Closing down

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Numbers

It's been MONTHS since I blogged. I have been busily nesting, finishing up work and trying to get things in that I won't have time for once the little one arrives. I am now officially on maternity leave and I am due in about 3 weeks, give or take. So I was pondering the concept of numbers this morning, and the amount of importance we place on numbers. People like accumulating a high number of certain things, like dollars, IQ points, stocks & shares or Facebook friends. In equal measure, we seem to like shedding a high number of things, like kilograms, centermeters off our waist....and sometimes even Facebook friends. Take a walk around a cemetery and look at the numbers that appear on peoples headstones. The only numbers you see are the numbers that record how long someone walked this earth. Nobody has their bank balance recorded on there, nobody has their weight recorded on there, nobody has their IQ recorded on there. The important things are not so much numbers, but who the person was while they were here - Mother, Father, Grandmother, Grandfather, Son, Daughter, Wife, Husband, Friend. While I understand the importance of maintaining a healthy weight, the importance of an income and the importance of education, at the end of the day, stressing over these numbers isn't living. Don't count - make what you do count!

What Annie's up to

Slackest blogger on earth here! I was just browsing some other blogs and realised how much I enjoy reading about what other people, normal people, are up to. So that is what this post is. A handful of things that are happening in my life, on my mind or on my radar just now.

- I am munching on some yummy mini quiches that Chow gave me on Saturday when I dropped Emma home after the Bowerbird Bazaar.

- I have made some great progress on my filing this morning.

- In 2 more sleeps, I am flying to Sydney to see Amy, then catching a train to Bowral to see Brad and Vanessa get married, then onto Canberra to spend some time with Naomi - our first face to face catch up since my wedding.

- Andy felt our baby kick last night, for the first time. It was super subtle, but it was the first time he's felt movement. It was a pretty special moment.

- Jack is fully recovered from his conjunctivitis and is smiling once again.

2012 Career Change

It's no secret. I am not a fan of my job. I've always said that I didn't really know what I wanted to do, and for paid employment, that is partly true - but deep down, I kind of had a pretty good idea of what I wanted my next job to be.

In November, that job was offered to me. Longer hours, but working from home. On call 24/7 and at least an 18 year, non-negotiable contract. It's likely that my boss won't speak clear English for the best part of about 3 years, but after that, things should improve on the communication front. The pay is rubbish and I will have to deal with a lot of shit...literally, but I hear the rewards are priceless.

My title as of August will be Mum.

I'm as elated as I am scared! There are lots of "what ifs", like "What if I can't cope with the lack of sleep and manic hormones associated with the first 6 months?" and "What if my kid has some kind of developmental delay?" and "What if they turn out to be a really nasty person?" There are also lots of "I can't waits", like "I can't wait to hold it for the first time" and "I can't wait to see Andy as a Dad" and "I can't wait to hear it giggle for the first time!"

So I am going to try and keep blogging for the next 6 months, and I will try my hardest to not turn this into a "preggy blog", but after August, things might go quiet!

Oh, and heres a happy snap of the little mite!

The Final 10!!!

991. Market fresh cherries
992. Eating Nepali food with Kat
993. Andy going out of his way to cater for my whims!
994. Finishing the Christmas shopping
995. My new Kikki K stamp set
996. A happy family day
997. Listening to the thunder while tucked up in bed
998. Light at the end of the tunnel
999. Christmas time
1000. Having 1000 things to be grateful for!

This project has been fantastic in making me really look for things to be grateful for. I have tried not to double up, but some things are just super exciting and I may have repeated myself! I hope some of the things that have made me smile in 2011 have made you smile too!!!

981 - 990 (I'm drawing out the gratitude project!)

981. Reminiscing about Ralph with Heather & Les (Ralph was a dog - an awesome dog!)
982. Crumpets and tea delivered to my bedside
983. Chatting all things dog with the Ratcliffs
984. Lunching with my KidsHope peeps
985. Lunching with my elders peeps
986. Having a lovely conversation with Verity
987. Finishing my share of the Christmas shopping
988. Finishing a job I had been dragging my feet on for a looong time
989. Weekend naps
990. The unexpected burst of energy I get from a big long walk

961 - 980

961. Shelling broadbeans on the back patio over a glass of beer/wine
962. Sitting on the same patio later that evening, watching a storm roll over
963. Jack being totally chilled out with thunder (Moths on the other hand! Moths are a problem and need to die)
964. Freebies! Chai latte powder at the train station and then fortune cookies from the coffee shop!
965. Finally getting to catch up with Sarah after re-sceduling and re-sceduling and re-scheduling our time!
966. Work Christmas lunch at the Belair pub
967. Celebrating Pete's retirement
968. Being 5 minutes from home, yet feeling like we were on holiday somewhere sunny and beachy
969. Window shopping with Andy
970. Andy's joy at the realisation that we have a Beck's Bakery so close to home!
971. Putting the Christmas tree up
972. A reason to listen to cheesy Christmas albums
973. Catching up with Heather & Les after God knows how long
974. The awesome friendship I have with Catherine at work
975. Fishing off the Noarlunga jetty; didn't catch a thing, but it was nice to just sit, dangle our feet and chat
976. Strawberry season
977. Slowly developing an appreciation for MacGyver
978. Thinking about the memories attached to certain Christmas decorations
979. Finding Pearl Jam Vs for $5 at my local flea market
980. Lloyd Bros. Kasundi

