The Skinny on This

The Husband and I finally tried Skinny Pizza at their newly opened branch about a month ago. We had gone to Wheelock Place a few times in hope to try it but was always disappointed to see the hoarding still up. We are definitely impressed by the quality of the ingredients used and although the crust was really thin and crispy, it was surprisingly filling! My favourite part about the pizzas was that they are all generously topped with rocket leaves! I ordered a mushroom one that was smeared with a truffle paste, which of course contributed to the feeling of satiation. The Husband had a very, very tasty seafood one with a squid ink crust. I will definitely order that the next time we go.

Kick Me

I have been getting kicked a lot these days, and sometimes pretty hard might I add. It isn't painful at all, as most people are curious to know. I am not really sure how I would describe it, but I guess it can be said that each kick feels like a giant gas bubble popping inside your tummy. I suppose you can equate it to the feeling of jabbing the inside of your mouth quickly and hardly with your tongue. The best part is that the kicks can be seen from the outside of my belly and I have managed to capture them on my camera a couple of times. I feel the movements sometimes in the day, after I eat or when I'm swimming. The most is felt at night when I am lying in bed watching television. It is really fun to watch my belly go up and down when it happens!

Recently I have also been experiencing quite a bit of "false contractions" called Braxton Hicks. It's the body's way of practicing and preparing for labour, minus the pain. It's a really weird sensation because sometimes I can feel my uterus shrinking and my abdomen will harden into a lump. I have read in books and websites that it is common to experience Braxton Hicks after 20 weeks but I'm really not sure how much is normal. I wish I had a ob/gyn friend that I can just call and ask these questions. It is really hard to request to speak to the doctor direct and I usually have to wait till the next visit which is at least 4 weeks away. So what I do is I note down all the questions, however silly they may be, and patiently wait for the appointment day. For now I just consult my sister and the books I have by the bed!

A Big Head Start

I finally had my check up at 21 weeks (20 weeks and 6 days, to be exact) recently. Lo and Behold! I am a whopping 5 kilograms heavier from my last check up, alright get this, 5 weeks ago! That is a scary kilogram a week! Even the nurse could not believe it and made me take my weight again. Maybe I should seriously rethink not monitoring my weight from home because this shock is not much fun. The doctor advises that I go easy on the carbohydrates (NO!!!) and opt for complex ones instead. Well, it isn't that bad since I already am eating wholemeal and wholegrain stuff. I just am really into Spaghetti Bolognese these days.

So anyway, I had a detailed scan, or anomaly scan, done to check the structure of the baby to ensure that all is good. We are all extremely happy to know that he is a healthy baby with all his parts well and working. The baby is only 418 grams at this point, so yes, the rest is just me. We caught a glimpse of his tiny fingers and toes! They are really long like The Husband's! His head is a little large albeit within the healthy range, just like The Husband too. Of course, when I mentioned this, Ka and Yv laughed but were quick to point out that it means I might have a hard time giving birth to him. Guess the joke is really on me!

A Stroll in the Park

We made our first "baby" purchase about 2 weeks ago! Splurged on a Paul Frank Special Collection Bugaboo Cameleon stroller and have been most excited about it! There are 2 designs in this special collection- the Color Blocks design and the Skurvy design. The Color Blocks had Julius the Monkey with well, blocks of colors and the Skurvy design was a dull khaki green with a collage of the cross bones. Obviously we opted for Color Blocks because even though Skurvy was cool, it was a tad bit dark in terms of color and character.

Actually I have been in this state of inertia and was just never in the mood to shop for baby stuff. We had chanced upon this stroller quite a while back but I completely thought nothing of it. It was my sister (who knows all the stroller brands and their pros and cons) who kept asking me what would I like and all I could say was that I wasn't sure because all strollers looked boring and frumpy. She reckoned that I seriously consider the Paul Frank collection because it was unique and fun, plus Bugaboo is a good brand. She suggested that I called the store to check for stock availability and much to my dismay, they have run out of the design that we wanted. The Husband and I visited the store a few days later to explore the other options we had and even left our contact with the staff so that they could call me if they had news of a replenishment. We weren't going to settle with the Skurvy, so when we got home the same day, I started googling for all the distributors of Bugaboo strollers. I called up 3 or 4 stores to check and was beginning to get desperate when all I heard was that they had either run out as well, or had no idea what I was talking about. Finally, I called the last of all distributors and was extremely delighted to be able reserve the one and only piece they had. Later that evening, we paid up in full and arranged for delivery in March next year.

