Lincolnshire / Yorkshire drama...

It's been raining in England.

I know, I know, that doesn't sound like too much drama. This is ENGLAND, right? That's what it DOES here, right? Well, not as much as it has in the last 48 hours!

We've been having some flooding problems. Not so much on the Lincolnshire side of the Humber river, but Yorkshire had some major issues! Yesterday was mental--roads turned into rivers, raw sewage backing up into the streets, cars swept away, kids paddling canoes in their back gardens. Somebody even DIED!

Barton was a little more tame--we had a couple of road closures (one of them was just two streets down from us) and our roof started leaking like crazy. Martin has called to make a claim on the home owners' insurance, so hopefully things will get sorted out really soon. It was pretty much raining inside our stairwell (the steep one, for the people out there who've been to our house before). I actually left work early due to some impending road closures, and it was a fairly white knuckle drive home. I went a different way than I usually go to avoid some really low lying areas. Luckily, the Humber didn't spill her banks. Even if she had, we have some major tidal defences near our house and because we are in such a high risk area for flooding, flood insurance is automatic in our home owners insurance policy. That river was pretty high on my drive home though, I'll tell you that! I was really happy that the tide was on its way out and not in, or we could have been spending the night elsewhere!

But all's well that ends well. The storm finally blew over us (thanks to last night's gale force winds, which also downed a few trees and left some parts of the county without electricity) and today the skies are somewhat clear. Hopefully we'll have a chance to dry out a little bit before the next big storm hits. And all this while they're experiencing record temperatures in Greece--major heat wave on the Mediterranean!

Weather--there will always be something to talk about!

And in pregnancy news...

Last night I felt the baby actually pressing on my bladder for the first time. I have to say, it was quite possibly the strangest sensation I have ever had. I had only peed about 10 minutes earlier, and then all of a sudden (inconveniently enough, this happened in the car), I got the feeling that I had to go IMMEDIATELY. Then the baby moved, and I was fine. You really take bladder control for granted, until you kind of lose control of it! I also got some really healthy kicks and punches, and the little one has started to stretch a lot, so I get fists on one side and feet on the other. That's a weird sensation, too.

Come to think about it, pretty much everything about being pregnant is weird. Nice, but weird.

Hooray for the weekend...

Martin's grandparents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this weekend. We drove down to Mablethorpe on Saturday night to have dinner with the family, and it was lovely. I was a little bit dubious since we were going to a Chinese restaurant in rural Lincolnshire, but it was actually quite good. So that's both sets of Martin's grandparents that have now been together for 50 years. And his parents will reach 32 years on Tuesday. Pretty committed bunch!

I did something horribly independent--took the bus to Hull and went birthday shopping for Martin. That was pretty fun, but I was so exhausted when I got home! I took a 2 hour nap when I got home.

Another delightful pregnancy symptom has hit--my hips and pelvis ache! It gets worse at night, of course! All I want to do is sleep, but it hurts when I do. 8 weeks to go, and boy do I hope they go quickly.

We had been having a few problems with the exhaust on the car--it was SO noisy!!! So today Martin took a look at it and actually fixed the problem. So instead of taking it to the garage and spending loads of money on it, he spent the equivalent of $5 and took care of it himself. I love it when he does stuff like that. He's promised me that he will post details of the car fixing adventure later--we'll see.

So yeah, that's the weekend gone. Wish it was longer!

I don't belong there...

Some of you may be aware of my most recent obsessions/addictions. For those of you who aren't, I simply can NOT stop watching birth programs on telly and visiting my online pregnancy message board. They are like drugs to me! But lately, I am feeling a little bit left out of the message board family.

I joined the board late since I was hyper-worried at first that the pregnancy wasn't viable and I would either have to terminate it or I would have a miscarriage. So I missed out on everyone commiserating about the general crappiness of the first trimester. Honestly, I could have joined in then as I was suffering pretty bad.

I joined the message board frenzy during my second trimester, when everyone was glowing and happy and experiencing the "joys" of pregnancy. I kind of got that, but I kept getting sick (remember the insomnia, the sinus infections, the tonsillitis, etc?) and so it wasn't that great for me.

Now, here we all are in our third trimesters (I post on an August birth club board, so everyone is due within four weeks of each other), and that board is rapidly turning into a giant whining board. It's all about "I'm so constipated," or "I am constantly getting kicked in the ribs," or, "You will never believe what my mother-in-law did," or "Somebody please tell me how to get rid of this horrible heartburn," and other such complaints. It's almost not fun to read the messages any more as everyone starts getting really tired of being pregnant.

Here's the funny thing--I am finally enjoying it!

I am really starting to get uncomfortable, but it's only when I start to move. Like when I have to stand up from my desk or get up out of bed. Well, that and when I am sleeping. But I don't seem to have any of the really horrible pregnancy symptoms that everyone complains about. Yes, my feet are swollen. But they mainly just look bad--they don't really hurt. And the baby is really active, but my torso is so long that I've still got a good two inches between the top of my uterus and the bottom of my ribs. I have sore days occasionally, but it's not nearly as bad as it is for what seems like a lot of women!

Don't get me wrong--I am still really anxious to have this baby. I have a feeling that the next 8.5 weeks are going to go really slowly. But I am content with my pregnancy right now. Maybe I should make up a complaint just so I can fit in?

Related, but not really...

Last night when Martin kissed me goodnight he rubbed my belly and said, "I love you two." It was really sweet, but it got me thinking about what we both feel for this baby. I don't know if I love him/her yet--I do know that I am fiercely protective of him and I would never do anything to hurt him. I feel a closeness that is unlike anything I've ever known, and when I feel him moving it makes me happy. But love? I don't know this baby yet. So when Martin says he loves the baby, I have to wonder if he really means it. After all, I have a connection with our unborn child that he doesn't have. Can he already love the baby when it's hardly real to him? For Martin all this baby is right now is my changing body. He feels the kicks and listens to me explaining where the baby's at developmentally, but does he really realize that the baby is there and real and very much alive? Can you love someone who doesn't quite seem real???

But I'm not worried about that. I know that we WILL love our baby, even if that love hasn't quite developed yet.

Parenthood--how, this is going to be huge! My due date is only 59 days away, and our lives are about to change forever. The only thing that I'm not scared about is--scratch that, I'm scared about everything!

How do you raise a child to be normal, happy, healthy, and well adjusted? How do you cope with the demands that child places on you? How do you love a child and give unselfishly to him and still maintain your own identity and life? How is it done?

How is it that these questions never crossed my mind BEFORE I got pregnant?

I'm so not prepared for this!

Midwife appointment...

So I had my week 31 appointment yesterday and all is mostly well.

The baby's heartbeat is REALLY strong--and fast. It always amazes me how fast it is whenever I listen to it, and it is one of the best sounds in the world to me. It's such a comfort to listen to that strongly beating heart, and I would happily go to the midwife every day just to hear it and know that my baby is healthy.

I'm measuring just right for how far along I am, which is good to know. I am still getting comments about how big I am, and it's so discouraging. After a while it starts to make you feel like you're an abnormal freak and that you are going to give birth to the world's largest baby. But I'm right on target for 31 weeks, I'm just carrying this baby all up front. So that was good news.

I got the results of my blood work from the last appointment, and everything looks good there. Apparently, my iron levels look GREAT! I'm not even slightly anemic. Hooray for those pre-natal vitamins that I have taken religiously since I did my first pregnancy test.

The only thing that was cause for concern was the old pee test. I had protein and leukocytes in my urine, so they are sending a sample in to the lab to see if I have some sort of infection that needs to be treated. They weren't overly concerned about it--just sending for the tests to be on the safe side. If I don't hear anything within a week I can assume that everything is fine.

I saw Kate at the midwife's office again. She is lovely--so much better than the other two I've seen. She even asked me how I was doing. She's friendly and helpful, and I wouldn't mind having her there to deliver my baby. That makes a nice change from the other two midwives I've seen, who I really wouldn't want anywhere near me or my unborn child.

Martin and I were discussing the appointment later in the evening (he couldn't get the time off work to come with me), and he said he was glad to hear that the baby was healthy. Of course, I had to point out that the baby is healthy as far as we know. There's really no way to be sure until after it's born. And then we started talking about how scary it is to have a baby. There are so many things that could go wrong at any stage. The fact that most babies are born completely normal is a miracle. And yet, with all of the things that might go wrong, you don't really tend to think about them. You assume that everything is fine and normal. Even I assume this, even though I am a chronic worrier.

