Driving Dilemmas Down Under

Now that I’ve been driving our car a little more I have to share some of the “dilemmas” I’ve recently endured while adjusting to driving over here.  I’m not complaining, just documenting this as one of our Australian Adventures!  J

-Driving on the left side…need I say more?

-If you don’t peel out as soon as the light turns green, the person behind you will honk at you.  They will honk at you again when you take the time to look around and try to figure out why someone is honking until you realize it is because of you…again.

-Buses have the right of way.  And apparently this is no matter what because they will pull into your lane even if you are in their way.  (sometimes this is followed by more honking by the cars that don’t want to let you get over even though you are about to get taken out by a massive bus!)  I have to tell you that it only took this happening to me ONCE to learn my lesson and now I stay clear and always make sure to give them space. 

-In the US when we want to turn right at a red light we stop and then turn as long as there are no cars coming and there isn’t a sign telling us not to.  In Oz you can ONLY make your left hand turn at a red light if there is a sign that says you can but then you wait patiently for the pedestrians to cross before you can turn.  Luke and I are very pedestrian friendly as that is still our main mode of transportation.  And guess what?  If you are being extra pedestrian friendly as we like to be, the car behind you will probably honk and be upset that you didn’t quickly creep up to the crosswalk to make the pedestrians uncomfortable and feel the need to run the rest of the way to get across safely.  And let me tell you, as a very slow pedestrian walking across the street these days, I will waddle even slower and give them my best mama bear eye if they even think of pressuring me to move more quickly!

-Parking next to a car that is too close to the line makes it very difficult to get out of the car when you are 8 or 9 months pregnant.  So difficult in fact that you have to climb over to get out on the passenger side.  Yes, this happened last month...

-Parking isn’t easy to find and if you do find a spot you better be fast at parallel parking (remember we’re on the other side) because yep, you got it, people will honk at you for being in their way.

-Parking is expensive even for short amounts of time. 

-Even if you do find a place to park you might still have to walk a long distance to get where you are going.  This is also after spending numerous precious minutes just driving around looking.

-Remember the giant Huntsman spider we had on the ceiling of our apartment last year?  Well, we have discovered one of them living inside or outside of our car…somewhere.  This is apparently very common and they’ve been known to like to live up under the visor.  I’m terrified for the day that it makes an appearance while I’m driving.  Note to self: always wear sunnies while driving.  Do NOT put down visor.  The webs that this thing makes on a daily basis on the outside of our car are amazing and wind and rain are no issue.  Remember, this isn't one of the dangerous ones but it is still large enough to make me cause a scene!

-I’m not a fan of round-a-bouts.  Back home, I don’t find them to be an issue but for some reason over here they always stress me out.  I know that a big factor in this is not always knowing where I am going.  No worries!  This is something that is getting better.

-If you take the wrong road or exit, it can take a very long time to get back to where you were headed.

-The first time I stopped at the gas station I didn’t know which kind to get!  All three pumps were a different kind of Unleaded but didn’t really give me much of an idea of how they were different.  After a big sigh of frustration I called Luke and by texting him a picture we made the decision.  Sad, I know, I know!  That should have been an easy one!

And now for some of The Good Stuff:

-air conditioning

-parking in the garage under the grocery store for free to make a quick trip and being able to buy more than 2 bags worth of items

-not having to be in labor and go to the hospital in a taxi

-being able to bring the bub home in our own car and not in a taxi

-getting to our doctor appointments quickly

-being able to get somewhere much more quickly (as long as the parking isn’t much of an issue)

All in all, we are happy about our car purchase.  Luke’s list of “dilemmas” is much less dramatic than mine but I had to share some of the situations I’ve encountered in the past couple of months!  It’s all part of this experience.  J

New Year's Eve 2011

What. A. Sight.  The New Year’s fireworks show in Sydney is always impressive and seeing it two years in a row up close has been a treat.  This year we spent the evening at our friend’s apartment.  Michelle has an apartment that, as you will see, has a clear view of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House.  We had beautiful weather to ring in the New Year!  
 

