She has arrived...

YAY - she has arrived!!!!!

Steph never thought this day would ever come around... its been brewing for a good nine months, and we had a final referral to see our specialist. Dr Dy-Son comes in high regard, and he really did deliver and it was really painless for Steph..

She was a little smaller than we first thought, but the Dr said "at least she can fit in our cupboard and not in the bedroom for people to play with"...

She is not like we imagined her to look, but we don't think she will get picked on by the others...

We have her at home now, and she is even crawling around sometimes...

The good thing to is that the Dr gave us a 5 year warranty, just in case she shits herself.

We are so proud of her - click here to have a look at her..

Toot Toot

The weekend... Make your vote!!!

Hey there,

So Steph is busy snoring- I'm up for a little bit..
This is the second time I have posted this blog (silly Windows Vista!!! - This goes out to anyone - DONT INSTALL IT YET!!!) - so that is enough tech talk from me...
Saturday was a very quiet one for us.. not much happened really - Steph stayed home and I helped Aaron with doing stuff that guys with trucks do...
We looked after Sophie for the night - she is one crazy girl.. snores like mad...
Spent most of today with Madison and Sophie, we went and saw their mum do so marching - those girls are going to take after her mum!!!.. then we went to the Palmy Esplande Day (is like a kids day)... so much for the kids to see and do!!!
Wholly cow there was so many children and parents around... and imagine - this time next year we will be parents there with our little bubs doing what they are doing now!!! (hard to believe - reality of it is that it will happen way sooner!!!).
Anyhows, we got some practise in - you can see by the pic that there was what I reckon was the 'worlds smallest Ferris wheel' at the park - poor Madison and Sophie got not much room after 'big boned Grunta' got in the seat... was a good by all the people down below!!!...
After we played, it was home time... then back for tea... that was that...

We have so many people ask 'When are you due' (sorry but we have no idea!!) - click here for what the scans say - but now you can have your say in when you reckon its going to happen.. Comment us what you reckon too and you could win big, real BIG!!! (possibly the first baby sitting job!!! - hehehe)...

Judder bars might be the best option

Yello,

End of the day is near, and it is now raining - so that is great for the grass eh!!!...

So, today has been a busy one for Steph and I... we had a midwife appointment in the morning. After a poke and prod of Stephs belly - the midwife said that the baby is big, and was a wee bit worried about the fact that she can feel the bones of the baby through Stephs belly... Also Stephs blood pressure was a lot higher than the normal.... Her favourite words (Vagina & Cervix) never got a mention!!!..

With five mins - We got sent down to the monitoring room in the hospital and Steph got wired up for 30 mins of monitoring... All was good there - the up and downs on the paper where 'perfect' in the midwifes eyes. Just as we where leaving, she handed us an appointment that afternoon for an ultrascan to see how much liquid is truly in the belly... So with a quick lunch and return to home (and work for Grant) - we went back for an ultrascan - Yes another one!!

We saw the baby again - head engaged and ready to race... apparently the position is good... and the liquid around the belly was twice as much as the minimum... BUT... the ultrascan did show the belly of the baby was in the top 5% of the 'oversize' or 'large' group (sorta expect that with Grants big belly eh Vicki!!!)... So after a quick phone call the doctors - we were told we can go home and they will lookout for a big belly on the delivery table!!!..

Steph is buggered now.... sleep is calling for her.. and it is good for her to get as much rest as possible...

So, We might have a bit a quite weekend is planned for us, just incase... I will see if we can either go off road or find a place with really high judder bars in the morning... (dont tell Steph!!!! hehehe).

Toot Toot

P.S. Sorry Mum & Dad Mantle - no need to pack an night bag and leave Hawera just yet.... (but - will tell you how the idea for judder bars go!!)

New pic for Wednesday

Hey there,

As promised a pic of Steph now...

Not much really has changed for this week... Steph is feeling very tired and hot, but is looking great all things considered... She is so ready for the next stage of motherhood.
We have another midwife appointment on Friday... will we make it? (the way things are going... maybe I think so).

Come back you hear!!!

Nada - zip

Hello,

Well its been a few days, things are still going... not much happening.. Steph is doing well...

Will post a pic of her up tonight...

We are waiting....