There are so many brands of strollers out there and like a friend mentioned, it can take much time and effort (aside from budget) in choosing one. I believe we made a good purchase. Even though the stroller is pricey, it is kind of a good deal because the Bugaboo Cameleon comes with a bassinet (that is totally flat for babies) and the regular seat for when the child gets older. It may not be the sleekest, but it is easy to assemble and collapse. It is compatible (with an adapter) with the Maxi Cosy car seat which is a hand-me-down from my sister, and it probably won't be slicing off any fingers.

Image taken from www.cottonbabies.com

Baby Steps

Since my last post, I'd quit my job and have been relaxing and feeling for baby movements. The past 19 weeks has been a great journey and I completely understand now what it means when I hear people say that they "enjoyed" their pregnancy. I am back to wearing more make up, especially eyeliner when I go out; a sign of my mood picking up and finally feeling good about myself again. My skin is at its all time best (aside from those few old blemishes) and I only wish it could last forever! I'm not monitoring my weight gain at home. I know I'm definitely gaining weight so I don't want to stress myself out unnecessarily by obsessing about it. Anyway it is kind of fun to be "surprised" each time I have a weigh in during the doctor's check up. The next appointment is next Friday and I just cannot wait. It has been so long since we last saw the baby on the ultrasound and I am most curious to see what the he's up to.

As my belly grows, I am fitting better into clothes now. Strange, but true! I'm no longer in between now so it is easier to shop for clothes that will accommodate my bump. It's fun to show it off! Dresses are great to be in because they help me stay cool in our horrible weather. And with the unpredictable wet season now, a cardigan will do the trick. Bottoms are a little troublesome; my sister's maternity jeans aren't the best fit (yet) and they droop as I walk. Besides they are of an odd length for me so I would really like to shop for a couple nice pairs.I have not bought much clothes since I found out I was pregnant. I can still squeeze into some of my clothes and my mother went crazy shopping in Thailand recently for stretchy tops for me. I did buy a couple of pretty frocks for The Husband's sister's wedding recently. I think I looked pretty "boomz" in it.

But the items that I am most most pleased with are my brand new sandals. My feet ache very quickly these days and what better footwear to supply me with the correct support than Birkinstocks! Unlike clothes, I can wear them even after birth! And who can resist the limited Disney edition and the pretty sparkly diamante buckles! Highly recommended to shoo off those hormonal mood swings!

Something

Something tells me today is going to be good day.

I had a nice drive to work, sure beats driving under the scorching sun. When I got to my office building, the air was wonderfully cool against my skin as I walked to the lift lobby. I just felt like walking all day, not caring if I'm kicking dirty water onto my pants. I wished I was in a park, like the one where the Husband and I were at in Paris. Beautiful flowers and bright green carpet grass. It would be so nice to just stroll and breathe in the crisp smell of leaves.

I am in resort-ish wear today which puts me in a resort mood. White linen pants with a cotton waistband and a spaghetti strapped top. Can't believe I can still fit into them!

I will be having lunch with The Husband and then heading to my parents' place for chicken soup homemade by my mother.

I am meeting my friends for dinner tonight. We're going to Keppel Club for Peranakan food (there better be assam fish) and just hang out after. I haven't met up with B for a long time and it would be really nice to just catch up.

Something tells me today is going to be a good day.

Ding Dong Bells

I was a frump yesterday. I put on a few outfits (that looked good only in my head) and ended up looking like a slob. I didn't care anymore so I went to work in a black tank top and aladdin-like calf length pants. I had almost no make up on; just filled in my brows. I dragged my heavy shoulders and legs to the office. The day passed super slowly and each time I checked the clock, only 10 minutes had passed. I had nothing to do at work, which made me question why I was even at work. Even today.

Desperate for clothes that fit and possibly flatter, I tried on my sister's maternity and non-maternity, maternity clothes later that night. I was pleased to be able to wear most of the bottoms because I cannot fit into any of mine anymore. Most of the dresses fit too but I felt a little embarrassed because these were the same dresses she wore when she was probably 6 or 7 months pregnant. I am only 12 weeks. If I don't wear those clothes now, I won't be able to contain my boobs in them later.

As I looked at myself in a maternity dress, bells went off in head telling me, "OH. MY. GOD. I. AM. PREGNANT." I could get used to this.

