Where has all that freakin time passed?!?!?!?

As you said Michelle - this time last year we were glueing things and ... Oh yes that's right - I had no dress !!!!

Bec - Wow! I can't believe its almost time already! I can't wait to see gorgeous baby photos and I'm looking forward to being another March Twinnie Auntie

Laurette - How is gorgeous Xander going? Handsome as ever???

Amanda - Get your a## in here and update up on your holiday! It's all part of the building of excitement for my holiday in 1.5 weeks time!!!

Michelle - Oh dear what a pain (pardon the pun) for Neil to have sprained/done-something-really-bad-to his ankle. How did he do it? OMG he's on Morphine!?! I hope he's recovered by the time you get over to see him - there might be lots and lots of walking in Rome... Then again - you might end up stuck in the hotel for quite some time

Gosh I'm so excited to hear its only 6 weeks until you see Neil again! The light at the end of the tunnel is here!!!

Jo!!! If you are around... anywhere... CONGRATULATIONS!!! We miss you in here and its wonderful to hear of your news (what would we do without I-do??? hey that kinda rhymes!).

OK well my news is that we have extended up Hawaii trip to 6 days instead of 4. We realised it was pretty ridiculous to go all the way to Hawaii and use up my last frequent flyer points just for 4 little days. Al we were going to do is go to Brisbane afterwards and just hang out with family - which we will still do but we have 3 days to do this in now instead of 5. 5 days with family is just too long...

MORE shopping for me in Honolulu!!! (damnit have to ration my money and spread my spending over 6 days now ).

Over and Out
Chloe xoxoxo

Oh Hawaii for 6 days!! Very Jealous Chloe!!

Sorry to hear about Neils ankle Michelle, i hope it gets better really soon!

As for me, I am coasting along just fine, i'm 8 months tomorrow, so not long now. Still waiting for bub to drop fully down into my pelvis and stay there!! He's got 'til 14th March (my next appointment) then i'll probably start getting glares of concern from my obs, and she'll start throwing words around that i really don't want to hear, like 'c-section'. So lots of crossed fingers and dropping vibes are neede please!!!

Here's a belly pic, taken tonight.



Beck

Oh wow Beck! Sure you don't have two in there?!?!

Baby Beck - please drop down. It won't be scary - really!!! Promise!!! And there really nice things on the outside waiting here for you (well not ntil you're old enough but...) like Ice Cream!!! and Chocolate!!!! and...Shopping!!!!!

Oooh and I forgot to mention.. How crazy is this?

Our wedding has been featured in a hong kong fashion magazine . It's the march edition of inMAGAZINE. The editor sent me a pdf link to the whole magazine last night and we have a 2 page spread (as in 2 A4 pages opp eachother). This time all names are correct

Happy 1st Anniversary Laurette and Glen!!

Have a good one twinnie!!

Beck

Hello Marchies

I promise I haven't been avoiding you all!

Work has been absolutely nuts since my return! Basically, I'm working 2 1/2 days a week on one research project, and another 2 1/2 days teaching - but I'm working nearly full time in the teaching job, so it is nuts! Needless to say, we have had no recovery time since Thailand.

Thailand was absolutely fantastic....just the thing we needed to celebrate the end of a big year, in particular me finishing the thesis and our upcoming wedding anniversary. Phuket was a bit grotty and seedy, and we probably wouldn't go back there, but it was worth it for the experience anyway. Bangkok was amazing, very fast paced and good fun, but the best was Phi Phi island. I can't recommend it enough. It was simply beautiful. We had such an awesome time. We spent the time snorkeling, taking boat trips, walking around the island (there are no cars, just bikes and dirt tracks) and spending plenty of quality time lazing about on the beach and having fun. It was so relaxing, we are definitely keen to go back.

Anyway, here are some happy snaps for you:

This was the view out our room in Phi Phi:


I'll put more pics in other messages...

