He's here!

James Robert Bl@ckadder arrived on Monday 29 August at 11:37am weighing 3.2kg (7lb).

My labour started with my waters breaking at 2:30am without contractions. At 3:30am I had mild contractions, at 4:30am I was hurting so we went to hospital, at 7am I was 4cm dilated and calling for an epidural, and after that it was plain sailing. James has been a very easy baby so far...

Sorry the announcement has taken so long - we have been having technical difficulties! I still can't get the darn laptop to see the camera but I'll upload pics as soon as I can... He looks just like Princess did except with his Dad's dimples and chin - seriously cute ;-)

My Mom arrived here on Sunday evening (how's that for timing!?) and is taking care of Princess. Princess is having a ball and doesn't seem to mind the new man in Mummy's life! Yet.

We will come home on Friday.

James needs a nickname. Any suggestions?

39 Weeks

I am now a week more pregnant that I have ever been ;-).

No changes from last week in weight or girth, but I ache much more quickly. A short 5 min walk to the shops requires a sit down before I can head back, and then a lie down before I can function again! My lower back and hips ache like crazy when I walk or stand for longer than half an hour... I presume it's because of all the relaxing hormones in my body affecting the bits that should be supporting the bump but aren't!

I had a bit of false labour very early on Tuesday morning - just painful Braxton Hicks contractions that seemed to be forming a rhythm... when I got up and made a cup of tea at 6am it went away and I've had nothing like that since. Milord is as jumpy as a cat on a hot tin roof - if I get up too violently (and getting out of bed can be a bit jerky as I overcome my inertia) for one of my many night wees I get big eyes looking at me from the other side of the bed in case it's all happening!

2 sleeps until Mom arrives, and then I can really relax about going into labour because I know Princess will be well looked after. I have various friends ready to take Princess but it would be perfect to have Granny looking after Princess at home while we are at the hospital.

That's about it - I don't have the energy for anything else!

38 Weeks

Weight at conception: 74.5kg
Weight at 38 weeks: 81kg
Loss/Gain since last post: 1.5kg
Total Loss/Gain: 6.5kg
Bump Circumference: 106cm

2 weeks until my due date! We are now past the point where Princess made an appearance and into new territory... which doesn't feel that different to last week except it's possible I am quicker to tire and get achy. I try to get all chores done in the morning, have a lie down when Princess naps, and then take it easy in the afternoon.

Princess has been introduced to play-dough this week, and will happily play with it for ages in her highchair with mummy, which is a very nice creative way to sit still! Milord tries to be home by 5pm to help out and that's brilliant.

I've begun putting on weight again. I have no idea why I stopped but it could have just been less puffiness. I'm carrying several extra litres of fluid, so the potential to fluctuate is there. Funnily enough I'm only 1cm bigger around the middle than at 35 weeks, but I think the bump is generally larger all over.

I feel pretty good, considering. Take your time coming Zeus - let's wait for Granny to get here in 10 days!

37 Weeks

Hooray! Zeus is now "full term" and can come out safely. Not that we particularly want him to, but it's nice to know it's safe.

Weight at conception: 74.5kg
Weight at 37 weeks: 79.5kg
Loss/Gain since last post: -1kg
Total Loss/Gain: 5kg

I've lost a kilo! Is that even possible at 37 weeks? I can't believe the baby is losing weight, so it must be me. I have been eating a lot of salads lately, as stodgy meals just don't sit well. You'd think the chocolate would balance everything though...! Maybe I'm just less bloaty. Zeus is very wriggly so I'm sure he's fine.

I'm actually feeling better than I have in ages. My ribs have almost stopped hurting and my bladder is not quite so abused. Zeus may have started dropping, which gives us a bit more welcome space. Of course I'm still 8.5 months pregnant so everything is still hard work, but at least I'm a bit more comfortable!

We've been trying to tell Princess that she has a brother coming. She does point at the new cot and say "Boy bed!", and yesterday she put her arms around my tummy and said "Baby in tummy!", so some things are getting through! Princess also knows the location of all public toilets in the shopping malls we visit - as we get close she begins announcing "Toilet! Mummy wee!". It's very funny!

36 Weeks

Weight at conception: 74.5kg
Weight at 36 weeks: 80.5kg
Loss/Gain since last post: 0.5kg
Total Loss/Gain: 6kg





This past week has been a lot better than the one before. While my ribs are still sore they are not agonising, and Zeus seems to have shifted off my bladder a little so that's not so squashed either. I actually thought he'd dropped, but my doctor says he's still high - so it must just be me stretching to accommodate him!

