Rob and the jar of sweets...

Dear such-a-nice-boy Rob, 

As has become the custom with this blog, my nearest and dearest have had “letters” of sorts on or around their birthday and this week this falls to you to complete the set – quite handy really that members of my family have had birthday’s inside this pregnancy!

While I believe you may have read the post I wrote for Ali I am not sure if you have kept up with the almost weekly postings I have made, if not, I am sure Ali will out me again so you can peruse...

 

3kg of baby D in pure sugar form!

This week baby D is approx the size of a large heavy thing, any thing, I’m not fussy, it’s big, it’s slightly uncomfy when I sit or stand or walk for any length of time so a mixture of all 3 seems best.   As you discovered this week when generally asking after me, baby D is in the right position, then after making the expected quip you had a more detailed description of what “the right position” meant.  It’s always hard to gauge how much is too much or too little info when someone asks after ones health/state and as you have an amazing habit of finding most personal details a touch on the embarrassing side – and tend to go a delightful shade of red – this makes things even harder!

I find it slightly alarming that my “little” brother, perhaps younger would be a fairer description as you are without doubt inches taller than me a twice as broad, is 28.  And just back from a 3 week stint in LA, which let’s be honest makes you sound like a complete high flyer!  (and as I have laughed about with you re your last trip; people then meet you and realise that is soooo not the case ;o))

A mum cake-special for 6th birthday perhaps? Please note the successful sneaking in of the pink cumberbund... 

I may have dropped this into a casual conversation recently and followed it up with a “and he spent 6 weeks in Dubai a few years ago when the world cup was on streaming the football directly onto Emirates planes.” When did I turn into “that” member of the family?!  It doesn’t really matter I guess but needless to say I am dead proud of you!  

 A quick "which foot to we start on?" check before walking me down the aisle!

I think both you and I would be the first to say we didn’t perhaps see eye to eye growing up, to put it politely anyway!  I am not sure why and to be honest don’t spend time thinking about it, I just recall finding you exceptionally irritating, as I am sure is the way for most bother/sisters with a 2 year age gap.  You always had something to say, were never wrong and generally I found you a pain in the bum.  There may have been the odd spat, one more memorable one involving me ending up with a bleeding nose – I am not sure who was more shocked you because you’d drawn blood,  me because I’d “lost” or mum having to listen to the commotion while in the bath!!

There can be no explanation as to what mum/you were thinking re the jogging bottom, sock and shoe combo here...

I feel I should offer an explanation for your nickname or maybe tagline; “such a nice boy” having used it above.  While it causes much hilarity within our family and maybe a raised brow or 2 or 5 from Ali and I, I am not sure when it started, probably when you were small and completely angelic looking child who did something cute for an old lady at church, but it has followed you around all these years and as you are one of the most thoughtful guys I know, it is very true.  Nothing is too much effort and sometimes I think you spend so much time trying to keep everyone else happy that you forget about yourself...

I seem to recall having to make you laugh for this photo!

Although just to offer some balance, as a brother a complete nit-wit too with a dreadful sense of humour, I won’t even go there with Alan Partridge or the shocking “jokes” you spout far too often...  I do like the fact that pre first date with Helen we (mum, Ali and me) all told you to reign in the jokes and yet a few short weeks in Helen seemed to have clocked them already – poor girl...

As a sign-off then I shall say that I cannot wait for you to meet your niece or nephew and I am sure you will be “cool” uncle Rob.  Let’s be honest if you veer towards cheesy Uncle Rob Ali or I or both will set you straight!  And don’t worry, I will let you know which way up the baby goes and yes you can give it back if it cries...

J xx

Full Term and a baby shower!

So today see's Baby D classed as full term, 37 entire weeks of pregnancy have now passed and baby D is deemed cooked but should stay put for another 3 weeks in order to be baked to perfection.

Jr. is now  weighing in at a whooping (and yet approx.) 6.3lbs or 2.8kg, which I can assure you I feel every ounce of if I stand for too long!

Now I have to confess to being out of baked goods this week, however reading up on head to toe measurements I think Baby D is about the length of 3 curly wurly's...

I'm not sure these are up there on my list of chocolate bars to go buy but I do recall having one in the selection box we all had at Christmas!




The last few days have been quite eventful as to start, I have officially left work to commence my maternity leave (hazzah!) however it does feel a little like I am doing a bunk from work, something a colleague has assured me will pass quite quickly!  So far I have enjoyed doing some baking, hosted a Body Shop party, headed out for the day with Ali - and enjoyed an epic brunch, Pip and I attended the "scary" antenatal class - which was actually more informative than frightening and I have even seen to some house work...
 

