Saturday, May 31, 2008

Back Home

... and how lovely it is for it to be just Hubby and I alone again. The week has been a bit hectic... i guess it's just a lot easier to relax in your own house than in someone else's...

Unfortunately Hubby did not pass his driving test... and he feels quite miserable... but not to worry as he has a test booked for the 5th July. We think his nerves got the better of him. I've been trying to tell him it's really not the end of the world and the good thing is that the next test he sits the baby will be here to celebrate with us if he gets it which will be nice. His next test is only 5 weeks away... I've been trying to make him feel better but he isn't used to failing anything so I guess he will just feel happier in his own time. I think he felt too much pressure to get the test because the baby will be here soon... it's not the end of the world... he has accomplished a lot this week in spending the week doing lessons... 4 hours of lessons everyday for 5 days is no easy feat! I'm going to go and buy him some fancy beers and drown his sorrows a little and were having a takeaway tonight.

I have SO much washing to do now! It has been nice though not having to cook and clean all week and from now until the baby arrives I'm taking it easier!!

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Catch Up


I can't believe I have been pregnant now for 261 day with only 19 days to go until my due date.  That's less than 3 weeks!  Were both so excited about the baby coming but for me things are getting very very hard.

The baby is doing very well.  He is growing A LOT and at a recent Dr. appointment the first thing the Dr. said when he saw my bump was "OH! There's no hiding that baby!".  He said the baby will be probably be quite big.  The baby is now considered full term, so he could realistically come at any time... were just hoping that he waits until the weekend because were in Belfast at the minute so James can do his driving test.  Once the test is finished on Friday and we insure the car I think we will be going on lots of bumpy drives to get the baby moving... and whip out some very hot curries too.  The Dr. said that as my pregnancy has been normal so far, I could expect to wait up to 10 days after my due date to be induced... I think he saw the look of shock on my face.  The thought of going that much longer makes me feel awful!  I'm pretty sure there is no possible way the baby can grow much more in there!!  My bump seems to have dropped though which is good... I feel that when I sit down I have a little more room to breath.

On average the baby should weigh almost 6 1/2lbs at the minute... give or take a little... and he should be about 20 inches in length.  The baby is probably at his full height for now and is just putting on weight at about 1/2 ounce a day.  He should also have learned to coordinate sucking, swallowing and breathing so that he can use all three when he starts to breastfeed.  He gets hiccups quite a lot and we recently found out that this is a very good sign.  It means he is practicing his breathing so he is ready for the outside world.

I am getting Braxton Hicks quite often and I'm hoping that because they are becoming increasingly uncomfotable, sometimes painful and very frequent... that this is my body getting ready and when I go into labour it will already have done some of the work. :)

James and I are very prepared now for the baby coming.  We have picked a name and his clothes are all washed and ironed and folded in his drawers, as are his blankets, sheets and towels.  I wish I had a way to be distracted for the next 2 and a half weeks so the time would go faster! :)

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Sigh...


I'm enjoying relaxing this week... that was a relaxed sigh... I'm enjoying having hubby with me most of the day for the week and REALLY enjoying not having to make a menu plan, dinners... not having to do the laundry or housework... hmmm... this is nice... I have to admit there have been a couple of instances where I wished I was back at home... but it is nice to not have to worry about keeping house for a week.

Today I went to see my best buddy.  I don't get to see her often as she has an 8 month old and doesn't drive and her husband works... plus she is in Belfast and I am in Dublin.  I can't wait to move back up here and have my buddy back :)  Her little boy is adorable and I hope that mine and hers can be good friends.  We went shopping tonight and I bought a pair of reeeeeeeeeeeeally comfortable lounge/ yoga trousers.  I don't think I'm going to wear anything else until the baby arrives!

