Sydney, Australia, 1 August, 2010~

I have so much to tell, I don't quite know where to begin.

Tottie Ruth here.  A very pregnant Tottie Ruth, I might add.  A baby boy, due in November, just before the start of summer.  Maybe it's a good thing I'm having him then because it gets bloody damn hot here in December/January, as you are very aware of, from past journal entries.

Can it be it's been six months since I last wrote anything?? Blimey!!  Where does the time go????

I found out I was preggers in March; conceived in February, obviously.  Bingo!! Score!!  So now I'm with child, and getting bigger and bigger every day, I'm afraid.  I feel like a beached whale; it's getting harder to get around easily.  Have to stay in bed, doctor doesn't want me doing anything to endanger me or the health of my baby.

As you can imagine, Bobbo is tickled pink about being a first-time daddy.  I'm excited too; this is an entirely new adventure we will be embarking on.  A lot of me mates have had babies already and lead busy, full lives.  Now it will soon be our turn, but until then, we wait.  And hope.  And pray.

It is now winter here in the Land Down Under; temps in the fifties and sixties, sometimes colder, to where we get flurries, but nothing more than that.  I would like to see a good old-fashioned snowstorm, like they do in the Blues [Tottie means Blue Mountains], but so far, no luck.  Just flurries is all we get 'round here.  The nights are downright chilly: enough to break out the woolies or the sweats and sit by the fireplace to warm our frosty little tootsies.  :)

We have the nursery ready for little Trystan Robert Brighton, which is what we decided to name our little boy-to-be.  Hopefully he will look just like his daddy: me, I'm not much to look at; think I'm rather homely.  Never did like how I look, y'know??

And hopefully Trystan will be born healthy.  I don't even want to think of him as having something wrong with him.  His mum (me) already has an artificial leg; that's gonna be hard enough managing a child since I have a hard time getting around sometimes.  I'm not that fast, especially if I'm on me crutches or have me prosthetic leg off!

Bobbo, he says I worry too damn much.  Maybe so, but he's gotta understand something.  This is our first child.  There are so many variables involved in raising him and so many odds stacked against him.  So why should I be nervous??

When I last wrote, I said I thought I was pregnant.  Wrongo!  A false alarm.  Me period whacked out, but I went to the doc's, and all is okay now.  This time I am truly preggers:  I have the ever-widening girth (and belly) to prove it!!

Doctor has banished me to the bed, so I have to entertain meself until the time comes for us to go to hospital.  Bobbo has had to take leave from his job to take care of me.  I worry about bills and such, but our church takes care of us; they bring us food, clothing/toys for the baby, and even money.  I tell them this isn't necessary, but they don't listen.  Still, it is nice to be thought of and appreciated like this!

In addition to the impending arrival of Trystan, we have a new pet.  A Ragdoll cat named "Hamlet".  A wee little bugger:  creamy-white with brown on his face, ears, tail, and legs, and four white stockings for paws.  His eyes are a rich sapphire-blue colour.  He's so beautiful, and he has such a happy disposition: he purrs almost constantly, and he never fails to keep me in stitches with his escapades!  Little "Hammy" is such a little furry love!!

Since I am preggers, I have had to take leave of me job.  Bobbo has done the same thing, but as I said, members from our church see that we have all we need.  And I spend a lot of time in me bed, reading, doing crossword puzzles, and watching the telly (movies mainly).  I also write letters to me mates all around Australia, New Zealand, and the States (Louie Sandusky, for one, although it's been yonks since I last heard from her; hope she's okay!).

Well, I'm gettin' stupid, so I'm gonna rest me eyes and take a nap.  It seems that's all I do anymore:  sleep.  I will write in here again soon, and hopefully I won't wait six months to do so!  Take care; this is Tottie Brighton saying toodles!  God bless you!

~Love, your mate in Oz, Tottie Ruth.  :D