Dear Baby

Well, look at that!  Truly the home stretch now, 10 weeks to go!!!

Mummy and Daddy went and bought your cot this week.  Now we just need to put it together!

This week has also seen Mummy struggling a bit with her blood sugar, which is totally to be expected at this point.  That placenta of yours is just sucking all her insulin right up, in order to keep your blood sugar under control.  Mummy has also had heartburn return worse than before.  She is not enjoying the third trimester at all right now.  But she knows it will all be worth it when she holds you in her arms.

As for you, little one, you weigh about 1.3 kilos and are about 27 cm long.  These next four weeks you will add lots of fat and fill out a lot, until you really look like a baby!  You are also being very very active.  All.the.time.  Although Mummy still appreciates that you seem to sleep when she sleeps!

Mummy and Daddy are still thinking about names.  Hopefully we’ll have one by the time you make your appearance!

Love

Mummy

Dear Baby

Less than 80 days to go!!

Mummy is firmly in the 3rd trimester now and, honestly, not really enjoying herself.  She’s tired all the time, which is good practice for when you arrive, and her muscles ache.  But she’s keeping her eye on the prize, which is you!

I haven’t said anything about how hard it was for Daddy and I to have you.  You see, about 3 years ago now, he and I decided it was time to have a baby.  Only Mummy was on some rather heavy duty medication for depression and anxiety at that time and in order to have you, she needed to get herself off of it. That took a year.  And then, just as she was told ‘yes, go ahead’ she was told she had Type II diabetes.  And she was told ‘no, wait!’

So Mummy worked very hard to bring her blood sugar under control by watching what she ate, and exercising some and losing weight.  And then about 6 months after she was diagnosed she was told ‘Yes, go ahead!’ again.  And then it took Daddy and I nearly 1.5 years to finally get you started.

So every day I say a little thank you.  To God, or whomever, for letting us create you.  I love you so much already.

This week you are about 26 cms long and weigh about 1.15 kilos.  Your breathing is developing and everything!

29 weeks down.  11 weeks to go.

Love

Mummy

Dear Baby

Well, this week your klutz of a mother did it again. I tripped over a curb and almost landed on you.  Well, that’s a bit of an exaggeration, because I don’t think I actually got anywhere close to you, since I landed very hard on my knee.  And then a few days later I splashed very hot red sauce on my bump! Good thing you’re so well protected in there!

You have been a very good baby this week.  Just last night you kicked Mummy so hard she saw her tummy move and so Daddy came over and you did it again!  Finally kicked Daddy for sure!  Good Baby!!

You are a good baby in other ways as well.  Every time Mummy thinks ‘hmm, haven’t been kicked in awhile’ you kick me.  Its like you can read my mind!  (Daddy says that’s just silly, but what does he know? 🙂 )

Apparently you can now tell which way is up!  And your eyes regularly open and close.  You are about 25cm long and weigh about 1 kilo.

As for Mummy, well heartburn has reared its ugly head over the past week or so.  I have been trying to take Gaviscon, but it makes me really nauseous, so suffering a bit either way.  I have gained a total of 24 pounds, with more to come as you put on more and more weight.  My feet and lower back hurt a lot too.  But I know it will all be worth it.

Because I am so short, I have quite a large bump.  Someone said to me today ‘so any day now?’

Nope.  3 more months.

Can’t wait!

Love

Mummy

Dear Baby

This is it! We’re in the third trimester!!! Whoohooo!!

Mummy has been feeling a bit better this week and went back to work yesterday.  She’s still a bit blue, but its not nearly so bad as it was, which is great!

She also had an OB appointment today and got to see you!  Your head and tummy measure right on schedule  and you weigh about 1 kilo!!  So of the 21.5 lbs she’s gained, about 2lbs of it is you!

I also am told that you have begun to practice breathing and will continue to breathe more constantly!  Your brain is also developing its folds and grooves.  And you are about 24cm long.

