He calls me Obelix

Yes, my sweet darling, my hubbie, to be calls me Obelix when seeing me in my maternal clothes. That's so sweet of him, is it not? Well not really. When I put on my maternal stockings on Saturday he laughed and said it was only the stripes and braids missing. Thank you very much. Not. ;-) Is that really so clever to say to the woman who is carrying your child?

Today I'm wearing my black leggins I bought earlier. I'm going to see my mother who is currently staying in town, because her boyfriend is sick in the hospital. I hate hospitals, but I really have to go. If not for her sake. She's the only one who can be with him all the time.

On Saturday we were celebrating the fact that N and H had become wife and wife. It was a great party and we had lots of fun, getting home rather late. I still haven't gotten over it. ;-) I really can't be out as late as I used to! ;-)

what is Peanut doing in there?

Sometimes I wonder what the little one is up to in the belly. Peanut has now gone from being a kick boxer to a, I don't know, a flamenco dancer? I get kicks and hits everywhere at once! It is best portraited by the dancing baby of course. I can easily picture Peanut looking like this:

Sometimes I have to tell the little one to slow down in there. I can't concetrate on my work! ;-) I sent my darling, who is ill btw, to the library yesterday since he was going that way anyways. I got me a really good pregnancy book that I've been recommended by a couple of friends. It seems really good so far. A bit more lighthearted than other books.

Today I'm going shopping. I have a gift certificate for Lindex that is burning in my pocket. I need to get some stockings made for preggos and then I can spend the rest on baby clothes. That's gonna be sooo easily done! ;-)

w 26 - Kick off in the belly!

You can really tell that Peanut's muscles have been growing stronger. S/he usually wakes up when I do during the night, and when I get back from the toilet s/he makes me aware s/he's in there with three quick kicks in the side. :) Then I can fall asleep again with a smile on my face.

The good news is that my so called chocolate craving has passed. The bad news is that yesterday I suffered two blasts of low blood sugar, render me very weak and feeling nauseous. But after two cookies I was ok again. I really need to remember to bring fruit with me on my way home.

Week 26: Eye see YOU!
Peanut: At long last, your little swimmer can see the womb! Your miracle’s little eyelids have finally separated (they were fused closed previously) and they’re probably having their first moments of sight as you read this (or maybe it already happened while you were brushing your teeth or watching Oprah or something). In addition to seeing their little studio in your belly, they’ve recently acquired the ability to say “yes” and “no” in rudimentary sign language as they can now move their head back and forth. This is also the time where your little super star’s head hair is starting to grow! A cute little cowlick or two may be springing into position right now, getting ready for years of cute-but-stubborn bed-head. Also, their toenails have grown in and you little raisin continues to slowly pile up fat beneath their still-loose skin. Most importantly, brain tissue and neurons are all developing at a rapid pace, increasing their (genius-level?) brain activity and will continue to function at accelerated levels for the first seven to eight years of childhood!

Me: This is the final week of your second trimester. We won't go on and on about the joys of constipation, but if you’re curious why you’ve got to put up with this much-less-than-fun blockage, it’s basically because you’re producing higher levels of progesterone, which relaxes muscle tissue throughout you’re producing higher levels of progesterone, which relaxes muscle tissue throughout your entire body, including the G.I. tract and ultimately slows digestion down… waaaay down. Not to fear, there are plenty of natural remedies for the joys of constipation, including: increasing your standard fiber intake with fruits and veggies, oatmeal, or whole grains (such as millet, rye and wheat). Another way to get things moving "down there" is to get yourself moving! If you haven’t been very active, try putting some time in walking or swimming. Increasing your general activity levels often inspires a bowel movement without requiring a suppository. Many women also experience restless and jittery legs during the second half of pregnancy. It’s a common condition known as Restless Leg Syndrome (or RLS—not a very creative name). Cutting out caffeine, stretching your calf muscles slowly, and some nice and deep muscle massages are generally effective ways to help deal with RLS.

Peanut is kicking in the belly!

I manage to capture Peanut kicking in my belly on film! :) Sweet!

Less than a 100 days!

Oh darn it, I missed the 100 days mark yesterday! Oh, well, shit happens. Time has just flown by recently. It's kind of cool, but a bit frightening regardless. I really need to start shop for babystuff now! ;)

Yesterday I was, as the pregnant lady that I am, out and about until half past two in the morning! We started with Afternoon Tea with M and C at Lady Hamilton. Really stuffed myself with scones, marmalades and cookies. Took a stroll through the Old Town in Stockholm afterwards, looking at tourists and in some stores. After that it was time for me to got to Gröna lund to meet H for her Hennight. We did pentathlon and I managed to win at least one of the games! The one that you have to hit logs that comes up out of holes! No, no hidden aggressions here. ;) We had a really good time and I finally got to eat a Langos. It's an Hungarian speciality, very tasty, but probably very unhealthy seeing as it's deep fried bread with stuff on it! ;) I did go on two attractions, The Blue train and The Lovetunnel, while the unpregnant went for Kvasten and Jetline. I really wanted to go on something more eventful, but Peanut is too little yet.