Hubby has a dog that lives here in his parents house.  The dog is called Sam and he is a Border Collie.  I think he senses the baby because since becoming pregnant he has followed me around like he was chained to me!!  When I sit to watch tv he sits at my feet and stares.  He doesn't do this with anyone else.  Recently though he has become a little irritating because he keeps trying to rub his nose on my bump... yuck!!!!  I guess it's nice that he is so protective... but I mean... ANYTIME I get up he follows me wherever I go.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

The good and the bad about pregnancy

Ok... so maybe I'll start with the negatives... the things that I haven't enjoyed about pregnancy...
  1. When pregnant, at least in the later stages, it is recommended that you do not sleep on your back... and well, since lying on you front is out of the question, that leaves your side.  I HATE sleeping on my side.  I never used to sleep on my front but it would be nice to have the choice at least! Hehe.  I remember one day lying on my tummy in front of the tv... my fave way to watch the tv... and forgetting I had a bump.  Boy, did that hurt!

  2. The long list of foods you aren't supposed to eat.  Brie is one of my favourite cheese but that's on the list.  Mussels... yummy... but they are on the list.  You get the point.

  3. I'm limited to what I wear when I go out anywhere.  I bought so many maternity tops and now... none of them fit.  I had to buy some more new tops which are only going to do me the next 4 weeks and then I'l probably never wear them again.

  4. The fact that I need to pee so often gets irritating quite quickly.  Especially as you are bursting at the seams to go and when you finally get there you only pee a few drops!!!  It seems like the biggest waste of time.  I spend more time in the bathroom than I do anywhere else in the house!

  5. My hormones are a mess.  I get days where all I feel like doing is crying... even though things are all in order and I have no reason to cry!

  6. My bellybutton popped out.  Can't talk about this one... makes me feel ill.

  7. This one will finish my negatives list... but it's a big annoyance of mine... NO-ONE looks at my FACE anymore... everywhere I go people only seem to see the bump.  They don't even look at my big pregnant boobs... nope... just the big big bump!  It will be nice to have people talk to my face again...
and the things I like...
  1. I like the fact that I'm the one who gets to carry out this hard but extraordinary task of bringing a little one into the world for my husband and I.

  2. I do like my bump.  I think when I finally give birth my bump is something I will miss.  James and i have taken a photo every week or fortnight since we found out... It will be nice to piece them all together as a series!

  3. I love the fact that I'm off work and can take naps during the day.  I love napping...

  4. It's amazing having the baby move about inside my belly and kick... even though they hurt sometimes... it's wonderful to see how he responds to James deep voice and he has his own little pattern.  The baby wakes up and moves about when James wakes up for work but as soon as James leaves, the baby goes back to sleep :-) High fives for daddy :-)

  5. I like that there is a little surprise in my belly... we have no idea really what he looks like or anything and I can't wait to see his little face for the first time.  I think it is so interesting to see what you have created!

  6. I like the special attention I get... the extra help with absolutely everything... and the little treats :)

Catch up...

So we are still in Belfast but now were at my mother in laws.  We came here on Monday morning.  Hubby and I have now been marrried for a year.  We celebrated our anniversary on Sunday night instead of Monday because sitting in with in laws isn't exactly fireworks... anyways... we went to our favourite restaurant - Tony Romas and we stuffed ourselves on chicken wings, ribs, desert and (non-alcoholic for me) cocktails.  Because the weather is nice over here at the minute we also put up the tent in my mum's back garden and we camped out... how many pregnant women do you know have done that!! hehe!  It was fun except the air mattress we pumped up deflated at about 4 am and hubby was a little annoyed when I woke him to pump it up again... couldn't be doing with lying on the groiund though!!  I do like camping out :)

Last night we went to see sister in laws baby.  He was born 5 days overdue and weighs just 6lbs 14 and is sooooooooo teeny.  I can't imagine what size he would have been if he had arrived on time or even a week early!!  He is called Conor and he is so gorgeous.  It made me so broody holding him last night and I just can't wait for this little one to come out!  (Having a bump makes holding a newborn that bit easier... at least until my little one starts kicking the other little one lying on top of him!).  I think it's lovely that the 2 cousins are going to be so close in age... there will only be a maximum of a month between them.

