Today is my day to get organised and also to catch my breath after our week away in Brisbane (more on that to come). Chanbe is at childcare and Hubs had a late start so we had a lovely brunch together with Quinn. Now I’m at the shops and I’ve been here for almost 3 hours already. I was going to finish off with the groceries and go home but by the time I did that, I’d have less than an hour before I’d have to turn around and come back to pick Chanbe up, as his childcare is just around the corner from the shops but 15min from home.

So I thought I’d pop to the coffee club, grab a coffee and make some phone calls. Only problem is, it’s so loud in here that phone calls are too hard. So I just spent nearly $7 on an average tasting coffee (I KNOW!!??) to sit and listen to 2 women behind me having an animated conversation about life and kids and their husbands wanting sex “all the time”. It was annoying me to begin with and I realised why – I wish I could be having a similar conversation with a friend in a coffee shop (minus a few of the topics mind you!)

Anyway, after that realisation, I have changed to being happy for the ladies behind me who are enjoying each others company. And I am enjoying the company of my little girl 🙂

Today is my 30 + gst birthday. Nothing much is really going on – we had a rough night with Chanbe for some reason, so my plans to do more unpacking (no I still haven’t finished!!!) have not come to fruition. I am treating myself to daytime air con which I normally don’t do at home. It’s making sitting on the couch somewhat more comfortable.

I am 38 weeks + 2 days pregnant, so really, any day now something could happen, although after my appointment on Wednesday, and if Chanbe is anything to go by, this baby ain’t budging until absolutely necessary. And even though I’m still surrounded by damn boxes that I can’t shift, I feel quite settled and at home. We still have a couple of big ticket items to purchase (mainly a dining table and chairs, and a desk for the office) but otherwise we are mainly set. I’ve done the ooohing and aaahing over the teeny tiny baby clothes and nappies; my hospital bag is packed, I’ve made extra meals that I’ve put in the freezer, and I feel ready for this baby.

I actually feel quite zen about the whole thing. Sure, I could focus on the messy house, the incessant itching of my arms possibly caused by cholestasis, the continuous pregnancy-related heartburn that keeps me up at night, my big fat fingers and toes, and the fact that gravity fights me every time I want to stand up, but who wants to hear all that? They are all temporary glitches that will be a thing of the past in a matter if weeks.

Right now, it’s all about the air con, breakfast for lunch, ice cold water (the only drink that doesn’t give me heartburn) and time with my boys. Happy birthday to me 🙂

Who’da thunk it? All those people, upon hearing about our move to Townsville, who told us that it’s hot up here, were right on the money! Incredible! Although it has been over 30 degrees every day, and not much under each night, we’ve only cranked the aircon twice, to cool Chanbe’s room down – a fact that makes me feel just a little self-righteous!

So yes we are here. Chanbe and I flew in last Saturday morning, Hubs and Uncle Benny arrived late Sunday night, and we all rendezvoused at the house Monday morning. After a solid 4 days of working on the kombi, (actually, 2 kombis), the boys took off with the 2 cars on Saturday afternoon, but the kombi only made it to Gympie before it, for want of a better phrase, shat itself. It is a very long, drawn out story that I just can’t go in to at the moment, but the bottom line is, it will arrive on the back of a tow truck around the 16th of Jan. And after that? Well, who knows!?

On a brighter note, the house is great – nice and big, enough room for everything, a great cross breeze, good outdoor areas, and a nice kitchen. The only downsides are that it doesn’t have a bath or a dishwasher. But we have decided the dishwasher can live in the laundry which is just off the kitchen. (Hubs’ response to that: “honey, you don’t have to live in the laundry!” Har har.)

We are in flat-pack avoidance at the moment – there are 5 things to put together and we’re all just hoping the flat-pack fairy visits one night this week. As well as the unpack fairy. Oh, and the “better get ready to have a baby” fairy. And a meal preparation fairy would be welcomed too…

So in short, all is well. It’s hot, there is a lot of unpacking to do, and I’m not exactly full of energy, but somewhere deep down, somehow, I know it will all work out – it always does 🙂

Usually at this time of year I’m excited about Christmas. Usually my Christmas cards, which I usually start making in October, are completed and sent out. Usually I love reading our Christmas letter repeatedly, reminiscing over another great year. Usually I have a list of gift ideas for family and friends, many of which have been bought by now. Usually I have planned “too many” social gatherings that leave me happily exhausted at the end of each day.

Usually I’m not 33 weeks pregnant. Usually I’m not in between houses. Usually I’m not running around after my adorable 2 year old. Usually I’m not feeling like it’s all too much.

I’m feeling stuck between wanting to put myself and Chanbe and Hubs first, and keeping up with family and friendship commitments. I’m sick of small talk. I want some deep conversations with friends who know me too well.

Do you know what 3 of the most stressful life events are? Moving house (check); starting a new job (check); and having a baby (check).

I don’t want sympathy – that doesn’t really help. Many people have said they can’t imagine doing what we’re doing. But we have choices and we made these choices. Somehow it doesn’t make it easier.

So here it is: I’m taking this Christmas off. I will be participating in Christmas day activities, and fulfilling commitments I have already made, but there will be no Christmas card mailout this year, which I’m sad about, but if I do it, it has to be done properly otherwise there’s no point. Plus, I wrote our Christmas letter and it kind of depressed me. It hasn’t been a great year for us in many ways, (and one of our best in other ways!) so I’m ready to move on to bigger and better things.

So instead, I will be doing an early year mailout with a birth announcement (weeeeee!) and news of the year to come. I am finding blogging very therapeutic at the moment, so I thank you for letting me indulge in my feelings here, so I can hopefully get some perspective and notice all the wonderful things around me.

I’m already starting to look forward to Christmas a little bit…

I’m currently toddler-free, at Chermside shopping centre, new pair of Italian leather shoes in one hand, mocha chiller in the other hand, on the way to get a pedicure.

Jealous?

I’m serious. If I write the words “we’re moving” again, slap me across the face, kick me in the shin and put chilli in my eyes. Then tell me that moving is so much worse than that. I’m in a special kind of hell right now. The kind reserved for the real baddies. My back and feet are aching, my sciatica is killing me, the pain in my stomach is back, and my eyes are stinging from staring at this damn phone screen for to long.

My only saving graces are my beloved Hubsband, my little champion Chanbe, and my dear sweet parents. We could not have done this without them.

I just keep thinking “this time tomorrow it will all be over”. I know I’m sounding a tad dramatic, but that’s because I’m way past exhausted, I’m incredibly hormonal, I’m very very sad that we are leaving lovely Wangaratta, and I’m sitting on a mattress, surrounded by stuff to do, and wondering how we’re going to get it all out before the cleaners arrive at 9am. The bottom line is, it has to be done, so it will be done.

1 more day……

Mum and Dad left less than an hour ago and you wouldn’t believe it, but I just put my neck out. Do you know how long it’s been since I put my neck out? No, neither do I, which trends to suggest it’s been quite a long time.

And just to add a bit of irony, I was about to call the gym to book Chanbe in for childcare next week so I could ease my way back in by doing some laps in the pool. Something that’s quite hard to do when I can’t turn my head.

To say I’m a little frustrated and annoyed would be an understatement, but the fact that I love love love our new house, and that we’re back in Wang is certainly cushioning the blow somewhat.

Stay tuned for some VERY happy snaps from the last 2 weeks!