Food for thought

You aren’t wealthy until you have something money can’t buy!

The Dorchester

Christmas drinks with good friends at The Dorchester 

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Preggo update - Thirty five weeks

My ever expanding bump @ 35 weeks today.
As it's getting more and more difficult finding clothes that fits, Im focusing more on accessorising. Here wearing a ring and cuff - two of my fave black and gold pieces

To think we'll have another little person in the house in just five weeks is insane, or even more crazy, she is full term at 37 weeks, which means labour could be as little as two weeks away  - Eek!

Currently she is about 47cm in length and weighs over 2.7kg, and I can feel how her weight presses on the nerves in my legs and pelvis.

Speaking of weight, I know for a fact that I have gained a LOT,  a lot more than last time. That, I am sure of. Mainly on my bum, hips and thighs! I don't really walk now - I simply waddle, or lean back when I walk down hill.

I stopped weighing myself after I had gained about 12 kilos which was quite some time ago now, and then removed my scale from the bathroom! I also tell the nurses who take my blood pressure and weigh me each time prior to my antenatal appointment, to NOT say my weight out loud as I stand on the scale.

They then write it down in my little booklet which I have not yet looked in. My body is performing miracles right now, and I simply don't see the point in knowing my current weight.  However, I certainly will find out a couple of weeks or so after the birth!

I am getting period like pains in my back and around my ovaries a few times per day, but never lasting more than a minute or so. My boobies are beginning to get sore again like in first trimester, the nosebleed continues at least every other day, I am wearing surgical stockings from morning to night or else my varicose veins bulge, and my feet puff up every evening - not a pretty sight I can assure you!

Baba No 2 is really quite feisty in comparison to her brother, who was a lot more chilled in my womb. 

You see, No 2 doesnt seem to like any sort of pressure on the stomach. Not even me resting my hand loosely on it, then she will respond quickly with a sharp kick as if to say "Oi, move you hand!"

It's amazing, and at the same time amusing to watch. To think there is someone living inside me who already knows what she doesnt like LOL 

Good morning, Friday!

Haircut and blow-dry on the to do list today

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New rug

Our new Moroccan tile motif- rug finally arrived today!

Uncle Erik visiting

Video of Sean wishing you all a Merry Christmas, with his side-kick Erik who's entertaining on the piano! (you'll find a snippet of another vid on my Twitter)

Today my brother (who had the day off work) came round to celebrate with Sean. Yes, a little late, but when you're a junior doctor, you never  know when you get time off! 

Nonetheless Sean was of course delighted as it was an extension of his birthday, with more pressies, and yet again he got undivided attention :-) 

Preggo perk

Pregnancy certainly has its downfalls, but I've noticed one particular perk is getting strong fast growing nails, and mine are like as if they are on steroids haha - just hope it'll last!

New & noteworthy

iPhone 5 Kenzo case from here

St John's Wood Christmas Fayre

Spending Sunday afternoon and evening in SJW. Kids rides, mulled wine, live music, street food and great family fun! 


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Earlier today..

After some window shopping on Marylebone High Street and taking Sean to the library, we popped in to nearby Zizzi for an early dinner

Hubby surprised me with the excellent colour combination he put together :-)

I'm 34 weeks pregnant today, with 42 days remaining until my due date 

As the indigestion has returned, I have to be careful with what I eat (and drink), or else my upper torso feels like it's on fire!

Remember, remember, the 27th of November :-)

Bear and I set the alarm for 6am, got up and prepared toast with peanut butter and a hot chocolate for Sean, and surprised him with singing 'Happy Birthday' as he was pretending to be asleep 

Ta-dah! The custom-made hedgehog chocolate cake that the young man chose himself

Blowing out the five candles

When it's your birthday, a little slice of cake is allowed before going to school :-)

I can't quite grasp that I'm soon about to feel the same strong motherly love I have for Sean, for another little person!

