hey speck,
how are you doing? you still making <your mum> feel sick? stop it. she has to work for a couple more months yet before she can sit around while you’re swimming.
have you become human-like yet? or are you still a fish/pig/alien? 🙂
can’t wait to see you after you’ve popped out… although you’ll prolly still be all pink and a bit funny looking for a while 😉
xo love, your aunty (scary!)
Hi Speck.
I feel sick again. It started yesterday and only really abated in the evening. And today it is back. A slight sinking feeling and a little nauseous. The fact that my pants are definitely a lot tighter than they were a few weeks ago is perhaps not assisting the feeling, but really, its all you. Maybe you needed more hormones today and yesterday for a growth spurt? Its warm outside, but I’m in meetings all day again today. Unfortunately all I feel like doing is lying down and sleeping. Its a bit like being having that sea swaying feeling you get when you’ve been on a boat for a few days and try to step off to the dock. I feel like I’m swaying as I walk around the office, and that my stomach and breast size in tandem must be giving people clues that I’ve got a bun in the oven. Or some other euphemism for pregnancy.
Hope you’re well. I’m not good. Please just get on with it & let this day be over.
love you, even though you are annoying sometimes (I suspect this may continue for some many years yet – the concept of loving someone dearly no matter what they do – but don’t push it).
mum
Good evening!
I was planning on studying tonight but after an early dinner at the pub with your Canadian Grandparents and dad I am tired (sound like a recurring theme?), so have bought my ‘puty to bed (you dad has finally stopped calling it ‘your baby’ now that you are around) and have decided to write to you instead. I have had a mashy day – feel like I didn’t accomplish anything at all at work, though I did go, and do remember doing some stuff. I also was supposed to get more blood tests (pincushion that I am) but forgot the forms so didn’t manage to get that done either – will have to go up to the collection place tomorrow morning instead. It was kinda hot, and basically I just felt distracted all day. A bit like a few weeks ago when I could only concentrate for five minutes at a time.
Anyway. Your dad has a weekend of sightseeing, shopping for the upcoming driving coastal trip to Queensland, and general hanging out with Candian G&G planned; and I have a weekend of study ahead of me. You dad came and had a chat to you tonight, so you should know what is up. I suspect you felt/heard the 8 rasberries he used to attempt to get through to you. He promised you that as I was just going to stay at home and study, the most excitement you could look forward to tomorrow was hearing and experiencing the movement within me – ie. another day of awesome loud and large farting. I was a little offended at first, on my and your behalf, but on reflection his synopsis has some merit.
The pregnancy books all talk about constipation as being a side-effect of being pregnant, but I guess I just thought it wouldn’t really affect me. Being pescetarian, and only really eating fish maybe once every two or three weeks, I generally have a large load of vegetables and all sorts of beans etc in my diet and have never had any problems with movement through my bowel. Perhaps a little bit TMI for you, but essentially if anything, I am usually more on the flowing and free side of the poo equation. But, you come along, and all that has changed. I’m not suffering from the dreaded constipation, but by golly, there is none of the flowing and free going on anymore. And talk about irregular. I have read that my whole digestive system will have slowed down because of you – but seriously – i think if it were going any slower we could build bridges with what surely must be the vast quantity of partially digested food which must be in holding pattern down there in my intestines. And farting. My entire stomach almost looks like I am pregnant already because of all the gas in there – particular just up under my ribcage – I can push on it and it feels hard and swollen – like a big drum, or an inflated balloon. And I just can’t stop but fart big, loud and long farts all day long. I have to repeatedly leave meetings at work to slip to the bathroom and let them out. I’ve given up at home and just let it all go, much to the disgust of your Canadian Grandma & the mirth of your father. I am still insisting that they don’t smell at all, just that they are loud and frequent. In fact, not only am I insistent on this, its a fact. I can’t smell them, and I as the pregnoid in the house definitely have a heightened sense of smell, so I would know. So there. They don’t smell.
Perhaps another take on the whole farting affair is that it is a way for me to stimulate you to do some exercise down there: perhaps you have to wiggle around a bit to avoid the gaseous emissions coursing through the intestines nearby your little abode. Or I guess I could just blame it all on you and say that it is my body having to feed you and dispose of all your waste that is making such a mess down there. Whatever the case, your dad is right, the most excitement you can look forward tomorrow is a bunch of gas and noise. Live it up baby!
Love you & thinking about you.
mum
Hello Speck!
