Week 28

*How far along?: 28 Weeks

*Total weight gain: 8.3 kilos - which is about 18 pounds

*How big is baby?: Sparky is (still) the size of an eggplant

Baby's lungs are mature enough that, if born right now, she has a pretty good chance of surviving (with help from medical technology). Her skin is still pretty wrinkly (one by product of living in amniotic fulid) but will smoothen as fat continues to deposit.

*Maternity clothes?: Oh yea - and even those are starting to get tight as the bump seems to be expanding in every direction now.


*Sleep?: Not great. I wake up at least once or twice a night, just from being uncomfortable. I do feel like I'm starting to get used to it though... I'm not too tired during the day, I guess my body's just getting me ready for Sparky's arrival. The maternity pillow I bought is helping a LOT though. However, last night was the first night I was woken up by indigestion - that lovely taste of acid in my mouth at midnight freaked me out - I thought I was about to be sick. But no, just needed a sip of water, then went back to bed. I read I should be propping my head up higher to sleep so that doesn't happen - so will do that from tonight.... just one more pillow to add to my pillow fort:)


*Best moment this week? Feeling Sparky hiccup for the first time!! On Thursday as I was waiting in the lobby for Murray so we could drive home from work, I felt some light movements. I started counting them, and they were quite close together, once I got up to 30 I thought hmmm I don't think these are kicks. Too many, too close together. Then I realised ahhhh this much be hiccups!! They continued on like that, every couple of seconds, for a few minutes. Poor Sparky - no fun to have hiccups! I was thrilled to feel that for the first time though:)


*Movement?: Sparky is starting to get quite strong. As of the last couple of days we can now see bits poking out (head, bum, arm - sometimes hard to tell), but if you touch it it feels quite firm, then he will move back like 'hey - don't poke me!' Also, sometimes when I gently push on an area where I can feel a limb, he will give me a kick back. So bizarre to feel body parts now - but good to know/feel that he is getting so strong (just keep out of my ribs please - ouch)!


*Food cravings?: Mexican is a pretty consistent craving (burritos, enchiladas, yummmm). But other than that, nothing in particular:)


*Labor signs?: Too soon for that


*Belly button in or out?: Still a flattie


*What I miss: Hmmm nothing really - I'm loving this stage:)


*What I'm looking forward to: I am looking forward to seeing my doctor more often from next week. Will be great to hear Sparky's heartbeat every other week and know that everything is ticking along well!


*Milestone: This is the last week of my 6th month! Only 12 weeks to go until my due date - wow - time flies!


*Feelings this week:

*So the conclusion of the poll last week - 27 people voted - 70% say boy, 30% say girl.
I will put it out there and say Murray and I really don't have a clue, but we are both leaning towards girl. He had a vivid dream where Sparky was a girl, and I am basing my guess on the fact that every Chinese gender predictor I look at online says girl. We shall see!

*This week was kind of 'body maintenance' week for me. I had a skin cancer check (we go every 6 months) and the lady said I had the best skin she's seen all week. It was a very 'exposing' experience though with my big stretched belly on display, but good to have a check over. She asked if I had lived in Australia all my life - when I answered no she said 'but you have an Aussie accent?' Ummm no I don't - ha ha - ask anyone who knows me - I still sound American.

I also went to the dentist this week - ouch that was painful. He kept apologising as my gums were so sensitive, I guess it's that extra 40% of blood pulsing through my veins - including my gums. But again, it was nice to have a checkup, and nice to get a good cleaning:)

Also I'd just like to wish a BIG congrats to our friends Beth & Mike on the arrival of their second son Blake this weekend. CONGRATS to you two and Tommy - we wish you all the best :)

Me & the Girls

I love this picture of me with Clara & Amelia from last weekend.

Amelia totally knew what she was feeling for & even did get to feel a couple of kicks! Then she started suggesting names for the baby, I nearly fell over when the first name out of her mouth was one of the correct ones!!! Clara just came over to join in - too cute:)

Cameron & Nicole's Wedding

Sunday April 4th we made our way to Lavender Bay (North Sydney)

for Cameron & Nicole's wedding.

Murray & his sister Helen - all dressed up outside the church

Across the aisle from us - Helen, Kristen & Jerry

Cassie, Hamish, Me & Murray

The beautiful bride & her Dad

I love Cameron's face in the picture - I feel like he's thinking 'oh hello gorgeous!'

She had a gorgeous hair clip too - went perfectly with her hairdo!

My favorite part of the whole ceremony was after the exchanging of the rings - Nicole's face was just beaming with joy (I'm sure Cameron's was too - but I could only see Nicole's face:) She just looked so so so so happy:)

Greeting people outside of the church

The back of her dress - stunning

Nicole's sister Chelsea who was her bridesmaid - fab dress & what a great color!

BEST PICTURE OF THE DAY!!!! love love love it (well done Helen:)

And can I just say how amazing is that dress??? WOW

Me kissing the bride

Murray & Nicole

Their fancy wheels to take them to picture locations then the reception!

Me & Cassie with our bumps (she is 3 weeks ahead of me:)

Stunning views on the walk down to the reception venue

Me, Helen & Cassie

Drinks were held at a venue in Luna Park - this face at the entrance in scary!

Me, Murray, Hamish & Cassie chatting at the in-between drinks venue.

