back to the beach

since roo was born, we haven't been walking on the beach very much.

today, timmy and i both needed to get out of the house to save our sanity. so, we walked the footpath we know so well and followed it back to the beach.

with a baby on my chest and timmy's hand in mine, we had that beautiful beach to ourselves.

we used to take this walk everyday. starting tomorrow, we're doing it all again.

music by shogu tokumaru, rum hee. get it on iTunes here.

35, 36, 37, 38

lately i have been a little incognito (i don't even know if that is the right context for that word...), purely because i didn't feel like blogging. i felt like cuddling with timmy, walking on our little grass and beach tracks, getting acupuncture, spending time with family etc and so forth. it's been wonderful.

life is incredible with all its amazing changes. so many highs and lows like waves come and go. over here we've had days filled with joy and happiness at the impending arrival of our little one (only just over a week 'til our due date), days full of love, solemnity and sadness as we visited my pa who will likely pass our little one on the way to heaven as they exchange places. making the circle of life so real to us. i would like them to have time to meet so that my precious pa can hold our precious baby and send him or her down to meet us.

the photos below show the journey from 35 to 38 weeks.

wearing american apparel from the top: california fleece cap in red, sheer rib long dress in navy, stripe a line maxi dress in black marceau stripe, rib nylon spandex legging in purple, reversibly easy sweater in rogue boucle, cotton spandex jersey long sleeve turtle neck maxi dress in imperial purple and modal shawl cardigan in natural cotton boucle.

27 weeks at kiama blowhole

last week was a week of birth, visitors, sickness, ocean swims and rainbows.

it has been a big one.

yesterday i had my glucose test. one sweet drink, two hours and three blood tests later. i am very grateful for a husband that went out to buy me some beautiful magazines to help pass the time sitting in the pathology clinic and who held my hand through all the stingy bits. he even popped his head up from his book every few minutes to excitedly quote facts about steve jobs life.

while i was having my test, my dad was having kidney stone surgery (his third in as many weeks). i was grateful to know that my mum was there to drive dad to and from the hospital, chat to him to distract him from the pain and give him plenty of sympathy. he is a real trouper. doing great and even continuing in his service in our church flying to papua new guinea tomorrow!

today we ventured to the hospital again for a midwife appointment. we heard our babies little heart beat - it has changed since we first heard it. it sounds just like yours or mine only a little faster. its head is down, hopefully it stays that way. i can feel its little body on the right side of my tummy most of the time. my belly jumps on the left where the limbs must be kicking and squirming away.

less than three months, little one.

wearing american apparel interlock long skirt in navy, unisex sheer jersey rainbow stripe t-shirt, unisex gumboot in black

26 weeks on labour and birth with a videoooo

we've been studying up on child birth over the last couple of days. trying to educate ourselves as best we can so that we can be prepared for the incredible, beautiful experience of labour and birth.

i really am so excited for the birthing process. it is something that scared me before i was pregnant. i used to get grossed out by pictures and footage of women giving birth. now that it is a reality for me my thoughts have taken a complete turn. giving birth has to be one of the most beautiful experiences available to women. what an incredible privilege. trusting in these amazing bodies to do what they are designed to do. to see and feel my body change in the months leading to birth blows my mind.

i can't wait for those feelings of elation. feelings of my body moving and changing to allow for this child to be born into the world. i can't wait for the feelings of accomplishment for the best day/s work in my life. i can't wait to connect with timmy in a way we never have before in this completely new experience together. i know i'll need his strength to get me through, to keep me calm and focussed and to help me remember that my body was designed for this, that i have the strength and ability. i know that he'll be everything i need him to be.

the reward at the end, no matter the process, is one that will be worth any experience encountered during birth. 

most of all this little baby is the thing i can't wait for the most.

music credit goes to the national with fake empire. you can buy it here on iTunes.

wearing american apparel floral double layered full length skirt