Tee Ball, Midwife and Two Showers

Yello,
How goes you all?? We all good.. got up super early to go and see Madison play her first game of ‘Tee Ball’ for her school – all was good, Madison enjoyed herself – she wore her playing uniform all of Friday after school...

We went back to our place, and found Matt, Aaron and Shane weren’t far behind us... They came a checked out our infinity water thingee (it runs by gas outside instead of a water cylinder).
Then we went to the midwife for a check up – we got the all clear from her... no dramas at all.. she said Steph is ‘glowing’. Steph has to take it easy, and rest more... otherwise in great shape all things considered...

It was back home and before we knew it, we were right into it... no dramas really with putting the gas water ‘dohicky’ in outside... apart from Shane drilling a hole in the middle of our bathroom floor - we now have really fast and hot water... and we have no water cylinder inside and fridge where the cylinder was... Big shout outs go to Aaron, Jason, Matt and Shane for some really great work.... we really appreciate it!!!

While all this was happening, Steph was at her 2nd baby shower – Kiri orgainsed this one (Thanks Kiri)... Steph had great fun, and we came home with another boot load of baby stuff... Steph says a big thank you to all the chicks that went!!!

So, yeah that is it for now..has been a real eventful day.... we had two showers today (a baby shower and a gas water one now – hehehehe)

We have got some party down the road – the cops where there when we rolled in tonight... is going to be a sleepless night with those buggers!!

Thanks for reading (sorry if you are bored)

Grunta, Steph & a baby that hasn’t come out of the hole just yet..
P.S. There is some wicked grass photos coming soon Kate!!! (hehehehehe)

Midwife visit due in the morning

UPDATE: Our midwife has been in a delivery all night... So has canned our appointment today until tomorrow (Saturday)...

HAPPY 38th wedding anniversary to Kim & Shona (Grants Parents) - WELLDONE - hope you had a great tea out in Hawera...

We are all good here in Palmy (as always)...
We have midwife appointment in the morning of Friday - "it might be the last one" Steph says (or she hopes!!).. Will post an update as soon as possible afterwards...

If you are driving past our place, you might think our house is on a wobble... well it is... but this time it is thanks heaps to Melissa (from Grants work) - she came round and dropped off a BIG car boot load of blankets, clothes and a toys for us.. Thanks Mel, Mark & boys!!!

P.S. Our house is not really on a wobble... (it is just the baby room sinking!!!)

Not much happening @ our place

Hey there,

Not any news here at the moment... We just keeping on keeping on...
Steph is doing well - she is resting up and doing not too much at the moment...

Check back soon... I am sure we will have some exciting news for you...

Cheers

Sunday here - Sunday gone

Cricky (as Burt Munro word say - just watching 'Fastest Indian' - that gut is was a true legend),

So another Sunday goes by.. Sundays go way to fast..

Started slow, and got no faster really - but where did the day go to??..

We went shopping in the morning, carried onto the afternoon - all we brought was a plastic chain (and lunch) for our efforts...

Steph crashed out, while the lawns got mowed and weeds from the imaginary front fence got in the wheelie bin (rubbish bin)..

Went for a swim - so good there, good for Steph - felt like she was floating on air...

Home again - nothing much doing from that point on... Steph getting more and more aches at the mo... guess that is to be expected eh...

Cheerio - talk next time then.. :)

P.S. Happy Birthday to Paula (Grants sister) for tomorrow - Sorry we cant be there to celebrate your day with you!!! - will call you.... Made a bit of a cockup with your present (yes it we did send it) - you should get it sometime this year we hope...

"Grease Lightening" - but no gravity

Hey,

So we had a crusy day - Palmerston North had closed the main road and a market day down it (it wasn't that great - but next year I bet you it will be bigger). What did have as wicked - it was big arse blow up slide - was taller than a two storied house... If only we had a child so we could race down it eh!!! - maybe next year eh...

The wedding was at four, was out in a garden that was out of town - so after many arm wrestles to find out if we were to go left or right - we got there...

Was a great location, and it wasn't long and they were members of the 'cool club' (you know 'married')... A think I even sore Steph with tear in her eye a couple of times (and it wasn't because she lost the arm wrestles!!!)

After the wedding, we parted company - Steph stayed with the 'girls' and I went with the 'men'.

From all accounts, the wedding after match was good fun - with lots of 'Grease Lightening' playing and dancing!! - apparently, the baby likes the going to weddings!! -Gravity didn't do it's job yet...

