A new year

Now I know that technically it isn't a new year, but to me it is. This time of year always feels more like a new year then the start of january does. I think as you see the first lambs in the fields, the blossom on the trees, and the first seeds in my garden sprouting it feels like more of a new year then January 1st ever does. Plus saturday 20th was a year since I said goodbye to little Arthur, and I can't decide whether it feels less time or longer. So it seems like a new year in the sense of that year being gone. I didn't really think about it at the time, I had a little cry in bed at night as it suddenly hit me when we were talking about someone elses pregnancy, but it feels good to have that milestone out the way.

As for the year ahead it has a lot of changes to come I think. There is obviously this baby to come in the none too distant future, a big change to my work hours unrelated to maternity, but due to the fact that the children I look after are all growing up. This is also the last week at my part time job, so a big change there, I've worked there over 6 years now, so it seems strange to only have 2 days left. Although I will be glad not to go anymore, there will be parts of it I will miss, especially some of the children there. Volunteer work is going well, it is something that I still feel a little out of my depth doing, and I'm not always the most confident person at talking to people and starting up conversations with strangers, but I feel like it is the right thing, and I hope to carry on after I have this baby, when he is old enough to be left for a couple of hours.

I just feel contented right now, not just due to the pregnancy, but due to where I feel I am in myself and feeling fulfilled. That seems like a scary thing to say. Especially when it feels like this is going to be a year of changes, possibly beyond the ones I can see, but right now things feel really positive.

Baby purchase

I have just realised I haven't posted pictures of any of my baby purchases. I have bought the majority of the big things now, just all the little bits to get.






Waiting for the carrycot to arrive, and haven't put the cot or changing table up yet, but it is gradually all accumulating. I have tried to hold off buying and clothes, so only got a couple of bits, but will try and take some pictures of those at another point. I think it is all definitely getting more real now. 27 weeks!

Knitting updates

If you don't like knitting then I'd give up now on this post. However for something less serious then the last few posts please feel free to carry on and wonder why I am so impressed with myself over such basic knitting acheivements.

I have signed up for my first ever knit along. I wasn't going to as I have so many projects on the go anyway, However it looks gorgeous and it will be something for me rather then just for this baby, so here it is. I have bought some beautiful silk and mohair yarn to make it in, in a gorgeous deep purple. I shall update when I start, the knit along is on ravelry, but I don't think we are starting for a week or two yet.

As for my other knitting I am quite impressed. The pixie coat is all done aside from the sewing up and the little stripey tank top just needs sewing up and the collar etc knitting on. So that is two very nearly completed projects! (although I know the bit I have to do is in one way the worst, but that is why I'm waiting for some help from my mum) Plus I have started on my first ever cabled item, and so far so good! It is definitely not as hard as it looks so I'm pretty pleased with that.


Aside from the knitting I have also been trying to get things done on my garden. I have half dug over my fruit patch, put in a black currant bush and redcurrant bush, planted lettuces, tomatoes, broadbeans, peas, sprouts and erm possibly some other stuff that i can't remember, and I have loads more seeds ready to be planted. I really want to get this garden sorted before this bump gets too big (shall I do another bump shot? It's really sprouted but I always doubt you will want to look at some random persons bump, although you are currently reading some random persons drivel, and on a side note I do thing this bump is gettin a bit lopsided now. I'm sure only I notice but it is definitely bigger on the right where he is then on the left) Anyway i may do some before and after picures of the garden as it is going through a fair overhall, but please note that my lovely huby is ding all the heavy digging work not me!

Conversations with children

And I'm not talking the amusing cutsie ones you have with little ones either! Yesterdays tea time conversation at work covered the topics of drugs, alcohol, abortion, euthanasia, suicide and mental health. It came up in relation to two things, firstly the fact that someone had climbed up the crane outside their school and threatened to throw themselves off as their boyfriend had split up with them, and secondly the fact that their school wasn't doing anything for comic relief due to abortion links. Sometimes the sex talks are the easy one! They are secondary age, but trying to explain to a teenager that even if someone is threatening to kill themselves that should never be a reason to stay with them isn't always the most simple. Also trying to tell them that even if these things are a cry for attention rather then a serious attempt, it may be that it means they get the help they need. Add on to that talking about death from alcohol poisoning, why I have a brother my parents adopted, and Swiss suicide clinics it doesn't make for the easiest conversation, but you know what, I think these are the kind of important things that need to be discussed.

I guess they are the kind of topics that aren't pleasant, but if we don't talk to kids (ok they aren't my kids but I have looked after them for 7 1/2 years) about these things then who will?

A sad update

I'm very sad to say that little baby Naomi passed away over the weekend. Please keep praying for her Mum's recovery and for God's comfort for the whole family. I can only begin to imagine what this must be like for them and they are in my prayers a lot at the moment.

A request

To those of you reading this who don't already know, I am part of an online womens forum thing run by someone here in the uk. One of the other women on that site who was also due in June like me has given birth yesterday to a little baby girl. She is very premature, weighs just 2lb, so please can you pray for little baby Naomi, and also for mum who has had to go for an emergency hysterectomy.