Father's Day & ONE MORE DAY to Baby's arrival...

Just one more day to go before we welcome our little baby to our family!! The excitement is palpable & I can't even begin to describe the sense of happiness and also trepidation I feel at finally becoming a "MOMMY"!

Am sitting in Joseph's office at his desk (waiting for him...as always!) penning down my thoughts as we wait out the final 15 hours before saying 'hello' to our little son. It's "Father's Day" today and how coincidentally apt for Jojo as it'd be his very first Daddy's Day ... one day before his own baby arrives!

We're still shopping furiously for the bub ... its been impossible just how MANY things a tiny little being needs... I reckon we've spent a BOMB just trying to get all the stuff ready... The last week since I started on my maternity leave has been a whirlwind of tidying up the Baby Room which my MIL & bub will be sharing... and as of 5am this morning, the room finally bears a resemblance to a bedroom... fit for a bub & a loving granny... {=:=}

Will try and update this blog as soon as I'm ready to sit down & find some peace & quiet time to share my innermost thoughts on breastfeeding, sleepless nights & coping with a newborn soon... LOL

Exactly ONE month to THE DAY!!

What do you know?!?!?!? I am now exactly ONE MONTH to THE DAY!!! 18-May-2007 today and exactly a month from today on 18-Jun-2007 ... I will be welcoming my lil' bub into the world! Just where did all the months go?

So strange that it feels like forever when it is someone else who is expecting BUT when it happens to you, it happens in the blink of an eye ... LOL

On the one hand (as I've been telling all & sundry), I am sooo excited to see my wee one face-to-face, hold him, kiss him, smell him (yes...smell!), cuddle & bury my face in his little chest ... Awwwww!

Yet, on the other hand, I feel so UN-READY for what is to come?? And exactly what is to come???? I've been told... Sleepless Nights, Endless Diaper Changes, Painful Boobies - all seems so negative eh? Well... I suppose I'll just have to wait & see ... not planning on stressing myself out now ... WISH ME WELL!!!!

My Pregnancy Weight Gain Chart!

Massive weight gain during pregnancy is often a woman's greatest concern... aside from the well-being of her little one... hee!

Thus, in "memory" of this milestone, I have made a log of my weight gain progress throughout my pregnancy to date so here goes: -

* 01-Nov-06 : 64.5kg (confirmation of pregnancy)

1. 15-Nov-06 : 63.3kg

2. 18-Dec-06 : 61.1kg

3. 20-Jan-07 : 61.1kg

4. 23-Feb-07 : 64.5kg

5. 24-Mar-07 : 67.0kg

* 02-Apr-07 : 67.5kg (adhoc gynae visit for abdominal pain)

6. 14-Apr-07 : 68.5kg

7. 28-Apr-07 : 68.9kg

8. 12-May-07 : 70.3kg

**Net weight gain (from confirmation of pregnancy) = 5.8kg
**Net weight gain (from point of actual weight increase) = 9.2kg

Moving along into my 31st week ...

Fetal Development Factoids

• Baby's arms, legs & body continue to fill out, they are now finally proportional in size to his head
• Weighs about 1.5kg now & measures about 41cm from crown to toe
• Bub isn't moving around as much or as forcefully due to limited room in the uterus
• Expected to grow at least another 1kg before delivery
• Bub's organs are continuing to mature & he is now passing water frm his bladder - good practice for urinating after he is born
• Brain scans have shown that fetuses have periods of dream sleep in the 8th month

WOW! Another week hve flown past & I'm now one week away from my 8th month!! Have been feeling more & more knackered as I move along into the 3rd trimester ... as is expected, i guess? My back is hurting, my ribcage feels stretched & I have this nagging ache at this specific spot on my back which just wouldn't go away? Oh, the joys of pregnancy! Heehee...

On the one hand, the major discomforts I'm experiencing makes me wish our bub would arrive soon... and yet on the other, I'm almost afraid as the countdown to D-Day beckons... hehehe! Hve taken next Mon off so I can 'devote' this weekend (Sat, Sun, Mon & Tue) to tidying up the place & esp Baby's Room! Can't put it off any further... sigh!

On a happier note, had my Performance Appraisal today with me boss & all went well ... PHEW!! Am really happy working with the current team, everyday at work is filled with laughter & great camaraderie so in spite of the stress that comes along with the job, it is still a JOY!

