Late yesterday afternoon Peter started to get very sniffly and started to develop a bit of a cough. We've been assured by veteran parents that he is ok but last night was long and rough for young Peter, he didn't seem to want to settle down which has continued through to today. Hong Kong, like the US, has some interesting medicines, there is currently an ad on TV which advertises to send your child off to a good nights sleep. We found something even better today, and were only sad that it took us a full day to find it.

After several hours of sitting with Peter we decided to dangle things in front of him to see if he would like to swat with his lengthening arms. We found the greatest sedative ever, we put a mirror next to him, and he has spent hours talking to his new friend, smiling, waving, yelling, brilliant!

Tom went to register Peter in the system and to get his birth certificate today.  We had to wait 2 weeks as the hospital must send the documents of his birth to the government office and then we have to go in and give them his name and our details.  Tom was there for a few hours as they checked Peter's name spelling several times (mostly because of his middle name). He now is officially named and exists as his own person.  We even got a giant congratulatory envelope to put the certificate in that is pink and covered in lots of gold foil lettering.

Young Peter has a range of facial expressions which is likes to cycle through in quick succession. Here's the sampler with appropriate interpretation:

"I'm Hungry"

"Still Hungry."

"Blue Steel"

"Words cannot express the horror of what awaits at the next nappy change."

Tonight we gave Peter his first bath, all we went well.

This afternoon both Christy and Peter were released from hospital which was great news all round. After an uneventful trip home everyone is setting in well.

Christy and Peter will be released at 3pm this afternoon. Excitement all round.

Yesterday Peter was discharged from the neo-natal ward of the hospital, this is not the tragedy, it is particularly great news. Peter was moved out of neo-natal and into the ward with Christy at lunch time yesterday. As Peter is now in the general wards it also means that friends can now visit Peter and Christy.

Some of you may remember the baby Uggs, which are shown above. They don't fit! As every full blooded Australian knows the Ugg is the pinnacle of footwear, poor Peter appears to have exceptionally large feet (taking after father). He shall have to wait to feel the pleasure of an inside out sheep against his feet.

You saw them here first, Peter's second day:

Last night at 11.08pm baby Peter Cordell Pike was born. He weighed in at 3.7kg and was delivered by cesarean section. The labour was long and Christy is recovering well. Peter was taken to the ICU for tests after the birth. All is well with Peter and Christy was able to see him this afternoon.

Baby is on the way, Christy went into the hospital tonight at about 3am. More news as it becomes available.

I have recently been inspired by a friend's website who shows the most amazing cakes that she has made. I really enjoy baking and have been asked to make a friend's wedding cake in December and want to get some practice in over the next few months.

Here are a few photos of a world cake I made for our friend, KT's 30th bday. It is chocolate cake covered in 3 different types of frosting and decorated with little cookie people dressed as people of the world.

The cake before people added	The people
"Ant Proofing" for the night Fill pan with water prop up cake with cups/mugs
The finished cake

Tom brought home this watermelon yesterday which we thought we'd compare to baby. Have hit 39 weeks and are just waiting for the baby to decide that it is far too cramped to stay inside any longer.

Hi all, not much to report but thought we'd just write and check in as people are probably watching the blog waiting for news & photos.  Baby is still happy where it is for the moment and getting bigger and stronger every day.

Please continue to think about getting Tom into the labour & delivery ward as we have sent in his application to attend and have been notified that it has been received. All is still a bit unknown as to when and for how long he can be there.

Again there is a list of "rules" to follow including the following:

1) no food & drinks allowed in the delivery room

2) no wandering around

3) no luggage is allowed

4) must leave after baby is born

The good news is that they do really look after the baby well and focus on this. As they have so many people coming through than in other countries, they are more strict to rules than other places.

We are always happy to have friends visit and enjoyed our time with Pete last week.

Tom & I celebrated our 3rd Wedding Anniversary on the 9th of July. We went to HK Disney for the day and got completely drenched in a downpour of rain. Besides that we had a good time on the rides and watching a few shows.

