Steak Fries

As you know from one of my previous entries, I have been missing hot chips, so when we went out for dinner tonight and I saw them on the menu, I couldn't resist ordering them.

Unfortunately, they weren't as good as the ones we have back in Oz. I am sure it is the potatoes...or maybe the oil..... *shrug* .....they just aren't the same............ Oh well.

Just thought I would share that useless piece of information with you :)

Driving Update

Well, I had my 2nd driving lesson today and I drove the entire hour and a half. Roundabouts are now okay where as parking is now not my favourite :) I did all the same things today as last Thursday except today I had a go at parking and reversing out of a carpark. All I can say is thank goodness there were no cars in the carpark!!!

I now need to attend 2 lectures, one is an introduction to driving in the UAE and the other is on traffic signals. My instructor said I am still doing very well and improving greatly and she is sending me to the lectures earlier than she usually sends her students! Not bad......

I also need a doctors letter saying I am fine to take driving lessons - they are a little concerned that I am 29 weeks pregnant, but I doubt my doctor will have any problems with writing me a permission letter. *Fingers Crossed*

Next lesson should be Thursday at 3. Wish me luck!

Take That Dad!

It is the most AMAZING experience feeling your baby move around inside of you, however it is really really really special to see your entire stomach EXPLODE as the baby kicks inside. I was reading the other day when I saw my whole tummy pulsate and move. It was absolutely INCREDIBLE!

I couldn't wait for Cameron to see it......and he finally had his chance about 10 minutes ago.....Bub had been very active for most of the night and FINALLY managed a few HUGE kicks, big enough for my stomach to move and Cameron to see it. The silly boy then put his ear to my tummy and Bubba kicked him on the side of his face!!!

A very special moment :)

Watch Out Dubai

An official warning has been issued - Kathryn's is now on the road!!!

My driving lessons started today - OH MY GOSH what a BUZZ! It went really well and I was proud of how much I achieved, in my first lesson. Fortunately, I have had about 22 hours experience on the road, from my lessons (with Cameron) in Sydney, which made my first lesson here far less terrifying than I expected it to be. I tackled stopping, starting, back streets, left turns, right turns, semi-main roads (with a fair amount of trucks and cars) roundabouts, (not my favourite) traffic lights, roadworks, U-turns & one opportunity to park the car (right at the end of the lesson). My instructor said I did extremely well for my first lesson here and commented that she didn't need to use her emergency brake at any stage, which has never happened with a student during their first lesson. I drove for about an hour and a half and felt quite confident & comfortable during the whole experience.

Three things I learnt that differ here than in Australia (as follows)

1. In case of emergency (such as an accident or children on the road) the hazard lights get turned on BEFORE the brake is applied.

2. If the traffic light turns yellow and you CAN see the pedestrian crossing, then you should apply the brake and stop, however if you CANNOT see the pedestrian crossing then you should go faster to get through the lights before they turn red.

3. The high beam lights are used to "flash" the car in front if they are not going fast enough, or if you want the car in front to move out of the lane, so you can go faster.

Go Figure!!!

I am really looking forward to my next lesson next Monday - Inshallah (Translated to God Willing - which is a VERY common (and sometimes annoying) phrase here!)

Rudeness in the shopping centre (Spinneys)

We decided to go to the Spinneys supermarket in the springs to do our shopping this week - and to be honest, I really liked it. It was spacious, clean, had fresher produce and best of all, didn't make me feel sick with the smells! A HUGE bonus. However, I was walking down an aisle when suddenly from behind I hear "hey fatty, hurry up and move before I ram you with my trolley".....I turn around stunned and Lo and Behold it was my precious husband (which I knew - I know his voice too well) with a huge smirk on his face! It sure did make me giggle because from behind I don't even look pregnant!

**I shouldn't really be dobbing on him because at the moment he is slaving over a hot stove in the kitchen making me creamy tomato soup :) **

Here are a couple of updated photos of my growing bump.

28 Weeks and 3 Days - front on.

side on....

My bump is definently growing.....but as you can see the rest of me isn't.....Woo Hoo!!!!!

Montage.....Finally Completed

Do you remember ages ago I mentioned that we were going to do a photo montage??? Well, we finally completed it and got it printed. It looks far better in the flesh, however I thought I would post some photos to give you an idea of how cool it is.

Our Fabulous Montage (with flash)

Our Fabulous Montage (without flash)

Things I miss.....

There are lots of things I miss about Australia. At the top of the list (of course) are our family and friends. That will also be the case and go without saying, but there are alot of other things i miss as well. Here is a list of the things I miss the most:

* Bacon and Egg McMuffins (we can get bacon and ham here but it is not quite the same)

* I miss working, maybe not as much work as the kids I cared for and actually being around kids.

* Crumpets....hot buttery crumpets lathered with butter until it is drippy and vegemite. Yum, I can almost taste it now....