But unfortunately, back to reality - like I said, work has been crazy since our return, and we have been flat out....having said that, I got some good news....I have been accepted to present a paper at a conference in London in April - so no sooner had we got back and unpacked, I found out that I am jetting off again! So in three weeks time, I'm heading to London! Argh! Unfortunately, Paddy just can't take the time off work to come with me (plus we can't really afford it, at nearly $3000 a ticket ) so it will be just me, thankfully work is flying me there. I'm going to get some time in Edinburgh and Dublin before the conference, which will be awesome, then a few days in London itself for the conference. On the way home, I decided to fly back via Tokyo as a friend has just moved there to teach English. We are planning a trip to the resort town of Hakone for the cherry blossom festival. They also have hot springs, though apparently you have to go naked (argh!) . So I am really looking forward to that - although I haven't got long to put the finishing touches on the paper itself!

So how have you all been? Beck - you are looking great! Hope Bubbabunny drops down soon. Did you have a nice anniversary? What about you Laurette? How did you and Glenn and XANDER THE MAN celebrate? And why are you now Mrs Chee Chee? Did I miss something?

What are you and Alex doing next week Chloe? How are you Michelle? Hanging in there? Will you be able to talk to Neil on the day itself? How funny to think of what we were doing this time last year. Actually, I was reminded of it this morning when Paddy and I went to print invites for my graduation party, and I had to use the guillotine at work to chop them up. I NEVER thought I would be doing that again! And when we got one in the mail the other day for an engagement party, I looked with admiration at the work that went into the press-studding of the card and paper together!

Paddy and I have planned to go to a nice little farmstay B&B about 100kms from here for our anniversary next weekend, where we plan to take our latest cache of duty free champagne and stay away from everyone for the weekend! Should be good fun!

Then, the weekend after that we have an engagement party in Sydney, and then the weekend after that is my grad - and mum and dad will be here which will be great! Then two days after that - I'm London bound!

Anyway, sorry again for the mega delay in replying...I promise I won't do it again (except when I'm in London!!!).

Love to all,

Amanda

Me on a long tail boat at Phi Phi:




The beach at Maya Bay (as in the beach from the movie 'The Beach')




Me with some furry friends on Koh Panyi, a sea gypsy island:




Me with Charley the Gibbon:

Happy Anniversary Beck! Sorry I am a day late! I hope that you both had a wonderful day! xx

Amanda, WOW! How busy are you! I am glad that you had such a good time on your holiday - it all looks amazing! And WOW on the work and being asked to go to London - that's huge! We have a very special lady within our ranks here!

We're all good thanks... here is our anniversary present to each other - finally had our matt from the wedding that everyone signed framed up!

I posted in the general section but forgot to post in here too!!!

Happy Anniversary Laurette & Glenn!!!!

Amanda - how fabulous did your holiday look? Our work conference in June is in Phuket and I have also heard from many it is a bit seedy and grotty... Although apparently we are staying at a really nice resort a bit away from the seediness and it is right on the water - every villa is on the water... Eh at least that bit sounds lovely!

How fabulous you are going to London to present your paper!!!! So exciting!

Well we have so much work to do before I can even start packing for Hawaii...In fact we are going in less than 48 hrs and I'm no where near starting to pack. Have to get all my admin for work done before tomorrow... Its going to be a long night...

I hope you had a fabulous anniversary on the weekend Laurette!!! I can't believe ours in this weekend - Michelle, Amanda.. How CRAZY IS THAT?!?!?! WHERE HAS ALL THAT TIME GONE?@?!?!


Chloe XOXOXO

Hi girls,

Amanda, that holiday looked awesome!

Laurette, glad you had a nice Anniversary. Ours was good too.

Well, i had my antenatal a couple of days ago and bubs' head is now locked in my pelvis and is 3 or 4/5 engaged. Basically, things could happen at any time now, but with only a week 'til the concert, i'm hoping he can hang in there. Pretty much just playing the good ol' waiting game and twiddling my thumbs. I have been trying to keep myself amused as best as possible, but it's hard when i have to stay off my gigantically swollen feet

Ah well, as soon as the concert is over and done with i will be doing everything i can think of to evict him.