Stockcars with the 'men' was wicked - lots of bangs for the buck, 'Palmerston Panthers' won - they outclassed the rest of them. The win wasn't a popular one for the 'others' in crowd, with some real passionate supporters hating the Palmy win.

Then it was getting late in the night, so off to sleep it was..

Bye Bye for now.

Stephs last day & Stockcars

Hey,

Steph had her last day at work for awhile on Friday, she had a good time - and said her farewells to the children, parents and teachers. It was a sad time for her, and means a move on to a full time parent role which she is totally prepared to undertake (but she is unsure when??). So not much will really change for Steph - the only difference is that she cant send the kids home at five o'clock (hehehehe)..

Grant went to the biggest stockcar event in NZ - it was the first day of Teams Champs... it was a really good, big hits and more to come on Saturday night -Go the "Palmy Panthers!!!"...

He got his wish - right when we found the due date, Steph was told "try not giving birth over this weekend!!" (it was a joke!!)... So far it has not happened!!!

Another hot night was last night - Steph is not sleeping all that well... Her Belly has dropped even further - a wheelbarrow in the shed might be needed soon by her (hehehehe - another silly husband joke!!!)...

We are off to Stephs workmates wedding this afternoon - Grant is going to stockcars (again) while Steph is going party on at the after wedding with her workmates... Who knows - gravity might take it course during the "Grease lightening" song and waters might bust (hehehehe - oh CRAP!!!)....

Toot Toot - over for now...

Beautiful day = hot Steph

Yello,

What a hot hot day in the Manawatu, not many clouds in the sky...

Stephs second to last day at work - which is just as well because she is now getting absolutely buggered.. - she has a work shout to put on tomorrow (so you are all invited for smoko - hehehe)..

Grunta went Dannevirke for a drive and drove back via the Saddle Road - man there is alot of windmills up at the windfarm now.. very impressive stuff up there.

All three of us were hot and bothered after work, so decided to go to the for a swim at the baths - that was really refreshing.. Steph found it was light on her back and didn't want to get out.

Gave the grass a bit of a tickle up - spread a bit more seeds to the bald spots... is looking OK...

The plumbers quote has come in, was more than we expected - so have gone back to him to sharpen his pencil... also going for a couple more quotes to check out what is out other prices are out there... not as easy as we thought!!

Over and out (for now)

Baby Shower from Stephs work.

Wholly Cow - It's official - We have a very very very spoilt baby!!!

Steph has just got back from a Baby shower that her work has put on for her... She came in the door with a huge smile... After three trips to empty the car boot (or trunk for you Americans), there is little wonder why the smile was on her face!!.

Whoa, we have a heap of stuff for our baby now... it is truly amazing what gifts we have received... So a big big thank you to the girls at Stephs work..

Susan (Stephs boss) has really gone the extra mile for us. She has drawn up the most grooviest wallpaper border to go right around the walls in the baby room. Have a look at the pic - pretty cool stuff eh!!. Susan has done us light shade with the same pictures on it... Thanks Susan...

You can bet this will be up on the wall sometime in the weekend!!! (Alan I will need to call you about this one)..

Steph now has only two days left at her work - Steph says she can't wait to rest it up!!

Thank you all...
Steph & Grant (and Gruntina)

Ultra scanned.. guess how many pounds??

Hello,

So today is just about at an end..

This morning started pretty abruptly with Grant having to give the Ultra scan people a bit of a push along to get a booking into today - after a few stern words, we got a scan booked for 5pm today.

Stephs day was hot one (and so was Palmerston North weather) - but she is doing well... just sweaty..

Plumber came and gone - he is doing us up a quote, so will be interesting what he comes back with... We have got a small change in the plans, so will be another quote required... never mind...

So 5pm couldn't come soon enough for the both of us, as soon as 'Stephanie Mantle' was called and we where in there like there was no tomorrow - I had only enough time to get in the door and Steph was already on the bed with the top up ready to rumble, I am sure if she knew where the gel was she would have pre-gelled up before the ultrasound lady got there...

Anyhows - the lady was really nice, she did all the scanny type checks and explained everything so well..

The verdict was that there is one baby in the belly (in fact it is a little girl!!!) and is all ready to race out anytime soon... BUT (that infamous BUT!!!)... according to the measurement of the scan, she isn't all that that little - she measures is about 7.2 pounds for close to a 37 week pregnancy...

