Come on now - enough already :-)

Well to be completely honest I am done with the waiting. The months have now ticked down to weeks, and soon it will be days, and then it will be hours! But I am done with pregnancy. I want the next part of the adventure to start. Being patient is all very good. Waiting is fine - but only for so long.

We have the names chosen, we have done the classes, we have nappies. Come on - bring it on :-)

I can't wait to see a reflection of us in the little eyes. I can't wait for cuddles.

Finished work!!

I am now into the final stretch! After barely managing at work recently through tiredness and aches, I gave in and saw our GP on Tuesday. As I told him how I was feeling, he said he didn't understand why pregnant women try to work beyond 32 weeks! So at 31 + 3 I was signed off from work until next week when my annual leave, then maternity leave kicks in. I was instructed to catch up on my sleep and to relax!

It has only been 2 days, but the feeling of relief is immense. I am so happy to be able to potter around, to continue preparing for Edge to arrive and to be able to stop and take it easy when I need to...just spend time with Edge. 

The thought of not working for a year is odd. The thought that I may not work again for longer is even more odd. I truly never believed that I would be in this position. I am going to have a very different full time job soon and I have never been so excited!

Kick Counter - September

Kicking - September 

01/09 

08:45 couple of kicks as I woke up

10:00 wiggles after I went to the toilet, then 6 movements sat up in bed

10:45 bigger wriggles and nudges after breakfast for 10 minutes, incl hiccups.

11:30, 11:37 - kicks.

12:25 - kicked when R talking to bump!

13:30 - kick on ball.

14:10 - hiccups then 3 x kick and light flutters.

17:22, 17:32, 17:34 (doppler), 17:38, 17:43 - kicks.

18:10 - low movements & 1 kick.

19:15 - kick x 2.

19:25 - wiggle.

19:35 - hiccups.

19:55, 20:30, 20:42 - kicks.

21:20 - low & backward kicks/ moves (?7) for 15 mins.

22:00 - more kicking low & back for 10 mins.

23:11 - kick x 3 over 10 mins. 

23:35 - increase in moves, turns & kicking.

02/09 

Active night. Woken twice by kicking. 

07:00 - 07:45 - kicking when alarm went off, then whilst getting up & eating breakfast, then hiccups. 

09:00, 09:15, 09:25, 09:55, 10:30, 10:50, 11:35, 11:55, 12:34.

13:10, 13:27,  lunch.

13:38 - 14:00 - wiggles & kicks (x 4) at lunch.

Regular throughout afternoon. 15:20, 15:32, 15:55, 16:15

18:15, 18:30, 18:45, 19:02, 19:06

More throughout evening.

21:45 - big wriggles after ice cream!!

22:15 onwards - wriggles, kicks, bumps in bed. At least 10 in an hour? 

03/09

04:00 - kicks for 30 mins!

09:15, 09:44, 10:30, 10:35, 11:00, 11:10, 11:30, 12:25

13:15 - after lunch, sat in staff room. 13:20 big kick or turn? 13:29, 13:31, 13:35, 13:39, 13:46, squirms & kicks. 13:49 moving then 2 x kick, continued to move, more on right side than usual (able to feel head/bottom), 14:02.

Back in office 14:33, 14:48, 15:00, 15:34, 15:55, 

17:10 - Movements in car on way home.

18:00 - kick x lots and big moves. 

Occasional moves during evening. 

21:00 - 21:30 kicks, turns. Approx 8 in 30 mins. 

23:00 - kicks & turns at bedtime. 

04/09 

07:00 - 3 x kicks as I woke up.

07:30 - wiggles as I ate breakfast.

08:30 - bigger kicks & wiggles in car for 15 mins.

Work day - regular movements all day. 2 per hour average. 

20:30 - 22:00 8 kicks after dinner.

23:00 - wriggles & swishes , occasional kick & hiccups!

05/09

04:00 - kicks, some big moves.

05:30 - couldn't sleep, got up & ate, kicks.

07:15 - wriggles & nudges with hot choc.

08:00 - 09:30 - kicks during drive and more with squirms on arrival at work.

Morning - movements throughout, 2/3 per hour. 

13:15 - 13:45 kicks during lunch break. 

13:45 - turn & big kick, followed by nudges. 

15:00, 15:12, kicks. Continued for rest of afternoon. 

19:00 - kicks for 20 mins. 

20:15 - bigger kicks for 10 mins. 

21:30 - kicks & turns, incl 2 big kicks. 

23:00 - in bed, lots of wriggling for 30 mins. 

06/09

13:38 - 3 x kicks, then wiggles in 5 mins. Continued wiggles / nudges for 30 mins. 

14:45 - moves, rolls. 

15:00 - big wriggles & rolls. 

15:55 - hiccups & kicks for 15 mins. 

16:28, 16:39, 16:44, 16:58,

Evening 21:00 kicks after dinner, then in bed 23:00 - 0:00.

07/09

Morning - Kicks at least 2/3 per hour. A couple of bigger nudges. 

Bath - 2 kicks after. Hiccups. 

15:00 - lunch. 3 kicks. 

15:43 - 4 bigger kicks. 

17:00 - 17:45 lots of kicks, moves etc

Active evening. Big kicks, rolls at bedtime. 

08/09

04:45 - hiccups and 4 kicks in 15 mins. Continued moves for an hour - kept me awake!

08:15 - kicks & wriggles. Then hiccups & kicks at 08:35. Continued moves for an hour. 

Kicks throughout morning. In shower & dressing 12:00.

