tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45101960703562475962024-03-13T06:28:57.980-07:00A Tree Grows in LondonUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510196070356247596.post-51996608339977366602014-02-04T08:34:00.001-08:002014-02-04T08:34:20.574-08:00Welcome Peter!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">Peter Thomas was born on January 24, 2014. He was named after my maiden name "Peterka" which means little Peter (my paternal grandfather also went by "Pete" as a nickname of "Peterka") and he has his dad's middle name of Thomas. </span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">We've had him home for a week-and-a-half now and are in love with every inch of him! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wrote up his birth story for a blog written by a local midwife (<a href="http://gasandairblog.com/2014/02/03/birth-story-of-the-week-beth-and-peter/" target="_blank">you can read it here</a>) but I wanted to preserve it on Peter's blog as well. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peter's Birth Story:</span></span></h2>
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a few false starts in the days leading up to the big day, my contractions started for real around 3pm on Thursday 24 January (I was exactly 39 weeks). Things progressed quickly from there: by 4pm my husband was on his way home from work and I made arrangements for my three-year-old daughter to be picked up to stay at a friend’s house. By 6pm my waters had broken and we were ready to head to the hospital!</span></span><br />
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<span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The cab ride to the hospital had been the source of much anxiety for me during my pregnancy. I kept imagining being stuck in traffic whilst in the throes of labour and permanently soiling our nice cab driver’s new car . . . Luckily the cab ride was fairly uneventful (aside from my moaning and groaning of course). Well, that’s not entirely true. It was uneventful until we were about two minutes from the hospital and my contractions got way more intense and felt like they were coming one after the other. The cab driver got worried and pulled straight into the emergency entrance where a wheelchair was immediately brought over to the car. My contractions were two minutes apart and already more painful than I ever remember them being with my daughter (I laboured naturally for 15 hours with her before eventually getting an epidural. <a href="http://www.spearmintbaby.com/?s=bethie&x=-1032&y=-547" target="_blank">You can read her birth story here</a>). I was wheeled into Labour and Delivery and was promptly parked in the waiting room next to another woman in the throes of labour. That was the moment I started losing my visions of finally having the peaceful, midwife led water birth that I wasn’t allowed when I had my daughter (the area hospitals didn’t allow midwives). I started panicking: “I don’t want to be in the waiting room! I want to be in a birthing pool! I want to get out of this wheelchair! I want a midwife to come help me! Please! Somebody send a midwife to come help me!” Despite my pleas for help (and yet another labouring mother added to the mix) I was still in the waiting room. The pain was so intense and unbearable that I couldn’t fathom the horror of living through another contraction and yet they kept coming one after another after another.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I decided the only way I was going to make it through this delivery without being kicked out of the country for assault was to get an epidural. I told my husband that I wanted an epidural and knowing how adamant I had been about not wanting one, he responded, “we’ll see”. Not what I wanted to hear. By the time I was finally wheeled into a room I had made it my mission to request an epidural from very person I encountered. I continued to get more and more agitated about it and began to demand that someone, anyone, needed to get me an anaesthetist right away. The midwife explained that it was too late. My contractions were on top of each other and the baby was coming. I continued to panic. This wasn’t how I imagined things. There was no birthing pool or low lights or peaceful music. There was just me on a bed, the sound of my voice crying out in pain and yelling for everyone to be quiet and bright lights and lots of people hustling around the room. (Though my husband informed me after reading this part of my story that no one was “hustling “around the room and, in fact, I was the only one making any noise . . . )</span><br /><span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, I’m not sure what changed, but at some point in the midst of the chaos, the anaesthetist arrived and gave me an epidural. Within ten minutes I was feeling human again. I was finally able to open my eyes and properly meet and apologise to my midwife. It was as if the storm clouds had opened up and the sun appeared. We were able to talk about the birth process and she went over my birth plan (uh . . . just ignore that bit about no epidural . . .) and then she brought Jason and me nice hot cups of tea. Jason and I chatted, snoozed and enjoyed the quiet, peaceful atmosphere until around midnight when the midwife said it was time to get ready to push.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I gave birth to my daughter, it was a typical American scenario where the nurse gets everything ready and the doctor rushes in at the last minute to catch the baby as it comes out. As you can see our doctor even came equipped with a “splash mask” visor:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://gasandair.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/image-15.jpeg" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="image (15)" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-1536" src="http://gasandair.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/image-15.jpeg?w=560&h=372" style="border: 1px solid rgb(187, 187, 187); clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.8075em auto; max-width: 99.25%; padding: 1px;" /></a></span><span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Now don’t get me wrong. Despite my son’s perfect entry into the world, I still regret that I was unable to have a medication-free birth. And if I am ever blessed with a third baby I will again plan a natural water birth. But given how things played out, I was overall thrilled with how amazing and beautiful my son’s birth was.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My experience with the midwife led birth was completely different to my experience in America. No additional people came into our room. It was just the midwife and my husband and me. There was nothing frantic about it. No commotion. No splash masks. Just the midwife calmly encouraging me through my pushes and my husband watching in amazement as our son came into the world — not to a screaming and swearing and a delirious mother — but to a rested, calm, peaceful, mother. Peter Thomas Hungerford was born at 00:45 on 25 Jan, 2014 and weighed exactly eight pounds.</span><br />