I'll admit that I was really worried at first. I was worried that the pregnancy wasn't in the right place at first, and then I was worried that I would miscarry. And every time I had a twinge or saw a little bit of blood I would freak out and have to fight the urge to get into bed, put my feet up, and call the hospital immediately. But once I had my anomalies scan at 20 weeks and everything was normal, that worry seemed to melt away. Now I'm just worried about being a mother--actually caring for this tiny baby that's about to come into our lives.

We went over to the Mundays' last night. I cooked dinner ( I love cooking dinner over there, because they do the dishes after!) and we just sat around talking for ages. They bought Martin a gift--a book all about being a dad. We had a skim through it together, and had quite a few giggles over the quick quizzes in it. Martin is so chilled out about becoming a parent, but I think I am freaking out enough for both of us. And I wonder, is he really just not afraid, or does he not realize how drastically our lives are about to change?

1 day shy of 31 weeks pregnant. This baby is getting HUGE!!!

In Bakewell, and that baby is baking well!

Chatsworth house from the top of the Cascade on the grounds. Beautiful Derbyshire hills in the distance--definitely one of the most beautiful counties in England, and almost completely unspoilt!

Not much to tell...

Life goes on much the same as always. I really just wanted to take this opportunity to post a few pictures. Some scenery from Krystle's visit, plus baby belly pics...

Krystle sees the sights in Whitby.

The Best Day Ever...

Well, it might not have been the best day ever, but it was certainly on my top ten list.

Yesterday was such a fantastic day! Krystle and I slept a tiny bit later than usual, and I took the day off work so we could go to Whitby (check out some of my old pics to see some of the sights, plus I plan on posting a few new ones later). It was cold and overcast, but still beautiful. The North East coast of England is truly stunning, and a good portion of our drive was right along the coast.

I'll just add at this point that I am so proud of myself for driving us up there. I always navigate and Martin always drives, but I did just fine (and Krystle made a pretty decent navigator).

We arrived in good time at Whitby, and parked at the abbey, which is on top of a cliff overlooking the town. The main part of Whitby is perched rather precariously on the sides of a deep dale containing the port and the mouth of the river. We walked down the 199 steps to the town below, enjoying the sights along the way.

Krystle tried her first ever proper fish and chips. She even had the mushy peas, and was pretty impressed with all of them. We wandered, window shopped, and watched the tide coming in. One of the highlights was watching this group of school children playing on the beach. It was COLD outside, and the North Sea is freezing anyway, but they were laughing and squealing and splashing in the water all the same. So much fun to watch them! A few brave souls even stripped down to swimming suits.

Anyway, we stopped at a little cafe called "Teas and Tarts" and Krystle tried another first--a fruit and fresh cream scone. I think she may be addicted, but hey, at least it's not heroin! Cream scones ARE delicious, so family back in Utah need to be prepared for her to attempt to make them for you. And Mom, Dad, and Jace, we will have some when you come over!

We walked back UP the 199 steps (not quite as enjoyable for me as my lungs are really starting to feel the squeeze of baby now) and drove home. We told Martin we'd be home at around 6pm, and we made it back at 6:20--rush hour traffic in Hull! Then we went over to the Munday's for what I thought was going to be a chilled out dinner and games.

To my surprise, there were a lot of cars at the Mundays' house. Emma threw me a surprise baby shower! And let me tell you, it was a complete shock! One of the things that has made me really sad during this pregnancy is knowing that I wouldn't get a baby shower like all the other Lofley girls do--all the sisters, aunts, female cousins, etc. In fact, the English don't really DO baby showers. It was so wonderful to have one--seriously. I cried like a baby and kept getting emotional during the whole thing. It was a really fun shower, I got some really nice things, and the food was fantastic! Best of all was knowing that people here care about me. I felt really loved and very blessed.

After that it was home and pretty much straight to bed. I am so tired today, and it's another busy day, but yesterday was so wonderful that it's totally worth the exhaustion. I would happily fall asleep inthe toilets at work every day for a few more days like yesterday!

Playing Tourist / Tour Guide...

It is beyond wonderful to have Krystle here visiting, if not a little bit surreal. And can I just say, it feels strange going places with another American? For the first time in a LONG time I feel like a tourist when I go places!

We've been having a good time, anyway. Krystle's arrival was delayed by a freak hail storm in Denver, so she actually arrived on Thursday instead of Wednesday. She got to spend a day in Philadelphia, though, which was apparently very groovy. And when she got in to Manchester, we whisked her away for a drive in the Yorkshire dales (the scenic way home) and took her to choir practice that evening. We were mean and only let her take a few short naps during the day so she could adjust to the time difference faster, so she slept really well that first night!

On Friday Martin worked, and Krystle and I just sort of bummed around Barton. We took a walk down to Water's Edge park and fed the ducks, we walked around town and went to the two churches there. I took her to the market to do a little bit of grocery shopping. Basically, it was just a day for us to relax and rest from the journeys.

Saturday was lovely! We took Krystle to York, where she was very impressed by the Shambles area, the outdoor market, and the Cathedral (of course). We walked on the Roman wall, had fabulous cakes at Betty's Tea Shop, and Krystle experienced her very first pub (a really good one, too, called The Punch Bowl, that has been a pub for around 400 years). That's where we had lunch, and it was v. nice.

Sunday was also relaxed. It was Stake conference, so we drove to Hull for that. Martin had a baseball game afterwards, so we sat in the glorious sunshine and I introduced Krystle to the wonders of Silky Mitz (we sanded our legs!!!). Also discovered that exfoliation seems to be the key to getting a suntan onyour legs, as mine turned VERY pink. After the game we drove out to Spurn Point, which is fun. I'd never been there before, so it was new for me AND Krystle. It's this strange bit of land that hooks out over the edge of the Humber estuary. The peninsula (I guess) is less than 1/4 mile wide, and when you are walking down the street you can see the river on one side and the North Sea on the other. It was foggy and mysterious looking, and we walked along the beach picking up pebbles. Krystle even waded in the sea, just to say she had done it. It's too cold to do much more than get your feet wet!

Yesterday Martin and I were both at work, so Krystle just wandered by herself in Barton and did some laundry (very impressed that she figured out how to operate my washing machine). She tried a fresh cream strawberry tart (loved it). Then, after work, we all went grocery shopping and to the cinema together.

Today the lucky lady is in Lincoln. Martin and I are both at work again. I dropped her off at the train station early this morning, and she just called to let me know that she would be getting the later of the two available trains home as she is LOVING Lincoln. I knew she would--it's a very beautiful city. So I'll be picking her up from the station later tonight, and then we are taking her out for Indian food at our favorite restaurant in Barton--The Surma. Mmmmm, I can hardly wait.

Is it weird that Indian food gives me less pregnancy heartburn than yoghurt does???

So yeah, it has been a little bit tiring to do all these tourist-y things whilst heavily pregnant. I think I am going to sleep for a week once Krystle is back home. But I'm having so much fun with her here and I refuse to let Maggot spoil that fun. I am conscious of the pregnancy though, and we are resting frequently and making sure I don't get dehydrated. I was not feeling very much movement over the weekend (I think the poor baby was as tired as me) but now that I am back at work I am feeling big kicks again.

Can't wait to have this baby and have my body (though not my life) to myself again!

The midwife update...

I had a midwife appointment today, and I just wanted to let the concerned parties know that all was normal. The baby's heartrate sounded good, and I had the added bonus of getting to listen to a good, strong case of the hiccups. I couldn't feel them, but I sure could hear them loud and clear. I had some blood drawn to check iron levels and to check for antibodies in my blood, and should have those results back at my next appointment. I will be seeing the midwife in three weeks' time, and the appointments will get closer together as I approach my due date.

The best part of my appointment was that the midwife didn't seem concerned that my belly was "too big," or that the baby was overly huge. I'm hearing it often enough that I have been a little bit concerned. But if the medical profession don't seem concerned about it, I can relax a little bit!

I finally got to wear a hat to a wedding! Went for the daisy colored ensemble because I didn't want to buy a nice new dress that was only going to fit me for about 3 weeks.




My dashing husband and his family.




























The bride (auntie Vickie) and her children (James, Emma, and Andrew) and groom (Mark) and the grandson, Spencer.












The view from above, 27.5 weeks. My toes have completely disappeared!

I PASSED!!!

It's official--I am now a fully qualified Swedish Massage therapist! I got my anatomy & physiology section signed off last week, and last night I got my practical stuff signed off and left my portfolio with my instructor to go to the external verifier. I will be picking up my certificates on the 27th of June, and then I will be able to apply for insurance if I free-lance or will be able to go to work for a salon.

My Wednesdays are about to become my own again!

