It's possible that only the Americans will get this one...

Let's just say, it could be worse.

...when I don't have to wait 30 minutes in the humid sun for the bus to arrive. Or at the intersection. Or for the train. Or for my connecting bus to arrive. In a word, happiness is when I can make it from one side of town to the other in less than 50 minutes. (Since it only takes 25 minutes to ride a push bike from one side of town to the other, I don't think this is too much to ask. Is it?)

...when my husband cooks me dinner. Sleeping in next to him on a Monday morning (I love Mondays! The only day we both have off together.) And when he reads to me from 'that Book we all like to read' before we go to bed at night. Or offers me his second pillow so I can now sleep on three pillows in various positions. Happiness is when he gives me a foot rub even when I know he'd rather be doing something else.

...when I can remember all my characters and impress my teacher. On Tuesdays this can happen -- by Thursday, well, I'm not sure what goes on in that supposed brain of mine.

...when I put something in the oven and remember it's there before it burns.

...when the restaurant or shop has nice bathrooms. Albeit my standard for 'nice' has probably gone down. By 'nice' I mean, cleanish, has good light, and can be summed up in one word: McDonalds. (Meaning McDonald's has the nicest bathrooms in town...and KFC...wonder why? I hate supporting these establishments but sometimes, I just can't use the other bathrooms.)

...going to your favourite restaurant after months of not going and finding out it's still there!

...watching a dvd all the way to the end without it stopping, switching to Russian, or having a fat little Chinese man walk across the bottom of the screen several times -- actually just watching a dvd in English is happiness to me!

...discovering a really nice pool within 10 minutes walking distance from your house and having it predominately to yourself between the hours of 3:30 to 5:30 in the afternoon. I am not afraid to tan!

...sun -- it cures everything.

...Chinglish -- it never ceases to make me laugh.

...$2 hair washes and massages for under $5. If that's not reason to stay in China, I don't know what is.

...Chinese Ayi's (Aunties) who offer me all sorts of pregnancy and child rearing advice -- from the weird to the 'makes sense' -- but that's a whole other post right there. At least, I'm trying to convince myself of this one.

...the apartments we lived in since being here. Especially this one. Air conditioning. Couches that aren't made from wood. And it only took us one whole day to 'thoroughly clean' the entire place. Happiness is a thoroughly, spring cleaned, mould free apartment!

...playing with 'my kids' at the orphanage. Letting them rub my belly (ok...this is hard for me but happiness is seeing the look on their faces while they rub my belly...like some kind of magical thing has happened...it's weird). Hearing them try to use their English around me and patiently correcting my Chinese over and over and over... Happiness is trying to translate 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' into Chinese...or is that hilarity?

...knowing that my children will see the world while they're still young and speak better Chinese than me. And probably eat stranger food than I have, like, oh, I don't know, say, duck tongue? And perhaps enjoy Durian. Although they will have to eat that outside.

...mis-matched dishes and recycled clothes -- because I am not afraid to use them.

...emails, facebook and blogs -- because I swear there's a rest of the world where they don't wear skin toned nylon socks with their sandals and short shorts because you can't see them or that the mullet hair-style is not still in fashion. And Christmas decoration most emphatically should not still be up in June (no matter how much more like Christmas, June feels than December).

...happiness is minimalisticism. I know that's not a word but I'm inventing it. It's a way of living without too much stuff. If it doesn't fit within the luggage limit, it doesn't come. If it doesn't fit into two boxes, it doesn't stay. If you buy something new, you give away something. If I can't answer 'Yes, I truly need that.' -- maybe, just maybe, I don't really need to get it this time. Again, another thing I'm working to convince myself of.

...when my Chinese friends want to go out for coffee or tea or some other un-caffeinated drink and actually talk about things that matter in life. No shopping.

...knowing that in 49 more sleeps, I'll see my family for the first time in four and a half years!

...knowing that in 20 something weeks, I'll meet my precious baby, face to face, for the first time.

We're doing fine, thank-you so much for asking. Now that I'm over the nausea (well except for that taxi ride two days ago) and the epic battle of pulling myself together emotionally everyday (knock on wood). Yes, the bubs and I are doing quite well actually.

