Post from the Wilderness

It's been a few weeks since my last post, so I thought I'd give a quick update on what's happening in my world.

• The baby has started kicking - he/she started last week and I felt him/her for the first time a few days ago.  It was a weird sensation, almost like a nervous twitch in Sinead's belly.
  
• We've started discussing possible names.  Bought a book last week, and we're filtering out the ridiculous.  Over the next few weeks we hope to come up with a shortlist.
  
• We've been less than impressed with our Consultant.  We've visited 6 times now, and have only met him once.  The other 5 times, it's been the midwife (who has been really helpful).  If it doesn't improve we might try to negotiate for a partial refund
  
• I've passed my driving test at the second attempt :-)  Got short notice of a cancellation in mid August, and after a few days prep, I passed.
  
• We took a week off from work, last week.  Went away for a few days to County Clare (west Ireland), where it didn't stop raining from the minute we arrived till the minute we left.  Some high/low lights
• Nice hotel (Hotel Doolin).  Really small and intimate.  It was very easy to relax.  Internet and phone reception were very poor, so there was no temptation to go online.
• Lovely scenery - when the cloud lifted enough to see it
• The rain - will it ever stop.
• Sinead got stung by a wasp
• I got seasick on a boat trip, to see the Cliffs of Moher - which I hear are fantastic!!!  If you are ever in Country Clare check them out (if the weather is nice).
• One of the nicest meals we've had in a long time at Roadford House in Doolin

Some holiday photos

Bird's of Prey at the Aillwee Caves	Going Bear Hunting at the Aillwee Caves
waiting on the boat	getting sea-sick
The Cliffs of Moher, up close	outside the Hydro Hotel in Lisdoonvarna,

 

• The new football season has started!!!  A pretty average start by Man United.  We really need a striker, and I hope we get one before the transfer window closes tomorrow.
  
• Really enjoyed the Olympics.  It's the first one that I've really sat down and watched.  I guess the Sky+recorder made it much more accessible, as I could record the day's events and fast forward through whatever I didn't want to watch.

That's pretty much everything I can remember for now.  Plenty to look forward to over the next few weeks.  Back to work tomorrow, nice and refreshed and ready to go again.  I've got a replacement for my current role, so I'll be doing a lot of handover work during the next few weeks.  Hopefully by mid/late October I'll be able to concentrate 100% of my time on my Web 2.0 role.  Also looking forward to the annual salary review.  Hopefully my boss is able to sort something good out for me.  If not I'll have to seriously consider looking for something else, as we will effectively lose half of Sinead's income during her first 6 months of maternity leave, and all of it if she decides to take more time, which she would really like to do.

Have a lot of travel ahead of me this month.  Off to Germany at the end of this week for a few days, and then in mid September I've got about 10 days away as I go to a meeting in France and then off to San Francisco for Oracle Open World.

Of course it goes without saying that it's going to be a big few months now in the run up to the baby arriving in early December.  Looking forward to getting those last few things done around the house, buying in those last few baby essentials, but most of all really looking forward to meeting our new baby.

Fertility Problems

When we found out Sinead was pregnant I immediately started trawling the Internet for Blogs that would give me an insight to what was ahead of us.  One Blog however that I had been subscribed to for a long time beforehand, as we struggled to conceive (it took us almost 2 years), was this - http://xbox4nappyrash.blogspot.com/.  I have remained subscribed as there are usually some interesting posts, such as the one I read today - http://xbox4nappyrash.blogspot.com/2008/08/seventh-sense.html

Pets

Over the last few weeks we've been talking about how to introduce our dog (Molly) to the baby when it arrives.  Came across these interesting articles

Introducing your pet to a new baby - http://www.childbirthsolutions.com/articles/postpartum/newbaby/index.php

Raining cats and dogs – pets, pregnancy and your baby - http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/features/petsandbabies_003846.htm

Preparing your Dog for Your Newborn - http://www.saferpets.co.uk/DogsAndNewbornBabies.html

Watch out for those Knives

Just talked to a cousin on the phone last night who heard that Sinead was expecting.  When I told him that we were past the half way point, his response was that from now on I should look in the window before I go through the door, to make sure Sinead doesn't have any knives in her hand.  Considering he has 3 kids, I'm starting to get worried!!!!