Beck

Happy 1st Anniversary Michelle and Neil!!
Happy 1st Anniversary Amanda and Patrick!!
Happy 1st Anniversary Chloe!! (sorry have drawn a mental blank on your husbands name)

ETA:- silly preggo brain, i'm a day early!! Well these wishes are all for tomorrow!

Beck

Happy anniversary Chloe and Alex (it's OK Beck, I got it! )!
Happy anniversary Michelle and Neil!
Happy anniversary Amanda and Paddy!

Whoo! Three more couple have surveved the first year - they say it's the hardest!

Thought I would get in early, I wont be around tomorrow.

Hope you all have wonderful days.

Michelle, big hugs to you, I am sorry you dont get to spend the day with your gorgeous hubby xxxx

Thanks Beck..What concert are you going to? If my memory serves me correctly it is Al something? I hope bubba can hold on til after that but can come anytime after. Have you got an I-doer who will announce when he is here? I am hanging out to see the announcement, I wish you all the best in your final few weeks and once again thank you for thinking of me.

I will just say I have a bottle of wine and comfort food here, I just got home from a party, funnily enough I didn't feel like being at a party. Getting a bit more upset than I thought I would. I will be right tomorrow, just couldn't be at a party tonight

Michelle, the concert is Weird Al Yankovic, he's an American parody artist, but not many people have heard of him, but know some of his songs like "Fat" (parody of Michael Jacksons "Bad") and "Eat it" (parody of Michael Jacksons "Beat it") he parodies a lot of well known artists, but i think those two are his most well known ones.

Thanks for the well wishes regarding bubs. It's kind of nerve racking walking around knowing he could come at any second.

Huge hugs and thinking of you today Michelle.

Gotta run

Beck

ETA:- Yes, i have an announcer, my announcer is *Mandy*

Hey girls

Hope you all had good anniversary celebrations on the weekend. Michelle, I can understand not feeling like being at a party.

Sorry I havent been around much, just dont get too much time to be on here anymore... wonder why that would be

Hi girls, I think this thread is dying a slow death..

Just incase anyone is around - my countdown as of today is...

Gone for 139 days, or 20 weeks tomorrow
And we reunite in Italy in 19 days!

I am proud of me, its been a long time coming (very long fricken time) but the end is in sight.

Hope your all well xxx

Hi girls,

Well, it has certainly been an eventful week!!

I had an appointment with my obs on Wednesday and she was concerned that my baby is 'macrosomic' (very big) so i had to book in for an ultrasound for asap.

I had the ultrasound today and it was confirmed, he is definitely big. He is already 10lb (just shy of 4.5kg) because of this, i am going to have to be induced early.

I have an appointment first thing monday morning, where my obs is going to to an internal exam to see what state my cervix is in (open/closed) as soon as she's seen this, she's going to book me to be induced. So i will definitely be having this baby next week. Pretty much as soon as there's a free bed for me after the exam, i'll be in it.

Of course, he still could come on his own before Monday, but if not, he's being evicted!!

If i get a chance to pop in here again to update, i will, if not, see you on the other side, and keep your eyes peeled for my announcement.

Also, check out the new pic of my lil' gorgeous man taken at today's ultrasound.

Michelle, not long to go now!!

Beck

Oh Beck, I will be thinking of you all week, hanging out for the announcement. I hope it all goes well. Did you make it to your concert - if so how was it

M xx

Hi girls,

Well i'm home with my gorgeous little baby Alexander. Feeling pretty wiped out.
My full story of how things went is in the birthing experience section.

Beck

Hey Beck good to see you. I posted in your announcement thread as soon as I heard but will head back and find your story. Congratulations again

Yay! Awesome name! Congratulations again Beck

I hope that this thread doesnt die, I know I am partly to blame, I hardly ever get online lately, just so busy, the days go so so fast.