Hubby's driving is going well and he is feeling more confident about his test on Friday.  We have a little barbecue organised either way... either celebratory... or to drown his sorrows... I know he'll get it though because he's really clever.

So that's it... nothing much going on here really... no moves on the baby front unfortunately and to be honest I'm getting a little bit grumpy... for anyone reading this post who has had a baby... how did you distract yourself in the last few weeks... because time is totally dragging!

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Plans for the week

James and I are in Belfast for the whole week.  Returning home on Saturday.  It's been ages since we were up last because I don't like the bus.  The journey is about 2 and a half hours and totally hurts my back... BUT... the journey home should be the last time we have to travel on that bus because my husband is doing his driving test on Friday!! This week he will be doing an intensive driving course of 4 hours a day Monday - Thursday... and I will be relaxing! Hehe.

We are at my mums today and tomorrow and then at my mother in law's all of next week.  Glad to be here... I miss my mum dreadfully especially now that I'm off work.  She lives in a little cottage in a place called Raffrey.  It's in the country and is so peaceful an quiet.

Planning to take the week easy... relax in the garden and play with my husband's dog Sam... I'm going to read some books and take some photos and enjoy the sun.  It feels such a relief to have a week off... no menu plans or cleaning or grocery shopping!  Hubby, on the other hand, won't be able to relax all week... I think he will be too stressed about his test on Friday.  I know he'll pass it though.  He is super clever.

Last night my mum gave me a present.  She has been spending her time knitting and knitted two very beautiful cardigans for the baby.  I was so pleased as it was so unexpected!

...and this morning my sister in law gave birth to a little boy called Connor.  I'm so pleased that my little boy will have a boy cousin to play with when he arrives!  I am now officially a first time auntie too!  Not sure just yet when we will be going to see him but I'll be sure to post some photos!

Monday is our first anniversary!  I'm excited... we aren't doing a lot though... we are going for dinner tomorrow to Tony Roma's... our favourite restaurant.  We were going to go somewhere fancy but since I can no longer fit into any of my nice maternity clothes... and can only wear 3/4 length cargos... we had to change the plans... Tony Roma's is super though.

What is everyone else up to for the weekend?

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Pregnant Legs

:(

I don't know what has happened... I have never really worried about my weight and since becoming pregnant I have worried even less. Recently I bought some new comfy clothes to wear around the house and this whole week I haven't really left the house... therefore only been wearing my comfy slob about the house clothes. Well, today I got a shock when I tried to get ready for a Dr. appointment and could no longer fit into my maternity jeans. It's not that my bump is too big... no. These jeans are made for big bumps. It was because my legs are too big... and my bum! :( They fitted me fine last week and now all of a sudden when I walk my thighs rub together. They have never been like this. I guess it was just a little shock to the system. I called hubby in a panic, crying like a mad woman to tell him I'm to fat to wear anything other than my slobby clothes. I cried down the phone to him for 5 minutes. Now I feel a little silly about that but still overwhelmed that my body resembles nothing that it did before becoming pregnant. I can't even cross my legs anymore...

and to top it all off, I now have nothing to wear for our anniversary dinner on Sunday night. I had planned a casual but smart outfit with my jeans, red patent shoes and a lovely black polka dot top. Looks like I might have to wear black jogging bottoms with those shoes and top! Not sure what to do to be honest! Being only 4 weeks away from my due date I can't justify buying any more maternity clothes...

Please make me feel better about this! Maybe it's only water retention or something.... um....

Friday, May 16, 2008

Picnic in the park

Today was nice...

