Week 34

*How far along?: Week 34

*Total weight gain: 12 kilos which is about 26 pounds


*How big is baby?: Sparky is the the size of a honeydew (Week 2 of Month 8)

Baby can recognize and react to simple songs.... time to start practicing your lullabies! In fact, baby will recognize frequently sung tunes after birth and probably find them soothing. Less cute news: she now urinates about one pint per day. Get the diapers ready!

*Maternity clothes?: Yes! I'm so glad the weather has cooled down so my tights & skirt combination is comfortable. Big thanks to Joni as well for the awesome maternity clothes she sent me:)

*Sleep?: Not too bad, pretty darn good actually (knock on wood) although Murray claims I am snoring a lot.....

*Best moment this week? Hearing Sparky's heartbeat at my appointment.

*Movement?: So so much - it's crazy how much he moves now! I guess he's getting quite big in there! I had a meeting this week where he was moving around SO much that I thought everyone could tell. It does still seem quite bizarre to me that I 'bring' my baby to a meeting with me - good thing he doesn't cry yet - ha! We are pretty darn sure that his position is 'oblique' right now (which just means his head pointing towards my hip basically), because there is a constant poking of limbs (pretty sure it's an arm) right below my belly button, and the feeling of a back/bum over often pushing firm against my right side..... that's our theory anyway. I'm not convinced he is posterior - or maybe he has flipped around?

*Food cravings?: Nothing that I can think of, Sparky does go crazy when I have a chocolate chip cookie though!

*Labor signs?: Too soon for that!

*Belly button in or out?: flattie

*What I miss: Hmmm nothing really - all is well :)

*What I'm looking forward to: Finishing off the nursery! Also looking forward to going out to a fancy meal on Friday to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary:)

*Milestone: I'd say Sparky's movements increasing have been a milestone this week. I have lost count of the number of times a bump has popped out near my belly button - MUST be an elbow or a hand - he responds now as well if we give it a gentle nudge back - he'll push again or move another limb in response. Very cool:)

*Feelings this week:

* I had Murray put his ear to the bump earlier this week to see if he could hear Sparky's heartbeat, he laughed and said no I can't hear it right now - but I did get a good kick to the head for trying! Ha - I guess Sparky's didn't like the weight of his head on the bump!

* When Murray talks to the Sparky we can tell a difference in movement now - LOTS of big kicks & body movements - you can tell he really can hear in there - so bizarre!

* Minor panic this week shopping wise. I went on Thursday night (late night shopping night) to our favorite local baby store to buy a mattress for the cot (crib). The guy at the store then informed me that the exact mattress we need was out of stock and it would take 8 weeks to order one in!!! I don't HAVE 8 weeks!!! So I went to the other side of the mall to a department store, who also didn't have the mattress in stock, but the lovely sales girl called around for me to other branches to see if anyone had one. She finally found one, and they put it on hold for us to pick up on Saturday - whew! So we have it now, Murray is finishing off organising his side of the room, then we'll get the stroller stuff all out of the crib (where we have been storing it) and put the mattress in. I'm excited to start getting the bedding and clothing washed and set-up/put away!

* I also ordered the diaper bag I wanted from America, and it's due to arrive here in about 2 weeks - hooray! I couldn't find one that was wipeable to clean with a red pattern in the end, so I got this one called 'Turkish Twilight' - it's mostly a nice black & grey pattern with just a small yellow flower pattern embroidered on one corner - nice and neutral. Things that I LOVE about it - it has straps that can be hooked directly onto the stroller, or shoulder strap, or backpack straps. It's made of a wipeable to clean material and it has a built in change pad that folds out or detaches. Love it - can't wait to see it in person!!!* I also had a LOT of people stop me at the mall this weekend to say 'how long to go?' Exciting to say I only have 6 weeks til my due date:)

* Also a BIG Congrats to my friend Megan and her husband Jon in Sydney - their little boy Henry was born on Saturday morning:)

Belated Congrats as well to Lance & Shelly in South Africa - on the birth of their little girl Kirsten! Also Congrats to Jen & Stuart in California on the birth of their little girl Kayla :)

* I have set up an online baby pool so people can guess Sparky's due date, sex, weight, etc. Just click below to play - let's see who can get the closest guess!!!! I'll post this every week til Sparky arrives!

*Just click on 'enter a guess'