Sharing the news with family

We told our families at the weekend. Ivan's mum was shocked but my family broke into a chorus of “I knew it, I told you so” “What did I say, eh?” “I knew that’s what you were going to say!” They thought we would have announced something on Christmas Day but I just couldn’t hold it in that long.



In the eyes and minds of children, our announcement was met with varying degrees of excitement!



We told my niece, Victoria who is 4 and she just fell about laughing. She loves the idea that I have a ‘baby in my belly’ (her words not mine). She believes it is growing inside me until it is big enough to come out. When I was pregnant with Caitlin and Victoria was only 2, she use to put a balloon or ball up her jumper and pretend she had a baby too! She’s very advanced for her age!



My other niece, Olivia who is 3, just screwed up her face and asked “Why?” Then ran off to play, no interest there then!



Then we asked Caitlin if Mummy should get a new baby boy or a new baby girl and she said “Baby Girl” then ran off to get me one of her dolls. If only it were always as easy as that!



Everyone is delighted and so are we.



I’m 7 wks + 3 and the baby is about the size of a small bean, about a half an inch long. Apparently, the baby has an oversized head in proportion to the body. The facial features are forming with dark spots where the eyes are, openings where the nostrils will be, and pits to mark the ears. Protruding buds that will become the arms and legs are more noticeable now. The hands and feet look like tiny paddles. You can't hear it yet, but the heart is beating about 150 beats per minute (or roughly twice the rate of mine.)

Sweet Dreams !!!

I had my first weird dream last night. I dreamt that when I woke up it was Christmas Day and I'd forgot to buy presents for everyone. We had MIL coming for dinner and I was beside myself with worry about what to give her as a gift. Ivan and I were running around the house looking for items we could wrap up to give her and I found stuff at the top of my cupboard that did the trick.



The trouble is, the dream 'felt' sooooooo real that when I woke up this morning I had to sit on the edge of the bed and work out if it was Christmas day or not!



The good thing is, the dream reminded me that I have indeed stashed some little gifts etc. up in my cupboard to give out this year that I'd bought in the sales earlier in the year!



I also know that from experience this is nothing. If last time was anything to go by, they just get weirder and weirder. Giving birth to ailens and/or animals and losing your baby in lifts and/ or taxis are the norm.

Barf-a-rama

I knew getting up in the middle of the night to pee was all part of the process and to be honest, I don't mind this. I can get from my bed to the bathroom and back into bed without opening my eyes! When it gets to the stage where you have to pee every half hour however, that's another story. That will involve swapping sides of the bed in order to make my journey shorter.



That said, what I do mind is waking up in the middle of the night to have *morning sickness*!!!!! I ask you? 2.30 this morning I am woken up out of my sleep with the urge to barf. I tried my hardest to fight it but to no avail.



What I was most surprised about was when Ivan asked if I was ok! I told him to go back to sleep but he got up and went to get me water. He wanted to rub my back but I like to barf in private and sent him back to bed. What a sweetheart, I didn't know he cared that much! When I mentioned it to him earlier this evening, he couldn't remember a thing! Didn't remember me being sick and didn't remember him being my knight in shinning armour and getting me water!



How long will it last? Ivan's concern that is ~ not the m.n.n sickness!



(from here on in Morning Sickness will officially be know as m.n.n sickness ~ morning, noon and night sickness)

Morning, Noon & Night

I think the Morning, Noon & Night sickness has begun. I remember this from last time round and I can safely say it’s the least exciting thing about pregnancy!



I had to go late night food shopping the other night and I thought I was going to barf up and down every aisle. I just couldn’t handle any packages of raw meat or chicken. No way. Even the thought of it now, ugh! I’m sure people were looking at me as I walked around looking as if I had a smell under my nose! Not an attractive look I can assure you! My mental shopping list went right out of my head and I ended up coming away with less than we needed!



There is another way of looking at this though; it could herald the start of one of the most exciting aspects of pregnancy! I discovered this last time and couldn’t get enough of it. Online Food Shopping !!!!



I swear it must have been a woman who invented it. She should be made a Saint. You pay someone else to select, pack and deliver right into your kitchen. Couldn’t be simpler. Maybe I could give them a tip to put it all away in my cupboards too!



I also had trouble getting ready for work this morning. Two pairs of trousers were just too tight and uncomfortable. Yes, two pairs! This has left me shaken. I’m only 6 weeks, f.f.s! Maybe I’m eating too much? But I think my eating has decreased cause of the constant state of nauseous.



A really lovely, thoughtful online friend (Geri) sent me an early Christmas gift which arrived yesterday. We were doing a Secret Santa thing and I am stuned with the gifts she selected for me. I lot of thought and attention went into it, I’m sure. My most favourite item has to be a book “Belly Laughs by Jenny McCarthy” Have you read it? Have you heard about it? Don’t worry, I’ll read it for both of us and share the best bits with you.





(Note to self :: Need to get me some smilies!)

Got my date for 1st hospital visit

My first hospital antenatal appointment is for 06 January 2005. I'm happy with that. Something to look forward to in the New Year (fingers crossed). It's the same hospital I had Caitlin in but they seem better organised this time, lol. I got a letter with an information booklet explaining the maternity services available and the level of care to expect. Very reassuring.



