New Home

Well, I've been told to Blog...so I'm blogging. (Yvonne I hope you're happy now!)

So we're moving...again. I hate moving. In the past 9 years I've lived in 11 different places. We were hoping to stay where we were till we moved to Canada...but alas...this cannot be as our landlords want to move back in...Fair enough...it is their house after all!

We've decided to move before the baby is born (assuming he doesn't decide to arrive early!) and since we have a dog (our faithful companion Moose) we were limited with places that we could rent. Fortunately we've found a place which is slightly bigger than where we are now but for less money. Slightly bigger doesn't include the loft conversion we currently have...but we never use it really other than the occasional guest and a load of exercise equipment we never use!

The 3 Bedroom House is outside of our beloved Bishop's Stortford in Takeley so that will take some adjustment time...but I'm sure we'll survive! There is a Post Office and a Chippy within walking distance...what else do you need!

Here are some pictures...which we've not taken...I nicked them off the rental site!

The outside of the house...a nice corner lot with not a big front garden (Thank goodness!)

Inside of the house looking from the Lounge towards the dining room and the doors to the conservatory. Nice decent size and open plan but not too open (if that makes any sense!)

The Kitchen. All white goods are included which is great, Cooker, washing machine, Fridge/Freezer and a dishwasher it appears! I'm noticing not a lot of cupboard space but I recall there being quite a bit to the left of the picture including a Pantry like cupboard. I'm not so sure about the frilly valance over the window...but what can you do!

The Back Garden. There is a patio area right outside the Conservatory door and then a small grass area and hardly any flower beds which contain shrubs! Yay! I hate gardening! There is a Shed at the end of the garden at the left hand side and a built in bbq on the corner of the right hand side. I'm sure Smiley will try to get it working! Outside the gate is the Garage and our driveway...So all in all, not a bad spot!

I'm not too keen on the avocado bathroom but who cares what colour it is...as long as it's clean (which it isn't...yet!) The Baby's room will be the smallest room and the other two will be our bedroom and the 'office'

But don't worry if you're hoping to stay with us when you come and visit...we have a double air mattress (a deluxe one!) that we can fit in the lounge or the office or somewhere!

This is going to be our home for the next year and a half (at least!) I just hope we enjoy it!

Welcome to the world Baby Murdoch!

Yesterday our friends Chris and Claire had a baby boy at 2:01pm. He was 6 days late and weighs in at 6lb 3oz. His parents have yet to pick out a name but Smiley and I are both so very pleased for them! I can't wait to meet the little guy!

Chris and Claire's baby means that I'm on the homeward stretch! Only 10 weeks and 1 day to go!

Congratulations Chris and Claire!

Happy Birthday Moose!

Ok...it was yesterday but it doesn't matter...We've had Moose for 1 year now and it's been full of excitement! I would not be without my doggy now, I love him SO much!

We got Moose from a rescue centre, he was a stray in Ireland...so we don't know his history or his birthday. So we got to choose his birthday...the day we brought him home and they figure he was about 5...So Happy 6th Birthday Moose! We Love You!

Horrible experiences

Today I had a horrible experience...it was not the nurse peering into my ear after my complaint of a terrible ear ache, nor was it the nurse that took my blood today and bruised me terribly...it was later on in the day.

When we got home from visiting the vampires in Cambridge (I needed to have a 28 week blood test done) I noticed a baby bird just outside our path. I've seen a number of baby birds before, probably about 5 already this year. The difference was, this one was still alive...barely.

Smiley got me inside and we discussed what to do. I was in tears as I felt so bad for this struggling little life. I knew that even if I managed to keep the poor thing warm enough there was no way it would survive as I couldn't feed it. (I wasn't about to regurgitate my food for it was I!)

So I decided that I would do the only humane thing. I would drown the poor thing and put it out of its misery. It made me very sad as it was so tiny and helpless but I knew deep down this was the right thing to.

Its little life ended quite quickly and for that I'm grateful. I'm also very glad for my decision as I saved the neighbourhood children the experience of seeing this baby bird struggling for life. As I look out the window to the street right now I can see four children outside riding their bikes and kicking a football about, right where the bird lay.

Race for Life 5K - Cancer Research

Well yesterday was the big day...and it came upon us very quickly...which I'm surprised about as time seems to be dragging throughout this pregnancy. Apparently the next 12 weeks will be the longest! I just can't wait to meet my baby boy!

But besides the point...Laura and I completed the 5K yesterday in a staggering 55:45. Obviously not my best time but I have never walked the whole thing nor have I ever taken part while being 28 weeks pregnant. It was a glorious day even though it started out overcast and because it was so...we forgot the sunblock. Needless to say Laura and I have burnt our shoulders, arms chest and back (and Nose) to a crisp! Oh well. All for a good cause...although it would be very ironic to get skin cancer from completing a 5K for Cancer Research!

