40 inches (1m)

I went to Ikea today to pick up some shelves and storage boxes. While there I grabbed a measuring tape. (they hand them out at Ikea) After dinner I decided to measure my belly's diameter. The tape just made it around my belly = 41inches. It is amazing how the belly has grown!!! I need to take more pictures to keep record of this very special moment in our lives!

A bit of a scare (with Vinny)...

We had friends stay over this weekend. Yesterday we spend the day doing touristy things and I felt fit and not too tired. However, when we arrived home, Vinny had made his way into our living room where our friends had their luggages. Vinny got into their luggages and ate a box of 150gr of chocolate! (he preferred the white chocolate, just like me and the milk chocolate. He did not care so much for the dark chocolates!). Chocolate has a component that can be very toxic to dogs and cause sudden death (by heart arrhythmia). We were very stressed and did not know what to do. He seemed fine, but we did not know how long ago he had eaten them (normally if the dog is fine after 3 hrs he will make it). Since it was 8pm we did not know if we would take him to the vets or just wait. Anyways, he is fine and his normal self again but it made me think about our child. There are certain situations that require fast thinking and can be life threatening...

E-mail by grandma Anita

I cannot ever remember my kids being that active at any given time!!!!
Wow!!! This has got to be a trip for you and Jason!!! What a wonderful ride to be on.
I do hope baby does sleep during the night so you can get some sleep as well!!!
It's such a pleasure to open this blog and find out another entry. Thank you soooo much for sharing this with us!!!
Have a great but quiet (sleepy time) weekend!!!
Are you planning on working right up to delivery?

Love anita

And yes, I am planning to work up to delivery. If everything goes as planned my last day at work will be the 14th of September (7 days before my due date). I just don't see why I would sit at home, just getting more stressed about the delivery. This is, of course, if my pregnancy continues to progress smoothly as it has been so far!

Baby movement on record

This week I was at a all day meeting/training so I had to opportunity to register the baby's movements (time and duration). So from the moment I woke up until I went to bed I registered the following (rough numbers):

• 7am - 10 min
• 8:30am - 15min
• 10:30am - 45min (!!!)
• 12:30 - 15min
• 2:15 - 20 min
• 4:45 -35min
• 6:30 - 10min
• 8:30 - 10min
• 10:00 - 15min
• 23:30 - 30min

As you can see - VERY ACTIVE BABY! I read somewhere that they baby spends 90% of their time sleeping in the womb.. well I guess we are dealing with a little rebel here!!!
As you can see, I did not go to bed until midnight (I had some acid reflux and had forgotten some Tums). At 2am the fire alarm of the hotel went off. We had to wait outside for an hour while the firefighters checked the building. Bottom line, I did not sleep well and today I can feel it. I am physically tired, my back hurts and I am feeling nauseated. I need an early and good night of sleep. (hopefully this was the last business trip until the baby)

I got the Ipod!

When we decided not to tell anyone the gender of our baby, I needed and extra motivation to keep the secret. So, we decided that Jason would give me a new ipod if I kept the secret! Jason went to the US for business and brought back a cute new ipod for me. We still have 2 months to go, but I am going to keep it a surprise for everyone.
He also brought back some other items I had ordered online. Including a diaper bag, baby bjorn (to carry the baby), some cd's for the baby, some cloths, a diaper storage unit and some toys. Everything was perfect!!!
Today our changing table arrived and I couldn't wait for Jason to get home and I put it together myself! The nursery is really taking shape!!!

A bit shocked

It has been raining heavily here in London for the past two days, so I am just sitting at home (saturday) waiting for it to ease and take Vinny outside. Well I started watching some videos on youtube.com. And one thing led to another.... I started watching cute videos of new born babies which progressed to watching a couple of videos of the actual birth! Well, I knew it was not a pretty sight.. but seriously.. can I do this? I guess it is a little late to ask myself that question, but seeing actual birth and the pain some of these woman go through.... I have to say it made me emotional and it is amazing to see the baby, mother and father afterwards (yes, I almost cried).
I am not sure if I should 'prepare' Jason and suggest he watches the videos too?!

