39 Weeks...

1 week until d-day.  For the last few weeks I have been convinced Baby O would arrive early, but the closer I get to my due date the less convinced I am…I think it may have just been wishful thinking mixed with a small spoonful of impatience!

This last week has been a good one apart from the lack of sleep, I'm waking up EVERY hour at the moment, and a cold that I have picked up.  I had to pop up to the Day Assessment Unit yesterday due to some headaches I'd been having over the weekend, but all is good.  Baby O is fine and they are probably due to the cold and lack of sleep.

Baby O is still as wriggly as ever, sometime his movements are SO strong they take my breath away, but I still love them!

Hurry up Baby O we want to meet you!

38 Weeks...

2 weeks to go!!  We had our 38 week check with the midwife at the birth centre today.  It was such a different experience to all my other appointments.  Don't get me wrong all the midwife appointments I have had so far have been great, but they always feel a little rushed. Todays appointment was much more relaxed, the midwife was so kind, caring and reassuring and I came away even more excited to give birth in the birth centre.

All the checks the midwife carried out were spot on again and Baby O is over 1/2 way engaged…yay!

I've been bouncing on my ball, walking lots and listening to my natal hypnotherapy CD all in the hope that Baby O will arrive on his due date (which I found out much to Mr O's delight is national bicycle day!).  A few more stretch marks have reared their ugly heads this week, but I'm not as bothered as I thought I would be by them.  I just see them as further proof that I am growing a little human!  Don't get me wrong though I am still covering myself in oil.  I've also got a bit of swelling in my feet, but the midwife didn't seem to worried by it, so I goes for now I'll be sticking to flip flops and my one pair of trainers that fit!

Looking forward to meeting you soon Baby O!

37 Weeks...

Baby O is considered full term!!  I know being a first time mum that he will probably arrive late, but I can't help but get excited that he could be here any day now!

This is week two of my maternity leave and I am still loving it…who knew there was so much to do during the day.  I have mainly been keeping myself busy 'nesting'.  Lots of cleaning, washing and general organising for Baby O's arrival.

As you can see, I am now MASSIVE and I', really feeling it.  If I thought I had a waddle before, I didn't!  I'm really running out of clothing options now, so I'm having to get inventive…dresses as tops are a current favourite.  I'm still feeling so much movement, and still loving it.   Baby O still gets hiccups pretty regularly, but not quite as often as he was before.  I've also started getting some braxton hicks this week…exciting!

We're ready to meet you as soon as you are ready Baby O!

36 Weeks...

We had our 36 week appointment today and I am pleased to report everything is progressing just fine.  Baby O is still head down and although not engaged yet, I definitely feel like he has dropped slightly.  This week has been a particularly wriggly one for Baby O, we've also had a lot of hiccups (him not me!).  I know hiccups are a good thing in terms of lung development and swallowing, but I can't help but feel sorry for the little fella as he seems to get them at least a couple of times a day…I often wonder if that will continue once he's 'on the outside'.

It definitely feels like we are on the home straight now with just four weeks to go…

35 Weeks...

Which means 5 weeks left to go!  This week is my last week at work and I have to be honest I am ready to finish.  The tiredness is hitting hard and my feet are getting very swollen, so some time on my sofa with my feet up is sounding pretty good right now.  That’s not to say I won’t miss work, with my final day drawing nearer I can’t help, but reflect on the amazing times I’ve had over the last 10 years and all the fantastic people I work with.

 Aside from the tiredness and the ‘fat feet’ I am feeling pretty good.  Baby O is still wriggling around lots and I can really see him moving as well as feel him.  My appetite has decreased a bit over the past week, which I am assuming is due to there being less room for food…and to be honest it is probably a good thing as I have put on just over 3st eek!

Sandy Toes and Salty Kisses...

This weekend we escaped London and headed down to see my parents in Poole, Dorset.  I have always loved Poole, but now it holds an even more special place in my heart since Mr O and I got married there last year.

We were so lucky with the weather so we took full advantage with a mini maternity shoot on the beach.

Naughty Mr O also snapped some shots when I wasn't looking!

I can't wait to introduce Baby O to the beach.

34 weeks...

6 weeks left…which means only 2 weeks left at work…eek!

We had our 34 week midwife appointment today and I am pleased to say we are right on track.  Baby O is on track size-wise and has a lovely strong heartbeat.  As all is good it means I can now be referred to the birth centre rather than the labour ward…whoop whoop!

Baby O had a bit of a quiet day, which is always a little unsettling, but today he is back on wiggly form.  At our appointment this morning he was not yet engaged but I have a sneaking suspicion he may have started dropping this afternoon as I am feeling a lot of low pressure.  Good news is that even if he hasn't dropped he is still head down and ready to go.

I'm starting to notice swelling in my hands and feet towards the end of the day, but the midwife didn't seem worried, she just suggested putting my feet up more…advice I am happy to take!

Looking forward to meeting you soon Baby O…

This Week I've Been...

…busy, hence missing a couple of days blogging

…having an impromptu lunch date with Mr O

…wearing, the only clothes that still fit on repeat!