Michelle, you must be down to less than a fortnight now So very excited for you! Cant wait to hear that you're back together again

Yes in fact I am down to 3 days, am getting slowly organised now, have half packed. Got myself so worked up a few days ago and got quite sick but thankfully have been able to fight it off. This time next week I will be at Vatican City or somewhere equally as cool. See you all when I get back!

By the way can you belive he has been gone for over 5 months now? It seemed so slow at first now it seems to be going super fast.

Wow congrats Beck!!!!

So we have a Xander and an Alexander!!! Wait'll I tell Alex how famous his name is!!!

Michelle - I just popped in here to wish you all the best for your amazing holiday and reunion with Neil. I am so jealous thinking of you jet setting off today and I want to hear just how fabulous and wonderful everything goes!!!

(not EVERYTHING, you can leave out the private stuff )

Laurette hope you had a fab Easter and all is well with Xander

Chloe XOXOXO

Oh Wow Michelle! Hope you're having an amazing time We want lots of photos on your return!

Good to see you Chloe! dont you let Alex get a big head... though you both might when I pop out a daughter and call her Zoe... lol

Laurette I just realised with your new sig, that Xander and Alex's birthdays are 9 days apart too!!!

I'm biased but he has all the makings of a fabulous young man!!!

yeah, I agree

Hello Girls!!!!

Am back from London / Dublin / Edinburgh / Tokyo!

Freaking tired and sick with bronchitis, but otherwise had a fantastic time!

How are all of you?

Belated congratulations Beck for the arrival of your little man!!!

Michelle - how is the trip going? When are you back (or are you already)?

Anyway, better get on with catching up with work. Hope you are all ok, and chat to you soon!

Amanda xox

Good to see you're back Amanda I am glad that you had a good time - do you have any photos to share?/ I hope you're feeling better soon!
xx

I do - but on the home computer so I will get organised when I am next online at home and post some!

Amanda

Welcome home Amanda!!!

Can't wait to see your photos!

Hope you're having a fabulous holiday Michelle!!!!!

Bumpity Bump Bump!

Way too many 'March' Titles out there atm...Its very confusing! Had to rescue this from Pg 3....

The March 06 thread has been resurrected from the dead. How are you all going?

Tired, tired tired...have so much work on ATM its not even funny. I am exhausted.

Bump bump bump!

Hey gals, how u going?

Love the new avatar Chloe!

Have been really busy at work but things are starting to slow down a bit...we are now off to Vietnam in November for the last hurrah, then we have decided it will be time to ttc! Woohoo!

Hope you are all well, hope to chat soon!

Amanda

Hey Amanda! Good to see you. Wow ttc hey, all the best. Say hi to your mum and let her know we miss her. Make sure you come back more often!

Neil comes back in 2 days - can you believe it? I made it with most of my sanity intact. He is actually already in Australia, and will fly over here to see me on Thursday. I just can't believe he's been gone 7 months.

My trip o/s was fab, had the time of my life.

Hope you're all ok xxx

Hey hey! Michelle, I cant believe he's back! Back in your arms by now too!

Amanda, that's very cool news on the TTCing! I hope that you have a fab trip away!

Where are all your holiday photos chickies?

Chloe, what's doing?

Beck, how's mummyhood going?

All is well here, just plodding along, my little man is six months old, can you believe it!

Laurette, he is so sweet. What a cutie pie!

TTC is still a few months away...I think we can be best described as pre-TTC...I've come off the pill and will start taking the vitamins soon...and will try to go on a diet and lose weight!

How are you going Michelle? Bet it is awesome having Neil back!

I've got some pics to post, but I have to find the time to do it! Argh!

Chat soon lovelies,

AK

WHOO HOOO!!!

Soooooo fabulous to see you girls back in here!

Michelle - how did the reunion go? Notice on your msn that Neil may be back OS again?? How's that gorgeous puppy of yours?

Yes lets resurrect this thread.

Amanda & Michelle - I would have thought there would be at least a few pictures in here of your OS trips....

