37 weeks // bumpdate

In the last few weeks I've felt a shift. I want nothing but to be at home, to get myself, my house and my little family prepared for what's about to come. I want to say no to people, be as anti social as possible, to really hibernate and I suppose meditate. 

I want to trust my instincts right now and that exactly what I am doing. Even when I say "I WANT MARSHMALLOWS" and Husband says no no no you don't, really and tries to swerve me away from them, I go ahead and pick up a bag anyway. I feel a little sick now but I still think I needed them!

How far? // 37 weeks and 3 days. Also known as full term. 

How big? // Big enough to give birth any day I'd say. I was REALLY having a hard time with my rib pain up until yesterday. I thought that seeing as though the baby was engaged, they wouldn't drop down much more and I would have to suffer until the end of time/baby time. I was wrong. Baby has dropped, I can breathe, all is calm. 

Cravings? // The usual. Hot chips, ice cream, the occassional marshmallow. FINALLY got my hands on some decent mandarins and you know what? I always thought that by the time the mandarins were ready, baby would be ready. We'll see if I'm right. 

Stretch marks? // zilch. I often wake up and inspect my stomach and freak out only to find that I am freaking out over lines from my clothes/sheets. We're all good. 

How was this week? // Like I said before, I've felt a shift. I've felt an even bigger shift over the weekend but I don't want to expand on it or even think on it too much myself because I don't want to get my hopes up. Also this is all so confusing. Why do I have NO friends who are midwives!? 

Weird pregnancy moment? // These maternal instincts! Or what I hope to be maternal instincts... 

The nursery? // Done for now! Except for the change mat cover I have to sew... and I don't want to... so who knows if it will get done. Baby's bag is packed and ready. Mine will be finished and ready to go tonight. Baby's moses basket has been moved up next to our bed ready to go... So we're really ready for you baby!

Waiting is hard. 

Lucky I am still working and have netflix and NBA TV and messy cupboards to clean and an exercise ball to bounce on. 

More wicked maternity blabbering and photos to come, I'm sure.

34 weeks // bumpdate

Iphone photos! Taken by glorious girlfriends at a glorious wedding! This wedding has been a milestone in this pregnancy. I always felt, firstly, that it would just be awesome (and daunting) to be so very pregnant and I had the best time imagining waddling around crying my eyes out watching two wonderful beautiful people get hitched. And secondly, that once it was over I would really shift gears and start to relax and get into the nesting and preparing and letting everyone else do all of the working.

I'm still working... for another week or so... but I do, I really do feel more relaxed and like I'm really on the home stretch!

Shall we?

How far? // 34 weeks in these photos! But 35 weeks tomorrow. THIRTY FIVE. That means we will have a baby in less than seven weeks regardless. I am still majorly hopeful that I take after my Mother and go into a 6 hour labour at 38 weeks...

How big? // Ohhhhhh babe is as big as a honeydew melon! I don't like honeydew so much but I do love the name! I feel pretty dang enormous... and I love it. Being so obviously pregnant is incredibly hard and stressful on your body but people are so nice to you! All the time, it's really lovely.

Cravings? // All the apples and apple juice, still. And being considerate of the season, also all of the easter eggs.

Stretch marks? // I am so proud of my skin right now, we are still mark free and I am beginning to think we may have escaped them! I never thought I'd be saying that. I am also knocking on wood...

How was this week? // I am so much happier since last bumpdate! I'm still under the pump but it's finnneeee. My pelvis/ribs/back are still playing up and I've realised the position I get in to try and relieve that pain is causing my heart palpitations! So that makes me feel better, I'm not dying of anxiety, it's just the baby squashing my aorta! It's silly but I just feel like I've got some of my sanity back.

Weird pregnancy moment? // The wedding. It was the most beautiful affair and I was so thrilled that I got to help out my wonderful friends. I think I was running on adrenaline/pure love because I lasted all night long and even wiggled my butt on the dance floor. With my legs stuck together because we did not want to make the day about us instead of the new family.

The nursery? // Is lovely. We got so many books and bits and pieces at our baby shower so I've shuffled a book case in there (made by Nick's dad) to hold them all. The rug also came and holy mother of soft fluffy goodness, it's lovely. I had the carpets cleaned yesterday, Nick's slowly getting there with the toy chest... I've ordered a pouffe for my feet! Now I just need to add some photos and artwork and string the mobile together. I love it in there. I will post photos when I'm done!