941 - 960

941. My pretty new skirt (It's going to be my Christmas skirt!)
942. Having someone who I consider to be 'effortlessly stylish' tell me that she admires my fashion taste
943. Tackling my filing first thing on a Monday morning and discovering it was actually not half as bad as it looked!
944. Amy time!
945. Wine and cheese matching
946. Discovering a new, funky winery in the Vale
947. Apple and Rose tea jelly
948. Knocking off on Tuesday arvo and knowing I won't be back til Monday
949. The way Jack leans into me with a blissed out expression on his face when I pat him
950. A day with Dad and Amy - no plans, just sunshine, wineries and delicious food
951. Spending the afternoon with Aleks and Leon
952. People who are positive in the face of adversity - so inspiring!
953. Happy news coming from every angle!
954. Strath walks with Jack & Dad
955. Jack behaving himself in the car (peanut butter in the Kong works wonders!)
956. Going to our first basketball game of the season (even though our team lost!)
957. Lightening the bedclothes as summer creeps in
958. Bracegirdles Chilli Chocolate
959. Coming back to work with not too much of a backlog
960. The feeling of pride knowing that I have stuck with this gratitude project for the whole year!

921 - 940

921. Free weeknights
922. Crocheting again
923. The first ocean dip of the summer
924. Jack trying to rescue me from afore mentioned dip (bless!)
925. Dusting off the seldom used items from my wardrobe
926. Dishes done by someone other than me (Thanks Honey x)
927. Long overdue family dinner
928. Nicola - someone who gets me, has been the same places and who makes me feel 'validated'
929. Starting Christmas shopping
930. Reaching into the pocket of my jeans and pulling out a $20 note from weeks ago (hurrah for plastic money that survives washing machine trips!)
931. Chatting to some friendly tourists who shared my table at the markets
932. Sorting out my craft room, FINALLY!
933. Coming home from dog school to find dinner on the table
934. Ice skating
935. Saturday arvo cuppa visitors
936. Macerated strawberries in cointreau
937. Having people from Inverbrackie Detention Centre at church on Sunday
938. Seeing Judy perform her first baptism
939. The beautiful King Protea I got from the markets
940. Inspiring conversations

901 - 920

901. Running into a familiar face at the otherwise uninspiring Motor Reg office
902. Date night at home
903. Driving into work with Andy
904. The little girl at the pet supplies shop looking at Jack and saying "What a marvellous dog!" (She was no more than about 6 years old!)
905. Kikki K
906. Playing "Sing the Jingle" with Andy on the way home
907. Lunch at the Salty Lime with Judy
908. Longview Whippet Sauvignon Blanc - Oh. My. Gosh!
909. Discovering quaint little antique shops in Port Noarlunga
910. Slowly falling in love with my new neighbourhood
911. 11/11/11
912. Our lawn coming to life
913. Managing to fit in a walk on the beach with Amy & Iliya before the evening went pear shaped
914. The wonderful nursing staff at Noarlunga hospital who helped Andy (nasty gastro bug made him extremely dehydrated)
915. The fact that we are only 5 minutes from the hospital
916. Our wonderful cooling system at home
917. My Christmas Notes book - organised!
918. Handmaking gifts for Christmas
919. Jack's face when he saw Andy after he'd been sick in bed for 24 hours (and his little waggy tail)
920. Pink roses from the garden

881 - 900

881. Picking up our new car!
882. Finding a 'pet barrier' for $30 when I was expecting to shell out around $700 to keep Jack in the back!
883. Doubling my money in the Melbourne Cup sweep!
884. Going to the beach on a "school night"
885. Taking delivery of my 10 free bottles of sparkling shiraz
886. Spending Friday afternoon with Emma & Henry
887. Balmy nights - alfresco dining
888. Running into Debbie on the train
889. Andy's construction skills
890. Driving all the way to Strath and back and having Jack stay in the back of the car! Hurrah for station wagons!
891. My newphews excitement about our new car
892. Impromptu dinner at Mum & Dad's
893. Finally getting my hands on Mad Men Season 3
894. iView! A new discovery that has got me up to speed with a few TV series!
895. An afternoon with Kat
896. Beach walking - exercise that feels like a holiday!
897. Chilled Annie's Lane Moscato and brie on a warm Sunday arvo
898. Myer vouchers - the wedding gifts that just keep giving!
899. Getting yet another thank you gift from our mortgage broker for referring a friend
900. Clean fridge