Willy Wonka

Yesterday was my First Trimester Pregnancy Screen. I had four tubes of blood drawn from me and the procedure felt like it was going on forever. A list of things will be tested with my blood along with my urine sample.

The baby has grown twice in size now! He is 6.62cm and really fidgety. When the image of the baby appeared on the screen, I let out a soft "oh!" because it is so amazing to see how much he has grown from 3 weeks ago.



The doctor checked his neck fat, nasal bone and location of the umbilical cord. All these were markers for down syndrome and all was normal. At one point he stretched his legs out and maximised the entire space in the sac. What a funny sight because his legs were really skinny! He has a big head and tummy now. Much like his father. :P

You should notice by now that I have dropped the "his/her" and "he/she". Just check out this picture, where the arrow is pointing at a 60% chance of a Seth / Luke / Dean. It a little hard to see, so some imagination really helps.

Three

Saturday was our third wedding anniversary. Only our third anniversary. That makes it a mere 6 years since we met. Suddenly it seems like time is passing so slowly. I suppose it is a good thing!

So in effort to make it a yearly pilgrimage, we went for dinner at Broth, located at Duxton Hill. We had a wonderful time talking. Even though most of it was silly banter, it was nice to talk because we don't do it very often. Needless to say, the meal was wonderful. I am quite infatuated with this restaurant and think it's great fun to keep it to a yearly affair. Every year that we go, the menu is different. And it never disappoints. The Husband probably feels a little different but I know I enjoyed myself a lot. Even without wine!

Appetiser 1: Baby Spinach & Portobello Mushrooms with Sundried Tomatoes and Fried Onions


A really refreshing appetiser with the mushrooms served raw and the fried onions added an interesting flavour to the dish.

Appetiser 2: Foie Gras with Potato Scallop and Apple Sauce

There is just something about pan fried foie gras and apple sauce. They balance each other out perfectly and it is the most decadent of flavours. The potato scallop was really yummy because it was crispy on the outside and the was nicely tender inside. Potatoes rock! Oh, and the truffles on top are just heavenly!

Main Course: Braised Veal Cheeks


The Husband's choice of main course after deciding against the red goat curry pie. Tasty and tender, the meat melts in your mouth and the was not overpowered with the flavour of the sauce. Still a hearty dish!

Main Course: Linguine with Sliced Beef in Tomato Sauce


Obviously, I ordered this. It was the best of both worlds! Pasta and the meat I need to eat for the sake of the baby. Delicious but the sauce could do with a little less sugar. It was a huge plate with many slices of beef. Really filled me up there!

Dessert: Sticky Date Pudding with Butterscotch Sauce and Vanilla Ice Cream


Ah! What else but the most awesome sticky date pudding ever! Honestly, I have never tasted any other that is better than this. I hope there is someone out there who feels the same way as I do because it is perfect! The chocolate wordings is a trend that The Husband started when we celebrated our anniversary at Broth during a year while we were still dating. And it shall be our little own cringe-worthy "thing".

To my dearest husband and love of my life,

I love you. ***

Attack of the 50ft Anxiety

Last night was the second time I felt miserable. And it wasn't because of food.

I had a pretty bad day yesterday because I couldn't leave work early like I planned to. I offered to give my colleague a ride to the store because I was going to pop by anyway. By the time we left the office, it was 6pm and I was feeling super tired. So I told him I will drop him off nevertheless. I had no idea they started to close the roads for the F1 races this weekend, so we were stuck in traffic for a good half hour. I was frustrated enough and when I finally got to my parent's place, my mother grumbled at me for being late and not being able to drink the chicken soup she made. I almost wanted to cry; not sure why but I felt really sad. I managed to cool off by relaxing in the car ride to dinner.

When The Husband and I got home later that night, I was hit pretty hard with anxiety and broke. Sitting and sobbing uncontrollably, I felt so alone and helpless. I was suddenly consumed by the thought of being a mother and completely freaked out. Perhaps we are not ready for this. It is a huge responsibility that we might have just taken lightly. After an hour of bawling my eyes out, I called it a day and went to sleep. I was completely and thoroughly wasted.

I knew a big part was the hormones that attacked me but I still cannot stop thinking about what a huge step this is for us. And if we had really really thought this through properly. But I know that as our baby gets bigger each day, I love him/her more and more. I want to be a good mother and I certainly feel pretty stupid for starting the drama last night. I just hope in the next couple of weeks or so, I will start to feel better.