My dashing little man changed in to this outfit after school (here he is talking on Daddy's phone to his Auntie Keri, who's wishing him happy b'day)

And off we went to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park 

WW provides endless entertainments incl rides that suits all ages

The entrance is free (although everything is very expensive there so make sure you have cash with you as they don't take cards!), and you will never go hungry or thirsty with numerous stalls selling all kinds of food and drink.

Daddy taking a break from all the rides, with a German beer and sausage, in the Bavarian Village 

Sean in his new black glossy hooded puffer coat from Moncler - providing stylish warmth when the temperatures falls - so much so that he had to take it off at one point for being hot lol 

In a taxi going home after all the fun - tired, but very happy :-)

Hurrah, she's turned!!!

Bear and I went for an appointment with my consultant at The Lindo Wing this afternoon, and a scan showed my baby has turned around and has her head first now :-) What an incredible feeling - I can't even begin to describe what a relief that is Whoop whoop, I am so happy!!!!

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Sean 5 years today

27 November 2008 - Sean, here only a few hours old 

We were sitting on the bus together the other day, and I was stroking Sean's head, like I always do, looking at him and remembering the first time Mum and I took him on the bus (with our big "Rolls Royce" of a pram, the 'Emmaljunga') to Kilburn, back when he was just five days old. 

My Mum stayed for six weeks back then to help me with my new mummy-role, but after that it was just me and him everyday, going on adventures around London town, and developing a child/parent relationship, and I remember I did everything to keep him safe and sound. 

Sean introduced me to parenting and all the wonderful things that come with it. He is really funny and smart, and personally I think he has a sense of humour, well beyond his 5 years.

My favourite thing about him, though has got to be his big heart. He is so compassionate and full of love. He shares, is often selfless and it makes me so incredibly proud of him. 

Yesterday he brought home a gift from school for his baby sister, a prize he had won for completing a task. And he decided to pass it on to his unborn sibling  -  how thoughtful is that?! Also, I honestly can't count on two hands how many kisses he gives me daily!

He has made me a better person, a more patient person that's for sure, and these have been the fullest and best five years of my life. 

Another thing that I must highlight before I go is that he has taught me that there is such thing as unconditional love, and I am grateful for every single day I get to spend with him!

Happy Birthday my darling son, my flesh and blood, my treasure - I love you immeasurably ♥

Now let's get the celebrations started shall we?! 

My little school boy

Sean this morning, wearing his new duffel coat -  another compulsory purchase for the Winter school uniform, as the cold weather is fast approaching

Baby kicks

Video of my little busy bee kicking 

The one where I'm sobbing

Today bump is 33 weeks

Lately I've been super duper emotional.  A news story about a child hurt or dying will make me sob uncontrollably. 
In fact ,the smallest thing can set me off, and early this morning I sat and stared at the new cot that we just assembled with all the pretty pink bedding etc, and I couldn't stop sobbing. Those were not sad tears, but still... 
I remember being emotional at the tail end of my previous pregnancy, but nothing like this! 

I'm also anxious about anything from my baby's health, the delivery, and how I will cope afterwards if I have a caesarian, about cot death, how Sean's gonna adapt to not being the centre of attention all the time.. well the list goes on... Oh and the most pathetic one was yesterday when I sobbed after dropping my glove, and there was no one there to help me pick it up! All part of the hormone overload I suppose....  

Did I mention my latest addition the list of my preggo problems? Well here you have it; varicose veins - Sweet lamb of divine they H.U.R.T! ( (sob!). I went and got measured at a pharmacy yesterday for a pair of very sexy surgical compression stockings which should at least ease the pain a bit, and reduce risk for blood clots. 

Last but not least, as I am not allowed to air travel, my boys have gone to Scotland without me, to visit Bear's family for the weekend  (yeah, that's another sob story LOL!). However, my other two favourite fellas, Erik and his bf John, are coming over for some Swedish mulled wine later- that should no doubt help me snap out of this pregnancy roller coaster -  well at least temporarily :-)

Cheerio

xx

Hello from the Swedish Christmas Fair!