I met hubby for a picnic on his lunch break in a park right beside where he works. I took some cold pesto pasta, cereal bars, carrot sticks and cherry tomatoes and some crisps and we sat there on my new picnic blanket (pressie from mother in law so I can sit in the park with the baby). It felt wonderful being outside in the sunshine and it was lovely to have hubby with me for longer than 20 minutes at lunch. He normally only has 20 minutes because it takes him so long to walk home and back. Being beside his work meant we had nearly 45 minutes :)

Recently I have been finding it hard to be motivated to get up and go do something... having spent so much time off work I find myself pottering about the house and doing odd tasks... also, because of how heavy my bump is, it is quite sore walking for a long period of time. It feels such a waste of the lovely sunshine (a rare occurrence here in Ireland) sitting indoors all day (plus we live in an apartment so don't have a garden) but I guess it's just one of the ruts you get into. I also have no friends who are off during the day to go do fun things with. My mum lives in Belfast and that's a 2 and a half hour drive away. Anyways... today I decided. Fresh air is good for you and if it's good for me it's good for the baby in my belly so I'm making a pact with myself to get out for a couple of hours at least every day. I'm gonna pack nice picnic lunches for hubby and I and make the next 4 weeks before baby comes really count.

Herbert Park is really lovely. It's easy to find a nice quiet spot to lye down and read a book without being interrupted. There is also a bowling green and tennis courts, a pond and soooooo many lovely flowers! Beside the pond today I saw the following female and male duck. They were just so adorable with their heads tucked into their feathers!

I had such a peaceful time then when hubby left to just sit and think and read. Normally I have music on my ipod or speakers but I forgot to charge the battery... so today I just listened to the birds and lovely summer sounds... and I'm so glad I did. I thought about how lovely it is going to be to bring the baby to the park and sit and play on the blanket while waiting for daddy to meet us for lunch. I can't wait. Thinking about the lovely thing we are going to do with the baby makes the pain and impatience I sometimes feel, totally worth it :)

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Bigger, bigger, bigger...

I cannot quite comprehend the fact that bubs is still growing and will continue to grow in my belly until he arrives!  I still have no stretch marks on my bump (which is definitely a mystery), but I do have them elsewhere.  I have some on my boobs (due to the fact that they have grown 2 sizes sine getting pregnant.. woohoo!) and a couple on my thighs but my tattoos remain perfect.

Bubs weighs about 5 1/2lbs... he will continue to gain weight and put on more fat but he shouldn't get much longer.  This is a good thing considering he would have nowhere to put his legs.  They are already tucked neatly in my ribcage hehe.  It is becoming painful when one of his limbs protrudes from my bump.  I give it a little poke to make him move.  His movements have definately decreased.  This is partly due to the fact that he has less space but also because he is developing sleep patterns and this is how he spends a lot of his day and night, much like how the first few weeks will be when he arrives.

Bub's kidneys and liver are now fully developed and are starting to process waste in practice for the outside world.

Today I had to go shopping and buy new maternity tops and some comfy trousers as my maternity jeans no longer fit.  I got the trousers in the above picture from Topshop and they are WONDERFUL!  I doubt very much that I will wear anything else between now and the birth.
It's getting very hard to walk now.  I'm used to walking very fast so its taken a lot of getting used to walking slowly everywhere I go.  I also find myself having to hold my bump when I walk because it feels so heavy.  I sometimes sit and wonder what it must feel like to stand and walk for the first time after giving birth.  Just by giving birth I will lose nearly a stone in one go!  I imagine it feels a little like walking on air!

I'm still not nervous or scared about the birth.  I'm just very excited and can't wait for it to happen.  I get excited anytime I have bad pains because I keep thinking it is things starting to happen, only to be disappointed when the pains go away.  My bag is packed and sitting beside the door ready to go.

I don't have anything else to report except last week I had a midwife appointment.  It only lasted 4 minutes because everything was great and the baby is super healthy :)

James and I are also pretty much decided on a name... sssssh.


What I'm most looking forward to about having a baby...

This topic came up on a forum I go to regularly and I had a little think myself.