After the amusement park we went home to J. We had planned on buying some food to cook on the way, but all the grocery stores were closed so we had to order take out. We went to Vapiano, an Italian restaurant with a different concept. Very chic and sooo good food! Home at J's it Singstar was on the schedule. It was really fun and entertaining, though the songs that we got was really hard. But we had loads of fun anyways. It was a really successful night on the whole. The bride was happy and we were happy. Just as it should be!

Today I feel that I was up on my feet for most of the day yesterday. So I'm taking it really easy today! ;)

w 25 - and a stretch mark!

Yes, it is true. The first stretch mark is now visible on my belly. Darn it. Of course I knew they would come eventually, but I hoped I would be spared. But no. There it is.


I was at the prenatal clinic yesterday. Got to listen to the heartbeat, checked my blood sugar and HB again. It looked just fine. I do not need extra irontablets. My bloodpressure was fine. It was nice to hear the baby's heart again. Not that I'm worried, but still. I had only gained another two kilos since last time. Felt good. Though I'm in a bit of a sweetstreak now. Almost craving chocolate. I'm trying very hard to resist. It doesn't work all the time.


Peanut seems to be more calm at the moment. Perhaps it's because I've felt at ease for a couple of days. I guess they react to mom's temper also. Right now I'm just enjoying the pregnancy as much as possible. ;)

Week 25 - Turn it around... and around
Peanut: Your little grower’s physical proportions are evening out at this point and most of their remaining development will largely be weight gain and lots and lots of nervous system development. The good news is: if your child is born premature now they’ll be more likely to survive without too much trauma as their lungs began to produce “surfactant” last week, which means their tiny respiratory system is getting stronger with each passing day. Yes, now’s a good time for a minor sigh of relief and a quick pat on the back. All that hard work and conscientious living is really getting your child prepared for a healthy delivery. Keep up the fabulous work mama! This week they’ll be scootching slowly out of the old breech position and start rotating (already!) into a better position for exit during their birth. Their head and feet are slowly rotating so that the head is pointed down towards the birth canal. Time is short (or really long, depending on who you ask)—just (still!) 14 weeks left before you can go back to being a single-resident human.

Me: Trimester two is finally almost over, which means you have that one final trimester of pregnancy to enjoy (and suffer through). You could celebrate this landmark passage by purchasing some piece of clothing designed to make your curvy body look as gorgeous and classy as possible... and don’t let the price tag stop you, this is an act of self-love not book-keeping. But before you max out your credit card, remember: you’re only going to get larger, so buy smart. Speaking of larger, you’re obviously carrying more weight now and your back is going to let you know. Don’t let this get you down or make you feel like a weakling—it all comes with the territory of being preggers. Try to practice good posture—it will alleviate some of the back fatigue as slouching is actually harder on your back. It’s also common for women to experience leg cramps during this period. Go ahead, strong arm someone who loves you into giving you a massage. Or if you're lucky enough to have the extra bucks, head to a spa that specializes in pregnancy massages and get the full-treatment.

You may have already noticed that your hair seems fuller, thicker, more plentiful and darker-- especially your body hair. There are two basic reasons for this: 1) you're shedding much less (head) hair than you usually do and 2) your body's hormones contribute to the way your body hair is growing right now. Not to worry, all the hairiness will return to normal after you've delivered your baby.

Thank God it's Friday!

You have no idea how long I've longed for the weekend. Seriously, I've been waiting since Tuesday. That's not right is it? But I've been waking up just before my darlings alarm goes off in the morning all week now. It's really annoying. There's nothing else I love more in the morning than just be able to turn and sleep on. But when I wake just 20 minutes before I'm supposed to go up, I'm never able to fall asleep again. And further more, I always wake up some time between half past two and half past three every night and have a very hard time falling asleep again. There are so many thoughts rummaging through my head these days that I cannot really relax. There's things we need to get for the baby, but since we don't know yet if we are moving or not there's really no use in buying a lot of stuff. I called the other couple yesterday but there was no answer. It would be so nice to move before Peanut arrives.

I have begun to wonder if it isn't time to start playing a song for Peanut everyday. Something for s/he to recognise once s/he's out. But how do you choose? I mean we are both listening to hard rock, Maiden and stuff and is that really suitable for a baby? Does it really matter? Would it be better if I sang a lullaby? What would you do?

Since I lack energy this weekend will be very calmly spent at home. Maybe I'll do some baking. I really need to do some shopping also, but I think we'll go right after work to day actually, just to have the weekend free...

w 24 and I am leaking

111 days to go to due date. Time flies when you are having fun. ;) I have started leaking also. I woke up this morning with wet spots in bed. Hmm... Not sure if that is a good thing or not.