ALERT! Sharp Abdominal Pains (Lower-Right)...

Red Alert!!

Experienced a succession of sharp & intense pains in my abdomen last night... specifically in my lower-right abdomen.

The cramp-like pains lasted for about an hour (from 10.30pm - 11.30pm) and was excruciating to the point of bringing tears to my eyes... they were not continuous but hit me at intervals during that hour... :-(

Was getting rather worried & pored through "What to Expect When You are Expecting", "Babycenter" website & googled... but since there was no bleeding... it seemed like there was no cause for concern? Baby Bojo also hiccupped (i think?) when I took to bed so I felt a little relieved...

Anyhow, gave Dr Ong a call this morning just to be sure ... his suspicion is that my old scars from the myomectomy is acting up! Apparently (and of course, I've forgotten this...) the surgery done was mostly on the right side of my uterus so it does coincide with the pains I felt last night...

Doctor's advice is to take it easy today - ie. no strenuous exercise (??? i don't even exercise! haha) and to monitor the pains (if it persists) and to check Bojo's movements throughout the day... Sigh... pray that all will be well.

Jojo is especially "sweet" (by his standards la)... rang me at lunch to say that we should arrange for a visit to Dr Ong's tomorrow .. just to be sure... even tho' at extra cost! In any case, Dr Ong will be away at a conference and so, we've made tentative arrangements to see him Mon morning..

I REALLY hope that all will be well with the bub ...

26 weeks / 6.5 months ... 99 Days & Counting

Fetal Development Factoids

• Approx. 760gms & 35.6cm from crown to heel (legs extended).
• He continues to take in small breaths altho' only breathing in water - good practice for when he's born.
• Bub's more sensitive to sound as his network of nerves in his ears develop.Response to sounds grow > consistent towards the 7th month.
• If Daddy speaks to him now, he might learn to 'recognise' his voice.
• The more he hears it, the more he'll find it soothing after he's born.

Six-and-half months!! Today, Baby is being abit naughtier than usual? Maybe it IS getting a little more cramped in there but he's been so restless! In fact, I've experienced several sharp pains in my lower right abdomen ... made me literally 'jump' up and hold my sides for several seconds just to stem the pains. Wonder what he's up to in there really??

Leg cramps are also starting to bother me alot more... i tend to get them at night when lying in bed or when i'm in deep sleep... Anyhow, Jojo said he held my belly when i was asleep & said he felt Baby move a fair bit while i was sleeping... hahahahaha! We definitely have a NIGHT OWL on our hands... exactly like Daddy ... wide awake at nights ... haaaiiii!

25 weeks & A Spanking New PLAYXTREM TR4 LIGHT Stroller!

Fetal Development Factoids

• Bub now weighs approx. 660gms & is 35cm long from crown to heel
• Makes breathing movements but no air in lungs yet
• Eyelids are open around now & if bright light is shone at abdomen, he'll turn his head
• Is responsive to 'touch' now
• Can have fun with bub by tickling his foot when he kicks OR lying on my back & rolling from side to side - Watch his reaction!

I remain amazed at how time simply flies... its been 25 weeks!! My little Bojo turns 6 mths + 1 week old today! The nice fluttery movements of past have now morphed into MASSIVE rolls & tiny feet peddling into my rib cage and... it hurts! :-) As the days pass, I am getting increasingly excited over the arrival of this little bundle of joy... he has become so 'real'... i can feel him... talk to him... now, I just can't wait to SEE him!!

Anyhow, today also marks a momentous occasion - we've invested in a Baby Stroller! After much shopping & research (i might add...), the dear Daddy-to-be decided on the PLAYXTREM TR4 LIGHT (Colour - Pistacchio...dun ask!). This is a Spanish import (a friend brings it in) and comes with the WORKS!!

THIS stroller is supposedly the "BMW" of strollers... comes with the following specs (if u ask me.. its almost like buying a darn car!!): -

* 360 degree swivel front wheel
* Suspension
* Disc Brakes
* Handbrakes
* (some) ergonomic carrycot cum car seat thingy

ITS HUGE... but sturdy and safe (vvv impt for Daddy-to-be)... my guess is... i'm NOT ever going out ALONE with zee bub in zis machine... too heavy & big for me to maneouvre round... i remember my days out with Saggs & Doey... am not gonna manage by meself ... for sure!

Anyhow, this is one more item OFF the list so yipppeee!!