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<a href="http://gasandair.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/image-14.jpeg" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="Processed with VSCOcam with f2 preset" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-1528" src="http://gasandair.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/image-14.jpeg?w=560&h=745" style="border: 1px solid rgb(187, 187, 187); clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.8075em auto; max-width: 99.25%; padding: 1px;" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As soon as he arrived he was placed on my chest and remained there for at least an hour per my request. (The weighing, poking and prodding happened later). The baby and I were both in good shape so the midwife left the room leaving Jason and me to bond with our beautiful son. It was magical. He took beautifully to the breast and got skin-to-skin time with both Jason and me. The midwife eventually returned and brought us more tea (God save the queen!) and after another hour or so we were moved to the labour ward.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now here I could write about how annoying it was to have to share a recovery room with three strangers and their babies when all I wanted was to go home. I had heard so many stories of women giving birth in the hospital and arriving home within a few hours and had been hopeful I could follow suite. However, I was required to stay longer than normal because I tested positive for group b strep so the labour ward was unavoidable. And despite the labour ward horror stories I had heard (including being one bed over from a woman attempting to nurse a baby who was born with teeth!) it really wasn’t so bad and we were back home within 24 hours of arriving at the hospital.</span></div>
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<span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In America we were required to spend three days at the hospital after the birth of our daughter (despite having had a completely normal birth) and were extremely anxious to bring her home. Jason and I were both thrilled to be home so soon this time around and we’ve been so impressed that a midwife comes to our house to check up on baby and me.</span></span></div>
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<span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are happily adjusting to being a family of four and big sister Charlotte couldn’t be more pleased with new new brother!</span></span></div>
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<span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://gasandair.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/image-13.jpeg" style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Processed with VSCOcam with t1 preset" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-1532" src="http://gasandair.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/image-13.jpeg?w=560&h=745" style="border: 1px solid rgb(187, 187, 187); clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.8075em auto; max-width: 99.25%; padding: 1px;" /></a></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510196070356247596.post-4703156297905719082014-01-16T00:00:00.001-08:002014-01-16T00:00:58.567-08:0038 weeks: ready and waiting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After hitting full-term last week at 37 weeks, I've been thinking every little thing is a sign that I'm going into labor . . . but given that I am still pregnant, I've been wrong. I've decided, instead, that I'm probably just going to be pregnant forever. <br />
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It's funny how the first eight-and-a-half months have absolutely flown by and now that I'm full-term, the days seem to drag by. I'm just so anxious to meet this little one! Instead of focusing on having this baby boy, I've decided to try to focus on spending quality time with Charlotte and Jason until the baby arrives. And if he comes at 40 weeks then we've timed it perfectly for my mom to come help right after Jason's two weeks of paternity leave ends! Perfecto. <br />
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That being said, Jason and I have made guesses as to when this baby will arrive:<br />
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Bethie: January 16 at 4:03pm<br />
Jason: January 21 at 9:08am<br />
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You may have noticed that my prediction is for today (my dad's birthday! Happy birthday, daddy!). Given that I'm still feeling like this baby has settled in for the long haul, I'm guessing Jason is probably going to win this one. Charlotte arrived at 38.5 weeks, and Jason's guess reflects that (smarty pants). Clearly we're both optimistic that he'll arrive sooner than later, but who knows. I could still be blogging about being pregnant at week 42! (Noo<span style="font-size: x-small;">oooo</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">ooo</span>!)<br />
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PS: Thank you to those asking about gifts for Peter! As promised, here again is the <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/registry/baby/2R83ZIIAY5OAF?user-sort=status&x=2&y=9" target="_blank">link to our Amazon wish lis</a>t for him. xoxoUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510196070356247596.post-34886954107294013742014-01-01T03:35:00.002-08:002014-01-01T14:42:11.333-08:0036 weeks: a little scare<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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After all the worry of having a transverse baby in <a href="http://www.atreegrowsinlondon.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/34-weeks-tomorrow-spinning-baby.html" target="_blank">my last post</a>, I'm happy to report that he is now head down and ready to go! Such good news, but I wouldn't have known he's back to being head down if I hadn't had a bit of a scare last week. <br />