On a not so happy note, our car didn't get fixed yesterday. It should be done today though, and I will be SO happy to have it back. We manage just fine without one, but it's no fun having to beg rides off people and be stuck in Barton. We've been making trips as needed only for a week now, and haven't had a car at all for 4 days. I love the freedom my little SEAT gives. But hey, at least my maternity trousers are here!

We are picking up the bed for our guest room tonight--good news for Krystle as this means she won't have to sleep on a tiny futon. Unfortunately for Jace, when he and mom and dad come over that's probably what he'll be sleeping on. Then it's skirting boards and a good clean and the room is finished!

A Red Letter day, already...

We got a couple of pieces of good news today. First good news--the head of the car was not cracked and therefore repairable instead of needing to be replaced. It will cost less ££ that way, and that's REALLY good news right now. The car should be fixed by tonight--just in time for me to drive it to college to get my massage book signed off.

In other good news, Martin's blood test results came back and he doesn't have AIDS. Just kidding. He didn't have an AIDS test. He went to the doctor because he was having severe back pain, and the doctor wanted to test him for ankolysing spondalitis (sp). It's this weird disease where your joints fuse together--mostly on your spine, but it can also affect your pelvis and other joints. It sounded nasty, and he had to wait nearly a week for the test results. Hooray, he doesn't have a degenerative disease!

The only way this day could get any better is if my maternity trousers come in the post. Yes, that's right, I have ordered my first pair of maternity trousers. I can still wear normal ones, but they are getting a wee bit uncomfortable. I bought some stretchy waist trousers a while back and have been wearing those nearly every day for the last 3 weeks or so. It's time. I feel quite proud that I made it to my 3rd trimester without having to move to maternity though!!!

So that's the red letter day update!

None of their business!!!

I have a feeling this is going to turn into another one of those "random rants," but this one is not anti-England. I'm actually going through a brief I love England phase at the moment and am really happy to be here--especially after hearing from my dad that it's already hitting 95 degrees in Utah. It's a cool 75 or so most days here right now!

No, this random rant is about, you guessed it, pregnancy!

Can I just say that it is NOBODY'S business but my own and my midwifes how much weight I'm gaining? I had to listen to Martin's granddad, of all people, lecture me about how much food I was eating yesterday. This is, of course, after I cooked a meal for him and his wife, Martin's Nanna. AND this is the man who had extra roast beef, extra roast potatoes, and two cups of tea with sugar as well as the rhubarb and apple crumble I made (WITH custard). He really just needs to butt out! I have not gained that much weight. Is it my fault that the baby is just pushing right out the front of me and I look huge? And would you really tell someone that they need to watch what they're eating? You certainly wouldn't say that to a non-pregnant woman!

It's like my body has become public property, with every Tom, Dick and Harry feeling like they can say whatever they want about it. Oh, you're sure getting big. My goodness, is it twins? Have you got any stretch marks yet? Are you sure you should be eating that? SHUT UP!!! You are not carrying this baby--I am! I will do whatever I want, because it's my baby, and MY BODY!!!

Whew--I feel better.

On to other news--our poor car is back in the shop. While we were having the probs with the radiator, the car was running too warm. Big surprise, the head gasket's gone. We are going to be car-less for a few days, so I am hitching a lift in to work with this guy that works out on the workshop floor. I have to leave the house 30 minutes earlier than normal to walk up to meet him in the town center. He goes through Barton about 20 minutes earlier than I usually leave for work. I think he must drive really slowly or something. But I'm grateful for the lift. Anyway, we are looking at around £400 to get it fixed, which is making me nervous, but it has to be done. We decided that £400 out of pocket was better than hving to buy a new car and making payments while I'm on maternity leave.

It was a good weekend, other than being stranded in Barton. We couldn't make the drive in to church, but we were able to spend time with Martin's family (as you may have gathered, given the earlier rant). And I got a baby blanket finished and a lot of work done on another one. I also made some yummy granola and Martin and I cleaned the kitchen really well. Plus, we got a lot of work done on the guest room. It just needs a few finishing touches before it's completely ready for its first occupant. Then it's on to the front room! We're hoping to have the wiring done down there before Krystle arrives so she can watch TV downstairs instead of in our bedroom!

So that's the update. A little dull, maybe, but that's how life is, right? I always thought being a grown-up would be way more fun than this!

On body image…

Another pregnancy related post. Those of you who aren’t interested, stop reading now.

Body image is a complicated thing, and I think it only gets more complicated for a woman during pregnancy.

When you’re a child, you don’t really think much of your body at all. It’s a means of transport, a vehicle that gets you where you want to go. You feed it when it’s hungry, clean it when mom makes you, and basically ignore it unless you are in pain of some kind. And then puberty hits, and this virtually ignored part of you becomes all of you! All of a sudden, you are looking at your body, comparing it to other peoples’ bodies, and wishing to or trying to change it.

So much of a woman’s self-worth is tied up in how her body is perceived—both by herself and by others. Women are supposed to be sexy. A lot of times you judge yourself based on other people’s reaction to your physical appearance.

I struggled with my self confidence when I was first married, because I wasn’t allowed to flirt and meet new men any more. I never was particularly wild where men were concerned, but this was a huge adjustment for me! All of a sudden, I was only allowed to try to attract one man—and one who isn’t very expressive, at that. Without constant reinforcement from members of the opposite sex, my confidence flagged. I adjusted eventually, but it was rough.

Now I’m playing under a whole new set of rules.

My body has ceased to be an object of desire for anyone! I am heavily pregnant, awkward, and uncomfortable. I have never felt less attractive in my life. I don’t even feel pretty, let alone sexy, but somehow this doesn’t matter as much. Right now, I’m not supposed to be sexy at all, yet pregnancy IS sexy to some. My body has become a means of creating new life, and that's a beautiful thing. This new cumbersome body of mine is still attractive to some people. Strangers come up to me and touch my ever expanding belly. They smile their approval and take an interest in my pregnancy. I am heavy and swollen, and I am still attractive to people. This is the strangest feeling!

This pregnancy has also brought out a character flaw that I thought I’d left behind years ago. I am wearing a wedding ring, and I have this smug, self-righteous feeling whenever I see a pregnant woman who is not. I have this little power trip going on and my inner monologue shouts triumphantly, “Ha ha ha, I am doing this the ‘right’ way and you are having an illegitimate child. Knocked up! Knocked up!” I am no better than anyone else who is having a baby—especially over here where the vast majority of couples never marry but stay together longer than a lot of married couples I know. But I FEEL like I’m better than they are, and that in turn makes me feel guilty.

Maybe we can just chalk this one up to strange pregnancy hormones?

Beware--baby post!

This morning was kind of fun. Maggot was kicking me pretty hard when I was lying in bed trying to summon the will to get ready for work, so I put my hand on my belly and pushed him. To my surprise, he pushed back! I just laid there for the next five minutes or so and we played together. I would push him, and he would kick me. It was so much fun, and completely amazing!

Sometimes I still can't believe this whole pregnancy thing is happening. Martin and I have waited for so long, and we're really going to be parents now. Seriously, this baby is our total miracle. I complain about being pregnant all the time. I am tired a lot, and am starting to get really awkward and uncomfortable. None of my clothes fit me properly and I feel really fat. But then the baby moves, and it's all worth it. I'm going to be a mother!

On a non-baby related note, I have discovered the best product ever!!! For all the ladies out there, have you ever heard of Silky Mitz? I don't know if it's an English thing or what, but it's basically really fine grained sand paper for your body. You rub it over your legs instead of shaving, and it's GREAT! I used mine for the first time today, and I don't think I'll ever shave again. Admittedly, it is a little bit strange to sand down your legs, but it totally gets rid of the hair and exfoliates your skin at the same time. WOW! If anyone wants me to send a sample over, let me know. They only cost £.99 for a pack of 3. Highly recommended.

Just 20 days until I have my first family visitor. Krystle, I am so excited for you to come over!!! We are considering a trip to Amsterdam while she is here, and I found a mini-cruise for £64 per person. You cruise all night (have a cabin with its' own bath), arrive in Rotterdam at 8 am and take a bus to Amsterdam for 10:30. Then you spend the day there and cruise back that night. It sounds like a lot of fun (though you only have one day and not a full night to enjoy the wicked, worldly delights of the city). It's a maybe. Krystle, check it out at http://www.poferries.com/tourist/content/pages/template/minicruise_minicruise.htm

The highlight of my weekend...

This is kind of sad.

Martin and I had a really great weekend. It was a bank holiday on Monday, so we had a long weekend anyway. Then Martin's Aunty Vicky got married yesterday so we took the day off work to go to that. Four days off in a row--it was like heaven!

