25 Weeks

Passed my driving theory test

I passed, and I even got 100 % in the multiple choice section. Not that hard really though, the questions are just common sense. I didn't do quite as well in my hazard perception with the simulated video clips but I did pass. Kev dropped me off and I took the bus halfway home and then the tube. I was the only one on the bus that didn't have white or grey hair!
Now I have passed my theory test I can sit my practical driving, I've booked it for the 23rd of October, but I can postpone if my instructor doesn't think I am ready.
Today I put on a top that I only bought three weeks ago and its stuggling to get over my tummy! Last night Kev was staring at my bare tummy and when I asked what he was looking at he said my belly button, it looks like it ready to burst into an outie at any minute!

Seaside and Driving

Kev and I went to the seaside for a picnic on Saturday, initally I wanted to go into London and do something because when we move I don't think we will have as much chance to. But Kev pursuaded me a trip to the seaside was what I needed and a chance to practice my driving.
It was meant to be a lunch time picnic but after a few delays and one of Kev's work mates telling us it was only an hours drive we finally sat down to our picnic at 3.30. We had a near disaster when Kev the navigator directed me to the motorway, which is illegal when you are a learner driver and lots of saturday congestion meant it took us longer than expected. But is was a good day really with me tallying up 130 miles driving and I even got up to 70 miles per hour on the dual carriageway! Don't work that out in kilometres Mum it might freak you out. It was the first night in ages that I didn't have any problems getting to sleep.

Bumps and Babes

I went to a bumps and babes group today with my friend Becky, there was one other bump and 8 babes with their mums. It was very noisy, all the babies were between 5 months and a year, none are walking yet but they certainly made lots of noise, it was quite tiring just sitting there for two hours watching mums feeding and entertaining their babies. And little bit frightening.

Scan

I had another scan yesterday, everything is fine and normal with the baby, he is very active and wouldn't stop moving the whole time, making it difficult for the scanner to get all the measurements. Today I had my 22 week check up at the hospital and because everything is normal and I'm low risk I don't have to go back now all my care will be under my GP from now on until my due date. Thats a relief as I had to wait an 1 and a half hours for my appointment this morning and because Kev had taken time off yesterday for the scan and couldn't come I had to take the tube three stops and then walk for half and hour to get to the hospital and the same back again. Bring on the drivers licence!! I had a lesson this afternoon, he got me to practice a few emergency stops, he thinks its wise to do it before I get too much bigger.

Long Weekend up North

Kev and I had a great weekend up North last weekend, nice and relaxing.
We looked after Livy and Matt on Friday for a few hours which was fun, merry-go-rounds and ice cream and Southport Pier. Then we had a BBQ with all his family on Saturday the kids had lots of fun creating an imaginary horse and carriage (I have some photos but for some reason can't attach them, I will try again later.)
Kev and I went for a tantem bike ride on Monday, it was good, but it killed my bum, I think its a bit more sensitive than normal. We are next going up to his parents in November, I'm hoping I will still be able to ride with Kev then, but its doubtful I think sheer size of my belly will rule it out and I'm not sure if Marian would let me if I could anyway.
Marian's sister Eileen is letting us borrow a moses basket (that a bassinet for you kiwi's) for the baby to start of with and then Greb and Ali are lending us their cot and Sharon has given us lots of baby stuff too which is great. With me not having a job at the moment and us buying a house its a big help.

Desperate Housewife

Being a housewife is hardwork, well a good housewife anyway, cooking, cleaning, ironing!
I'm enjoying this time off and I think Spiros is too, he's moving around a lot now, Kev can feel the kicks too now.
I booked my theory test for my driving licence today, in 18 days, its different to NZ you can drive without your theory test, but you need it to sit before your practical test and get your licence. My instructor told me I should book my practical for the 2nd week in October, obviously he has faith in me.
We are off up North to Kev's parents place for the long weekend, which will be really good, a BBQ on saturday and catching up with everyone.

