My First Love

“Princesa…Princesa, wait up!”
I turned round to see Efe walking fast to catch up with me.
What does he want from me? I wondered. We hardly talked; in fact he was never in class. Efe was in the same class as I was-SS1G. Although he was repeating the class (He was supposed to be in SS2), he was still not a serious student. Most times you would find him hanging out with the ‘happening boys’ in school (who were mainly SS3 and SS2 boys) while classes were going on. I was even surprised he was in the laboratory for the just concluded Physics practical.
“Yes…what is it”, I queried feeling impatient as I noticed my friends had moved some distance ahead.
“There is something I want to discuss with you”, he replied.
“Hmmm…hmmm…go on”
“Do you know any Francis?” he asked
“Francis?...no I don’t. What Class?” I asked back
“Francis in SS2E”
Thinking hard, I didn’t recall knowing anyone by that name so I retorted:
“So what’s my own with this Francis? …abeg hurry up, my friends are leaving me behind o!”
“The thing is….eh-eh-eh, you see…hmmm…Francis said I should tell you that he likes you”
“O ti o! Likes me ke!! Abeg o!”
Which kain wahala be this na, I thought. These boys should just leave me alone o! I am determined to remain the good, untainted girl I have always been. I cant’ afford to disappoint my mama with all her advice to me to steer clear of boys and at 14years, I was too young to even think of having a boyfriend.
“See…Efe, plzzz just tell Francis or whatever you call him to leave me alone because I am not interested!”
“But you haven’t even let me finish…”
“I SAID I AM NOT INTERESTED!!!”
I turned away and marched off angrily. Glancing over my shoulder, I could see he was still standing there staring after me. I was sure I had scared him enough not to come back to me with some stupid story of some stupid boy who had decided that I was the book his father had sent him to learn in this school…Rubbish!

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Some days later, I was going home after school with my friends. We all lived in the same area and as such always went home together. The trek from school to the barracks gate was as usual-Long and the blazing hot sun didn’t make it any easier. However, the gists and the banters we shared along the way made the arduous journey bearable.
“Ehen, Princesa…there is something I wanted to tell you o!”
That was Chy, the oldest in our midst. She was also the biggest and more worldly wise that all of us.
“What is it?” I was curious to know. She had this mischievous smile playing on her lips.
“You are really lucky, you know” She replied.
Now I was very curious.
“Lucky…how? Abeg tell me…what is it??”
“Somebody really likes you!” She said happily. From the look on her face, it was news for which I was supposed to be jumping for joy. I didn’t share that view. “Somebody likes me??..and I am supposed to be lucky because of that enh??”
I was visibly disappointed. I had been expecting some really BIG news and not gist about another stupid boy who liked me. Better info like she had glimpsed my report card from our form master and seen that I had 9 As or something like that.
“See this girl o! You don’t know who I am talking about, that’s why”
“And who is he?? The president’s son??...abeg close that matter…I am not interested!”
“Ol’gal, this guy is REALLY loaded o and he likes you very much too”
“Loaded ke?? You don’t seem to get it, do you?? I said I no dey for that kain game”
“Why don’t you get to know him first na?” She was unrelenting.
Who knows how much this boy don take bribe am, I thought to myself.
“Okay so what is his name and what class?”
“Ehen! Now you are talking!! His name is Francis and he is in SS2E”
Not again! This same Francis?! Him no dey tire sef. I pondered.
“Okay so this Francis sent you to me enh? I asked.
“No o! He knows we are friends and confided in me about how he felt, that’s all” She replied.
“Hmmm…hmmm” I was deep in thought.
“Why don’t you give him a chance na? you may just like him o!...Aha!...talk about the devil…there he is!”
I looked up at the direction she was pointing to. There was a group of boys ahead trekking like we were.
“Which of them is Francis?” I asked.
“The tall, dark one on the right” She replied.
I looked harder and more closely. At that same moment, he turned back and our eyes met. Wow! He must have been the most handsome boy I had seen that term. My God! He was very handsome!! Wait a minute, I had seen that face before…in fact I had caught him staring at me on a few occasions at school.
Hmmm…so he was the Francis!
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Weeks later. We were in the ‘danfo’ bus headed home after school, me and my crew.
“Oya owo da(your money)! Everybody bring out ur money…I no get change o!”
It was the bus conductor.
The bus fare was five naira (N5). I had a N20 note, no N5.
“Oya you, wey your money??” he was talking to me.
I gave him my N20 note. “Take your money”
“I don tell you say I no get change and you still dey give me N20, ehn??” He complained.
“As I no come get N5 nko…wetin go happen?’ I snapped at him.
“Bring the money”, he grabbed the N20 from my hands forcefully.
Some 15minutes later, we were nearing the last bustop where everyone would have to get down. Conductor hadn’t given me my change yet.
“Conductor…where my change na…you no want give me my change again??” I shouted.
He turned and stretched his hands towards me. He was holding a N10 note and another very dirty and torn N5 note. I took the money from him and after looking at it closely, decided I wasn’t going to put that dirty and torn N5 in my purse.
“Conductor…this your N5 too dirty o! Abeg change am for me” I shouted.
“Change wetin?? Ehn??? I no tell you say I no get change before”
I wasn’t going to accept the money so I kept on.
“Take ur money o! Conductor…Conductor…you no dey hear me!!!
The conductor just ignored me. He didn’t even look back. I was surprised when minutes later, the conductor came to the back row(where I was seated) with a N20 note in his hand.
“Wey that girl? Oya take your money back. Give me that change wey I give you”
I was surprised. My friends were too.
“Wetin happen?” I asked.
“Person don pay for you for front, him say make i give you ur money back”
“Who be the person?”
“Na that boy wey dey for front” he answered.
I looked in front. There were some boys from my school in the second row. As I looked at their backs, trying to decipher who it was, one of them turned to look back, it was him...It was Francis!
Oh my God! I didn’t know he was in the bus. Now I have displayed all my razzness with this conductor and am sure he heard everything. I was red in the face.