California Dreaming

For the first time since I discovered I was pregnant, I was really miserable last Saturday evening. The Husband had to work late but promised that we could still make it for sushi and soba noodles. So when we got to Sushi Tei at Paragon (after an elevator ride with a very strange guy), the kitchen had closed and we made it 2 minutes before last order. There was literally nothing I could eat since the there was no more cooked food, soba noodles included, available. I was starving; I really needed some california maki and just before I reached for a plate on the conveyor belt, I remembered that they were rolled in ebiko (prawn roe) a.k.a raw eggs a.k.a risk of salmonella a.k.a dangerous for baby.

Before I knew it, my hormones took over and I blew my top at The Husband. I wanted to cry but swallowed it all up and settled for eel handrolls and sushi. And I was rudely unfair to The Husband because it was completely not his fault that he had to work. He has been so super supportive and caring so I apologised. I felt horrible, because I have been so easy with food. I don't have much cravings but it would be really really nice to have some california rolls with wasabi and soy sauce. I'm slowly starting to forget how they taste like.

I'm such a drama mama!

The Root Problem

I love carbohydrates. I'm not ashamed to admit it at all. If I could (and technically I can), I would eat all the pastas, rice and potatoes in the whole entire world. Imagine all the Spaghetti Bolognese and Penne Arrabiata and fried rice and french fries and chips! I would be one happy person. You have to agree that these otherwise plain staples are so very important. I once tried to avoid them as much as I could (yes, I had issues) and only ended up with headaches that start promptly at 10am every morning and nausea throughout the day. I went to see the doctor and I even went to get an endoscope done, thinking that there was some problem with my stomach. In the end, I laid on the operating table, wide awake despite the general anaesthetic given, swallowing a black tube as thick as a garden hose. I would rather swallow raw tube pasta, anytime.

I became socially crippled because I was moody and tired all the time. I decided that this was really stupid and embraced (cringe) carbohydrates again, even though I did lose some weight. It was unhealthy and unwise.

These days I eat whatever I want. As you should be able to tell by now, I cook a lot of pastas. Easy and delicious! I do make a conscious effort to stay away from fast food like burgers and fries. But I recently crumbled and voluntarily asked The Husband to have lunch at Mcdonald's so I could have french fries. I thoroughly enjoy fries (and chips, chunky chips) with tartar sauce now and was pretty disappointed that Mcdonald's didn't fulfill requests for extra tartar sauces anymore. Did I mention they stopped the Shaker Fries promotion already!? I don't think it can be considered a craving, but I sometimes find myself thinking about potato chips too. Yikes!

I am thankful that my family does not have a habit (if it can be considered one) of dining at fast food joints. We are not much of junk food, erm, junkies and I have my father to thank for this. My mum always tells me this story which I don't recall at all. When I was little, maybe around 6 or 7 years old, we were at a restaurant for dinner. My dad asked if we wanted drinks and being the round ball of a girl that I was, I quickly asked for a glass of Coke. To which, my dad fiercely shouted, "No! So fat already still drink Coke!" Apparently I was very sad and cried secretly.
As "poor thing" as it sounds, I am actually very glad my dad told me off that way. I don't drink Coke or any other carbonated drinks for that matter and I think it's great!

The Name Game

I spent the whole afternoon looking through a names book yesterday. I have to say that looking for the perfect name is really hard. You like the sound of a name but the meaning of it may not be the best. And when you really like another name, The Husband doesn't. It's hard. It really is. But we know we are definitely going for classic names. Not old. More like, timeless.

So basically I'm "in charge" of girl names because The Husband already has his list of boy names (specifically one syllable), leaving me little space for any contribution. And thankfully he already has because boy names are extremely boring and uninspiring. :P

Ok, so here is our shortlisted list for boy names (not necessarily in order of preference but it is for me):

- Seth (my contribution and choice!)
- Luke
- Dean
- Keane / Keene

And for girl names (not in order of preference, yet)

- Sage
- Kaelyn / Caelyn
- Kaela / Kayla /Caela
- Colette
- Megan
- Cleo
- Vera
- Viera
- Carrie
- Lyndsey / Lindsey

I actually had Deandra, Daelyn and Deirdre on the list, but after second thoughts, maybe not because they can be difficult to pronounce. I aso had Sophie but our friend's daughter has the same name. I might add Desiree to the list but my sister thinks it sounds old. The Husband approves and added that the name invokes an image of a tall, beautiful, tanned girl dressed in her school uniform and who everybody likes. I told him he just made the name sound perverted.