By far the most exciting and fun event had to be my baby shower, which I had 48hrs notice about!  Sunday saw me sway (my adopted style of walking at the moment) into mums and take up residence in an arm chair while several of my friends and family (including a now 6 week old Eleanor!) joined me for some serious fun and games.
Ali surpassed herself with attention to detail (sadly lost on me until Mum pointed out the entire stationary matched the wall art we have in the baby's room - sorry chicky).

Games included some quizzes; who's the daddy, name the nursery and guess the day/weight/time/length baby D will be born etc. We also had to see who could "give birth to a baby" the quickest by melting an ice cube, containing a baby, in our drinks.  Guess the baby from the photo and then a version of the childs party classic balloon game involving a balloon up ones top and a pound coin pinched between ones knees and a waddle up the hallway to drop said coin into a cup - which caused much hilarity.

You can just make out the "baby" in my glass!

Guests bought a picture of themselves and we had to guess who was who!

Mum and Sally having first go at the balloon game

A fab spread of food, including Ali's legendary cheese scones and some epic oreo brownie.

 

I had a great time and came away some some lovely gifts that folk had bought and also the fruits of a baby essentials raffle that Ali had offered a prize for!  We now have over 600 nappy bags along with plenty of baby powder and other useful products!

Baby essentials raffle!

Our gifts!

So now I sit here, in my comfy chair propped up by cushions, sipping my raspberry leaf tea (while thinking about a small glass of white from the bottle sitting in the fridge), contemplating on the last couple of bits to purchase for the hospital bag, mainly snacks to keep the hubs and I going during the event and thinking about the exercises the massause suggested I do to ease the tension she discovered in my back earlier today (TB and LD simply the best birthday pressie a preggo girl could ask for, thank you so much!) awaiting the impending arrival of our baby. 

The small creature that will change mine and Pip's and even our wider families lives forever.  

Big thought but exciting times!

Antenatal visit #1 and chocolate fingers...

So this coming week is my last week at work - woohoo!  4 days left, 30 hours or lots and lots of minutes.
Sadly I shall miss Jo this week as she and Tree are taking a stroll round Prague but she sent me home Friday with a lovely gift for baby and a card wishing us well.

A bunny rattle for baby D!

Currently baby D is weighing in at around 5 and a half pounds. So as I wrote the majority of this post while munching through some Cadbury choccie fabulous fingers (double chocolate layer and less biscuit). I thought I would see how many that would be. Now you can get 5 normal (not the fabulous variety) fingers to an ounce. So by my loose calculations thats 440 choccie fingers. Reading the packet there are approx. 2 dozen per box so thats about 18 boxes of yummy chocolate fingers! That would take me less time than you'd imagine to devour with a cup of tea of mug of hot chocolate.....!

This evening (Monday) saw us attend our first of 5 antenatal classes, 4 are a set and then one this coming Thursday is just on water birth, which interests me greatly.

We started the eve with a brief ice breaker involving sitting in the order of our pregnancies.  Now I started this by eyeing up bump sizes and pitched us at a mid-point in the group.

Wrong!



Despite me shaving a week off our progress (34+), we were still the furthest through and sat at the end of the U-shape.  Thankfully I did realise that actually we are 35+ halfway through the evening, at which point Pip told me he just thought it easier to let me go with it... 

The evening consisted of the midwife leading us through the stages of normal labour, assisted by a baby dummy, complete with cord and placenta...

Having clarified words that we associate with labour - one dad-to-be has definately been watching One Born Every Minute - and a few anecdotes from the midwife - one lady who had told her not to mention the cutting of the cord to her husband as she feared he would pass out at the thought - Pip and I survived the evening without any puffing and panting, a la every film you see, and also no giggles from me.  Result!
We may have exchanged a few looks between us and a few muttered comments but all in all I found it to be a fairly informative evening.

Next week is complicated labour, which could be a touch more toe curling...

In other news, this weekend just gone saw me (Pip had to work) attend Tracy's 50th birthday celebrations (a gathering not a party) where her birthday cake was a hommage to her and Graham's upcoming safari.  This is also the closest Will and Sam are going to get to being there!

We also recevied an exciting "international" parcel through the mail.  Sadly the envelope was damaged but luckily the contents were not, altho covered in a layer of reccycled paper!  The lovely Millers had sent us a goody parcel full of baby bits including an elasticated night-shirt that I cannot find in the UK! Now I have heard nothing but good things about these when it comes to night time nappy changes so I am very excited to finally have one! 

                                    

We also may have popped into Mothercare to collect our cot topper changing table and happened to purchased these too cute for words Elmo slippers!