30 week check up

Yesterday I started the day not feeling 100%. I was sick and had a severe nose bleed. I went home at lunch. Coincidentally, that afternoon I had an appointment with the GP for my 30 week check up. I described to her that I have had some off days, regular nose bleeds and also mentioned that the baby was kicking a lot! After she checked my urine and blood pressure she said that the reason I was feeling like that was due to my body being under stress! So, instead of coming home from work and taking Vinny for a long walk, cooking diner, cleaning, doing laundry, etc etc, and only resting at around 9ish, she said I needed to come home from work, put my legs up and rest. (and eating a few bonbons wouldn't harm me....)
She palpated my belly to feel the baby's position and he/she kicked back against her hand! She laughed!!! The baby's heart beat was also fine and my overall health was good. I just need to take it easier and 'listen' to my body.
When I told Jason this, he said he was not surprised and he was glad the Dr. said it to me, so I would more likely listen to her then him!!

Clean baby!

We received another nice gift from Grandpa Bernie and grandma Andie. They have given us a complete bath set with all the necessary tools. From birth onwards. THANK YOU, we'll be thinking of you when we clean the little one!!!!
Yesterday when I went to pick the bath set up at mothercare, I also went to a pharmacy to stock up on some more diapers! Other moms have recommended to stock up on those early on since you go through so many and the first couple of weeks you're so busy with the baby that you will have little time to get some more.
I finally bought the pram:It's a Silver Cross 3D Pistachio. The whole package (including bag, parasol, footmuffs, etc) will arrive on monday! I was talking to my mom the other day... and just like her, I can just picture our little one in there and strolling around with him/her in the London parks...

Moeke Ramsel (Grand grandma Josephine)

Today I spoke with my grandmother from Belgium. She is 87 and is starting to become forgetful. My aunt has told her that I am pregnant, but today she clearly had forgotten as I spoke to her. So I reminded her that I was pregnant. And she said - 'oh, really, you are pregnant?' I confirmed, to which she jokingly replied - 'and how did you do that?' (she may be losing her memory.. but she sure kept her sense of humor!) to which I replied - 'well, lot's has changed since you were young... but making babies is pretty much the same as before'. We both laughed!
Below is a picture of us taken 2 yrs ago

Joys of the third trimester...

I have had a very smooth pregnancy. Not too much morning sickness in the beginning, enough energy to run until 20 weeks and to swim twice a week and take Vinny for long walk after that, enough energy to travel to several countries while pregnant, still being able to fit in 2 pair of jeans and 1 pair of pants (non maternity), etc etc, but recently I have been experiencing the "joys" of the third trimester:
- Having to go to the bathroom at least every 30 mins to an hour during the day and at least 4 times during the night
- In between the bathroom visits I need to be careful when I sneeze or laugh too much.. yes, you can get the picture of what happens...
- Heart burn. (my coworker swears that means we'll be having a 'hairy' baby...)
Overall I can't complain and will be happy if it stays like this until birth!

70 days to go...

Pictures

These are very late.. but below are some pictures from our vacation in Portugal. I was almost 5 months pregnant then.
1) Jason and I in Porto, after some Port wine tasting
2) Jason in Vale D'Oro (where the porto grape vines are)
3) Me in Porto

Calcium

I read some where that the third trimester is when the baby deposits a lot of calcium in their bones. So I have started drinking more milk and eating calcium rich food. I normally have enough of milk and fruit, but I decide to increase it even more by adding cottage cheese and dark leaved vegetables. I also normally eat a lot of fruit and vegetables, but I have been, since we decide to try to get pregnant, taking antenatal vitamins. the baby is also developing it's brain these coming weeks, so I should increase my omega-3 fatty acids by eating more fish and including flax seeds to my diet. I make this funky breakfast 'bake' which we call 'grumpy flapjacks'. I never follow a recipe, I just add whole wheat flour, wheat, bran, flax seeds, other seeds, raisins, dried apricots, muesli, milk, etc.. (no sugar or fats) and it turns out a bit different every time I make it. But it is great to increase my fiber intake and it is healthy!
I am still on track with my weight gain and have gained a total of 8kg (17.5lbs) however I have heard that the last months are when the weight gain increases... we'll see... so far I have been trying to 'be good' but I enjoy my treats. Like the carrot cake and Dulce de leite ice cream Jason brought home the other day or my peanut M&M's...