The other big news around here is that this past Sunday was Mother’s Day.  Daddy, wonderful daddy that he is, got Mummy a card and little teddy bear that says ‘World’s Best Mum’!  He signed the card from both of you, so, really, its the first thing you’ve ever given me!  Well, not counting heartburn, constipation and achy joints :).

And the other, other big news is that today is Daddy’s birthday.  He is 35 today.  Mummy gave him a very big comic book, Doctor Who Action Figures and a video game.  You and Daddy are going to have so much fun together!

So…27 weeks…13 to go…almost here!

Love,

Mummy

Dear Baby

Will you look at that…only 15 weeks to go! Practically the 3rd Trimester!

Mummy hasn’t had an easy week again.  One of her friends lost their baby last week.  Their baby was about as far along as you are right now.  Mummy was very sad for her friend and a bit worried.  But then she realized that you have been kicking her like crazy!  And we had two scans last week!

Mummy’s OB (that’s the doctor who specializes in babies, BTW) decided to scan you just for the heck of it during her 24 week appointment last Tuesday.  So I got to see your legs (which look very muscular, OB says that’s normal!) and your hands waving at me!  And your heart beating.

And, speaking of your heart, mummy and daddy got to go have that scanned on Friday.  You see, my darling, because your mummy has diabetes, it can cause your heart to be too large.  So around 24 weeks a specialist (called a foetal cardiologist) does a very close in scan and measurement of your heart.  So daddy and I got to go see your heart and hear it beat and everything. There is also some additional concern with your heart because your Uncle J was born with a hole in his heart the size of a quarter.  But nothing was found in yours! And it measured right on size. 🙂

So, how big are you anyway…well mummy’s book says you weight about 720 g and are about 22.5 cm long.  You can hear what I and your daddy say to you, as well as other sounds from outside mummy’s tummy.  I knew that, because Daddy was watching Matrix the other day and you were kicking like crazy during the fight scenes! Definitely mine and your daddy’s baby!!

Counting down the days, as always my little love.  And buying you some clothes to wear.  And daddy got you your first elephant this week!

25 down…15 to go.

Love

Mummy

Dear Baby

Well, mummy scared herself silly this week when she tripped over a curb at City Centre and nearly landed on you.  Her mummy instincts kicked in, though and she twisted to her side, landing on her arm and knee.  I seem to have missed you completely, not even a light bruise, but it was very very scary.

You were pretty much instantly comforting in that you kicked me very hard once I was home and calmed down.  So I knew you were okay.  According to some, you probably enjoyed the ride!!  Don’t get used to it kid!

Daddy and I went and picked out your cot on Saturday, although we haven’t actually bought it yet.  Everyone keeps saying to me, why do you need a cot when you are getting an Amby hammock?  Well, I don’t think I agree with this rooming in for 6 months idea.  I am hoping to get you to nap in your cot from the beginning so that when I do transition you to your own room after a couple of months, it will be easier to do so.  I may transition you into your own room in your Amby, but I really think I will mostly just use that the first couple of months and then use it to take up to your grandparents after that!  At least until you get too big for it!

Everyone is being very generous to you.  Your Grandma Shelley and Pops Burt have paid for your pram.  Your Grandma Grace and Grandad Tom are buying you your cot.  And of course you received two loveys, one from Grandma Karen and Pops Bill and one from Aunt B and Uncle J.

Speaking of Uncle J, Mummy was talking to him on IM earlier today and mentioned that you were kicking me a lot.  Uncle J said to tell you ‘good job’!  But that’s how brothers are!

So this week, you are finally viable outside of mummy.  But, as I’ve said before, keep put for about 16 more weeks, okay?  Its nice to know if something happened and you came out you could survive.  But let’s not try that.  You are about 21 cm long and weight about 630 grams.  You’re turning into a real baby in there!

So 24 weeks gone, 16 weeks to go.

Love

Mummy

P.S. Happy Birthday to Grandma Shelley!!!

Dear Baby

So, here was are at 23 weeks.  Your Pops Burt said to me on Sunday that he liked the counting by weeks thing, rather than by months.  But if someone prefers it, I am nearly 6 months.  5.75 months to be exact.  The third trimester is in sight.

