First Bath

We gave Noah his first bath (at home) tonight & he loved it! Along with the movie above we have added some photos to the Photo Album.

Noah is home

Naomi & Noah came home on Friday afternoon so we have spent the weekend playing family. He already sleeps through the entire night. Its just amazing. We all get up around 10am and have a long leisurely breakfast over the weekend papers, before going out into Basel town for lunch and a little shopping or visit to a museum. Then dinner and a movie.

Well I think thats what happened. Amongst all the nappy changing & burping I lost track.

Noah Photos

I put some pictures of Noah in the Photo Album. He is just amazing!

Noah Duckworth

Just a quick one - Naomi went into labor yesterday and at 17:23 gave birth to a beautiful little boy! Noah is 3.895kg and 51cm long. I'll put some pictures up soon.

Both are doing really well.

Still pregnant

Seven days to go - and yes, I'm starting to feel that its time this baby vacated (judging by the look on my face). Although I think for both of us its now more a case of just wanting to meet this new person and start a life with it!

Tick tock, tick, tock...

Only a mere 13 days to go...Am I ready...not really. There is some truth in what is said about the last few weeks of pregnancy, it gets a little tedious, weight starts to go up, hands/feet swell a little bit and one generally just has to play the waiting game. On one hand, its about preparing oneself to say goodbye to the 'growth' that has been accompanying one everywhere for the past nine months...on the other, its about preparing oneself to meet the 'person' thats been developing - definitely a much more exciting prospect!
So the waiting game it is. Ben is very ready and is making sure my last couple of weeks are filled with rest (because not working for a year I didn't get any rest) and as a result he has been ordering me to do nothing - I can't even remember when I last cooked a meal - but he's been truly fabulous - definitely great 'dad' material (phew!).

Fave Album

If you haven't heard of Kate Nash already - she's seriously worth checking out. "Made of Bricks" is her debut album and its the only one I'm playing at the moment...on repeat. This is also Ben's favourite and I think its bubba's favourite too.

Ready to Drop?

The last couple of weeks have been a little busy with trying to get those few last minute things (I think we're pretty much there). Last weekend we spent both days in an antenatal course, which was quite fun. Lucky for me Ben now thinks he's ready (and doesn't think he's going to faint!). But on another level, it means that this 'event' is really not so far away. Most days I feel like I'm floating between "I really can't believe this is happening" and "I really can't wait to meet this little person". Needless to say emotions are a bit all over the show! And subconsciously there are thoughts of "We've probably only got 3 more Saturday nights to ourselves", or, "This could be the second last time we got out for for dinner together". Though on the whole its definitely a case of "I can't wait for this to happen".
So I've hit 36 weeks and no sign of dropping just yet. Movements have begun to slow down a little - I suspect my little tenant is running out of room! We have another checkup tomorrow (Monday), to double check its position and make sure everything else is ok. I wonder if this will be the last time I see my doctor before the birth?

Autumn Fair and Market

Last week saw the start of the Basel annual Autumn Fair and Market (Herbschtmäss). There are various locations around the city that put up rides, food stalls, etc. It goes for 10 days and seems to be an event not to be missed (well, by the swiss anyway). It is Europe's longest running fair, and celebrates its 537th year in 2007! You can check out the photos here. 

The Basketball

Yes, I've missed a week (again), and I've overlapped, but what a difference a couple of weeks makes - its very much a basketball now! Although the stripes seem to distort it a little... We had an ultrasound a couple of weeks ago and everything is good. The little one is a bit camera shy (takes after mummy already), so unfortunately we weren't able to get a very good picture. But hey, with 6 weeks to go, we'll soon be able to show you real pictures!

New Wheels!

Here it is - baby's new wheels! Lucky for Ben one doesn't need a license to drive this.

The Countdown is on

How slack am I? So much for posting...my last one was what, a month ago? Just terrible. My deepest apologies!
So as you can see, the bump is starting to get quite big, quite round and let me tell you - quite restless! It moves ALL the time. Some days it feels like its moving furniture, others like its at a disco. But it is THE most amazing feeling (except when it starts to poke me quite hard anyway!).
I have been feeling pretty good of late, although its true what's said about the 2nd trimester - it is the best! But that is long gone now - at 31.5 weeks I'm well into the home stretch and have been feeling tired quicker, short of breath, riding my bike even slower (I'm literally riding fast enough to stay upright), sleeping is starting to become a problem, I have a bit of trouble putting my shoes on and bending down to pick things up off the floor is quite a slow process (to the point where if its on the floor, it stays on the floor). Apart from that, all is good and we're both getting VERY excited...except when I'm told it really could happen at anytime between now and the next 11 weeks...

Big Duck

We recently bought our baby (its only nine weeks till it arrives now!) some rubber ducks. Three different sized ones. But we didn't know that you could get them so big.

(via It's Nice That)

Full Screen Photo Album

I just realised that you can view our photo album in full screen mode. Just right click and select 'Go Full Screen'.