What I'm looking forward to most
  1. I am really excited to actually give birth. I think it's one of the most ultimate experiences. It's going to hurt a lot and everything but the pain is just a means to getting my baby at the end... and a baby at the end of the labour is totally worth it. Also, by giving birth I will have my own body back. I have forgotten what it feels like to not be heavy and sore! Hehe

  2. I'm looking forward to naming him. We have chosen a couple of names but we aren't going to settle on one until we see him and see what suits him best. Naming a baby is a huge responsibility because it has to have that name for his whole life!

  3. I can't wait to see James hold the baby for the first time. They are going to be best mates so I can't wait to see how they take to each other immediately.

  4. I'm excited to be giving my mum her first grandchild, Flo her second grandchild and giving Granny and Granda Rodwell their first great grandchild. He is a lucky baby having a set of Great Grandparents, 2 Granny's and 3 Grandads (Mum and Harry, Maurice and Flo and Dad).

  5. I'm looking forward to spending my money on the baby instead of myself. Since becoming pregnant I have found it so hard to spend money on things for me... but jump at the chance to buy a cute little outfit or toy. I'll always put the baby before myself when it comes to getting treats... hehe.

  6. I can't wait to have family days out and family dinners just the 3 of us.

  7. I'm so excited to be a proper stay at home mum/ wife. Apart from giving up work, I feel a lot happier being able to look after the baby myself... it would break my heart to have to send him away to a childminder. I'm lucky to have the chance to stay at home and take care of him myself. I am also enjoying being a stay at home wife as well and having the house all spic and span and the dinner on for James coming home (look at me... who'd have thought, me domesticated!)

  8. Can't wait to hear the baby cry the first time and scrunch up his wrinkly little newborn face.

  9. It's great that I'm having the baby in the summer because we can go for lots of walks in the sunshine.

  10. Seeing how much alike James and the baby look. Two very handsome chaps!

  11. It's superficial I know, but I can't wait to go shopping for non-maternity clothes... the summer clothes in the shops at the minute are gorgeous!!

  12. I am looking forward to discovering the baby's first.... first step, words, food, tooth...

  13. Looking forward to taking the baby to baby swimming and baby gym... and meeting other mums there.

  14. I can't wait to have people ooh and aah at how cute he is. Being told how amazing he is while I sit nodding my head and agreeing.

  15. I can't wait to make James proud of me AND himself.
I could go on forever... I'm in so much pain these days that these little things make the pain go away a bit because I know out of 40 weeks, 4 weeks and 6 days is nothing! Although for being known to have no patience... I think I've done alright!!

Thursday, May 8, 2008

A nice taxi ride



This morning I had an appointment at the midwives clinic.... sometimes I walk, but today I got a taxi.  The taxi driver opened the door for me and had the biggest grin on my face. I beamed back thinking that his smile had something to do with the glorious weather we have been having here in Dublin. As I sat down he asked me gently, "when is the little one coming along then?". There started a wonderful conversation with a father of 4. He praised me on my decision to be a stay at home mum saying his wife giving up work and him taking up extra shifts was the best move he ever made. He told me about the confidence his children have and he firmly believes it is because his wife is able to stay at home and care for them. The taxi driver just glowed. He told me about the happy feeling he gets when he arrives home from work and has his 4 children all run to cuddle and play with him and how loved it makes him feel to know they are excited he is home.

When he told me he had 4 children, I gasped and mentioned how I don't know if I could do pregnancy that many times... maybe just once more, and he said just to wait and see. He said that when you have children there is nothing else in the world that matters more and nothing else that will bring more joy and that my feelings of having just 2 will change when I see how incredible parenthood is.

When I was getting out of the car he wished me the best of luck and said he hoped that the birth and everything goes well. He then told me I will make a wonderful mother.

I don't normally talk to the taxi drivers... but this man was just so made up by the fact that he had 4 children and they brought him all the happiness, joy and excitement he could ever ask for and it really warmed my heart!

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Not long now!