Having said that though, I'm not exactly comfortable and I'm getting very tired whenever I do anything... Just rolling Princess up to the shops and back has me aching and in need of a nap! By shortly after dinner time I usually go to bed because lying down is the only position that is remotely comfy... I'm just a bundle of fun! During the night I wake every hour or two to wee and roll over - luckily I have no trouble getting back to sleep, although it's still a very broken night. I'm not going to complain about being able to sleep most of 9 hours a night though - I know what's just around the corner!

I asked Milord the other day to try and be home by bathtime each night to handle Princess in and out of the bath, and he's decided to do a whole lot better than that and start working flexitime and several days a week from home. He'll be doing this until Zeus comes, at which time Milord will take 2 weeks full leave and then go back to flexitime for as long as I need him to. How awesome is that! We are so lucky that Milord can do the bulk of his work remotely.

I'm looking pretty big. My belly button has popped out now, which didn't happen with Princess. It's just a tiny jelly-tot of a pop-out that you can't see through my clothes yet... I think it looks funny.

Hmm what else? I've mostly packed my hospital bag and am working on an overnight bag for Princess. A couple of ladies in my Mothers Group who work parttime have offered to take her during labour, which is a huge relief. We have no family nearby and all our friends work fulltime, so I'm not sure what we would have done otherwise! My Mom gets here in 3 weeks, but we need a contingency plan in case Zeus comes early.

Apart from that I'm getting the newborn carrier installed in the car next week, and that's pretty much everything organised! The cot is made up in our bedroom and I have the nappies etc ready. By Thursday Zeus will be "full-term" and safe to come out, and we'll be ready to meet him!

35 Weeks

Weight at conception: 74.5kg
Weight at 35 weeks: 80kg
Loss/Gain since last post: 1kg
Total Loss/Gain: 5.5kg
Bump Circumference: 105cm

Ok, now I'm really over being pregnant! My ribs have started to hurt as they streeetch outward over the poor enormous belleh. Like, really hurt. When I breathe! Coughing and sneezing are agony and normal bending and lifting not much fun... I can no longer let Princess clamber all over me as it's too sore.

Milord didn't realise how bad it was until I had a complete meltdown and sobbed in his arms that "everything huuuurts!". I never get weepy so he was a bit flummoxed and has been treating me like spun glass since! That was a few days ago and my ribs hurt a bit less as they get used to being stretched, but it's still not great. Bras are a problem - I actually went out and got a few new maternity bras with a bigger band size the other day (the cups stayed the same - it's the ribs not the boobs that are an issue), and now they are too tight around the ribcage too. I need to find some bra extenders I think. *sigh* Going without is not an option at this time...

2 weeks to go until this baby is no longer "premature", and I'm hoping he comes ASAP after that! I have had enough.

Apart from that all is well. Our scan showed a baby of perfect average size and a fully functioning placenta, so nothing to worry about there.

Princess has been ill this week - "Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease", which sounds dramatic but it's just a touch of fever, misery, sore mouth and throat and a rash on her hands and feet. She's been a bit of a handful all week but today the rash appeared and now that I know what it is I can treat her with paracetamol and her sunny self is shining through again. Plus she's sleeping a lot better which helps everyone!

34 Weeks

Weight at conception: 74.5kg
Weight at 34 weeks: 79kg
Loss/Gain since last post: 1kg
Total Loss/Gain: 4.5kg
Bump Circumference: 104cm

Milord tells me I'm suddenly huge. It doesn't feel that sudden to me! It's still pretty much all bump although I'm beginning to feel a bit puffy and I'm down to just my wedding ring again. My weight is still the same curve as during Princess' gestation, although the bump is a couple of centimeters bigger - normal in a second pregnancy.

I can still do most things, although I don't attempt ladders or anything that requires balance because my center of gravity is a bit off. My back gets tired when I stand and I don't lift anything heavier than my 11kg toddler... plus the 3kg nappy bag and the 5kg+ of shopping... huh. I actually think I did less lifting last time! And I certainly wasn't clambering straight up slides to rescue little people trapped at the top of the jungle gym like this morning!

