A new year's party!  With costumes!  Oh, I definitely want to go!

[Ward: Private, Wayne can read]
Today was my first day back to work since the news.  I must admit that it all still seems very... surreal.  Perhaps because I do not yet feel any real changes in my body?  The pre-natal potions have been helping with my fatigue, which was a relief at work today.

I have been reading the book I bought, and it is rather daunting to consider it all at once, though I know that we have time yet to adjust to it all.  Right now, I must admit that I like carrying around this very big (yet very small!) secret.  To know that it is something I share with Wayne, and only him.
[/]

[Ward: Private]
Sally was at eleven weeks.  I know that I should wait until then to tell her...  Eleven weeks will be on New Year's Eve.  I can wait until then.  I hope.
[/]

The sock hop last night was so much fun!  Wayne looked amazing, and I don't think we sat out more than two dances the whole night!  I definitely want to do something like that again, hopefully soon, too!

Goodness, it feels like Christmas will be here at any moment, too.  All the shops are getting ready for the holiday season, even though it isn't quite December yet.  I haven't done any shopping, but I still have time to make lists and the like, I think.  And it will be my first Christmas as a Hopkins!  I hope I do well, with that.

I was in muggle London today, and I saw a poster advertising a Sock Hop this Friday!  And I already have the evening off!

I need to find my poodle skirt!  Sally, Wayne, you should come with me!

Sweet Helga, am I really-- 27 will be a good year for me, I think.

[Ward:  Sally & Wayne]
I wasn't sure if I should say anything or not, but, well-- I saw my father on Friday.  I'd gone to visit my mum, and I know maybe I shouldn't have, considering everything that happened last time, it's just that it was the anniversary of it-- ten years-- and I just- well, I felt like I had to be there.  For her.

He talked to me, but I- I didn't say anything.  Not really.  He yelled at me for not wearing black, but I didn't even wear black to the funeral, then, mum hated the color, she alway said it was too drab and it just made her sad, so why would I wear black to go visit her?  And he'd brought roses for mum, and mum always hated roses, how could he not remember that?  He saw my wedding ring, and- well, he asked if I was married, and I just nodded, I didn't want to say anything, but I wasn't going to pretend I wasn't married because I am and I love that I am-- and he just- just said that he hoped whoever it was took care of me better than he ever did.

So.  Well, yes.  That's what happened.
[/]

Wayne and I have been married for six months, today!

What is particularly noteworthy, however, is that even though I had extensive plans to have my husband ravish me tonight, and despite the fact that I haven't had a full day off in over a week, St. Mungo's is apparently so short-staffed that I've been called in for a six hour overnight shift.

Forgive me if I seem a little frustrated distracted.

[Ward: Wayne]
Fancy bras and knickers, while rather wonderful in their own right (for nights when I want you to take advantage of me, like right now), are not the most comfortable thing to be wearing on the ward, it seems.

This is going to be a long six hours.  I can't stop thinking about you.
[/]

I have curves!  I've been shopping- I needed a proper formal dress for the St. Mungo's benefit- and I found one only it didn't look very good on me since I'm so, well, not-well-endowed, and the saleslady put me in a corset and then I tried the dress on again and I had curves!

Sweet Helga, I should not be so excited about this.  I can't wait to show Wayne!

Also, I bought heels.  Real, proper heels.  Sally, can you teach me to walk in these things before 8 October?  Otherwise I may lose my nerve and just wear my Converse.

[Ward: Wayne]
[A scrap of the pink fabric from this set is attached.]
In case you want to match, love.
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A benefit for St. Mungo's!  Wayne, will you be my date?  Please, please, pretty please?  (I mostly just want the excuse to get dressed up pretty and to see you in a suit again!)

[Ward: Private]
I'm trying not to think about how close it's getting to October.  Which, I know, just writing that down brings attention to it- I suppose I can't seem to help it.  It doesn't get easier.  I miss her every day.  I'm happy, happier now (thanks to Wayne) than I think I've ever been, and yet I still can't seem to be able to deal with that anniversary.  I don't know what's wrong with me.
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Friday's dance was so much fun!  Thank you, Eleanor, for hosting it- I hope there will be another, sometime soon!  Even if I'm not much of a dancer, really, it seemed nearly impossible to be there and not get caught up in the rhythms!

In other news, I'm afraid that my best friend may have been abducted by pirates.  Or, worse, a quidditch keeper.  It feels like I haven't seen her in a month-

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WAYNE!!!

[Ward: Wayne]
Did you know that you're very difficult to shop for?  I don't mean that in a negative way- you just seem like you already have everything you want, so I don't know where to start for gifts!