Latest photo 20 weeks + 5 days

Lady of Leisure

I prefer Lady of Leisure to Unemployed

For the first time in my working life I am unemployed and not by choice. Yes my employers decided they "had to let me go because I wasn't a personality fit for the team". More like a pregnant woman who will be going on maternity leave for 6 months doesn't fit into their plan.
Because I was still on probabtion they could say that, basically I had no rights. I'm not going to fight for unfair dismissal as it probably won't be worth it and I need their references to get temping jobs until December and they know that.
Anyway on a positive note we got the house that we wanted in Hertfordshire so we are sorting out the contracts and lawyers and things now.

Apologies for the photo if you don't really want to see my bare belly, but there has been requests from NZ.
Me at 19 weeks and 3 days.

Lots of Kicking

I have been trying to post some photos, but there is something wrong with our internet connection and its just not working.
Little Spiros is becoming very active and especially likes kicking and elbowing me when I hop into bed at night. Mum started to freak me out by saying that it could be twins you know because sometimes they don't pick it up until later, I think I'm just carrying a lot of fluid thats why I'm so big.
The offer on our house has been accepted finally but in the meantime we have found something else which is much more exciting, it has the possiblity of a loft conversion.
Kev's brother Trevor is coming to stay this weekend with his wife Sharon and there daughter Harriet, should be a fun weekend.

Am I really that big?

I'm starting to get really paranoid about the size of my tummy, people at work are commenting on how big it is, and the girl who lives downstairs from us even asked if I was having twins!
Lots of people are asking me when I'm due and when I tell them 4th of Jan I always follow it up with I'm quite big for my dates. The comments of " I didn't show until I was at least 5 months" or "my wife wasn't as big as you" are starting to annoy me, its normally followed by, well you are short so its got no where to hide. Kev tells me I'm just being silly and I'm just being extra sensitive.

No it's not a boy!

Lots of people have been saying is it a boy? Because I keep on referring to "it" as a he.
Just to confirm we don't know what the sex of the baby is and we aren't going to find out, we want it to be a lovely surprise.
We just both refer to "it" as a he, its easier, and we do call him Spiros as well, at first he was Derek - because Nannie Pen thinks thats a great name, and we think its pretty cool too! but then we decided he was something more exotic like Spiros, he's a greasy fat hairy greek waiter!!

(by the way, we all hate Derek, just in case you didn't realize)

Butterflies Turning into Kicks

Last week I had a few butterfly feelings in my tummy and I wasn't sure if they were the baby, but now they are more definite and its starting to feel like kicks. Very strange feeling, still quite low down and he seems to be more active in the morning. He was going crazy after my driving lesson on saturday, I think it must of been the adrenalin pumping through my body, my instructor wasn't impressed and had to use the dual controls when I attempted to pull out infront of a huge truck on the roundabout.

Kev parents have gone home today, it was good to see them, we took them for a few long drives in the essex country side and had very nice meal in a pub over looking a village green where there was cricket on last night so it was a nice relaxing finish to the weekend.

We have place a second offer in on the house we want, so fingers crossed.

17 Weeks

17 weeks
Kev has said to me, he thinks he can actually see my tummy growing!
The midwife said I will probably slow down, everyones different and I shouldn't be worried about comparing my size to anyone else.
Michael and Marian are here for the weekend, so its good to be able to talk to Marian about things.
My friend Melissa had a 9.1 lb oz baby yesterday after 28 hours of labour and forceps, which is quite scary, Mum has reasurred me she was only 7 1/2 hours with me, Scott 2 1/2 and 1/2 hour with Sam who was a 9 pound something baby, and I will be fine. I've got another 23 weeks to go so I'm not going to start worrying about it yet. Melissa told me once you get so to that stage anyway you just want it out and you're not worried about the labour.

