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Hi everyone. So I know she is not due until the 16th of Feb. but just wanted you all to know that we are still waiting - impatiently! I mean really, she could come a little early...especially since it is so hot and humid outside and her mom is just sweating it out waiting for her to come! And why would the doc tell me he thinks she will be early (two weeks ago) and get my hopes up like that? No matter what happens, the hospital bags are packed, the baby books have been read and I (and Kieran) am as ready as I am going to be. Bring it on I say...the waiting game is too annoying! I am trying to stay busy but school went back last week so most of my playmates are all back at work and Kieran is working long hours so he can cut back when she does decide to come. Anyone want to get on a plane and come hang out? :)

I think I had my last big outing lat Tuesday for Australia day (think Fourth of July Down Under). We went to the city and met our friend Aiden and we were in a boat race in the harbor! So fun. They had four companies competing in a ferry boat race. Aiden got us tickets through his work. We spent three hours out on the water and it was so nice to be out amongst the festivities. Our boat came in last though. See the link below for some pics (we were on the boat that had all of the red decorations on it. The photo of Kieran and I above was also from that day.

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This last week or so, however, I have stayed close to home and tried to rest a lot. Not up for too much. We have also been trying to go to dinner and spend quality time together because we know what lies ahead (I think!).

I have a feeling the next time I write on here there will be some exciting news...for now though, know that she is not here yet but hopefully she will come by her due date...neither Kieran or I are "late" people so hopefully that rubs off on her and she at least is on time!

Write back and let me know how you are all doing - I have lots of time to read emails!

XOXO

New Year's Resolution starts now.

So as I said in an earlier email, my New Year's Resolution was to be better about maintaining my blog and putting up photos. I think the baby will be my motivation but as she is not here yet I will get started now!

2010 has flown by so far. we ran gin the new year by going on a dinner date and then off to a friends house to watch the Sydney fireworks and hang out. It was th first time I had seen the Sydney fireworks other than on TV and they were really impressive!

Kieran went back to work on the 4th and I am off now until July! Even though I am not "working" I have been keeping busy nesting and ticking things off a long list of stuff to do around the house. It was all fun stuff at first like SHOPPING for baby nursery items, living room furniture and other things to complete our home. Now that I have spent all of our money (haha) it is more cleaning and organizing things so when Feb. rolls around we are ready to go. I had a baby shower this weekend where I got lots of nice gifts so we are pretty much set for Baby Houlahan's arrival.


She will be here anytime really. We had aour classes at the hospital and we feel as prepared as we can be but man, it is scary when they show you the birth video, epidural needle, etc!! Fingers crossed everything will go well. Kieran has both cars full of gas at all times and the bags are packed for go time! I still feel well but it is getting really heavy and uncomfortable. She is super active and I am at the point where I just want it to happen. Energy levels are low and sleeping is pretty uncomfortable. I am resting lots too because I k.ow once the baby comes it is all over!!

I have stopped going to the gym now but still exercise by swimming. I have gotten back into it by going down to our beach (pictured below) and swimming laps in the "rock pool". This is a fenced off area where there are no waves or fish to worry about. I have my little goggles and go down and swim some laps with the senior citizens...all the cool young people are surfing and in the waves but I'm happy just to be weightless for a little while and out in the sun getting some exercise:) These photos were taken on Xmas eve day...no snow here!

Kieran is good. He is back in work mode since it is the pre-season. He has a new CEO at work and will be opening a new merchanidse shop near the stadium which will be open 5 days a week.

Lots of planning and time went into it. It is good for him to exercise and stay social. A lot of the guys he plays with have young kids so they are a good support group for him since many of his friends are not able to relate to what he is going through. I am hoping he will contribute to this blog once in awhile so it is not all about me!

We really miss everyone back home and this is our way to try and keep you all informed. I will use this writ info on but I think I will be using a site called, "smilebox" to put up baby photos. Will keep you posted. We also are on SKYPE so add us if you are on there and want to talk - it is a nice way to see everyone and talk for free as well.

Ok - signing off for this month. Will update again when something exciting happens...just playing the waiting game for now! Feb. is going to be the biggest month of our lives!!

Baby AND a new place, guess it's time to grow up!

Well, as you all know, our lives have been pretty chaotic these last couple of months. We moved into our new place the last weekend in July only a week after finding out I was pregnant! The baby was a big surprise but one that we have embraced. So far everything is going smoothly (minus a few sessions hugging the toilet and my clothes starting to not fit). We went to the doctor a week and a half ago and we were able to hear the heartbeat which was great! Kieran has been awesome about cleaning and taking care of me on the days where I just have enough energy to drag my butt out of bed and go to work. He is busy with the football season being in full swing as well so I am Lucky to have such a hard working hubby.

