THURSDAY, THURSDAY, THURSDAY

This morning we had our last Obstetrician visit and the Doctor confirmed that you are still in a breeched position, you have been lying this way for the last 4 weeks and are quite content. You have no room left to turn around now so the outcome is instead of me going into labor this way, I have been booked in for a Caesarean this Thursday the 3^rd of November. Wow! That is so soon. I will be 38 ½ weeks pregnant and the reality really set in this morning, when I was given forms for routine blood tests prior to Thursday and some tablets I need to take before the surgery. I have had so many emotions running through me today. I’ve been super excited one minute then a little teary the next, scared… and I know there will be so many more in the coming days.


Also you haven’t stopped squirming around in my belly today, and maybe it’s because you now know your birthday is near. We will get to meet you in just a little less than 3 days.

For the last week your Dad has been gone for work and I have missed him immensely. We talk on the phone every night and he makes sure we are both doing well. Whilst he’s been away though I have been so frightened you would arrive earlier than expected leaving your Dad rushing to get to the hospital in time to meet you. Also in some areas he hasn’t had any phone reception so I would need to call a colleague of his who would find a way to let him know you were on your way. I have to admit this has been a little worrying, as being in the delivery suite without your Dad, would have been challenging. However now that we know your birth date, he will be flying home tomorrow night so we can all be together for your birthday, this Thursday, and as a family for the very first time.

Just a few days left now my sweet baby. Love, Mum

Xoxo…

YOU ARE SO BIG NOW

Photos taken by your Dad at 36 weeks

We hadn’t seen you for a while and we were so excited the time had finally arrived for another ultrasound mainly to check how you were growing, but we also really wanted to see what you were doing in my tummy lately, as it has been completely amazing and at times a little crazy to watch you move around in there.

You are so big now. We think that during the ultrasound you must have been happily sleeping as you were all curled up with your hands over your face and your elbows to your knees. So it was a little difficult to really see you. We saw you swallow a little bit but you were pretty quiet that morning. We did however discover that you now weigh an average of 2.2kg and you have turned around again so you are now breeched. But I’m not worried as there are still some weeks to go and you have plenty of time to do a few acrobatic somersaults in my tummy and be head down for your birthday.

Most of all today I really want to tell you how great your Dad is going to be with you. You are going to have a great Dad. My life has changed in amazing ways since I met your Dad. We have traveled and seen so much of Australia and abroad in the last 7 years. He really is amazing. He has always believed in me, pushes me to take chances and follow my dreams and has always taken good care of me. He never hesitates to help when I ask for help with anything, (Ok – maybe a little repetition is sometimes needed). He cheers me up when I’m down and can make me laugh louder than anyone I know.

He is great with kids and I’m sure he will be fantastic with you. He will do so many things with you and I know for sure he will sing to you, play music for you, read to you, bath you, feed you, blow many raspberries on your tummy, tickle you until you plead him to stop, have movie nights with you, cook with you, and most of all he will be silly with you, have terrible toilet humor and make you laugh a great deal. You are really lucky to have him and call him Dad.

Daily your dad patiently holds his hand on my tummy for your next kick and we are both so blown away each time. “What do you think that is?” he says, “maybe it’s the baby’s shoulder”, “I think the baby’s head is here”, “Wow Tach your are really big now, not too long to go….”. We are both so excited to meet you.

Already your dad has played many songs on his guitar to you, trying to work out which type of music you like. We watch my tummy intently to see which one’s you react to. So far you have moved along to Jimmy Hendrix and Led Zeppelin, much to your Dad’s delight. I try to play softer music to you like Jack Johnson and Joshua Radin just so you get a variety. The other day your dad and I were both watching television and Roxette came on, we were both singing along and you danced so much in my belly it was really funny. Now I try to sing to you a little everyday to see what else you like. You don’t seem to react and I seem to think it’s because I’m so out of tune. I’m sorry about that but the singing gene doesn’t run in the family. The dancing gene does though so maybe that’s why when we watched the Disney film Rio the other night you moved around each time they broke into song. Oh how I hope you will like to dance like your mum, but I think you Dad has other plans.

Three weeks ago (at 33 weeks) I started to do some hydrotherapy classes. I have met some lovely people and it is so nice to be in the warm water doing various exercises. I suspect your loving it too as you move so much whilst I’m in the water. Maybe you’re already practicing your doggy paddle. Your dad and I would really like to teach you to swim early in life. 6 months is when we can start to introduce you to water baby classes and we are already excited.