The lady agreed there was not much more room left in the belly (just as well we not like elephants eh!! - they are pregant for 22 months!!)... and is a little bit of fluid there (she said that is good)..

The lady showed us us a chart to look at, and the our weight for our 37 weeks is just under the maximum limit for the period... it is nothing to be alarmed at, but if Steph goes full term she would only get larger (and I'm no genus!!)... She just must be big boned!!

Steph is at baby shower that work is putting on for her - and I'm home alone... (again - poor Grunta!!)...

Better email this plumber dude now...

Toot Toot for now

Waitangi day over

UPDATE: We have managed to get an ultrascan appointment today @ 5:00PM we will post an update when we find out any news... Cheers


We hope you had a memorable Waitangi Day - what ever you did..
Our day was really a very slow one, we basically kicked around the house and did very little..
Steph slept a bit, I cleaned out the shed..

I tried out a line trimmer that we bought from Mitre 10 a couple of weeks ago - out the box it came, and straight back to the Mitre 10 it went... it worked for a couple of seconds and then it stopped dead...

The bugger was that we didn't have the receipt - so we took the trimmer in anyway... but got sent sent back home to get online and check the day we bought it and tried to remember what we brought with it.. so got it swapped... took it home and found it had already been used and opened...

Thought bugger it - took it back and got money back.

Had lunch there with Stephs friend Kelly.. They got girly chatting (as she does) and I weeded the weeds...

Steph is doing well - very tired, very quickly these days.. But that is to be expected eh...

Steph is going to call the ultra scan people in the morning and hopefully we will get in for a scan on that day.

Plumber is quoting for our gas water system tomorrow also.

Over and out for now..
Steph & Grant

Everyone is related - Right??

Hey - Happy Waitangi Day (is that the right thing to say?)

So, Steph is in bed having a sleep... I'm on the f**ken computer again - but this time it is for a bit of family heritage stuff..







If you are related (close or even remotely connected) to Steph and I - by blood, marriage or however; we would like to invite you into adding your a family tree to ours and see how big it can get.. it is easy and takes less than 30 mins to do and then you can pass it on to many other family member to add their family tree to yours... and so on.. it really is a bit of fun...









Click on one of these pics and have a look at our family trees at the moment... some gaps are already showing - can you help?

I think you get the picture - email or comment this blog if you would like to be invited...

Hey - and if you aren't related but this its a great idea to start you own - try http://www.geni.com/

Have a great Waitangi day - the weather here is great... I'm of out to kill some weeds in the front of the garden (where our imaginary fence is - hehehehe)..

Have a great BBQ in Hawera if you are there - maybe we will get there next year.

Midwife visit and her favourite two words

We have just had our midwife visit...

Wholly hell, all the dramas in giving birth was talked about... man us guys have got it sweet!!...

Anyhows, midwife woke the living crap out of both of us saying what to expect in labour.. I honestly have never heard the two words 'cervex' and 'vigina' spoken so much - I swear they are her favourite words...

Steph was a bit of overwhelmed with it, but all was good..

The midwife checked out the baby - heart beat is all good, she said the head was in the right position, and was ready to launch... She had a bit of a poke around the belly and said 'theres not much room in there'.... So she had given us an appointment sheet for a baby scan to see if the baby will come out where it should or it could be sunroof (C-section) birth...

Here's the funny part... Palmerston North has two places to have an ultrascan (Hospital and Broadway Radiology), which are all run by the same company ... BUT (yes there is always a 'BUT'...)

The hospital doctor is not seeing any more for another 2 weeks for some reason...

And Broadway Radiology is too busy for it (so we have to stand in line)... we have to ring before 8am every morning to see if there is a booking free for the day (Crazy eh!!! - or is that just weird??)

At the end of the day we might have a scan appointment, but the baby could be out before then.. or we might have a distressed baby during birth due to the fact that we couldn't get in for that scan.. (Is this what it means to be a Parent?? - I think so!! - It's started already!! - hehehe)

Anyway... thats enough for now... Be good..

Steph has got friend from Napier (Jody) and England (Anna) visiting for next couple of days...

P.S. Grass is growing well - although its not going to be a golfing green as we first thought.

Our House..

