Thumper...

is here! All 9 pounds of her (4.1kg for those metrically minded).

She is doing well, feeding voraciously and, in my completely unbiased opinion, absolutely gorgeous. Bambi can barely contain her excitement - the Good Man has held his littlest princess less often than his big princess has. We're wondering if the novelty will wear off...

Anyway, must get on with my endless cycle of feeding, nappy changes and naps.

Pregnant Pause

It looks like Thumper will arrive on schedule. But the build up has just seemed like a long wait - in a very dull waiting room. This is what is meant by a pregnant pause - everything on hold...waiting. So here are some random thoughts I've had while on pause:

Men and women respond very differently to a full term pregnant belly. Women smile as if sharing a secret. Men tend to show you the whites of their eyes...

The Good Man has to have the worst timing in the world. Toothache presented at three o'clock on Sunday morning... when all dental practices in the greater Virginia area were closed... until today. The cynic in me wonders if this is fatherly pre-baby attention seeking. But actually losing a tooth seems like overkill.

Autumn is my favourite season here so far. But then Summer was ridiculously hot and humid and autumn is cool and ridiculously beautiful. So I'm thinking maybe I'm just holding onto my sanity. And I have yet to experience Winter and Spring so further research will be required.

And on the theme of lists, Reluctant Memsahib, who is currently very concerned about her sanity has tagged me. The idea is to answer questions with seven word answers. While my brain is currently mud, it appears I can still count to seven so here goes:

1. Where were you ten years ago?

On a mountain top in South Africa.

2. What's on your to-do list today?

Currently attempting to not go into labour.

3. What if you were a billionaire?

In this economy? I'd be an exhibit!

4. Five places you have lived?

Hermanus, Germany, Zambia, Scotland, Kenya (and others)

5. Three bad habits?

Grumpy, bossy and emotional. I AM PREGNANT!

6. Snacks you like?

No room left for snacks inside me...

7. Who are you tagging?

La Pagina Portena who needs a job

Mom/Mum who may already have done this

Safari Stories whose last post made me laugh...

So, tomorrow's the big day. I'll let you know how it all goes. In the fullness of time...

American WIldlife

Just as I was about to take Bambi to bed, the phone rang. Our neighbours had been having raccoon trouble and had managed to trap the little critter in their garage.  Would we like to come over for a quick look and help release it?  Oh yes!  Off we went with Bambi yodeling the theme tune to Go Diego Go.

And a cutie it was too. Clearly having a bad day though, tucked into the corner of its cage. And then its day got worse. Out of absolutely nowhere, a storm was brewing and as we drove our little bandit to its new home the lightening struck. Close. Very close. And the thunder rolled. Loudly. Very loudly.

Oh, and the heavens opened.

Unsurprisingly, one very wet raccoon decided to forgo all pleasantries and bolted for the bushes the second of its release. Fair enough.

And then I realised where we were - in a park some 500m from Bambi's school. The suburbs of northern Virginia are peppered with parks and it struck me that there must be quite a raccoon rotation going on with masked crusaders being passed around from neighbourhood to neighbourhood as they get caught raiding and released to discover menus anew somewhere else.

So that was my first real brush with American wildlife. Although did you know that you get black squirrels in this part of the world?!

And I'm still pregnant by the way...