861 - 880

861. The elders coming to my place for a meeting - no need for me to drive!
862. Meeting my dog school buddy on the train and expanding our conversation beyond dogs!
863. Iced Vo-Vo's
864. Washing dishes as I cook - makes life so much easier!
865. Catching up with an old, old friend on the phone (we're talking 27 years!)
866. Haighs milk chocolate
867. Getting a generous offer for the trade in price on my car
868. A 90 minute massage & facial
869. Friends over for tea
870. Andy being a yard work dynamo
871. Photos that I am really proud of
872. Beach walks with my pup
873. A quick decision on our new car
874. Seeing a friend so happy in a new relationship with an awesome person (you know who you are!)
875. Lasagna a'la Timmy
876. Boys nights....+ me!
877. Coffee at Agathas
878. Andy having weekend at home
879. Playing Lego
880. Super clean, sale ready car.

841 - 860

841. Andy washing my car for me, just coz.
842. Andy taking over dog walking to give my stupid, retarded knees a break
843. The first hot days heralding the arrival of summer
844. The cacophony of colour as people shake out their summer wardrobes
845. Meeting little Leon for the first time
846. Seeing Aleks so happy in her new role as Leon's Mum
847. Leaving work on a Friday arvo, knowing that the rest of the day is mine!
848. Clean dog
849. Our new Hills hoist
850. Yummy potato salad
851. Camping trip with Andrew, Susie, Angus, Oliver & Monty
852. Campfires
853. Watching dusk descend over the Murray River
854. Long girly chats with my sister in law
855. Lot's of wonderful photo opportunities
856. Cancelled plans removing the pressure
857. Shopping without a list, coming in under budget and getting everything!
858. Taking the pressure off myself by making the conscious decision to catch a later train in the morning
859. My hair still smelling of campfire to remind me of a nice weekend
860. Sleeping Monty's gentle breath on my neck.

821 - 840

821. Winning 10 bottles of wine for writing into a magazine
822. An extra hour of sunlight allowing an after work walk
823. New hair (despite alternating loving and hating it)
824. Taking a different turn and discovering a pretty new route to my Thursday meeting
825. A very productive elders meeting
826. Drinking red on a school night
827. Dawn taking over elders minutes for me
828. Celebrating Mum's birthday
829. A bonus hour with Andy on Friday arvo
830. Some precious chattles to remind me of Aunty May
831. Judy's apple & cinnamon waffles
832. Cuddling Judy's chickens
833. Laying around on the lawn, playing with slaters
834. Crappy weather days that turn glorious
835. Dinner at Windy Point
836. A fun shoot with Thea & Eddie
837. A final booze up and D&M with Kate
838. Granting myself a Monday morning sleep in
839. Doggie playdates
840. Sausage sizzles

801 - 820

801. Mid Spring Staycation
802. Andy got his promotion!
803. Art gallery with Mum
804. Lying in the sun on the back lawn
805. The time, energy and perfect weather for a 9km walk
806. How well Andy gets on with my friends
807. Jumping in the car and heading to Clare Valley
808. Lovely, smashing, delicious Clare Valley wine
809. Discovering just how useful our entertainment book is
810. Judy and Andrew babysitting Jack overnight for us
811. Finally catching up with Luke after too long
812. Backyard bonfire
813. Friendly winery cats
814. Ikea & Howards Storage world shopping trips!
815. My newly organised pantry
816. A Sunday that felt like it was 2 days long
817. Sitting in the afternoon sun alternating a book, a coffee and a cuddly pup nestling in my lap
818. Watching the Lion King in 3D
819. Sharing the above experience with my 2 nephews & my sister-in-law
820. Tacos!

781 - 800

*Sorry its late - been on leave and my home computer doesn't like blogger!

781. Free coffee with a fresh hot muffin - way to start the week on the right foot
782. Morning games with Jack - this week it's hide and seek (with the ball...or what is left of it)
783. $10 birthday vouchers thanks to signing up to mailing lists!
784. Freshly cut grass
785. Walking through the suburbs just after sunset on a balmy night, hearing the sounds of people pottering in their kitchen, smelling the smells of other peoples dinners
786. A fun Kombi card from Ali C, just coz!
787. Cup cakes with candles - just for me
788. Happy birthday kiss from Jack
789. Flowers delivered to work from Andy
790. Baggy trousers
791. More flowers for my birthday
792. Birthday dinner with Andy
793. An afternoon with Tricia
794. Birthday dinner with the Family
795. Birthday presents! So spoilt!
796. Being able to paint my pantry door with blackboard paint without having to seek permission from the landlord!
797. Forgetting then realising that I have a whole week off work!
798. Sitting on a rock in my back yard, enjoying the sunshine
799. Positive feedback on my communion talk, even if I felt it was a little 'meh'
800. MarioKart with the boys