In the last two months we have been so busy preparing for you. Your Dad and I went to Antenatal classes together so we could better be prepared for your arrival at the hospital. I have also done a breastfeeding class and this week I’ll finish a CPR class. We have bought an egg to make sure the temperature in our room will be good for you and this week we have bought a bassinet, for your first few months in our room with us. I have already put the clothes aside that we will take to the hospital for you, and I suspect I will keep adding more clothes over the next few weeks. You’re Grandma Barb has sent me some woolen blankets so you stay warm in your crib at the hospital. Amongst all those beautiful blankets is your Dad’s first baby blanket crocheted by his own Grandma. It is so special to us and I hope it becomes one of you favourites too that you can pass down to your own children some day in the distant future.

I’ve hardly had any Braxton Hicks but I am starting to feel really heavy. Getting out of bed is proving to be rather difficult now, I have to prop myself up really slowly and shuffle my way to the edge of the bed before finally standing up. Doing up my shoelaces without sitting down is near impossible and standing next to a hot oven or doing hot dishes is just un-bearable. Also our house is on a hill and I’m so out of breath climbing the driveway it’s almost like climbing Mt Everest.

Today we are fitting your car seat in the car and I will be packing my hospital bag in case you arrive a little early.

Whichever way you lie in my tummy, head down or feet down it doesn’t mater. Some time in the next 4 weeks I will hold you for the first time in my arms and we will finally meet each other. Love, Mum

Xoxo…

A LETTER FOR YOU

There are so many things about this beautiful pregnancy that I want to remember and one day in the distant future you’ll ask me if you are a girl. Because what little girl doesn’t ask her mum about the time she was in her mummy’s tummy? And later in life when and if you go through your own pregnancy you’ll want to know a lot more.

If you are a boy, I don’t think you’ll care much for all the details, but your future partner/wife may ask me someday. Like I asked your Grandma Barb many times who has always been very helpful and answered my questions with great delight.

First of all, it has been amazing; I’ve been having a dream pregnancy with you growing in my belly. You see we had wanted you for a really long time. Your dad and I had a lot going on though, at the end of 2010 we were putting our house up for rent, packing all our things into storage and relocating to New Zealand for your dad’s work for 2 years or so.

Once in New Zealand, We finally made the decision and before we knew it you were already growing in me. My first pregnancy test came back negative. We were disappointed but not disheartened as eventually you’ll appear when you were suppose to. However a few days later I took another pregnancy test just to be sure, and Yes POSITIVE! That second line appeared so fast and that’s when I knew you were there…but I didn’t feel any different just so excited, surreal and frightened all at the same time and WOW! Now what? I was busting to tell your dad. He was at work and I really wanted to tell him in person when he got home that night so I could see his reaction, but I’d have to wait another 7hrs. I was going to burst! So when he called me during his lunch break I blurted it out over the phone. He found it hard to believe me at first. Some days I wish I had waited those agonizing 7hrs just to see his face.

The first 12 weeks were a roller coaster, a million things were going through my mind all at once, what about all that chocolate I ate last weekend, those fish oils I’ve been taking for years, that steak I ate out last week etc etc…

I had so much worry, but I just wanted you to have the healthiest start in life.

I was really lucky and I didn’t suffer morning sickness, except for only one day when I got up too fast, passed out and then threw up. I did however, from week 5, feel a little off colour but I soon worked out this was only when I was hungry. So as long as I kept snacks in my handbag all the time and never got hungry I was ok.

Food-wise, I never got weird craving combinations. I did now however absolutely love cheese, especially Babybels (Your dad almost had to pry them out of my hands), yogurt 
and I made sure I drank milk everyday for your growing bones.

I also now loved vegemite on crackers but they had to be buttered first. (I had never even been able handle the taste or smell of it before), I had a craving for it in the middle of the night once and decided to try it that very next day. I didn’t even dare tell your dad until I knew I really liked it. Well YUM! Your dad couldn’t believe how much of it I ate. I’m sure it will be something you love too but it will have to be with butter! Potato chips (the plain salted kind) were also a favourite but I made sure to do this in moderation. So I’d have to say it was mostly savoury things I craved and enjoyed. 

Most days I have porridge for breakfast, a yogurt and sometimes toast with a banana, and a smoothie. I’ve had a ton of fruit (mostly bananas, apples, oranges, mandarins and pears). I’ve taken elevit daily. I’ve had a ton of homemade salads and have craved lots of vegetables and occasionally red meat. For indulgence I’ll have a little bit of dark chocolate (the 70% cocoa kind) or a biscuit here and there. Sweet things were hard for me to finish on most occasions.