Our place has been a good fit for us so far. It needs a lot of work to get it where we want it to be and the ball really gets rolling next Monday when some workers come in and put in some electrical work, new lighting and a false ceiling (to cover up the nasty old one we have from back in the 1960's).Once that is finished we will paint the rooms and get started on the nursery. I took some photos of the inside of our place but I think they will look better once I can compare them to the "After" shots so I will hold off on posting them. I have put some pictures of the exterior of our building and the paint colors we have picked. It is hard to get a good feel for what they look like but we are trying to get the "beachy" feel happening since we are a block from the ocean and right on the lake. In one of the photos I am in a kayak since we rented kayaks by the lake where we live to go around in. Pretty cool. The only real work we have done to our place so far is some sanding back of doors and windows so they are ready to be painted when the time comes. You can sort of see where my baby bump is starting to form in that picture :)

My personal training class is done in 5 weeks and then I have no idea what I will do as I will be too pregnant to get a job at a gym. Probably just train some of my friends and then once the baby comes decide how much I will go back to work. I am meeting with my principal next week to discuss maternity leave options. I am sure I will only work part time so I can spend time with the baby and save money on daycare. Still have to get through the next 6 months before we worry too much about that. Anybody want to move here and be alive in nanny? haha
Well, I will do MUCH better with photos and things as we progress. Keep in touch and if you have good baby name suggestions r house renovation tips let us know!

The Houses come to Sydney

Hey everyone! I have thought about writing an email home about 100 times in the last couple of weeks but have been so busy with my parents here that I have never actually gotten around to it - lame I know but the truth. We have been having lots of fun. Not much of a school "break" for me, but great to have people to show around and play with :) Since I have a day to myself I figured I could do an update to the ol' blog and put up some photos too. Here are some of the highlights:

• They came to my classroom for an Easter egg hunt during the first week they were here so they got to meet the kids in my class.
• LOTS of time in the city.
• They spent two nights at a hotel in the thick of it all taking in the Opera house, ferry rides, tour bus etc. I did the Wild life world with them as well as a tour of an area called the Rocks where the first convicts lived.
  
• Lots of good food and drinks of course too.
• Easter Sunday we did church and then the Manly home game (which they won!)
  Lunch with Kieran's family at a nice seafood restaurant in the Eastern Suburbs
• We had a bbq with some of our friends, including a few of the boys who were in the wedding.
• Hanging out and cruising the beaches and towns in our area


• Ocean world in Manly
• Learning to peel and eat raw prawns
• A day trip to the Blue Mountains and another one to Kieran's parents' house for lunch to meet the animals and visit the "farm".
  

Those are the main highlights so far. There have been a few days that were pretty low key but not many. No wonder I needed a nap today! I have been their personal tour guide :) The weather was good until Saturday night and now it has been chilly and rainy most of the time. It was 9 Celsius at the Blue Mountains yesterday ( about 42f!) so winter is here. A bit warmer in Sydney but things have really changed in the last week or so. They are going on a tour of an area called the Hunter Valley today which is where a lot of wineries are. I am staying home to do some things around here though.

Kieran and I are flying up to the Sunshine Coast for a wedding this weekend so I need a day off before then. Our friends Ben and Allie (whom some of you met at the wedding) are tying the know up there. After that I go back to school already! Man, time flies.

My personal training course starts on May 19 so I will be busy then. Kieran is good despite lots of set backs Manly have had. They are 2-4 so at least they have chalked up a few wins. I have a feeling it may be a long season however! Oh well. My parents now understand rugby league and have been religious followers of the Eagles. I think my dad will actually miss watching it on tv.

Alright well, I will write again soon.

Long Time no post

Well it looks like my computer will let me upload photos again, so here are a few new ones along with some news. I am on school holidays right now so I actually have time to catch up on all of the things I have been meaning to do for awhile. It is stinking hot today (we are going into spring) and I spent the afternoon at the beach and now I am in the air conditioning. I only have nine weeks of work left before the school year is over!! Crazy how time flies. And to think the wedding was basically this time last year. It has been a good but hectic year.

Malnly are in the Grand Final again this year (it is on Sunday) and the Northern Beaches have MANLY FEVER!!! It is such a good atmosphere. It is a rematch of last year so it will be huge if they win since they lost last year. Everywhere you go there are Manly car flags and people in Jerseys and t-shirts. Makes me proud since Kieran is in charge of all the merchanidise. I have not seen him for more then 3 or 4 hours since last Saturday night after they won - long hours that hopefully will be worth it when they win! The photo below is at the semifinal. He will be getting a well deserved break. He leaves for the States on Nov 14 and plans on spending down time in Florida and Cali while he does his work traveling.

My work is great. Last term was a long 10 weeks with some drama with some staff and parents but we all survived and the kids are doing so well. Most of them are going to mainstream classes ("normal 1st and 2nd grade rooms) next year so we are getting them ready for that. I will get to be out of room a lot and taking them to spend time in the mainstream rooms next term. Very big deal for them and their parnents. We went to the beach on the last day before holidays...it is right across the street from our school! We had a picnic and the kids had a great time making sand castles and running around. Some of the boys are in the photo above. So good to have warmer weather and longer days!

The cat turns one this month and he pretty much runs the show around here. An unfortunate habit he has picked up is hunting. His favorite vicitims are these tiny lizards that run around everywhere. He feels the need to bring them in and show me which is starting to get gross. Oh well. Other then that he is great. No more real dramas with ticks which is a relief. He will hate being at the kennal when we are in the States - too bad we cannot bring him with.

We are still saving up for a place. We really like where we are though and really lucked out. So grateful our friendd is letting us stay here. It is great being by a lake with a nice path and the beach is right beyond the lake. Kieran has his fishing gear all ready for when the season is over. I'm still biking or walking to work and Kieran is only like 15 min from his. Well, not much else to report on. I have another week of lunches with friends and R&R before going back to school. I plan on heading home on Dec. 11th so it will be here before you know it!!