Your grandad (Australian) has helpfully pointed out that you are no longer a speck, but for the moment that’s what you remain to us, so speck it is. Well, its nearly only 200 days to go (203 today). It is a long time but close in the same breath.
Your Canadian grandma & grandpa arrived two days ago and our house is noisy, with lots of Canadian accents and yelling going on – all good fun – can you hear it? There is lots of cooking and noise and talking and drinking going on.
Meanwhile, your Dad and I are thinking about where you are going to be born and what to do. We have still got an obstetrician in Sydney, and one that we have yet to meet in Brisbane, but also thinking about other options. There are lots of them. Your Canadian grandma might have a fit if we try to have you at home (as she has already got her two cents in on!), but there are a spectrum of options from something like that to a planned c-section in a private hospital. How do you choose? We have both started reading some birth stories for all kinds of births, and some are nice, some are sad and some are scary. I guess it helps to have some idea of the range of things that can happen and what people choose and why. I’d like to have a midwife that we know and feel comfortable with all the way through the birth, rather than, or in addition to, an obstetrician who is only there for some of the bits. But is that necessary? I don’t know. I guess we just have to work out what we are comfortable with and what is best for you and us.
Anyway, we may be getting ahead of ourselves, though we both think its important we think and talk about it to get used to the idea, and have lots of questions for all the people we will no doubt see about your arrival in the coming weeks and months.
Hope you are happy and healthy down there.
love you
mum
Hey Speck!
well. Long time no chat. I can’t feel you moving around and I think it is still going to be a while before we can commune by touch through my belly. So chatting with you this way is all I have for a bit longer. Apparently your dad is going to be able to hear your heartbeat through my belly with his ear at some point too. Again, I suspect its quite a while off, but that hasn’t stopped him trying. He hasn’t rasberried you in a few days – but don’t feel neglected, he is just busy cooking for me while I study, and getting excited about your other grandparents arriving to visit from Canada.
Its a bit hot today, it feels like summer is finally here. Yesterday was warm but it still cooled down last night. It was a funny night – the people up the road have a yearly Christmas decorations / turn on the lights drink/party on the street outside their house and we went along to say hello. All in all about 50 people and then assorted children, with a slow start but then building to taking over the street and standing around chatting and gossiping. We’ve lived in the same two streets for almost two years, so we know a few of them. I was still surprised at how many little kids were around – I only see the ones who live across from us, but there were heaps of the little munchkins running around everywhere. At 8:30 there was a 10 second countdown from the crowd on the street – where all the kids stood at the front & held hands & looked & then screamed with delight as the Christmas lights of the house with the party were ceremoniously turned on. All in all I think I’m still a bit incredulous that we’ll have to look after you and you’ll be one of those independent, loud, screaming little bundles of energy. Welcome, but still slightly unreal.
Otherwise your dad and I are well, still making sure we eat well – you’ll have to let him know that you really enjoyed the oven-baked falafels so he cooks them more frequently! Hope you are busy growing your arms and legs and other bits.
love you
mum
p.s. you better be growing a lot because I am increasing in size at a rapid rate. I think its actually disproportionately rapid. I’m hoping I look as fat as I do mainly because I am constantly totally filled with gas, but unfortunately I suspect that is not the case.
Hi Speck,
what are you doing down there? Why am I so tired??!! I know I’ve had a big week – uni everynight and not getting home ’till after 10, work and then assignment every night, but really.
Today we did our final group presentation at uni, and I have come home to try to attempt to at least bring some order to the disorder that is our house. Your dad has been holding the fort for at least two weeks all on his own – when I’m just arriving, eating, sleeping, showering, leaving.. arriving, eating, sleeping,…. you get the picture. Anyway, I am attempting to get clean clothes put away today and have even struggled with that. All folded. Some away. Rest awaiting next burst of energy. Have had a half hour nap, think I might need a bit more.
your dad is cleaning the bbq.
hope you’re well.
love you
mum
Hello Little Speccie!
How are you doing today?? I’m pretty excited this morning because I feel like you’re even more real – yesterday we went to the obstetrician & he did an external ultrasound and we could see that you’ve got bigger. I couldn’t stop laughing so it was hard for him to take some pictures of you, because my tummy kept moving around. I think it was contagious, ’cause the next thing that happened was that you started to wriggle around. A lot. In fact if I didn’t know that your eyes were closed (and potentially not even working yet or really there) I would have said that you were trying to swing around to get a look at us. Oh my goodness – it looked funny and cute and crazy all at the same time. Very strange thing to be looking at a picture of inside your own body and see something parasitical-looking (yep, you truly look like you could just be an amoeba or something that got in my drinking water somehow then grew to giant proportions – again – don’t take it personally at the rate you’re growing you’ll look better in no time) move around of its own accord… I can’t feel you moving yet, I think that comes in at least a few more weeks, but possibly even more, but it was cool to see you. Your dad and I got really excited. Your heart is still beating away very quickly too.
but I think as you get a bit bigger its definitely going to become mighty squishy down in there for all my organs..