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I had been up most of the night from Saturday to Sunday with insomnia and was trying not to worry about the fact that the baby wasn't moving as much as he normally did. In the morning, Jason and Charlie and I headed to church and I still hadn't noticed him moving very much. I tried eating sugar, drinking something cold and lying down, but he just wouldn't perk up. Preferring to be safe over sorry, I decided to go get checked out at the hospital. They hooked me up to a monitor and the baby immediately got the hiccups and began to roll around. Such a relief! E<br />
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ver since been back to his normal, raucous self. A friend of mine said he just wanted to have a lazy Sunday morning and apparently she was right!<br />
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While at the hospital, the midwife felt around on my belly and said he was head down. However, he moves around SO much that I'm not sure he is still in that position. Regardless, I've decided not to worry given that he will likely continue to roll around until the last minute (presuming he still has the space!).<br />
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Other than that, there isn't much baby news to report. We had a lovely Christmas and Charlie had a great birthday (you can see loads of pics on <a href="http://instagram.com/bethielethie" target="_blank">my Instagram account</a>!) and we've just finished feasting on Jason's homemade New Year's quiche! Can you believe this baby boy will be born this month?! <br />
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Happy New Year to you all! <br />
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PS: I just had another request for gift ideas for he new baby. We've made a UK Amazon wish list (<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/registry/baby/ref=gno_listpop_br" target="_blank">click here to see it!</a>) that is easy to use and requires no international shipping! <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510196070356247596.post-7056257254989319602013-12-18T08:49:00.002-08:002013-12-18T08:49:29.445-08:0034 weeks (tomorrow!): spinning baby<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I had an appointment yesterday with my midwife and am happy to report that all is well! We heard a nice strong heartbeat and everything looks normal . . . well, except for his position: he's transverse. This means instead of being head down (as he used to be) he is now lying sideways across my belly. The good news is that he apparently has plenty of room to move around in there and he is likely to go back to being head down by the time he's ready to greet the world. However, if he hasn't moved by 36 weeks then things get a little scary. I will be referred to see a consultant who will attempt to turn him the right way around. If that doesn't work I will be scheduled for a C-section. Having a C-section is basically my biggest fear when I think about giving birth (second to the baby or me being not well, of course). </div>
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So please pray or send the baby some spinning vibes or anything else you think might work to get this little guy in the right position! I'll be doing my part by checking out <a href="http://spinningbabies.com/" target="_blank">this website </a>that a friend recommended about how to "spin your baby" into position. It supposedly works wonders! </div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510196070356247596.post-558539817893180672013-12-02T09:26:00.001-08:002013-12-02T09:26:43.910-08:0031 weeks: hiccups<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All ready to sing the second half of a concert at 30 weeks!</td></tr>
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<br />Only three more days until I'm at 32 weeks! Between Thanksgiving (which we hosted the weekend before the 28th), a holiday in France, my 33rd birthday and general busyness, things are still absolutely flying by. I'm so glad I started preparing for this baby early because I'm running out of energy and time in this home stretch. <div>
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All is well with baby and mama. The one real update is that we've both got hiccups like nobody's business. His hiccups come about two to four times per day and feel like the belly equivalent of an eye twitch. I try to think of it as a gentle, persistent reminder that he's happy and well in there. My hiccups on the other hand, are loud, aggressive and totally random. I usually have about three at a time and they are far from being lady-like. In fact, they sound more like a croak than a hiccup. I never had these with Charlotte and have no idea why I've gotten them this time, but hopefully they will soon pass. All-in-all very minor things at this point which I'm quite happy about!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510196070356247596.post-44644533845600054082013-11-11T07:13:00.002-08:002013-11-11T07:13:55.326-08:0028 weeks: ducks in a row<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0pn7zqg6bV4/UoDi3tfKA_I/AAAAAAAAFlM/43hIWfWp0CI/s1600/1450735_10152058853810917_1228776731_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0pn7zqg6bV4/UoDi3tfKA_I/AAAAAAAAFlM/43hIWfWp0CI/s320/1450735_10152058853810917_1228776731_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Even though we still have eleven-and-a-half weeks left, we're already getting the house ready for the new baby. We just set up the crib in Charlotte's room and have moved the dresser/changing table into our room for now (their room is too small to accommodate both!). The baby won't be sleeping in the crib until he's sleeping through the night, but we figured it was good for Charlotte to get used to having it in there. We'll have a co-sleeper in our room which is essentially a little crib that attaches to my side of the bed for easy overnight feeding and safe sleeping. He'll be sleeping in that for the first three to six months. I've also already washed and organised all of the baby clothes and they are now in their new home in the dresser/changing table in our room. <br />
