Midwife appointment

I had a midwife appointment today and everything is going well.  I'm measuring spot on for my dates and Little Parasite's heartbeat is still very strong. It's also moved into a head-down position. Of course, knowing how much LP moves, I imagine it's back in breech now.  When the midwife palpitated my stomach to check the position, LP kicked her out of the way!  The midwife commented on how active the baby was (you could see lots of movement without having to place a hand anywhere to feel).  I hope LP isn't overdue, because at this rate I'm going to end up with internal bruising!
Gareth and I have our first antenatal class next week, so that should be interesting.  Although this one's about using car seats, so maybe not that interesting.

Pregnancy yoga is still great, and is really helping my back.  I sometimes do some of the stretches in the toilet cubicles at work when my back is particularly sore!  Mostly, I've enjoyed having a couple of hours each week to totally unwind and relax.
I've stopped running now as it was getting too uncomfortable.  Without an intense workout, I feel really unfit, especially since the heavy load that is my baby makes it feel like I've run a mile when I've only walked up some stairs. All perfectly normal, but I don't like it!

In other news, things are finally moving forward on the house front, although I am reticent about getting excited about an actual completion date - typical inter-solicitor bantering causing delays.

Birthday card

I tried something a little different with this birthday card.  I incorporated a super quick cross stitch tag and attached it to the card with some thread.  I like the overall effect, and I think I'll be making more of these.  Cross stitched cards can take a surprising amount of time, but using this method is a nice way of producing some speedy cards that still have that needlecraft look.

 The photo doesn't show it well, but 

the cross stitch tag has metallic thread

Upright image to try and show the 

tag dangling. Excuse the messy

background - I didn't plan the shots

that well

 I wish I knew how to take better photos of my craft projects.  The blurry, poor detailed shots (even when taken outdoors) I do manage put me off posting them.  If anyone has any tips on photographing crafts I'd be very grateful!  I have a 'point and snap' camera, so I'm a bit limited with regard to manually focusing etc., but there must be something I can do to improve the image quality!

An annual event: The dogs' bath

Well, actually the title isn't quite true since their bath was a year overdue anyway, and they usually get bathed every 6 months.

So, the dogs are the latest victims of pregnancy nesting, and they were subjected to a cleansing.  I decided to bath them before we moved as I didn't want the new house smelling of wet dog.  I also wanted to bath them before I got too big to be comfortable hunkered over the bath for long periods of time.

I managed to convince the dogs to climb onto a stool and jump into the bath themselves so I didn't have to lift them.  I'm surprised they did, although Tangent would've legged it if the bathroom door wasn't closed.

Tangent on the stool I used to get him to get in 

the bath himself.  Although it looks like he's stood

on some gallows 

'I thought you were cool, man'

Misery: Ilustrated

I forgot how tiny Willow is beneath all her fur!

 

Shiny, sparkly dude!

Super glossy Willow

31 weeks pregnant

Single digit countdown! I now have 9 weeks till Little Parasite arrives.  The last few months have flown by at an alarming pace.
My midwife called me last week to let me know I have borderline low iron in my blood.  I've been taking iron tablets since then and my energy levels have been increasing.  I'm glad the tiredness is subsiding as I have so much to do with the house move!
For the last week I've been craving sugar.  I'm not sure that it's an actual pregnancy craving as such, but it's not just a case of fancying a biscuit either.  Gareth did a bit of research and found that craving sugar in the last trimester isn't uncommon.  The baby's brain is rapidly developing over this time, and glucose helps with neuronal growth.  It's as good an excuse as any to indulge in some Cadbury's Fruit and Nut!

My bump grew a lot between weeks 30 and 31, and I have finally had to stop wearing my regular t-shirts (which I have probably ruined through stretching now anyway).  My bump is just starting to feel cumbersome now, and bending down is getting annoying - there is a human in the way.
I've also had to change my driving position since I now get wedged in behind the wheel if I use my usual position.