I'm rather uncomfortable. Zeus' head has dropped down right onto my bladder which is dreadful... I can't wait for him to drop further and get past the poor abused thing! With the bad cough I've had lately I keep wetting myself as the bladder reacts to the extra pressure like a squashed grape with only one way to explode! Nice.

We are off for another scan tomorrow. Princess was an undersized baby - they say this was caused by her/my placenta being strangely small. I didn't realise (until I googled it this week) but a badly formed placenta is a risk because it doesn't nourish the baby properly. Not only do you get a small baby but the baby could actually die before full term! So we're going to have a close look at my innards and check that all is well - if not then I assume we'll plan to have the baby asap. I'll keep you posted!

33 Weeks and your Princess Fix

Weight at conception: 74.5kg
Weight at 33 weeks: 78kg
Loss/Gain since last post: 0.5kg
Total Loss/Gain: 3.5kg

The pregnancy is going fine, but I have caught an irritating chest cold. I'm now at the tickly cough stage - for your information honey is a brilliant cough soother. I mix it with lime juice and have a spoonful when the coughing starts and it works! I give Princess the same thing when she has a cough (with a lot less lime juice) and it works for her too. Add a bit of paracetamol to take away the sore throat and I'm mostly ok...

At least Princess seems to be immune to this cold. We've been taking things very easy this week - so lots of puzzles and playing indoors. And telly. Princess came out with a Spanish word during Dora the Explorer the other day - maybe a bit too much telly!

Pics from a park visit this week:







Regarding the Princess - she is a delight. The tantrums have calmed and the talking continues to improve. My life has a running narrative as Princess shadows me around the house: "Mummy shower - bubbles!" "Clean teeth!" "Panti! Bla! Top! Trousers! Sock! Other sock!" "Cuppa tea!" etc etc etc. It's especially funny when I have to bring her into public toilets and the clear loud voice announces "Mummy tinkle wee!"

She's almost counting to 20 and can identify most of the letters of the alphabet! This week she's started giving a peck of a kiss on request to Milord. She loves trying to use a knife and fork and spoon, although it's a messy exercise! She demands singing constantly - "More singing!" - and sometimes tells you which song although the clues are vague "What do you want me to sing?" "Cat!" (I went with the pussycat scaring the mouse under the queen's chair)

Princess is still not walking, but we've come up with a challenge she'll accept to improve her balance - I put slightly sticky flower stickers up at the limit of her reach against the perspex shield in front of the telly and she'll spend ages pulling them off and cruising to the next one. Because there are no handholds and it's a stretch she has to use her core for balance which should improve everything. She loves it and demands "More flower! Reach!" several times a day.

And a couple of videos from the park. Excuse my singing voice - it's my cold!

32 Weeks

Weight at conception: 74.5kg
Weight at 32 weeks: 77.5kg
Loss/Gain since last post: 1.5kg
Total Loss/Gain: 3kg
Bump Circumference: 101cm

I'm gaining 0.5kg per week which is as it should be. My bump is growing by 1cm per week. Which is also as it should be but a bit frightening!

All is well, I've delegated swim lessons to Milord and have a cleaning service coming once a week. We hoping to have bedroom cupboards built in within the next couple of weeks, and then I'll prepare my hospital bag...

I've been having trouble sleeping lately as Zeus is jolly wriggly in the night and I can no longer sleep through having my organs rearranged. Oh well - not too much longer!

29 Weeks

Weight at conception: 74.5kg
Weight at 29 weeks: 76kg
Loss/Gain since last post: 2kg
Total Loss/Gain: 1.5kg
Bump Circumference: 98cm

Feeling ok except I tire easily. The floor is getting further away, and when Princess sits in my lap for booktime she has a peculiar backward bend over the bump!

26 Weeks - Third Trimester!

This is a milestone I've been waiting for! Now it feels like the light is at the end of the tunnel... of course physically things are going to get a lot harder now, but it's nice knowing we'll be meeting our son in just 3 months time.

One of Milord's cousins had a baby girl last week and I visited on Monday. I always forget how little newborn babies are! And how much work - the cousin looks absolutely shattered. Breastfeeding is fab, but no one else can do it for you so you never get a break to catch up on sleep... and of course the baby only howls at night. The cousin was relieved to hear that Princess had been exactly the same, as they never mentioned in the "Sleep and Settling" class that sometimes nothing works! The hubbie is unable to take leave, which is a shame, but at least her sister and mum are able to be on hand.

