Week 10 (and addicted to newborn photos)

Hi baby,

Just starting week 10, I'll be so happy once we reach the first trimester milestone. This week started with a huge craving for oranges, great news for all the vitamin C and balances all the eating out Daddy and I have been doing.

Daddy was watching the Olympics late last night so didn't wake up til 2.30pm today! He should enjoy it because once you come along, he's not going to be able to sleep in anymore! haha

I've been obsessed with looking through newborn photos this weekend. The little hats and cocoons are so adorable! I might try making a few for you and take some photos when you're born. Means I have a great excuse to buy a new SLR body and some prime lens, I can't think of a better reason than to document your growth. I already know I'll be one of those mums with a camera permanently attached to their neck. I want to capture every first moment with you :)

Week 10 bump

How far along? Week 10 already! This pic was taken after lunch and a shower...so not sure how much is you and how much is from over-eating :)

Measurements: Our scales have run out of batteries, so I haven't been able to weigh myself this week.

Cravings: Oranges, mandarins and bananas all week - I hope I stick with these healthy cravings though I've been getting cravings for US-style hotdogs, very unhealthy...
Symptoms: General tiredness
Obsessively researching: Newborn photos, photographers, SLR body and lenses

Week 9 (and KFC)

Hi baby,

It has been an uneventful week, thankfully no more throwing up! Been feeling a little bit more energetic and walking the long route back home to get some much-needed exercise. Unfortunately this meant on Friday the temptation for KFC was too much and I took a long detour to get a zinger burger on the way home. Oh it tasted so good! Baby, you've been craving junk food lately! In the last few days we've had KFC, Red Rooster and some karaage chicken....Mummy has tried to compensate by eating more oranges and fruit, hopefully it all evens out in the end :)

Daddy is convinced you'll be a girl....we'll see in the 19 week ultrasound if he's right or not :)

Week 9 bump

How far along? Week 9

Measurements: 53.9k - same as last week

Cravings: Junk food and mango sorbet
Symptoms: General fatigue, not too bad (or maybe I'm just getting used to it now :)
Obsessively researching: Baby carriers - Ergo baby carrier winning out, how cute does this one look?

Ergo baby carrier

Week 8 (your first holiday has been planned!)

Hi baby,

Yesterday morning, Daddy and I booked our babymoon to LA! So you'll be an international jet-setter at 20 weeks :)

7 weeks 2 days

I also saw you for the 2nd time this week, you've almost doubled in size to 1.05cm since the week before and your heartrate has increased to 150bpm. It's great to know you're growing and the doc said everything is looking great. It was amazing to hear your heart beating for the first time, it was so loud and fast!

Week 8 bump

How far along? Week 8 - I think you're making your presence known :)

Measurements: 53.9kg (a whole kilo in 2 weeks!)

Cravings: Everyday it's something different! Had a craving for kimchi last week. Right now I'm munching on burger rings after my craving for an orange.
Symptoms: Morning sickness and nausea has improved since last week but then came back with double force today. Daddy and I got cinema tickets to watch the movie 'Ted' but after leaving the queue, I felt sick and had to run to the toilet. No movie for Daddy today :(
Obsessively researching: Foods to avoid, the list is growing ever longer! Added chrysanthemum tea and papaya to the list today, much to the confusion of your grandmas.

Week 7 (take 2)

Hi baby,

We had our first ultrasound on Wednesday and finally saw you as a teeny tiny 6mm jelly bean (as Daddy is calling you). We also found out that you are only 6 weeks (instead of 7), which means you are hitting all the right stats at 6 weeks with a strong heartbeat of 119bpm. 6 weeks is also the time when morning sickness hits and boy did it hit me on Monday morning at about 4am!

6 weeks 2 days

So I'm experiencing all the pregnancy symptoms, particularly being overwhelmingly exhausted. I've spent all this weekend napping as much as I can.  I don't know how I'm going to get through another week at work....or the next 5 more weeks until I hopefully get all my energy back again once the placenta has finished building and you'll be able to grow more on your own. It's fine though, this entire experience is worth it and I'm relishing every moment knowing that all this energy is making you bigger and stronger.

Here is the first pic of you, the little bean between the 2 crosses.

Love you baby.

Week 7 (and giving Mummy a scare)

Hi baby,

You gave me a scare this morning after I saw some spotting, I told Daddy and we were both a bit scared but hopeful all will be ok, that's pretty much how I've been feeling since finding out we are having you. Scared that we're still in the first trimester and in the danger zone but hopeful all will be well and we'll be holding you in our arms next February. We just have to stay positive that everything will be fine.

I'm really looking forward to our first ultrasound this Wednesday! Hopefully we'll finally see you and listen to your heartbeat for the first time.

Week 7 bump pic

How far along? Week 7. Bump still there, based on all the forums and books I've been reading, it's either bloating and gas (gross, I know) or it's my uterus expanding to accommodate you.