TO BE CONTINUED.

Ps: I hope peeps like castle queen and D.O.G understand the pidgin English part of the above story. I just had to keep it real.

UPDATE ON JOB GAMBLE
I am pleased to let you guys know that my resignation bluff paid off. Initially when I dropped in the resignation letter I didn’t have any standing job offer. I mean, I had attended some interviews but nothing concrete yet. However the day after I dropped in the letter, I got a call from a Public relations Firm to come in for a chat. I went and the offer was a lot better that what I was earning. I had already made up my mind that if nothing positive was done by my management; I would accept the new offer. It wasn’t my dream job but it was something.

Anyway, my boss called me and rejected the resignation letter. He didn’t want me to leave so we had to renegotiate salary and all. The offer he made me was not as much as what I would be getting in the new firm but there were other fringe benefits added to the package.

Long and short of the matter is am staying on in my current company. The pay may not be all that but I guess it’s not all about the money sometimes right? I enjoy working with my boss and he appreciates my efforts. I also believe things will improve a lot more soon and as they say, the devil you know is better that the angel you do not know!

I have called the P.R firm to reject the offer. They seemed to understand my position.

I am grateful to God for providing an opportunity to make choices for me. Some people are not that privileged.

I am also grateful to everyone who wished me luck.

Thanks and enjoy ur weekend.

Princesa.

Naija Bloggers Party Update

Happy new week everyone! I promised an update on the Naija Bloggers Party which is why I am posting this update. Actually this morning is very busy for me but I just had to create time to do this short post before peeps like afrobabe go strip for me here o!,lol!

The party was not a party in the sense of you know dancing, boogying and all that. I’d rather call it a ‘get together over drinks thingy’. I had suggested we hung out at the beach but most peeps didn’t buy the idea(so I was told)and so we had to settle for the bar thing.
Anyway, It was still great to meet and chat with fellow bloggers. Even though we hadn’t met prior to the party, some bloggers already feel like family to me and it was cool to finally put a face to some of them. There was unnaked soul(shy guy), manda(ol’ pal), obi (blog phantom), writefreak, favoured girl, Tayo, Fantasy queen, dscribe, dscribe’s sister(also a blogger but I forgot her name), Omohemi, jaycee, che-e-ly, Babs and who else(cant remember any more). Overwhelmed naija babe, laspapi and simplynuttie came later after I had left but we spoke over the phone.

Of note is the fact that most bloggers I met are really very good looking, nice, open and friendly.