There has been no more signs of the baby coming early after the other day which is good.  The longer he hangs in there, the smarter he will be (the last few weeks are all about brain development!) and he will be stronger too.  He is busy putting on fat now so when he comes out he isn't too cold!  He is approximately 5lbs now and 45cm long!  James and I are both on tenterhooks following our trip to hospital on Monday but were reassured by the fact that 99% of babies who are born at week 34 - 35 survive just fine on the outside world.

Our baby is very active these days.  He does not have a lot of room to kick about but he can certainly stretch and squirm.  My whole belly makes the oddest shapes when an elbow or knee protrudes from it.

I can't wait to meet this little man who is causing mischief!

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

...things have quietened down

It would seem that the baby was playing tricks on us yesterday... (obviously takes after his father) because we haven't had any more signs that things are progressing. In a way I am pleased... the longer he cooks in my tummy the healthy he will be, but I had sort of got used to the fact that I might be seeing him in a few days time.

I felt all over the place today after the emotional rollercoaster that was yesterday. I woke up this morning having very bad twinges at about 5.00am. These stopped though at 7.00am and since then nothing. I felt in a bit of a muddle and just wished I knew whether he was going to come soon or he has decided to wait out the whole ride :-) I felt better after a tearful phonecall to my mum. I miss her lots because she lives in the North and is a long drive away but just talking to her makes me feel much better.

So there we have it... no news just yet and quite possibly not for a while... who knows... but I have decided to ignore any twinges I feel and not over analyse everything. The time would go so slow if I concentrated on all the little things. Going to get on with things as normal and let the little man keep us in suspense!

Monday, May 5, 2008

A trip to the hospital

Well I have been having pains on and off for the last few days (since Friday) and today they seemed a little worse. James and I popped down to the hospital at about 10.30am. A lovely midwife monitored the baby's heartbeat for about an hour and did an internal examination (not pleasant!). She told us that the baby is fully engaged. This means that his little head is fully in position in my pelvis and he will remain that way until he decides to make an appearance. Babies heads normally engage at around 37 weeks so the Dr. who came to see me was a little concerned that the head was so far down so early.

I was given a betamethasone injection which is used to stimulate fetal lung maturation. The Dr. said this was in case the baby came early, so that his lungs would be stronger. I have to go back tonight for the 2nd dose.

There is no saying whether or not the baby is going to come early. James and I are both tucked up at home seeing how these pains go. They aren't as bad as they have been but I'm having very frequent Braxton Hicks and when i do have a pain it's more easy to recognise compared to the persistant dull ache I was having previously.

To be honest, I wish we knew one way or the other if things were starting or not... were both on tenterhooks and are finding it hard to distract ourselves. I'm symptom spotting like crazy and noticing every single tiny twinge. I think I'm going to drive us both mad!! I do firmly believe though that the baby will not wait until his due date. Whether he comes tomorrow or next week I believe he wont be able to hang on for 6 more weeks. He will be an impatient one just like me! hehe.

Will let everyone know how things progress but at this moment in time it does not look like anything exciting is happening...

Saturday, May 3, 2008

Feeling overwhelmed today...

...about the baby coming. I'm so so excited to meet my little guy but at the same time I think there is a part of the whole situation that has not yet sunk in. In 6 and a half weeks I will have my own baby here with me and not in my belly. A little person I will have to protect, make happy, feed, cuddle, giggle with... these days I just keep thinking how BIG a deal this is.

I really can't wait to meet him. Hubby and I have so many ideas and strategies about how we want to raise him but I'm scared that we might mess up... I just can't believe how many weeks of pregnancy have passed and how many are left.

*sigh* Just feeling so overwhelmed like I can't believe it that he is going to be here so soon. Our very own little baby that we made together.  I'm so nervous about knowing how to do things properly and I'm scared that this little person will need me so much.  Hubby isn't nervous or scared, but then again he is so level headed compared to me.  I'm glad I have him there to help keep me sane hehe.