21 Week Scan and Children's TV

Went for Sinead's latest scan yesterday and everything looks fine. This was an important scan as they look for any signs of potential issues such as poor spinal development, heart defects, or early signs of down syndrome. According to the midwife everything is showing as expected. The scans were much clearer this time, in fact we could see the little feet and hands very clearly this time. I'll post up some images once I get them scanned. Learned something interesting yesterday about the baby's heart. The heart of the foetus is completely different to the heart of a new born baby. When inside the womb the baby's heart has lots of tiny little holes, which only close over, once the baby takes it's first breath. Children who have holes in the heart, or murmurs, usually get this because the holes don't close up properly on the first breath.

On another note, while we were in the waiting room the TV channel was tuned into children's television. I don't know which was scariest the programmes or the advertisements. First we had Horrid Henry and then we were given Bratz. Then there were the ads. At one point even I was starting to crave for my very own Kung Fu Panda. Maybe some of my friends have it right. They don't let their kids watch any television, due to the ads, and get all their entertainment via DVDs.

That's all for now. Have a busy weekend ahead as we house-sit for Sinead's relatives who are all away of holidays. So it will be a weekend of leaving out bins, opening and closing windows across 3 houses. Talk later.

Bargain Hunting

Had a great weekend up in Derry, even though the weather wasn't the greatest - what's new!!! Travelled up on Thursday afternoon and got home at around 9pm (just over a 6 hour journey).

The wedding on Friday went really well, and it was the one day that the weather was great. There were around 300 people at the wedding which is the largest I've ever been too. Every time I mention that there were 160 people at our wedding, people are amazed, so when I mention this number people's jaws will hit the floor. The wedding was about 15 years in the making (long story), so I can kind of understand why there were so many people. I wouldn't like to be paying the bill though.

On Saturday we did some shopping for maternity wear. It went ok, however it was quite difficult to find any shops that stocked maternity clothes. Marks and Spencer's had none, Dunnes (an Irish shop) had none, and Next only did mail order. Sinead was eventually able to get some stuff in Topshop and in a few "small shops". Overall she was disappointed that the "big shops" didn't have any stock. We also picked up a bargain on a pram. We had priced a pram and car seat in Kilkenny at approx €600 (£480), however in Smyths toy-store we got the same set in a sale for €400 (£320). The set we went with was the Silver Cross 3D pram system, which we can use as a traditional pram when the baby is really small, and then converts into a buggy for when the baby gets older. The car seat goes with the set and it locks into the pram, so you don't have to wake up a sleeping baby when moving from the pram to the car - that's what it says anyway. Really pleased with that bargain.

We took it really easy on Sunday, and spent most of the day watching the tennis final - what a match. I used to watch and play a bit of tennis when I was younger, but kinda lost touch over the years. However that match was something else.

Back in Kilkenny now. We were both very tired last night, and were only fit for pizza and the last episode of Dr.Who, which I thought was a bit disappointing. I'm glad that the main writer (Russell T Davies) is stepping down, as i feel he hasn't done a great job with the show. It's promised so much, but the end of each season has always disappointed me. Very hopeful that the new guy (Steven Moffat) will do much better, as the stories that he has penned over the last few years have always been my favourites.

Shopping for Maternity Wear

Heading off to Derry this weekend, primarily to go to my cousin's wedding. It's about a 6 hour drive, so we're taking a half-day today (Thursday), and also taking Friday and Monday. As I haven't got my full driving license yet, Sinead will have to do most of the driving. I'll be able to do the first hour, but from then on it's either Motorways, or driving in the North, which I can't do on my learner's permit. Sinead is now at 18 weeks so I really hope to have my full license as soon as possible. I failed my first attempt in May (one stupid mistake), and I'm hoping to get another date in August. Fingers crossed that I'll pass this time.

In addition to the wedding it'll be great to spend some time with my parents, as well as my sister and her family. It'll be great too to see some of my aunts, uncles and cousins, who I don't see much of now since we moved to Kilkenny.

Also we want to take advantage of the difference in the Euro and Sterling, for Sinead to get some maternity wear. Her clothes are starting to get tight, so she wants to get some new clothes. Last week she bought some clothes for the wedding, and after comparing the price in Sterling, we can save a lot by buying in the shops this weekend. I'll let you know how we get on.

Anyway must get some breakfast in me. We're leaving at 1pm, and I need to walk the dog before starting work, and also finish up my packing.