The big 3-0!

Hi baby,

We've hit week 30 and are now three-quarters of the way through the pregnancy! Mummy only has 2 more working weeks left with a nice Christmas and NY break in between. Daddy and I will be making the most of this time before you arrive by going out to eat, watch movies and basically relax :)

We went on a date to Dee Why beach today and went back to the cafe that Daddy took me to 2 years ago for my birthday. It was our first time to Dee Why and we decided to re-live the memories. Here are some pics of our day together:

Dee Why - Sandbar Cafe

Dee Why Beach

Week 30 bump

How far along? Week 30 already! You're the size of a cucumber

Measurements: 66.4kg this morning (an increase of 800g! I think a bit too much good food this week). My belly measured 98cm (0.5cm more than last week)

Cravings: Nectarines
Symptoms: Getting used to only eating small meals, I can't fit much in my stomach with you fighting for room :P
Obsessively researching: I've decided on a nappy bag! Can't wait to order this one - the storksak sofia :)

Storksak sofia tan nappy bag

Week 29 (a butternut squash)

Hi baby,

You've been quite active this week, I've even seen my tummy move a few times with your kicks. It's always such a surprise when that happens to actually feel you kick from the inside and see it from the outside. My belly button has started looking weird because my tummy is getting so big now, I think it will be a matter of days or weeks before my belly button pops out :)

We saw the Dr on Tuesday, all is well with you though you are still lying low and fully engaged, which is quite common. At least now I know all the movement I'm feeling at the top of my belly is definitely your feet kicking around, and all the movement I feel at the bottom of my belly are your arms waving about. It's so cute feeling you move.

Daddy and I still can't decide on a name for you. We'll pick a name and then one of us will change our mind. I know we still have a while to really decide but it's such a big decision, we really have to think about it carefully.

Week 29 bump

How far along? Week 29 already, time seems to be flying by.

Measurements: I was 65.2kg this morning (an increase of 400g) and my belly measured 97.5cm - so it is gradually expanding

Cravings: No real cravings, trying to be good and not gain too much weight
Symptoms: Getting used to being so big, it almost feels normal!
Obsessively researching: Nappy bags

Week 28 (my 7 month eggplant)

Hello my sweet,

I'm excited to show you all the little things I've made for you this weekend! Mummy has been busy making you a hooded towel, burp cloths and mittens! I'm quite proud at making all these things on my first attempt.

Baby hooded towel

Baby mittens

Burp cloths

So we've finally reached the 7 month milestone and you're starting to kick harder now. Daddy can feel you kicking more easily and last night I actually saw my belly ripple from you moving! I'm glad you're getting stronger and more active.

It's Grandpa Banh's b'day today so we're going out to celebrate tonight. Auntie Mandy asked him what he wanted for his b'day present and he said he wanted a video camcorder to take videos of you and at Chinese School. So looks like your life will be very well documented by the whole family!

Week 28 bump

How far along? Week 28 - 7 months! You're the size of an eggplant

Measurements: I weighed 64.8kg this morning, an increase of 400g since last week. My belly was measured at 97cm

Cravings: Been trying to be good and eating less sugary food, so unfortunately that means less mangos even though I love them.
Symptoms: Heartburn....one night this week it was so bad I had to sleep propped up on 2 pillows.
Obsessively researching: Been busy sewing so no time to research :)

Week 27 (and we really are in the 3rd trimester)

Hi baby,

It's the home stretch, the 3rd trimester and boy is Mummy feeling it! I feel like humpty dumpty when I walk around, so clumsy and slow and rocking around. Your Daddy and Auntie Mandy keep laughing at my waddling, they just don't understand how hard it is to walk around and maintain balance with a big belly!

Daddy and I went to watch the latest James Bond movie Skyfall last night, I've noticed you get very active at the cinema, maybe the loud noises are waking you up? It's quite cute, you kept jabbing Mummy in the tummy throughout the movie!

So Mummy has started making burp cloths for you. I bought 3 boxes of fabric which are being sent from the US. I got a bit carried away with all my diy projects but it's ok, seeing the boxes will motivate me to make things for you, not to mention Daddy nagging that I bought *more* fabric will motivate me to make things to show him I didn't buy all this fabric for nothing!

Hopefully I get a bit of Grandma Banh's motivation, she finished your patchwork quilt already, it looks so cute! Here's a pic:

Grandma's patchwork quilt

Mummy has been feeling quite fat and swollen lately, I'm sure you can see from my piggy toe photos that Mummy isn't usually this fat. Hopefully after you're born I will return back to normal. Anyway because I feel like a beach ball, I've been umming and ahhing about whether to take maternity photos. I asked Daddy what he thought and he said we should just take the photos and if we don't like them, we don't have to buy them. Aunty Mandy said the same thing, I don't actually have to show anyone the photos but I might regret not capturing this special stage in our lives. So! I got a recommendation from our wedding photographer and I made a booking with Leah Kua who takes some lovely, soft, dreamy photos which hopefully will capture some beautiful memories.

Week 27 bump

How far along? Week 27 - third trimester, woohoo! You're the size of a turnip.

Measurements: You're definitely experiencing 2 week growth spurts because we gained 600g since last week so now I'm 64.4kg.  I forgot to take a belly measurement before breakfast again, so right now (after breakfast) my belly is 96cm

Cravings: Nothing special this week though mangoes are in season! Daddy is cutting a mango right now...yum!
Symptoms: Sore back and feet still....and also a sore tail bone in the last few days. Oh dear, I can't imagine it will get much better over the next 13 weeks...!
Obsessively researching: Maternity photos

Week 26 (Daddy finally felt our little lettuce move)

Hi baby,

The most exciting thing happened this morning - Daddy finally felt you move! You kicked or punched harder than normal on Mummy's side, luckily Daddy had his hand there and he felt your jab, it was so cool to finally share the experience with him.

