Joshua Lamarina.. Unplugged

Happy 3 year Anniversary

Time has flown and this year we have been married 3 years and are about to have an addition to what was "Just the two of us" will become "Just the 3 of us" - those of you who know the irratating Panarotti's ad here in SA. Thank you for my beautiful roses and card this morning and my tea in bed my hubbie. Love you lots
xxxx

Innocence of Babes

After having a divine lunch at the Valks this past Saturday, took some pictures of the star attractions of the day. They are both so gorgeous.
xxx

Lily Grace Humble

Max Davis

Beautiful little girl - Lily again

Max again

Time is fleeting

3 and a bit weeks to go, pretty soon the countdown will be finished and little Joshua will be here. I had a Doctors appointment this morning and all is looking well, he is head down and she says it is unlikely that he will turn to be breech from here on out. He weighs 3.1kg if machine is accurate, and has a largeish sized head 33cm, but this is more to do with the fact that he has a round shaped head not elongated - (suppose more round = more ouch for natural?) All looks good for natural birth so far, so we will see what happens in the next coming few weeks. She doesnt think that he is going to be late, as apparently my water levels are starting to drop and my placenta is starting to calcify which are signs of maturation of end of pregnancy apparently. So we will see, there are many guesses / bets / predications on birthdate. His initial due date as most of you know is 1st April, I was thinking he may be here on the 3rd but a couple of people have said 27th March, time will tell.

At the moment my focus is to finish work and to read up more on labour and what to expect, although I have done the antenatal classes, I am starting to get porridge brain and feel at the moment like I know nothing. I suppose this is normal and that in any case no book and advice can really prepare you 100 % as each person and birth is different. I must say thanks to Caroline though for your Jungle Juice receipe I am definitely going to be doing this. Can I drink this in labour and / or before or only in labour?

Last weekend was also my baby shower, which was really fantastic. Even though I felt absolutely rotten on the Sunday with flu, I cheered up considerably when I saw everyone and everyone was dressed in blue and we were so so spoilt by all. The nursery is coming along nicely, the only job I have to do really is sort out the cot and moses basket linen, pack and wash clothes and that is about it. I also need to pack a small bag for baby for hospital and add 1 or 2 things into my hospital bag, and then I am as ready as I ever will be.

Last night we had a small braai at Steven and Veronica and Lily and Wendy came and I have to say she is so gorgeous I took a few pics of her swimming which she loves, but did not bring camera with to work today to download so will post those probably on Monday, together with a couple of baby shower pics. In the meantime here is a picture of Baby Lamarina at 36 weeks.

xxxx

I am 35 weeks

Sorry for the lack of posting, have not really had much to say however I religiously check all the other blogs and get frustrated when there are no new posts.

All is well in the land of pregnancy, and have only 11 more working days until I finish work......THANK GOODNESS. Although I know myself I will probably be at home wondering about work, getting phonecalls from them etc. I am hoping that I will just relax, unwind and do some needed bonding with our baby boy that I am too tired to do as am so busy with work during the day and doing light work around the house when I get home. I am getting rather LARGE at present and am dying to see how much he weighs in at our next appointment next week Fri 7th March. Although I think my gynae was trying to scare me at our last appointment which was on 8th February she said he was already 2.5kg good grief he cant be 5kg already, although many have said they are not accurate with those scans.

Some Statistics from http://www.i-am-pregnant.com/:

Your baby now weighs over 5.5 pounds and its crown-to-rump length is approximately 13.2 inches. Your baby's total length is around 20.25 inches at this point. Your uterus is now 6 inches from the bellybutton and the average weight gain is approximately 24 to 29 pounds. Most pregnant women begin to feel cramped and heavy around this time and often become tired of being pregnant. Some women feel like they do not have to room to breathe or eat. You should eat small, but frequent, meals and rest as often as you can throughout the day. Your cervix will begin to dialte and efface within the next few weeks to make room for your baby's head to emerge from the birth canal. Your cervix needs to be 10 cm dilated in order to deliver your baby. This week of your pregnancy your baby's fingernails will have definitely reached the tips of his fingers. When your baby is born, his nails may look long and pointy. Your baby is less likely to scratch himself at this point because of the lack of room in the uterus. Fat deposition will still continue and your baby is getting chubbier and more round. Your baby's shoulders are plump at this point. The baby begins to develop its own immune system.