…getting ready for Baby O, I think he has more clothes than me!

…excited for my sister on getting her new job…yay her!!

…planning next week’s meals in an attempt to save money and cut wastage

…listing new items in my Etsy shop

…eating waaaayy too many Pret Choc Bars!

33 Weeks...

Time seems to be flying by at the moment… hope it carries on until April!

Lots of lovely movement this week, Mr O and I are having all kinds of fun trying to guess what's poking out…is it a hand, a foot or even a bum!  Love it!

Sleep has become even more elusive, which has lead to a general sense of tiredness, but with only 2 Mondays left at work I'll soon be able to put my feet up.

I also discovered my first stretch mark this week…its only tiny and its around an old scar, but its still annoying.  Extra Clarins tonic for me to stop anymore appearing.

This Week I've Been...

…enjoying the blue sky this morning

…watching the great British Sewing Bee and feeling guilty for neglecting my sewing machine

…wearing

…trying to eat a bit more healthfully

This salad was inspired by the Rainbow Salad I had at The Rum Kitchen last weekend and is super easy to make.   

Peel and dice a butternut squash, place in a baking tray drizzle with olive oil and crush over a clove of garlic, give the tray a good shake so all the cubes of butternut squash are covered.  Roast in the oven for about 50mins (or until soft) at 200’C.  Once cooked, remove from the oven and set aside to cool.  While the butternut squash is cooling chop your red pepper and avocado into cubes and rinse a tin of chick peas, add these to a large bowl along with your salad leaves and toss with your salad dressing (I made a quick dressing from olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard and a pinch of salt and pepper).  Add in your cooled butternut squash and diced mango and if you fancy it a few cashew nuts and you are ready to go.  I managed to forget the add the mango until we were halfway through the meal…opps!

…winning on Ebay!

32 Weeks...

32 weeks today…8 weeks left…4 weeks left at work!

This past week I’ve been feeling pretty good.  I’ve been trying to take it easier at the weekends, rather than squishing as much in as possible and it seems to have helped my energy levels.  Baby O is still very wriggly, but he definitely seems to be quieter at weekends, maybe as a result of me doing more?  I can tell space is starting to get tight in there for him as his movements are so strong now.  I know I say it every week, but it really is the best feeling.  Mr O is starting to catch more of his movements now, which is great…it’s crazy to think in just a couple of months he’ll be here!

Still no stretch marks…I’m really hoping to keep avoiding them for the next 8 weeks, fingers crossed the Clarins Body Tonic will keep doing its thing!

Sleep-wise things are getting better.  I tend to wake up a couple of times in the night with a pain in my left leg (I’m sleeping on my left), but after a quick trip to the bathroom and a plumping of my pregnancy pillow I am able to get back to sleep fairly quickly.  Hopefully this will continue.

Putting my socks and shoes on has me out of breath these days and my pregnancy waddle is becoming more graceful every day, but I wouldn’t change a bit of it, I feel like the luckiest girl ever.

This Week I've Been...

…Celebrating Valentine’s Day with fish and chips and lovely flowers and tons of chocolate from Mr O and therefore posting late.

…Treating myself at Kate Spade

…Wearing

…Painting my nails at my desk again!

…Satisfying my cheese and tomato sandwich craving

…Looking back at our honeymoon photos, this one seemed most appropriate for Valentines day a heart spotted on the side of a French mountain.

31 Weeks...

We’re into single figures…9 weeks left, eek!!

We had our 31 week appointment at the Drs today and Baby O is doing just great.  He is right on track size-wise, head down and I got to hear his lovely little heartbeat again – can't get enough of that sound. 

He was a little quiet in terms of movement on Sunday and Monday,  but I think this was just down to me doing way too much on Friday and Saturday.  I worked from home yesterday and today he seems to be back to his wriggly self.

Crazy pregnancy dreams kicked in this weekend, not strapping the car seat in so it rolls around the back seat!? 

This Week I've Been...

…wearing

…watching The Satrorialist for AOL originals http://on.aol.com/show/the-sartorialist-517912860/episode/517922029

…loving Olivia Palermo’s style on The City re-runs, but I had forgotten how mean she could be, meow.

…reading French Children Don’t Throw Food.  I first read this a year or so ago when Baby O was just a twinkle in his Daddy’s eye, but I thought it was worth reading now as I loved a lot of the principles behind French parenting.  I’m now imagining myself as one of those glamorous, self-assured, relaxed  French Mummies!

Amazon

…attending our first NCT antenatal class.  I was pretty nervous beforehand and a bit intimidated by all the new faces (6 couples), but everyone seemed really lovely so fingers crossed over the course of the next few weeks we’ll learn lots and make some new friends along the way.

…ordering Effective Birth Preparation (Natal Hypnotherapy Programme) by Margaret Howell and Belly Laughs by Jenny McCarthy from Amazon. 

...receiving sweet notes from good friends that brought a tear to my eye.  Shout out to Lucie and Leanne, love you guys.