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Overall I'm feeling very prepared! The only big thing left is to get a comfy chair to nurse in for our room. I looked into getting comfy cushions made for the wooden rocking chair in Charlotte's room, but decided a new chair would be most practical. I'll be sure to keep you all posted once we get it all figured out!<br />
<br />
-Bethie<br />
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PS: Family and friends have generously started asking what else we need, so I've made an <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/registry/baby/ref=gno_listpop_br" target="_blank">Amazon Baby Wish List</a> for the remaining things we could use. You can find it by clicking <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/registry/baby/ref=gno_listpop_br" target="_blank">here</a>. It is through the UK Amazon site so you don't have to pay ridiculous shipping! Thank you!!<br />
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PPS: While I was at it, I also made an <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/registry/wishlist/31X2AZY7VEPL0/ref=topnav_lists_1" target="_blank">Amazon Wish Lis</a>t for Charlotte for Christmas and her birthday for those who've been asking!<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510196070356247596.post-49531671437533431302013-11-04T07:40:00.001-08:002013-11-04T07:40:40.176-08:00Week 27: THIRD TRIMESTER!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OT67Htl7tBA/Une79P8LnRI/AAAAAAAAFkM/vvQlROYozNs/s1600/1148877_10152034867695917_355841730_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OT67Htl7tBA/Une79P8LnRI/AAAAAAAAFkM/vvQlROYozNs/s400/1148877_10152034867695917_355841730_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I am thrilled to report that I am now in the third trimester of my pregnancy! Wahoo!! We are slowly but surely getting ready for our new little one's arrival and are still a bit in shock as to how quickly this has all gone the second time around! <br />
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I owe you all a few updates. First of all, <a href="http://www.atreegrowsinlondon.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/19-weeks-what-to-wear.html" target="_blank">I posted earlier</a> about needing a dress to wear to sing the Messiah solos in. By the time I was this big with Charlotte, all of my gigs were requiring black so I didn't need to invest in a colorful gown. This time around black wasn't going to cut it, but I also couldn't stand the thought of spending a fortune on a dress I was going to wear one time. Enter my local mum's Facebook group. This group has been amazing for buying and selling baby/kid things and plugging into the local mum/kid community around our neighborhood. I posted a request for a maternity gown and, amazingly, a lovely woman offered me the use of <a href="http://www.tiffanyrose.com/maternity/clothing/AMLBL/Amelia-Lace-Maternity-Dress-Long-(Windsor-Blue).html" target="_blank">this dress</a> and asked absolutely nothing in return! I still can't believe it. I offered to pay her or to repay her in some other small way and she has decided not to say no to some freshly baked cinnamon rolls. Not only was the dress gorgeous, but it was also SO comfortable! It felt like pajamas! No joke! If you are in the UK and in the market for a dressy maternity gown, check out <a href="http://www.tiffanyrose.com/" target="_blank">Tiffany Rose</a>. I promise they won't disappoint! <br />
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Lastly, an update on <a href="http://www.atreegrowsinlondon.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/25-weeks-sciatica-in-paradise.html" target="_blank">my sciatica</a>. I am happy to report that since returning to London, my sciatica has more or less gone away! I think the problem was going from the very active lifestyle I have here in London to a very sedentary lifestyle for the ten days I was in Miami. I had two massively long plane flights and then lots of sitting for rehearsal and even more sitting to drive two and from rehearsals and performances. I noticed the sciatica was always much worse after sitting for a long period of time and I was mostly sitting while in Miami. But the good news is that I'm back to walking around a mile a day and chasing my toddler and it seems to be just what the doctor ordered! Let's hope things continue to be comfortable as I still have three months left! <br />
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xoxo<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510196070356247596.post-72309864756864241382013-10-23T15:06:00.000-07:002013-10-23T15:06:09.586-07:0025 weeks: sciatica in paradise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iWXTSBfTtiI/UmhB5o2GPhI/AAAAAAAAFjU/oXbvGcbn3DE/s1600/7997_10151986680340917_1339311477_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iWXTSBfTtiI/UmhB5o2GPhI/AAAAAAAAFjU/oXbvGcbn3DE/s320/7997_10151986680340917_1339311477_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I've just returned to London after ten days in Miami singing with <a href="http://www.seraphicfire.org/" target="_blank">Seraphic Fire</a>. I had a fabulous time and got to sing some spectacular music, but I came back home with much worse sciatica than when I left. I was only able to stand during our performances with Tylenol (not ideal, I know) and butt massages (don't tell Jason). My guess is that all of the sitting I did in both rehearsal and in the car really did me in. I just saw a doctor today and got referred for physical therapy, so hopefully that will help things. The pain has already improved since my activity level has returned to normal, but I'm still pretty uncomfortable. Mostly, I'm worried about things being this bad at six months, what will it be like at nine months! <br />
