Jan 2006
Week 24 - Last week at Work
Time seems to be flying along now – I remember when we found out about the pregnancy and time from one week to the next seem to take ages! Now it seems to be going really fast!

The good thing is that we have purchased all the big things now so aside from nappy bag, bath & monitor that is it. Probably a good thing since this week we are expecting our bill from the obstetrician which will be around $2000 with a further $900 a bit later on.
rug
This baby is costing a fortune so you would like to think that you can pre-order things like manners, good looks & talents wouldn’t you?

Dave suggested that I go to the library to borrow some books as I am reading a lot as moving around seems to make me breathless & dizzy and I still get the headaches but (fingers crossed) they do not seem as severe as before. I now have a huge stack of baby books – I wonder how much you can read about babies & pregnancy before it gets boring.

It has been incredibly hot here with a particularly bad bushfire season with other states sending fire fighters to Victoria. Although I realise that I am feeling hotter than normal the evaporative cooling has been on all day and nearly all night for the last week. The night temperatures have generally been in the high 20’s celcius.

Baby Development Info :

Length is now about 31cm from head to toes

Weight: is about 800gm

“The baby can now react to loud noises by a blink or “startle" response. They continue to grow and most of the weight gain is in muscle, organ and bone mass development. The baby’s hearing and taste senses are developing”

It appears that the fruit & vegetable craze is pretty much over and has been sadly overtaken by a keen interest in potatoes & anything sweet. Hopefully this will not be a long lasting craze as it is not the healthiest.

We've attempted to put the new baby seat in the car this weekend....only to realise we have to take it out on Saturday as we're going to a wedding and taking some friends !!!

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Week 23 - Dipsy Doolittle & Peking Baby
Well it is getting harder and harder it seems to keep these blogs churning out on time!

A combination of factors played a part this week. I am still getting bad headaches and sitting at the computer doesn’t help them. It has also been stinking hot here and we have been turning off the computers as they generate so much heat. As I am still ‘dipsy’ I actually thought about jokingly stating that I had forgotten how to use a computer!

I have done some research on the headaches and I am aware that there is little chance that I can do anything except get rest and take as few panadol as possible. Apparently during pregnancy there are changes to the eye which can affect vision and some books even advise to not bother getting your eyes checked until after the birth. I am however considering making an appointment for Physiotherapy as it may be related and can only be a benefit I suppose. If the headaches do not ease in the next week or so I will consider making an appointment to test my eyes.

jackie_chan
On a positive note I have not been physically sick for quite a while and am now totally fascinated with my bump and the energetic little baby inside! I even rang Dave at work one day to say that perhaps we should add the name of ‘Jackie Chan’ to our list as this day was the most energetic ever with constant kickboxing going on! I have come to terms with the fact that you obviously spend a lot of time worrying during pregnancy as I often get worried that I haven’t felt anything in a little while and then worry about if it is okay to be this active? Someone told me recently that you will now spend your life worrying about your child, this is just the beginning!

We have arranged all the items that are on the list that the hospital gave us for the baby after hearing a few stories of babies being born around this time. Apparently there is a good chance with expert medical care that if it was born now it could survive. Quite amazing! Dave and I are both loving life at the moment, to add a baby to our lives is going to be simply fantastic and we cannot wait until May!

We have bought the car seat now and boy is Dave in heaven with all these new toys to install. Not that he reads the installation manuals, that seems to be where I step in once he gets frustrated (which I admit is not very often) The car seat we bought is a Safe N Sound AHR Platinum. We mainly decided on this car seat based on the statement that it is the safest car seat in Australia. The funny thing is that this car seat comes with stereo speakers inbuilt into the headrest. Of course with our interest in technology it is pretty hard to convince people that we bought it for the fact that it exceeds all safety standards. Although I will admit that Dave has already tested the speakers by plugging in the iPod which is an important test considering that our children will need to be able to hear Billy Joel as soon as possible. This is our last ‘big purchase’ (I think). The only things left now are things like a baby monitor, bath, nappy change bag & things that are on my list for the hospital like champagne & chocolates & ear plugs! (kidding)

Baby development info –

- Length is now about 30cm from head to toes

- Weight is about 700gm

One fascinating bit of information that I found out is that the baby’s eyelids are now no longer fused closed yet the pupil is still protected by a membrane for another week or so. I can’t imagine that there would be a lot to look at in there but it is exciting for us to think our baby is opening its eyes. Apparently the definite colour of the eyes is not yet established but as we both have brown eyes it would be rather odd if it didn’t have brown eyes!

kell_coco_pops
Eating habits are still very similar to the recent past, still cannot get enough fruit and vegetables and this has also been a bonus for Dave who is also eating so much more Fruit & vegetables than ever before. Dave is confidently whipping up huge bowls of leafy green salads while I drool! Breakfast has been the same for a while now with Coco Pops the main attraction.