Martin worked most of the day on Saturday, so I stayed at home, cleaned the house up, worked on a baby blanket, and did some dry wall plastering (the north wall of our front room is now a proper wall instead of being bare brick--wahoo!!!). That night we went and watched Spiderman 3 with the Mundays. They were late, but we weren't really surprised. They DO have three kids to get to a babysitter before they can go out. The movie was OK, but not as good as we thought it'd be. Note to the family: Worth watching, but wait for the $1.50 theater.

Sunday was good, too. Martin had his baseball game in Bolton, so we got an early start and drove over to that. The team had 2 games, and Martin played in the second one. He actually scored a few runs, made a few good plays, etc, and had a great time. Then we checked in to the temple accommodation in Chorley and spent a quiet night playing scrabble (I beat Martin, of course. He's such a word snob and won't use 2 or 3 letter words). Early night, but that was OK because Monday was busy.

Monday morning was spent at the temple, and it was great--so peaceful and relaxing and spiritual. I really do love the Preston temple, and we hadn't been since my birthday trip in January. After we finished there, we drove to Manchester. More specifically, to the Trafford Centre.

The Trafford Centre is an absolutely MASSIVE mall. Seriously, it's big even by U.S. standards. We were looking for clothes for the wedding, and had some success. We also randomly went into Selfridge's (I think it's a really posh department store. Not too sure--quite expensive though) and I had an emotional pregnant lady moment. They sell Kraft Macaroni and Cheese!!! They also sell Hershey's chocolate syrup and Aunt Jemimah's maple syrup. We bought a box of Mac & Cheese and a bottle of each of the syrups, and spent £15.00. For the exchange rate challenged, that's right around $30.00. I spent nearly $7.00 on a box of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, and it was worth every penny!

So that was Monday. Then yesterday we went to the wedding. I got to wear a hat, which was fun (pictures are coming). We spent most of the day hanging out with Martin's family. It would have been a better time for me if they dadn't had the lunch afterwards in a pub where everyone could smoke, but it was still a good time.

But here comes the sad highlight of the weekend.

Someone at church gave us a full size fridge/freezer. Since we moved out of the in-laws house we have only had a tiny little thing that fits under the counter. So our freezer has been a little icebox, and we haven't been able to buy anything frozen unless we were eating it that night. Well, Martin got all manly and fitted an electrical socket yesterday morning, and we plugged in the fridge/freezer. Then we went grocery shopping and bought FROZEN FOOD for the first time in nearly two years. We have a big tub of icecream in the freezer. We have bags of frozen veggies and crinkle cut fries. We have frozen pizza. We have meat that we bought on sale and are freezing!

How pathetic is that? The highlight of my weekend was being able to buy Neopolitan icecream and a bag of frozen broccoli!

Good AND bad news...

We'll start with the bad news and get that out of the way. I found out today that I will not be eligible for maternity pay through my company as I started working here about 3 weeks too late. I was kind of expecting it--knew it would be really close, but it's still a disappointment. I may still be able to claim Statutory Maternity Pay from the government, so that'll be better than nothing. I'll probably call in at my local benefits office and find out early next week.

The good news is that I had my final assessment at Massage last night, and I passed it. I only need to do a couple more clients for ranges. I need to massage someone old and someone fat. It would be really nice if I could get someone in who is both, actually. I also need to revise and turn in one final assignment in anatomy and physiology, so I should be done with my course next week--4 weeks early! Our graduation ceremony thing is in June, at which point I will receive my certificate. Hooray!

In Martin news, he has been biking over to baseball practice in Hull the last few weeks and yesterday he had a little bit of a mishap. To make a long story short, he pulled a "Wayne's World" and ran into the back of a parked car on his bike. No worries--he's fine. He WILL have to have his bike repaired though. The front forks that hold the wheel on are bent now. Not much hurt on him except his dignity, I think.

We're going on a temple trip this weekend, which I'm really looking forward to. We've compromised as the baseball team has a double header in Bolton on Sunday and it's only about 15 miles from Chorley (where the Preston temple is). So I'll watch his first game and then get dropped off at the temple and will go to church there. Then he'll come back when the second game is finished and we'll do the temple thing early Monday morning.

On Tuesday we are going to a wedding. Martin's Auntie Vicky will be getting married at the registrar's office in Louth. I have to go shopping this weekend (probably in Manchester) for a hat. I get to wear a hat to a wedding! Too bad I won't look cute--just 6 months pregnant and bloated. Still, I'm excited about the hat thing!

So that's the pregnancy mood swing update for the day!

24 Weeks…

Yesterday marked a huge milestone in my pregnancy. I’m not sure how it works in the U.S., but 24 weeks marks the legal age of viability for a fetus in the UK. From this point on, should I have complications, delivering the baby would be considered early labor instead of a late miscarriage and the hospital staff would be legally obligated to try to save him (or her).

Obviously I don’t want to go into labor this early (though the prospect of having my body all to myself again is rather appealing), but just knowing that they would try to save my baby is a comfort and a huge weight off my shoulders. I can hardly wait to get to the point where the baby would most likely survive on its own if it were born.

I can hardly believe that I am just shy of 6 months pregnant. I was laying in bed this morning thinking about how happy I am. Seriously, I am really happy right now. I feel healthy, my baby is developing normally, I’m madly in love with my husband, and it just goes on and on. Of course, the eternal pessimist in me really thinks something is going to go wrong now. I guess I will be getting increasingly uncomfortable from here out.

Martin’s dad just got back from a week in Texas (work related) and he brought me Reese’s Pieces, pancake mix, and a giant bottle of Ranch dressing. Just a few more reasons to be happy!

Funny story from the weekend. We went down to Water’s Edge to feed the ducks yesterday. It was lovely, though the weather was not the nicest. We got to see some adorable little ducklings and goslings, and even a nesting swan. We fed the birds all of the bread we had, and then started our walk home. Martin had to spit, so he did—into the water. Unfortunately, one of the birds thought it was another piece of bread. He scooped up Martin’s spit and had long strings of it hanging from his beak—ew! So Martin may be responsible for the next violent outbreak of avian flu!

Martin got some news at work that was a little bit upsetting to me. The owners now want him to work every Friday and Saturday night! I was so angry when I found that out. We get to spend so little time together anyway, and then they take away the occasional weekend we can spend some time together! Once I have the baby and am at home a lot, it won’t matter so much. But seriously, some weeks I feel like Martin and I haven’t seen each other at all. I HATE his job sometimes.

On a positive not, though, the horrible Jade may be getting fired soon. They’ve hired another member of staff. His name is Rob, and he seems very nice. He’s 17, but looks older than Martin. And he doesn’t have a problem with authority figures. Martin really likes him and thinks he has a lot of potential. Plus he is enjoying having someone to talk football with.

Anyway, enough of this rambling and endless post. More later this week, OK?

Not the greatest picture ever, but we still think he's cute! Here's Maggot, aged 20 weeks. The head is on the left. The bright patch down the front of that huge noggin are his facial features--nose and mouth. The little inverted "c" on the right side is his tibia. You can just make out toes if you look really closely. That's our baby!

Tired but happy after a long day of shopping for clothes that fit over my belly!

Pregnancy Update
Here I am, 23 weeks + 2 days pregnant. Martin's not so good at taking the pictures, so I just took one myself. Check out that bump! Sometimes it looks bigger than others, and today it is HUGE! Happily, I still haven't gained weight anywhere but on my belly. And I can still touch my toes--sort of.

Baby stuff-AGAIN!

So, according to one of my pregnancy newsletters little Maggot now weighs about a pound and is getting a lot stronger. I feel that! I also feel him almost constantly kicking me! I really got a battering this weekend.

I’ve really started to notice the kicks a lot more, and Martin has even felt them a few times now. It still freaks him out, but we all know he’s more than a little bit squeamish about “body stuff.” The most amazing thing to me is how the baby responds to loud noises. We went to the cinema on Saturday afternoon and there was a really loud explosion in the movie. I thought Maggot was coming out right then, he jumped so much! It’s amazing to me that there’s this tiny living thing that my body made that can already respond to external stimuli. So clever, how your body can make another living being. It kind of makes me happy that I’m a woman and can experience this. Especially because if it was up to Martin we’d never have children—it would freak him out too much to be pregnant!

We did have a lovely weekend. We got to spend most of it together as Martin got off work really early on Saturday. We went into town and bought some bed linens for the guest room, saw a movie, went over to the Mundays and played games, etc. I also baked some rather yummy banana bread (with dark chocolate chunks and walnuts—mmmm). Then on Sunday we had a lie-in, went to part of church, then drove to Mablethorpe to see Granddad Gilbert (it was his birthday).