Sorry I have to stop here. I said I was going to make this short remember? So enjoy the pics guys (Some bloggers want to remain anonymous and i had to respect their wishes so i didnt tag the pics). And afro…nobody shagged anyone(at least at the party venue) and with the cost of their drinks there I doubt if anyone got drunk(I left to early to know anyway).

Be good you all.

VILLA RECAP, TRIP, GAMBLE & SHOUTOUTS!

Am back to Lagos and Blogville!!!
It’s a brand new year everyone and am happy to be a part of it (am sure you are too)!

I spent a week in my home town and it was one fun week. And I didn’t spend the whole time playing cinderella in the kitchen. Thanks to our new help-Happiness! That girl is just a blessing. Her presence really helped a lot. I didn’t have to work my butt off doing the house chores although I helped out where I needed to.

The trip to my village was quite uneventful. I traveled by road with a couple of friends who were also headed home (saved me the money I woulda spent on transportation). I was able to steal just a few snatches of sleep during the eight hour drive. This was unlike me cos usually I would dozed off just as soon as the engine started( I hate long road trips and the only way I keep the nausea at bay and avoid throwing up all over the place is by heading off to snoozeland). I guess I was to strung up and scared at my friend’s James Bond driving style to be able to sleep properly,lol!
Anyway we arrive in one piece and was I delighted to see my relatives again? Especially my dear old grandma. In fact I met grandma along the path to my home trekking on foot! That woman’s strength never ceases to amaze me! She even insisted on helping with my luggage, can you imagine?!

Villa was cool. Everyone was okay. Although I was given the sad news that one of my maternal uncles was shot by armed robbers on 24th of December. He had gone with his brother-in-law to purchase a new car and they were trailed by armed robbers on their way back. The devils shot him at a close range and he gave up the ghost before help could come. His brother in-law was lucky to escape unhurt. Very sad indeed! The poor man didn’t even have any kids yet!

There were lots of peeps to visit and festivities to attend. My eldest brother did the introduction thingy with his fiancee. She is also from my village. This pleased my parents greatly, they had always wanted us to marry from my hometown. Lucky him, he found some one he loved from my town. And trust my family members na, that was the perfect opportunity for everyone to remind me how dry their throats had gotten,lol! God abeg provide the man with the palmwine make ur daughter rest o!

That’s me and my eldest brother.

Me and my mum.

Unlike my trip to the village, the journey back to Lagos was quite another story. I boarded a luxury bus from my village market square. The driver of the bus and his conductor, greedy fellows were hell bent on carrying everyone they saw on the way to lagos. Even after the bus was filled, they kept on loading passengers onto the aisle. I couldn’t help wondering how those passengers could stand all through the 8 or more hours to Lagos. I guess paying half price is enough motivation for some peeps especially if the pocket is singing a certain song abi?

Bad tires and Overload equals to what my peeps? Burst Tires!!! And not even once o, Twice!!! God was indeed faithful my friends. He saved us from what would have been a terrible situation. The first time was not as bad as the second. In fact when the tire exploded, I thought we had been shot at my men of the underworld. It sounded like a bomb and we were on top speed! Thank God the driver had enough presence of mind not to step on his brakes. From what I have heard, had he done that, perhaps the story wouldn’t have been the same now.
Anyway after driving a few more meters with the mangled tyre, the driver stopped and we all got down. They didn’t have another spare tyre since they used the only one they had when we had the first flat. Luckily for us, another bus from the same transport company soon came along and gave us their spare tyre. I wondered what they would do if they were unfortunate to lose a tyre on their way.



The mangled tyre.


Finally we go to Lagos at about 7pm(a whole 10 hours after we left the village at 9am).
I couldn’t wait to have a proper meal and sleep. A new year had started!



NEW YEAR GAMBLE
I was promoted at my office. I know am supposed to be happy right? But funny enough am handing in my resignation letter today. No, I haven’t found a new job and I didn’t win the visa lottery to America either.
The thing is I feel I deserve to earn a lot better than am earning currently especially as things are looking up for the company. Even with the pay raise (cos of the promotion) I am still not satisfied so am playing my ace. The resignation letter is all a bluff but my boss doesn’t know this. Its supposed to scare the management into some positive action (increase my salary,lol! I just pray the plan doesn’t backfire o!).