Nick and I spent the morning going over the baby name book again. After much frustration though we just had another look at our on going short list and ACTUALLY AGREED on TWO complete boys names. We've also decided on one complete girls name and are so set to name her if she is a she...

And now we continue waiting.

30 weeks // bumpdate

I'm so good at bumpdates! Insert sly guy emoji here. I think he is my fave. Also this Mama already has the tired mama hair-do down.

How Far?  //  30 weeks! and four days today and trust me, I am counting those days. Every day done is the biggest achievement over here.

How Big?  //  Baby is as heavy as a coconut. Do with that what you will. I on the other hand have stepped on the scales twice this pregnancy, both times ended in a freak out but I am not being too hard on myself. I have been SO emotional the past few weeks and so what if I eat like an emotional pregnant woman!? I've already started pilates and still waddle the dogs every few days so whatever, my body is busy growing another body, it can have donuts whenever it wants them.
Also I keep measuring a week ahead at the midwife appointments soooo let's all hope that mean's I might deliver a week or two earlier!

Cravings? // Oranges, apple juice, the chocolate and hot chip addiction is going strong... Also addicted to silly youtube videos. You know the day in the life ones where you literally watch someone do their laundry? I've lost my mind.

Stretch marks?  // Going strong on the markless belly! Coco butter is doing its job.

How was this week?  // in a word? Bad. But not even. Even though I cry near daily, I am exhausted, overwhelmed by work, have constant pain in my ribs/back and hips, I still feel really lucky. I feel lucky that I get to feel our baby wriggle and roll and stretch and get hiccoughs and wake up when our alarms go off. It's the best thing to be a pregnant woman, people look at you and smile and help you pick things up and put on your shoes. It's hard work growing a baby but I am so very grateful to have this job.

Weird pregnancy moment?  // The baby hiccoughs are cute. I'm sure one of the weirdest moments will happen tonight though when we go to our first birthing class! I'm so excited. Also weird - I have been SO happy to be doing baby laundry. I HATE laundry but washing our baby's bedding and swaddles and making them smell like softly has been the best.

The nursery?  // Is coming along so nicely! I've bought everything I think I will buy for it now so all I have to do is wait for the rug to be delivered and start putting it all together! I have sort of made a deal with myself that I just have to get through this month, work as hard as I can and then I can decorate and nest and wash baby clothes and try and rest for all of April/until the baby comes.

And here, some more random photos, for luck.

My nightly view looks a lot like love.

A 28 week naked belly.

The start of baby's room!

The baby's corner of our bedroom is my favourite thing to look at.

22 weeks // Bumpdate

Bikini photos on the INTERNET!? whatever, I'm a mum now I can be all fancy free like that.

How far? 22 weeks! I skipped a couple on account of Christmas and eating and slothing at the beach and such things.

How big? Baby is as long as a cucumber! Still I take offence to these vegetable references because which two cucumbers are actually the same length?! So to be clear, Baby is about 28cm long and weighs half a kilo. It's really quite strange to think that there is a baby nearly as long as a ruler in my belly.

Cravings? Lemme tell you a story. It goes something like, pregnant girl, her husband and their two best friends go to the supermarket while they are on holiday. The pregnant girl seems pretty sane. Then her and her bestie stroll through the aisles looking for paper towel when all of a sudden the image of a perfectly salty and beautiful hot chip pops into her mind. Then she actually starts crying. Bestie runs off to find husband, husband is thoroughly perplexed, leads crying pregnant wife to the frozen chip section as a temporary measure and announces to friends that we're done here. Then they all drove to the nearest fish and chip shop and had lunch. The end.
Also pancakes.

Stretch marks? See above photo of stretch mark-less belly. Thank goodness!

How was this week? Since my last bumpdate, baby has been getting stronger and stronger everyday. They've now learned how to swiftly kick me in the bladder whenever they feel like it!
Another story? Ok
So I had this blinding pain in my left temple every time I bent over for a few weeks leading up to christmas. I wasn't too concerned since I suffer from random icepick migraine pains all the time. Boxing day however, that pain slowly started to build up. Finally being at the coast I thought it was just a little post holiday/finally starting to relax sort of headache. You know the ones? When you've been really tense and then you finally breathe and it just sort of hurts? Anyway anyway anyway, this pain built up over the next few days until I said DOCTOR! and off we went to spend a day in emergency where the drugs and doctors are. I made them let me go home when I was drowsy... I paid for it the next day. The worst migraine I've ever had ever. I've now given up chocolate and coke and am scared to death of getting another.