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Last night I read <a href="http://www.designmom.com/2013/10/living-with-kids-meta-coleman/" target="_blank">this article</a> on a design blog about a friend of a friend who miscarried at six months (which is where I nearly am in my pregnancy). I bawled my eyes out and was reminded of the three little ones I lost so early on. Losing babies just seems like the most unfair thing that anyone has to live through and I will never understand why it happens. Life is delicate and unpredictable and sometimes just really unfair. It breaks my heart to think about miscarriage, but it is a good reminder to try to enjoy every moment of this pregnancy, even the painful bits, because this may be the only time I have with this sweet life within me. That being said, all is well and I got to hear his little heartbeat again today which is always a comfort. I can't say that it is because I am blessed (because your'e not blessed if you miscarry?) or that I am anything other than simply lucky to have this little life in me. With this in mind, it feels silly to be concerned about any pain or discomfort when the whole picture is considered . . .Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510196070356247596.post-68972985128990867402013-10-05T04:34:00.003-07:002013-10-05T04:34:51.127-07:0023 weeks: profile pic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6fqrhSRen5Q/Uk_1z8d7rSI/AAAAAAAAFio/HA-sumJMmic/s1600/photo+copy+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6fqrhSRen5Q/Uk_1z8d7rSI/AAAAAAAAFio/HA-sumJMmic/s320/photo+copy+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Isn't he cute?! I had to go back for another ultrasound when they couldn't see the bottom of his spine at my 20 week scan. He is still very strong and healthy and his spine checked out just fine! While I was there, the technician got a great profile shot of our little guy. For comparison, here is the profile shot we got of Charlie in utero:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E1RKgdPoYFQ/Uk_3P2hr6ZI/AAAAAAAAFi0/ZgvUJpcAIVA/s1600/Baby+Girl.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E1RKgdPoYFQ/Uk_3P2hr6ZI/AAAAAAAAFi0/ZgvUJpcAIVA/s320/Baby+Girl.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'd marvel at the similarities, but don't all ultrasound pictures look about the same?</div>
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All has been well this last week, though I'm starting to get some more frequent sciatic nerve pain. I was told I could ask my doctor about a referral to a physical therapist so perhaps it's time I do that. Last time my sciatic nerve pain got so bad that I literally could not walk. Jason would wheel me around the house in an office chair and had to get up with me in the middle of the night to lift me onto the toilet. It was a humbling experience that I'd prefer not to repeat. The worst of it only lasted a few days to a week, but I did have to sing a concert with my medieval trio from a chair. It was such a hassle getting me on stage and in the chair that I just sat there during the intermission! Talk about embarrassing!</div>
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I leave for Miami a week from today, so my next update will hopefully include a belly shot of me look tan and svelte in a bikini on the beach! (Yeah, right!)</div>
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PS: <a href="http://bethiesbabyblog.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/papaya-baby.html" target="_blank">Here's what I was up to </a>when I was five months along with Charlie!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510196070356247596.post-80799717438091237662013-09-28T12:07:00.001-07:002013-09-28T12:40:50.908-07:0022 weeks: keep on keeping on<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iSvkEJJgPpQ/UkafdH7VfXI/AAAAAAAAFiU/xT24pG6vL4M/s1600/15069_10151936002150917_1095283469_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iSvkEJJgPpQ/UkafdH7VfXI/AAAAAAAAFiU/xT24pG6vL4M/s400/15069_10151936002150917_1095283469_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">score study with the big guy</td></tr>
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Five months already! According to my What to Expect When You're Expecting app the baby is going to double in weight by the end of the month. Woah. That means I'm going to have to retire my cute skinny maternity jeans soon. Boo hoo. </div>
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In other news, I'm going to be pretty busy in the next month as I prepare for <a href="http://www.ballobaroque.com/written-on-my-heart/" target="_blank">a gig here in London</a> and then head to Miami to sing with <a href="http://www.seraphicfire.org/" target="_blank">Seraphic Fire</a> for the last time this season! (I sadly had to cancel my other gigs with them, as I want to be sure this little one is born here in London and not on an airplane!) </div>
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I'm not looking forward to a long plane ride in my condition, but perhaps if I look pathetic enough at check-in they'll upgrade me. Maybe? Well, in any case, I'll bring my Kindle, lots of knitting projects and will load my phone with episodes of this American Life. That paired with the specially requested vegetarian Indian meal and lots of junk food snacks should keep happy . . . even if I am stuck in a middle seat!</div>
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PS: <a href="http://bethiesbabyblog.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/papaya-baby.html" target="_blank">Here's what I was up to </a>when I was five months along with Charlotte!</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510196070356247596.post-31042996625983641102013-09-22T12:04:00.001-07:002013-09-28T12:41:39.887-07:0021 weeks: large and in charge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OYzIE09aNJs/Uj88-OWr-gI/AAAAAAAAFh0/y4V-XOER0xA/s1600/995171_10151930011160917_2095655143_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OYzIE09aNJs/Uj88-OWr-gI/AAAAAAAAFh0/y4V-XOER0xA/s400/995171_10151930011160917_2095655143_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Yes, I know I look enormous. No, there are not two babies in there. Or three. Just one <i>super</i> active little boy! In fact, he's so active now that I can see my belly moving when he's going at it in there. Jason felt him moving the other day, but Charlie hasn't yet. It's only a matter of time as he's a busy little guy. I find that every time I have a moment to rest, he decides it's playtime. It hasn't yet gotten to the point where it keeps me up at night, so I'm still treasuring every bump and nudge he gives me. It really helps ease my anxiety about how he's doing in there!</div>
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PS: <a href="http://bethiesbabyblog.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/bananarama.html" target="_blank">Here's what I was up to</a> when I was 21 weeks along with Charlotte!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510196070356247596.post-31591918843829363142013-09-22T11:49:00.003-07:002013-09-28T12:42:40.080-07:00It's a Boy!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zbk7w__0hoA/Uj85IxTTOJI/AAAAAAAAFhg/9PQ5VyMpIQE/s1600/boy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zbk7w__0hoA/Uj85IxTTOJI/AAAAAAAAFhg/9PQ5VyMpIQE/s400/boy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We were so excited to find out our big gender news last week that I completely forgot to put the big news up on the blog! Charlie is going to have a little brother! Truth be told, she was a bit heartbroken about it as she was certain that the baby was "a girl called Bee." Poor thing. She's warmed up to the idea now and likes to talk to her baby brother and give him kisses. Sweet thing! </div>
