Thank you all for your advice regarding the itchiness last week – I’m using a combination of bio-oil and this organic pregnancy-specific one I bought and they seem to do the job. I just have to make sure I’m hydrated and moisturize as much as possible. I’ve taken to keeping a bottle of the bio-oil in my bag haha.
How far along?19 weeks, 6 days (woohoo!! Up to date!!! )
How big is baby? A small cantaloupe (Yes I spelt it wrong on the chalkboard. Pregnancy brain )
How I’m feeling? Still good and still getting bigger. We did a lot of baby shopping today and it was fun to look around at things and actually look I belonged there haha. I plan to do a post soon on the essentials that we bought and why, but you can see a few there.
(Update on the nursery – we finally cleared out all the furniture and framed some colourful postcards that we bought in Sri Lanka. They’re just temporarily hung up as the hooks were for our degrees previously. BUT – we can start painting!!)
(Fun fact – the top I’m wearing was also bought in Sri Lanka from a batik store. I love the blue!!)
I’ve also started to feel the baby move!!
It’s the most incredible feeling – especially since I didn’t realise that what I was feeling was the baby. But it’s been getting more and more frequent and intense (especially after I eat something on the sweeter side) and it’s fun to feel it shifting itself around in there.
I also bought some more maternity pants (not shown in these pics – I’m using the Belly Belt to hold my normal pants up haha) and OMG they are so comfortable. I’m seriously considering wearing them even after the baby is born. And is like 8 or something.
Fitness? Walking/jogging and swimming again. I haven’t been able to get to a proper pre-natal yoga class as yet since my last attempt and I’ve been wanting to go. That’s on my list of things to do this week
Weight? Bigger yet again
How I’m changing? I was sitting up in our room the other night, just reading a book when I could feel all these little kicks and flurries of movement. It the first time that I actually realised that, holy shit, there’s a thing inside me and it’s ALIVE!! The sensation was an odd one, but placing my hands over my belly and feeling it move for the first time is something I know I’ll always treasure.
What I miss? Sushi again. I want wasabi!!
Symptoms? Baby moving!! (Well don’t know if that is a symptom but it’s definitely the theme of the week!)
Cravings? Cold, juicy things. As the weather gets warmer, my palate is shifting towards colder things. I’m not a huge juice drinker, but I have been wanting – no NEEDING it to quench my thirst. Cue the watermelon.
Aversions? Nothing unusual – still slightly off meat and so have been stuffing myself with lots of veggies. However, I can still eat Evs’ famous spaghetti Bolognese no problem
Highlights this week? Definitely feeling the baby move this week. Strolling through a baby market and getting some good bargains in terms of clothes and a swanky nappy bag. Also visiting friends in Geelong who both had babies about 2 months ago and holding them. I couldn’t wait to have my own bubs in my arms.
Also, finally deciding and purchasing the ma in baby items like a pram and car capsule. Also, um, splurging on the most beautiful muslin swaddles from Aden + Anais. So gorgeous!! (I can see why babies are such a lucrative business – everything is so cute and you can’t resist!!)
Firstly I want to thank ALL of you who read, commented and emailed me on my last post. I can’t tell you how stunned I feel when I see you all thanking ME. I didn’t do anything to be thanked about – it was just my heart poured out onto the page and posted with my eyes closed and a feeling of nervousness engulfing me. It was just a reminder to me that no matter where we are in our own journeys, what our dreams are and where we have come from – we’re all looking for that place of just…peace.
I want to say to all of you now – YOU ARE ENOUGH.
You are more than your body, you are your experiences and intentions and mind and soul. You can do anything you put your heart and mind to
But enough of the soppy
I was going to post this on Friday but I came home, buggered after a long day at work and went straight to bed only to get up and head back into the city. I swear I’m too old to go out anymore – but I ended up having fun at a friend’s 30th and then at the movies after where I gave myself a fright by watching Paranormal Activity 4. Throughout the movie, I could feel my belly shifting and I hoped it wasn’t the bubs getting freaked out, because I definitely was.
Yesterday I had my cousin’s baby girl’s first birthday and it was great seeing all my family again. I feel like it’s been too long.