I was totally having an “I love England” day yesterday. The rapeseed is all blooming, so huge swathes of land are this glorious bright yellow right now. The hedges are all fully in leaf, and the hawthorn is blooming. The trees are just beginning to leaf out, and though the daffodils are dying, the lilacs are just coming out. Soon it’ll be time for the poppies. This is such an amazingly beautiful place. For anyone who can make the journey, England in the spring time is worth every penny!

Anyway, I am typing this from work and need to get back to it—Mondays are really busy for me. I’ll post more later with an update from today’s midwife appointment and maybe with a few pics!

Mistake...

Tonight Martin is at work and I have made the mistake of watching stupid birth programs on telly. It makes me so afraid for the whole labour thing. OMG, seriously, I am scared!

Those programs also make me emotional beyond belief. When the babies are finally born after hours of excruciating pain for the mothers, I ALWAY cry. Of course, it doesn't take much right now. I cry at the drop of a hat anyway. I can't imagine what I'll be like when it's actually me!

Martin and I are going to get some work done on the guest bedroom tomorrow. We have to stay close to home anyway since someone from the electric company may be coming to replace some of the wiring in the house. The main source of electricity into our house comes in via old cloth wrapped wires, and the place where it comes in apparently isn't safe. There was a guy here earlier, and he was kind of freaking out about it. We didn't think it was that big of a deal, but apparently it is. So hopefully we'll get a lot done and the bedroom will be all lovely and fresh and comfy for our first house guest and we won't be in danger of a house fire or of electrocution.

On the pregnancy front, things are going OK. Yesterday was kind of tough for me. I got a really bad nose bleed and I was tired and queasy and the baby was kicking me really hard. I'm actually being kicked right now, as a matter of fact. And I think I have started having braxton hicks contractions. Anybody who knows what they're like, give me a comment so I can decide. Anyway, I was just tired of being pregnant. And I have 17 weeks to go! Today is better though.

I can't believe how huge my belly is getting! But I still haven't got any bigger anywhere else. It's strange, because when I have gained weight in the past it has always gone straight to my bum and thighs (thanks mom). But now when I try to wear trousers I haven't had on for a while they slide ride on, but I can't do them up. Plus, the baby is supposed to double in weight over the next 4 weeks.

I seem to be carrying this baby right up front and in the middle. I have this horrible feeling that I'll be one of those women who have an absolutely massive belly that you think can't possibly get any bigger--and then it does. I'll see if Martin will take some belly pics of me this weekend so everyone can see what I mean. Seriously weird!

Martin...

Martin has discovered a baseball team over here!

There's a team that's based out of Hull, which is a 15 minute and £2.70 one way toll drive across the Humber from us. They take players of all skill levels and have practices on Wednesday nights (while I am at college anyway) and Sunday mornings. He went to his first practice last night, and had a really good time. He's so jazzed about it that he has repaired the bike his dad gave him and is planning on biking over there every week.

Martin has never actually played baseball before. He's always played softball. His dad developed a love of softball when he was stationed in the Gulf of Mexico during his Navy days and always had a neighborhood team in the summer when Martin was younger. Last night was his first baseball experience. He found it a little more difficult to bat, but a lot easier to throw. I sat and watched (a little bit--I mostly read my book), and he looked pretty good out there.

The only down side is that they play all their games on Sundays. I'm not thrilled about that, but it seems like if you want to do ANYTHING recreationally in the UK you have to do it on a Sunday. I told him we could compromise and he could maybe play one game a month. Does that make me a bad Mormon? He's just so excited to have found something that he loves, and I love seeing my husband happy!

So that's the Martin update.

In other news, my little sister Krystle is coming to visit! She flies into Manchester in just 6 weeks, and I am so excited to see her! Lots of exclamation marks here, but I can't help it--someone from my family is finally coming to visit! I can show off my house, my lovely town, and this gorgeous country (I'm having an "I love England" day). And I can hang out with Krystle every night for nearly two weeks. Wahoo!!!

So Krys--just wanted to say that I can hardly wait to see you. And anyone else that wants to come for a visit, feel free! American company will always be welcome in my home.

Ah, sweet relief…

I had a long week. Another infection (this time my tonsils, and it spread to sinuses) and my asthma flared up again. The worst part of it was, I was completely unable to sleep at night. I would fall asleep just fine, then wake up about 3 ½-4 hours later and not be able to get back to sleep. Honestly, last week was one of the longest of my life!

After a trip to see my GP (with many apologies about coming in so frequently lately) and a course of antibiotics, I am on the mend. The best part is, I got 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep last night. I feel like a new woman! And, I can completely understand why sleep deprivation is used as a form of torture. I hope it’s not like that after the baby’s born, but I think I should be OK. After all, I will be able to sleep when the baby sleeps as I don’t have any other children to take care of!

In other good news, I spoke to my employer (the temp agency) this morning and they think I will probably be eligible for maternity pay! That’s fantastic news for us, as it means I will receive 90% of my wages for 6 weeks and then a further £108 per week for the next 26 weeks if I choose to do so (that’s about $200/week for those of you who are currency conversion challenged). I have to turn in a form that they forgot to give me at the midwives first (idiots), but they’re pretty sure I’ll qualify. Best news I’ve had in months!!!

Martin and I had a really nice weekend, other than what lately has been our chronic car problem. I got rested up on Saturday morning, and then we went shopping, had dinner, and went to a movie. Then we spent a leisurely Sunday morning walking and feeding the ducks (and 2 geese) at Water’s Edge park. Then Church, of course, and time with his parents.

Today Martin is helping out at the Mundays’ house. They are taking some of the gravel from our back garden and using it to fill their front flower bed. So Martin was going to help load some of that and spread it, then he was going to assist with the laying of some laminate flooring. He’s never done that before, so it should be interesting to see how that goes. Anyway, next Monday Lewis is going to come over and help get some work done on our front room. Good trade, I think!

Speaking of Martin, he had another excited to be a parent moment on Saturday. We discovered that the cinema in Hull (just across the river from us) does “child screenings.” Every time a new kids’ movie comes out, if you pay for a child’s ticket, one adult goes free. He’s pretty jazzed about that, since he loves children’s movies anyway. He’s looking forward to the activities that we can do with kids. Fair enough—I always knew he would be the fun parent and I would be the mean one.

Bank Holiday Weekends...

In the UK, you get Good Friday and Easter Monday off work, and there is also a bank holiday in May, so depending on when Easter falls you get a lot of days off in a row. It's so wonderful to have extra time off!

Yesterday was a very nice and productive day, though I over did things a bit. Martin was at work from 9-3, and I got up with him and went shopping--for seeds! I got my garden planted yesterday. I've planted French beans (around bamboo trellis with morning glory, sweet peas, and nasturtiums), radishes, spinach, kale, carrots, and tomatoes. We don't have space for flowers AND vegetables, so I've done veggies that will look pretty. At least, I hope they'll look pretty.

I did have to do some digging in the flower beds to prep them for planting, and that wasn't so good. I probably should have had Martin do it, but I knew that if I waited for him it would never get done. Anyway, my back is pretty sore and I am still in bed this morning, but my back garden looks FAB! I can't wait until the seeds start sprouting.

Gardening is weird for me over here--mostly because I don't recognize a lot of the common weeds. I am never quite sure if what I'm pulling is a weed or some gorgeous flower until it is too late and I have a garden full of stinging nettle. I guess I'll find out soon enough.

After Martin got off work we went to a movie, then went to the Munday's for dinner. We all sat around just talking for ages, which was nice. Today when Martin gets home from work he's going to get some stuff done on the front room. Slowly but surely the house is getting there.

We kind of had a nightmare week with the car. We took it in to get the thermostat fixed, which should have been a one hour job, tops. Unfortunately, it ended up taking more like six (for reasons too numerous to go in to right now). We ended up car-less for two days, and I had to get a ride home from work with Martin's dad--on his motor bike. In hind sight, probably a bit risky for a pregnant lady. But I love bikes, and it was fun. Probably won't be doing that again for the rest of the pregnancy. Anyway, the car is fixed now and it's so nice to have it back!

I am feeling really good right now. Ever since the ultrasound on Monday, I have had this wonderful, peaceful feeling about my pregnancy. For the first time since I got the positive result, I feel like everything is OK. I am relaxing and enjoying this adventure, and it feels good to not be constantly worried and stressed that something is going to go wrong. I feel like this baby is here to stay, and it makes me happier than I can say!

The Big Ultrasound…

So Martin and I went in for out anomalies scan this morning, and it was brilliant! Everything looks perfectly normal with the baby. We got to see his heart beating, which was tres groovy. You could actually see all 4 chambers of his heart, and it was beating like crazy. The technician said that just by viewing that one part of the baby they could rule out about 70% of all potential problems. What a relief!

