Christmas brunch

Christmas brunch, originally uploaded by &Naomi.

Christmas at eight months pregnant is a little different to Christmas as I've come to know it in the last couple of years. No flying to see family and friends in Brisbane or New Zealand (no airport queues, no sad partings at the cattery, no wrapping up delicate presents and worrying about them in our luggage) ... just Hayden and me (and Lily and the Bump) at home for the day.

The food was always going to be a feature, though. That's one thing that didn't change, even without other family-members around to impress. But these days there is no way I can hold out all morning for a big feast in the afternoon, so Hayden fortified me with a beautiful Christmas brunch of corn fritters, bacon, guacamole and three different types of salsa. It was as delicious as it looks, and gave me strength for all that Christmas skyping. (I think skype is great, truly so much better than just talking on the phone. But those technical issues that seem to come up every single time can really wear me out. It's a worry for my health! At my last midwife appointment, my slightly elevated blood pressure had the midwife worried until I mentioned that I'd spent the morning attempting to set up a skype conference call. "Well, that explains it!" and she said no more about it).

Happy Christmas! Hope you had a wonderful one.

Sound of Summer

The Summer Lil, originally uploaded by &Naomi.

Can't you just hear the low drawl of the cricket commentary in this photo?

Hayden and Lily are in it for the long haul.

keeping cool inside

keeping cool inside, originally uploaded by &Naomi.

Unravelling course has finished, so unfortunately we're back to photos of the cat.

Here she is, helping me keep cool inside while outside the sun beats down on the dry and dying grass.

This is the spot from which I hope to do all my Christmas shopping this year.

Peace at Christmas

Peace at Christmas, originally uploaded by &Naomi.

It was our first hot weekend of the summer, and it put me in the mind and mood for Christmas.

Each year I think it's not going to happen ... then I find myself getting inspired about Christmas decorations, about Christmas food and treats and, yes, even sometimes about Christmas gifts (for others! not just for myself). Even this year, when we're not going anywhere and no-one is coming to visit us, I still felt compelled to arrange this tiny understated Christmas blessing on our house and on our lives ... or perhaps it is more of a request?

Thirty Weeks

Thirty Weeks, originally uploaded by &Naomi.

Mosaic of my Favourite Things

Mosaic of my Favourite Things, originally uploaded by &Naomi.

Looking at my favourites all together, I notice that they're very homey and indoorsy. Not so long ago, I would have included my well-worn passport, backpack, hiking boots, bicycle and Lonely Planet guides in the mix. Where are these things now? Packed away, well out of daily use. I was issued a new passport just after falling pregnant, and I can't imagine when it's going to get its first stamp. I tell myself that outdoor adventure does not have to end when the baby arrives, but I'm not sure I'm entirely convinced...

1. Wedding photos and rings. My engagement ring is my most special possession - a complete one-off designed by a most enthusiastic new jeweller to Hayden's specifications, all organised in secret while I was away travelling for work. I could not bear to lose it - the mould was destroyed when the ring was made, and there's no way we could recreate the spirit that went into the making of it.

2. Automatic computer backup machine - this has every photo I've taken and every word I've typed since 2007, all stored safe and sound ... I've lost it all before but never again!

3. Camera

4. Macbook with ultrasound pic on the desktop - the image I open up to every day.

5. Journal, pencil case, favourite writing pen and box of print photographs - all ways to record my thoughts, my feelings and my days

6. Magazines - one of my favourite ways to relax

7. Datebook - I love to be organised. There, I've said it. I know it sounds boring, but I find that I'm completely free to be spontaneous when I know that the bills are paid and the insurance is up-to-date.

8. Favourite books - most of my books are in storage at the moment, but I kept a few precious ones aside

9. well-stocked pantry

10. Sardines on toast! I am really loving cooking and eating for pregnancy

11. Well-used coffee pot ... I can't wait to get back to drinking a couple of cups a day

12. Bed

13. 'Pursuit of Love' mug.. the book was the first grown-up one I read; the mug was a present to myself on the day I received some lovely feedback on my writing.

14. Sunset .. at the beach of course

15. DVDs - there is no arthouse cinema in our town, so we have to make our own!

16. Bathtime

17. Breakfast with a view

18. Sharing a bottle of wine ... though I haven't done this for a while

19. Ultra-sensible, helpful baby books - these are keeping me sane through pregnancy

20. The beginnings of getting the nursery together. Well we've made a start.

24 weeks 5 days

Silly self portraits I snapped this morning while still in my PJs. The urge to document this time is strong!