38 weeks and counting

A few friends wanted updates of what I look like now - these pics were taken on Thursday 24 April, at 38 weeks exactly. Tum is quite big now - still no sign of stretchmarks thanksfully. At my midwife appointment on Wednesday we discovered this bub is rather stubborn - he/she is actually facing the wrong way in what is known as a frank breech position - head up, body curled around and legs straight up in front of its face - a similar position to my earlier 3D ultrasound. I returned to the hospital on Thursday and saw a great Ob who tried to turn bub around manually in what's known as an ECV (external cephalic version), slighlty uncomfortable but not too bad, but the little one wouldnt budge. My options are now to try and deliver this baby normally but in breech position, or to opt for a C-section. I am leaning toward the latter but am seeing another Ob later in the week to discuss both options in more detail. I dont mind, as long as he/she arrives safe and healthy.

Da pups

Just thought I'd post some recent pics of the girls - Ruby at the bottom who just turned five, Chloe at the top who is five in August. They are such good girls (most ot the time) and have been proving to be great company. I thought it would be good to post them up so I can remember what they looked like and how old they were when bub arrives into our little family.

Counting down the days to motherhood

Well the countdown is on. I finished up work on Friday - it was very surreal, when else do you get 12 months off work! I've spent the weekend doing loads and loads of washing in preparation for bub's arrival. So many clothes and so much linen to wash. At what point do these teeny-tiny clothes become un-cute! Ask me in a few weeks and I'm sure I'll have an answer. For those who keep asking me, my due date is 8 May - 18 days to go - but who really knows when he/she will make an appearance in this world! There were three pregnant women at work, all three of us thought we were having a girl. One found out she is having a boy, the other gave birth to a healthy baby boy on Thursday. Hmmmm, I wonder if that narrows my chances, or if it will be three boys from three for the tourism staff :)

More Baby Shower madness - Canberra style

Saturday was spent celebrating the impending birth of my little one with my Canberra buddies. Sixteen friends in my tiny loungeroom was rather overwhelming - especially with the loud bunch of tourism buddies in tow - but it was a lovely afternoon spent with great friends and good food. Once again, my little one was blessed with so many lovely gifts which will come in handy once he/she arrives and I thank everyone for being so generous. Guests present were Donna, Fiona, Shea, Deb, Kerri, KJ, Jo, Louise, Bianca, Rachel, Carissa, Kate and Angela. Mel also came down from Sydney to join in the fun again and was a big help with icing baby cupcakes, being the official photographer and doing loads of washing up! Grandad Jeff was a big help with cleaning up the pergola so we could enjoy the nice weather outside, and very kindly took Chloe and Ruby for a big walk around the lake to keep them occupied. Nana Christine was also a marvellous help with cleaning up and making more delicious food. Thanks to everyone for making Baby Shower Mark2 such a memorable occasion.

PS. Thanks also for the very inventive suggestions for bub's names - I'm seriously considering Persephone, Eggbert and Gertrude!

Me, bub and the PM

These photos really have no relevance whatsoever, and are really only here for bragging purposes - and so I can one day show bub that he/she met the PM in utero :) - taken at the National Gallery's recent launch of the Turner to Monet exhibition.

Birthday Fun

30 is fast approaching. Damn it I feel old!

Last weekend, Saturday 29th March, I had a night out with close friends to celebrate this milestone. As I will be quite close to bub's arrival (and no doubt the size of a house) by the time my real birthday arrives on 26th April, I decided to celebrate the occasion while I was already up in Sydney for the baby shower. The night was spent at Fuchsias restaurant at Kirrawee with a group of 25 friends, and it was loads of fun despite being the only sober one present. Special thanks go to Mike for letting me crash his birthday weekend and for helping out with decorating the room....oh, and to Mel S for being my official photographer and coaxing (hardly) everyone to give a good 'Year-8-style' Paris pout for the camera. Thanks to everyone for your presence and presents xx

Baby shower madness

Last Saturday, 29th March, I had a Baby Shower for bub at mum and dad's place at Heathcote. It was such a lovely afternoon spent with some close girlfriends and relos. After stupidly asking everyone to bring a plate, we were inundated with food which covered the entire table and we all gorged ourselves silly - the green cupcakes went down very well, just ask Kathleen! Bub and I were graced with the presence of Nana Christine and Nana Jann, good friends and Aunties-to-be Melissa, Melinda, Kathleen (with Cooper and Harrison in tow), Kirrilea, Kylie, Jackie (who bought gorgeous new bub Mae along to meet everyone), Leonie, Christine, Anastasia and Aunty Judy. Thanks to everyone for your beautiful gifts, bub was most spoilt indeed, and for making my afternoon so special. I will always remember it.

PS. A special thanks also goes to Mel for organising all the fun (and original) party games.

Creating a place for bub

I have been having lots of fun preparing the nursery for bub. It is so nice to get things in order and know that my little one will have a lovely place to start its life in. A special thanks to Joan and Terry, Mum and Dad for helping me out with buying the nursery furniture. And to Grandad Jeff and Uncle Mike for assembling the cot and taking on the mammoth task of getting the change table into the room which was slightly difficult to say the least! As I dont know whether this baby will be a boy or girl, I've tried to stick to bright colours to suit either - and of course, me being me, animals feature heavily in this nursery!

Bubba on the move

This is a little movie clip of my little one moving around inside me. Like the last photos, this was taken at 28 weeks at the Bundles Baby Ultrasound in Canberra on 16th February 2008.
It sure has a fascination with its toes!

From little things, big things grow

It truly is amazing to watch this little one grow (on the inside) through the "miracles of modern medicine". Here's some pics of bub at different stages of development throughout my pregnancy. The first was taken at almost 13 weeks back on 26th October 2007 - see if you can even work out what's what! The second pic is a little clearer, taken at 19 weeks on 17th December 2007. As you can see he/she has long legs! The last pics are my favourites - taken at 28 weeks on 16th February 2008. This is a special 3D ultrasound taken at Bundles Baby Ultrasound in Canberra. The clarity was amazing and that day he/she seemed to have a particular fascination with its toes. I have been told he/she has large feet...certainly didnt get those from me :)

So...here I am

Hi all,
So here I am, almost 36 weeks pregnant. The past few months have been the most difficult ever, but I am looking forward to the arrival of my little one with excitement and nervous anticipation.
I have no doubt there will be some tough times ahead doing this alone, but I have terrific support from so many friends and family - you know who you are - I will never forget and needless to say I'll continue to need your support once this little bubba finally arrives.
I have no idea whether this baby is a boy or a girl, and I really dont mind at all, as long as he/she is healthy and grows up to be a happy little human being. I have so much love to give it and know it will be well loved by everyone and probably spoilt rotten if my Sydney baby shower last weekend was anything to go by.
Stay tuned to this blog for news, updates and lots of pics as I patiently await the arrival, and as he/she grows up.
PS. This photo was taken last weekend at my Sydney Baby shower - so just over 34 weeks pregnant here. I look massive!
Lauren xx