Yo,
Steph is asleep, so I'm on the f**ken computer (hehehehe)... She asked me to put a pic or two of the house for her American friends... I'm not one to argue with a pregnant women (HONEST!!)... so here it is..

Just remember, it is a DYI'ers dream - and it doesn't happen as fast the 'Extreme Makeover' TV show in America.

The Countdown is on

hey just a cheeky little blog... just incase you are wondering...

Click here to find out when the baby is coming to town (according to the scanned due date)

It is getting closer every second!!!

Bad Haircut, Two Birthdays & we have grass (a little bit)

Hey there... our little blogging community is growing - YAY for us!!!
Saturday, Saturdays... we love Saturdays!!
Was a pretty slow start in the morning, with breakfast in the sun.. Washing out, followed by some water on the grass - YAY FOR GRUNTA!! - WE HAVE (a little bit of) GRASS!!
then was into town for a haircut for Grant, while Steph did a little bit of shopping.
Went to JustCuts for haircut - was just Grunta's luck to get the hair butchering that was working that day... is so uneven, and short Grant had to go back to show her what she missed.. So was little grumpy with the girl that did it.. he was not a happy camper. Grey is now the official colour of 2007 also...
After that, it was time to help Kiri and Madison with getting her birthday party ready.. Steph was up in the playhouse cleaning, while Grunta was on the concrete with chalk making up a four square court, hopscotch and all the other cool stuff...
The party was great fun for the kids, and great for Stephs belly with all the party food... All the kids played well with each other, while all the adults where on the booze (apart from poor old Steph of course)
Madisons cake was pretty wicked..
Then as if we didn't have enough to eat then, it was Matt's party straight after that - was at Breakers, good time had by all..

Sucked about the NZ Sevens... was good to see Samoa win..
That was all over by 9:30 and Steph was a walking Zombie by that time. So we went home and did some house cleaning (as all Zombie's do).
So we now have a clean house and a sleeping Zombie that is now snoring..

That's it for now... Be ready for the next exciting installment of this true to life episode were Steph might say one of these things 'Grunta my water has broken' or 'Grunta are you still on that F**ken computer!!"



We should have a vote??

Unborn but a very lucky girl.... and a picnic

Today was good - hey every Friday is eh!!!

Steph is doing well, she reckons she has drop a little more.. Must be a sign of things to come as she went to the supermarket and stocked up on the energy drink and stuff... (maybe the start of nesting???)...

Steph spent most of the day reading books to the kids at work...

Grant spend most of his day in front of a computer that would do what it was meant to...

Grass is still not showing, but is looking wet... am beginning to wonder if we will see the baby before the grass comes out!!!..

The Children centre that Steph works at had a picnic tea - was a leaving party for a lady that worked there for 17 years. They hired a bouncy castle and a obstacle course ending with a big slide at the end.

Madison and Sophie came for fish'n chips, but think they enjoyed the bouncy things alot more... it was like there was thousands of kids there... they all played great - Grant was the babysitter and Steph was the chatterbox talking to the parents...

Anyhows - there some pics of the day...

While we where there - Maria (a lady Steph worked with) gave our little girl many many clothes (thanks Paula) to go in our already overflowing wardrobe... She is a very lucky girl, with many many outfits to wear before she gets to big for her... So big ups and thanks to Maria for all of that stuff today...

Now all we gotta work on is fitting all the clothes in the drawers!!!...

Tomorrow is Matts (Jens one) birthday day and Madisons birthday 'Party'!!!

OK so that's us for now.. Be good.. Be careful.. Come back soon!!!

this is a 28 days left photo

So here we go... Here is a pic of Steph taken tonight..

Looking good eh!!!

More to come

Our last day at antenatal..

Well that was that... we apparently are now WOF'ed for having a baby.. Antenatal is over... We have graduated...
We learnt a heap, and now we have to apply it with the new baby (whenever she arrives)..
No further niggles like Steph had experienced in the weekend...
Steph is buggered tonight, work is wearing her out... don't half blame her...

On another note - My grass is still.... seed.... It rained today, lots.. all is good I hope (show a pic soon)..
Finally have a plumber coming on Wednesday for a quote on the infinity / hot water thingee.. will try another two just in case.

Bedtime now for me and Steph (who has finally seen the final of end of 'Grays Anatomy')

See ya soon... with pics of Steph before she pops!!!