I do have a descision I'd like you to make, though.  Which color would you like me to wear tonight?
    
(I know it's a vague question, but I don't want to give away too much!  You can probably guess, anyway.)

One of your presents is waiting, wrapped, in the kitchen.  I'll be done with my shift at three o'clock today (sorry I couldn't get it off), and from then on I'm all yours, I promise!

Have an amazing day!  I love you!
[/]

Three months today!

Also, whoever didn't come with me and Rose to the club the other night- you really missed out!  It was brilliant.  Though I could have done without the hangover.

Well, I was finally able to woo my husband away from his other woman, at least for one date-day.  (I don't suspect I'll really lose him for long, as Lola is much more teal and, well, metallic than I am, so I have more to offer Wayne in some respects!)  Wayne and I went to the Kenmare vs. Montrose game, since he'd won tickets a few months ago.  Admittedly, I'm not as adamant a quidditch fan as others, but I do enjoy watching the game every now and then- this was definitely an exciting game, too!

[Ward: Private Sally, Georgina]
One month- well, one-month-and-one-day- until Wayne's birthday.  I haven't a single clue what to get for him.  I mean, unless we're talking me showing up naked with a bow on my head, but I feel like for this first birthday of married life there ought to be something a bit more substantial than that!
[/]

( spell-o-taped photo )

Have I mentioned that I don't want to leave Bermuda?  Don't mistake me, I have been learning a lot at the conference, and I'm looking forward to applying what I've learned to my work at St. Mungo's!  But Wayne is still in the mode of spoiling me the same as he was on our honeymoon, which leads to dinners like in the photo above. 

I am a very lucky woman.

[Ward: Wayne]
Have I mentioned that I love you?
[/]

[Ward: Sally]
I've given up trying to tell Wayne no to the spoiling, while we're here- he's just so happy about it!  I still worry about doing enough for him in return, but... well, I don't know.  I'm being silly.
[/]

[Ward: Georgina]
How are the kittens?
[/]

Two weeks today.  I know that measurement will mean next to nothing weeks, months, years from now- but right now, it feels good to say that I have been Mrs. Hannah Hopkins for two weeks, today.  Even better, in the four days since returning from our honeymoon, I have also been Healer H. Hopkins- the name was embroidered properly on all my robes at St. Mungo's when I started working again.  I imagine that I still must get this ridiculous smile on my face every time I hear someone use the name, but I don't care.

[Ward: Sally]
So...  How was it?
[/]

[Ward: Georgina]
I've a favor to ask you, if you don't mind?
[/]

[Ward: Private]
Easter Sunday.  I should have visited mum today- it was always her favorite holiday.  So... joyous.  Just like her.  I just- I don't know if I can, yet.  It's too soon, since he-  I did arrange to have flowers sent, to the Cathedral.  I'm sorry, mum.  Hopefully they know what to do with them.
[/]

Wainui Beach is absolutely gorgeous.

  

I quite like my husband spoiling me like this!

10 days!

[Ward: Private]
I am surprisingly calm about the whole thing, really.  I wasn't sure I'd ever get married, and now the wedding is in ten days.  I have my dress, the flowers and cake have been ordered, I've picked out Wayne's ring, the venue is ready, and I'm just... I'm ready.  I'm ready for it to be next Sunday, for me to be Mrs Hopkins, properly.
[/]

[Ward: Patrick]
I apologize if this seems a bit late-notice, but I have a favor to ask of you.  Are you familiar with the wedding custom of walking the bride down the aisle?  It's really about as simple as it sounds, but it's a job usually done by a male family member, and I don't have any that will be at the wedding to ask.  You're someone that I look up to like a brother (I hope you don't mind me saying that), and I'd like to ask you to walk me down the aisle next Sunday.  What do you think?
[/]

I'm afraid I'm going to have to go to Bermuda in May.

It's for work, of course.  The Asclepian Conference on Magical Health.  Such a hardship!

Tomorrow I am meeting with the woman who is going to design and make my wedding dress.  I've been wearing this engagement ring for four months now, but somehow this still seems surreal- though delightfully so!

Now who in Helga's name do I invite?!

I am so ready for spring.  I'm tired of coats and long pants and hats and scarves.  I want sundresses and low-top sneakers and picnics!

[Ward: Wayne]
What do you think of April?
[/]

(added after this)
[Ward: Sally]
Do you have plans for the 10th of April?  Please say no!
[/]



I love these charms!

Today a four year old girl bit my arm when I tried to give her a potion, and then her eight year old brother kicked my shins for hurting his sister.

How is your day going?

( Hannah Hopkins! )