32 weeks and Jim's Birthday!

How far along:  Thirty-two Weeks!

Weight Gain:  25 pounds.

Maternity Clothes:  Warm weather has posed another problem in the maternity clothes saga. I saw myself getting through my pregnancy with leggings and jeans, a few dresses and tshirts. Well. It's too warm for leggings, jeans AND my long sleeve dresses. I am going to investigate shorts and skirts in a desperate attempt to stay cool. Hopefully they are easier to track down!

Stretch Marks: Nothing new to report!

Belly Button:  I think we are on the verge of an outie. 

Queasy or Sick:   Since taking the iron tablets I've had a bit more energy, but still not much motivation - especially following a long day of work!  At least it's not nausea!!  

Sleep:  Apparently I snore. B was not impressed with this, but I don't really seem to notice (or care). I'm getting up only once a night for a loo break - but other than that, I'm happy!

Best Moment of the Week: On Saturday B and I had a BBQ with his current work partner. We busted out the non alcoholic beer, sausages and grilled halloumi. It was *gorgeous* outside - sunny and at least 21 degrees. It was probably the nicest day of the year so far!  We topped the afternoon off with some amazing slutty brownies. I've never made them, but I'm going to give this recipe a go!

Worst Moment of the Week:  I don't think there was anything too bad this week. I had a minor clothing meltdown when I realised that nothing was cool enough to wear in the sunny weather. Oh well, a shopping spree is needed!

Miss Anything:  I miss wearing wedding ring. I'm not feeling particularly feminine at the moment with swelling hands and feet.  I know it's all part of it, but it's really unsightly!

Movement:   Baby loves a bit of rolling around - especially when I finally get to put my feet up at 8:00 at night!  I think room is becoming scarce as I feel so much more movement than I used to. 

Cravings:   Blueberries and raspberries. I can't get enough of them at the moment. I crave fresh, cool drinks - especially iced coffee. I'm trying to be good and only allowing myself a small nespresso coffee every other day or so. 

Looking forward to:  We have one more week of school and then it's HALF TERM!  I can't believe it. Once we hit the other side of the May half term, maternity leave will be on the horizon!  You know what that means - Baby McBerry will be arriving soon after!  

In other exciting news, we celebrated my father in law's 70th Birthday on Sunday!  

B and I batted around ideas for ages but couldn't think of the perfect gift. 70 is a big deal - my proposal of 70 items seemed a big far fetched - so we came up with this happy little alternative! 

B's dad likes good, old classic food. We decided to get him an edible gift symbolic of each decade he has lived through. 

We wrapped all of the gifts and places them in the planter of a raspberry plant - the final, "for the future" gift!  We then read to him a little poem while he opened the gifts. He was pretty good at guessing most of them. 

B and I were pretty pleased with how it turned out - here's the poem in case you missed it!

In celebration 

Of your 70th year,

We wanted to gift you something 

Filled with excitement and cheer. 

We thought long and hard

To work out the perfect treat

And we finally decided 

What better gift than a gift you can eat?

Each gift represents

The decades you've seen

So here are the treats

Of years that have been.  

You were born in the 1940s

The war made you flustered

But at least you always had

Spotted dick and custard.

In the 1950s

You no longer needed to cheat

rationing ended 

and you could buy your meat.

In the 1960s

You were old enough to drink

Here's to a good ol gin and tonic

Which impairs your ability to think.

The 1970s 

were a lucky decade for you

You met and married Marilyn 

And enjoyed a honeymoon.

For the 1980s 

Classic party food came to mind

What could be better 

Than a gift of this kind.

In the 1990s

You cooked dinner a lot 

The kids saw it on a nightly basis 

And face it they could not!

By the time it was 2000

Your usual birthday gift was set 

Everyone always knew

Thortons chocolate ginger you would get.

Now that it's the 2010s

You just fancy a cuppa tea

The classic biscuits are nice

But posh ones you deserve to see. 

And last but not least is the future 

The 2020s to be exact. 

We wanted to give you something 

That will last and that's a fact. 

This plant will grow like our family

Extending every day,

Providing fruit when you are peckish

And reminding you of us gathered here today. 

Happy 70th Birthday, Dad. 

We hope you enjoy this stuff

For all you do and all you've done 

We can't thank you enough. 

Love,

B, Jenny and Baby McBerry

And who could forget the amazing cake made by B's mum! 

Seriously, how amazing is that?

Here's to a lovely week - hopefully your weather is as bright and cheery as it is here!

Xx

Dear Baby

Dear Baby,

We are getting closer and closer to your arrival day and I’m feeling a mixture of absolute excitement and pure panic.  I watched you last night as you did summersaults around my insides and I tried to picture your face and imagine your personality.  I still find it hard to believe that you are actually in there, living and growing.  You are so incredibly strong – sometimes I try and tickle you when you are stretching out and your little foot or head comes bulging out of my side.  I’m not sure you find it amusing, but you kick back with quite a bit of force.  I like that about you.  It makes me think you'll have gumption - I think that's a great quality.

Nine weeks is not very long at all.   I keep catching sight of myself in the mirror and I cannot actually believe the changes I have undergone over the past few months.  I try not to get worried or anxious over the way I look (as pregnancy is not very kind to a woman's body), but then you start bopping about and I laugh and realise it doesn't really matter if I look like I did a year ago.  These changes are important.  Not just the physical changes, but the mental and emotional changes as well.  It’s amazing how your perspective changes because a baby – you – are on the way.  It’s amazing that the things which I once thought were important are now irrelevant.  I can't stay up until 10:00 marking essays because I'm just too exhausted.  Some nights I need to sit in a bubble bath for an hour to make the back pain go away.  All of those things which used to worry me or stress me out don't really matter any more - looking after you is my number one priority.  