We have been out to do some shopping for maternity clothes; Dave has become skilled at so many things since this pregnancy began. He selects good choices for maternity clothes even stating that they are ‘on the list’ before he races off to look through the 000 sized baby clothes. There are so many cute clothes and if we knew the sex of the baby we would be in shopping heaven. Dave got excited over a teeny outfit of what I call overalls but he calls them dungarees. So far we only have white baby clothes in the cupboard – staying safe!
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Week 22 - We Bought a Beema
A widely known saying is “You know you’ve made it when you own a Beema” The saying of course is referring to a BMW car. We bought our new pram/jogger which just happens to be called a Beema! It has a bassinette that can be securely fastened to the jogger for newborns, it was an extra cost but well worth it. The only thing we were not happy about is the fact that when we picked it up and paid for it only then did the saleswoman say “You’re warranty starts today” Considering it is a 12 month warranty and the baby wont be using it for 4 months or so we thought it was a bit cheeky – especially as Dave had contacted them to notify them that we would not be picking it up until February. They then rang again to ask us to pick it up so we did to save any more bother. I can honestly tell you that we will not be returning to Babyco in Narre Warren again! So we have it all set up and it looks great. I dared Dave to walk around the block with it maybe with a teddy or our small dog Polly in it but he went all shy!!

sneetches
Morning sickness a distant memory now, I have only been sick once in the last 10 days which is great. However the headaches have returned and drive me crazy! I am bored of lying down on the bed looking at the ceiling when there is so much to do. My eyes seem to be much more light sensitive now and watching TV or using the computer makes them sore then soon after the headache thumps. Before I even open my eyes I have them most of the time. I am considering getting my eyes tested but as I have previously seen a doctor about this there is not much that can be done. ‘Just rest’ arghh! If it wasn’t for the darn headaches I think I could say I am in the ‘swanning stage’ because everything else is great!

Still eating tons of fruit and vegetables! I cannot remember ever having so much interest in what is in the fruit bowl before! The great bonus of this is although feeling heavier and looking pregnant now any weight gain is pure baby. My next appointment at the obstetrician is in February so I will close my eyes and weigh in like a good patient.

My tummy is much bigger and higher now as the uterus is apparently well and truly up above the belly button now. Although I feel quite chuffed that I can squeeze into most of my old clothes they soon hurt around the middle and I end up pulling them down and walking around like an American teenager! This is saved for around the house, at work I have some modicum of decorum!

I can honestly say that my heart rate has increased somewhat during this week of pregnancy. I have read that it is normal and just a sign that my body has to work a little harder.

Baby development info –

Length is now about 29cm from head to toes

Weight is about 630gm

The baby’s eyelids and eyebrows are well developed and even though the baby’s eyelids are fused, he or she is now making blinking movements. The first signs of teeth appear as buds beneath the gum line.

“Taste buds are starting to form on baby's tongue. Also, brain and nerve endings are so developed, the baby can now feel touch. Baby starts to experiment with this new sensation by stroking his or her face or sucking on a thumb. Your curious baby may even start feeling other body parts just to see how they move! These are the beginnings of exploring the world.”

Lots of kicking and wiggling around - I am concerned that the baby and my body clock are not in synch as when I finally nod off to sleep it apparently is party time in utero! If this continues after the birth we will have to negotiate appropriate times for fun (I can wish can’t I?)

pschool2
Apparently this is the time for singing and reading to the baby as it actively listens. I am hoping that Dave does not decide to read a technical book on software development and I will encourage him towards his old favourite about Len the lighthouse keeper. I will dig out my favourite Dr Seuss books, especially The Sneetches, The Magic Faraway tree & Mr Men books.

Dave is truly amazing; I only wish that every woman could have a husband as attentive and supportive as he is. Although I often feel terribly guilty that some household chores are either not getting done or taking forever to get done, Dave mucks in and is always by my side telling me to take it easy and to rest.

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Week 21 - The Magic Roundabout Winking
Wow! I do not know what happened to this week! That’s not really surprising as I am so confused all the time anyway. I am starting to be a little blasé about my foggy brain syndrome and simply tell people straight away that a) I do not know what day it is & b) I do not know when I am working next. Those seem to be the most common statements anyway. Dave will be thrilled to know that I am aware that it is January! He loves telling people how three times in one day last month I was standing beside the Christmas tree frowning whilst trying to figure out what month it was. He thought that the Christmas tree might have given me a hint!

fruit_medley
Things here are terrific, I am feeling generally much better and meals have miraculously started arriving on the dinner table again. Loaves of bread are baking in the oven and homemade vegetable soups are the latest craze. Pre-pregnancy diet consisted of probably 20% fruit and vegetables yet now feature in 99% of food! So it has been a great bonus for both Dave, the baby and me.

I have a lot more energy now and I am sure that my work schedule reduction is definitely the main reason. I would love to say that the morning sickness is history but although much rarer it likes to strike when least expected now. I woke for work on New Years Day feeling good yet 15 minutes into my hour long drive I was sick extremely violently. Luckily there was a blanket on the back seat from when we took Arnie to the vet so that saved some mess in the car but didn’t spare it (or my entire outfit) entirely. So I went back home to start the day again with a fresh set of clothes & a speedy wipe down of the car. I could only imagine what people were thinking as it was 6.15am on New Years Day and I was sick whilst sitting stationary at a roundabout! Hopefully that will never happen again.

New Years Eve was quiet yet thoroughly enjoyable spent having dinner with close friends. I was almost cross eyed with tiredness by midnight but made it and stood outside with Dave watching the fireworks. It is amazing how many people get access to fireworks (with are not legal unless a organised & controlled event). I like watching fireworks but I do feel sorry for the animals in the area not to mention it was 43 degrees Celsius and one stray spark……

Magic_Roundabout_Cast-poster
Baby development info –

Length is now about 28cm from head to toes

Weight is about 500gm

The baby's eyelids are still fused shut but the retinas of the eyes are fully developed and it now has distinct eyelashes and eyebrows. The baby's hair follicles are now pigmenting to give the baby's hair colour.

“By this week, your uterus is now higher than your navel. It may even cause your navel to stick out”. I would like my belly button to pop out then I can experience life with an ‘outie’ how cute!

Lots of little kicks and lurches these days, I keep thinking that I must keep a little ‘movement diary’ as there is a theory that when the baby has active time in utero it keeps to the same active time once born. Not sure how true it is but I would like to see anyway. I often like to rub my tummy as I think it soothes the baby (maybe not but I like it anyway)
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