Weird pregnancy moment? As if story one and story two weren't weird enough...

The nursery? We're home for a few days to get some sneaky work done so we can head back down the coast for another week so I am using my time with the internet wisely and buying up in all the sales. We plan on buying the pram and hopefully bassinet this week and I am sooooooooo excited! I bought some aden and anais bamboo swaddles and a boon drying rack this morning and I am off to bunnings to buy shelf brackets this afternoon.
You know how everyone always tells you babies are expensive?
I was always one of those people who thought, they are only as expensive as you make them, you do not need to spend thousands.
I was wrong.

18 weeks // Bumpdate

18 weeks (so far) is the best week ever. 

How far? These were taken at 18 weeks and 5 days. 

How big? Baby is as big as a capsicum at 18 weeks... and then is as big as a big tomato at 19 weeks... I mean honestly isn't a capsicum bigger than a tomato? Or is that just in my world? Anyway, I got bigger! I have a proper baby bump! I can walk around and people can be like ooohhh a little baby bump! instead of ohhh I wonder what she ate for lunch... 

Cravings? I don't want to talk about food. I'm really trying to be better at eating well. 

Stretch marks? Not yet! Still crossing my fingers and toes. 

How was this week? The best. At 18 weeks and one day I woke up and lay in bed avoiding getting up and showering/moving because it was early we were supposed to be rushing off to the coast but I do not like rushing anywhere right now. ANYWAY Noodle was laying in the lovely little crack between my bean pillow and my belly (mostly on me) and I felt baby kick! Apparently they don't like getting smooshed by their siblings. Every day since then my belly has been growing and the little kicks have been getting stronger and more frequent. They can get so strong that Nick can put his hand on my belly and get a high five. 

Weird pregnancy moment? I no longer fit into any of my clothes but I don't yet fit into full on maternity clothes. This weird still in between stage is ssuuuuppper annoying. Buying clothes two sizes bigger so I can wear them for a month makes me a little cranky but it has been really nice shopping with my husband who picks things out and sits in the change room with me and tells me I look pretty in sack dresses. What a champ. 

The nursery?! Is the christmas present dumping ground!! I will make a move on wrapping them and organising the house next week :)

16 weeks // Bumpdate

Hi! I'll be a better blogger, promise. Working from home I thought I would ACE blogging. SO much time to take photos! So much time to create things... But alas, I want to work harder for my businesses and my house is actually a bit cleaner due to all the tidying so blogging falls by the wayside. Anywho, I'll get there.

How far?  Well... this photo was taken at 16 weeks and 2 days but today we are 17 weeks and 4 days!

How Big?  Baby is neeeaaarrrlllyyy over a really big growth spurt. Apparently they double their weight between weeks 16 and 18 so right now baby should weigh about 170 grams and is 13.5cm long. I was just thinking that is still sooo tiny and then I picked up a ruler and held it on my belly. It's a decent size... haha.

Cravings?  During the day, more coke zero please. At night, I want all the milk.

Stretch marks?  Not yet! I think my obsession with coconut oil and coco butter is paying off. I do smell like a cake most of the time though.

How was this week?  More like two weeks... have been mostly OK! Had a killer week long migraine, had our first appointment at the hospital with the midwives! I tell you I felt like the biggest fraud. Like husband and I were just watching a reaaaalllly vivid episode of one born every minute. Still doesn't feel like this is real life even when listening to baby's heart beating away. Cannot wait to feel some fluttering baby movements. Also we put the tree up!! and the rest of the christmas decorations soooo best week ever.

Weird pregnancy moment?  So I have to go to the beach this weekend with Nick's work, right? So I tried my swimmers on. If only you could have seen my face. I am all for embracing new curves and admiring a changing body and buying new swimmers even but at the same time... aaaaaaaccckkkkk.

The nursery?!  We have three spesh chairs in our house. One amaze armchair from Ikea, currently housed in the bedroom, one armchair we thrifted and I made new cushion covers for, currently in the living room and one glorious little eames rocker, a perfect wedding gift from Emily that's hanging out in the nursery. We are going to play musical chairs and give them new homes so the thrifted armchair will live in the nursery - the cushion covers are easy to wash if you're picking up what I'm putting down, the rocker will move to our bedroom next to the moses basket and the cream armchair will move to the living room where we will continue to cherish it. Longest pointless story about chairs over.

Also little side note, this mama got a hair cut! The biggest cut in nine long years. I feel like a new woman.