Measurements: 52.9kg (slight dip since last week but negligible). Waist: 72cm and belly: 83cm

Cravings: No cravings yet
Symptoms: Been so tired this week...all my intentions to walk for 30mins each day has gone out the door. I get home from work and just want to nap.
Obsessively researching: clothes to grow with the little bump that aren't maternity clothes. Lots of lovely stuff from the UK, the mailman at work knows me by name with all my online shopping!

Until February.
Love, Mummy

Week 6 (and why daddy keeps calling you Cherry)

Week beginning June 24, 2012

Hi baby,

I've kept a diary since I was 12, so it was only natural that I would track the events leading up to motherhood.

Daddy has fallen into the habit of calling you Cherry, even though we have no idea if you'll be a boy or girl. I'm trying to stop him but I've found myself falling into the habit too. So how did it all start?

Late last year at Uncle Vinny and Auntie Kathy's house, we got to chatting about baby names. For some reason, instead of coming up with nice baby names, we started joking about the worst names we can give our children. Cherry came up tops paired next to daddy's surname and Bertie was the other winner next to mummy's surname. So, that's how those names have stuck. On their own, Cherry sounds quite cute. If you watch our wedding video carefully, you'll hear Aunty Kathy saying those names again. Don't worry though baby, we'll come up with better ones by the time you pop around!

Week 6 bump

How far along? Week 6. Bump has been showing but it could also just be bloating and too much eating...

Measurements: 53.1kg (not sure what the weight gain is since we only got our scales yesterday). Waist: 72cm and belly: 84cm

Cravings: No cravings yet
Symptoms: Pimples :( had my facial yesterday and the beautician thinks you'll be a boy because pregnant women with pimples usually have boys and pregnant women with beautiful skin have girls! Let's see if we prove her theory right. Daddy complains I've been moody lately too.
Obsessively researching: pregnancy pillows. I only just read that pregnant women need to sleep on their left side. So I started training myself to sleep on my left side last night using a pillow. Only halfway through the night, daddy stole the pillow for himself. I'm thinking of getting the dreamgenii for myself when you grow bigger.

When we first found out we were having you

Week beginning June 17, 2012

Hi baby,

We first had an inkling we were having you on daddy's birthday. Mummy wasn't feeling good all week but she thought she was a hypochondriac after reading all the pregnancy symptoms and was sure she had every single one of them. The symptoms were especially strong 2 days before on state of origin night when mummy managed to get a table booking at the best restaurant in Sydney to celebrate daddy's birthday. Halfway through the meal, mummy's sense of smell went into overdrive and was sure she could smell someone taking their shoes off. Then mercifully offending person must have put their shoes back on. All was well and we enjoyed the famous snow egg.

So we didn't have dinner on daddy's birthday because Quay was booked up on Friday all the way to December. No matter, we managed to have an impromptu dinner with your aunties and uncles instead at Pendolino.

First test

After coming home from our yummy dinner, I got curious and anxious (after being a few days late) and decided to take a pregnancy test. It wasn't quite the eureka moment I was hoping for because the 2nd line was so faint. I shouted for daddy to come upstairs and give a 2nd opinion.  Daddy duly came up and pronounced that he wasn't sure and we can see the doctor tomorrow. After that, daddy went downstairs to watch more TV and I googled obsessively to find answers on whether faint pregnancy tests signaled baby (all answers pointed to yes).

I was pretty sure I was pregnant by that point, all the tell-tale symptoms were there (sore breasts, moodiness, fatigue) but daddy wanted to be absolutely sure by seeing the doctor.

Our usual Saturday routine (I'm sure all will change once you come along) is to laze around in bed until 11am (or later) and then get up for a late brunch or sometimes even late lunch. But this Saturday was special, I woke daddy up at 8am so we could start lining up at the doctor's. Imagine our surprise when we got there and was told the medical centre was all booked up for the day! So back home we went, with a detour to the supermarket where we found a digital pregnancy test! I had no idea these things were so advanced! They actually tell you, in no uncertain terms, whether you are pregnant and how long ago you conceived. Brilliant!

Confirmation!

So as you can see, you came into existence 2-3 weeks ago.

Since I've been taking meticulous records in preparation to have you, I was able to use a pregnancy tracker to find out I was 5 weeks along and you were due around the 18th of February next year.

I was so excited and spent all weekend putting together a to-do list to get the doctor, hospital, insurance and all the boring stuff ready. It was a whole new project to plan for!

One of the first things I wanted to do was keep a visual diary of my growing belly. So, after asking daddy to take a gazillion photos to best show off my non-existent bump, here you are!

Week 5 bump

I'll start keeping weekly growing stats from week 6 onwards so you can track your growth.

You are the size of an orange seed this week and look like a little tadpole!

How far along? 5 weeks
Cravings: none
Symptoms: little twinges in the abdomen (I read this is because the placenta is getting built), sore boobs
Obsessively researching: maternity clothes (my work clothes are already getting tight - I couldn't resist buying clothes on topshop - my rationale? It will take 2 weeks to mail, so perfect timing). Also had to book in the OB and hospital, so did lots of researching on which dr and hospital to book.