Some of our quality time together has been spent sitting side by side in our games room, working on our Ultimate Millennium Falcon LEGO set. I really enjoy those blocks of time (pun 100% intended), simply because it’s us quietly working together on something we both love. If you’ve ever see us play board games against each other, then you know that working cooperatively isn’t always how we do. This LEGO project absolutely helps us feel more connected (HAH!) and in sync, which is such a boon to our marriage. Blake and I both also have new video games to play that serve as handy distractions when needed. Sinking ourselves into the things we enjoy both individually and together has been a tremendous help.

We also have a trip to Melbourne planned at the end of the month. It is our annual trip over for PAX Australia, a convention dedicated to gaming of all kinds (computer, video, tabletop, arcade, retro). I look forward to it each year primarily because of the group of friends that we hang out with while there. It’s like this comfortable, gooey little nerd bubble where everyone knows the score. There is no in-joke too nerdy, no reference too obscure. Every single one of my nerdy t-shirts that escapes my coworkers’ notice is understood, with knowing nods exchanged between strangers.

Picture a crowded tram full of convention attendees singing the Tetris theme song every time someone new gets on the tram to the Convention Centre. Yeah. It’s like that.

I was looking forward to showing off my belly bump while there, seeing friends we only see once a year and also catching up with some familiar faces from overseas as well. I was going to spend most of my time at the tabletop/board game area, where I can just sit and play an assortment of games with my friends. It was going to be my job to hold the table as home base while Blake and our mates roamed the con, since I was pregnant and thus a little less mobile by then.

It was supposed to be like that, anyway.

Three days ago, we made the decision to go to Melbourne as planned. Time away together was going to be helpful. We could always decide not to spend too much time at PAX proper, but instead just enjoy Melbourne together. We could pop back into the con and see our friends when we felt able, or retreat to just us if we needed. We do love the city, after all, and there will be plenty we can do.

I also go back to work after we return from Melbourne. That’s the plan at the moment, anyway. I’m not holding myself to that and intend to just see how I go. Either way, heading back to work after a short getaway seems like a good idea. I mean, I’ve already slotted in my preferred breakfast options for 2 of the 4 days we are in town, and we do love a good feed! It can be just the two of us, or it can be more of us if that’s not enough. Either way, it’ll be good for us and I can’t wait.