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I've already gone through all of Charlie's baby clothes and dug up anything that was gender neutral. I thought I had more than I actually do, but I've had a couple of friends offer to lend us some of their things, so that will help a lot. I also have a friend who has six-month-old twin baby boys so she'll have quite a few things to get rid of as well. The babe will eventually be sharing a room with Charlie and luckily things are pretty gender neutral in there: the walls are grey, the dresser is green and the cot/crib is dark wood. </div>
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We also learned from the scan that the baby is nice and healthy and all the organs and the brain look normal. The ultrasound technician couldn't see the very bottom of his spine (he's sitting too low!) so she booked me in for a follow up scan. She said there is absolutely nothing to worry about, she just wants to get a good look at the bottom of his spine so she can check it off her list. Frankly, I'm thrilled to get the opportunity to see him again, so I don't mind one bit! Maybe this next time we'll get a nice profile picture to share!</div>
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PS: <a href="http://bethiesbabyblog.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/its-girl.html" target="_blank">Charlotte's gender scan</a>!</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510196070356247596.post-60875447018165652772013-09-08T03:26:00.001-07:002013-09-28T12:43:52.574-07:0019 weeks: what to wear?<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8GpBtYAbUI0/UixRKVkzCPI/AAAAAAAAFhI/yhghF5CUY08/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8GpBtYAbUI0/UixRKVkzCPI/AAAAAAAAFhI/yhghF5CUY08/s400/photo.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo taken last weekend</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">How on earth are we already at 19 weeks?! This pregnancy has absolutely flown by. Seriously. With Charlotte I felt like every week took an eternity and with this one I'm shocked every time I realise another week has passed!</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>--Those not interested in maternity clothes resume reading at the bottom of the page.--</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">There isn't much to update except to say that I've nearly grown out of two pairs of maternity jeans. (Though I've still only gained a pound or two. Odd.) I swore I wouldn't buy more maternity clothes this time around amd instead only buy things I can also wear post-baby. I have loads of maternity clothes from my sisters-in-law and loads that I bought last time around but I've had give in and update a few items to keep things interesting. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm currently living in these <a href="http://www.asos.com//Asos-Maternity/Asos-Maternity-Full-Length-Soft-Touch-Legging/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=3107903" target="_blank">charcoal grey maternity leggings</a>, <a href="http://www.hm.com/gb/product/13772?article=13772-A" target="_blank">this dress</a> and <a href="http://www.hm.com/gb/product/07747?article=07747-C" target="_blank">this shirt</a> (both non maternity but in larger sizes than I normally wear). I can easily change it up by pulling a shirt on over the dress to make it look like more of a skirt or can switch things up by adding different cardigans, etc. But honestly, I don't switch it up as often as I should. The uniform is comfy as it is and I still feel like myself (which can be difficult to do in maternity clothes). I also broke down and got another pair of maternity jeans, but hopefully they will get me through to the end!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 15px;">The other maternity clothes issue I'm currently </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">facing is what to wear for some solo gigs I have coming up. I have loads of black that I wore for gigs throughout my last pregnancy, but I don't have anything fun and colourful that I can wear as a soloist. (<a href="http://www.elizabethhungerford.com/Elizabeth_Hungerford/home.html" target="_blank">I sing, by the way.</a>) My current plan is to wear an empire waisted dress that I have and wear some sort of wrap to hide that I can't zip it up in the back (!). But the more I think about that, the more I worry that I'll be more concerned about my wrap slipping than singing the right notes! I could invest in a beautiful maternity gown (like but the thought of buying a dress I can only wear a few times is hard to swallow . . . even thought some of them are really tempting!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tiffanyrose.com/maternity/clothing/LIBB/Liberty-Maternity-Gown-(Blackberry).html" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xa7iyFGTJGc/UixMtCDOGFI/AAAAAAAAFg8/9M0bcEQorFY/s1600/DR152_CobaltBlue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xa7iyFGTJGc/UixMtCDOGFI/AAAAAAAAFg8/9M0bcEQorFY/s320/DR152_CobaltBlue.jpg" width="233" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.isabellaoliver.com/maternity-clothes/uk/100/maternity-dresses/DR152.html" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px;">Other options would be to rent a dress, buy a used one, etc. but I don't know that I want to be bothered. I'll probably end up dressing up a long skirt and dressy top (like <a href="http://www.isabellaoliver.com/maternity-clothes/uk/100/maternity-tops/TP111.html" target="_blank">this gorgeous one</a> I bought to perform in when I was prego with Charlie) with some fun </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px;">jewellery. Any other ideas?</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><b>--Dad, you can resume reading here.