A Bun in my Oven

My plans for 2013 were all very exciting and busy. Lots of dancing, training for the Sheffield Half Marathon, being organised with my diet and with the house, I had loads of plans of things that I wanted to write about and then, a mere 19 days into January I found out... that I'm pregnant. Which, admittedly, is also very exciting (and utterly terrifying!) but in a very different way.

I have never been desperate for children. I know people who just know that having a child is exactly what they want, or even need, and that it will add something to their lives and complete the puzzle. But, for me, I always thought that having a baby would mean giving everything up. OK, maybe not everything, but I have been living a very busy life and there is no way that it will ever be the same. In fact, it has already changed.

What has surprised me is how little I've minded the change. When I first found out I thought to myself that I can keep going dancing, and keep running (after all, I don't run very fast) and keep on top of the housework, and generally just do all the normal stuff. But the first 3 months of pregnancy are shit. Really, really shit. I am told that now I'm approaching the second trimester things will probably improve and I can't bloody wait.

Within days of finding out the fatigue hit me. After being at work all day I have little or no energy left in the evenings. I manage to get the dogs out for their evening walk, but other than that I'm on the sofa watching TV (hello season 1 - and 2 - oh, and 3 - of Buffy) or in bed by 9. The weekends aren't much better. If Mr. Riley's not home to cook I generally have toast.

Thankfully I have only been sick twice. Once after eating far too much when I invited people round for Burns' Night celebrations (for once it wasn't the wine... I was sneaking white grape juice into my wine glass!) and once in the morning. But I have felt queasy ALL the time. The only thing that has helped has been to eat, and sometimes that makes me feel better for a couple of hours, but sometimes it only helps for the duration of time that I'm actually eating. More recently I have found that having breakfast, fruit snacks during the morning, lunch at 12, a small bowl of salad at 2 and then an early tea has helped.

Oh yeah, and I'm struggling to digest food, so I feel full and uncomfortable a lot of the time. And I'm doing really stinky farts, which I blame on the dogs even if I'm the only one in.

I'm already up to an E cup in bra size, and my boobs hurt.

I also cry at everything. The other day I cried because I had cheese on toast (with marmite) for lunch. Why? Because I remember my mum making me that for my lunch when I was little and I can't wait to be able to do that for my kid. Seriously, though, cheese on toast? I'm an easy cryer at the best of times, but this is getting ridiculous.

In reality, I think I'm probably having a relatively easy time of it. Work have been brilliant, I'm still functioning for most things, Mr. Riley has taken complete control of the housework, cooking and domestic chores and been an absolute star. I haven't had any problems with my skin and I've been given a much needed excuse to be really lazy for a change. I desperately miss dancing, but have just been too tired.

So, whilst life has changed, it has been more about a change in priorities rather than 'giving everything up'. I'll not forget how to dance, and it will still be there when I'm ready to go back. Who knows, if it's definitely a baby in there and not a puppy, then maybe it will come out Charlestoning and we can go together. My due date is currently inbetween WI nights - will it be possible to not miss one??? As for friends, I'm hoping that my closest friends will still be there. A lot of us are around the age of having babies anyway, so maybe some of them won't be too far behind. Maybe the others won't be put off by my baby-bore stage that I will, without doubt, go through. Also, there will be new people to meet and share experiences with. 

I'm hoping that the coming weeks will show an increase in energy and a decrease in queasiness and now that we're out of the high-risk first trimester I'm looking forward to making plans, decorating the nursery, choosing names (can I go with Lindy Hope and Charles Tony????) and generally finding out what life as a real grown-up is like. Oh, and I'm planning the weirdest post-birth meal that includes blue cheese, pate, sushi, dippy eggs, pink steak etc etc etc

Auld Lang Syne

2012 has been an amazing year, and the ups have far outweighed the downs. I learnt how to Lindy Hop, we've been to Spain, I got an A* in my GCSE Spanish, I had a Charleston hen do, we got married, had a fabulous honeymoon in Italy, redecorated the living room, have been on some fantastic walks with our dog, Levi, and have finished it by adopting a lovely new dog called Jess. I have spent time with family and friends, made new friends, and danced. And danced. Oh, and danced some more.

As the world didn't come to an end on any of the numerous predicted world-ending dates, I think it's time to sit and have a think about what my New Year's Resolutions for 2013 are going to be to help it be (almost) as good.

A Complimentary Culture
In a time when people seem quick to complain about things, I'm going to make an effort to be quick to compliment. If a salesperson is particularly helpful, or a product I buy is particularly good, or an event I go to is particularly good, I'm going to be writing a very friendly letter.

Shop Local
When I first thought about this one, I thought about trying to avoid tax avoiders. Places like Starbucks and Ikea are pretty easy to find alternatives for, but when you think about trying to avoid Google, it starts getting harder. A friend pointed out that all these companies are doing is paying the least amount of tax that they are legally obliged to, and whilst I think that there is some truth in that, I also believe that there is something ethically wrong about it. The blame should, however, rest with the government for allowing the loopholes in the first place and, unfortunately, we definitely can't avoid them without moving somewhere with different (or worse) problems than the UK. Maybe if Scotland goes, the Rileys will go too...
Anyway, in the meantime, I decided that as we live in Sheffield, which is approaching some kind of foodie haven, with a bit of foresight and planning we can reduce what we spend in big supermarkets and make the most of local produce and local suppliers. I have even bought myself an old lady wheeled shopping trolley in preparation!  Our milk will be from Our Cow Molly, our meat from the local butcher, our eggs from my egg lady, and we will make use of Sheffield's craft and vintage fayres for presents, along with the Nichols Building and Sheffield Antiques Quarter. Any suggestions for other local suppliers will be gratefully received!

Debt Reduction
So, with a wedding and two fabulous holidays this year and previously a good while of living slightly above our means has led me to announce that 2013 will be the year to pay stuff off. We will only be buying things that we can afford to pay for, and I intend to have made a sizeable dent in our debt... the first aim is to get us out of Riley Recession and have two consecutive quarters where our debt has reduced instead of increased. If we can't afford to buy something, we don't buy it. Nothing is to go on credit cards.

The Normal Shit
Every single year I say "Lose Weight, Exercise More, Keep the House Tidy". These are standing resolutions and I'm making them again. Fortunately I've eaten a fucking shit load since the wedding, so am at my heaviest that I've been for a while, therefore losing weight should be easy (if that can't be called cheating!), I definitely want to get back to cycling to work again this year, and I have already signed up for the Lincoln 10k and the Sheffield Half Marathon so am dusting my running shoes off. We've also got a nice new living room that I'm DETERMINED to keep tidy and presentable, so maybe, just maybe, in a year's time, as I reflect over 2013, I'll be able to say that I actually managed these three!

Photography Challenge
We bought a Nikon d3100 earlier in the year, and I haven't had it off the auto settings yet, so I have signed up to 365 Project to kick me into learning a bit more about my camera. My username is MrsWickie (of course).

Now all that's left to do today is to reflect on the good and bad from 2012, to celebrate the coming in of 2013 and to look forward to what the new year will bring. I hope it is a lucky one for everyone, that people can appreciate the good stuff and can find a way to cope with the bad.

And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere !
and gie's a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll tak a right gude-willy waught,
for auld lang syne.