I am finally on maternity leave. Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! I was ready about 2 months ago, I must admit. It was getting increasingly hard to focus, everything was such an effort and so tiring, and the commute was really getting to me. Oxford Circus was of course getting increasingly busy every day on the run up to Christmas, so it was a good time to get out.
The first day of leave was my birthday, which was pretty uneventful this year. A part of me wished I had organised a good old knees up as I realised it will be the last one I have before I become a mother and may not have the chance to do it again for many years, but then again I struggle to stay alert past 8pm these days and there are only so many orange juices a girl can drink in one night out! In the end I was happy to have a relaxing day just enjoying not being at work, and a lovely dinner at Yauatcha with my darling husband.
Of course, it wouldn't have been at all like me to start maternity leave without some drama! I'll spare you the details but the first few days were spent at A&E with suspected Deep Vein Thrombosis (all fine, there was no clot in the end so it was a false alarm but pretty worrying at the time), as well as at the hospital with my dad who was having heart bypass surgery. Seriously, what else can happen this year?
Now that things are settling down I'm enjoying being a lady who lunches for just a short time. I've been meeting up with the other women from my NCT class too. We're all on maternity leave now and 3 have had their babies already, so we started doing the lunch thing last week. It was great, I felt stupidly happy to be off work for a while. We also met at a place that was crawling with yummy mummies and babies so it felt a little like the start of things to come!
I can't believe I'm 37 weeks already and in theory only a couple of weeks away from the new arrival. Jon and I are both nervous but excited. Aside from some final touches to the new nursery we are totally ready. All of the baby stuff has been bought and delivered, clothes and bedding washed and put away, hospital bags packed and ready, and parents-to-be delirious with anticipation and excitement! Last weekend the dutiful dad-to-be built the baby's new crib and pram/stroller.
The crib now lives at the end of our bed so I can practice walking around it before its occupant arrives. So far I have only stubbed my toe on it twice and thankfully nobody except me screamed or wailed when it happened, so I'm glad I'm getting the practice in.
I love the buggy but so far not so much that I've taken it out for walks empty! For now it lives in the hallway where I grin at it on passing. I know, there's no end to the madness of a first time expectant mother who loves new stuff!
It's just a matter of playing the waiting game now. I keep thinking Junior will arrive early but I may be wrong. I'd just like him to be here before Christmas. Place your bets now!