Don't miss the traditional Swedish Christmas Fair at the Swedish Church in Marylebone. Apart from today, it's also on this weekend and at £2 a head (children goes free), you can come and enjoy Swedish mulled wine, saffron buns and gingerbread snaps and traditional handicraft. Or if you're anything like us, get here simply for those delicious hot dogs - Yum!



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Fetal Wellbeing Scan

Bump today @ 32 + 3 weeks

bump side view - with 53 days remaining until due date

My little bambina covering her left side with her hand, really resembles an alien more than anything on this 4D scan from Friday lol! However, in my eyes, the most beautiful little girl I've ever seen and who makes my mummy-heart melt already :-)

32 week ultra sound scan results 

On Friday I had a 32 week growth scan, and I felt mixed emotions, i.e so happy to see my baby again and see her little heart beating away, but sad to see that she is indeed still footling breech as I thought. 

That uncomfortable lump I can feel between my belly button and under my ribs is her head, and the constant kicks to my bladder confirms she has her feet wedged firmly down there. 

So far I've tried a couple of positions at home (lying on back with my hips elevated on cushions, as well as the Forward Leaning Inversion which means kneeling on the sofa with my head on floor), to try and turn her, but I'm more and more convinced that many of these methods are old wives tales, and I am thinking that it's probably more a coincidence if they do turn. 

The sonographer said she already weighs 2 kilos and which is more than Sean weighed at this stage, and her predicted birth weight will be around 3.8kg if I deliver at 40 weeks (Sean weighed only 3.2kg, and I was 12 days over-due when I gave birth to him!)

 Length wise she measured about 6 days ahead of schedule, but it's all perfectly good and within the 5th to 95th centile. 

Bear and I was told that everything looked very normal and her growth was also consistent and in line with the graph from the 20 week Anomaly Scan. My eyes welled up from relief, and I looked up and smiled at Bear, and grabbed his hand just a little harder that second ♥♥♥

Footling breech in week 32

Pics taken today before I found out that my girl is (footling) breech

Today, at 31+4,  I had an antenatal appointment with my obstetrician at the Lindo Wing. 

Unfortunately when we looked at my baby, its showed that she is now footling breech (feet first), which apparently is quite uncommon.

I'm guessing this must have happened in the last week (she was head first, 3 weeks ago during my last scan), and explains why I've felt discomfort under my ribs and has become easily breathless as her head presses up under my diaphragm. 

Doc said that it's unlikely that she will turn again with the limited space, but that it's not impossible, and that we will talk more about it if she's still in that position when I see him again in two weeks time.

It's such a set back and has really got me down, and now this is all I can think about :-(

I've spent the whole pregnancy preparing for a vaginal birth - I had not even considered Caesarian!  I seriously do NOT want a Caesarean (even if it's a planned one), but breech deliveries are notoriously difficult and can be also dangerous, so obviously I will take the advice given to my by my doc and get my baby girl out safe. 

I now pray to any higher power that she will turn around in the weeks leading up to the birth, and I would be grateful if anyone has any experience on the subject with any advice to offer xx

Baby in footling breech, i.e feet instead of head first

(Weekend) iPhone images

Clockwise from top: Family pic//Blue skies in Regents Park//Friday night in with "Pic n' Mix" sweets from Totally Swedish//Camel spotting outside London Zoo//A face-painted Sean//Sunday stroll amongst stunning Autumnal colours//At the newly refurbished local playground//Rachel 'S Club 7' Stevens, second from right @ Plusher Baby Show on Saturday

Bump @ 31 weeks - side view

Our baby girl now weighs about 1.6kg and measures roughly 42 cm in length

So what's new in terms of symptoms? 

Not much apart from I've noticed that she isn't moving around as much now, most likely because she's running out of space in my womb. I can literally feel how my organs are being squeezed, which explains why the heartburn is still raging on, getting worse by the day. 

Also, I get breathless very easily - stairs are such a killer, and my belly can at times tense up and become rock hard, which feels very awkward.

I am of course, trying to rest and put my feet up as much as I can, but today we're going to this upmarket baby show -  as I still have a long list of things to buy before she arrives!