But to squeeze in the last bits of the weekend here’s a few of what I liked around the interwebs this week. Get yourself comfy, pour yourself a cup of tea/glass of wine and enjoy this Sunday night.
If you haven’r discovered Thought Catalog - you should. It’s like a vortex of amazing posts that suck you in and you emerge bleary-eyed hours later wondering how suddenly it got all dark in here. I came across these two which rated the characters of two of my favourite shows (the men of Game of Thrones and characters from Dexter) on the character’s marriage material. For fans – this is a must read (although slight spoiler – it’s using the characters from the current season of Dexter).
For those not TV show inclined, here’s a another great post listing 32 of life’s most perfect moments. (Can you tell I got sucked into the vortex??) #14 is one of my personal favorites – even if it just Evs and I trying to out-do each other booty-popping. Also #32. (And Hannah - #28 is for you )
I LOVED this video response from from a maxipad company to a man’s claim that he was “deceived” and that the “company had lied to him through their advertising campaigns over the years, leading him to believe that periods involved a lot of blue liquid, extreme sports, and fun music.” via Unmana. Actually, go have a read of the other links Unmana has posted this week – I also loved the article from the NY Times about how dads who work aren’t called working dads.
A really good post from Sarah Wilson about loving food and hating waste. Meaning starting to think about using up all the little bits left in the fridge (which I’m totally guilty of NOT doing). She details some tips about how to save waste from food as well and I’m definitely going to try the fish cake recipe she posted.
If you haven’t come across Masala Chica, then you need to NOW. Her posts are full of honesty and beautiful writing about her family which is only surpassed by her own gorgeousness and hidden talent for music.
With Gangnam Style going nuts around the world (and getting to the point where I hear the faint strains of Op, Op, Op in my sleep) – someone had the brilliant idea of getting a Tollywood music video set to the tune. It’s actually really good and the dancers are brilliant. I almost like this better than the original.
After scouring the RSPCA four years ago and knowing we weren’t coming home without Dex, and then a year or so later when we rescued Toby from a guy selling him online – I never realised how much having those two mutts around would prepare me for parenthood. They’ve been my training wheels and when they destroy yet another pair of shoes and come slinking up to me to put their head in my lap, I can’t help but wonder….am I going to be THAT much of a pushover when it comes to my kids?? Here’s a post from Mamamia about the parenting tips this girl learnt from her rescue puppy. (Now I really must get onto Googling that site that teaches them to poo in one area of the yard – not everywhere!)
I’m not sure why it’s taken me so long to write here until today. There have been many note-worthy moments over the last 3 months, but it’s only felt…right…until now.
Today I saw my baby for the first time.
Up until now, ever since the two faint lines on the pee stick changed my world in what seems a lifetime ago, it’s seemed surreal.
Even as my body has changed over the month, the undeniable symptoms of nausea, bloating, cravings, extreme tiredness and sore boobs – I’ve steadfastly ignored them (despite what the multiple blood tests have also confirmed!).
After last time, I didn’t want to get my hopes up. I felt so STUPID for lack of a better word on putting so much meaning on these things that were happening to me. Perhaps it was my unsaid desire that was manifesting itself through phantom signs and so I was determined not to make that same mistake again.
The weeks went by. I checked my various apps each week to see what was happening with my body, how the THING inside me was growing with detached curiosity. Occasionally I would remark to Evs – “Ooh look – it’s the size of a prune!!”. I couldn’t see it as a baby. It was just a bunch of cells rapidly multiplying through the wonder of science.
And a confession, even now, after seeing it with my own eyes – it’s hard to believe.
The pics on the app don’t really help – I would show Evs what it would look like and he’d be ‘Ugh! Get that away from me!”. To be fair, the picture depicted it looking like a reptilian alien which is no wonder he would recoil at the thought of some strange extra-terrestrial being growing inside me.
The dogs suddenly got more affectionate. Toby would be constantly by my side, nuzzling my belly and sticking his nose in my butt and crotch. Dex, was more laid back. He would come and sit down my my feet, content to keep watch from a slight distance.
But today…something changed.
It got real.
Like, holy crap, I’m having a baby.