Ruler of Me

I had to go for a blood test yesterday for toxoplasmosis because I have Kitty at home. I hate having my blood drawn. The anticipation of resting your arm on the cushion, the I-want-to-look-but-not moment, the swiping of the alcoholic swab that leaves a tingling feeling on the skin. And then, prick! and your whole arm goes weak. I have to go through this a couple more times after my first trimester. Yikes!

So after getting my blood drawn, I went for my check up and phew! I didn't grow a kg but went down one on the contrary. Finally! I got to see the baby again. Yipee! He/She has grown yet nearly another cm to a whopping 3.09cm. And when the doctor was scanning, he/she was moving and waving his/her arms about. I tried not to cry but at the moment, it was the most amazing thing I've ever seen.


All is good, with the umbilical cord forming, an indication that the placenta is well on its way as well. But I'm generally still quite weak, getting headaches and feverish sometimes. The doctor has given the okay on taking panadol but so far it has been bearable. She was pretty funny to say that I really don't have to bear with it.
I've decided to take more time off work and really get by the first trimester smoothly. One too many spotting scares. I went into the office today and quickly felt unwell again. As the The Husband said, it's just not worth it. :)

More and More

I am back at work today after a long break. I guess it wasn't much of a break considering I had to pop into the store occasionally and answer calls from my staff then feeling all stressed up. Now that I am sitting in the office, I don't get any phone calls.

I was actually given a week's medical leave last week, then I had to start spotting on the last day of the leave (Saturday) and then the next couple of days. So, paranoid, I made a last minute appointment to see my doctor and was most happy to hear the baby's heart beat as strong as a horse. The baby has grown a cm in a week and yours sincerely has grown a kg too! That's in 7 days. I should be gaining a kg a month! Being at home all week is definitely not a good idea.

We shall see if this is going to be the trend during my appointment next week. Yikes. In the meantime, the baby is 2.25cm as of 8 weeks 4 days. He/She has a more visible head and short fore arms (think Barney) but I doubt my doctor should change jobs to become a photographer because what she shows us on the screen always ends up a blob in the photos.


Although I am not obviously pregnant yet, I am beginning to get more and more bloated especially after my meals. By the end of dinner, I might as well be 6 months pregnant. Apparently, according to books and websites, my uterus the size of a grapefruit now. And the baby is only the size of a grape!

I 8 Jagabee

I'm on medical leave for the rest of the week because I recently had a case of threatened miscarriage. Sigh. I had some light spotting on Sunday evening and although I cannot pinpoint what caused it, there is a high possibility that it was from the swimming (meaning exercising the first time after 5 months) I did on Saturday, even though I was really slow. Guess I won't be exercising for the next month (yipee!) or so.

I am 8 weeks today! The baby has grown so much from 0.24cm to 1.28cm (as at 7 weeks 4 days). We heard the heart beat for the first time and I could feel my eyes well up just a little bit. The entire ging-gang of my mum and sister plus her sleeping kids were in the room and I probably would feel very embarrassed if I cried. I thought it was pretty funny that The Husband kept saying "cool" in response to the heart beat. I cannot wait till the next appointment!



I don't reckon being at home now is a good idea because I don't have much to do (which is essentially the idea of medical leave) so all I am thinking of now is FOOD. For lunch today, I am thawing out a piece of salmon and I am probably going to make some pasta with it. Right now, I, oh I mean the baby really wants to eat Calbee's Jagabee fries. Now, I don't normally endorse junk food, but these thick cut fries are not too salty and tastes awesome! I first tasted them at P & A's place during a mahjong session but never thought much of them. Then ended up buying Jagabee from Watson's in the evening yesterday after being very tempted to have some potato chips at home (not good idea to be home at all).



Hmm. I think I might take a walk to Watson's later. Oh, I really need the exercise anyway!

Thank God it's TGIF Friday!

Whoopee! It is finally Friday. I'm going for dinner and tea (camomile I suppose) with friends at Raw Kitchen Bar tonight. Am most looking forward to just indulge in some banter. I'm feeling the need to lie down again. The past couple of nights have been short because I was up till later and the sleep just isn't enough.

I took a picture of myself today, while my tummy is still relatively flat. I'm so bloated all the time and my arms are pregnant too. I should start exercising soon, when I find the energy to wake up early. I do want to take up pre-natal yoga classes but all the places I've checked are only available for mothers in their second trimester. I guess it's walking (boring!) and swimming (cold!) for now.

