Turning of the seasons

OK, so it's still August and technically summer for another month. But it feels like autumn is on its way, and my pregnancy feels like it's turning a corner too. I now have a bump that's visible from several angles, and after a few minor flutters in the last couple of weeks, yesterday I felt some definite tickling just below my tummy button.

I'm feeling more energetic and, after having hid from the world during summer's heatwaves, have managed a few good walks in the cooler weather of the last couple of weekends. On Sunday we strolled through Earlham Park in Norwich, scene of my husband's boyhood cross-country tribulations, and kicked around the not-quite-ripe conkers. Yesterday we walked to Forty Hill and back, a good 3-mile circular walk taking in duck ponds, herb gardens, fields, woods and one dodgy council estate. My new camera-phone's macro mode got a good outing, too.

Strolling through the sunshine, one hand on my tentative bump, the other in my husband's, on a chilled Bank Holiday, I don't think I've ever been so happy.

Baby's first gig

So, at 15 weeks, the littl'un gets to go to its first gig (The Twilight Singers). And given that it is safely hidden in utero, I smuggled it in without having to buy an extra ticket. Bargain.

On the minus side, staying out til 11pm is really beyond me these days and I am frigging knackered. Still, it was a great gig.

One-third of the way there

So, I am 13w6d and - as of yesterday - one-third of the way through my pregnancy. In six months, all being well, I will be holding my baby.

The exhaustion of the first trimester is starting to wear off a teeny bit. I still feel pretty nauseous (mainly at the end of the day when I'm tired) and my sense of smell has become almost overwhelming - it's particularly noxious getting on a packed train where everyone is wearing different perfume / aftershave / deodorant. Also the smell of wine and beer is really awful. Poor old S. is having to make sure he doesn't breathe on me too much in case something makes me feel peculiar.

No movement on the house buy yet, we're waiting for a solicitor's letter before we can send her some money to get things moving. I have a week booked off at the end of Sept and I'm really hoping nothing housey will be taking place then 'cause I desperately want to get out of London and get some fresh air. Feels like hay fever, exhaustion and nausea have kept me (and S.) stuck at home all summer. Now hay fever's gone and exhaustion / nausea are becoming a bit more bearable, I want to get out and about a bit, before I'm too big to waddle anywhere...

Into the second trimester

As of tomorrow I will be 13 weeks pregnant and officially have made it into the second trimester. This is a v relieving feeling because a) risk of miscarriage is now very low and b) apparently some time in the next few weeks I might stop feeling like a big ball of nauseous sleep. All Saturday I felt rubbish but was well enough on Sunday to go to Whipsnade and coo over baby penguins. Main problems at the moment are the gag reflex having gone mad (I can't get through brushing my teeth without getting the dry heaves) and my sense of smell really having gone mad (soap, washing-up liquid, deodorant, garlic, wine and beer all making me feel really unwell if I'm even in the same room).

In other news, we have had an offer accepted on a flat - it's near us and although still 2-bed, has a HUGE living/dining area and a garage that would come in super handy for storage. It's share of freehold so there's some complex legal thingies to be sorted out but hopefully things will all go reasonably smoothly. I would love to be able to stretch out with some more room...

My little foetus...

...who was seen doing handstands and generally tumbling around merrily, at 11 weeks, in my womb this morning.

Heard the heartbeat yesterday when the midwife came round to take my booking info and have a light poke round my abdomen - she found it ever so fleetingly, a fast, woofy beat that then vanished into the general background noise of my insides.

But that was nothing compared with seeing the little blighter happily kicking around in my tum today. All legs, arms, head and heartbeat present = much more relaxed mum-to-be. Enough to tell all the folks at work and the few remaining friends who didn't know / hadn't guessed.

w00t!