antici...pation

Just three more days until we get to take another peek at you, Pip. Then we need to send text messages to a bazillion friends and family who want to know if you're a mini Mummy or a mini Daddy. We are so happy that you were there with us on Saturday. Daddy even mentioned you in his speech, and some of the wedding cards were addressed to all three of us. I hope you don't mind flying too much, and I promise to try and get us the best seats on the plane - for your comfort, of course.



We cannot wait to see you again, little Pip.

mister and missus

Very quick summary before we go: it was fantastic, nothing went wrong (unless you count the drippy weather), everyone had a great time. Much more later, but until then...



...flowergirls...







...some people all dressed up...







...and mmmmmmmmmmm cake.







Thank you all so much for your kind words/comments/emails. See you in two weeks with many more pictures and tales from California.



Smoochies and bear hugs,

Lisa and Paul xx

the sun'll (better) come out, tomorrow

This is it. My last day as a MacDonald. My last day as a swinging bachelorette. My last day worrying if my ring and gown will fit. My last day to get my nails done. Bugga.



Blue skies today, and it's not been too cold lately. Lots of family and our best man (and his lovely missus) arrive today, so it's dinner for 16 tonight at the White Hart pub. A few last minute details to sort out, and then all I've got to worry about is walking a few feet without tripping over and crushing a flowergirl or two, and managing not to drop Paul's wedding band during the ceremony. And giggling. Must not giggle.



I'm sure we'll manage to post a picture or two Sunday or Monday before we go. Until then, have a smashing weekend and throw a rice grain or two in our direction tomorrow.

doing the small hand wave

(This is really just an excuse for a post so that Jen can continue her countdown.)



We're off to Buckingham Palace today to see where the Queen lives. Not like she'll actually be there or anything - although it would have been rather amusing if she greeted us at the door in rollers and a bathrobe with a cig hanging out of the corner of her mouth. It's just a quick tour of London today; a stop at Covent Garden for lunch, Bucks Palace, a look at the houses of parliament and Westminster Abbey (from the outside), and tea at Harrod's. I'm not that great at walking around/standing for long periods of time anymore, so the idea of a bit of sightseeing interspersed with eating sounds pretty darn good to me.

it's all good

I've come across quite a bit of negative things about being pregnant, giving birth, and coping with a baby. The "non-serious" books about motherhood talk about the less savoury aspects such as hair growing in odd places, enormous painful boobs, wanting to slap your partner with a spanner, and other such hormone-induced hilarity. "The Best Friend's Guide to Pregnancy" is full of sarcastic and somewhat bitter reflections on motherhood and how much you'll hate the man who impregnated you. You won't sleep again, just wait until the baby starts kicking you in the ribs, you'll always be covered in a fine layer of baby barf, and you'll never have sex again. I think I've heard and read it all in the short 6 weeks I've been out of the pregnancy closet.



Perhaps it's in our nature to complain. It's certainly easier to discuss the negative aspects of pregnancy rather than focus on the good stuff. Me, I like being pregnant and although some bits of it I could do without, I am thoroughly enjoying it. How very cool to think that there are two hearts beating inside of me right now, that there is a baby floating around in my womb, and in a few weeks I should be able to feel those first kicks and jabs. I've loved seeing my belly grow and feeling the first flutters. At night, I lie in bed and prod my abdomen, wondering if that little lump or bump I feel is Pip as it dissolves under my fingertips. Lately I've felt what I can only describe as a "thud"; a combination of sound and feeling that reminds me of attending concerts with loud drums or heavy bass, when I can feel a beat reverberate inside of me. I don't mind when people rub my belly (although at this point, only around three people have actually done this so maybe it'll become annoying later on when everyone feels compelled to do this). I like it when people ask how I'm doing; I'm not sure why this seems to be a pet peeve with a lot of pregnant women. Put very simply, I love being pregnant. It's really cool.



The more cynical people will say that this is probably due to the fact that I didn't spend 12 (or 40) weeks with my head down the toilet, and maybe they would be right. I know that it's mere luck that determined this outcome, and for that I'm grateful. I want to enjoy this unique experience without it being marred by misery. I know that I'll get huge and uncomfortable in later weeks. I know that labour and birth can be terrifying and indescribably painful. I know that our lives will change when the baby comes. But for now, I am blissfully happy...and so is Pip because I can feel him/her fluttering around at the moment. Very cool indeed.

pet rescue

As we drove to work today, we noticed a lovely German Shepherd trotting up a very busy street, unattended. We both knew instantly that she must have strayed away from home, so Paul turned the car around so he could check her tags. She was actually heading in the direction of home; she lived up the road and her tag said she was called "Zena". Paul took Zena by the collar and walked her home, and put her in the back garden when he got no answer at the door. He drove around trying to spot someone who looked like they had lost their dog, but to no avail. We went back to the house, just around the same time that Zena's owner returned after searching the fields for her. Zena is a pup, less than a year old, and although she listens to the husband she is not so obedient with the wife. She was taking Zena for a walk and the dog ran off, but luckily she did seem clever enough to know where home was after her little adventure. Zena's owner was very thankful and Zena herself gave us several wags and enthusiastic licks.



Dog karma. Paul figures that if he takes the time to return wandering dogs to their owners, someone might return the favour for us one day, should we ever need it. This is the second dog he's returned home safely, so I think our dog karma should be in top shape.

mums and dads

I'm very pleased to say that my parents spent a day on their own touring Cambridge yesterday and emerged unscathed. They took an open top bus tour and saw all the sights, and even stopped for an afternoon tea, I say tally ho pip pip. Paul's Mum and Dad drove up from Kent at lunchtime and met my parents for the very first time that evening. It went swimmingly; everyone liked each other and a good time was had by all. Needless to say, I had an excellent night's sleep last night and feel like a million bucks today.



My future in-laws have very kindly offered to play tour guides for Mom and Dad while we're at work, and for that, I am eternally grateful. I had visions of them wandering around Huntingdon trying to find something to occupy their time for three days. There's only so much you can see and do at WH Smith and Sainsbury's, really. They are off to the North Norfolk coast today, perhaps with a stop at Sandringham. Jealous. My office is not nearly that exciting or scenic.



One more day of work, then we're off to London on Thursday, Friday we take care of last minute wedding details and entertain our many guests, and then Saturday we're up to something. Can't remember what exactly, but I think it involves a nice lunch out and I probably have to shave my legs at some point beforehand. In the meantime, it's back to editing a UI and putting together something resembling a user guide. If it makes absolutely no sense or contains things like random song lyrics, I do apologise.