Getting Bigger

I had my four month check up at the hospital last Friday, we heard the heartbeat which was amazing, like the sound of galloping horses, apparently it's twice as fast as my heartbeat.
I'm starting to feel really big now, I don't feel my tummy is a pretty little bump anymore. I'm starting to feel guility now when people offer me seats on the tube too. But at the same time very grumpy when they don't! - Hormones.
I have managed to go for a bike ride in the forest the last two weekends, but I now realize what people mean when they say I won't be able to do that for much longer, the tummy is starting to get in the way. Now I know why really fat people ride bikes with their knees poking outwards.

My friend Melissa went into labour this morning which is very exciting.

I have vowed to stop watching baby tv as well, its freaking me out about giving birth and making me sad that my Mum won't be here for it.

Kev's parents are coming tomorrow for a long weekend which will be good, and they are bringing some maternity clothes my sister-in-law Ali is loaning me. - Yay, some new clothes, I have four stretching skirts which I have been living in for the past month.

The Growing Tummy - 15 Weeks

(15 weeks)

A seat on the tube all the time, yay! apart from this morning stinky gits!!
I'm getting very big, its quite frightening, I think I look about 6 month pregnant not just about 4, a bit embarrassing. But I've only put on 4 pounds so far, and I've been reading that a 5 to 10 pound weight gain is normal by now, I think its just my height and frame that making it stick out so much.

It's now Official!

I told my manager and the owner of the consultancy yesterday, they took it well, and were quite understanding, they are quite pregnancy friendly with someone on maternity leave now, a woman who has just come back and another woman about to go on leave. But I'm still on probation. I think they are just really concerned that they are putting a lot of time and effort into gettting me trained up and then I won't come back after my maternity leave, which is understandable.
A few of the girls in the office told me they had noticed I had a tummy, and wondered whether or not I was pregnant, so I guess it was about time I told them before everyone started noticing.

Kev's brother and sister-inlaw came for the weekend with their two children, they went off to a wedding in London and Kev and I looked after Matt (4) and Livy (2) for a full 24 hours, it was challenging, but it was great, they are really well behaved and great fun.

I will post a photo next weekend of my tummy, its getting quite big, Ali my sister-inlaw thinks I'm going to be huge. Great!

Wisdom Teeth

ah ah ah, my wisdom teeth are going crazy at the moment, which is not good, I can take small doses of paracetamol if I need too but I would rather not, so instead it's salt water rinses and bonjela gel. At least I get free dental care now, fingers crossed the pain will be gone tomorrow.

My big fat tummy - 12 Weeks

Had my first official driving lesson today, two hours. It went alright, not as bad as I thought it would be and he has the dual brake and clutch which makes me feel less nervous.

Decided to take a photo today, (12 weeks + 1 day) to prove to everyone that yes I do look pregnant, and the two people that offered me seats on the tube weren't' delusional. Unfortunately I'm not ready to look pregnant as far as work is concerned, I was hoping to keep it a secret for another two months. But with the rate my boobs and tummy are growing there is no chance.

Kev and I are doing a 25 mile bike ride tomorrow, I am driving the car to the garage as it's getting serviced on Monday and they said we could leave it there overnight with the bikes in the back and then biking home. Driving lessons and exercise all into one. We will have to have few pits stops on the way though. So over the world cup, impossible to engage in any form of conversation with Kev if the football is on.

11 Week Scan

I had another scan on Friday and everything is looking fine so far, he was even doing a little dance, which Kev found amusing. (Don't know if its a boy, but I keep on referring to it as a he even though I think we might have girl, - because almost everyone we know has had a boy or is having a boy.)

Work is going well, just really tired and its been hard thinking of excuses not to drink, I'm on two separate courses tomorrow and Thursday, both should be very helpful.

will post a photo in a weekend of my bump

Hardly anymore morning sickness anymore which is great. I'm just eating loads.

Last Day

Its my last day at the newspaper tomorrow, and I start my new job on Tueaday after the long weekend. I'm really looking forward to it but a bit apprehensive about the amount of hours I will have to work. I'm sure everything will be fine though.