Martin actually had a good time at the scan. He was asking all these questions, and he thought it was cool when we could see the baby’s spine and ribs. He also really enjoyed seeing the baby move. I guess he didn’t believe me when I told him the baby was moving a lot. It’s been almost constant for nearly a week now.

The tech also confirmed what I’ve been suspecting. The baby is kind of hanging out around my right side. I can tell because when I look down at my belly it is slightly lopsided. Very strange.

It was so exciting to see the baby again, and wonderful to know that he is growing normally and doesn’t have anything wrong with him that they can see. And for all you people out there who wanted us to find out the sex of the baby n advance, it wouldn’t have mattered any way. He had his little legs tightly crossed the whole time! We couldn’t even get a good picture of the little monkey because he kept his back to my belly most of the time and wouldn’t let the tech get a profile shot. But I don’t care about the picture! My baby is normal and healthy, and that’s enough for me!

In other news, Martin’s mate Adam is back in the country. He left about a month after we moved back, and has only been back once to visit. We saw him yesterday, which was nice. We also got to spend some time with each other, which was even nicer. Martin worked for 13 hours on Friday and 12 hours on Saturday because his stupid waitress called in sick—said she was going to the hospital, and then was seen out that night drinking in town. She might get fired, which would be nice for everyone involved (except maybe for her, but I don’t really care at this point). It was a pretty lonely weekend.

I have a gymnast inside of me!

I know, this blog has become all about the baby! It's not my fault--it's Martin's. His new job doesn't allow us to ever do anything since we only have Sundays off together, so Maggot is the only exciting thing I have going on in my life right now.

This really is exciting, though. I think I actually SAW the baby move last night. I'd had a very active evening--1 1/2 hours of yoga, and then a 2 mile walk. Toward the end of the walk, I had to stop to take a little breather. I looked down, and there was what looked like a little wave moving across my abdomen, just below my belly button. It was strange, but very cool.

Maggot has also been very active this morning. I could feel him rolling and kicking for about an hour earlier today. When he starts to get even bigger, it's going to be uncomfortable. Right now it's just fun. Martin is a little bit put off by the concept of the baby moving inside me. Anyone who's seen "Alien" will probably understand. I told him that he'll have to get excited about it at first, but that once it becomes annoying to me he will never have to look or touch when the baby's moving again.

Speaking of Martin, he is still loving his job. When we rented our car on Saturday we talked to Phil (his old manager) and Debbie (his old assistant manager). They still haven't replaced Martin or the other girl who is now on maternity leave, so they are working until 8 or 9 pm some nights. It doesn't sound pleasant at all! I think after we left the Enterprise office he was even happier than usual that he left. I still don't like his job, but I didn't think I would. Once I'm done with my massage course it will be better. Right now we hardly have any time together at all. It would be even better than that if I got released from my calling in the Ward Choir. I am really struggling to keep up with everything at the minute.

Work is still good for me, too. Alan Dick is turning out to be a great job for me. I feel confident and competent, and I have from about my second week here. The healthier I feel with my pregnancy, the better the job is. I have been pregnant ever since I started working here, and that really made my first few months tough. INext week I will have been here for 4 months. Time really flies! We are doing a stock check this weekend, so I may have to come in on Saturday morning. I'm ok with that though--I have a feeling it won't be too bad, and Martin's at work anyway.

Gneneral conference this weekend! Martin and I will probably stay home and watch it on line. That's what we did last year, and it was great! I still can't believe that there are people who go to the church for it. You spend all night Saturday and all day Sunday at the church, which is tough if you live 30 miles away like we do. I'm looking forward to a day spent in my pajamas!

Cheerio!

A mini-breakdown in York...

Martin and I had a wonderful weekend together. He worked Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of Mother's Day weekend, so he took last Saturday off. We went to york, did some shopping, had dinner, and just generally relaxed. The weekend was made slightly less wonderful by the fact that we had to rent a car--ours got a flat tire because someone left a glass bottle lying in the street and Martin ran over it. Our car is getting a brand new tire today.

On to the mini breakdown...

We were walking around some of the charity shops near York Minster, and there was an Americna family in one of them. They had a little boy, about 6 years old, with them. He said something adorable, and I just started crying. We're not talking a few little tears that welled up and never fell-- I was crying HARD. Martin asked me what was wrong, and I told him I didn't want my kids to talk with an English accent. I told him I wanted an American baby, not an English baby. I think he was a little bit insulted. Anyway, I got over it and the rest of the day was fine.

We had to come home early on Sunday since the choir was singing in Sacrament meeting, but it was OK. They sounded beautiful, and I hardly even got annoyed with the people at church. Then we spent some time at the in-laws and went to the Mundays' house. Their 3 month old, Nathan, has started sleeping through the night so they were a lot more fun than they have been recently.

All in all, emotional breakdown aside, it was a fantastic weekend! And, last week, I passed my second massage assessment. One to go!

My migrating belly button…

By far one of the most fun things about my pregnancy to date has been watching my belly button. That may not sound like a whole lot of fun to most of you, but I’m having a great time with it!

I have a few scars on my navel from where it was pierced (two separate times, and three little scars). It used to be that you could only see one of them, because the other two were buried deep within the tunnel of my “innie.” Now, though, it seems like the scars creep a little further up my abdomen every day. The migration has become my measuring stick for how far along in my pregnancy I am and how much my bump is growing. Looks good so far. Of course, the fun will end when my belly button pops out like a turkey timer. And I am a little bit curious as to how the scars will look after Maggot is born.

Our little aging boy racer (Pedro the wonder car) has developed a little bit of a leak in the radiator area. We have decided to re-christen him Mr Widdles, since his embarrassing problem is kind of like incontinence in an old man who used to be a big Don Juan. He’s been taken to the shop today though, so hopefully we will have our sleek little man back soon. It’s getting a little bit tiresome filling the radiator every other time we drive the car.

In a bit of freaky weather news, it snowed here yesterday (and a little bit this morning). I think today is the first day of spring (either today or tomorrow), and it doesn’t look like spring for the first time in a month. On Saturday it was blazing sun shine, hail, rain, and snow all within about 30 minutes.

I am enjoying other aspects of the solstice, though. Living near the ocean is cool for that—especially where we live. Barton is right on the banks of the Humber River Estuary (where the River Humber meets the North Sea). The estuary is probably about 2 miles wide where we are, and the river is tidal. In very still weather you can see the river current flowing out and the tide coming in. It looks very cool. The water level drops by a good 15 feet at low tide, but the spring tide is amazing! Every morning I drive to work on top of one of the ancient dikes along the river (about 40% of the land in Lincolnshire is reclaimed. In its natural state it is mostly salt marsh). Right now, the river is higher than the fields on the other side of the road when the tide is in. Very groovy.

An interesting tidbit for any Discovery Channel fans. Every year at the spring tide, you have a few places that experience what’s called a “bore tide.” This happens on tidal rivers that narrow suddenly, when a really high wave comes in. The wave is too big to be contained by the river banks, and you can get a really massive wave that travels for miles inland. The biggest one in the world is in China, and the second biggest in the world is on the west coast of Great Britain (on the River Severn). The bore is usually about 2 meters high (just shy of 10 feet, for the metrics-challenged), and people come from all over the world to surf it. The record holder surfed the wave for one hour and 18 minutes straight!

Sorry if the bore tide tidbit was a bit of a bore for anyone.

You know you've been in Britain too long when all of the following things seem normal to you!

Taken from a great website, http://www.americanexpats.co.uk

• Use of both knife and fork. It really is a pretty civilized way to eat!

• Flow of foot traffic that is enough to make you wanna hurt someone. Every man, woman and child for themselves! No rules...just dodge bodies.
  
  
• The thrill of finally understanding inside jokes of British humour. There are many steeped in the popular culture!
  
  
• How many times must one exchange 'thank you' with a store clerk after they ring up your sale? 'Look, I've got to be somewhere by 2pm. It's 1:30, now. Do you think we can just exchange thank you a few times to each other and then I'm free to go?'
  
  
• Automatic mental conversion of 'z' to 's' when writing words such as 'organisation' and 'visualise'.
  
  
• Single kiss on the cheek of those you are greeting. Hugging is NOT an option.
  
  
• Consideration of writing a book on how to make the most out of those precious storage spaces in your home.
  
  
• Adopting the national all out free-for-all attitude when grocery shopping and the fact that it is never easy to get into or out of a store due to bizarre limited entrance/exits in UK stores.
  
  
• Writing the day before the month no longer seems a bizarre thing.
  