Daddy and I have been casually looking at houses these past few weeks, we want to move to a house so you have more room to play, it's hard to find something we both love and in a good area, I'm also checking out nearby schools to make sure they are good, so lots to consider! I wonder where we are living by the time you read this blog?

This week I've been busy buying fabric - I want to make so many things for you like a hooded towel, burp cloths, a nappy caddy. I also bought a sewing machine this morning so I can get busy on the weekends making things. Grandma Banh is also very excitedly making things for you. You're going to have so many handmade items made with such care and love :)

Week 26 bump

How far along? Week 26, you're the size of a lettuce

Measurements: Hardly gained any weight since last week - am 63.8kg, I'm noticing a pattern where I gain weight every 2 weeks, maybe it corresponds to your growth spurt? I should have measured my belly this morning but I forgot, so I measured it just then after lunch....my belly measurement is 96cm.

Cravings: Nothing special this week
Symptoms: Sore back and feet...will probably get worse from here on... :(  Even my wrist is swelling, I've decided to take my watch off this week because I felt it was too constricting. And I'm definitely waddling! I look so funny! I might get Daddy to take a video, I think it's because you are lying low in my belly.
Obsessively researching: Lots of crafty diy projects and sewing machine reviews. Here's a pic of the hooded towel I'm going to make you and the sewing machine I ordered this morning. I hope the sewing machine will be put to good use as your grow older!

Hooded baby towel

---
A note from Daddy:
Today I felt your little foot or hand kick inside of mummy and I know you did it since she let off a really big fart and it woke you up! I can't wait for you to come out and we can play together, hopefully mummy will let me take 6 months off but we'll see. I think we've got a name for you but Mummy has her heart on Lucas.... Anyway I have to go now since Mummy's belly is so big and I have to help her bend over so she can cut her toe nails!

A note from Mummy:
I did not let out a fart! Daddy is making up stories! Grrrr....
He did help me paint my toe nails though because my belly is so big now, it's hard to bend down to my toes.

Here is a pic of my swollen toes, look like fat piggies now! Daddy did a good job applying the top coat though. And  because I thought it was a funny comparison, I found a pic of my feet that I took on our holiday to Malaysia this year in May - look how skinny my feet were 6 months ago before I got pregnant! haha

Piggy toes - Nov 2012

Skinny toes - May 2012

Week 25 (a cauliflower)

Hi baby,

We had our 6 month visit to the doctor last week, seems you're feeling very comfortable lying low in Mummy's belly! The doctor couldn't get a good ultrasound pic because you were so low but he said everything is fine and nothing to worry about.

It was incidentally Melbourne cup day on the day of your appointment so I left work a bit early and had some time to walk around the Botanical Gardens and enjoy the view. Here's a pic I took while I sat on the park bench, you can see my big belly peeking at the bottom of the frame :)

Before the OB visit

 Grandma Banh has been busy crocheting blankets and making patchwork quilts for you. She finished this gorgeous blanket last week, I can't wait to use it when you are born!

Baby blanket

Daddy got called into work again on Sunday so we couldn't take a photo.  I'll try to take a photo tomorrow after work. Here are the latest stats:

How far along? Week 25, you're the size of a cauliflower

Measurements: Gained a whole kilo...I better slow down, eat less or exercise more...! 63.7kg. I'm going to start taking belly measurements every week as well, so this morning my belly was 94cm

Cravings: Nothing in particular but have been getting more hungry these past couple days
Symptoms: My back has been so sore...I think it's because you are so low in my belly...move up soon please!
Obsessively researching: Nursery decorating and newborn photos. I booked a newborn photo session for you tonight with this photographer. How sweet are her photos? :)

Week 24 (a 3rd trimester honeymelon)

Hi baby,

We've reached our 3rd trimester* already! It's gone so fast, Daddy and I will finally see you in 3 4 months. Mummy has 2.5 months of work left and I've got so many mini projects to make for you before you arrive!

We've been home for a week and Daddy has gone back straight back into long hours at work. We're back to our normal routine already and luckily not too affected by jet lag. I was in a meeting at work on Friday and you kicked so hard, I actually saw my tummy move! It was such a cool feeling. I've been hoping you would kick hard enough for Daddy to feel you when I got home but he still hasn't felt you move yet. I'm sure as you grow bigger, you will be kicking up a storm :)

I thought it would be really cute to put up a 'before and after' photo of Daddy and I comparing our holiday to LA last year to this year. What a difference a year makes! Last year, Daddy and I had just gotten engaged in Peru and were busy buying lots of things for our wedding. This year, we focused completely on you and bought lots of baby things. The other major difference? All the weight we've both gained! haha

1 year ago

Here we are at the 6 month mark, how much you've grown!

Week 24 bump

How far along? Week 24, you're the size of a honeymelon

Measurements: Same weight as last week at 62.7kg - yay! I need to maintain my weight in the healthy weight range. So far, so good.

Cravings: Mangos, yum!
Symptoms: Noticed lots more swelling in my hands and feet. I walked around with your Auntie Mandy on Fri after work and when I got home, my feet were so swollen, I had to rest in bed with my feet up! It's a sign of what's to come....
Obsessively researching: DIY tutorials, I'm tempted to buy a sewing machine to make all the projects I've compiled on my pinterest board

* update on Mon 5 Nov - Mummy jumped the gun, we're not in our 3rd trimester yet! And Daddy and I still have 4 months before your expected due date....I obviously can't count!