Six.

Six weeks to go.

How can that be?

My work-mates just put on a great baby shower for me and I couldn't feel more loved by them. It was wonderful to see how they all came together and took off 8 items from my registry! From my change-table pad to a nursing pillow to my diaper genie! It was all very lovely and gets us off to a great start.

I'm sure I've mentioned that there are 4 women in the office who are either preggo or just had a baby. 4 women in an office of 7. My poor boss. And I'm pretty sure we're all taking the full year off. Definitely some challenges, but for us ladies it's great that we will be able to connect and have playdates and get away and connect with each other. 2 of us, myself and another will be gone from Dec 2011 to Dec 2012 and the other two have different timelines, but all in all, there is about 4 or 5 months where we'll all be off at the same time!

Which brings me to gush about how we're given a full year. I know, some women can't take the full year, the government cheque just isn't enough to cover the expenses they'll have raising a family or living on their husband/partner's income just won't sustain. But for those who can manage - to be able to take a full year to full bond and raise your child is absolutely amazing. I think to our neighbours to the south and feel unbelievably sorry that they aren't offered this option. There is so many misconceptions about the universal healthcare system in Canada and how my American friends all think we're dying in Emergency rooms, when really that isn't the case. Yes - it isn't perfect. But neither is yours. But I truly wish you could benefit from paternal/maternity leave and benefits that we do.

Because I can't imagine anything better than being able to spend those first amazing months with your child.