20 weeks - halfway there!

Finally, we're halfway there! We had our scan on Monday. All is well with the baby - really amazing to see all the different parts of its body. We couldn't resist asking the sex - it's a boy! We have both thought all along that it would be a boy, so the confirmation is lovely. I'm glad we found out. I feel more excited for knowing...

Work is very busy. Third floor is opening so all is chaos. We've also been busy putting in a new fireplace in the dining room. It is all finished now and looks great.

Prams, Thetford Forest and Yogacise...

I've just realised that all of my posts so far have been written straight after a dog walk - and today is no exception! Today's was slightly less fun than usual because they both rolled in fox poo. So we had lots of fun bathing in the kitchen sink when we got home. Have just realised that the cushion I am leaning on is soaking wet - they must have used it to dry off! Now bit of a rush to get dinner made before work at 1pm - although I am making time to drink tea, eat cake and write this!

On Sunday we went to pick up a pram we bought on ebay. It's a Mamas and Papas Pliko pramette thing - which basically means that at first I can have it set up in pram-mode, with the baby facing me, and then later it turns into a forward-facing pushchair. It has been used, but it's in good nick - the whole lot for £48 (new it would be about £400). After the baby is born we might also get a off-roader from ebay too for dog walks. What would I do without ebay?

Pram was near Norwich, so we went to Sarah and Jon's for lunch. We had delicious chilli and cornbread and the dogs excelled themselves by going to sleep under the table. They had great fun runnning up and down the stairs (our houses are exactly the same terrace lay-out, but we have to keep the dining room door shut to stop them doing this constantly!). Despite wanting to fall asleep on the sofa (dogs included) we then went to Thetford forest. The dogs had a great run in the wood leaping over branches and playing fetch with pinecones.

Last night I had my first ante-natal Yogacise class. It was quite intimidating being the new person with no one talking to you, but the exercises themselves were great. Everyone there was hugely pregnant compared to me (30 weeks + being the average). On my own I feel very pregnant, but in a room with this lot I felt completely normal again! The course instructor recommends starting at 15/16 weeks (I am 17 weeks), but I was the furthest back by months. Not sure why it matters? Rooms full of women are always rather competitive, and perhaps pregnancy makes it worse. However, I think it is just me being envious and longing to be at the unmistakably pregnant bit! Must buy some yoga trousers and trainers! Leggings are a bit cold. Talking of leggings - I had counted on wearing them with boots this autumn, but tried them on yesterday for work and it looked like I'd forgotten to put a skirt on over my tights.

Much colder here now - feeling very autumnal!

Holidays?

Just got back from taking the dogs to Roswell. It was sunny and quite warm so they had a great time. Now, despite all that exercise, they are wandering round the garden.

Off to work this afternoon. Last night was the Ian Rankin event - so many people came, it was exhausting! But he was an interesting speaker - it almost made me want to read a Rebus novel...

Last night we had a look at the price of Landmark Trust houses in November. We've found one we like in Derbyshire that wouldn't be too expensive (£240 for Mon-Fri) - Knowle Hill. It is in the middle of nowhere which would be ideal for the dogs. As usual, I am worrying about spending the money. Although the house is cheapish, we'd still have to get there and have money to spend when we're there (plus buy a crate so the dogs don't destroy the ancient historic interiors!).

We're trying to save all we can for baby things and when I stop working things are going to be very tight indeed. This is the lifestyle we have chosen, so I can't complain about the lack of money - but I can feel guilty about spending it when it has to stretch so far. But it makes me feel very boring and dull - incapable of throwing caution to the wind.

Blickling 10 km run

Yesterday James did his 10km run at Blickling Hall. He enjoyed it and completed the course in 48 minutes. He tends to run just under this distance every other night so it wasn't too hard - but it was his first proper organised run. In a rash moment last night he has signed up to run the Norwich half marathon in November! I can't think of anything I'd rather do less! But I do need to do some exercise (that is, other than dog walking, housework and not having a sit-down job). I've e-mailed a woman about pre-natal Yogasize classes in Ely - I hope there are some places left.

Other news: I saw the midwife for my 16 week visit on Friday. Excitingly, we listened to the baby's heartbeat with a sonic aid! Amazing to hear baby Woodman's fast little heart beating away. It's still a bit early to feel movement, so it was great to re-connect with the baby again. Only a month now till the 20 week scan - and then we'll be halfway through. Ebay is proving to be a great source for cheap Baby Boden clothes!

Blackberries

This morning I took the dogs to the big field at Roswell Pits. It is quite a long walk down there, but it is nice not to have to go out in the car. They had a lovely long run and I picked some blackberries. They are just getting ripe now and I got a big tub full. Whilst my attention was diverted William took the opportunity to roll in a combination of fox poo and blackberries!! The large purple stain on his head was quite amusing, the smell less good... We were all exhausted by the time we got home. My excuse was working at the Victoria Hislop event last night, and the boys chased each other round and round until their batteries ran out.

At work this afternoon - lots of shelving and tidying to do, but it was all looking great by the time I left. Not at work in the day tomorrow, but I'm working the event with Mary Beard. Lots of petty, bitchy undercurrents there at present - very trying!!

Very glad to be home. James is out for a run (it's his 10k run at Blickling on Sunday) and I am waiting for the tomato sauce to cook down. Looking forward to eating the blackberries for pudding with delicious honey yoghurt.