!??!!?

Beck how's motherhood!?

Laurette - how's motherhood ?!?!

AMANDA - wow congratulations on deciding to TTC! How freakin exciting!

My in-laws just left - their first visit to our place . It was a fabulous weekend, ate a lot of good food, drove through the Yarra Valley and came home with a boot-ful of beautiful wines...

We've been chugging along. Renovating upstairs... This is our first weekend that I have without white paint in my hair!

Thinking of everyone!!!

Lots of love, Chloe

Hey Chloe good to hear from you. No, N isn't back overseas I couldn't handle that, however he does live in Darwin and I am in Qld so I guess its as good as being o/s as I never see him. Although I do see him this weekend for a quick visit, so looking forward to that very much

Glad the renovating is going well, hope its not too stressful. I always thought white paint in the hair was a great look!

Great to hear from you girls, thinking of you guys all the time! Have been active in the pre-TTC threads, getting things ready for TTC for early next year which is exciting.

Anyway, back to work!

Hi girls,

Wow, i'd completely forgotten about this thread until I saw Laurette's sig the other day and thought, 'holy hell!! Xander is huge!, I wonder how they're all going?'

How is motherhood? Stressful and never a dull moment. I'm not coping with it half as well as I had hoped. I'm trying to get professional help but everything is an uphill battle. I wish things would just go smoothly for us. I wish I could be one of those mums who love every minute, but every day is my worst nightmare.

Good luck with TTC Amanda!

How's Xander going Laurette?

Hope you're having fun renovating Chloe.

Beck

Beck oh my so sorry to hear you're not coping as well as you'd hoped... I'm so glad you're in here though and it was truly lovely to hear from you. Is there anyway we can help? If you need to chat about things?

Michelle sucks that N is back in Darwin. At least the flight is much closer than overseas!

Laurette - its your turn on scrabulous!

Amanda wow you're pretcc already!? How bloody exciting!!!

We've stopped painting for a while (at least months!). Upstairs looks nice now and we spend lots of time here (I've moved all my computers and stuff into the middle room) and we're not doing work in the bedroom anymore...

Ok - someone take these friggin tim tams away from me!!!!!!!!!

Chloe xoxoxoxoxo

Hi girls, yep just pre-ttc...thinking of getting organised for late this year or early next year I think. Are you girls on facebook? Crap! I better go and find ya! Mum is on there too! I bags a scrabulous game gang!

Hang in there Bec...

Bump just to wish you girls a very merry christmas and a happy new year!

May your year be filled with new adventures, love and laughter.

Ditto gang!

Love to hear what you are all up to these days...as you can see from my ticker we have a suprise on the way!

WHoohoo Congrats Amanda thats wonderful news!!

OMG Amanda congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'll have a drink on your behalf

How's Laurette going - has she popped yet?

Oh god I hope not, it's a bit bloody early for that! I'd like at least another 15 weeks, thanks very bloody much!

I tell you what - if this baby comes as early as X did (though you wouldnt know it now, looking at him!) then it will definetly be the last baby - there's no way that I can do it more than twice. I dont want to have to do it more than once! of course it will all be worth it though

Amanda, you already know how happy I am for you! Make sure you let me know if there's anything that I can do for you! xx

Beck, I am so sorry to hear that you're struggling, that's really awful. I hope that things have picked up for you a bit? Do you get enough help from your hubby and from your family? I hope so - sending you a big big hug.

Amanda, how are you travelling?

Chloe, it's YOUR go on Scrabble! Hows the renos? Any more pics for us?

Wee Chee! I love it!

All good here...morning sickness seems to have passed, and am just trying to get over being tired all the time. We have a scan in about 2 weeks time, which will be exciting!

How are the rest of you going?

oooh, ultrasound will be great Amanda! It's always very exciting seeing your baby on that screen for the first time

So, do you think that you will find out the sex of this baby or are you going to keep it a secret?

We will probably find out, if we can!