Start spreading the news...

So, we've told a few people about Sprout. 

Romana was first (don't tell Darren, although I doubt he'd be surprised!).  I send her an MMS as soon as I'd done the first two tests.  I could barely type the message, I was so in shock.

Darren was next.  His succinct response, as previously noted, was "Bullshit". 

I told Mum the following day.  I think she's been the one who's been the most shocked.  I showed her the pregnancy test, and she immediately started rambling about moving away.  I left the idea with her (and the boys, great timing but we had to go to a Christmas party) and she's definitely coming around now.  I wouldn't be surprised if she hasn't already purchased #4's Chrissy pressies for next year and has them tucked in the toy cupboard.

Darren blabbed to his mate at the Christmas party.  I don't mind, there was some awkward conversation about alcoholic drinks, and as Daz had already imbibed several himself, the news came out. 

I told my sister yesterday.  Carrie came over to get Austin's (and Bowen's and Riordan's) old cot to take to mum's (she doesn't like the one there) and I told her I'd be needing it back next year!  She was shocked (I'm sensing a common theme here) but is cool with it.  There'll be just 14 months difference between Sprout and Jordan.

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I've had my blood test, confirming that I am indeed 5-6 weeks preggo.  I have an ultrasound booked for next Tuesday to get some dates.  I am predicting the 10th of August, with the baby born on the 18th.  I would love it to happen on the 16th, that will be my nan's 94th birthday.

Time to start afresh.

All is well in the Pearce household. We are gearing up for Christmas and the holidays.

Bowen is almost 6 now, and just finishing Kindergarten. He has done so well at school, and is reading and doing his maths work like a champion. Seeing him read, and sound out words in his head, makes me want to cry.

Riordan is 4. He is slowly starting to calm down. He's not the whirlwind that he was 12 months ago. His speech is improving, which means he gets less frustrated as we ('we' meaning everyone but me, the eternal Riordan interpreter!) understand what he says.

Austin is 2 1/2, and still a breastfeeding maniac. I would never have dreamed of feeding my baby for this long. I think it's got something to do with the fact that he was the last, and in my mind he would always be my baby. Plus, he just loves it, and the closeness is delectable. He climbs into my lap before bed, legs slung over mine, and is slowly lulled to sleep.

Speaking of Austin being the last baby, it looks like that won't be the case. I was lady week free for 18 months (thank you Austin) and this whole year have been very irregular. There was a brief flirtation with the mini pill (I was hoping it would stop my bleeding altogether, turns out it had the opposite effect) and otherwise I've been having longish cycles. I always watch closely, and can pick when I'm dropping an egg. I also have an app on my phone that helps me keep track of my cycles. Last month I was really sick with tonsillitis, and the boys were sick, and it didn't really concern me that Aunt Flo was a bit hesitant in arriving. My average cycle has been around 32, the longest 35. For some reason, I still am not quite sure, I did a quick whizz in a cup on Friday afternoon. This is what greeted me when I went back to check.

"What!?!" I yelled. Quickly dipping another stick in my wee, I expected to see one solitary line, but almost instantly two popped up. Even though I doubted that two false positives would happen in a row, I still popped out to the supermarket to get a 'brand name' test.

The lines appeared before the wee had reached the end of the window.

Still in shock, I went about the rest of my afternoon, willing time to go faster so I could tell Darren. I showed him the third test and, ever eloquent, the first thing he said was, "Bullshit." No, Darren, it's just a joke. Ha. Ha.

Getting over his shock, and trying desperately to work out how it happened (I mean, we know how babies are made, just not this one!) we decided that things will be fine.

And they will.

A question still to be answered, and one that I can't for the life of me figure out, is exactly WHEN it happened, and hence when the baby will be due. I'm thinking around the 11th of August. This test helped me.

Apparently it's telling me that apart from the fact I am pregnant, the little bean inside of me was conceived more than 3 weeks ago. I also had a blood test today, and I'll book in for an ultrasound in a couple of weeks, probably next Friday.

11 more sleeps!

Only 11 more sleeps until Bowen starts big school! His hideous brown uniforms are all washed and labelled, albeit not ironed yet, his school shoes purchased and his bag all ready. I am still working out a lunch box system, but having had all my years of preschool experience I am more than confident with what to put in it!

Bowen is very excited, he really can't, although I am sure that he hasn't quite grasped the concept that he has to go there everyday! Just today he was adamant that we would walk to school everyday (fine by me, it was my plan!), but I can see the appeal of that waning within days.

I am fine with the idea of my baby going off to big school. Sometimes I just look at him and realise how old he has become, and tears well up in my eyes. He is just soooo grown up, and yet my baby still.