The snacky food was yummy too!

Then at 6:30 we made our way to the reception - at a restaurant called Aqua - the setup looked amazing!

I loved the personal touches - how pretty is this ribbon?

Lovely table decorations

WOW the cake!!! The whole outside is made from white chocolate - made to look like one big flower - amazing! (We each got a piece to take home and yummmm it was good too!)

The new Mr & Mrs entering the room

Me & Murray

Murray & Cameron

Nicole & Me

Me & Murray with the harbour bridge int he background

Murray's cool wine glass photo of Cassie & Helen

What a WONDERFUL evening. Amazing food, fun dancing and a fantastic couple. We are so happy we were able to celebrate with them:)

Nicole's Hens Night

Thursday night we went out to celebrate Nicole's last few days as a single lady (this is my lovely name tag made my Kristen)

My 'dare' ha ha ha! I admit I did forget to do it, but I thought it was funny:)

Me, Sparky & Helen

'The Cameron' (lol!)

Me with the beautiful bride to be Nicole!

Helen & Nicole

It was a GREAT night!! Gorgeous food, lovely people & a really fun venue. A great way to send off Nicole to a happy married life:)

Happy Easter!

We had a LOVELY long weekend catching up with friends, I will get wedding pictures up from Cameron & Nicole's wedding asap! In the meantime, here is a quick photo of Murray & I at our friend's place in Coogee - the Lorikeets on their balcony were SO tame! (granted the honey on bread didn't hurt to get them close for a pic....... :)

Week 27

*How far along?: 27 Weeks


*Total weight gain: 7.8 kilos - which is about 17 pounds


*How big is baby?: Sparky is (still) the the size of an eggplant

Sparky's lungs are going through some major developments these days, which (combined with the opening of previously plugged nostrils) means he's now able to practice inhaling and exhaling. The lack of air in the womb means every 'breath' is filled with amniotic fluid, but hey - it's progress.

*Maternity Clothes? Yup, my range of pre-pregnancy clothing that still fits is getting smaller & smaller (really only a few t-shirts!) . I have now resorted to wearing Murray's big t-shirts for pajamas as well - comfy!


*Sleep? Better than last week. My new pillow, when propped between by knees, seems to help me sleep a lot better. However the nightly trips to the restroom have started again *sigh* I said goodbye to that annoyance in the first trimester but - surprise - it's back! fun fun


*Best moment this week? Hearing Sparky's heartbeat at my doctor's appointment. Also, finding out I don't have gestational diabetes and that my iron count is good and I'm not anemic - yay! However, the ob did say I had an 'unusual looking bump.' Ummmm ok - what is that bad??? He said no, all is fine, it's just very straight out and not very round (yes, I know) just unusual to not have much spread width wise and rather it's just poking straight out. Hmmm interesting. I am booked in to see him again in 3 weeks, then it'll be every 2 weeks - until I get closer to my due date - then it's weekly. WOW time flies!


* Movement? Yup lots. It does seem to be changing a bit this week though. More spinning around rather than just straight out kicks. There are kicks all over the place now though. I felt 4 in a row the other day - all in different corners of the bump - so I think maybe it was an arm, arm, leg, leg. Murray is convinced Sparky is kicking on one side, then bumping his head off the other side - it does kind of feel like that sometimes!


*Food cravings? Hmmm nothing in particular - still just loving to eat! I am starting to try and eat at least one banana every day though, as I read that they help reduce leg/feet cramps.


*Labor signs? too soon for that!

*Belly button in or out? Still only just barely flat - I wouldn't call it an outtie yet - but it's getting close!


*What I miss? I think I have said this before - but stretching met legs/feet! I had one foot cramp so bad this week that my big toe moved sideways under the next toe til the cramp went away - OUCH! I just try to be careful and not stretch them in a way that I know will cause cramping!


*What I'm looking forward to? A nice short work week after my lovely 5 days off over Easter! It has been great to catch up with family & friends & celebrate our friends Cameron & Nicole getting married. Sparky loved the music/dancing!


*Milestone? Well I'm officially in the third trimester now which is VERY exciting!
So in honor of the third trimester milestone....... a poll! I will tell you our thoughts next week:)



*Feelings this week?
* We bought a few more things this week and got the cot & change table (thanks S&S!!) which is VERY exciting - everything is starting to feel more 'real' now!!

I tried to find a photo of JUST this liner, but it picks up all of the info as well - oh well. Anyhow, we stopped in to see if our stroller bassinet was in yet (it's on order) and it wasn't, but they did have our lambswool liner in (that's made to fit our stroller)! And oh my GOSH I love it - soft washable wool on one side and gorgeous suede on the other side. All washable and SO soft and luxurious - love love love it!

We also purchased a glider - a soft lovely chair with an ottoman that 'glides' (really it just gently rocks) back and forth & also reclines. SO SO comfy and it has nice soft arms for holding baby so you can be comfortable!

Week 27 - Hello Third Trimester!

Murray's B-day Brunch

Sunday morning we went out to the best breakfast place in Manly - White Water - to celebrate Murray's birthday with his sister Helen

Murray (in his new sunnies!), Me & Sparky

Helen, Murray, Me & Sparky

We had a FABULOUS breakfast (I ate so much I could barely walk comfortably!) and it was nice to celebrate again:)