Anyway am quite confident, it will all end up for good cos I don’t think they(company’s management) will want to let me go that easily. You see, am proud to say that over the past 3 years I have proven my worth and I believe a few more thousands (naira no be dollars o! lol) is not too much for them to sacrifice. You can’t blame a sister for wanting some xtra change, will you? lol!

So fingers crossed, let’s see how it all plays out.

SHOUT OUTS
Shot out to andy who got married over the holidays. So you finally did it enh? Am sure the waiting was worth it. So if the world was to end, we won’t have to wish for that again would we? *wink*,lol!
Shout out to runaway manda who finally updated her blog. Babe I hope you blasted that exam o!
Shout out to my man G! I love you bro. Need to chat one of these days.
Shout out to my darling cally(you know why girl). I loved it, I did!
Shout out to my girl, jaybabe. That post of urs was so thoughtful.
Shout out to afrobabe, blogstalker of the year award goes to you love.
A final shout out to every member of my blog fam. You guys are da bomb

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

UPDATE ON THE NAIJA BLOGGERS PARTY

Date- Saturday Jan 5th

Time- 4pm

Venue- 10/14 Saka Tinubu Street(Beside Intercontinental bank) Victoria Island, Lagos.

Xmas Update

Hey peeps! Its been a loooooooooooooooong minute right? Sorry I haven’t been able to update my blog for sometime cos I’ve been mighty busy these past few days. Some of you know how it is over here (Naija) during the Xmas season- everyone rushing to and fro, trying to round up activities before the year’s end. Anyway its all good, am glad the year is winding up and xmas is finally here.

Xmas period is very special, it is a time when Christians all over the world celebrate the birth of the lord, Jesus Christ). Xmas brings with it joy, happiness and peace. There is just something about this season that puts me in high spirits and No, its not the rice and turkey stew, lol!

Today we are closing for the year in my office. Everyone is in the xmas mood already. The casual dressing, funky hairstyles all scream one thing- HOLIDAYS!

Yea the holiday is here and it promises to be a fun filled one for moi. In a few days, I’ll be traveling to my country home somewhere in eastern Nigeria. You see, most people from the eastern part of Nigeria travel to their hometown during this season, it’s kind of like a family reunion thing when you get to see relatives and family whom you probably haven’t see all year. There’s lots of catching up to do, gists to share and all.
Am seriously looking forward to it.

One thing am not looking forward to though are the questions I know will definitely come from my older relatives. Questions like:
“Our throats are dry o! When will you wet it for us?”
“When are you calling us o?”
That’s their subtle way of telling you that it’s long overdue for you to get married. Their throats are dry mean they want to drink the in-laws palm wine(Usually Palm wine is presented by the groom’s family to the brides family during the traditional marriage rites) and calling them means inviting them to your wedding.

When they start, I just pretend I don’t understand what they mean and innocently reply
“Eh ya mama, you want some water??”(To- “Our throats are dry o! When will you wet it for us?”) or
“Calling you?? Okay you mean for my birthday?”( To-“When are you calling us o?”)

They just roll their eyes and give up for that moment. One of my aunties always says i
need deliverance, Deliverance from what abeg? Singlehood?? ,lol!

Anyway am not going to let anyone spoil my holidays for me o, I intend to enjoy it as
much as I can, marriage pestering relatives or not!

Another thing am not looking forward to is the cooking, washing and cleaning. Lol! Am not a lazy bones but if you consider the fact that my home is the palace and there is always one activity or the other going on, people dropping in and they have to be fed. Some times I practically spend the whole day in the kitchen. Just as am through with preparing/serving breakfast, its already time for lunch. After lunch I barely have a few hours to rest and its back to the kitchen to cook dinner.
This Xmas I refuse to be a Kitchen maid o! I have to come up with a solid plan on how to avoid spending the whole day in the kitchen, suggestions anyone??

Hmmm…let’s not forget the Naija bloggers party coming up on Jan 5th. That also promises to be exciting. If you are going to be in Naija by then, you can’t afford not to be there o and for those who can’t make it, don’t worry we’ll have enough fun for everyone. Trust me, I’ll also get some pics for you guys.

HAVE A VERY MERRY XMAS AND A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR 2008!!!

Love you all.
Princesa.