Nice (1st Anniversary)

We have just got back from a great extra long weekend in the south of France (to celebrate our 1st anniversary!). We were based in Nice and stayed at an ace little place, the Hotel Windsor, where every room has been decorated by an artist - ours was all white except for the bedroom which was covered in gold (walls & ceiling)! Check out the photo's in the Photo Album or here:

070928-02_Nice

070929_Cannes

071001_Monaco

Tats

Bigger than a Bump

Well, I think its now slightly larger than a "bump". (And yes, I have missed a week - no typo). There really is a small person in there, judging by the amount of kicking anyway. It seems to be most active when I want to go to sleep and then decides it might also like to wake me up (early) with a few more kicks. Perhaps its practice for things to come?? But its such an amazing feeling and I am quite happy to just sit and watch my belly wobble! Haven't been able to work out if its a foot or fist yet, but its definitely getting stronger so thats probably not too far away.

There was another check up this week - and everything is going well - so not alot to report. The next visit is in 5 weeks...when I'll be 32 weeks. This number is beginning to scare me a little, as I guess by that stage it will be time to start counting down...Yikes!

New Photo's

Just updated the Photo Album with some recent images:

070623_Basel-Sunset
070812_Flood-Aftermath (The follow on from Naomi's earlier post)
070812_Basel-Sunset
070815_HdM-Dinner (The 310 Team came over)
070820_ Basel-Rainbow
070830-04_London (Almost not worth it - we pretty much forget to get the camera out)

The Wedding

It's done - we finally made a selection of the wedding photos (& it only took 11 months)! They're in the photo album.

More bump

Its definitely starting to get big! Though I'm not sure the photo is doing it justice. I definitely can't see my toes now!

We had an important scan last week (also known as the '20 week' scan), where all the organs are checked. Everything is in the right place and looks like it should, so it was all good news. However, there has been a change in the due date - its now the 16th December (previously 21st). Hopefully my chances of being home for Christmas lunch are a little better! Starting to now think seriously about what to buy for this little person, which is making it even more real, but very exciting nonetheless!

Californication

This is my new favourite show: Californication

Rain, rain, go away

This is what being by the Rhine (on a good day) is normally like: a place to have bbq's and enjoy the sunshine. On Monday I was at the pool in 30 deg heat. I should add that today its about 13 deg - freezing!

Click here to see what happened after 2 days of rain...

Great Ad!

This is a great ad

(via swissmiss)

New Photo's

As promised we have been expanding the Photo Album. Just added are lots of photos from 2006 (except the wedding - that will come later) + some additional albums to 2007. Selected 2006 highlights include:

060103_Ben's-Birthday

060727-30_Paris
061016_Ben's-Birthday (I had 2 birthdays last year)

061018_Golf

061225_Christmas-Day

Swiss National Day

I was supposed to write something for the 1 August, but as you can see I'm a few days late.

The 1 August is Swiss National Day (which is a public holiday, similar to Australia Day). It marks the independence of the country from Austrian rulers, which started all the way back in 1291 (read more here). However in Basel, the action started on the, 31 July. In Basel it seems that the 1 August is to absorb hangovers and loss of sleep while the rest of the country are less civilised and celebrate properly on the day.

Everyone (its a big family thing) hits the parks, bridges and river banks to let off fireworks. Anyone can buy and let off fireworks and since Ben was in London and didnt get back until late, I didn't brave the crowds for too long and retreated to the safety of hanging out my apartment window to take some photos. Unfortunately the images aren't that great, but hopefully you get some idea.

We celebrated the 1 August by having a little picnic in the park (with friends JB + RM) and it was such a beautiful day! The photos may tell a different story though - it was a classic case of take the camera and forget to use it.

The Bump is showing!

A six-week account showing the growth of my belly.

 I have to say that I look positively flat in the first image! But its finally starting to look like a proper preggy belly. Over the last couple of weeks I have started to feel little bubbles popping, so the peanut is definitely moving! I assume everything is going well, I certainly feel great, so fingers crossed that is at least a good sign! Our next appointment is 2 weeks on Tuesday, which is when we get to have a look at how big the peanut is and to make sure there really are 2 legs and not 4 etc. It is also the time that we could find out the sex...but we've decided to wait. Why not get an even BIGGER surprise at Christmas!

Over the last few weeks I've been going along to a mothers group (aptly titled 'Bumps and Babes', babes being mum's with babies, not 'hot' mums). Though I think when I first started going they were a little sceptical...as I didn't really have much of a bump then (probably thought this poor woman has to pretend to be pregnant to meet people). Thankfully, they now quite freely comment on how much its growing. But its nice to meet other mothers, and at the very least get an idea of what I'm getting myself into. Although at times it gets very hard as I really have no experience with babies. Talk of nappies, routines, breastfeeding eating, and crying usually just leaves me sitting there smiling sympathetically...meanwhile thinking what the hell AM I getting myself into. There's certainly no turning back now...But all joking aside, I am VERY excited about all of this (having nice quiet sleepy baby that is)

Photos

We are starting to (properly) put all our images online. Not like the half arsed .Mac thing we had going for a while there. Check out 2007...

We're up & blogging!

First post on blogger