Things I'm looking forward to in 9 weeks (apart from meeting Little Parasite!):
1.  Drinking coffee - now the smell doesn't make me feel ill, I really miss it!
2.  Exercise properly - I miss crunches!
3.  Cycling - though I doubt I'll be leaping on a bike the day after giving birth...
4.  Sleeping on my front - currently I flip from my side to my back like a landed mackerel
5.  Being able to see my dogs when I train presents:

This is my current view of Tangent when

training presents.

 And my view of Willow.  She tries to keep eye contact

when doing presents, and can't keep seem to resist

trying to peek over my bump at me.

I think my belly shots for the last couple of weeks show a definite growth spurt...

30 weeks pregnant.

31 weeks pregnant...

 31 weeks pregnant.

Where the Hell did that come from!

Peanut butter jelly time!

The best way to clean an empty jar of peanut butter is to give it to a dog with a tongue that shares proportions with a hummingbird.  Plus it affords minutes of fun watching said dog try to remove peanut butter that has stuck to the roof of his mouth.  Who needs a social life? That was rhetorical, so don't be mean.

Peanut butter jelly time!

Anniversary and maternity cards

Below is the anniversary card I made for Gareth a couple of months ago.  I like the design, but unfortunately smudged silver ink all over it.  I really enjoy sewing on cards! I think it adds a nice texture and impact to the overall effect.

A simple design, but I like it!

 This is the 'you're leaving to have a baby' card (I'm guessing they're just called maternity cards) I made for my manager recently.  The cross stitch design looks simple, but it was surprisingly fiddly.  It was stitched on 32 count aida so I was a bit cross-eyed by the end.  It also has metallic thread which is notorious for tangling.

 You can't see it very well, but the gold

embellishment is a baby's bottle embossed 

on gold vellum.

 I'm not sure why my photos of cards keep coming out rubbish.  I think I need to explore my camera settings a bit more.  More examples of poorly photographed cards are below.  The first was a birthday card for my mother-in-law, and the second was for my neice's 3rd birthday.  Not that I'm trying to catch up on craft blogging in one post or anything.

 Another simple card. I think it works

ok, but I feel there is something 

missing.

A very girly card! I can't say I'm a   fan  of the

design,but it seemed perfect for a 3 year old girl.

I messed up the French knots used for the eyes too,

so the bear looks like she's stroking out.

Holiday!

This week was a rarity as both Gareth and I had the week off.  Due to the nature of Gareth's job, we don't often get time off together, so an entire week was brilliant!  It was Gareth's birthday too, and I was so glad that he was able to have the whole week off for it, since he works crazy hours and deserved the break.

 We visited my sister early in the week.  We don't see my sister's family nearly enough, so it was nice catching up with them.  Unfortunately, my brother-in-law was at work, and my nephew and one of my nieces were at school, so we only saw my sister and youngest niece.  I'm glad we were able to see them before LP was born, as I wanted to show off my bump to my sister!  However, LP (who is usually very active) was being boring and wasn't moving about very much, so my sister didn't get to feel the baby move.  I'm hoping we get to meet up again soon when LP isn't in such a contrary mood.  My sister also kindly lent me a lot of baby stuff.  With all the baby things around the house now, reality is definitely sinking in.

Mid-week we took the dogs to Weston-Super-Mare.  It's been about 3 years since we'd been to the beach, and Tangent in particular was very happy about the change of scene.  We were somewhat spoilt when we lived in Aberdeen, as our flat was just a 10 minute walk away from the beach.  Luckily, it was out of season so the dogs had free reign of the whole beach.  We strolled about for a couple of hours and shared a portion of fish and chips.  Gareth went off to explore the peer whilst I played with the dogs along the water edge, and promptly lost the frisbee to the sea as neither dogs were keen on wading beyond their knees to get it.  Wusses. 

 The peer

Gareth looking pensive.  Originally

Tangent was sat by his feet looking 

out to sea too, but he moved out of 

frame when I took the photo   

J'accuse!