Cool Dad...Mr Baker

I just saw this movie-CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN.
It was one cool, funny as hell, interesting movie. You know the kinda popcorn grubbing, ice cream licking, couch rolling, rib cracking movie you love to watch with family/friends.
I guess some of you must have seen this movie but for those that haven’t am going to try to tell the storyline in a few sentences.
Okay so the movie is centered round the Baker family, a family of fourteen: Father, Mother and a dozen children. It captures their experiences as individuals first and also as part of a BIG family, the love they share, the naughty kids’ pranks, their adventures and travails.

This is not just about the movie but about the Hero of the movie, The Dad, Mr. Tom baker played by Steve Martin.
I know its all make believe but for me, in that movie he represented what the perfect father should be like.

You see,I do not share a close relationship with my father . We live in the same house but sometimes we don’t even set eyes/speak to each other for days on end(its crazy right? But its true!) Sometimes the only word I say to him throughout the week is probably ‘good morning’ which he barely acknowledges anyway.
It’s not just me, it’s the same for my other siblings. None of us are close to him like that. My mum is the one who is chummy with everyone. She is so interested in knowing what’s up with you that sometimes it tends to be meddling but all the same its all good since she makes up for the lack of attention from my dad. Its so bad that we’ve all gotten used to living that way so much that it’s become very normal.

For as long as I remember, dad has always been like that. So into himself and himself alone! He didn’t bring us up with that sense of family that was evident in the movie (spoken of above) and that I have seen in the homes of some of my friends.
When I was much younger, I used to wish some of my friends’ dads were mine, I would see they way they joked around and played with their daughters and I’d wonder why mine was so different(funny enough, they also wished they had a dad like mine but only us knew the real dad).
When I see my dad laugh so heartily with outsiders, I would wonder why he never laughed that way with us. Was it that we didn’t meet his standard or what? Anyway, I lived with it(still living with it) and I have learnt to accept things the way they are.

I know lots of girls pray to marry a man like their dads but in my case I pray to God daily not to give me a husband who finds it difficult to show affection to their family like my dad. Please do not get me wrong. My dad is not that bad. He is veryyyyyyyyy handsome and I do not know another man who is more responsible than my Father. I could vouch for his fidelity to my mum since they got married(SERIOUS!!!) and he has always provided for us all this years at least until we started working. It’s just that when it comes to the emotional angle…you know all that fatherly love…its just not his style!
Now enough about my dad, lets go back to Mr. Baker and why am giving him ‘The perfect dad award’.

So, there was this point in the movie(Part 1) when they had to move from the countryside to the City and his oldest son (about 21)who was missing his country belle decided he didn’t want to continue with college and he would rather move back to the country. They had a disagreement. The father insisted that the young man had to at least get a diploma which his son didn’t think was necessary since all he wanted was to live the simple life in the woods.
At a point the young man was so rude and defiant that I expected the father to get all angry and hit him but the way he handled the situation won my heart. With so much love and tenderness he was able to get his son to understand him and even got him to apologise for his attitude.

There were so many scenes where Mr. Baker displayed the Xteristics that make him a wonderful dad to me but I guess am just too lazy to recount all of them here.

I know that for some of you who have seen the movie, Mr. Baker may not even make the mark, probably cos your dads were even better than he was but please understand where that from where I am coming from he signifies the kind of father I would love to have –a man for whom family came first!

There was also the touching scene when his first daughter had a baby(Part 2) and she said the baby was to be called Tom(Her dad’s first name) because he was their hero and his love and sacrifices had gotten them so far. The sweet man even shed a tear as he cuddled the baby.

I think she said it in these words:
“For showing us that there is no way to be a perfect parent but so many ways to be a good one”

Okay so you still don’t get my drift ehn??
Go see the movie!

Ps: Am dedicating this post to Mr. Nandu(a wonderful father to his kids and adopted daughter-ME!) My boss(He won’t get to read this but he is a great dad, I have seen him with his kids so I know), aijay’s dad(For being daddy and mummy all these years) and to all the great dads we know.

Peace out!

The Power of Attitude

Hey friends,
I hope you all had a blast weekend. Mine was okay, could have been better.
Anyway, Its great to be alive to witness another new week even if its back to the bump and grind, lol!

