Tick Tock...

I'm not sure where the last 38+ weeks have gone, but here I am... tick tock tick tock, playing the waiting game for the arrival of a little mister or is it a little miss?

The second pregnancy is so different from the first.  With MissE, at 28 weeks, I was more than ready.  The nursery was complete, the baby clothes had been washed and carefully folded, diapers and wipes were on hand, and hospital bag packed.  At 36 weeks we had practiced using putting a baby (a teddy bear) in and out of the car seat and pram dozens of times.  This time... the nursery has just been completed, I am still picking a 'going home outfit', we have a few newborn diaper samples (enough to last 4 hours!), and despite being advised several times by my midwife, I have not packed my hospital bag.  Based on my fairly short labour with MissE (<4 hours from go to delivery), you would think I would make this a priority!  I have plenty of time, right???

That's not to say we are excitedly awaiting the new arrival.  I have had a very different pregnancy from MissE so I am curious to know who we are expecting!  What does he or she look like?  At our 4D ultrasound, BabyH was camera shy so we haven't even had a sneak preview.  MissE is also very excited.  She has been very helpful with setting up the nursery, moving toys to where she thinks the baby would like it, and offering to share her toys and books.  Lately, she asks how I am feeling and if my tummy is sore.  Sometimes, she says her tummy is sore because the baby is kicking!

My sister and her family have recently arrived from San Francisco for both a holiday and to hopefully to meet her new nephew/ niece.  I never had the opportunity to have a traditional baby shower, hosted by my bridal party, living 7,408 miles away, so with my sister here, I decided to book a small table along with some of my fabulous friends for High Tea (my favourite!) to celebrate the impending birth.

The Tea Room, Gunner's Barrack's

L to R: Ying, Rita, me, Phoebe, Miranda (front), Cynthia, Joanna (front)

Special Earl Grey

One of two petite four "towers"
(mango custard, macaroons, tiramisu, peach tarts, baked cheesecake)

Samosas, mini quiches and fresh baked scones (with clotted cream and raspberry jam)

No tea is complete without tea sandwiches!

Rather than gifts, I asked my friends to lend their artistic ability for an Alphabet Book.  I asked them to pick a letter or 2 and draw anything the letter represents to the artist, and of course sign their gorgeous artwork so I have very special keepsake!

Cynthia drawing the letter "C"

Little Miss Chatterbox

MissE has a new nickname, it's Little Miss Chatterbox.  Is it a girl-thing?  She talks non-stop.  If she isn't talking, she is singing- still making up her own songs.  Her latest composition:

"Sausage in a pan,

sausage in a pan.

Sizzle, sizzle

Sizzle, sizzle.

(Insert name here) went to the bank!"

We don't discourage her talking unless she is making up words like "gagagoogle" or talking back.  Yes, I thought that I would have at least 9 years until I heard the words "Go away!" or "Leave me alone!" uttered by MissE.  The first time we heard it, I got upset and listened to her, leaving the room to sulk in private.  Mr.H got very quiet.  Now that we have heard it half a dozen times, we have learned to not take it personally and to teach her that it's not nice to say such things only because she doesn't like what we are saying to her (usually she says it when she is in trouble).

MissE has recently taken an interest in recognising the letters of the alphabet and is learning to count items slowly.  She can recognise 'A, B, C, D, E, L, M, O, S, W', so almost her name!  Mr.H calls her the "little learning computer".

While it's Winter here, it's been fairly mild (knock on wood).  We've had the chance to go to the Pregnancy Baby & Children Expo, VIVID Sydney Festival (see VIVID Sydney post), 2 beach days, and checked out a new super-park that has recently opened.

Pregnancy Baby & Children Expo
It was a new and improved venue this year with plenty of room for activities for toddlers.  MissE loved the Gymbaroo set-up (I miss taking her to Gymbaroo), the Golden Ridge mobile petting farm, and best of all, a performance from Dorothy the Dinosaur and Wags the Dog (from The Wiggles).

Arg! Walking the plank

I'm a little teapot, bouncing on a trampoline

I love sheep

Kisses all around!

Manly Beach

Blaxland Riverside Park
This very cool superpark recently opened Phase 1: smooth swings, climbing walls and slides, long tunnels, and a flying fox.  It was hard work chasing after MissE! 

Climb, little monkey!

One way down!

Where does this go?

http://www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/Visiting/venues_and_parks/blaxland_riverside_park

And a few fun photos to finish!

The artiste at work! (Sophie's 5th birthday party at the Art Barn)

And I run, I run so far away... Flock of Seagulls hair-do

Vivid Sydney

It was the perfect winter night that we bundled up and headed into the city for VIVID Sydney: A Festival of Light, Music and Ideas.  Incredible artists used the city's icons (Sydney Opera House, Customs House, etc) to colour the city with light projections while music filled the air.

Museum of Contemporary Art (children could paint the MCA red!)

Mr.H and MissE

Customs House (light show)

Sydney Opera House feeling GROOVY

Interactive light sculpture

MissE and me with Jellyfish

Flower girls at The Rocks Market by Night

This was MissE's favourite part of the evening, the "Fire Dance" to Katy Perry's "Firework" (now her favourite song).  She could not resist having a bit of a boogie to the music.