I told your Daddy the other night that after all of these changes - I don’t feel like me anymore.  It’s taken me awhile to get it, but I think that’s the way it should be.  I’m not meant to be the same person I always was.  I’m stepping into a whole new role as “mummy” or “mommy” or “mama” or whatever you decide to call me.  I can’t be the same person because that person was meant to be the foundation of a new version of me.  I have no idea who I’ll be in two or three months time – you will make me into that mother that I’ll become.  The uncertainty is scary, but also pretty amazing.

As frightening as this whole process is, I know that in the end we are going to have someone amazing joining our little family.  You have no idea how brilliant your Dad is.  He is clever and hard working.  It never fails to amaze me just how much he knows - he's a fountain of knowledge, just like my dad is.  He's going to be the dad that you can ask anything of.  He'll always know of be able to fix it.  I can't wait to watch the two of you playing and running around, causing all sorts of mayhem (don't forget - you can't gang up on me as I've provided a lovely and comfortable house for you for nine months!).

It's going to be nice to put a face to the kicks and turns and movement.  A face and a name.  We know what your name is, but no one else does.  Hopefully you love it as much as we do.  I'm so excited to actually have you in my arms and see what we managed to create.  I promise, the home you are coming to live in is full of life and love, and your nursery is AMAZING in comparison to the dark womb you've been hanging out in.  I hope you like it - it was designed especially for you.  (The pom poms were my idea, regardless of what Daddy says)

In all honesty, I have no idea what to expect when you arrive.  I don't think you can predict what life will be like.  But I'll tell you one thing I do know - life with you is going to be exciting and complete.

I can't wait.

Love,
Me xx

THIRTY WEEKS!

How far along:  THIRTY Weeks!

Weight Gain:  24 pounds.

Maternity Clothes:  Oh yes.  I even needed to buy new underwear yesterday.  

Stretch Marks: I'm still rocking a small patch, but so far, so good.

Belly Button:  Pancake like - a tiny crater?  Better yet - you know when you are walking on the beach and you leave those soggy footprints in the sand?  Yea...

Queasy or Sick:   I've been feeling good (aside from this morning)!  A bit of heartburn, a UTI, anaemia...but it's NOT sickness - I couldn't be happier!

Sleep:  Bed time is definatly 9:00.  I'm starting to get quite uncomfortable as I just don't know where to put my bump and the sheer effort it takes to turn over is comparable to firing off a cannon in the middle of the night.

Best Moment of the Week: My Midwives appointment last Thursday meant hearing Baby McBerry's little heartbeat!  It was amazing!!

Worst Moment of the Week:   Wednesday. I don't know what it was about Wednesday, but I just wanted to sit and cry.  My antenatal class was full, so they told me I have to attend next month.  I was worried about work and the lack of care most of my students had.  It was just the most demoralising day on record.  One of those - I can't do this - type of days.  I know I can and it will be difficult, but that was a real damper on the week.

Miss Anything:  I've got to admit, it wasn't wine or blue cheese which had me wishing Baby would grace us with it's presence.  It was the back pain that left me stranded in the bathtub.  I'd love my normal range of movement back!  Then again, now that it's getting warmer, a nice Blue Moon in the garden would be nice...

Movement:   Does the Karate Kid enjoy a nice kick?  Baby decided to stretch out across my middle during my Year 11 lesson the other day.  I was clearly uncomfortable and one student actually asked if I was going into labour at the way I was massaging my side.  I tried to explain that we may have a tiny foot popping through my belly button (they were then quite relieved).

Cravings:   Fruit!  I'm desperate for strawberries and raspberries but they are just too costly!  Plus - Twizzlers.  I am thanking my brother for that.  He shows me the most glorious looking red, white and blue Twizzlers via Skype.  Can we get Twizzlers here? Of course not!!  Saying that, it may be a good thing we can't get all of the American treats that I want....I'd have gained a heck of a lot more than 20 pounds!
Looking forward to:  We have an extra special weekend planned!  For one of Rich's Paper anniversary gifts, I got us a gift voucher for The Neptune Inn - a Michelin star restaurant on the north Norfolk coast.  We've had friends who have been and just rave over the food.  There isn't much vegetarian on the menu, but I am REALLY looking forward to their dessert menu!  Seriously - check this out:  

       Milk Chocolate Mousse, Poached Cherries White Chocolate Cherry Ice Cream, Caramel Sauce

Poached Savarin Sponge, Gariguette Strawberries, Mint Ice Cream

Vanilla Pannacotta, Caramel  Poached Pineapple, Honey Ice Cream

Mango Mousse, Peanut Butter Ice Cream, Shortbread, Blueberries,

Selection of British & French Cheeses, Biscuits, Grape Chutney

Ummm, I'll just go for one of everything. No mains or starter.  Thanks.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to attend my friend Gemma's Hen Do in Nottingham!  We stayed in an amazing mansion complete with pool, courtyard, ducks and dreamy showers:  Horspool Farm  (seriously, check out the photos on their Trip Advisor Page).  We also went to It's a Knockout and I got to play paparazzi.  It was great fun to get away for a weekend to celebrate the Bride to Be!  I can't wait for their wedding in July!  

On that note - wishing everyone a wonderful week!  I'm getting so tired in the evenings that I'm spending most of my time daydreaming about Baby whilst watching it do rolls around in my belly!  10 Weeks to go...I can't wait!  

Xx