Jules wants her to arrive earliest 1st September… but he would love her to arrive on the EDD of 09/09/09 which means another week. Although it would be great if she does arrive on that date, I’m feeling so uncomfortable now that I just want her out!

Yesterday, there was a show, which is an indication of the first stage of labour. I know it does not mean much as a show could happen around 36 weeks and then nothing happens… but I’m really hoping that it’s an indication that Lumpy is getting ready to get out soon. Plus my tummy seems to have dropped a bit.

And I did feel some period pain like pangs yesterday… which could also means that there were little contractions. But who knows? It might all be in my head.

Am I ready for this? No.

Yup… that’s my baby

Her head is down now… and mom called over the weekend to remind me that all my siblings and I were early. Actually I don’t mind being early… as my tummy is really big and I don’t think I could cope if it gets any bigger. The GP measured it to be 43cm… and according to him it usually grows 1cm per week… so it’s like 5cm bigger than it should be!

From the last scan, Lumpy is estimated to be 6lb 11oz… and that was at 36 weeks. I really don’t want her to be bigger than 9lb… somewhere around 8lb would do nicely.

So, come September (school year starts in September here) I’m going to start drinking raspberry leaf tea and go for reflexology or anything to get Lumpy out early! The smaller she is, the easier for me to stick to natural birth!

And I should start writing my birth plan… as I’ve decided that I don’t want epidural… and I don’t want instrument intervention either. This baby is coming out naturally or they can cut me up!

As the title says… three more weeks!!! So we’ve been busy!!!

I’ve started my maternity leave. In the UK, I have the option of taking a year off!! ‘Great!!’ I hear some of you shout… Yes, it gives me some quality time with baby but it will mean that financially, everything will be a bit tight as I will only get full pay for six weeks and then half pay for the next 12 weeks… and then statutory maternity pay that will just be enough for diapers for a few more weeks… and then that’s it. But I guess we will survive somehow.

For one, I’m going to use reusable nappies as much as I can at home. No, it’s not because I’m a tree hugging hippy… it’s more due to cost and I also think that due to lack of convenience, it will be easier to potty train the baby!

As I’m typing, the back garden is being cleared so hopefully I’ll have space to plant some vegetables which means that baby will be eating healthy home grown food when she reach solid food age so rather than buy, I can cook and freeze.

But that’s all in the future. For now I should really concentrate on clearing the house. Three weeks (if the baby comes on time) is not a long way to go!

Which reminds me, I have to go and make an appointment with my GP for 38 weeks check up!

The last time I was at the GP for my 34 weeks check up, he sent me to the Accident & Emergency!! He found protein in my urine and due to how swollen my ankles was, he thinks it’s better for me to go and check whether or not I have pre-eclamplsia as it’s dangerous for mother and baby if I do suffer from it! So off I went and spent hours in the Labour Ward! It was a busy night and since I’m not in labour, I wasn’t really a priority!! Left the hospital like 11pm!! And I was still going to work then!

So… I’m just wondering what will happen on my next visit!

It hasn’t been an easy pregnancy… so, I have to admit that I haven’t enjoyed pregnancy as much as majority of moms I guess. I’ve been suffering from carpal tunnel for months… and I can only pray that my hands will get better once I’ve given birth. I guess another reason why I haven’t been in front of my laptop as much as I like as it is very painful to type!

Well… three more weeks to go… and I’m sure it will be worth it… as I’ve been told by loads of moms that it is…

And now… I have ankles to match Laura’s! With Lumpy in this heat, my body has ballooned!! I can’t really grip my hands and my ankles has swollen to the size of a tree trunk! I can’t really fit in any of my shoes and just about fit into my Birkenstock… which I wear daily even though it’s against office rules. Well… the office rule is that you can’t wear anything that flip and flop… my Birkenstock does not flip or flop so I’m OK.

So the past few months I’ve been doing absolutely nothing apart from trying to mend my hand, breath properly and keep cool. The only thing I like to do at the moment when I get home is either stand in front of the fan in the living room… or in front of the airconditioning unit in the bedroom.

Lucky me, Jules has been really patient with me. I’m not sure how many husbands would put up with such a lazy wife! Jules is a very active person and at the moment… activeness is just not in my dictionary! Poor guy. I promise I would change… soon. Hey! at least in my inactiveness I’ve picked up the brush and started painting again… even if it’s just in my little moleskin sketchbook.

Anyway… thanks to Jules foot rub wonders, my feet looked almost normal this morning! I had less problems fitting into my Birkenstock… and hopefully it will last for a while the weather is set to cool down over the weekend. One can only hope…