So now, can you see why I have been absent somewhat over the last few weeks?? Blame the general feeling like crap which has resulted in me heading to bed at insane-early times only to sleep again the next day.
I’ve decided to start documenting this journey at the end of each week. I feel now is the right time to put my thoughts to paper as such and while I know that there is still a long journey ahead of me and the paranoid side of me still whispers that anything can still happen, I feel a lot more comfortable sharing this now. So whatever happens, it will be here.
I’ve taken the updates style from one of my blog-friend Lisa’sblog – I religiously followed her pregnancy because one) I was over the moon for her and two) I liked the way she did it.
So here goes:
How far along?12 weeks, 6 days
How big is baby? A plum!! (I’m going by the What to Expect When you’re expecting app and clearly they know the way I think as it’s all food related. Slightly disturbing at times because a plum sounds good right now)
How I’m feeling? Well, whoever decided to call it “morning” sickness should be shot. Over the last 12 weeks I’m been lucky enough not to throw up but in its place had a constant feeling of nausea. Like there is something at the back of my throat and I couldhurl any second. It’s been interesting in a way as it would get triggered by certain smells (the smell of meat cooking!!) and I’ve struggled a little bit at work trying to keep a straight face and not give anything away yet.
Boobs have suddenly decided to overflow this week and I made a trip to the shops and found I had gone up a size. To be very honest, this was the part I wasn’t really looking forward to. I’m…err…well endowed as it is and the thought of them growing to a size proportionate to my head was freaking me out. Evs, naturally, did not share my concern.
Bigger is not better babe.
My extreme tiredness FEELS like it’s reducing but I’m not getting my hopes up. I am the master of nanna naps on the weekend now.
Fitness? My fitness has reduced dramatically and running replaced with a more first trimester-friendly brisk walking. It’s kind of annoying, although I know it comes from a loving place, but everyone around me has told me “I shouldn’t run”. I seriously was like fuck that, but after a few trial runs where I was getting some not-so-pleasant twinging and cramps in my lower abdomen, I decided to play a little more safe and just walk. A lot. I also plan to get back into swimming soon too.
Weight?Approx + 1kg
How I’m changing? Despite only gaining perhaps a kilo over the last 12 weeks, (which I suspect despite my poor diet is still water weight) my clothes haven’t quite been fitting properly. I live in my stretchy black pants for work and loose tops and have been known to not quite have the zipper up at the back of some my skirts after lunch (Confession – I would do this anyways after a particularly big lunch. Back then I lovingly called it my food baby). I also been bloated like a mother over the last few weeks but I have a feeling that my little pooch is not bloat or my love handles but baby coming out to say hello.
What I miss?Can I be clichéd and say sushi?? It was my go-to lunch when I didn’t bring it from home and now I stare enviously at all my workmates who tuck into their California Rolls without a second thought to poor me. (They clearly don’t know, but STILL).
Symptoms?Besides the sore boobs, bloating, nausea, tiredness, back pain and OMG digestion “issues” – I think I have it covered. Pregnancy is nothing but glamorous.
Cravings? This has been hard – I don’t feel like I’ve had cravings as such but then someone will point out something that I’m eating that I wouldn’t normally eat or had touched in years. Like Salt and Vinegar chips (crisps). Or anything hot, spicy and tangy (Nando’s chips you will be the death of me one day!) which just gave me heartburn (ooh another symptom!!). And um, chocolate doughnuts.
Aversions?Oh wow. Confession time. My appetite has been all over the place and I have not been able to STAND the sight of green vegetables. Oh and salmon. Cannot STAND it.
So my diet hasn’t been the greatest with sugar and hot sauce cravings out in full force. And salt&vinegar chips. (see above)
Over the last few days as I’ve been feeling some of my energy return, some of my normal eating habits have as well. I even ate a kale and lentil salad with dinner last night (although I gobbled down the homemade sweet potato fries!!) and some of the bloating has reduced from cutting out the nasties from my diet a little more.