I took over a couple of meals (Thai Chicken soup and a loaf of fresh bread, and 2 portions of Milord's awesome Hungarian Goulash with boiled new potatoes and steamed veg) for her to pop in the fridge. When Princess was new the hardest thing in the world was organising dinner, and I hate takeout, so a decent meal that just needed heating through was the bees knees.

I'm assuming that the newborn phase is going to be a whole lot easier next time, if only because it's not going to be a shock! Of course I'll have Princess to deal with which is a whole new variable, but my mum should be here for a month and Milord's leave is pretty flexible.

The pregnancy is going swimmingly. I tend to forget I'm pregnant half the time until someone uses my bladder as a punchbag, or I realise Princess is draped strangely over the bump when we read a book.

Weight at conception: 74.5kg
Weight at 26 weeks: 74kg
Loss/Gain since last post: 0.5kg
Total Loss/Gain: -0.5kg

I'm still lighter than when I fell pregnant. Hopefully once Zeus arrives I will be too busy to put the weight on again. It does help that Princess absolutely has to share anything I am eating, so when she's around I only snack on fruit!

PS. Thanks to everyone saying I look good! I certainly don't feel thin with this bump... the other day I had to move my car to another carspace because I couldn't squeeze out of the door gap I had (it was a bit tight). Being such a hard, firm bump nothing happens when I "suck it in"! And Milord doesn't do compliments to pregnant women, because all he can see is the Belleh.

Pics

...of the bump and of Princess... don't you adore her oversized PJs and bunny slippers?!

24 Weeks

...in fact nearly 25 weeks. In a week and a bit I'll be at 26 weeks and into the Third Trimester countdown. I'm looking forward it sort of - I have a list of things I want to start doing in the Third Trimester like the prenatal exercise DVDs that are gathering dust, and the raspberry leaf tea, and collecting and organising baby boy clothes and blankets and wraps, and finding my nursing pillow and breast pump and stuff.

Nesting I suppose you might call it! There is no reason I can't do this stuff now, except that the Third Trimester feels less jinxy... I don't think you ever stop worrying about the pregnancy until the baby is safely out. And then you get to worry about the baby forever!

I'm very well. I'm less tired than I have been, although my bump is starting to affect my life. I now sleep with a body pillow, which is very comfy because it counters the belly-weight, but it also means I don't move for hours at a time and wake up very achy! I can no longer sleep on my front, which I miss a lot, and I'm not supposed to sleep on my back because the baby weight constricts major arteries, so I roll from side to side every couple of hours when I wake up to wee.

Oh yes, the weeing every couple of hours has arrived too. Day trips are planned around toilet availability, and several park visits have been cut short because "Mummy needs to go home for a wee"!

The way I play with Princess is getting gentler all the time - I don't have the core muscles to rough and tumble properly anymore. Riding my hip is more like riding my bump, and getting up off the floor is getting harder, especially if Princess is in my arms!

Weight: 73.5kg

I am the exact same weight that I was at 24 weeks with Princess! Amazing.

22 Weeks

...and 4 days. I'm pretty slack with these aren't I?!

Weight at conception: 74.5kg
Weight at 22 weeks: 72.5kg
Loss/Gain since last week: 0.7kg
Total Loss/Gain: -2kg

Waist: 95cm

It's hard to believe I'm actually 2kg lighter than when I fell pregnant! I don't particularly enjoy pregnancy but my body loves it - healthy eating and most of the calories being burned up with creating a new person. It's certainly not being burned up in exercise - I'm just too tired to blog never mind exercise!

I eat well and I don't really watch what I eat, although I try to avoid junk. I find I can't eat much at one go though - my stomach is too squashed and I get full quickly, and if I overeat I get horrid indigestion so there is no point!

I've got quite a bump now, and I'm close to the stage where I begin hitting things with it. And I can't squeeze past anything either - it's all solid!

I feel pretty good in spite of the tired. I'm sleeping well and the nosebleeds have stopped. Luckily Princess is an easy baby to look after - she'll play with books and toys (and watch telly - oops bad mummy) for a good part of the day. We walk to the local park and rough-and-tumble on the bed a few times a day, which is about my limit! My bump isn't stopping me doing anything yet, although my lap is getting smaller.

I'm almost exactly the weight I was at this stage with Princess, and my bump is only 3cm bigger than it was... considering I started off 4cm bigger at 13 weeks that's acceptable.