Sometimes we think that our success in life depends on what we know/ who we know/ how educated we are/what we wear/ and all that. This is not true. Most times the difference between on successful and happy person and the other unsuccessful, sad guy lies in their ATTITUDE! How we think affects everything we do, it goes a long way to determine how far we go in life therefore it is very important that we develop and maintain a positive outlook to life.

I’d like to share this chapter from the book: “THE POWER OF ATTITUDE” with you guys. Its titled: The Good news Girl.

Read on…

Excerpt from the Power of Attitude titled: the Good News Girl

One of the most wonderful things about having a positive attitude is the number of people it touches, many times in ways you’ll never know.

Recently, I stopped by a convenience store to get a newspaper and a pack of gum. The young woman at the check-out counter said, “That’ll be five dollars please,” and as I reached into my wallet, the thought occurred to me that a newspaper and gum didn’t quite make it to five dollars. When I looked up to get a “re-quote”, she had a big smile on her face and said, “Gotcha! I got to get my tip in there somehow!” I laughed when I knew I’d been had. She then glanced down at the paper I was buying and said, “I’m sick and tired of all this negative stuff on the front pages. I want to read some good news for a change.” She then said, “In fact, I think someone should just publish a Good News newspaper – a paper with wonderful, inspirational stories about people overcoming adversity and doing good things for others. I’d buy one every day!” She then thanked me for coming in and said, “Maybe we’ll get lucky tomorrow; maybe we’ll get some good news,” and she laughed. She made my day.

The following day after my business appointments, I dropped by the same store again to pick up bottled water, but a different young lady was behind the counter. As I checked out I said, “Good afternoon” and handed her my money for the water. She said nothing – not a word, not a smile…nothing. She just handed me my change and in a negative tone ordered…“Next!”

It hit me right between the eyes: Two people, same age; one made me feel great, and the other, well, made me feel that I had inconvenienced her by showing up.
By the choices we make, by the attitudes we exhibit, we are influencing lives every day in positive or negative ways…our family, our peers, our friends, and even strangers we’ve never met before and will never meet again.

So when you brush your teeth every morning, look in the mirror and ask yourself this important question: Who do I want to be today? “The Grouch” or “The Good News Girl”?
Your answer will go a long way toward determining the joy and happiness that you will experience in your life.

Have a great week everyone and keep a positive attitude.

Cheers.

View my PhotoBlog.

Thanks.

END OF YEAR REFLECTIONS

As I sit before my computer this third day of December, it gradually dawns on me that in another 27days or so, this year would be gone and another new year(Year 2008) will be ushered in. Was it not just yesterday that we began this year 2007? Or is it only me who feels this year has passed by in a flash??

I had made lots of plans for my life at the beginning of the year and sadly only got few carried out. I don’t like to think I am an unfulfilled person but it’s true. Right now I feel VERY unfulfilled. There are so many things I desire that I can’t boast of yet . Yea, I know as long as there is life there is hope for anything so am not going to go all broody and sad because I believe that though it make take time but I’ll definitely get to my promised land,lol!

This year 2007 has not been uneventful for me. Some things have happened - the good, the bad and the ugly and I intend to put some of them down here.

THE GOOD
My mum had a successful hysterectomy operation.

My younger brother got a better job after he was unjustly laid off by his former bank.

My Company won a major advertising pitch.

I joined blogville and met lots of nice, wonderful people in the process. Yes, you reading are a wonderful person.

My other brother started recording his music album(A star in the making by the grace of God)

My friend Chico finally got a job after 2 years and he is steadily climbing up the ladder in his office.

THE BAD
We lost Mama, the elderly woman who lived in the compound before mine to the cold hands of death. Mama was a wonderful person and was a mother to everyone who came in contact with her. May her gentle soul rest in peace.

My younger brother (spoken of above already) lost his job in a very unjust circumstance. That bad has been over ridden by the good anyway.

I lost a friend Chioma in May. She died while giving birth to her first child. Rest in Peace Chioma.

I ended my relationship with my ex (one everyone thought was leading to marriage).

THE UGLY
After several miscarriages, my cousin finally carried her pregnancy to full term but the baby was still born after a gruelling caesarean operation. That was one harrowing experience. (Thankfully, she is pregnant again and the pregnancy is progressing very well).

Guys I have to stop here. Work beckons. Will add more when I remember them.