Enjoy the videos and pictures below!  Happy New Year to you!!

The boats have lights strung all over. I wish you could have seen them in person to get the full effect!

 The countdown!

 WHOA!

Bub Update

Many of you have been emailing and asking how I am feeling and how things are going.  Thank you for that!  I am actually feeling really good this week despite the hot weather that finally showed up!  A few weeks ago, I wasn’t feeling too well for the first time but I think I was adjusting from my long flight back from the US as well as the aches and pains of growing a lot at the beginning of my third trimester!  I guess my biggest complaint these days is just the discomfort of trying to sleep.  Oh, and hearing too many people say, “Wow!  You’re getting BIG!!!!” I know it shouldn’t hurt my feelings because I know no one truly means to, but hey, I’m extra sensitive and emotional right now so I’m entitled to cringe when I hear it, right?!  The good news about that comment is that I’m getting “BIG” for an awesome reason and the baby is growing just as he/she should be.  J YAY!!

I am at the end of 31 weeks this week and time seems to be flying by.  At our last two appointments I was measuring a few weeks ahead of schedule but our doctor said it’s nothing to worry about at this time.  I think we are expecting a big bub to grace us with his/her presence and that will be just fine! 

By the way, I am starting to think we are having a boy.  No real reason except I think it’s already got size 13 feet like Daddy!  The nonstop kicking and jabs to my ribs are convincing me more and more each day.  We’ll see.  I get stopped frequently by strangers at the grocery store, on the bus, walking around, and even some taxi drivers throw in their two cents about “why they are SURE I’m having a…”  I just smile, nod, and say thank you and go on with my day.  We really are so thrilled to just have a healthy baby that we don’t mind if it’s a boy or a girl.  Oh the suspense!!!

I am going to the chiropractor every 2-3 weeks which is also very helpful.  We really miss having Luke’s dad do our adjustments but I’m thankful to have this doctor while we are here…even if she doesn’t quite live up to what we’ve been lucky to have for so long!  Our insurance covers chiropractor and massage visits so I have also been encouraged to get prenatal massages.  I am quite happy to say that the “encouragement” to get the massages has come from the chiropractor, doctor, AND Luke.  ;)

Luke and I both continue to keep up on the reading of our several baby books and useful websites.  We are now switching gears to the ones for after the bub has arrived though.  I know, I know, the books are only for guidance and not for exactly how it will be!  We like to sit on the couch watching my belly move all around wondering what in the heck that little guy/gal is up to.  We’re really just relishing each of these moments as we know we’ll be learning first hand before we know it.   

It's funny that in some of these early pictures I thought I was already "big." I guess I wanted to begin showing for so long that any sign of the bump was exciting.  Now there is no doubt that we are on the downhill slope of this journey!  We have been taking a picture each week since the very beginning.  I added a few below for you.

21 Weeks

 24 Weeks

 28 Weeks

 30 Weeks

31 Weeks

It has been nice to have Luke at home over the holidays while he had some time off so we could do some shopping and get the nursery started.  We were finally able to buy our cot (crib), mattress, pram (stroller), and the bedding with almost all the matching décor!  I was able to get several items in the US while I was at home which has helped.  We’ve also been very fortunate to have wonderful families who have been purchasing items to send over.  Erin was even able to bring back a full suitcase of baby items for us after I sent Angie on a little shopping spree!  We have found a few baby stores here that we like but they are way more expensive than the US and it’s been hard to find a few of the items that we had already picked out.  I also loved bringing back the items from my baby showers to show Luke and decide where they will go. 

One day last week we were ready to tackle the nursery which until now has been the home of Luke’s office, Lisa’s school stuff, Luke’s closet, storage for random things and suitcases, and where we like to set up the drying rack to dry our clothes.  We both found a new location for the majority of the items.  You will see in the picture below the disaster we had to make in the living room first! 