Isnt the human body just amazing!

Update - 7 and bit weeks to go

A 'little' foot

Just a quick post to update on my pregnancy, I am just on or about to reach 33 weeks and had another gynae appointment this morning so thought I would share the quick update.

All is well and he has moved from head up / breech position to the head down correct position for labour. Gynae says he can still move around so will only be able to tell at 36 weeks what his position is more likely to stay as.

Also he is getting big, now I know that because my tummy feels so big! But he is already 2.5kg !!!! Which is quite big considering I have 7 weeks to go technically. Other than that he is fine I am fine and we are all content. This weekend I am going to do more in the nursery, practice pushing and closing my technically advanced pram, and watch Clive put up our Peter Rabbit border! Hopefully I will survive the 33 degree sorcher that is coming Cape Town's way tomorrow with a few dips in the pool at intervals.

Have a great weekend all

xxxx

I've Graduated....kind of

We've graduated from our last lesson in Antenatal Classes, which was held at Panorama Medi-Clinic where we are going to have baby, when I say kind of graduated, I mean that we will only fully be graduated once the baby is here. The two ladies that took the classes were really so nice and so good, we really learnt a lot. We have both their telephone numbers - both are qualified nursing sisters and we were instructed to pick up the phone at any time now and after the birth with any questions.

Now I await the day and see what kind of labour / delivery I am going to have, I have no birthing plan as such, as I believe you cant plan these things, you can have a preference but your baby and body have got other agendas. My gynae says those that have a birthing plan longer than half an A4 page are guaranteed to have a caesar - just something that they have noticed a trend in.

Tammy a friend of mine just had her baby boy Luke this week Tuesday, she was 9 days overdue with him, and eventually after much discussion over risks / complications she decided to go for the caesar route. Just as well, he was born 4.2kg and had a head cirucmference of 37cm, the cord was wrapped around his neck twice and this was why he was not engaging fully. These are things she had no control over. My personal preference is to try natural, bladdy scared to but nevertheless would like to try, after all isnt this the way women have been giving birth for centuries? Funny thing though Natural birth is classified as more stressful and there can be more complications, you would think mother nature would make it easier on us .

So I am trying to think of friends who have had natural in the last lot that have given birth and you know what there are not many. In fact I cant think of any, 6 that gave birth last year had caesars. So I dont hold a crystal ball and know how it is going to go for me, I just pray that baby will come out quickly and easily and the safest way possible.

Am going to leave you with two pics of Luke Smith, taken at 1 day old. Max Davis who was at our house for a lovely braai last weekend, he is just too cute, and a picture of my rather large nekkid tummy - it cant get bigger... can it?

xxxx

Luke Smith - 1 day old

Max Davis



My Tummy - close your eyes if you want to :-)

9 and a bit weeks!!!

Well now the countdown is getting downright scary, I remember when I was 9 weeks pregnant! What felt like a lifetime before a bump appeared, before a kick was felt is now very nearly here.

We are busy with our antenatal classes at Panorama and have really enjoyed them, they give good advice and tips, and information that you wouldnt really know about. I am very pleased with my decision to have baby there as although Netcare is right across the road Panorama is really renowned for their Maternity Unit and the staff seem really nice. My gynae is based there too and an added bonus is both sets of family on nearby so it will make visiting a bit easier on them.


I am also on count down until I leave work and go on Maternity Leave and to be very honest I can't wait, I am very tired come the afternoon and feel a bit zombish. So I have 7 weeks left of work whoohoo!!

Mr bump is getting rather large now and now and again I feel a large jab of a foot or arm, I find that the most activity happens early hours of the morning and when I sit down when getting home from work. The only major complaint or ailment I have is this pinched nerve near my tailbone to the left which renders my left leg a bit lame sometimes added with it a very eina pain! I believe it is sciatica and have read up on it, it is mostly happening to me at night when I am about to go to bed and then during the night it is very sore when I have to turn over from left to right, I have to move quite slowly and yell out now and again when it is particularly sore. Clive is getting used to me crying out during the night in the beginning he would wake and try and help and now he just carries on sleeping - suppose one of us should get some hey? Sleep interruption is a night occurance and i know that it is preparing me blah blah blah, but I would love to sleep through and comfortably...sigh those days are going to be very few and far between me thinks.