Afternoon quieter but still occasional move ? Sleeping?

19:30 movements started up more regularly. 

20:20 - hiccups & kicks over 20 mins. 

21:30 - a couple of rolls watching film. 

23:20 - 3 rolls, followed by 5 stronger, juddery kicks. A couple of lighter kicks as I went to sleep. 

09/09

05:30 - big kicks, rolls etc for 30 mins. 

06:30 - 07:45 lots of movement, kicks, turns, continued until 09:20.

10:10 - low wiggles & hiccups which lasted 15 mins. 

11:15 - rolls & kicks for 10 mins. 

11:36, 11:38, 11:57, 12:00, 12:09-12:12 bigger, 12:25, 12:42, 12:51, 12:57, 13:07, 13:11.

13:50, 14:25, 14:29, 14:34, 14:41, 14:54, 15:48, 16:09, 16:31

17:00 - hiccups & kicks

Evening - antenatal class. Occasional moves then rolling. 

22:00 - regular kicks in bed but not as vigorous as in past. 

23:00 - bigger moves started. 

Pains 13:10, 13:13, 13:35, 15:25, 15:45, 

10/09

04:30 can't sleep. Baby starts to kick. 

05:05 hiccups and moves for 10 mins. 

07:20 kicks woke me up then continued every few mins until 09:00.

09:43, 09:54, 10:10, 10:21, 10:46, 11:02

11:16 hiccups 

Last Night - Antenatal Class - Round 1

It's been a little while since I have written. It feels like ages but really in the grand scheme of things it probably hasn't been that long.

Time at the moment is a funny thing. It's a mixture of waiting for the big day and trying to make the most of now. Making the most of now is a strange one. It's not like you can go and do everything. Ever since we found out that Jo is pregnant things have changed. You can't decide, not that I would, that we are going to enjoy the last few months of it just being the two of us by going mad on the town, going on a pub crawl, doing the theme park rounds. In fact even the thought of going away at the moment is tricky. It requires far more organisation. But then, to be honest, that doesn't all really matter. When you are with someone you are quite happy just being with you don't need to change the scenery. Being is enough.

Aside from making the most of this time there is the preparation. The buying, organising, painting - I guess it's what males of all sorts of species do - I guess it's nesting. Once again the news that Jo is pregnant sent me in to a spin - researching, deciding, looking and then buying. That's all done now. We are as good as ready with all of the stuff. I am sure there is plenty more stuff we could get but we have everything that we need.

And so now we wait. I wait. This feels a little bit like the doldrums of an event. I know there is plenty of stuff going on inside Jo's body, but for me there is not a great deal happening. It's far enough away from the initial excitement of finding out, but not quite close enough to getting geared up for the birth.

I will probably look back and read this someday and think you plonker but for here and for now I feel pretty ready.

That was until last night - the first antenatal class.

It didn't change my feeling of readiness but it all started to become quite real again. 

At present I am sitting in McDonalds in Croydon. I have a latte, I have my iPad which I am writing this on, I am listening to chicane on my iPhone. My first appointment cancelled. I am waiting to go to my 12:30. There is nothing to do with pregnancy, birth, etc around me. This is my day job. It's sometimes possible to forget - only briefly though.

Last night we split into groups to talk about support. In one group were the bumps and in the other group were the blokes. We talked - some are scared, some, like me, are looking forward to it. Then we  joined back with the bumps. There was Jo sitting in amongst 7 other bumps. I know she is concerned and aware of her size relative to others but from where I was, and from a man's perspective all of the bumps looked like 'pregnant bumps.' All of them were subconsciously rubbing or holding their bumps. When we first got there at the beginning of the meeting there was a lot of defensive body language - sceptical looks, blokes with folded arms. The bumps couldn't fold their arms due to the bump - but there was a lot of reassuring rubbing and holding of the bumps. Probably without even realising it they were subconsciously protecting their young. They were being mothers. And there in the group was Jo. My Eli. My wife. My wife with a bump. My heart was bursting with pride, with love, and with thanks that the day I never though would happen - happened.

So now we know that there are others I the same sort of boat as we are in. Hopefully some will become friends. It seems like a nice group. The group leader - Victoria - is brilliant, very dry sense of humour.

I think I am about done with the waiting. It will be exactly months to the due date on Monday. I don't want to wish any time away but I feel like I am getting very close to being ready for this next adventure.....

First antenatal class

Last night we went to our first NCT antenatal class at Nackington village hall. We were joined by 7 other couples. For the first time we were surrounded by other women with bumps. 

We went with no expectations or preconceptions other than hoping to maybe make some new friends or at least find some support for the next few months. I think initial impressions were good. Everyone seemed friendly and equally overwhelmed by the enormity of the impending arrivals. 

We are due the latest out of the whole group, although going by the size of my bump at the moment I'm not sure that we will be last!

Scan 30th August

On Friday 30th August as a treat at the end of the summer holidays we decided to go to Babyscan in Ashford for a 4D scan. We had Josh and Grandma & Grandpa Coombes with us so they could also see Edge. 

We went in first for the sonographer to check that Edge was well and to see our baby's face for the first time. I don't think anything could have prepared me for the overwhelming emotion I felt seeing our baby's face. 

The others then joined us in the room and were able to see Edge too. Edge was doing some great yoga moves with legs up in front of face! 

I know I am going to be biased but I think Edge is beautiful. It is amazing to see such detail of the face, even to recognise some of our features. It has made me all the more excited to meet our baby.