So, the pictures the doctor took of you – the first one is you in the middle with your head on the left hand side of the photo as you look at it.
Speck you are bigger!
Next is where he was trying to measure you. So the measurements are written on it:
33.7 mm long!
Apparently all else is going well, but I guess you can’t tell all that much at this stage. Apparently my uterus is just starting to pop out over my pubis, so that is the start of the belly that will develop.
Anyway, we’re both excited cause you look bigger, and were moving about a lot. And you’re now over 3cm big! So fast!
So, hope you continue to laugh down in there. Your dad blew you a rather large rasberry this morning. Did you feel it & have a chuckle?
love you
mum
Hi Speck,
Hope you’re well? I’ve been attempting to eat more healthily after Saturday’s chocolate binge – well, actually your dad is trying to encourage me, which is good. So I have just had an absolutely delicious lunch of home-made falafels and avocado salsa on lebanese bread with yoghurt. Yum.
Bad news on the home front – your great grandfather passed away over the weekend. That’s a bit sad – ’cause you’ll never get to meet him. Though I’m sure that your dad will tell you some stories if you ask him. He is a bit sad at the moment and gave you a big long hug this morning.
Otherwise all is, I hope, well with you. I am feeling slightly less tired, but that could be because I’ve just been going to bed at 9pm wherever possible and sleeping-in as late as I can too. Overall had a rather restful weekend, so I think that helps too. Your dad and I got some more books about stuff related to pregancy and what not on the weekend, and some kind of video too – hopefully you dad can watch this on repeat until he feels more comfortable with blood & gore. He’s not good with that kind of thing at all. your arrival is starting to feel a little bit less unreal as the days go by.
Love you
mum
Hi Speck,
howsit going down there? Your dad wants to know if you want to be baptised. Since we’re not religious, and neither one of us are, to our knowledge, baptised, we’ve decided against it for you. If you want to later in life, feel free. Seems a bit premature. Anyway, I think he was just more interested in throwing water at your head: the next question was “Can I squirt it with a watergun?”. To which of course the answer is an unqualified yes, however I think he should note that children seem to like waterguns and as you get older you may return the favour. But not in any religious sense.
The other strange conversation we’ve had today is about the state of my pubic hair when its time to go to hospital. I have to admit, it was me that made a joke about hair removal when reading the hospital book ’cause it mentioned that you can get a hairdresser who comes to your room – but he then wanted to know if I am going to wax my fanny for when you come out. Again, I was slightly mystified as to the reason he would ask such a thing – or even think about it – but apparently he is concerned that I might care what the various people who no doubt will see it will think. Surprising, cause I’m not one to worry about that kind of thing at all! Sorry if I’ve embarrassed you, I guess you mum’s fanny is something no child (nor adult for that matter) really wants to think about for any length of time at all. It does make you wonder though – do other women worry about the state of their fanny when they go into hospital: to hairy bush or to not? Or indeed right the way through their pregnancy, all the scans, the OB visits?? Goodness, you could run a sideline business that was affiliated with clinics that specialised in ‘down there hair care’.
Too much.
Other weird hospital things:
Hope you’re well. And enjoying my chocolate binge from yesterday. I gave up on healthy eating for the afternoon. A friend had a hangover and wanted a burger for lunch, but as we strolled along Darling Street looking for a burger joint, Adriano Zumbo’s new chocolate cafe just leapt out at us & we had to go in. I had a chocolate milkshake for lunch, followed up with a few handmade chocolates that we shared. Truly to-die for was the violet & *berry (there goes the short-term memory again, it wasn’t blueberry, maybe blackberry??). Anyway, good. I am going back another day. I will miss Adriano when I move back to Brisvegas. The cakes are to drool over – if you haven’t eaten / been there you MUST look: amazing cakes
and two reviews of the chocolate shop.
Have to run, we are going to buy a new baby book – your dad is almost as obsessed as me, which is fun.
bye!
love you.
get bigger.
mum
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