Today Caleb and I went round to the BIG 'OLE WHITE HOUSE.  The previous tenants have vacated and so we were able to have a wander around the yard checking out all the damage and the potential ;)

It has left me very excited!  We get to pick up the keys in 6 days and then serious NESTING can begin!!!

Not only do I have plans for the inside of the house but I have plans for the garden and lawns as well.  We need to do some tidying up!  As I have said in previous entries, the last tenants were LAZY (ok, I didn't say LAZY... but they were!!) and so when we move in we need to take care of all the grass clippings and branches they mowed and clipped respectively and then so kindly left lying in the middle of the lawn!~!  But I know this home is going to look and feel wonderful once we get stuck into it!

So only 6 more days of waiting.  I think I have done pretty well with the whole patience thing.  Once we get the keys, when then have 3 weeks until we start living there officially and then we have 7 weeks until the baby is born.. approx.

On a somewhat completely different topic, I just had to write about the fact that 99.99999% of birth stories I read on here are horror stories!!!! Is anyone out there having natural labours?  Is anyone having vaginal births anymore?  If I read about one more emergency c-section I am going to scream.  What is going on?

I am continuing to pray that God allows me to:

a. Handle the pain of labour and get through without freaking out and taking THE DRUGS.

and

b. Actually birth my baby vaginally the way He created us too.  I will be praying that I DO NOT end up with a c-section.

It is scary how birth has become a medical proceedure that millions of women are being ushered through.  Why are all these women getting induced?  Why do they have to be pumped with drugs to stimulate contractions?  The body is programed to do all this naturally, in it's own time.

I understand that medical intervention is needed, sometimes.  Sometimes things go wrong and a medical proceedure can save a bub's and mum's life.  But routine inductions and common c-sections are not necessary.

Ok... rant over.   I am going to continue to search for those positive and beautiful birth stories, I know there has to be some out there.  And by all means, if you have one, please share it with me!

http://www.alabouroflove.com.au/

Check out the website above if you are interested to reading about some natural births.

Our new landlord called this afternoon to let us know that the previous tenants are all moved out ... yippie!  He also said the carpets have been steam cleaned and the place pest controlled... Another yippie!

Then he said the previous tenants left some furniture behind.  WHAT THE?  The lazy, little uni students...  Now I know I shouldn't be so quick to assume that this will be a pain in the butt... but let me just indulge for a minute...

WHAT kind of person leaves their unwanted furniture sitting in the house they just vacated!?  Someone who is too lazy to deal with moving the furniture themself!! ARGH!!

That said, it could quite possibly turn out that I like the settee and lounge chairs they so graciously left behind, and end up using them.... so here's to remaining positive.  If not, hey, I get the great privilege of organising some way to get rid of their unwanted furniture!!!  YAY! NOT! 

Ok... rant over.

We get to pick up the keys next weekend and then we can start planning and moving.

In baby news, not a whole lot is going on.  I guess I continue to grow, though I can't see much change myself.  I can't fit into my usual undies anymore and had to go out on the weekend and buy new pairs... so my butt is definitely getting bigger!

Everything is going smoothly and we are simply waiting...

Life isn't always easy.  And it's not meant to be.

I remember when I was younger, I used to be so angry when bad things happened to me, as though I had no right to be dealt hard times.  But as I have grown in understanding and in faith in God's word, I realise that life isn't meant to be easy.

This year has already piled alot of heavy stuff on Caleb and my plate.  But keeping in mind that it isn't meant to be easy, makes it more bearable.  That and having faith in God and what He is doing and has planned round the corner.

I wanted to stop and take stock of the miracle this growing baby is, because:

1. Abortion entered the circle of our lives, and even though far from me and only a tale in my ear,  it has grieved me.
2. Loss of premature babies is a reality, and I have read about such circumstances a couple of times here on this website, in the journals of women who up until it happened to them, never expected it to.

I am 28 weeks tomorrow, and in light of all that is going on around me, realise that this is such an amazing miracle and such a blessing.  I don't want to take for granted what other people are mourning over.

I have a tiny baby growing inside me.  And each day they get stronger.  Not by my hand, but by God's, does this baby continue to live and grow.

I feel so saddened when I think of the tiny babies that are aborted all over this planet.  The tiny, little babies who were growing and living and developing into people with characteristics and mannerisms, futures ahead of them, and babies of their own to grow and love.

I know this society is one of pro-choice and all the individual circumstances are so complicated and complex, I am not even attempting to discuss or even understand all that... but I do just feel a pain in my heart about these little lives.

A girl on Baby Crowd, who I had communicated with a few times, is now being faced with the chance of losing her precious little baby... and I feel so sad.  And I am reminded of how utterly blessed Caleb and I are to be experiencing this miracle thus far.  Everyday is an enormous blessing. I just can't take it for granted.

Pregnancy is such a miracle and I am thankful that I am having the opportunity to experience it.

Well I am beginning the slide into the third trimester! 

Crazy, I know. 

This Friday I will be 28 weeks, and from there on in our Midwife appointments step up to every 2 weeks.  At this week's appointment I have to have ANOTHER blood test!  ARGHHHHH!!!  I must admit, my fear of needles seems to be disapating more and more with every blood test, though.

Since last Friday Caleb and I have been house sitting at my Mum's house, she and half of the family are in NZ for a wedding and holiday.  It was strange being in the old family home for such a long amount of time.  Strange because it often felt as though I had never left!  As though I didn't have my own home 15 minutes away, with my own furniture and routines.

Mum has ALOT more bugs at her place, being a big, sprawling house, with a big, sprawling lawn.  Here on the 2nd floor, in our unit, the most we see is the occasional mozie, persistant ant and ... well, that's about it.

Out at Mum's I was fighting flies, mozies, ants, big ants, crazy flying things I don't even know the name of, crawling, crazy things I don't even know the name of, march flies, gekkos, etc etc.  It was like being in an insect farm.  Luckily, having grown up in Australia I am brave enough to just flick them off me and carry on.

But being back home is nice.  :)  Sigh*

When I entered the apartment it smelt like baked gingerbread cookies.  I had often wondered what our place smelt like, but being in it every day have never had the chance to walk in and smell it's familiar scent as something unfamiliar... anway, today I was happy to find that after 6 days away, when I walked in it smelt like baked inger bread cookies.  Which is strange because I have never baked gingerbread cookies here, but also comforting, because I would rather the place smell like that than mouldy, old feet.

Anyway....

At present, I am trying to get my head around the fact that a complete little baby is actually in my stomach.  According to pregnancy 'stats' bub should measure about 35cms approximately.  This is huge!  I don't know how they are fitting in there, seriously.

I almost wish we were having another ultrasound just so I could get another glimpse inside.