We have started on the nursery which is exciting, it is painted has a set of blue gingham curtains, a cot and a compactum (which needs to be swopped out as it has a scratch on it - no thank you I said to Furnicraft!) and a cute toy basket and that is about it for now, but we are getting there. Sometimes I just walk into the room in the evenings and just stand and look around pretty soon there is going to be a little being in there.


I am not going to post any pics of nursery would rather wait until finished than post little bit little bit, but will leave you with not a very flattering pic of my large tummy at 29 weeks but it is the only one I have.


Have a wonderful weekend and CONGRATULATIONS to the Cobley's on the announcemnt of their having a little girl!


xxx

Back in the land of working for a living

Sigh, I am back at work. Normally I am infused with energy and ideas for the year ahead, but this year starting work at 7 months pregnant after having a 2 week break is really depressing. I am fine in the morning but come 1pm I am tired a zombie and uncomfortable. So I have officially started my count down to my Maternity Leave (if all goes according to plan) Little Lammer may decide to come early who knows. 63 days to go till I am on Maternity Leave, and I cant wait! I am taking 2 weeks before my due date so that I can have time to relax properly read books, repack drawers for the umpteenth time and check things as I am told you do, and wait in anticipation for the arrival of our little one.

Sometimes I am excited, sometimes incredibly nervous, but I know that when the time comes I am sure I will be overwhelmed with the unconditional instantaneous love felt for the little one that is part of both Clive and I and a little himself too. I have a feeling 2008 is going to be the best year yet and who needs New Years Resolutions when there are new things happening around you each and every day. I believe each day should be lived to the fullest and we dont know what is around the corner, so things cannot be so planned in advance, it is good to have goals that you aim to achieve, but to steadfastly resolve to do something, who knows what obstacles will be thrown in your way and life is too short and valuable to not enjoy each day as it comes. Saying this however I wish Clive would really resolve to stop smoking - however that is a very long topic that I could dedicate a whole post to.

We had a very quite Christmas and New Years, I was in bed on New Years at 10:30 and asleep - we were both in Pringle Bay for a few days and had some time to relax just the two of us which was nice.

I will leave you with a couple of pics from when we were on leave. A big Congrats to Nicola on the birth of her baby boy yesterday and to Veronica on becoming a new Aunt! And also although didnt leave a comment, am thinking of you Caroline with Craig being in hospital, wishing you lots of strength and I hope that everything is ok, I know it cant be easy as you take for granted that your husband is the strong one and it cant be easy having a baby to take care of as well, so please keep us updated and thinking of you.

Some Pictures taken in Dec/Jan:

Baby Max Davis

In Pringle Bay

Baby Killian Twins - Nicola and Bianca
(Chilling by our pool)

Baby Kai Scott - Taryn Fowlers little Boy

Hallelujah its Holidays

Finally the time has come to kick back and not have to get up at 7 every morning and go to work. It is holiday time for me from today and we all leave the office at 12pm. It has been a long year and am looking forward to the 2 week break, normally I have a longer leave in December but am saving some leave to take with my Maternity Leave. When I come back to work in Jan I will only be here till mid March, and cant believe how this pregnancy has flown.
I am feeling quite good actually, just tired in the afternoons after work, but other than that and the heat on some days, am coping quite well.

Other than that it is going to be rush rush around the shops for xmas presents, as I havent done much at all and need to get started on the nursery. Clive and I are away in Pringle Bay from the 1st till the 6th and I cant wait, to just chill on the deck go to the beach and be away from all phones / pc's / motor cars and the rush of life.

So this is me until I am back at work on the 7th, have an AWESOME Christmas and New Years everybody. Looking forward to reading all the blogs when I am back in front of this PC.

Love Nicci xxxx

Wedding No. 2 - Andrea & Brent

Well it has been a hectic couple of last weeks with being a bridesmaid in Andrea's wedding, with the Kitchen Tea, stationery to do, helping with gifts, set out of venue and all odds and sods, but the day came and went so quickly - as I said it was the longest shortest day so much to do and yet goes so quickly. It was really a very moving and beautiful wedding. Paarl was quite hot and there was some wind unfortunatley but all in in it was great!

