typealice

We have SEVEN weekends left until we leave Ontario, including the one that begins the day after tomorrow.

And I’ve made plans for all of them except one (either this weekend or next weekend, depending on another couple’s availability).

We’re going to head to Belleville to visit friends of ours who were giving birth to their first kid at nearly the exact time we were conceiving ours. Belleville is a LONG drive, and because of the cost of gas, this trip is not made often- actually, we haven’t seen them since she was about six months pregnant last summer. We’re excited to go because they both love fishing as much as we do, and it’ll be nice to hang out with a baby for a while and talk to another new mom.

On June 23, Clive has a golf tournament for work, and then on June 24, we have our family-thrown baby shower at Clive’s sister’s house.

[Side note: Baby showers make me uncomfortable! I rarely, rarely had parties thrown for me growing up, and have never had one as an adult. The concept that someone is taking time out of their busy schedule to plan and finance a baby shower for us is wonderful, yet I feel like I should be doing something to help. She insists that she’s got it all under control, there’s nothing that I can do- because SHUT UP already, the party is being thrown FOR you and you’re not supposed to do anything!

Which brings me to the questions: What do I do? Do I make sure to bring a dish to help out with food? Do I bring a case of beer or some kind of alcohol to help with that cost? What kind of Thank You present do I give them? I need help, people!]

June 30 is our other baby shower, thrown to us by a couple who we just adore. They’re parents themselves, and I’m really excited about this party because it’s more than just a baby shower- it’s the day before BMEfest, which is a yearly event where people from all over the world who are into body modification get together and hang out. There are a few other events that day, but hopefully we’ll have a good turn out.

[You may remember that I worked for BMEzine.com a couple of years ago, and was part of one of the biggest internet coaxes, Love at First Bite, which wasn’t written by me, but “about” Clive and I.]

July 1 is not only Canada Day, but the biggest social event of the year (for me, at least), where we attend BMEfest. There’s an evening event called ModProm, but even though they priced the tickets at nearly cost, it’s too expensive for us to attend (much to my dismay) with the little one on the way.

The next weekend, July 7/8, we’ll be in Toronto again for my old friend, Geoff’s, wedding. We met while we were both living in The Gambia in 2003/2004, and he and I adopted kittens together (they lived at my house, though) and he was my best friend and savior while living there. If it wasn’t for him, my experience in The Gambia would have been much different- and much worse. We haven’t seen each other since late February 2004, so I can’t wait to reunite with him! I wish it wasn’t a wedding so that I could have him all to myself for a couple of hours and we could reminisce about old times, but I’m thrilled that he’s found someone to spend the rest of his life with.

I’ve signed us up for prenatal classes on July 14/15. It costs $135 for both Clive and I to attend, and they talk about:

• adjustments to pregnancy
• process of birth
• variations in labour progress
• comfort measures for labour
• common medical procedures
• the postpartum experience
• breastfeeding
• care of the newborn

Frankly, I can’t wait! I’m excited to learn about stuff WITH Clive, because although I spend all day on the internet reading about pregnancy and birth, Clive really hasn’t had the time nor the interest to much independent learning. It’ll also be nice to be around other pregnant couples from 9-4pm for two days straight.

We’re going away on a four-day vacation for Clive’s birthday on July 19-22. We hope to go north to go fishing/cottaging at his family friend’s cabin for the entire weekend. I hope it works out and we’re able to book that weekend there. We go fishing, swimming, canoeing, BBQing- it’s my favorite place to visit in Ontario. It’s so relaxing.

And that’s our last weekend in Ontario! I’m taking my last few vacation days at the end of the following week to pack up our car and throw stuff out, and then we’ll be on our way to Nova Scotia. Hopefully it’ll only take two nights and three days to make the trip, and then we’ll be trying to find a place to live somewhere in Nova Scotia and I can finally start nesting.

The next six weeks are going to fly by. I’m not sure if I’m ready!