IT'S A BOY !!!

Our beautiful baby boy was born on Saturday morning early : 03h10

he is just gorgeous !

cute extras

How cute is this little ticker ? spotted it on a friend's website and thought I'd get me some of that.

ante-natal appointment went well, except for the midwife's long finger nails probing my stomach. Eek! No thank you.

Baby is where it needs to be. Still moving all the time. Hiccups are standard activity - once a day at least. Mum is suffering a bit from heartburn (when will it end ?), and breathlessness, and Oooo, do those hips ache. I look forward to a good night's sleep sometime in the distant future.

I went for a session of reflexology yesterday and it was wonderful. There's nothing like it for setting the mind free to roam. I suppose it has a lot to do with enjoying the foot massage, but she worked the spinal and lumbar pressure points, those bits that will help with water retention, tight neck, and of course, getting my body to consider labour.

I have started working on a family tree, which is going very well.
Taking things a day at a time.

Another addition to our NCT class:

Myles Andrew Charles Adam, to Jean-Charles & Rae (on St Patrick's Day)

the time is fast approaching...

yes, it's not long now and our baby will make an appearance. We've had a good weekend – we drove down to Guildford on Saturday and spent the afternoon celebrating Emma's Baby Shower with her. We came home via the cinema where we took in 'the Pink Panther' which was quite bad. Sunday was a quiet morning, followed by a meeting at the All Souls Clubhouse for visitors of the elderly. I missed the last one, so felt I really needed to make the effort. It was such a good time too - meeting up with other people who visit 'over 60's' in Fitzrovia, the joys and frustrations, a chance to pray together for each of our 'visitees', etc. Oh, and I must mention the wonderful apple pie we got at the end! (Sad-O pregnant appetite thang). We headed home in time for church at 6pm.

A few more babies in our NCT class have been born, notably :

Ruby Gillian Steen, to Amy & Matt (cool photos!)
A baby boy, to Yvonne & Martin
Sonny Dixie Thomas, to Ian & Maria

More news soon. I'm off to an antenatal check-up this afternoon, and we'll see what they say.

visual testimony

Charlie, Ruth & Jackie.
Jackie did all the organising of this fabulous afternoon - thank you honey !


Charlie's mum Tina - has already offered to baby-sit and be granny


Theresa & Muna



Charlie helps Pooh do the Bartman. Totally.


An awesome pressie from Corne & Rene - the wrapping paper was disco-fest dazzle.


beautiful 'safari' activity blanket from Greg & Charlie.



More loot.


More loot.


At the end of the afternoon, the boys returned from their photo exhibition at the Natural History Museum.

two preggie mums

Emm & Ruth (taken at the baby shower)
Emma due 6 June 2006
Ruth due 30 March 2006

like a rock !

this pic - 36 weeks + 2

Yup! I think that my tummy is just about as hard as it's going to get. I don't care that there are still 3 weeks to go, there is NO way I'm expanding any more. Har (choke) Har (choke). It's sure to get even more so. Hmmm.... I do not want to contemplate the 'how'.

yesterday was hospital appointment day:
Only had to wait for an hour, and then the usual : fundal height measurement - 36cm (yes, 36 weeks = 36cm), and a wee listen to the heartbeat, all is well and bub is busy busy busy. Midwife said the baby needed at least another week inside, and that's confirmed by lack of engaged head. Ah well. Pleased to hear all is well, and hearing the heartbeat is always fun. I'm getting very used to the position bub has been in - big, hard back/bum on the left hand side, and legs/ arms kicking me on the right. Poor thing - must be very cramped in there.

Jackie posted me the pics from the baby shower, so I'll create a separate entry for those straight away. We had a great day together!

is it time yet ?

The first of March means we are now in the right month, which is exhilarating and daunting. It's such a good feeling to know that we've made it this far and bambino is just busy, busy busy inside - tho' I know it must be so cramped in there. I'm feeling quite tired after a hectic weekend and going a bit crazy with 'doing things'. I am my worst enemy - I just don't stop and rest.

Note to self : stop and rest !

Yesterday was Shrove Tuesday, which means very little in my life, but since I had some eggs in the fridge, I thought, "Whoohooo, I'll make pancakes and take them to church." So I stood over the stove for more than an hour frying pancakes last night. What for ? I'm not sure. They all got eaten and people were complimentary, but I did wonder afterwards why I hadn't just gone and had a nice nap before church instead of all the stress of mixing and frying and sprinkling of cinnamon. Silly girl !

Am starting to have Braxton Hicks (B.H.) that are more noticeable - mostly in front, but I had a few on my lower back this afternoon. From the quick canvas I did on Friday at the NCT tea, B.H.'s are widely different and variable. Some people have the standard - tightening of the stomach surface, while others (like m'self) have quite painful practice-contractions. Sheesh, it can be quite alarming, because you aren't sure if 'this is it!' or just another B.H.

Off to do some ironing !