Sunday 25 September 2011: Hands that Cradle ...

Just shy of 35 weeks pregnant ...

Amazing, to think that I first contracted at 23 weeks this pregnancy and here we are, baby still cosily ensconced at almost 35 weeks.

I am so, so grateful to have made it this far - anything extra is a bonus! When I carried Finlay, we were in the thick of things by now, in and out of hospital and well on the way to labour ... Finlay was born at 35 weeks + 2 days ... I will never, ever forget the birth of my beautiful boy, makes my heart flip thinking of it!

But this little one is staying put for now, which is absolutely fabulous, as baby still has some growing to do. Last week's growth scan showed baby carrying on along the same centile, just clinging on to the small end of what is medically 'normal range' ... but heading the right way! Bravo, our little star!

I am at the stage of feeling Maaaaaahooooosive now - getting comically breathless when baby is lying a funny way ... and the kicks?! Wow, I may grow them wee, but I grow them strong and feisty! It's a scream, watching and feeling baby wriggle around - there is 'enough' fluid surrounding baby, but not lots, so you really see (and feel!) every tiny movement. Sleep is a distant memory already ... sooo uncomfy and a night owl cartwheeling in utero!

Just as I did with Finlay, I feel so connected to our baby and I'm getting very, very excited about saying hello in person and holding baby in my arms for the first time ... cripes, am emotional wreck, am almost making myself cry with that thought ...

I've been nesting too ... to the point of house-hunting ... I'm not sure that's wise when under the influence of pregnancy hormones?!

Unfortunately, A is off again today, we will see him next on Friday - but thankfully it's only a trip within the UK this time. Grandma (my mum) has stayed on longer to help out, which is brilliant, I'm quite sure I would have driven myself to an early labour by now, were it not for her helping out!

Granny and Grandpa Skye arrive in the morning for a very brief visit and the rest of the week we hope to be basking in this Indian Summer that is promised. It has been beautiful down here this last week, temperatures soared again, but under the sunshine, we are now surrounded by Autumn colours rather than those of summer - it's utterly gorgeous.

My sister came down to see us all this weekend and I asked her to take a few photos of me pregnant ... poor thing signed up for more than she bargained for! First, she had to pose herself, as I directed her through, and shot, the images that I wanted taken and sorted camera out ... then I gave her a crash course in using an SLR ... then it was a case of me leaping back and forth between shots until she got what I wanted ... and I must confess to being rather hard to please ... I fairly put her through her paces! After I edited them up, I showed her her handiwork and she was, quite rightly, rather proud! Thank you, Lisi, you did brilliantly and I'm so happy we have these images to look back on and show to baby in years to come x

And thank you, all of you that have commented recently and checked in to make sure Mamma is still with child! I'm so keen to reply and also to catch up with my journal entries ... Just. So. Tired! The reaction to last week's blip of Finlay with Jim was really special, meant a lot to me as it was an amazing moment to observe.

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