761 - 780

761. Having Catherine back at work after 10 weeks
762. Thoughtful little souveniers from England
763. Digging out old clothes from the back of the wardrobe
764. Hearing from Aleks and seeing that she stuck to her guns to give her baby boy the name she loved. Welcome Leon! xo
765. Jack's grade 2 teacher - so much more polite than his "reception" teacher
766. Watching the world go by over eggs benedict at Willunga Markets
767. Lavender brownies
768. The little girl who smiled at me as if she had been waiting for me all day as I got on the train
769. Managing to be in the only lane that is moving when the expressway is backed up
770. Home delivered noodles
771. Celebrating Thea & Eddie's engagement
772. Earl Grey Latte from Little Leaf & Bean
773. Thinking it is Sunday night, then realising it is still only Saturday night
774. Finding out that Tricia is going to be in town the weekend of my birthday
775. Hugs from Becky at Church
776. Even MORE happy baby news from friends
777. The freedom and liberation that comes from deactivating my Facebook account
778. One week 'til holidays!
779. Nailing my best beef stroganoff yet
800. Watching the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency on TV

741 - 760

741. Josh arranging our accommodation & car hire for the weekend
742. Finally finishing my work on Bec & Buzz's wedding photos and being happy with the result
743. Inheriting Andy's old iPod and having a whole bunch of new music to stimulate my auditory senses!
744. Eating dinner alfresco
745. Peri Peri Chicken steaks
746. Jack graduating from beginners straight up to Grade 2!
747. Amazing, awesome, wide angle lens!
748. My friend Luke - one of my longest standing friendships - Happy 30th Mate!
749. Aeroplane trips with friends
750. Tim & Dan making our bed for our midnight arrival at O'Reilly's so we could flop straight into it
751. The view of the Lamington National Park that greeted us on Saturday morning
752. A very relaxed bride & groom
753. An early morning walk through the treetops
754. Witnessing two fantastic people get married in the most beautiful location
755. Being able to play such a special part of Craig & Anne's day
756. Bushfire sunsets
757. My own photography moving me almost to tears (for all the right reasons!)
758. Coming home to a super happy, bouncy dog
759. Mum having tea on for us as we walked through the door
760. Sleeping in my own bed (as opposed to a fold out couch that sags a bit in the middle)

721 - 740

721. Finding a way out of my unproductive 'phunk' at work
722. Fitting in quick walks after work - hurrah for the beginning of Spring
723. Frozen dinners
724. Serendipitous discoveries of Spicks and Specks on a Tuedsay night
725. Picking up Kate from the airport
726. Pizza, red wine, Haighs chocolates and Kate
727. Discovering a magazine that does not assume that I am a complete bimbo
728. Having a free Friday arvo to enjoy the company of friends
729. Our comfy hotel room in McLaren Vale
730. Living just 15 minutes drive from the wineries
731. Finding new and yummy wineries
732. Going back to the old favourites....and being recognised!!!
733. Weight watchers chocolate brownies
734. Seeing the Harveys safe back from Darwin
735. Sitting up ridiculously late chatting with Kate
736. Discovering a new photography technique (Thanks Tricia!)
737. Building excitement for my photography gig this coming weekend
738. Productive pottering
739. Running into a familiar face at the supermarket
740. Our new, funky doorstop!

701 - 720

701. Lunch with Kate - what an incentive to go to work on a Monday!
702. Discovering that Roxette tickets are under $100!
703. BTS cupcakes (just a little one!)
704. An amazing and generous offer from some dear friends, affording us a brilliant opportunity to celebrate with them on their wedding day AND get some more photography experience
705. Andy's colleague filling in for him so we could take up the above mentioned opportunity
706. Fitting in a quick walk after work with my 2 awesome guys
707. Finally getting the hang of photoshop - even if it is just the basics
708. The guys on the other side of the partition at work quietly singing 'Hey Jude' - slightly off key, but amusing all the same!
709. Lunch at a fancy restaurant paid for by our loss adjusters
710. Spring!
711. Meeting a friendly tourist on our long Saturday morning walk
712. Getting our fancy new TV for $150 (it is 4 times the size of the old one!)
713. Having Fathers Day dinner with my mob round at my house
714. Watching Angus & Oliver playing happily with Jack
715. Opening a bottle of wine that had been cellared longer than it should have, and discovering it still tasted good!
716. Mum giving me a hand with the dishes and having a tidy house despite a large mob
717. Fathers Day dinner with Andy's family (we stretched it over the weekend!)
718. Trying out a weight watchers dessert recipe and having all the family enjoy it
719. Finally getting our wedding photo framed!
720. Another good result at WW.