Highlights this week? After 12 long weeks of just cruising along and not really knowing that everything was ok, it was incredible to see the baby on the ultrasound. I seriously thought it would just be a blob with a heartbeat, but boy was I wrong. Evs and I just looked at each other in wonder and my mum (who came along as well) was just grinning away in the corner. It was such an active little thing as well as the ultrasound-man poked my belly to make the baby move, it would slide down and then kick back up with its legs. Evs proudly declared that his child was a genius and would have great athletic ability. It’s a relief to know that everything is as it should be at this stage and that we’ve passed the ‘danger zone’ so to speak.
Looking forward to finishing up the first trimester
Hello lovelies! Aren’t you glad that it’s the end of the week again??
For me I spent the better part of the week thinking it was a day ahead when it really was the day before. THAT screwed with my mind, and now I’m just glad I can finally say that it is Friday.
Plans for the weekend – not too much. It’s that time of the year again where we wrangle the dogs into the car and take them to their yearly vet checkup and vaccinations. Dex – loves car rides – he will even attempt to jump into the back of the car himself and usually get stuck with then one of of us having to heave him up by his butt. Toby, has no problem getting into the car – he just whines like a baby all throughout the trip. Gah.
Then there will be some shopping and errands, a visit to the in-laws, plans for pizza and movies with the siblings (I suspect Harry Potter is on the cards). And the weather looks to be good and Spring-like tomorrow so there will be exercise (after my lazy lazy week).
I also think I’ll fit in
some sitting in the sun on the deck with the dogs.
And maybe, playing around with my new hair (it was great the first day and now it’s awkward – I need to do something with it).
(Ignore awkward, tired selfie – I just liked my fringe flick)
In between stuff, I know I’ll be making time to sit down with a cup of coffee and read my favourite things. And for you, here’s my picks for the week:
I laughed myself silly when I read this article from Thought Catalog on 20 embarrassing moment we never want to happen, because be sure, at least half of them have happened to me. I’m constantly in a state of embarrassment over something I’ve done, said or thought – even when I probably have no reason to be. How much of this relates to you??
So how many of you have a nickname given to you by your parents?? Mine since I was little has been “Gudia”, which means doll in Hindi. But apparently a new study shows that giving your kids nicknames undermines the parental relationship and sets kids up to be, well, spoiled.
I came across this post through a friend on Facebook but have seen it linked up a few times throughout the blogosphere as well. A great post on those starting on their journey to health (doesn’t have to be running). I identify so much with the “fat girl” in the post.
I stopped drinking soda a long while back before I even hopped onto the quitting sugar bandwagon. But what I didn’t realise with my holier-than-thou smugness about not consuming soft drinks, that all the fruit juice I was drinking in its stead was just as bad. Here’s a great info graphic that explains all about soda’s evil twin.
While travelling, I always find myself in a bit of a quandry where my indulgent side wants to go wild on the dessert buffet and cocktails and my more rational side knows that the next morning I’ll regret it. That being said, I think I’ve come up with a pretty good balance with the way I stay healthy. But I know that it did take me some getting used to and this post from Vienda Maria, also gives you some tips on how to stay healthy while travelling.
Now that Spring is in the air, I’m getting into the spirit of spring cleaning and really using this time to get shit sorted. Another great post from the Thought Catalog lists 10 ways to improve your life this weekend including hanging out with a dog and doing something that scares you.
With the start of the farmer’s markets around the city due to the increasingly warmer weather, there’s been some great produce around. I picked up some zucchini last week and…errr…still have it in my fridge because I didn’t know what to do with it. Then I saw this recipe for raw zucchini pasta and almond pesto and nearly drooled on my screen. This I’m making.
What’s the plans for this weekend? Did you have (still do) a nickname given to you by your parents??
Since it’s mid-week, I’ve been thinking today of those warm and fuzzy feelings that get us through the day. I know I’ve been struggling lately and so I like to go back to them.
You know, the memories that we can wrap around ourselves and go back to, one by one, each lovingly chosen for THAT feeling.
Here is my list, in no particular order.
Hot showers right before bed
The first bite of a meal when you’re really hungry
Tight hugs and forehead kisses
Waking up in the morning and actually feeling like you had enough sleep
Hometime after a long day in the office
Puppy licks all over your face
Being part of something important in someone’s life
New things to read
Being young again
The feeling of sunshine soaking into every part of you
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