Luke got started on putting together the cot and I was able to assist him.  The room started coming together once we made the bed and moved our new rocking chair in the room.  Because we are renting, we aren’t able to paint or do anything too fancy to change up the room but we got some cute stick on wall decals that go with the bedding theme.  We still are on the hunt for a small dresser that will also be the changing table and a small bookshelf.  I repeat the word, “small” because the room doesn’t have much extra space but we are so thankful that we have this extra bedroom that is perfect for a nursery.  I’d love to get everything organized and put away in the next few weeks. 

 The disaster of items that had to come out of the nursery to find a new location!

We attended our first of two full days of childbirth classes that our hospital provides.  I’m sure you will not be shocked to hear that Luke and I were the only people in the class with our notebooks and pens taking notes!  Luke is once again impressing me with his extra involvement and excitement in being as prepared as he can.  I love it!  The class provided many answers for us and it was nice to get a tour of the maternity floor and delivery suites we’ll be in.  Our doctor’s office is actually in the hospital which is even more reassuring to have her so close by.  Oh, I also now have an app for my iPhone to time my contractions which was recommended by the midwives at the hospital.  Wow!

We want to thank everyone again for the generosity of your shower gifts.  We really appreciated it and cannot wait to share pictures with you of everything once they are in full use.  I also have to give an extra thank you to Marcee, Lori, and Tara for lending me maternity clothes so I didn’t have to buy anymore over here. 

Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers as we await our big day.  Don’t forget to send me your baby/parenting advice if you want me to add it to the book my friends gave me! 

Keeping Busy Over the Holidays

As you may recall, Boxing Day is the day after Christmas.  In the retail world, it is comparable to our Black Friday back home.  For everyone else not shopping, it is a day to watch “The Cricket” and The Sydney to Hobart Sailing Race. 

I added this blurb from my “Boxing Day” blog from last year to bring you up to speed.

Boxing Day is celebrated on December 26^th in Australia and a few other countries. I have asked numerous Aussie’s, old and young to please explain what it is exactly and not one of them could give me a clear idea as to where it originated from. I’ve also looked online and found very different versions of what it is and why it is celebrated. Here are the basics and my take on what I’ve found out. Although it is called Boxing Day, there is no sport of boxing on this day, however, this is a big day to watch Cricket and the Sydney to Hobart Sailing Race. It’s also an extra holiday for everyone to get the day off. It is a holiday of British origin and has to do with giving presents to the less fortunate. Boxes of food, fruit, and gifts were also given to servants and tradespeople the day after Christmas as an expression of gratitude to those who worked for them. Gifts done up in “boxes” hence, Boxing Day. That’s all I’ve got for you on this for now, sorry!

Last year on Boxing Day Luke and I were on a 55 foot sailboat enjoying a front row spot at the beginning of the race.  We were so happy that we had already had that experience so that we knew what all the excitement was about.  This year our friends, Kim and Bryan, had a little Boxing Day party at their apartment in Manly.  They have an incredible view and we were able to see the boats as they raced through the harbour.  We had another entertaining day spending time with our friends here! 

The next day, Luke and I spent the day working on the nursery.  Check out the “Bub Update” blog for that news.

We are trying to accomplish many things before the baby arrives and we were able to cross off a few things this week.  We went to a comedy show at the Opera House one night with Kim, Bryan, and Kim’s mom who was here visiting.  We also took a ferry to Watson’s Bay one day to have a fish and chips picnic before doing an 8km beach hike to Bondi Beach.  We had incredible views along our walk and enjoyed seeing the city from yet another area.  When we made it to Bondi we saw a restaurant called, The Beach Burrito Company.  I had heard of it but didn’t know where it was.  So after a long day of walking, this mama needed to refuel!  Luke and I are both huge fans of Chipotle and they of course don’t have them over here.  I would say that this was a very close comparison and tasted pretty amazing to me!  Luke also washed his burrito down with a Pacifico.  Don’t ask how much that cost us!  J

 We past  several houses like this with infinity pools

 Along the way we found this park with an incredible view of the city!

 We made it to Bondi Beach!

 Beach Burrito Company was delicious!!!!