  
• You find yourself defending the UK in futile arguments with people who may have been in the UK for as long as 14 days, and know everything there is to know about it.
  
  
• You are occasionally asked if you are from Ireland because you've taken on a slight UK bias in your vocal intonation.

As promised--a photo of my pregnant self. I will say at this point that I don't usually look this pregnant. It really depends on what I'm wearing, and that sweater makes me look enormous! I really haven't gained that much weight, and I can still fit into all but one pair of my jeans. We took this photo for comedic value, as I am barefoot, pregnant, and in the kitchen!

Maggot's first picture! I've been told it looks like he has a full head of curly hair. It's kind of hard to see in the digital copy, but the actual photo is a little bit more clear. We'll have another one in just a few weeks, and Maggot should look like a proper little baby then!

Hooray for the NHS...

Never thought I'd say that again, given the incompetent bumbling that has been involved with my entire pregnancy to date. But two really good things happened this week with them.

The first was when I went to see my GP (Dr. Wellings, who has 0 personality and even less of a bed side manner). I needed a refill on my inhaler, and I asked him if that was still all there was for asthma treatment. Not any more, it's not. The NHS have discovered that some people's asthma is better managed with tablets (what do you know?) and he told me to see the asthma nurse about a trial of the new pills they have just started prescribing. I can't take them while I'm pregnant, but you'd better believe I'll be in the office the week after Maggot's born getting hooked up!

Also good was someone at the midwifes' office. I phoned up because they didn't give me a maternity exemption card (I am supposed to get free drugs while I'm preggers) and I needed to get my prescriptions filled. The midwife I talked to got my details, and then she said she'd bring the form I needed to take to my GP to the house. 20 minutes later, the form was pushed through my letter box. Someone actually went out of their way to help me!

It's funny, how your opinion of good service changes. When we first moved over here, I was constantly annoyed by people working in government offices, banks, etc. because I felt they were so unhelpful. I was used to people going above and beyond, and had come to expect it (and maybe even to demand it) of the the people I came in contact with. Now, every time someone is kind or extra helpful, it seems like a little gift. They are doing something that they don't have to, and I appreciate them so much more for doing it.

Living in this country really makes me appreciate the way I grew up. I know Americans have a bad reputation for being pushy and insincere (and let's not forget arrogant--always arrogant). And maybe I am biased. But I think Americans are GREAT! We are friendly, outgoing, confident, and warm. And if these traits are sometimes all a show? Who cares? People are still being nice to you, and at the end of the day, that's what really matters. I'd rather have insincere kindness than honest loathing.

Anyway, I'm done now. I just wanted to say Yay England, and include a big Hooray America!

Excitement…

Martin and I had a really nice weekend. He worked Saturday morning instead of all day Saturday, so we actually got to spend a little time together. And I went to a scrap booking party at Emma’s mum’s house, which was fun. Martin got 3 ½ hours on the X-Box out of the whole deal, so he was happy about it. We went for a lovely walk around the salt marshes on the waterside on Sunday morning, which was great. There’s a public footpath down there that’s lined with plum trees, and they are all blossoming at the minute (can’t wait for the plums in August). Then church, of course. We went to the Mundays’ house afterwards and I made fajitas and Mexican rice for dinner. We had an early night, which made it even nicer!

The really great thing about the weekend was baby related, though. I felt Maggot move (for sure) for the first time. Yesterday morning I was lying in bed trying to find the will to move, when the baby started doing it for me! I swear he was using my stomach for a trampoline. He was moving all over the place. It felt so strange, but wonderful. I woke Martin up to tell him, but he wasn’t that impressed—mostly because I woke him up at 7:30 on a Sunday morning. What do you know, there’s really a baby in there!

We also found out that our new neighbors, Simon and Joanne, are expecting a baby. I was pleased with that, because that means they won’t be upset with us over our screaming baby since they’ll have one of their own. And who knows—it might help us bond with them a little bit.

Growing and Glowing...

This weekend was a milestone in my pregnancy. For the first time I had someone randomly touch my growing pregnant bump. It actually happened twice. The first time it was just a pat, which was fine. The next time was a prolonged rub, and that kind of freaked me out. I’ve also had people that I haven’t told I’m pregnant asking me when the baby’s due. Either word travels quickly, or I am definitely starting to look pregnant!

I am really starting to feel great! This is more how I imagined pregnancy would be. I am always pretty tired, but I’m not exhausted all the time, like I was during my first trimester. And I still get sick occasionally, but it’s not constant any more. My skin is glowing, my belly is starting to get all round, and I feel like I’m glowing (most of the time, anyway). 4 months pregnant is really nice!

Cool stuff...

A few groovy things to report. Number one really groovy thing is that I think I felt Maggot move for the first time. I'm not quite sure, since it was a totally new sensation, but the other morning while I was laying in bed seriously considering getting up, I felt a strange sort of bump. I think it was him, but I can't be sure. I haven't felt anything since, until this afternoon. Now I am feeling little fluttery movements. I think this is it!

Second (and, I think, equally) groovy thing is that I had my first massage assessment last night and I passed it! I only have to have a total of three successful assessments, so one down, two to go! Emma's mum, Caroline, came in for the massage, and she was really happy with the treatment. She told me that she would come in any time I needed a client, and asked me if I was doing home visits yet. I told her that I was planning on it as soon as I was fully qualified, so I think I may have a client waiting for me when I finish.

I also told my massage instructor about my pregnancy. She had a mild freak-out (the first thing she said was, "I need to get you risk-assessed), told me I wasn't allowed to use surgical spirits to clean people's feet any more, and then congratulated me. She said that if anyone can't make their assessments, I can take them on. I am concerned that I won't finish my assessments before I am too pregnant to massage people any more.

Anyway, that's the groovy stuff. Will post more later!

On the phenomenon of “Lads Mags”

So I know that growing up in rural Utah is like being raised in a plastic bubble. You are completely cut off from mainstream popular culture. But I moved away at an early age; saw the world, experienced life, etc. I wouldn’t say that I was completely sheltered (despite my parents’ best efforts). I have come across something in England that shocked me at first, but now just disgusts me. It’s the infamous “Lad Mag.”

The “Lad Mag” is a semi-reputable publication, either a newspaper or a magazine, which caters to an audience of 16-35 year olds. The news is gossipy and fun—the literary equivalent of a Big Mac opposed to a 3 course sit down meal. The articles are mostly about various sports or the newest cars, and are generously broken up by pictures of half naked women.

The page three girl, a regular feature of the less reputable newspapers, is practically an institution over here. Remember the pop star Samantha Fox from the mid-80’s? She got her start as a page three girl. There are loads of quasi-celebrities over here that are famous for their appearances on page three of The Star, The Sport, or equally “classy” papers. These girls, like Zoe, 24, London, are famous just for taking their tops off and appearing nearly naked in a national newspaper. One paper even lets the girl show off how clever she is, by printing one of her comments on a little news snippet called “the news in briefs.” Clever play on words, but still disgusting, and the magazines are worse. Page after page of topless girls is briefly broken up by some stupid story about the latest antics of some football club’s manager. And where can one buy these magazines? Anywhere! They’re not even put on the top shelf so young children can’t reach them. They aren’t even covered up, like Cosmopolitan in most Utah grocery stores. You can walk into any supermarket and be greeted by a bevy of bare breasts.

You can almost forgive the “lads” who buy the magazines. I know the whole “boys will be boys” argument is a pathetic excuse, but it’s still socially acceptable. It’s all the married or otherwise attached men who buy them that really bother me. They sit in the cafeteria during their breaks and ogle the pictures of scantily clad young women, commenting lewdly on their bodies with no consideration for their female colleagues sitting next to them. They sit there with their pasty pale faces and sagging beer bellies critiquing the figures (never faces—funny, that) which would be the envy of most women. And then they go home to their wives or girlfriends, who will never look like the page three girl, and don’t even think twice about how degrading their actions at work are to the women they profess to love. People say that women set an unrealistic standard of beauty for themselves, but I think it’s mostly the men.

I think perhaps one of the worst things about this casual nudity is that it becomes normal after a while. Even the most sensitive person still reads the story on page two, seeing the picture of Zoe, 24, London, on page three but not really noticing it. And maybe that’s the worst part. These women are exposing their bodies to the world, and most of the world glances at them without really seeing them. This shocking display goes completely unnoticed, and that girl’s desperate bid for attention is, in the end, a waste of time.

A Solution—Sort Of…

A few days ago I got to talk to my lovely sister Angie. I hadn’t talked to her in ages, and it was so nice! Her daughter Haven sang me “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” and I also spoke to Anya (the most beautiful child ever!!!).

