He's Here!!

I thought working until the end of 39 weeks was a dumb decision. So did Xander. So, he decided to come early so I wouldn't have to work any more :)

Xander Rhys-Brown (middle name still to be decided) was born 9 days early after 3 hard days of early stage one labour and then a quick 6.5 hour real-labour (after I was 3cm dilated) birth. B-day: 8 Oct 2008, 9.18 am, 7 lbs 9 oz. The birth was a water birth, natural, amazing, bloody painful (even with gas and air, two early shots of Pethadine, and two early whiskeys (I'm telling you the early labour was awful). Nick was perfect during the whole thing. I couldn't have done it without his support. The midwives - especially Connie who was there in the thick of things - were wonderful. They knew just what to say and when to say it.





It was all very emotional and we are happy to be at home with a very beautiful little boy.

His name is derived from Alexander the Great - Ruler of Macedonia; where Nick and I met. We thought it has a great story, is a powerful name full of promise and leadership and is unusual without being weird (so he stands out amongst the crowd).

Love to all,

The Rhys-Browns x

Last Single Summer!

My summer was lovely. First Italy, then Canada. A world traveler at 8 months pregnant is something to tell the grandchildren.

It was great to go home and see my friends and family - and this year I was lucky enough to see (and be pampered by) a lot of them! The weather hovered around 30 degrees everyday but cooled off during the nights. It was a perfect summer climate for a pregnant lady (unlike England this summer which has just been depressing rain!)

Nick stayed at home and spent some quality time with Christie and Jack.




While I was loving pregnancy, I was able to cram a lot into three weeks in Canada.

Some of the Mayfields and I watched a bit of the Sundre rodeo while we were waiting for the storm to blow in.



I got to spend some quality time with my bros, Mom and Jim (Christine and Casey too, but they're sans-photo). What says "Sundre" more than sitting on a deck and smokies??




I gave Jim a heart attack as I took Cody's flash motorbike for a short (slow) spin. It was easier to fit my belly on this bike than my sporty bike, but the balance is totally different for a cruiser than a sports bike!


Hung out at Uncle Phil and Danny's in Edmonton, saw all the work Cody's put into his farm, went on a hike in Canmore with Mom and Dan (and snooped around the shops there), and finally, enjoyed the first 5 innings of a baseball game before jet leg told me to go home to sleep. I wonder what Mom and Jim's excuse for going home early was...

I camped for a weekend with the Dziadek's. (I use the term 'camp' loosely as I actually got to crash on Oma and Opa's pull out couch in their 5th wheel.) It was great to be by the lake during such a hot weekend although I missed not being able to waterski or tube. I managed to entertain myself by willing Christine or Casey to flip into the water but they're just too good!



Now I'm back in England preparing for the baby and working. I will work until Oct 10 and the baby's due on the 17th. (Or should I say that I am aiming to work until Oct 10!)

I've starting going to the classes where they teach you how to bathe a baby, how to breathe through the labour pains, what drugs to take when breathing doesn't work... it's all getting a little scary.

Nick will be working on the nursery this week (I'm typing this so that it may come true). And once I can get the baby clothes in the drawers, the changing table set up and my hospital bag packed I will feel more settled. Everyone at work thinks I'm ready to pop. I think there may actually be people who follow me with their arms outstretched ready to catch my baby slipping out. But I have 6 weeks to go still.

My pelvic pain is back. This combined with my pinched sciatic nerve makes for very long days. I haven't had the easiest time with pregnancy. I was sick for so long, then they were concerned about some things that showed up on the 20 week ultrasound (which turned out to be ok), then my pelvic pain and my sciatica... but I am grateful that my feet hardly swell, I've kept my weight gain down to a minimum, I have yoga to stretch things out, my wonderful husband helps out more than I could imagine and reminds me to relax. Maybe the pelvic disorder is my body's way of telling me that I need to slow down - a lot.

I have to remember to sit as often as I can, keep my legs together (I should have learned this lesson 9 months ago), and keep my heated wheat bag close by. This helps subside the pain. And, if those things don't work I know I'm allowed to take codeine. I've resisted the drugs, but I've only had a week of work as well.

We're still thinking of names so feel free to suggest! (Except Jim... you can text your bizzare - I mean beautiful - suggestions to 555-1111. It's a... um... hotline set up just for you) :)

x
(Thank you U. Phil, Danny and Christine for providing the photos!)

Venice

I sold my bike to pay for a new (to us anyway) car... which does 63 mpg. Pretty good! It's just a little city car, but with N commuting 40 min each way and an inefficient local public transport system a second car is going to be a necessity when the baby comes. So... bye bye motorbike... hello grown-up life :(

On a happier note, N surprised me with a trip to Venice. This will be our last romantic get-away for many years and it's a great city to do without kids. It's not pram-friendly nor is there much for children to do. So, we spent the time wondering the streets, getting lost, riding the boat-buses, avoiding the tourists, eating gelato and sipping drinks in cafes.

It was wonderful to get away and enjoy each others' company. My favourite parts were sitting in a quiet church reflecting on life, touring the Basilica, listening to an orchestra perform in San Marco's square at night, spending a day on the beach, hanging out with my hubby, sitting on a park bench eating gelato after a day of walking and remembering how wonderful Nick is at dealing with me when I get tired and cranky.

And here are the picture highlights... sorry, but it's such a beautiful place that there are a lot of picture highlights!

The bus service (as packed as London buses and the bus drivers drive away as you are still getting on (like London). But, unlike London, these drivers actually hit the bus stops!)

San Marco Piazza (square) and Basilica (cathedral) consecrated in 1094:

The Venicians have beautiful mosaics. This is an icon on the Bacilica. It's made up of little tiles. Most of the Bacilica art were mosaics. Including the ceiling. It's not fresco paintings. It's the first I've seen of this style and I loved it.

This is a modern sculpture made from smaller pieces of junk metal - another mosaic.

The Bridge of Sighs which was named because of the sounds the prisoners made when they crossed this bridge leading from the court house to the dungeons.

Gondola on the Grand Canal

Our hotel - Ca' Bonvicini:

The view from our room. Every time a boat went past, N ran to the window like a young boy. He was most excited to see the fireman boat and ambulance boat (as there are NO roads in Venice). Cute.

Our room. We had breakfast every morning on that little table and opened the window and wooden shutters to overlook the canal.

Along the winding streets:

Food


this is better...

Roman gods:


Murano. An island close to Venice and famous for its glass products. Check out the giant glass abacus in the photo.

Burano. An island close to Murano. Famous for it's coloured houses.

My view on the beach in Lido. Another neighbouring island... It was in the sea here that I was bit by a jelly fish... twice! Ouch. Nick didn't believe me until he was bit while making fun of my whining :)

Taxis:

Rialto Bridge

Venetian Masks:

A lovely photo of the two of us, but you'll have to excuse the background. The canal and bridge we were looking at was much more beautiful.

And, of course, Monkey in a gondola hat: