The Last Lap

Since my last entry, I am now fully in my third trimester. Yes, the last lap. It feels almost too long now. We have 9 more weeks to go (assuming I give birth at textbook 40 weeks) and I just cannot wait to hold our baby in my arms. I also cannot wait to get some good sleep, if that is even possible with the baby around. The frequent pee trips in the middle of the night is just not fun especially when I take a while to fall back to sleep. I end up waking up late in the day and feeling generally like an "unfun" person.

But having said that, I would give up all sleep to feel the kicks and turns in my belly. I think most expectant mothers will agree that it really nice when the baby kicks. Sometimes I laugh because the way he kicks makes my belly wobble in a way like he is doing the "running man" or the "kway teow" (a dance move coined by my friends, that involves body waves usually done by "ah lians"). And sometimes I squirm because he kicks my sides which is a strange sensation, almost like tickling me from the insides. I guess he is putting his big feet into good use!

The last check up showed that the baby is 1.5 kilograms and I am curious to know how much he has grown since. I am pretty sure I have grown too, much thanks to the festive Chinese New Year coming up and all those pineapple tarts lying around. Talking about it just makes me want to grab some right now!

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.