In the course of the conversation, it came out that people over on t’other side of the pond are a little upset that Martin and I aren’t planning on finding out the sex of the baby. Not because they are dying to know or anything, but because they want to buy stuff for Maggot and can’t find anything cute that’s gender neutral. Here’s my solution.

Don’t buy us anything.

Just kidding! If you want to buy gifts for the newest grandchild, great grandchild, niece or nephew, feel free. We have virtually nothing for a baby, and I love getting packages in the mail. But we won’t really need much for the first few months because the baby’s only going to be eating, sleeping, crying, and pooping. All we need are little onesies and sleep suits, and we have bought the newborn ones that we need. Maggot will need church clothes, and that’s about it. What we WILL need are little outfits for 3-6 months or 6-9 months, so if anyone wants to buy gifts, just wait until after we’ve had the baby and know its sex. See—everybody’s happy, right?

So yeah, in pregnancy news, I’m feeling really good now! My morning (and mid-day, and evening, and middle of the night) sickness is virtually gone, and I am starting to get a bit of my energy back. Sometimes I actually manage to forget that I’m pregnant! The baby is definitely growing, because I am getting a little pregnant belly and I can sleep through the night without having to get up to use the bathroom. Hooray!

In Martin land, the job is going well. Valentine’s Day was a big success, and their business has really picked up since then. It would seem that diet season has officially ended, so he might start earning a bonus soon. He is working on the house like crazy, and our guest bedroom is nearly done. He’s got some cladding to put up on the wall, the door, radiator, and trim to paint, and the floor to do. Then we can start getting the furniture up there and move back to the front room. It’s really coming along.

In me news, things are pretty much the same as always. Work continues to be a chore to get to but a delight to stay (most days). I still really like all the people I work with, and most days I stay really busy. College is going well. I’ll start my assessments next week, and hopefully will be fully qualified shortly.

That’s the update.

I am starting to get a proper little pregnant “bump,” and it is really freaking me out!

OK, prepare for more neurotic ranting. With my ectopic pregnancy, I was convinced I was starting to “show” before I found out about the whole thing. Then I found out about the problems, and I felt right stupid for thinking I had a normal pregnancy. Now I know everything is normal. I have seen the baby—seen its heart beating, seen it moving. I have had my pregnancy confirmed by several different medical professionals. And yet part of me still feels this is not real, and that my growing belly isn’t me being pregnant. I really feel like I am just getting really fat.

Martin is really great about the whole thing. And I am actually losing a little weight through the bum, thighs, and midriff. I really am only gaining on my tummy. But it still feels fake. Like maybe I have wanted to be pregnant for so long that I have convinced myself I am but it’s all in my head.

On a very positive note, now that the baby is getting bigger (he’s about the size of a clenched fist right now), he’s lifting out of my pelvis. This means that my bladder has its own personal space back, and I can sleep through the night without getting up to use the toilet. Hooray! I am also sick a lot less, though it hasn’t gone away completely. I still have to be careful about what I eat and when I eat it, not let my stomach get empty, and avoid certain smells that really make me ill. Sleeping all night long is really making a huge difference!

Martin is still getting on well at work. Valentines Day was good for the restaurant, though not good for the two of us. We didn’t see each other all day. Martin was asleep when I left for work, then he was at work when I got home. I went to college, and then he came home for a brief break between lunch and dinner. I got home from college at about 9:30, and he didn’t get home until midnight. I woke up for a few minutes when he got into bed, but that was it. We’re going out to dinner tonight to celebrate instead. He is working the day shift instead of the evening.

College is going well. I am completely caught up in my course work and have passed off all of my exams. We have next week off for half term, and when we come back I start doing my assessments. I have to check with my instructor and see if I can do my assessments a little bit faster—before my pregnant belly starts getting in the way. If everything goes well, I should have my assessments done by around April or May. Then we hand in our portfolios in June, and have our little graduation ceremony. Once I have my certificate, I can start practicing. I’ll be 7 months pregnant at that point, so I probably won’t be able to do much right off, but I’ll have that qualification. I’m really excited about it.

We did some baby shopping last night, and picked up two little outfits to take the baby home from the hospital in. One for a girl, the other for a boy. We have pretty much decided we don’t want to find out the baby’s sex in advance. Martin had so much fun picking out the boy outfit, since he got to buy little miniatures of the clothes he wears, but he freaked out about the girl stuff. He denies it, but he really doesn’t want to have a little girl. The thought of it terrifies him, mostly because a girl would be so strange to him. He wouldn’t know what to do with her. If it is a girl, I’m sure he’ll figure it out soon enough. Anyway, we now have an adorable cream coloured dress and little cream coloured socks, or tiny denim shorts and a preppy little button down cotton shirt. Both outfits are absolutely adorable!

That’s the Gilbert family update. Sorry it’s mostly about me and Maggot. He’s really all I want to talk about right now.

One of the seals at Donna Nook. This one had lost most of it's fur, but we thought it was adorable all the same. Doesn't it look cuddly? It probably weighs as much as Martin!

The sun breaking through the clouds. An absolutely stunning view, and we suffered to get the photo. The wind was blowing so hard that it nearly took the car doors off!

Check out this grand-daddy cow! We passed through a bit of open pasture on our drive through the Yorkshire Dales and found ourselves completely surrounded by these guys. They're like no cows I've ever seen!

The Magical Work Ethic to the Rescue (Again)

Not for the first time in my life, today I am grateful for the work ethic that my wonderful parents began instilling in me from an early age.

Emma, the OTHER pregnant temp at work, got sacked yesterday. They said that it was because of a combination of performance and attendance. Personally, I think it was more attendance than anything else. She was pretty sick, just like me, but unlike me she called in sick a lot. I just toughed it out, threw up in the toilets at work, sucked on mint candy, and struggled on. And now, she is gone and I still have a job. I’m sad to see her go, but still—Hooray!

As each day passes, I feel a little bit better. But then, just when I think I’m in the clear, I have a really bad day. But I am just a few days shy of my second trimester, and I am thrilled about that! Another delightful pregnancy quirk that has just cropped up is insomnia. I get to sleep just fine, but then my bladder wakes me up at 3 am (seriously, you could set a clock by it!). I get up to use the bathroom, then I lie in bed awake for the next hour and a half. I finally start to get some good sleep again about an hour before my alarm goes off. It doesn’t matter how much I’ve had to drink, nor does it matter how tired I am before I go to bed. Fabulous. Jenny (at work) says it’s just my body preparing me for the sleeping habits of my baby. Thanks for that, Jen!

We are having another cold snap over here. It was -3C this morning. But the snowdrops are blooming, and the daffodils are just beginning to peek their heads above the ground. We should be awash in a field of yellow in the next 4 or 5 weeks. Spring is coming, and I am so excited. England in the spring is more beautiful than anything I’ve ever seen. I didn’t take many pictures last spring, but I promise to be much better this year. Seriously beautiful!!!

Clarification...

I do NOT know if I am having a boy or a girl. I don't even suspect it might be a boy. It is way too early for any of that. We are calling the baby "he" for simplicity's sake.

Also, we have nick-named the baby Maggot. Sorry to all of you who think that's a horrible name for a fetus. He looked like a maggot at my first ultrasound. Plus, he was making me miserable and I didn't like him very much at the time (though, of course, I love him!!). The name just kind of stuck, so that's what he'll be called for the time being. Don't worry though--he (or she) will have a proper name when he's born!

We went to my second ultrasound yesterday, and it was even more amazing than the first one!!!

So, first things first, despite my neurotic panic that something would go wrong, everything looks normal. The strange mass on my gestational sack is nearly gone. It is small enough to be considered within the ranges of "normal," and didn't even get mentioned in my paperwork. The baby is growing at a normal rate (he's 48mm long right now) and I was only one day off in my calculation of my due date. New date is August 19th.

I thought the first ultrasound was amazing, and it was, but this one was so incredible. Even though Maggot's only about 2 inches long, he really looks like a baby already! And he was moving around like crazy! I joked with the woman doing the scan that I wasn't sure if I was excited to feel that or not. The first time I saw him move I nearly cried. I really have a baby inside me!

Martin had a good time at the scan as well. He actually showed a little excitement (shocker)! I could tell he was happy because when he saw the baby move he got this amazed expression on his face and he said, "I made that!" He also said that the baby MUST be his, because it wouldn't stop jiffling around. The technician actually had a hard time getting measurements because Maggot wouldn't hold still. I was so relieved to see our little acrobat.

For the 30 minutes after the scan Martin and I walked around with big, dumb grins on our faces. When I got back to work everyone ooohed and ahhed over the picture, even though you can't see much. I am so happy right now!