Noise Annoys

I'm blasting my itunes to block out my colleagues' chatter from outside my small office. Less obvious than closing the door, which was what I did a couple of days ago.

It's totally weird because just last week I was completely fine and indifferent to them, but now, ARGH. Just. Be. Quiet. Please. And. Don't. Talk. To. Me. Period.

Pregnancy makes a person weird. A colleague told me that when she was pregnant, she told her husband not to wear a certain color because it made her sick. Funny! And I read in books and on websites that some people crave inedible things like coal and dirt. Talk about organic!

So near yet so far

What an incredibly slow day for me. I feel like I've been at work all day and it's ONLY 4.30pm. ARGH. Didn't help that I was completely unimpressed with my lunch today. How unsatisfying. And I'm feeling extremely exhausted. Should not have stayed up to watch The Bachelor, even though I lasted quite late last night. These days I'm out by 11.30pm, then I'll get up a couple of times in the wee hours to, well, wee.

This fatigue and exhaustion is a vicious cycle. Am most looking forward to meeting up with my girlfriends to chill tomorrow night!

So yes, lunch was Grilled Chicken Fillet with Couscous. I overheated it in the microwave which caused the tomatoes to breakdown and make everything mushy. Tomorrow will be better. I'm looking forward to Spaghetti Bolognese! I've been much of a carnivorous which I suppose is a good thing because I really need the iron and protein.


Was watching some 3 dimensional animation on a baby's development over the span of the pregnancy. I had a nice tingly feeling in my tummy (and I'm sure it isn't the baby) and felt a little emotional. I cannot wait for the next check up on Monday. I cannot wait to see what's the baby like now.

Hungry Hippo

For some reason I'm feeling rather moody today. Just not feeling sociable and irritable. More than anything, I just want to sleep. No.Actually, I want to eat too.

I get hungry really quickly these days. The moment I finish my breakfast, I want my lunch already. I had frozen waffles for breakfast this morning and even though they didn't quite hit the spot, it was good enough. Got to work and had a glass of milk. Bleh.

I just polished off my homemade lunch of stir fried chicken with assorted vegetables and multigrains. Yes, multigrains. I love 'em! Of course Karen feels the total opposite at the supermarket last night. "Yuck. They make your mouth dry", she lamented. They're really yummy, Karen. Maybe I'll cook some for you next time! Wahahah!

So anyway, I resolved to prepare my own lunches from now on so I don't subject myself to the uneccessary salt intake (even though a nice bowl of salty and sour Tom Yam soup sounds awesome!) and questionable freshness of the food at the canteen. Today's meal was quick (if you don't take into consideration the preparations done the night before) and easy to cook! I sliced up the chicken filet and marinated with maggi sauce and over the counter lemongrass seasoning. Pre-cut some broccoli, green beans and carrots and cooked the multigrains. This morning I just stir fried everything in olive oil and garlic. Improvised by adding some fresh orange juice and zest. Subtle but pleasing, might I add! A few drops of sesame oil (what else!) and a teaspoon of oyster sauce.


All I want to do now is lie down, watch some television and just let myself drift off to sleep. But I am at work so that's kind of sucky. I shall think about what to prepare for lunch tomorrow.

1 + 1 = 2

Wow. It has been a year since my last entry! And what a way to kickstart this journal with an awesome announcement.

I AM PREGNANT!

I found out on a Wednesday night, the 12th of August 2009. I was late. And I know, I'm always late but this time it felt different. So I got The Husband to buy a pee stick. I admit I could not wait to get home to test it. I was a bunch of nerves because I was afraid it might be a false alarm. Weird, but it was then I knew that I wanted a family.

I shouted and cried when I saw the positive come on.

The first person I called to share the news with was Kim. It must have been weird for her. Because it was totally weird for me. I called my sister the next day and she screamed and shouted like a mad woman. But in a affectionate way. She was way more excited than I am. And still is.
The next few days were the longest days ever. My company event was on and I was on my feet all day. I was exhausted and emotional. Upset that I had to carry cartons but could not tell anyone that I shouldn't actually. All I could think of was the baby. I wished I could tell EVERYONE. Even random strangers.

Finally the event ended and I went for the first check up. "So this is how it feels like", I thought as I saw the ultrasound scan. I fought back tears as I saw the tiniest heart beating. 5 weeks 5 days and only 0.24cm long.

It is completely surreal. I never ever thought of a day like this. To think that a little life is growing in me. I'm going to be a mother. I feel so grown up!