--</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px;">The other big news is that we were able to move up the date for the gender scan! We're setting aside any </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">superstitions and accepted a date for Friday the 13th (ack!). Jason and I are going to the appointment together. I wish Charlie could come but she'll be in school! We'll have to think of a fun way of telling her. We keep telling her it could be a boy or a girl and but she still <i>insists</i> that the baby is a girl called Bee. Jason and I both are thinking it may be a boy. We'll find out who was right in less than a week! We can't wait!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">PS: <a href="http://bethiesbabyblog.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/mango-baby.html" target="_blank">Here's what I was up to</a> when I was 19 weeks along with Charlotte!</span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510196070356247596.post-39511825516493841432013-08-30T04:18:00.001-07:002013-09-28T12:45:03.364-07:0018 weeks: loosey goosey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-am7LZOeuqRg/UiB-eBs8ebI/AAAAAAAAFgY/ex00znYgN20/s1600/1150296_10151858566830917_1555961382_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-am7LZOeuqRg/UiB-eBs8ebI/AAAAAAAAFgY/ex00znYgN20/s400/1150296_10151858566830917_1555961382_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
How on earth did two weeks pass from my last post?! I guess time really does fly when you're having fun! <br />
<br />
Charlie has lately become even more fun and entertaining to be around and is already shaping up to be a fantastic big sister. The Belly gets loads of kisses and snuggles and she talks about how she will teach the baby to walk and talk once it comes out of my belly. Sweet thing. <br />
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I've been back to see the midwife and all was well. I'm also feeling a lot more movement from the baby during the day which is such a comfort. As far as symptoms go I've been feeling really good! My food aversions have gone down and I'm eating like it's my job! Apparently my joints have gone all loosey goosey as I briefly dislocated my knee this morning before it loudly popped back into place. Ouch. I was squatting on the floor picking up toys and it just popped out. It reminded me of how I dislocated my finger shortly after Charlotte was born. I had to go to an urgent care clinic and get it popped back into place. Apparently loose joints are caused by a hormone called relaxin that loosens joints and ligaments in the body in preparation for delivery. Looks like it's already doing it's job!<br />
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Still no gender news as my next scan isn't until September 19th! (Truth be told, it was initially scheduled for Friday the 13th of September, but I rescheduled. Who knew I was so superstitious!) If I can't wait that long, the price of getting a private gender scan is now only £40 (as opposed to £80 to get it done before 18 weeks). There is absolutely no rush to find out, but I sure am anxious to know what we're having!! <br />
<br />
PS: <a href="http://bethiesbabyblog.blogspot.co.uk/2010/07/sweet-potato-baby.html" target="_blank">Here's what I was up to</a> when I was 18 weeks along with Charlotte!<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510196070356247596.post-5106960750947852202013-08-16T03:32:00.001-07:002013-09-28T12:46:21.650-07:0016 weeks: ready . . . set . . . <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bkD25poFKc8/Ug3_OWKE3kI/AAAAAAAAFgA/NO2Cx1rq54Q/s1600/photo-28.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bkD25poFKc8/Ug3_OWKE3kI/AAAAAAAAFgA/NO2Cx1rq54Q/s400/photo-28.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is from last week when Jason and I celebrated our ninth wedding anniversary!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
I can't believe how quickly this pregnancy is flying by! I'm already at 16 weeks. That means only four more weeks until we find out the sex of the little one! I'm anxious to find out so I can either start getting rid of Charlotte's old clothes, or organising them to see what we need. (Because shopping and organising is really what having kids is all about, right?) ;)<br />
<br />
Speaking of shopping, since we moved to London when Charlotte was only three-months-old, we ended up getting rid of a lot of the things we used when she was first born: a co-sleeper, swing, bouncy chair, nursing chair, etc. We'll have to replace those and I'd also like to invest in a new batch of cloth diapers. Other than that, there are really just little things we need. Since Charlie is now in a big girl bed, her crib is empty and ready! <br />
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Other than my shopping list, there isn't much to do at this point other than rest when I can and try to keep my iron levels up. (I'm already feeling MUCH less dizzy than I was last week!) I see the midwife again this next week and will give another update after that. <br />
<br />
PS: <a href="http://bethiesbabyblog.blogspot.co.uk/2010/07/avocado-baby.html" target="_blank">Here's what I was up to</a> when I was 16 weeks along with Charlotte!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510196070356247596.post-15599425605703843252013-08-09T09:23:00.004-07:002013-08-09T09:27:41.824-07:00Anemia? Anaemia? Anenome?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2MZ3eZtYJxY/UgUYSrxtBEI/AAAAAAAAFfU/rgVfSauHdRY/s1600/0_0_0_0_496_632_csupload_51603650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2MZ3eZtYJxY/UgUYSrxtBEI/AAAAAAAAFfU/rgVfSauHdRY/s320/0_0_0_0_496_632_csupload_51603650.jpg" width="251" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">(picture from www.freakofnaturefitness.com)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
I have officially hit 15 weeks today! When I was <a href="http://bethiesbabyblog.blogspot.co.uk/2010/07/well-orange-you-cute.html" target="_blank">15 weeks with Charlotte</a> I was still dealing with major dizziness whenever I was in a grocery store. Perhaps it was the high ceilings or simply just the large space, but I got dizzy and nauseous whenever I grocery shopped. I ended up solving the problem by wearing a baseball cap and staring at the floor as much as possible while slow-rolling my cart into whatever lay ahead before resorting to just ordering groceries online! <br />
<br />
I haven't had that problem this time, but I have had dizziness. A lot of dizziness, actually. Every time I stand up, I get so dizzy that my vision sometimes goes black. I therefore wasn't surprised to learn after a recent blood test that I am "severely anemic" (or "anaemic" as they write it here). Oy. I'm now on iron pills and instructed to consume foods that are high in iron (though apparently not in conjunction with foods that are high in calcium as calcium inhibits the absorption of iron. Right.) <br />