I'm positive Zeus is wrigglier than Princess was - Milord has felt him kicking already! Either that or we know what to feel for this time...

21 Weeks

...and 4 days. I've been very tired lately, and blogging is just not on the radar! I'm sleeping at least 8 hours a night, but I still need a nap most days - maybe Zeus is going through a growth spurt.

Weight now 71.8kg - we're growing gently ;-)

What else? I've been getting some bad nosebleeds, generally when I'm asleep, which is gross. None for over a week now thank goodness.

Oh and I can feel Zeus moving now - I'm sure I feel him more than I did Princess! I can even feel a nudge or two from the outside when he's very squirmy.

20 Weeks

Halfway!

71.5kg, feeling fine, gotta dash - away for the weekend for a wedding!

19 Weeks - It's a Boy! OMG!

I skipped week 18... been a bit distracted plus I knew that this week we'd probably be finding out the sex and so I thought I might as well wait until now.

This morning we went along for our 19 week scan and there on the screen was an unmistakable PENIS! eeeep. It's a boy! I know nothing about boys... this is going to be a huge learning curve all over again! The baby is now known as Zeus.

Everything looks perfect with Zeus and now we just count down to the big reveal in 21 weeks time.

My weight has crept up to 71.5kg, and I'm not surprised as my bump is getting rather big. I need to take a photo - maybe later today!

What else? Mom left for the UK yesterday, which was a wrench. She's been here for a month and it's been great - she totally bonded with Princess and took over a lot of housework, most bathtimes, and lots of book, toddle and playtime. I actually had time to read a few books while she was here!

Princess is asking about her "Ganny" from time to time, but no meltdowns about her absence thank heavens!

17 Weeks

I'm being really slack with these. I think we have second-child syndrome happening already - with Princess I took photos of the bump every week like clockwork and itemised my symptoms. Now it's a bit old hat!

I'm feeling good. My weight is steady around 70kg. I get the odd sciatica twinge or nosebleed but it's not bad. I can't feel the baby yet but that's probably because my placenta is in the front this time and forms a cushion.

I'll try to take photos and measurements next week!

Update: my bump is 89cm, 2cm less than last time I measured! That makes no sense, as my bump is definitely bigger... I wonder if I've been losing back-fat? Bizarre.

16 Weeks, and Your Princess Fix

All going well. I've lost a little weight again and my bump feels bigger, although I haven't measured it. I had a checkup last week and all is progressing as it should.

Mom and Princess have bonded like crazy, and while we haven't exactly been hectically busy we have been doing lots together. We visit the pool twice a week, we've been to the zoo, and we visit the park and take walks along the river. Mom and I set up a furniture "obstacle course" every day and tempt Princess to cruise along it with books and biscuits! She's getting quite good at it now, and has started demanding to "walk" from one end of the house to the other too.

When Princess naps we read books or garden, and it is very chilled. Mom's extremely easy to live with (even Milord says so!).

15 Weeks

15 Weeks fell on my birthday.

I had a very nice birthday this year - Princess was in an even lovelier mood than usual and Milord and Mom spoiled me. I got a Kindle and a Kichenaid mixer, which are both very exciting in rather different ways! In the morning Milord took us for brunch, I had a 2 hour nap in the afternoon while the others looked after Princess (bliss), and that night Mom babysat and Milord and I went out for dinner for the first time this year.

I don't think I could have asked for a better day!

Milord has been off his diet for a week (he broke 100kg last Friday) and intends to go back onto Lite n Easy 5 days a week starting Monday. In the meantime he jokes that he's eating and drinking as much as possible while he can. This would be funnier if it wasn't true!

I'm allowing myself one glass of wine a week now that I'm in my second trimester. This still means that I watch the others boozing 99% of the time, and it is just as annoying as last pregnancy... and if I had an extra bedroom to get away from Snorey McWinebreath I'd be a lot happier! *sigh*

Weight at conception: 74.5kg
Weight at 15 weeks: 70kg
Loss/Gain since last week: -0.5kg
Total Loss/Gain: -4.5kg

Thigh: 57cm (no change)
Waist: 91cm (no change)

My bump feels harder and more pronounced, and I've lost a little more weight. I think I'm eating less often than last time, as looking after Princess and snatching meals is quite different to grazing at a desk all day! I still need the odd nap, especially since we've been having relatively late nights with a visitor in the house. Luckily no one minds me wandering off for a lie down when Princess is napping!