 I didn't realise how much I missed 

the beach.  I took it for granted how

close we lived to one in Scotland

 

Willow waiting for the frisbee to be thrown. 

However, by this time said frisbee was slowly being

dragged out to sea

 

Tangent amongst an array of lugworm burrows

 

 

Gareth and I went to the Lido to round off the week.  We opted for a package that included lunch (with a glass of champagne for Gareth), full use of the facilities (outdoor heated pool, sauna and hot tub) and a spa treatment.  I currently can't use saunas and hot tubs as the excess heat isn't good for foetuses - essentially turning your body into a boil-in-the-bag baby unit.  Unfortunately I couldn't use the pool either as I have expanded out of my swimsuit beyond social decency.  It stretches around my bump, but I think people would object to the amount of side-boob action going on.  I wasn't about to pay out for a maternity swimsuit for the sake of one day either (my local pool is an hour away by two buses, so swimming isn't a realistic pregnancy exercise option either).  However, I thoroughly enjoyed a relaxing read by the pool whilst Gareth went for a swim etc.

Our spa treatments were completely opposing, with Gareth opting for a rigorous Hawaiian Lomi lomi, and me a pregnancy massage.  There was a bit of confusion at first as they initially had Gareth signed up for the pregnancy massage!

We also had several lazy days interspersed in our week, so all in all an excellent break!

Should I be worried?

Do I need to worry about Gareth's parenting skills?

I should probably point out this is a doll, if anyone is

flipping through the Yellow Pages for the NSPCC

Leigh Woods - September

We got the dogs out to Leigh Woods for the first time in ages a couple of weeks ago.  Gareth and I have missed going there too, so it was nice getting out beyond the local green to air the dogs.  Between Gareth's ridiculous shifts and my returning pregnancy tiredness, we've struggled to get out and do things lately.  We did manage to go and see Three Men in a Boat which played at the Tobacco Theatre last month and we both enjoyed that.  I read the book many years ago and found it hilarious.  I was intrigued as to how they would work Montmorency into the production!  A plastic dog ornament was the answer.

 Obligatory stand-in-a-tree shot #1

 Obligatory stand-in-a-tree shot #2

Willow looking deliriously happy about being

back in Leigh Woods 

Tangent waiting for us to catch up

What happens when you go too far ahead of the pack?

You get 5 ticks feasting on you. Tan had an awkwardly

positioned tick right below his eye. I removed it intact, 

but it still looked irritated.

28 weeks pregnant

I am now officially in the last trimester.   The second trimester went so fast it's scary!  I'm glad to be in the final 12 weeks. As much as I'm enjoying being pregnant I want to meet Little Parasite!  Although I'm not looking forward the weight gain I hear is common in the last few weeks.
I have a good sized bump now, which I occasionally forget about when trying to squeeze though gaps I clearly no longer fit through. I don't think my brain has caught up with the growth spurt yet!

My 28 week midwife appointment was earlier this week, and I had more blood taken to check iron levels etc.  The baby's heartbeat is very strong and regular (about 140 beats a minute) and the midwife seemed amused by how active he/she was.  Considering how busy Little Parasite generally is, I'm just hoping it doesn't have ADHD!
I need to get the 'flu and whooping cough jabs soon too.  I did try calling today but the line was busy and I didn't want to pay to listen to jazz music whilst I was on hold (I really don't like jazz).

Generally I'm still feeling ok.  Less frequent nausea; some heartburn; tiredness but other wise good.  I feel that I need to do more exercise than I'm currently doing, but I always think that anyway, even when I wasn't pregnant.  Gareth assures me I'm doing enough exercise, but I find it difficult knowing whether I'm being sensible or lazy.

And on to the bump photos...

26 weeks pregnant

Looks like I've swallowed a gym ball 

similarto the one in the background.

Probably mistaken for a giant pea .

28 weeks pregnant

Not a great photo to show off the bump;

it just makes me look fat!