<br />
My neighbour is a natural foods chef and nutritionist and she is popping down tomorrow to chat with me about upping my iron without upping my meat (which currently makes me one to upchuck--unless it were an Arby's Roast Beef sandwich which, sadly, I can't get here). She said that vitamin C will help with absorption as well, so I also need to up that. She's going to bring some recipes for me as well. (I LOVE having nice neighbours!) <br />
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PS: A local private ultrasound company offers 16 week gender scans for £80. Is it worth it?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510196070356247596.post-89195969371648988232013-08-08T11:31:00.002-07:002013-09-28T12:49:55.101-07:00Better Late Than Never . . . <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IMuEGhHycBA/UgPjhnZ0hpI/AAAAAAAAFd0/JlUDPsJlM78/s1600/1098373_10151820648160917_2101452817_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="383" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IMuEGhHycBA/UgPjhnZ0hpI/AAAAAAAAFd0/JlUDPsJlM78/s400/1098373_10151820648160917_2101452817_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
When I was pregnant with Charlotte, I dutifully <a href="http://bethiesbabyblog.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">blogged about the pregnancy</a> in detail: what foods I was craving, where I bought my maternity clothes, there was even a post from the delivery room! But this current pregnancy, despite being 15 weeks along, hasn't gotten any of that attention. It isn't because I'm now so busy with a two-year-old that I no longer have time (which would also be true) but because this is actually the fourth pregnancy I've had since Charlotte was born. <br />
<br />
We started trying to conceive a sibling for Charlie over a year-and-a-half ago and it has just been heartache after heartache as we lost our three pregnancies all around six weeks. By the time I was referred to a fertility specialist, I was already pregnant with this current pregnancy, so they couldn't run any tests on me. The doctor suggested, given that I had one healthy pregnancy already and that I have no other risk factors (smoking, drinking, weight, etc.) that I was probably just unlucky.<br />
<br />
Regardless of the reason we lost our other babes, we are thrilled that this current pregnancy is a completely normal and healthy one! I've already had around four or five scans and have gotten to see the little one wiggling around. I was also in yesterday and got to hear the heartbeat again. I'm grateful for all these checkups because it helps me feel less anxious. Though according to the specialist I saw yesterday, there is no reason I should be anxious about losing this pregnancy given that I'm already in the second trimester. At this point, we've told all of our family and friends and are enjoying planning and dreaming about the future! <br />
<br />
Over the next few weeks I'll try to catch up on what I missed during the first 15 weeks of this pregnancy. I'll also write about differences between using private healthcare in the US verses the public (and FREE!) care I'm now receiving with the National Health Trust (NHS) here in London. <br />
<br />
15 weeks down and 25 to go! <br />
<br />
PS: <a href="http://bethiesbabyblog.blogspot.co.uk/2010/07/well-orange-you-cute.html" target="_blank">Here's what I was up to</a> when I was 15 weeks along with Charlotte!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510196070356247596.post-44527549850958643712013-08-08T11:31:00.001-07:002013-09-28T12:48:13.972-07:00Better Late Than Never . . . <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IMuEGhHycBA/UgPjhnZ0hpI/AAAAAAAAFd0/JlUDPsJlM78/s1600/1098373_10151820648160917_2101452817_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="383" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IMuEGhHycBA/UgPjhnZ0hpI/AAAAAAAAFd0/JlUDPsJlM78/s400/1098373_10151820648160917_2101452817_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
When I was pregnant with Charlotte, I dutifully <a href="http://bethiesbabyblog.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">blogged about the pregnancy</a> in detail: what foods I was craving, where I bought my maternity clothes, there was even a post from the delivery room! But this current pregnancy, despite being 15 weeks along, hasn't gotten any of that attention. It isn't because I'm now so busy with a two-year-old that I no longer have time (which would also be true) but because this is actually the fourth pregnancy I've had since Charlotte was born. <br />
<br />
We started trying to conceive a sibling for Charlie over a year-and-a-half ago and it has just been heartache after heartache as we lost our three pregnancies all around six weeks. By the time I was referred to a fertility specialist, I was already pregnant with this current pregnancy, so they couldn't run any tests on me. The doctor suggested, given that I had one healthy pregnancy already and that I have no other risk factors (smoking, drinking, weight, etc.) that I was probably just unlucky.<br />
<br />
Regardless of the reason we lost our other babes, we are thrilled that this current pregnancy is a completely normal and healthy one! I've already had around four or five scans and have gotten to see the little one wiggling around. I was also in yesterday and got to hear the heartbeat again. I'm grateful for all these checkups because it helps me feel less anxious. Though according to the specialist I saw yesterday, there is no reason I should be anxious about losing this pregnancy given that I'm already in the second trimester. At this point, we've told all of our family and friends and are enjoying planning and dreaming about the future! <br />
<br />
Over the next few weeks I'll try to catch up on what I missed during the first 15 weeks of this pregnancy. I'll also write about differences between using private healthcare in the US verses the public (and FREE!) care I'm now receiving with the National Health Trust (NHS) here in London. <br />
<br />
15 weeks down and 25 to go! <br />
<br />
PS: <a href="http://bethiesbabyblog.blogspot.co.uk/2010/07/well-orange-you-cute.html" target="_blank">Here's what I was up to</a> when I was 15 weeks along with Charlotte!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2