According to the book, if I'm doing shared care (hospital & mw @ the doctor's surgery) then I can expect to visit the hospital at 22, 29, 35 & 41 weeks of my pregnancy and be offered an u/s at most visits. I will then see my mw, at the doctor surgery, at regular intervals between hospital visits.



I've already met my mw and I really like her. I think I'll keep most of my questions for her. I'm going to get a copy of my notes from Caitlin's delivery. I'm not sure what went wrong in the end, it might have been pre-eclampsia but it might have been a reaction to the epidural. I'll have to find out. I don't mind maybe having another c-section but I'd rather it wasn't an emergency like last time.

Thought I'd introduce the ~ Big Sister 2B ~

This is Caitlin, my little angel.



I still look at her and wonder how it all came about. How we were blessed with such a wonderful gift in our lives. She truly is amazing. Everything about her. Her looks, her manner, her independant streak, her laugh, her ability to always be happy and make others smile. I love her more than I can ever express.



When Caitlin was born, I was given the chance to see the world through a child's eyes again and I relish it. Everyday with her is a new experience.



Just tonight she hurt her knee and wanted a 'Magic Plaster'. On went the plaster, on went the PJ's ready for bed and I kissed her knee and said "In the morning, your knee will be better and we can take the plaster off". "No mummy" she said 'matter of factly', shaking her head as if I was totally stupid, "It be's sore, ouch" This from a 2 year old.



I know she will make a great big sister. If this pregnancy goes well, Caitlin will be 3 months shy of her 3rd birthday. Potty trained and in her own bed. She has a caring nature and has always been around younger toddlers and babies. I'm hoping we can tap into this and give her little jobs to do to help with her brother or sister. I think my only fear is that she will feel left out or jealous. I will never let that happen, though.

Blah !!!!

Not much happening at the minute. Feeling a bit blue again but I'm guessing it is all hormonal. I did go get my hair done yesterday as a 'pick-me-up' but it didn't have the desired effect!



My aversion to smells is starting up again. I remember this from last time. At least then it didn't develop into full blown 'morning sickness' and that's all I can hope for this time round. I can't stand the smell of food cooking. It reminds me of different things like, roast beef = smelly socks, roast chicken = burnt toast. It makes me feel sick but thankfully I'm not actually sick. I don't like my perfume either.



Looking in the mirror, I think my boobs are starting to get a bit bigger too (also very pert nipples, lol). My boobs are not as tender as they've been recently and I can report that I'd a nice cleavage this morning!!



The baby's heart will start early contractions, which later become distinct beats. All of the baby's major organs are under development, and facial features, such as ears and eyes, are starting to form. The neural tube, which will later be referred to as the spinal cord, will fuse this week. And buds appear that will soon be the arms and legs. Truly amazing.



I'm wondering when I'll need maternity clothes? I've heard that with 2nd + pregnancies you might tend to show earlier. I'm hoping that is not the case. I wonder if I can make it to the New Year?

5 weeks today

'Bump' went to his first concert last night. OK, Steve Earl was hardly rock and roll but it was fun none the less.



His ? It's hard to believe that the sex of this baby has already been decided yet it is only a few mm long! Will it be a boy or girl? I don't think we'll find out in advance, although Ivan would love to know! I'll probably call it he & she during the next nine months depending on the mood.



I find myself looking in the mirror to see if there are any tell tale signs. Are my boobs getting bigger? Is my already large tummy looking more rounded? My boss asked me on Wednesday if I was pg, of course, I denied it and I'm convinced I've caught her looking at my tummy a few times since. I'll tell them when I'm ready. I'm thinking mid-December.

4 weeks & 5 days

Boy, am I tired. I've been on my feet all day taking a training course in work and it's much of the same tomorrow. I'm feeling great and can't wait to tell people but I'm trying to hold it in for a little while longer. This might be hard as my sister is babysitting tomorrow night! We are off to a Steve Earl concert with another couple and as luck would have it the other girl is about 6 months pregnant. How will I ever keep my mouth shut!!!!!



I had quite a few pains in my tummy last night, to the point were it kept me awake. Naturally I worried but I honest believe it was trapped wind. It was high up in my tummy and to the side and felt more like a stitch.



Anyway, bar the tiredness today, I'm feeling fine.

Still in Shock

I had a strange feeling we'd be lucky this time round but didn't want to get my hopes up. I said nothing to Ivan but had to do a test on Friday night. I needed to know one way or the other!



After waiting a few seconds a BFP + appeared and I've been in shock ever since. Ivan was over the moon when I showed him but we agreed not to tell family or friends for another few weeks. I know how worrying this time can be and I'm hoping and praying we'll make it through.



I went to the doctors today just to get it confirmed. My EDD is 16 July 2005. I've to go back to see the midwife in 4 weeks and wait on an appoinment for the hospital too.



My early pg symptons are just feeling a bit emotional, tired in the afternoon and early evening, metal taste in my mouth and my boobs are killing me ~ especially when Caitlin climbs all over me!



I'm taking folic acid and trying to increase my fruit & veg intake. I know I should be walking a bit more too, so I took Caitlin out tonight for a little walk before her bedtime.



OMG !!!!! Caitlin is going to be a big sister.