34 weeks
34 weeks. Blimey, not long now. I should become an aunty sometime in the next month too (much more exciting - or rather, differently exciting - than becoming a mother). Suzanne is expecting it to happen imminently, while Chris is stuck in snow the other side of the Pennines - but I reckon she'll have to wait a bit longer yet.
All our shopping is nearly done, just a cot, a moses-basket stand and a few miscellaneous bits and pieces left on the list now (where on earth am I going to find a cat net?). I think we have enough that we'd manage if it arrived, at least, so I've stopped fretting. It even has some toys! (Picked up secondhand of course - this is a great city for that with expats leaving every day.) I've found the cot I like; trouble is it's in the UK. I've had one fairly high quote for shipping (approx the same cost as the cot again) and am waiting on some more - or for somebody to tell me how heavy it is.
I had a checkup yesterday and am still the genkiest pregnant woman on the block. And who wouldn't be with a "checkup" encompassing not only weights and measurements (circumference now 91 cm; anyone taking bets on whether I'll reach a metre?) but also a 20 minute foot massage and then 10 minutes on my lower back. Yum. I don't think I'll ever be able to face having more children back in the UK - not unless the NHS has changed significantly in our 2 years away.
And, really, I can't think of any more news. The midwife tells me it's curled around with its back on my right side and its feet on the left, though I'm not sure whether it stays largely in that one position now or moves about. It certainly wriggles - and when it does these days, it's like that scene from Alien as my belly stretches and deforms as though something is trying to burst out.
Lisa at 5:40 pm
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Looking forward to giving up work I must confess. My brain is just not there any more, not to mention that sitting at my desk is not comfy.
Been busy today, went to the baby shop and bought a moses basket (means I can stop fretting about it having to sleep in a drawer at least!). They didn't have any stands but I'm going back on Friday anyway, with a friend with a car so I can fill her boot. I suppose it will have to have a stand - and a net - else it will rapidly turn into a cosy cat bed. I think they'd like it very much.
What else did I buy? Oh it was very exciting - a nappy bucket (I also ordered our nappies and accoutrements from the nappy lady, a great website where they advise you which nappies to get after you fill in a hugely detailed questionnaire that covers everything from lifestyle and priorities right down to plumbing and laundry facilities. See, I've been busy!) and some raspberry-leaf tea. (Actually it's raspberry-leaf-and-something tea but the something is a plant that has a kanji name so I couldn't read it. It's small and has yellow flowers.) I looked at changing bags but ran away in fear - will try again Friday. Too much choice!
I kicked all my extra pillows out of bed last night, meaning I am extra stiff and sore today, hobbling about like an old lady. But I'm going to a prenatal yoga class tomorrow so I hope that will smooth me back out again.
Lisa at 5:01 pm
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Oh my goodness. Two of the ladies from my 'due in March' messageboard have given birth! Of course the babies are in incubators and what have you, so it's not like they've got them home to be looked after, but it has realy brought home that it's Not Long Now!
My only other news is that I have some sort of tummy bug so I've had two icky days. That's the downside of the pregnancy-induced lowered immune system - the upside is that my allergies have gone away so I've eaten a pear and almonds and marzipan and everything in the past couple of weeks.
Lisa at 6:45 pm
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32 weeks
The name debate continues as I feel smug and finger-on-the-pulse as all the slightly obscure names I like - or pretend to like to get Cameron to react - appear in last year's top 100. Cameron fails to grasp the fact that Noah was a person, arguing that perhaps Gomorrah would be just as good, and claims that Tegan was made up for Doctor Who (it's a good cornish name!). He doesn't have his finger anywhere near the pulse.
Generally I'm feeling well though having the odd nosebleed - not sure whether it's pregnancy related or just the high pressure and dry air here.
Allie over at baby m has summed up exactly how I've been feeling lately - keen to do something for the baby but not really able to. It's too early to start washing things (what if something dreadful happened and they had to go back?). There is still shopping to be done so I suppose I'll just try and tick off the rest of my list. Aren't hormones weird? I have a real baby brain. Still, the first thing to happen is the birth of my niece-or-nephew: not long to go now! Suzanne and Chris seem to be all prepared, they're putting us to shame. But oh, it's so easy at home, land of mothercare and other lovely shops. Boo.
Oh and I was speaking to a girl at the pregnancy group this morning who had rushed off to her doctor in a panic after giving herself food poisoning then not feeling the baby move for some time. Apparently he had tried to reassure her by saying not to worry, because if necessary they can usually deliver the baby even if the mother is dead! Fantastic.
Lisa at 2:30 pm
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More on names
Scottish island names are quite nice: Iona, Lewis, Skye. Only given that our cats are Islay and Jura, I think we have to rule them out. You can take a theme too far. (Also ruled out for the same reason: Eigg, Muck, Rhum. Unst.)
Oh! I just found the Islay and Jura website (here). They never told me they had one!
Lisa at 5:05 pm
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31 weeks
And the poor child still has no name. No ideas for a name. Cameron has now admitted that it will have to have one, though still not made one suggestion - he says he can't think of anything good enough. I have tried to fool him by playing Nick Hornby-style games "name your top three boy's names" but he gets around that by listing Cameron, William, Thomas (ie his name, his middle name, his father's name). We will have to think of some before it arrives, else what will it think in years to come when it asks what it would have been called if it had been a boy/girl (delete as appropriate)? I have always been pleased to be a girl, knowing that had I been a boy I'd have been Peter.
In other news, we have a hospital appointment on Friday. I have to go at least twice in order (I think) that I'm known to them, should I have to have the baby there rather than the clinic (regulations are strict here and hospitals do apparently turn away labouring women whose names are not down). It means I have to have another scan, despite not really wanting one. And yes, everybody thinks I'm insane for not wanting one, but it isn't the first time. I don't feel that strongly about it though: I suppose it will be nice to see if it has arms this time!
Lisa at 4:51 pm
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