Here are some pics of the day, and of Mr and Mrs Jones:

Wedding Number 1 - James & Jess

As I have mentioned in a previous post or two, we have two weddings one this past Saturday and one coming up on 1 December. This past weekend's was James and Jess Lucas' wedding, and it was a very special ceremony. James is a missionary in Zambia and he is also one of Clive's oldest friends, which we were both at school with, James is also the pastor that married us, so it was a special occassion to go to.

Saturday proved to be a gorgeous day and it was really hot in Hout Bay where they had their wedding. Tammy Moelans sang both of them their own song which I presume she wrote and a hymn was song then their vows were said, and so they became Mr and Mrs Lucas. Weddings are always quite emotional for me, as it is truly a beautiful event, I have yet to go to a wedding where I didnt feel a lump in my throat as it is the one day where the love of the couple truly shines out for all to see and it is a vow made before God to love and cherish and respect this person for the rest of your life. With day to day life we sometimes forget these vows made and forget this very special day in our lives, however we are called to keep those vows and going to a wedding takes you right back to the feeling at your own.

All aboard the Steam Train

What an eventful time in the calendar I am having at the moment. Life is like a whirlwind and I actually just want to stop to smell some roses please!


Weddings abound, babies abound, work is ridiculously busy, Christmas is 5 and a bit weeks away!


A big CONGRATULATIONS to Steven and Veronica am so excited for you guys. And of course since your baby is due approximately (according to my calculations - and the help of the internet) 23rd July 2007, you will have to name him or her Clive. Haha only joking. If you have a boy then I just dont know what is going on with all these boys. Truly must be something up with all these people having boys ??


We had Andrea's kitchen tea this past weekend for her wedding on the 1st December, which was a great success, just had to endure being in a club for 2-3 hours with a cloud of smoking and loud music, and all kinds of funny stares as to what is this pregnant lady doing in here? Then again maybe it was me thinking that, who knows.


Last night saw us going through to Brandon and Ronel to visit them and the twins, I got there straight from work and Ronel made me bath Bianca and feed her so I could get some practice, must say I wasnt too bad, my back was just quite sore with holding her in the bath, as think I was a bit tense. But all went well and she was so well behaved, I cant believe in 4 months time that will be me and it will probably be old hat within the first few months.

Mr Bump

After some nagging for pictures of my bump which is now almost 20 weeks old, here we go. Am feeling very pregnant as in I have what seems to me a large tummy. Even though I have been overweight in the past have never really been one to put weight on my tummy so this is a new experience for me. The tummy and the bigger boobs are really taking a bit of strain on my back. But otherwise am feeling much better than what I did in my first trimester.

Other than that it is busy busy busy this time of the year, not only with work but also with functions / weddings / Hen Party's etc. We have two weddings come up one on the 17th November - James Lucas, the minister who married us and long time friend of Clive's from school . Then after that on the 1st December I have my best friends wedding, Andrea of which I am a very pregnant fairy bridesmaid at. What with dress fittings, hair and make up trials, kitchen tea organizing, helping with menu cards etc, I am a busy bee at the moment.

But after the 1st December life will return a bit to normality, however I suppose that is when I will have to get my A into G with the nursery and baby stuff, have done literally nothing yet, I have bought 2 bibs that is all! Of course the bibs say I love my Mommy :-)

Well without further adieu, here are my bump pics:

To Give Back

Just a quick update on our church activity as mentioned in a previous post. This past weekend saw a group of about 15 - 18 of us go through to Leiliebloem childrens home in Athlone. The old addage it is better to give than receive was never more true. In truth on Saturday morning with it being wet and rainy in Cape Town, I was not in the mood to drive through to Athlone, pack the car and entertain 80 odd kids. But that all changed when we got there.


It is amazing how most of the children remembered our faces and came running towards us for big hugs. For children that have been through so much it is remarkable that they can bring themselves to trust or be friendly with anyone really.


I was stationed at the Facepainting station, whilst I am no experienced face painter, the girls just wanted to feel special and have a heart or flower painted on their faces. A lot wanted make up too. There was nailpainting, crafts, games and sport all being played on Saturday. Mother Nature obliged by clearing up all the rain for us and it was actually quite warm on that side of the world. Hotdogs and cooldrink, ice cream and chips were devoured by all and the day was a great success. We will definitely be back. The feeling of spending time with children and giving back in this way is something that wont be forgotten for awhile.

Some pics of the day :