The best ever day!

My gorgeous niece arrived today, safe and sound.
I have never been more grateful or in love. I have also never felt more far away.
Isn't she just the most spectacular thing you've ever seen?!

Noooo, bellybutton, nooooo!

My bellybutton has gone all weird!

I'm shocked at how suddenly, it went from in, to flatter and now it starting to bulge a little! Yuck!

All my laparoscopy scars are not helping matters - giving it a weird puffy look!!

I guess baba had a growth spurt over the past couple of days.

Growth scan on Monday to see how she's doing. 

And tomorrow is my last day at work!

How did I get here?! It seems so sudden.

We don't celebrate Thanksgiving over here, but happy Thanksgiving to all those who celebrate, and I'm sitting over here counting my blessings too. So blessed.

Remember my SIL who also got pregnant with IVF?

Well, I'm going to be an aunty TOMORROW!!!!!!!!

Please all send good positive thoughts for a healthy and safe arrival for both mom and baby.

Love to you all.

~Sabine~

P.S. Bratty, if you're reading this, I would love to be able to read your blog but have no idea how to get hold of you! Hope all is well?! xx

Mission accomplished?

Thank you all for your lovely words of advice. It helped SO much!
Yesterday I called my friend and I told her, thanks so much for offering the stuff to us, but we just have so much already and don't really have any need for it.
It was so much easier than I thought. I really have to stop making mountains out of molehills.
She took it very graciously, said 'no problem' and I offered to take it back over to her this evening.
We went, dropped off the stuff, ate dinner together and that was it...

...Until I got home and realised I forgot to take one of the bags!
Now I have to call her again and arrange to take it back again!! Embarrassing!
Bloody baby brain!

~Sabine~

P.S. Marcia, you asked what put me off about the stuff? It's not that it's hand-me-downs as I have already borrowed quite a few things from friends - it was the fact they were broken, really poor condition and dirty! Broken stuff I would put straight in the bin, same goes for clothes with holes, and dirty - I don't have time or energy to be cleaning bouncer seats etc! Also, trying to figure out how to turn on my email thing but in the meantime: leighsabine. at. gmail.com :)

How to say no without hurting a friend's feelings...

A lovely and well meaning friend gave me three huge black bags of baby clothes and a bouncer and a swing. She wants it back when I'm done with it.
Problem is - Most of the stuff is at least 6 years old and been worn by both her daughters. The rest is from someone else I don't know. Normally, this wouldn't be a problem, and I don't mean to sound snobbish, but the stuff looks so old and worn, and the rest of it is filthy! Some had old baby vomit on it, holes and the bouncer chair etc is also filthy. My husband almost died when he saw it! He absolutely refuses to put it anywhere near our baby.

Now - the problem. Originally I thought all the stuff was to be gotten rid of after us, so I thought I could just give it to charity if I didn't want it and she would be none the wiser. So when she asked if I wanted it, I said sure, and thanks.

Clearly, I don't want to keep any of it.
How do I give it back to her without offending her or hurting her feelings?

I always suck at this kind of thing...

Also, I can't store it and give it back to her later as we are currently in a small apartment (till we hopefully move next year) and are already struggling with space as it is!

Help!!

~Sabine~