The big three 'O'

We celebrated the daddy-to-be's 30th birthday yesterday and today. Being the more 'sociable' one, I did my best to convince him to allow me to organise a party to commemorate the day but unfortunately failed. His wish was to have a quiet, romantic dinner - just the 2+1 of us :) So like Richard.

So for the night before, I attempted a restaurant style home-cooked dinner and smoked the whole house :) For tonight, thought to bring him to a proper restaurant as I knew which restaurant he wanted to go to (an italian seafood restaurant that we wanted to try) but unfortunately do not know the name and so could not make reservations. So, we just went there and lo-and-behold, it was closed on Monday. So, was his favourite Japanese restaurant and another restaurant. Why do they all close on Monday? So we ended up back at a new restaurant on Lark Lane, outside our home. We did have good food and an enjoyable evening. We also noticed that there are no prams or babies in restaurants. So this will probably be our last 'posh, romantic' birthday dinners in restaurants for a few years to come. Happy Birthday!!

A pregnant father?

The most enjoyable times of the day is at night before we sleep and in the morning just as we wake up because you will always be kicking away and the daddy-to-be (and me) loves to feel you moving around. So, he suggested this morning: 'Maybe the duration of pregnancy should be split between both parents, so that the dad can also feel the sensation of baby kicking and moving around'. I wonder if he wants to share the pain of labour too?

Emotional roller coaster

The physical changes to my body have so far been pleasant and enjoyable (especially the kicks) but the emotional ups and downs.. that's another story. Poor Richard, he cannot never tell at the end of the day when he sees me after work.. will it be miss happy or miss weepy tonight?? I do not know myself most of the time.. Well, he's had it easy so far coz I never had PMS. So, he's only got 3 more months of this bipolar mom-to-be :)

Our first home

Over the past few weeks, we have been viewing houses with a possibility of moving to a bigger place with more rooms and a garden. After much contemplation and discussion, we will be having our place valued this week to be put on sale if 'the price is right' after nearly 5 years.

Feelings of nostalgia flooded over.

This is our first home: painted, furnished and decorated with our sweat, laughter and tears. We started our lives together as a couple here. Making this flat into a home taught us so many lessons and helped us discover characters and skills in each other... just too many to count. This home has seen many parties, meetings and guests. Putting the finishing touches to the decorations over the weekend actually brought a tear to my eye. We will definitely miss this place when it goes to somebody else and we find a place to move on. Well, am sure it will be a new beginning for us as a family of 3 :)

A long weekend break

The initial plan was to go away to Cornwall/Devon coast to have a romantic getaway weekend to celebrate both our birthdays before there's going to be 3 of us. However, after so many hectic days and weekends, the thought of driving for 5-6 hours down South, the need to 'plan' the holiday and having still lots of 'chores' to complete made us both just turn to each other and said 'lets just spend some time at home'. So thank God we have 2 extra days to this weekend!!

We did go to the beach, although this one's only 20 minutes away.. :) still, it was a new beach we have not explored, relaxing and Antony Gormley's 'Another Place' was something Richard had always wanted to see. Staying in Liverpool was a much better option.

Age of viability

It's another milestone this week. You are 24 weeks old. If anything were to happen and you needed to come out from the comfortable oven, there's a big chance that you will survive in the real world!! I hope you won't want to come out yet though... Do give us more time to prepare as parents :)

It is also now quite obvious that I am pregnant rather than just being a little on the chubby side. The good thing is everybody around is more careful and the sudden attention is quite nice.. So, maybe its a good time to flaunt the tummy rather than try to hide it as it's still possible with very loose tops. For example.... now you see it, now you don't

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall

As the nursery rhyme goes, this 'humpty dumpty' had a great fall outside the flat. Thank God she could be put back together again, apart from a large bruise on the bum and a lump on the head. Although I knew the baby should be OK, it felt like ages waiting for him to give me the familiar kicks again.. Phew.. The combination of a growing bump and imbalance with a slippery floor is just catastrophe. Thank God its not the winter months. I may have to go out padded and with a helmet each time.

There are more important things

*Sigh* I hope the feelings of frustration and struggles at work over the past few weeks will not be passed on to you.. I am trying to smile and be cheerful so that you, baby, will not be affected. I know its not good to be sad during pregnancy but well, suppose its all part of working life, being in research and being an adult. Oh how I wish otherwise.

Little one, I want you to know that you are more important than anything in the world!! Thank God for your vigourous kicking everyday that helps me smile, get me through another day and know that work is not everything. I really do wonder what movements you are making in there and wish I could see them :)