What I remember most about those first 12 weeks though was how much I slept. Mostly 12hrs a night. No matter how hard I tried I just couldn’t get up but I did use to wake up at about 4:30am every morning absolutely starving. I would get up have yogurt or a banana to get me through and then doze right back off to sleep.

My sense of smell was something else. I could smell your dad’s feet the minute he walked in the front door. I now couldn’t stand the smell of car exhausts and I could smell if someone was smoking a mile away.

Pregnancy brain. Not that much. I have been a little forgetful but it hasn’t been too bad.

We first got to see you at 6 weeks, you were only a little jellybean and then again at 12 weeks. The 12-week ultrasound was for routine tests but you had little arms and legs. Your dad and I were so thrilled to see you. You didn’t stop moving and made the Sonographer’s job a little difficult. When you finally settled you had your arms above your head and your legs crossed just like your dad does all the time. You even gave us a wave.

Hi

At 18 weeks we went home to Perth for a 6-week holiday. Nobody in Perth knew I was pregnant as we held off until we could tell them in person. I wasn’t really looking pregnant either. I just looked like I had eaten a really big meal. Your Grandma Barb and Grandad Keith were so excited when we told them. That your Grandma Barb bought you your very first outfit the very next day. Your Bonne-Maman (my mum) and your Aunty Kelly were also thrilled. Your Aunty Lara even cried she was so happy.

We stayed with your Grandma Barb and Grandad Keith for 6 weeks and your Grandma Barb made all sorts of home-cooked meals for us. I ate so much as I was hungry all the time.

I had several doctors’ appointments whilst back home and I wasn’t putting on any weight. In fact I even lost ½kg. You were taking everything and growing strong, whilst I ate everything in my sight.

We had our 20-week scan, whilst in Perth, and had the choice of finding out if you were a boy or a girl but we decided to keep it a little surprise! You were a little bigger now and still tumbled and turned right before our eyes. We got to see all your little organs and even saw you in 3D. We couldn’t really make out a face though as you were still developing. This 20 weeks scan has been the most exciting to date we even received a live video of the entire scan. That I one day hope to show you.

A screen grab from your 20 week ultrasound.

Vegemite scrolls were now my favourite things to eat. I would make your dad drive to the shop with me daily just so I could get my fresh scroll. On most days your dad would walk around the school (across from your Grandma’s house) with me. I walked so slowly but your dad never ever complained. But I did a little when he'd walk too fast, up the hill.

When I was almost 6 months pregnant, your Grandma Barb held a beautiful baby shower for you with some very close friends of mine. I had such a lovely time and now you had grown enough that I could show off my little baby bump. We ate lots of yummy treats that day; it was a day of pure indulgence for both of us. We were truly spoilt with so many beautiful gifts.

Most nights now whilst eating dinner and watching TV you would dance in my tummy and I loved every minute of it. You dad would kiss you goodnight every night now and at times you would give him a little wiggle.

At 26 weeks we returned to New Zealand and we had our first Obstetrician visit the next day. I also had an ultrasound to check your growth. You were doing well and I was told you had a nice round tummy. I’m not too surprised though since I ate so much for you. You had the hiccups too; I had always wondered what that feeling was. Now days you get the hiccups about 4 times a day. Some of them are so strong my tummy jumps with each hiccup. Your dad couldn’t make it to that ultrasound but I took your pictures to him at lunchtime so he could see you too.


Your dad finally took pictures of me, after much nagging, at the end of week 30. We drove up to the park above Newtown, a suburb just out of Wellington City. The sun was setting and the temperature was dropping so we didn't have much time before I started to turn blue.

So here we are at almost 31 weeks. Good job Dad.

I love these photos and have already started hinting for more, as you are getting bigger all the time. You may as well start getting used to being in front of a camera now, as I can't wait to take photos of you and record all your special moments.

Now I’m 32 weeks pregnant and you are head down. Well done! In the last few days you’ve been lodging your feet into my ribs though. Please don’t do that too often, as it has been slightly uncomfortable. You’ve also been having some wild dance parties lately and I love every one of them. Sometimes I do feel like your going to push right out of my tummy as you push so strongly. The doctors tell me your heartbeat is strong, and you should do most of your growing in the last few months. I’ve only gained 4.6kg since you started growing. So keep growing my little one. Love, mum.

Xoxo…

8 weeks to go….   

COOL CYBER CAT

I've been wanting to start my blog since... well... longer than I can remember. I've talked about it, dreamt about it and even......... written about it (sad I know). Finally I've decided to bite the bullet and put myself out there on the world wide web. No more excuses. I've got to stop worrying of what others think, just be myself and keep it real.


So here begins an online journal of where I'm headed, to document and never forget where I began, to learn and grow from my experiences.