The biggest hurdle we will have to overcome is probably quite minor for some families. We will have to get up at a reasonable time! For a family used to starting their day at 8.30, having to leave the house by then is going to be a rude shock. I have spent the past 5 years training my children sleep in, and I'll have to reverse all that! Right now I am just laying back and enjoying my lie in's, as I know they will be short lived!

I'm a Woman

Well, I'm a Woman. The painters are in, Aunt Flo has come to visit, it's Lady Week.

Just days short of Austin's 18 month anniversary of breasfeeding, my fertility has returned. In actual fact, I haven't had a period since the day before Bowen's 1st birthday, over 4 years ago. Before that, it was March 2005.

I think I've had a great run. I've been toying with the idea of contraception, not sure which way to go (the Pill, maybe a Mirena) but I wanted to get my period back, just to see when it would happen. To be honest, it's a bit sooner than I would have wanted!

Finding the time

I am finding it difficult to make enough time to do the vacuuming, let alone type a blog post, and I am most disgusted at how neglectful I've been.

Here is a quick recap to get the ball rolling again.

Bowen

My gorgeous boy only has 3 more days of preschool left, before he is let loose to conquer Clairgate Public School. He is soooo excited, but I don't think the fact that he has to be there for 5 days a week has sunk in yet.

In a strange twist of fate, the only child of mine not in a modelling agency had a photoshoot for My Child magazine.

He looked an angel, and I couldn't be prouder. Check out your Summer issue of My Child to see his pic (don't buy it, it's like $8.95, who pays that for a magazine? OK, I may have bought one, but my baby is in it!).

Riordan

My boy still looks like an angel, but, boy, does he act like a devil sometimes! He is mostly a loving, gorgeous little soul, my honey bunny, but poor Austin is still on the receiving end of way too many unwanted 'horsey rides'.

Austin

Where do I start with this beautiful creature I have made? He's my booby boy still, at 17 months. The week apart did nothing more than strengthen his resolve to hang onto his beloved 'boo'. The mere mention of boobies has him clamouring for my top, trying to gain access. Oh my God, I am feeding that mythical baby 'that asks for it'! Shouldn't I have stopped, way before this?

And finally, he sleeps! 13-14 hours straight! It's as though he is paying me back for all the sleepless nights I have been through for the last two years over him, both while pregnant and as a newborn.

There were four in the bed...

Darren is away, for a whole week, and as a special treat, the big boys are sleeping with me.

Riordan is snoring away beside me, and Bowen is mouth-breathing his night away on Daddy's side of the bed.

Ruby (on a security mission, as per Dazza's request, like she'd even bark if a stranger came into the yard, she'd rather stay under the covers, thank you very much) is curled up at Bowen's feet.

THIS is the reason we got a king-size bed, and I love it!

13 months and counting...

Austin John is 13 months old today, and still breastfeeding like a fiend. I had wondered how I would feel about feeding an 'older' baby, as Bowen and Riordan were weaned by now, and I was pregnant with the next one already! He adores feeding, although we have to pretty much stick to feeding in his bedroom or there are just too many interesting things to look at and distract him in the wide open world. I love our quiet times, just sitting and listening to the radio, his constant companion during sleep, and feeling him slowly relax in my arms ready to drift off.

Sleep for my 13 month old is still as crappy as ever. Austin wakes once a night, and only a boob will satisfy him. We did have two nights in a row of sleeping through and, of course, I thought he was cured, only to have the 3am snack request made the following night. I'm sort of hoping that his week with Big Nan, sans nipple, will see him kick the habit.

Austin is not walking, nor has any desire to. My big boys both had started by about now, but Austi is lagging behind. I'm happy for my baby to remain a baby for as long as he wants though! I'm not ready for him to be a toddler yet! He stands, and reaches to grab anything his pudgy little hands will let him, so he causes enough menace without the need to be a biped.

He still has the same laid-back personality that he's had most of his life. Not much annoys him, apart from Riordan. We can't wait for the day that he fights back when Riordan goes on the attack! Riordan is fiercely jealous of Austin most of the time, and while he loves him, he is finding it hard to establish his place in the family. Even Bowen is not coping exceptionally well with Austin growing up and becoming more of a 'person'. I have to sit and explain that he is only a baby, and doesn't necessarily mean it when tears one of Bowen's precious catalogues.

Austin is also forward facing in the car now! We made the switch last Saturday. He doesn't seem particularly fazed, he's happy either way, but it's nice to see his smiling face when I look in the rear-view mirror.