We then stayed at a hotel close to our home. The room and the view was great. We found the bed a bit funny as it was super wide but just as short as our one at home (feet hang off the end). Here is Tom demonstrating the funny bed:

Too short...
The view

We had a 4th of July party here for the 5 Americans on team. Everyone came to our place and we had "traditional" 4th of July food: Hot dogs, Jello, Chips, Watermelon, Coke & Apple Pie.

One of our friends had the great idea of then going to HK Disney to watch the fireworks (which are done every night at Disney). So we jumped in a car, drove 30 minutes and watched the fireworks from the parking lot of the Disney Hotel. It was great.

Here we are entering week 36 and waiting for the baby to come. The books & doctors say that the baby is considered full term at 37 and could really come at any time. So, we are trying to prepare as much as possible for the "anytime" scenario. Some of the guys have gone on a test run to the hospital so they know how to drive there. We are also going through the checklist given by the hospital of what to bring. I have to ignore large sections of baby books that say "the hospital will provide A,B & C" as here you pretty much have to bring your own. So, for example, you have to bring your own roll of toilet paper, drinking glass & bar of soap. The list goes on and some of it we are not sure what the things are- lost in translation. They also advise that if you are "leaking liquor" to come to the hospital immediately. I think that that would be a concern but not sure if that is really what they are trying to say. A similiar thing happened when I asked the Dr about drugs (thinking pain relief) and she thought I was saying that I was taking illegal drugs. After a short panic (on her part) I clarified and all was ok.

We have received the final piece of furniture (mentioned in an earlier blog) and have the baby room set up and ready. Have put in a few photos below

Also, here I am at 36 weeks standing in the rain waiting for our bus. Another photo of me and my friend, Helen who is due about 7 weeks after me.

Tom and I went to our closest city centre which is called Tuen Mun. We thought we'd do a bit of exploring while still able on our own. The temperature was a pleasant 87F but the weather station said it felt like 111F today. We were so excited that it has stopped raining after the wettest month ever recorded in HK. A record of 1270 mm of rain fell in June (about 4 ft).

I've passed this abandoned house several times and have always wanted to have a closer look at it.

We also hiked up a path along the side of the house and found a great village hidden up in the trees.

Mail boxes for the village
Bananas everywhere!
Tom & Me in the village

We then headed back into the craziness of the shopping centre and the high rise apartment buildings

And took a bus back to our home. These are the fancy apartments next to where they live. The blue sky makes them look even better!

Well we have now made it to 35 weeks, 5 to go. Tom and I went shopping in a place called Sham Shui Po today. Definitely one of the busiest places especially on a Sunday! This is the part of town where you can buy any electrical/computer part known to man.  We were looking for new phones as ours are on their way out and you can't hear what people are saying anymore. We were successful in our shopping adventure.

Thought a photo in the midst of the craziness would be good.

Over the past few weeks I have become a big fan of AsiaExpat.com which is a website with a variety of information for expats living in the major cities of Asia. My favourite part is the Classified baby section where people sell amazing stuff. The thing in Hong Kong is that there isn't much space to fit stuff so once you get something new, or no longer need what you have you get rid of it and expats tend to import beautiful baby stuff.

I have been looking at the site in search of baby items that we have still been in need of. We have already got an amazing "moses basket" which is a little basket you can put the baby in to keep them in your room and some other bits and pieces that were just too expensive to buy new.

We were down to needing one more thing... a baby changing table. A few came and went on the site but none that really suited or they were still too expensive even used. A few days ago, I saw a beautiful lightwood one that can be folded down to a change table or up to be a shelf when the kid is older. We decided to get this one as the weeks are flying and the baby could potentially come at any time.

I messaged the seller and sent him a map link from the CRI website as it has clear directions to where we live. That night I got a message from him saying, "after seeing who you work for, I hesitate to sell you the table..." I read that and panicked thinking "why would anyone not like who we work for?!" BUT then I read the next sentance: "I would like to give these things to you for free instead!" FOR FREE! A beautiful changing table that was for sale and now this person who we have never met wants to give it to us for free! Tom & I were so amazed! The whole night I kept thinking of this and the kindness of strangers and of how our Father knows what we need and brings it from places we can't even imagine!

So, we are thankful for this gift coming to us next week and thankful for the provision that comes in ways we never expect. Reminds me of something Aslan says in the new Prince Caspian movie how things "never happen the same way twice."