This week mummy’s boss agreed to let her 4 days a week starting this week.  And even just the idea of it has taken a huge weight off mummy’s shoulders.  5 days a week is just making mummy tired and cranky.  Those Fridays off will be a blessing for all concerned.

And so my years leave is in sight as well.  I am so looking forward to having a whole year to spend with you, just me and you and daddy.  We’re going have such fun!

Since you are a summer baby, we’ll be going to the Botanical Gardens which are just a bit of a walk away.  And we’ll go sit on the lawn at City Hall, if we don’t feel like going all the way to the Gardens.  I imagine we’ll stroll down by the river as well.  It will be very nice.

You now have skin (who knew you didn’t have skin before?!?!) and some people say you are beginning to think.  I can’t imagine what you have to think about in there. Stocks and Bonds? The current economic crisis?  Anyway, in another week you are fairly viable outside of mummy, but please stay in there until you’re completely done.  Thanks!

Overall mummy doesn’t feel too awful!  She’s tired.  And has to go to the loo every 2 minutes.  But other than that she feels pretty good.  Ready to meet you for sure!

Mummy and Daddy made the first major purchasing decision this weekend, when we pick out your Pram.  Since we don’t have a car, you’ll be in that pram quite a bit, I think.  Unless I do follow through with the whole sling idea.  Anyway, its pretty high tech and wicked cool looking, so I think you’ll like it!

23 weeks down, 17 to go.

Love

Mummy

Dear Baby

This week has not been easy for Mummy.  She’s been feeling very poorly and kind of ‘off’.  Sniffles and total exhaustion.  And she is still waiting for her 2nd trimester burst of energy.  Since she is 2 weeks from being in the third trimester, I don’t think she’s going to get it.

This week you are about 19 cm long and weigh about 460g.  A whole pound!!!  You now have eyebrows and you are certainly moving around a lot in there!

You are most active over Mummy’s lunchtime, so around 11:30 – 1:30.  Mummy is hoping this means you will sleep well at night once you are born, but she can find nothing to support this theory!  Guess we’ll just have to wait and see.  Although she rarely, if ever, feels you move after dinner or during the night.  Unlike your Aunt A’s baby, who is due around the same time you are.  Aunt A’s been getting woken up at night.  I appreciate you not doing that!

Daddy is waiting very anxiously to feel you move.  So if you could kick Mummy harder, he’d appreciate that!

22 weeks gone…18 weeks to go.

Love

Mummy

Dear Baby

What a week we had!  The big scan, mummy’s 40th birthday, and snow in Belfast!  I hope the snow bit happens again sometime once you are in school, because there isn’t anything as magical as a snow day!

And we’re past the 1/2 way mark now.  Mummy is still waiting, very impatiently, for the 2nd trimester burst of energy everyone is promising her.  She doesn’t think she’s going to get it.

At 21 weeks you are about 18 cms long.  You have eyelids, but they are still fused closed, so your eyes aren’t open yet. This is probably a good thing.  Its not like you have a TV in there!!

This week you have also, apparently, learned to stand on mummy’s bladder.  Cuz she’s heading to the loo every hour or so.  Stop that, okay?

Mummy has been thinking a lot this week about what it means to be your mummy.  She keeps remembering this scene from the old TV show, Mad About You.  Paul and Jamie are expecting their first baby and Jamie suddenly realizes she’s the mummy and she has a total freak out over it.

I’m not freaking out at all.  I want to be your mummy.  I can’t wait to be your mummy.  I will always be your mummy.  Even when I’m 80 and you’re 40? I’ll still be your mummy.

Which brings me to the next thing I’ve been thinking about this week.

I’ve said in a previous post that you being born in a year that ends with 9 will test my maths skills.  Only, it won’t.  Because I will always be exactly 40 years older than you! Easy peasy to remember your age now! 🙂

So 19 weeks to go.  And I’m still counting every day until then.

Love

Mummy