Bye Bye 6 Pack...Hello Hips...
I'll start with the big news first which everyone already knows about but which is my excuse for not updating the blog sooner. I found out I was pregnant on the 27th of April and have been laying low ever since. Now, it isn't as if Tom and I weren't "trying". In fact, we quite enjoyed the "trying". Morning sickness however has given me insight into the level of committment one needs in order to be fully prepared for the first trimester of pregnancy.
There is a distinct difference between "trying" and actually fully appreciating the consequences of "trying". Tom and I freely admit that he is the clucky one. As much as I like kids I have never been the one that must hold the other person's baby. And I REALLY don't get people who think it's fun to change a baby's diaper. Finally, as a sympathy spewer I have been known to run away, dry gagging, when babies throw up. Don't get me wrong, I have always held the position that I am very happy to have kids and that that they will be a welcome addition to my life, but I have never felt that I need kids in order to be a complete person. I think there are many very happy and fulfilled childless people out there.
Well....I've decided that perhaps the first trimester is easier if you have more committment than this. Again, don't get me wrong. I'm very happy to be pregnant. But I am emerging from a 2 month period where I woke up every day feeling like I had a bad bad hangover. Exercise was impossible and studying while you feel sick to your stomach is really not as fun as what it sounds. Throw in the fact that you fall asleep just bending over to tie your shoelaces AND that they recommend giving up caffeine and let's just say, it hasn't been my most productive couple of months. But alas, I am starting to feel better. Rather than being at a "Code Red" level of nauseousness, I'm down to a "Code Yellow" and getting better everyday.
Tom has been absolutely amazing. There were many mornings that he brought me lemon & ginger tea in bed along with a couple of pieces of toast, and many evening that he made dinner, did the laundry etc etc. When I told him about the pregnany he got this massive burst of energy and doesn't seem to have come down from it yet! Let's hope it lasts...
Gun Slinging Cowboys and Card Wielding Bar Wenches - Relay for Life 2008
Some of you may remember that last year we did the Relay for Life with our friends Mark and Vicky. We did it again this year, and had a great time. For those of you not familiar with this, it is an overnight event where a team of people have someone walking around an oval throughout the night. It raises money and awareness of cancer and promotes a healthy lifestyle in preventing it. We found out about the pregnancy just a couple of hours after this photo was taken! The theme this year was "Wild Wild West" and as you can see, we all dressed accordingly.2008 Powerade Hamilton Island Cup
Our other big event in the last few months took place last weekend. It was two years ago, during this event, that Tom got down on one knee and asked for my hand 
in marriage (His version of the story...). We had another great long weekend over on Hamilton Island. We revisited the restaurant where we got engaged and lucky for me, my taste buds decided to reappear just in time. We had the best meal topped off by the best dessert we've had in ages (keep in mind, Airlie has all of 2 nice restaurants left and neither has food which makes you weak at the knees). But I get distracted from the main event....
in marriage (His version of the story...). We had another great long weekend over on Hamilton Island. We revisited the restaurant where we got engaged and lucky for me, my taste buds decided to reappear just in time. We had the best meal topped off by the best dessert we've had in ages (keep in mind, Airlie has all of 2 nice restaurants left and neither has food which makes you weak at the knees). But I get distracted from the main event....Tom got his new one man! He has been borrowing one for the last few months so he was very very pleased to take possession of a brand new Pegasus canoe in which he got a 4th of the 8km event. Not bad considering it was his first time in the canoe and its a different model to the one he's use to.
He then went on to compete with a team put together of paddlers from Airlie (he was the only one from Airlie), Townsville and Mackay. This team got 3 thirds and a 4th. Again, not bad considering this is one of the biggest and most popular Outrigging events in the world! The events they got third in had Team New Zealand and Outrigging Australia placing 1st and 2nd so they were very very pleased. This is the regatta which has the 42km "change over" race. Throughout the race the guys jump in and out of the boat from a support boat that follows them around the course. Not such a big deal in normal circumstances but on this particular day, a 12 foot tiger shark was spotted at the first change over spot (where everyone was jumping into the water) dining on a poor turtle...It's true. We saw the photos. At least if it just ate a turtle it wasn't going to be too hungry for humans! If you want to see more on the event check out the website - http://www.hamiltoncup.com/