Pram experts

Yesterday we went to central London to watch the start of the Tour de France. Which was complete madness but very interesting. Afterwards we made our way to Mamas&papas. A very nice baby/maternity store. Our goal was to understand a bit more about prams. Well, we now do! There are SOOOO many options. different shapes, colors, baby facing forward or facing you, one button fold, with a car seat or without a car seat, removable liner or non removable liner, three wheelers or four wheelers, with shopping basket or without shopping basket and the options go on and on... But after 3 hours of experimenting and having demonstrations done, we have narrowed it down to 3 options!
Later on we met with some friends. They are 12 weeks pregnant. It was nice exchange some experiences and actually giving some advice!

Presents...

We have started receiving presents that are on our registry. It is so much fun to receive gifts and start getting everything ready for the baby!
We received a:
- High chair - which we'll probably not until the baby is 6 months. - THANK YOU Grandma Anita and Grandpa Steve
- Bottle sterilizer - some people say this is not really necessary, since boiling the bottles and teats is much easier. I plan to breasfeed until 5 -6 months, however we are planning to have Jason give a bottle at night. This is supposed to help dad and baby bond and also allows me longer periods of interrupted sleep ;) - THANK YOU Grandma Anita and Grandpa Steve
- Mobile Gym - this is for the baby to lay down on (belly or on it's back) and play with tangeling toys and plays music, to keep the baby busy. I heard it is great to entertain the baby. - THANK YOU Kelly
We still need several crucial items before the baby arrives (some can come afterwards), but I feel organized and on track.
This weekend we hope to narrow down our options on the pram. (we have been narrowing it down by looking up online and in magazines) We will be receiving the pram from my parents (THANK YOU Oma Fanny and Opa Herman!). There are so many options (3 wheelers, 4 wheelers, travel systems, etc). We need a sturdy pram (since we will be mainly using public transport) but we also need one that can be used from birth (facing us) and that can be converted into a 'toddler' pram (facing forwards)
This weekend we are also going to buy a dryer (my birthday present from my parents - again, THANK YOU MOM & DAD). Here in the UK dryers are not very common and people just use racks to hang their cloths next to the radiator.... Which is what we have done for the last 1 1/2yrs, however a dryer will be very useful for when the baby arrives and our laundry load will increase significantly.

Rod Stewart

Yesterday we went to the Rod Stewart concert. I am a big fan! (yes, he is very old and used to open for the Rolling Stones in the 60's, but still...) Jason got the tickets, back in November, for my birthday!
We had great pitch (=field) seats. However, the pitch was the only location in the stadium that was uncovered and it rained the whole time we were there!!! But even with the rain, we had a blast (Jason's 4 pints of Guinness may explain the constant smile on his face and by seeing Rod from so close made me have a smile on mine!) Our baby was pretty quiet throughout the concert. It's the second concert we have 'taken' him/her. The first one was the Dave Matthews concert in Berlin.

Kicking 2

It seems our little one has increased the frequency and strength of kicking since we entered the third and last trimester.
He/she has been kicking over 10 times in a row and in multiple locations (like he/she is stretching) at the same time. At one point I briefly thought that there were two in there!!!
On friday we were watching a movie and Jason had is hand resting on my belly and suddenly our baby started kicking against his hand. We both were surprised at the precision. Jason poked back and that was followed with three consecutive kicks against his hand! Normally his/her kicks last for 2 minutes, on friday it lasted for 10 minutes. I can't get enough of feeling our little one playing in there!
It worries me a bit that he/she becomes more active at night, when I am getting ready to sleep. I hope that when he/she is born it will not be on the same schedule and keeping us awake all night and sleeping during the day!
I've been having a bit of heart burn lately. I read it is very common in the last trimester due to the sphincter between my stomach and esophagus being relaxed (due to the hormones). It is mainly after I eat fried stuff (like french fries) I guess I will have to restrain myself a bit more on those foods.