I have managed to raise a grand total of £301 this time round and I have my darling husband to thank for a lot of that as he requested sponsorship from some of his clients! Obviously I can still take sponsorship up till the 22nd...so if you are at all inclined...please feel free to donate some money to a good cause! http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/evettemorland

Below is a picture ( a bad one...but a picture none the less) of Laura and I before we started our walk.

Randomness

Ok...I know it's been a month...again...and I don't actually have anything to write about...but since I have a bit of a lull at work today so until I get some work in...I might as well post!

Things are good! I'm now 27 weeks and 1 day pregnant...and sort of enjoying it. I've come to grips with work and feel very settled again as I had a bit of an 'episode' in April where i needed some time off work. I'm hoping that was just pregnancy hormones! In general I just feel quite contented...which is ALWAYS a good thing!

On the long weekend Smiley and I (mainly Smiley) moved my office into his office. Now we have to share. We've done it before and it's been ok but I get distracted easily and in turn distract him...but I've only got another 54 days of work left so he won't have to put up with me too much longer! We've still got loads to sort out for the baby but we're getting there eventually.

We've decided to get a travel cot rather than a full size cot. We have very good reasons for this. The first is price...a new travel cot (the top of the range one that I want) is £100, we of course can get it cheaper off ebay! The second is the fact that we're looking at going home at Christmas and we'll take it with us so the little guy has a decent place to sleep...and he'll be used to it. The third is the fact that we're planning on moving home in 2 years and we'll bring it with us and hopefully keep it for any future children we have!

Friends of ours who have a 3 yr old have given us loads of stuff...only, they have a girl...and we're having a boy so I gave all the remotely girly stuff to our neighbours who are having a girl...13 days after me! They've been a great help and have saved us loads of money

It's all getting very exciting now as I have less than 3 months to go. There are about 7 of us all in a row expecting babies. The first one, Smiley's Best Mate and his partner, is due on the 15th of June...Claire is so excited and just wants the baby to arrive already. I think she's getting a bit fed up with it all! After that another 2 are due to arrive and then it'll be my turn. This is not counting my cousin, who I don't know or Danni back in Canada.

This weekend I'm taking part in the Race for Life yet again. I've got back to completing the 5K although I had upgraded myself to the 10k last year. The 10K falls in October and I really don't feel I'll be up to completing a 10K run a mere 6 weeks after I give birth (I'm not a woman of steel you know!). So I'm doing the 5K and I'm not running...I'll be 27 weeks and 6 days pregnant so just walking Moose these days is a bit of a challenge for me. I'm fortunate though to have my friend Laura taking part with me so I'll have company and she'll make sure I don't overheat or get a bad cramp or anything while on my own.

If you would like to sponsor me please feel free! Every little bit helps and I would love to bring up my children in a world where Cancer can be cured!
http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/evettemorland

Well that's about it for now...I'll post more soon!

Sleeplessness

Ok, tell me if I'm wrong but the worst thing is when you just can't sleep!

I woke up around 4 this morning and couldn't get back to sleep...who knows...perhaps the baby was kicking and keeping me awake, maybe it was one of the lovely side effects to the iron pills I'm taking or perhaps it was because Smiley was next to me snoring away and Moose was in the hall, snoring away...whatever the reason...I tossed and turned for an hour before getting up.

Fortunately my good friend Yvonne was online as she couldn't sleep either and we kept each other amused for a while. Once I got Smiley up (as he had to go to work in London today) I fell asleep right away. I woke up a couple of times between 7 and 8 like when the yappy dog two doors down wouldn't shut up, or when the bin men came, or when Smiley came in to give me a kiss goodbye. The last item I'll put up with as I won't see him till late tonight.

I fall asleep no problem after those couple of things but wake up again around 9:30 when the recycle truck came. All that clanging of tins and banging of glasses...grrrr! So now I'm half awake and I can't get back to sleep easily because I'm thinking I really should call the doctors and I really should get up and walk Moose (don't worry, he's not walking around with his legs crossed, Smiley has let him out into the back garden and has left the door open for him) and to top it all off I've got this horrific song that used to drive me insane about 10 years ago when I worked at Fairways. It was by Rod Steward (or he covered it...whatever!) Ooh La La, and the line that keeps running through my head is "I wish that I knew what I know now, when I was younger". Seriously where has THAT come from?

So I'm thinking that I could deal with all that and fall back to sleep as I'm every so tired (I must take good care of this baby!) and then somewhere perhaps on the next street someone is using some sort of loud gardening implement...like a really loud mower...or something who knows I can't see it...all I know...is I had to get up.

So now I've called the doctors and had my rant...I guess I should get dressed and walk Moose!