an inducing kind of weekend

This weekend was FULL-ON!

Saturday morning we walked around Penzance and took in the Mazey Day festivities.

Once a year, Penzance puts on a real street party, full of parades, music, boats, food, funfair, etc.

It's all really lively and the weather was just perfect - hot!

We then met up with Claire and Anthony at the gorgeous beach of Lansallos, down a long, steep smuggler's path which then opened into the sea.

It was such a hot day that all of us went in for a refreshing dip before munching on snacks and sunbathing on the beach.

We then had a lovely pub dinner in Fowey before heading out to the Eden Project for the Jack Johnson concert!

The next morning we had traditional Canadian-style pancakes with maple syrup.

We then walked around town some more to see more of Mazey Day celebrations.

We capped it off with watching the World Cup match before crashing into bed.

It was an active weekend for sure... and I was going to pay for it later...

Whose body is this anyway?

Isn't it strange how every day seems to drag on sometimes... but when you look back at the week, that seems to have flown by.

I am participating in Tai's first lesson to his mother: Parental Patience. You cannot hurry things that cannot be hurried.

On the physical front, I'm noticing some ungainly stretch marks on the bottom of my belly.

Because I haven't been able to see what is happening south of my belly button for several months now, I've been in blissful denial and thought I was one of the (few) lucky women who've managed to go through pregnancy sans stretch marks.

And then one day I dared to look in the full-length mirror... and staring back at me was a dizzying array of reddish marks. 'War Wounds' is what many people call them. I prefer to call it my 'Badge of Honour'.

It's absolutely remarkable what little control you have over your body, especially at the later stages when your skin is stretched and pulled in all directions. I'm retaining quite a lot of water as well, noticeably in my legs/feet and arms/hands.

I've been avoiding the scale in the bathroom for several days now. Before it was fun to see how many pounds I would put on each week.

But there comes a point where it's not funny anymore... that point was after the 40+ lbs mark for me... yikes!

I had a sudden surge of confidence this morning though and stepped on. It was more curiosity that spurred it on I think, but i was pleasantly surprised and befuddled to find that I had lost 3 pounds in the past few days. How is that possible?

It seems so silly and petty to worry about such things, especially when it is an absolutely blessing and honour to be carrying a child. Still, I think many women do worry about such things, whether or not they share it.

All our lives we've been able to have pretty much full control over our bodies, and then for a short period in our lives when we are growing another person, it all seems to go out the window!

Yesterday I met up with several of the NCT (National Childbirth Trust) ladies that we did the course with. NCT is a charity for parents and parents-to-be. They offer advice, classes and online shopping too!

Anyways, we participated on a prenatal course and met some really nice, like-minded couples. We are all due around the same time (me and another girl are on the same day) so it will be nice to be going through the same stages of parenthood together.

Anyways, the 4 of us that got together at the Blue Bar in Porthtowan yesterday was quite a sight to behold! After our leisurely lunch on the patio, we strolled down towards the sea, acquiring quite a few comments (nice ones, mind you) and stares. It isn't everyday you see 4 heavily pregnant women waddling on the beach!

It's been glorious weather lately. Sunny but bearable with the sea breeze. I'm so consumed with this pregnancy and wondering when it will end... and summer is passing me right by!

* Pics on this entry are of us on the Men an Tol walk last weekend.

Preparations

Car seat and isofix-bar installed in the car - check.

No-sew dinosaur blanket made - check.

Who needs a sewing machine when you can knot your way to a soft fleece blankie?

It's the love that went into it that counts, that's what I tell myself at least!

Belly cast made - check.

Fun, messy and

memorable! A great fruit bowl, I reckon.

To my unborn son

I have always dreamt that one day I would be a mother, a nurturer, someone who would have the privilege to share the world with my children.

That day is approaching.

We are expecting your arrival any day now with excited anticipation and with a huge dose of impatience.

What will you look like? Will you have your father's sea-blue eyes and my thick dark hair? Will you have my stubby toes? Or his long, strong legs?

When we first found about you, I was ecstatic, overwhelmed and scared all at once. Was I ready to become a mum? Well, ready or not, I have enjoyed these past nine months more than I ever thought I could.

Every night without fail, I have dreamt about the imminent labour, your birth, your first cry, the first moments of holding you in my arms, the first time we bring you home, the uncertainty of what to do with a new-born baby mixed with the exhilaration of being honoured to be your care-giver.

I can hardly believe these dreams will soon materialize into reality.

These past 9 months have been full of adventure and change. We bought a house, moved countries and are now settled in a place where neither of us have ever been to. We have read up on pregnancy and childbirth as much as we could, attended ante-natal classes and discussed our dreams and thoughts for countless hours. We've even written up a will in the unlikely circumstance that life could take an unfortunate turn for the worst.

But are you ever truly ready to become parents?

We've acquired quite a collection of 'must haves' in terms of the hardware that comes with caring for you. The Moses basket came with three left legs which your Dad immediately sorted out with some creativity - and the stumps of my piano stool. Now it is perfect; all that's missing is a little person to fill it.

We've got a fabulous bright red pushchair and the most adorable little clothes with matching socks. We can't help but spoil you already.

I've met many other parents and parents-to-be (mainly mums) and I am overwhelmed by the strong social networks that are out there to help us in any and every possible situation. There is comfort in knowing that there is a vast amount of information out there when we are so far away from our families.

I realize these last few precious days will be something of a pleasant memory; the leisurely mornings, the peaceful strolls around town, the fact that I can do what I want, when I want. Pretty soon you will be here and our focus will shift dramatically. I embrace these changes to come, and although I can't say for sure how I will cope, I am definitely entering this new phase with open eyes and open arms.

You have taken very good care of me during the pregnancy. You taught me how to take care of myself by ensuring I keep fit and eat well. You showed me how to embrace my leisure time and to indulge in my passions and hobbies.

You have brought your father and me even closer, when I didn't think that was possible. You have made us so proud already by growing big and healthy with each passing week.

We couldn't be happier.

Already you have brought so much joy to everyone in our lives, near and far. I can't believe the power you have over us, the way you have been able to knit our families closer together. Just simply by being you and existing.

There is so much I want to show and share with you. I can hardly wait, sometimes I think I'm going to burst. Of course I'm under no illusion that life comes with its ups and downs and although I don't know how it will all work out, this much I know: you are very much loved.

a brush with royalty

Friends Naoko and her honey-bunny, Satoshi, came to visit us yesterday.

He's doing a 6 month research study on the Middle East in Cambridge and

Naoko came to visit for several days.

Being the train buff that he is, they have criss-crossed the country by rail and made sure they included Cornwall in their itinerary.

The last (and first) time I met Naoko was at our Ka

zakh wedding in Xinjiang 5 years ago. It was nice to see her again and get to know her better.

Their visit coincided with the Royal Cornwall Show, the biggest fair in Cornwall of the year, where thousands of people flock to the grounds to see the animals, taste the local produce, shop at the local stalls, etc.

Plug Into the Sun had a booth in the Green Energy tent.

And look who we got to see up close and personal! Charles and Camilla! Ooohh!

ready

I'm 36+ weeks now and am so ready for Baby to come out.

It's been hard going these past few days. Tiredness (but unable to sleep well), leg cramps, swollen limbs and just overall feeling very 'heavy'.

I can't imagine what it'll feel like sans bump.

A part of me can't wait to share the baby with the world. And the other part of me wonders if I'll cope with having to share the baby with the world.

36 weeks of belly

No need to say anything here.

Pictures can speak for themselves this time.