75%

30 weeks gone.

We are currently at the 30 week mark (or 75% of the way through) and I can't believe it's been such an outrageously long time since I updated the blog.  Partly due to being very busy and partly down to laziness, in all honesty.

I recently got a promotion at work, which took up focus for a while.  Quite exciting if not only because it'll mean more money for the family.  However it doesn't mean a better chair, so I'm stuck with one with no sense of direction - which means more clattering into filing cabinets - keeping it real.

Also the 29th July was mine and Annie's first anniversary.  It seems like yesterday that we were saying our vows, standing behind the drunken town crier and walking down the cobbled streets of Rye, past crashed cars to our reception.  To celebrate we had a 2 night break in a little B&B all the way over in Biddenden (14 miles away).  After a slightly rocky start, which involved arriving at the B&B 45 minutes before the owner, we had a lovely time looking out over the wheat fields (stupid wheat) and pottering around, looking at the fish etc.  In traditional style we took a trip to an animal sanctuary and had a lovely time.

Annie & I at Barclay Farmhouse B&B.

Since the beginning of August I've developed an obsession with the Olympics.  In true Englishman style my attitude was: "It'll be crap", "London will be too busy", "Who cares who wins anyway" right up until the last minute...then I watched 5 minutes...and then I was hooked (much to Annie's dismay).  Therefore the Olympics has been on in our house all the time I've been home and eventually Annie got into it as well (mostly the athletics).  After watching the 100m last night I'm pleased that Vega will be born when Ussain Bolt is the fastest man in the world - he is a laugh.

On a slightly more ranty tangent associated with the Olympics; it has been my desire for a long time to get into sport just to get some more exercise and as a bit of an "outlet".  It is unbelievably difficult to get into sport in this country and it actually makes me quite angry.  If you can find a sports club near you it will be probably be too expensive to join, if it isn't too expensive to join it'll probably be snobby and want you to have experience in whatever area of sport you choose.  I seem to be on the brink of getting some tennis coaching, which is quite exciting.  I will definitely encourage Vega to get into sport when she's little, as I didn't really try with PE at school (too many bigger boys).  I will try not to be a pushy parent.

Vega's rock baby nappy.

Nursery coming along nicely.

There's not been a huge amount going on in the baby department.  Annie and I have purchased a few second hand pieces to add to our baby collection but are nearly there with what we need.  Therefore it's just adding slowly to what is there and planning for when the baby is born.  We already had a go at making up a supply bag for the hospital including clothes for the baby, clothes for us, toiletries and food.  But what do you do when you've not been to the supermarket for a while and you're in desperate need of a snack?  You tuck into the hospital supplies. It's been such a long time since I wrote a blog that I have failed to post a picture of Vega's custom nappy - only for the most rock n' roll of babies.

Bouncer for £12 second hand - rather
than £55 new.

We have been, however taking the opportunity to make the house a little more homely.  We have got around to putting up some artwork we had sitting around and Annie has had the paintbrushes out for some nice bird portraits.  It may not be so easy to do all of these things once we have a baby and it's important to feel like you're in your own home.

Vega's first custom artwork.

Speaking of things you can't do when the baby is around, Annie and I visited the Cinema for the first time since we found out we were pregnant and from one of the most important movie franchises ever (Star Wars) to another (Batman).  There was no chance I was not going to see The Dark Knight Rises but for some reason Vega seemed a little bit afraid of Bane's voice - can't imagine why.

Annie's favourite baby outfit (we like
dinosaurs in our house).

Unfortunately for Annie, the cinema at 30 weeks pregnant isn't as easy as it was at 5 weeks pregnant.  That can add to the list of eating, sleeping and walking around which also seem to have got much harder further down the line.  At 30 weeks there's almost light at the end of the tunnel which just increases the delicious blend of excitement and terror.  Not that I'm scared of being a father but (as I've said to Annie) babies' little floppy heads are terrifying.  Other than that, I'm bursting with excitement - although I think it's time for people to stop asking when we're having the next one.

This weekend we are visiting Annie's Nan, Uncle, Aunt and Cousins in Reading.  Next week is the start of antenatal classes - lots to look forward to.

The nursery

The new cot and ever evolving mural and
new lamp shade.

This weekend we thought we'd try and make some advancements on the nursery as it was feeling quite far from completion.  Unfortunately we weren't very happy with the cot that we had as it was quite dirty and hard to clean.  Also with our shallow hats on, we thought it was a bit plain.  We found a second hand cot nearby that was in need of a bit of clean (but is painted, and so a bit easier) and arranged to collect it Saturday night.

Unfortunately we were also not entirely happy with the purple wardrobe that we had bought as it couldn't really sustain the weight of anything on the shelves and there were some rips in the fabric.  We decided that a proper wardrobe was our best bet.  We decided to go where everyone goes to get furniture...Ikea.  If there was ever a place to put you off being a parent, it's Ikea.  Sorry Vega but if we need to go to Ikea, you're not coming.  I'm fairly certain if you took a group of children to a Cadbury factory, they wouldn't get so excited.

The filled wardrobe.

Armed with a new wardrobe, a cot bumper and a quilt we returned home from Lakeside *shudder* about half 7 and night, and went to collect the cot.  Sunday morning we got to cleaning the cot and were really pleased with the results, then assembled the wardrobe and then assembled the cot.  The result is a room that is beginning to look quite a bit more like a nursery, which makes us feel much more prepared.

As well as this we've bought a couple of job lots of baby clothes (less than £1 an item) second hand ranging from 0 to 9 months.  Some of it is a little more girly than we would pick for ourselves but at least we're doing OK for clothes now.

Wardrobe from the outside.

Annie and I filmed ourselves talking about the pregnancy for  the documentary which was quite fun and has been well received by the people making it, so we'll try and get round to doing some more.

Other than that, everything seems to be going well with the pregnancy although Annie is slightly paranoid that her bump isn't as big as other people she's seen around.  I reassure her that they are probably more advanced than her.  One of the women we saw must have been having twins (she was massive).  I've also noticed an increase in the amount of times Annie says "I'm going to have to give birth" to me, so that's clearly hitting her a bit as well.

Last weekend I was reading a few chapters of "Fantastic Mr. Fox" to Vega and she was kicking when I did the voices of Boggis, Bunce and Bean.  I'm kicking myself for not finding the time to do it this weekend, but we have been very busy.  We're definitely going to get some more Roald Dahl  books before her arrival (don't think I could get sick of reading them).

Quite a tiring weekend but at least the Sunday night Chinese takeaway was well earned.