thirty-eight

How far along? 38 weeks. 2 weeks till my due date.
Baby’s Size
Where she is: Head down and still only 4/5 engaged. She has been at this stage since 33 weeks. She needs to get to 0/5.
Feeling: More energetic but in spurts. I have to sit down a lot. I'm getting really excited and feeling less nervous about labour. I'm saying it's going to be fun. 
Update: Since writing this I went to my midwife appointment and there had really high blood pressure 140/90. The midwife got me to wait and have it checked again. I needed to move the car from the 20min spot I had it in so for the next hour or so I ran/drove around getting change for the all day parking zone, realising the zone was full, trying to find a spot on the busy street, going back to the parking zone, getting crazy flustered and bursting into tears in the car, trying to breathe and calm down because "HECK I'm pregnant and have high blood pressure." Driving back to the 20 min zone, illegally parking and going back to the birth centre. And you will never guess but my blood pressure was 130/80 Not heaps low but not a worry. I was doing a lot of praying as I drove around. It pretty much worked. ;)

Belly Button: flat and dark. I wonder what it will look like when my belly goes back.
Gender: girl
Movement: She's moving but not very far. I keep feeling little feet and hands and bottoms poking out everywhere.
Sleep: Pretty good. I've only been waking once and having nice sleep ins. Sometimes it's tricky to get to sleep cos I sit staring at our little girls empty cot getting excited.
Symptoms: heartburn and very swollen feet and hands. We have had a few cooler days which stops the itching and swelling but I can go for a five minute walk and have feet that burst out of my Birkenstocks.

Labour Signs: Felt like I was going to vomit yesterday. I hate vomiting so I stopped myself but apparently this is a baby coming soon sign. (I think it might be a baby coming either today or the next few weeks sign so not really all that telltale.) Some of the little ones movements I have realised may have actually been Braxton Hicks contractions. My belly gets all tight at the top for a bit. I thought it was just her poking around. Who knows?
Best Moments this week: The thought that has been in my mind the whole time that she really can come at any moment!

Food Aversions: no but I have been coughing a lot when I eat. As if the food is going down the wrong hole.
Food Cravings: Haven't really had a huge appetite. I'm eating loads of fruit.
What I miss: My mama. I get to see her this weekend!

What I am Looking forward to: Baby shower on the weekend. If you are reading this and would like to come let me know and I'll tell you the deets.
Milestones: Full term. There are no more milestones other than baby in arms stone.

number 93! Thanks for the votes. Keep clicking. 

the mamas mama

This is my mama. Isn't she beautiful? She is going to be a grandmama soon. I've got a sneaking suspicion she is a little excited. Correct me if I'm wrong.

My mama is pretty wonderful. I wrote about her here for her birthday.

My mama is a super midwife. She has been my pregnancy hotline for the past 9 or so months. She was the third person to know about our little one. (Me, Myl, Mum.)

My mama is going to be there when the little one comes into the world unless she is delivering other babies or the little one comes in less than 3 hours. (The time it takes my mama to drive to Sydney.)

I've done loads of things with my mama over the years but I think this one will be the best.

after the babe

I got just a little bit excited about jeans the other day.
I was hanging out at the shopping centre where Myl works waiting for him to finish and I was looking it this really great clothes outlet. It's a factory outlet shop of a whole heap of nice brands. They had a table of Levi jeans that were priced from 20 dollars.

I was getting a little excited about having a waist that fits into jeans again. Just before my belly started to explode I had ripped a big hole in my jeans but didn't worry because I wouldn't be wearing them for the next few months. I invested in some not incredibly fashionable but very comfortable maternity jeans from target and wore those while the weather was still chilly. But now. It's going to be winter soon. I'm going to have a waistline soon. I'ma gonna get myself some jeans.


This got me thinking about all the other things I get to do once I have a little one on the outside and not on the inside.

I can eat sashimi again! This is pretty exciting. I have already placed my order for a large serving of sushi from the Japanese restaurant near the hospital.

I can eat ham! Not that I'm the biggest ham fan but ruling out the deli meat food group can make group or camp lunches very boring.

I can sleep on my tummy. Oh sweet tummy sleeping.

I can run and jump and dance and bend over and go on long walks. In short I will be movable. I will have a little friend to be movable with as well. If she is on the floor I can sit on the floor with her. We can go for walks. My feet and hands will go back to being a normal size and will stay that way on said walks and I won't feel like a beached whale whilst getting out of the bath.

I can hug Myles front on. Right now there is a belly in the way so I have to tilt to the side.

I only have to go to the doctor if I'm sick. We'll be going for the little one's checkups but not for me! No stinky blood tests, swabs, being poked and prodded by the doctor.



Don't get me wrong, I have love love LOVED having my little girl growing and moving inside of me but this time shall pass and I might as well get excited about it.

lazy risotto

I had never eaten risotto till a few years ago and I love it!
I'm a bit of a rice fan.


The first risotto I cooked was a chicken and mushroom one. I slaved over a hot stove pouring in a bit of stock and then stirring pouring and stirring, pouring and stirring till I had all the stock soaked into the risotto. It made quite a tasty dish but I must confess I am a bit of a low maintenance cook. I have been known to cook dinner while doing many other things and this means I am often burning, neglecting or overcooking my meals.

So here are two risotto recipes where you just put all your ingredients in the pot, pop it in the oven, cook and serve. Love it!

Chicken and Pumpkin Risotto
This recipe was given to me by a friend called Liv. I don't have any photos but I have made it twice.

1 cup arborio rice
2.5 cups chicken stock
30g butter (optional)
350g Kent pumpkin chopped coarsely
500g chicken breast or thigh cubed
1 tbsp parsley

Add all the above in an oven proof dish raw and cook on 190 C with no lid for about 30-40 minutes or until rice is cooked.

Stir through 1/2 cup parmesan cheese and serve.

Leftover Tomato Soup Risotto

This is one I made with some leftover homemade tomato soup I had in the freezer. It was taking up a lot of precious freezer space and I really didn't want to throw it out. You could use tinned tomatoes and/or vegetable stock.

1 cup aborio rice
2.5 cups thawed out frozen soup. 
handful of mushrooms chopped
1/2 chopped onion
1/2 cup frozen peas
vegetable stock cube
salt and pepper

You could also add other vegetables, bacon or whatever you like.

put all ingredients into an ovenproof dish and cook for 30-40 mins till the rice is cooked and the liquid has been soaked up.

Add some parmesan cheese and serve with garlic bread.