wedding day as it will actually keep things comfortable!

Here’s another way to beat the heat – suck on a giant ice chunk…

Ooh this is happening outside the window…

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4682779.stm

Hmm. Perhaps I should shut the window.

It’s another mixed sort of day. After bragging about 5 days without being sick, it’s come back with a vengance. I got overheated on a long bus ride going from site to site at work yesterday, and felt like I was going to pass out afterwards. I did spend the rest of the day at work, albeit suffering slightly, but actually got Mark to pick me up as I couldn’t actually face the journey home by tube. When I got home, I couldn’t keep anything down last night and kept falling asleep in front of the tv. This morning, when my tea came up, I decided to stay home. I so can’t afford the time off work but it’s going to have to be. I am just sort of feeling better now, after having a bit more to eat and a coffee that has gone down fine.

It’s super hot though – glad I am in the relatively cool house. I can’t bear it right now.

In better news, Mark has accepted an offer on the house. Not exactly what he wanted but as he was just about to take it off the market, it was pretty much now or never (well, next year or the year after!) for selling it. Can’t jump up and down yet though as this things are never sealed and can always fall apart.

I sold my old wedding dress on ebay for a £20 profit and Mark posted it off today. We did final confirmations of numbers and menu with the caterer yesterday, and we’ve got to pay the balance on the flowers today. And of course lots more still to do…