I am now officially on "maternity leave"... well suspension of enrolment anyway! Less than 2 weeks to go and I am less motivated than ever to work, so it's probably a good thing I don't have to. Luis is at the end of his studies for the semester- his final exam is tomorrow then he's on holiday. We're hoping baby will hang on until it's due date (but not much longer than that!) so we can have a week or so to relax, catch up on sleep (neither of us are sleeping well at the moment)- and get the house sorted out ready for the new arrival. Things are a bit of a mess, and we need to set up all the baby gear we have been collecting. Scary but exciting.
I am also working on revamping our website- hopefully to be uploaded with a whole new section for baby after the birth. You can look forward to seeing photos and baby updates very soon...!

Baby belly- week 38 

Luis with his baby belly- week 38 

Trying on the baby clothes! 

Week 36... only 4 to go and we will be parents. Very exciting but also very scary. As my belly gets bigger (see pictures below) and the baby gear starts piling up the reality is sinking in. I just can't imagine being someone's mum...!
Last weekend we went to Wellington where Mum, Jo and Debs had organised a baby shower for me. Luis managed to escape- fishing with Dad, I spent the afternoon catching up with a lot of people I hadn't seen for a long time. But it was all good- they kept their promises and there were no silly games (I just not a silly game kind of person!), just a couple of paper and pen "activities".... like guess the nursery rhyme which I did spectacularly badly in- I guess I'm going to have to brush up on my nursery rhymes! And there was lots of food and lots and lots of great pressies (for non-kiwis that's "gifts"). I even got a breast pump. Very scary.

This last week I have been battling a head cold, not fun on top of pregnancy aches and pains, and certainly not good for thesis writing. I haven't got much done at all this week, except apply for a suspension of enrolment. I know I won't get it all finished in the next few weeks and don't need the stress of worrying about it so am going to suspend my enrolment and pick it up later in the year once we have (hopefully) settled into some sort of routine with baby. In the meantime I am plodding on, doing what I can when I can. The good news is that I have done most of the hard work already, just one chapter to finish, introduction and conclusion then the rewrite... I mean editing and tidying!!!

Luis is feeling the pressure at the moment with end-of-semester assignments due and exams starting in just over a week. He has already finished lectures... this semester seems to have flown by. However his study time is a bit distracted lately by baby preparations and rugby (end of super 12... all blacks selection... NZ maoris... the Lions tour... I thought I married a latin American soccer man but he's turned into a kiwi rugby head!).

Getting rounder as the weather gets colder! 

Baby belly- Week 36 

Opening gifts at my baby shower, 28 May 05

Rahel & Colleen at my baby shower, with the beautiful baby quilt Jo made. 

Time is flying! We saw our midwife on Thursday and she commented that we have just 6 weeks to go... and here I was plodding along, still thinking we had a couple of months! My mind has been all wrapped up in my thesis lately- it's coming together now which is great, but there's still so much to do. Doesn't help that I seem to have a case of "baby brain", getting muddled easily and frequently loosing concentration.
But it is exciting, we are very much looking forward to meeting this little person who has been using my belly as a home... and playground (still bouncing around lots, hurts now sometimes too)! On the subject of bellies- I have added some more pictures (below), you should notice a significant change since the last pictures (I certainly have!).
Luis continues with his study. Exam time is also coming up fast (which is why baby isn't allowed to come early, exams finish 10 days before baby is due!). It has been a very busy semester for him, but he seems to be doing well. And no more of those ugly headaches he had last year which is a relief.
Anyway, time for me to finish here and have some coffee (decaf!) and muffins- baby is hungry again!!