We're 17 weeks now. We measure at 82 cm. We weigh about 51 or 2 kg. I'm guessing because I haven't weighed myself in a week -- the theory the gym has about air con and not turning it on or you won't sweat and then you'll die as opposed to the no air con so you will sweat so your body won't overheat and you won't die isn't panning out too well for me. Once I realize that my mantra during the yoga class was 'I'm not going to die...I'm not going to die...its only 40 more minutes...how could I ever survive the hot yoga class?!', I figured my gyms days could quite possibly be over. Its cooler for me to take a walk in the park in the morning and go to the pool and swim laps twice a week. Even though Chinese men in speedos are rather scary...especially with Hello Kitty on each butt cheek (Excuse me sir, would it be exceptionally rude of me to take a photo of your behind for my Wordless Wednesday post?)

16 weeks

I bought these Abercrombie and Fitch jeans from a thrift store in the States about a month before we left for China. Brand spanking new -- tags still on -- for only $2. Sure they were slightly too big (I had to adjust the buttons to make them stay up) but who can pass up an op-shop bargain like that?! Not me...its in my blood after all...at least three generations that I know of... Anyway, three months of living in China and I had to adjust the buttons for a second time...one year and they were way.too.big.

Now...both of us fit perfectly back into the original size! For some reason, I'm excited about that. Too bad its too hot to wear jeans now and I'll probably be to big for them by the time we get back to Australia...let me revel in my moment!

I look pregnant now. On a very over-crowded bus the other day, the bus driver made someone give up their seat for me. I thought I'd be at least 5 months pregnant before that happened. So I'm still not sure how I feel about that. However, I can't deny my clothes are getting too tight. I already wear the largest size when it comes to Chinese clothes and I'm not really emotionally ready to purchase those ugly Chinese maternity tents. My Chinese friend and I walked by a maternity store the other day and she said something along the lines of 'oh I guess you have to shop here now.' And then she stopped by the window to look at the clothes, turned to me and said 'please tell me you're not going to wear things like this.' So I'm in the process of 'up-cycling' my clothes. My skirts are becoming dresses/shirts. Add a belt and hey presto! I'm quite pleased with myself. Why should I purchase a tent when I can make my own?

So last week -- 16 weeks -- was the last time baby would be able to fit in a coffee cup. He/she is no longer able to hide very well in a pocket, let alone my stomach. This week, baby is the side of Daddy's hand from the tip of his point finger to base of his palm. Three more weeks and we're half way. I think we're decided on names although we're not going to tell anyone till bubs is born (in case I change my mind. There is a slight possibility that bub's will not look like either of the names we've picked out, you know.) We're both now realizing that making decisions for this baby's well being begins now -- our lives have already changed significantly. Our lifestyle, where we live, what we eat already affects our parenting choices...and it only gets bigger from here. And better. I think we're pretty excited, actually -- can't wait to meet you, Baby!

I'm back! So is summer, searing heat, and air con. Along with swimming pools, fat Chinese men in speedos (or heck, just their underwear -- what's the difference really?) and watermelon.

And fare thee well to the writer's block...I hope.

Here's a quick 'check in/check out' summary of our life in the minute:

* Only 56 days till we jump on a plane to Singapore and then another one to Cairns which means 58 more days till I see the family without a computer screen...and the food...(but who's counting?).

* Only 22 weeks and 3 days till bubs arrives (at least that's what the internet tells me. Although I still think 10/10/10 would be a much better birthday).

* Jason has changed all the photo stuff around on the computer to a new programme so I'll have to wait till he's home for me to put all my posts up now (not nice to change things like that on a poor pregnant woman with preggo brain).

* I have my husband back to a relatively normal schedule now -- I LOVE Mondays!

* My parents are coming to visit next year! (Its true what they say: If you make a baby, they will come...). I love you Air Asia!

* I've got serious 'nesting syndrome' and am unable to do anything about it other than peruse interior decorating blogs such as this.

*And finally for Cait: I can't understand much of what he's singing because its so jolly fast but in the back of my mind, I have this little fantasy that one day, I'd be able to play the violin like this...of course that would require me to be in the same country as my violin and to start lessons from scratch again but *sigh* we all can dream right? Bring your violin or cello when you come -- everyone will LOVE you for it! PS -- let's pretend that their band name isn't "Trampled by Turtles"...it just doesn't sound very manly to me.