Second Anniversary

Although this is a pretty belateed post - Mike and I celebrated our 2nd anniversary. In March. I know - I am a terrible blogger!

We went down to Startford Upon Avon for the day to enjoy the touristy sites and see Romeo and Juliet at the Royal Shakespeare company.

Sometimes Mike feels as though we have been together much longer than 2 years!:


Shakespeare's birthplace brought out the theatrical in Mike, in anticipation of the evenings entertainments!
There were a lot of interesting and original shops. One for witches and wizards. I wonder what audience they were trying to target? They did have one book that interested me though - if I'd have known about this earlier I would have bought it - I have a bun in the oven myself!
The old buildings and alley ways were really pretty even though it was quite a blustery day. What the picture doesn't capture is the guy on the other side of the door, rattling and trying to get out. The Royal Shakespeare Company never fails to impress. I know Romeo and Juliet inside out - but they still made the characters fresh which gave the plot a slightly new spin without trying too hard. Mike and I had to proove we were there - we were backlit - it adds 10 pounds! :-)

Mike can now say that he's trod the boards at the Royal Shakespeare society - and been kicked off!

I can't believe it's been 2 years already. They have been the best of my life so far - it's great to be married to your best friend.

Lovely Lady Lump!

Some days I feel like time has flown, and others I think 'Crikey, I've been pregnant forever!!' . I am at 33 weeks today. It's a lovely feeling to be nearing the end and knowing that so far, for baby at least, all is well.

We had a wonderful baby shower last Friday, thrown by my good friend Rebecca Head. My how baby was spoiled with lovely clothes and things that she will need. It was really nice to have the girls together, chatting and eating Rebecca and Claire's marvelous cakes and treats. Thank you Rebecca. I loved it!

I suppose the only thing to say is, Mike and I are ready. As we'll ever be. I've been a rubbish blogger lately but that is my update.

Perhaps the next pictures you will see will involve a cute new little someone.

M x

Musings on the bump

I am happy to report that the bump is growing and all is well with Baby R. I feel like I am suddenly growing a lot bigger. I know some of you will be thinking - you ain't seen nothing yet girl! but baby is about 3lbs now and we got a bag of flour out last night that weighed just over 3lbs, man no wonder the lower half of my body is feeling a little different. When I glance over at those scan pictures though . . .

Since discovering I was pregnant I have had feelings of extreme nausea, months of non stop vomitting, sudden changes to my eye prescription, spotty skin, greasy hair (so much for the glowing thing!), inexplicable tears, irresistable exhaustion, raised blood pressure, a newly discovered blood mutation (seriously?), itchy itchy skin, super over active saliva gland, an abhorance of peppers and lettuce (I smell them from miles away!), crazy freak hairs growing on my face and tummy, an inny that is slowly becoming an outy, an inner alarm clock that wakes me up every night at 3.30am - I'm sure you've had the same and worse! -

but having said that -

I have never: felt more blessed, had more reasons to stop and smile to myself at kicks only I know are happening, had a more lovely, patient and thoughtful husband, wanted to spend more time with my sisters and their kids, spent more time thinking about the meaning of names, looked at one picture quite so much, felt as confident in a swim suit ( I swear I have a newly found strut waddle as I walk around the pool!), waited with so much anticipation of someone's arrival!

I was always quite nervous about being a mum. I wondered if I had it in me to give up my own interests and the things I wanted to do, especially with all the challenges that I'd seen come along with parenthood. I wondered what it would be like to give up work (at least for a time) and whether I would go crazy at home with only baby talk for company. As my tummy has started to grow and I've heard our little girl's heart beat and seen her kicking around I feel like I would give up anything. It's been a total change in me. I'm not worried at all anymore.

Baby R, thank you for all the changes you have already made to our lives. We simply cannot wait for you to arrive!!!

In a sharing mood

OK, so I'm just filling a bit of time while Mike is doing homework at my work office. I wish I had a picture of my pregnant tummy to show, but I don't at the moment. I know I know - how hard can it be? Well I'm definately not taking one tonight as I'll be going swimming and that's not a picture I'll want to share!

What I thought I'd share instead is a couple of blogs I found recently that I thought were really cute or cool. I don't know if any of you follow blogs that aren't for people you know, but it's quite nice to see peoples projects or pet things that they love to do. So here are a couple I've found just recently that I've enjoyed browsing:

http://cocorosetextiles.blogspot.com/

and

http://www.rosannemaryruth.blogspot.com/ (also known as Hungry Hearts)

I think I am starting to dream of living in Cornwall and anything I see or read that makes me think of that place sets my imagination off. I imagine myself living down there, working at something creative, and driving round a letterbox red camper van. Guess what I found a picture of my perfect van on one of the blogs! Here it is :

Come on - I know some of you have blogs you read and really love - share away. I'd be totally intrigued to see what you find cool!

And by the by I will be back soon with bump shots. Don't be surprised if you are surprised at how big I'm getting!

Peace out x

Finally - return to the blogosphere

Hi there pals -

Yes you may have thought I'd retired from the blogging world- but not so. Thanks for bearing with me. I have decided not to do a super long post with a lot of pictures, but instead just a couple of snap shots of the past few months and the headlines. Here they are:

Michelle laughs in the face of 30!

The Spuds find out they're expecting

"Jim's gonna kill me!!" - Mike

The Richey's take on Paris and kick it's butt!

Christmas in the States - although you wouldn't know it from the head gear!

Snow in Blighty means chilly fingers
And finally I just had to include this picture- it's nothing to do with our news, but honestly - who thought to put a Pizza Hut next to this classy Bride Hut? Do they have no class? hahaha! Saw this as we drove home through Leicester from our scan the other day - were we found out we are expecting a girl! So a memorable day on both counts!

Short lived Indian summer

There we were on Sunday afternoon. Mike was asleep on my parent's floor, laying flat on his back with a cushion under his head and a blanket wrapped around him like a cacoon. The missionaries had just left and we were all a bit too full. I was sitting on the sofa talking to Lucy on the phone. This was the way our Sunday afternoon was going until the Kears invited us out to walk in the beautiful Autumn sunshine.

Mike: "who, me?"

Beacon Hill was hosting a congregation of runners doing laps. I used to do that in my fitter days. Well actually I ran about 80% of the time and speed walked the rest. Better than nothing - it's a steep one! We entertained ourself on top of the rocks waiting for the Kears to arrive.

See - what a beautiful evening! It was definately Autumn, but it was outside weather. When the Kears arrived, we walked and talked and played with the kids on the rocks.

I just love late afternoons and evenings like that. I want to place an order for more of them. I thought I would post these pictures so that when the days get shorter and I'm stuck inside in the dark and rain at three o clock I can remember that there are sunny days and I'll see them again. I love you sunshine!!!

Here's to love!

I remember what it was like to have the good news to announce - "we're getting married!". What an exciting and wonderful time! Who do you tell first and how do you tell them? What needs sorting? There are busy periods when you feel like a headless chicken and slower periods of waiting when you just want the day to arrive. I imagine it must be much the same when you announce your first baby, or any other really big impending news.

This past week has seen a couple of announcments from friends and family of engagements and in honor of these I write this blog and invite you to look at the fun had by 9 couples in States who decided on what I think is a pretty stylish ceremony! If any of you need a little inspiration, look no further.

9 weddings, 9 minutes each on 9-9-09...audio slide show: http://bit.ly/ReBcd

Congratulations to Esther and Adam, and to Adam and Katie for their baby news. May the happiness continue to spread!!