* My favourite TV shows....even though Dad tapes Home and Away & All Saints on DVD and sends to me....I still miss Australian TV.

* Catching a train, bus or any other form of public transport.....I just can't bring myself to do it here

* The weather, especially now as we are coming into a very HOT summer....I actually find myself wishing I could be outside in the cold and rain, even just for a few minutes.

* BBQ's....

* Silverside

* Fresh fruit and veg that lasts longer than 2-3 days....we are so spoilt with the highest quality fruit and veg in Oz - although, here in the UAE we are very spoilt with the highest quality meat (not that I can really stomach much meat while I am pregnant, it is really really good anyway)

HOWEVER....the biggest thing I miss is....................

HOT CHIPS!

Chips with chicken salt....tomato sauce.....vinegar...even gravy....I MISS THEM ALL!!!

Sounds weird I know, but all the chips here are shoe string fries, not a decent chunky potato chip and the shoestring fries don't even taste the same.....must be different potatoes.

Missing all my favourite things here makes being home all the more betterer....I make mum a HUGE list of all the things she has to have at home or cook for me....all the things I can't find or get here. Ben and Kalee have sole responsibility for the Bacon and Egg McMuffins, considering Perth is our first port of call back into Oz, so breccy the next morning always includes a McMuffin :)

Counting down the days till Christmas......

Happy Mother's Day

Dear Mum (Bev) and Mum (Jan)

We hope you both have a very special Mother's Day. We wish we could be with you both, but our love for you remains the same, even though we are so far away.

Thank you for being such wonderful Mums. We wouldn't be the people we are today without your love, support, wisdom and understanding.

Our love to you both, today and every other day.

Kathryn and Cameron

oxoxox

P.S. To all the other mums out there - Happy Mother's Day to you too :)

Cameron's First Solo Flight

Cameron taking the plane out to the runway.

Getting the plane off the ground...

We have lift off!

Cruising in the air....

About to turn for first time...

Coming in for landing...

Almost landed!

Cameron with his new plane. First Flight Done! No crashes, no breakages - a very successful maiden flight!

(See the Burj Dubai in the background???)

Wild Wadi - Saturday 5th May 2007

We, along with 2 other couples went to Wild Wadi last Saturday and had an ABSOLUTELY fantastic time. Kelly, Andrew and their son Alexander (4 & 1/2 months) & Suzanne, G and their daughter Sophia (6 1/2 months) and us. It was 38 degrees and even in the shade you could feel the heat. We were there at 11, on opening, and left at 5. Kelly and Andrew left a little earlier as Alexander was hot and tired but the rest of us left at 5 after a day of fun and laughter. We each spent time looking after the kids so the couples could go off for awhile and then we left the guys with the bubs so the girls could go on a ride and vice versa. The food and water was expensive, but no worse then in Australia at our theme parks. The wave pool was awesome but I was quite cautious going on the water slides and stuff being pregnant, even though, I still had lots of fun. It was great to get out and do something, especially with other people :)

Kelly took the photos - I thought I would share them with you.

Kelly, Andrew and Alexander are leaving Dubai soon (9th June) to go back to Melbourne and we will miss them very much. Hopefully we will catch up with them in Australia when we are back.

While we were at Wild Wadi, I saw an orange & black butterfly - the first butterfly I have seen since being in Oz. I figure they are few and far between here, so was very happy to spot one :)

The above photo is of Cameron and Alexander.

Our Lounge Room & Nursery

Well, last weekend we finally took the plunge and did all the baby shopping, hence our lounge room now also doubles as the baby's nursery. As I am almost 26 weeks, we thought it about time that we started getting organised for our little arrival.

The lounge room / nursery

The baby's cradle - which will move into our bedroom after bub is born.

The nappy change table and combination cupboard where everything is supposed to fit :)

The pram (Quinny) is fantastic - the seat doubles as a car seat for the first months. We also have another chair for it once bub is older.

My super comfortable rocking recliner chair.

We also bought baby blankets, clothes, dummies, a bath, etc etc. The theme is Winnie The Pooh and the nursery colours are pale lemon and pale green so do not give away the gender of the baby. I also have some things in pink AND blue as they have been gifts from people, so please don't think I am having twins.....there is definently only one baby :)

Happy Birthday Kalee

Dearest Kalee,

We hope your birthday is as special to you as you are to us.

Lots of love and a million hugs

Kathryn, Cameron & Bubs

oxoxoxox

Kathryn at 24 weeks and 6 days pregnant

Well, here you go.....the updated "growing bump" photo to mark the beginning of the new month. My t-shirt was pulled tight so you could see how much I am (or aren't) showing, so at times, considering I do not wear my clothes like this, most people still don't realise I am pregnant, as my clothes are looser. Cameron gets such a kick out of telling me that my tummy is expanding, whereas I keep reminding him that mine is still smaller than his :) That shuts him up for a little while *wink*

My tummy measures 88cm round.....