The weekend was spend with my future father in law, I was taking it easy on the couch most of the weekend while the men were out in the forest mushroom picking or fixing cars. We went to see my darling's grandparents and his mother. His grandparents seems more excited about the fact that they're getting a great grandchild than his mother becoming a grandmother. She didn't even ask how I was doing. *mumbles*


Week 24: Breathe baby, breathe!
Peanut: This is another big week for your magical growing baby! Just take a look at the checklist for this week: 1) ears: done; 2) fingernails: done; 3) (if you have a boy) testicles: taking their 3-4 day trip from the abdominal wall to the scrotum; and 4) lungs walls: secreting “surfactant”. What’s that? Well, surfactant is sort of what it sounds like: a surface-activated fat whose main purpose is to assist the your baby's little lungs during inflation (as in, filling with air, not getting more expensive). Just in case you’re curious, your submerged baby is still breathing in amniotic fluid, preparing and rehearsing the lungs an oxygen-filled life outside the womb. By the end of this week, your child will be weighing around 2 lbs and 14 inches long. Your cutie-patootie may even be a little more plump, but isn't anywhere near their full baby-fatted cute-self. Most of the “filling out” is coming up in that long awaited (and slightly dreaded?) third trimester. Woo-hoo! Get ready!

Me: Your little one is moving (spinning, kicking, pirouetting, shimmying, and maybe even doing a bit of the Can-Can) so much these days that if you invite your friends and/or family to touch your belly there’s a good chance they’ll get a milder sample of what you’ve been experiencing . You’ve may have experienced the oddity that is strangers who feel a protruding pregnant belly is public property and a silent invitation for belly touching. We recommend taking the belly-touching calmly and if it really offends you, just say something like: “I just fell in a large vat of anthrax.” Or perhaps something a little less aggressive, like, “Please, at the very least, ask me before touching my body.” Still, there are many women who enjoy sharing this touching ritual with others. Find your comfort zone and good luck with the rest.

Scary stuff you should be aware of: The danger of getting preeclampsia (a.k.a. Toxemia) during pregnancy is significantly higher and is characterized by significant swelling of the hands and face, excessive weight gain, blurry vision with severe headaches or abdominal pain. Obviously, swelling is common during pregnancy, but should be monitored closely, and sudden ongoing swelling to the hands and face could be a concern. Talk with your physician for more information. Preeclampsia can also be diagnosed by high blood pressure and the presence of certain proteins in your urine. Again, high blood pressure alone does not mean you are affected, but it might be something you and your physician will want to/need to monitor throughout your pregnancy. Preeclampsia can prevent the placenta from receiving enough blood, thus depriving your baby of essential nutrients and lower oxygen levels, possibly resulting in low birth weights and other problems. There are several websites dedicated to preeclampsia education such as: http://www.preeclampsia.org/.

23 full weeks - I need some sleep!

Due to my pelvis pain I'm having trouble sleeping. It hurts when I turn in bed, it hurts when I stand on one leg putting on trousers... What shall I do? Tonight I will try to sleep with a extra pillow under my side because it goes numb when I lay to long on the same side. Very uncomfortable, I can tell you! If that doesn't help I'm forced to lay on our extra inflatable bed instead, because I know our mattress is quite hard. Well, at least my darling doesn't have to be woken up my snoring at night! ;-) That is a plus I guess.

The belly keeps on growing rapidly. I'm half in shock every time I catch my image in a mirror and there's a big bump in the front! Peanut is really lively in there, boxing and kicking away. It's now possible to feel it from the outside. But still Peanut is shy from his/hers father. I can't tell you how much I long for it to be December and due date! I want to meet the little one in my belly like, yesterday! ;-)

Week 23: Dancing baby alert!
Peanut: At this point you’ve pretty much adjusted to the fact you’ve got a moving little gymnast inside of you, but now they’re going to kick up the party a notch because they can hear and react to sounds from the outside world. Sounds from your alarm clock, a thunder roll, or that darned car honking at you across the intersection can actually jar their little ears enough to elicit a kick or violent bout of squirming. Of course this also means that their little ears are picking up the sounds of your voice and those near you. So go ahead, sing a lullaby to your little angel—if they start kicking, it’s likely they just want you to stop… or maybe it was a kick of approval? You decide. Your baby's tiny taste buds are still growing and their bones are continuing to ossify (harden), their tiny veins are visible through their translucent yet wrinkly skin. (Think of it this way: they’ve been swimming in the equivalent of a long hot bath for the past 23 weeks, so you can’t blame them for being a little prune-like.)

Me: If no one warned you about the joys of the pregnancy-sleep-challenge, you’ve probably already started to discover just how difficult it can be to find adequately comfortable sleeping positions. The good news is: some people actually invented pillows specifically designed to give a pregnant woman a better chance of sleeping through the night. There are a variety of different designs, but inevitably you’ll want some sort of belly support as well as a body pillow between your legs and under your belly to relieve a bit of the discomfort you're sure to be experiencing right now. If you choose to buy the (rather spendy) pregnancy pillows they've got on the market, make sure you keep the receipt as some women still have problems sleeping and fare better with their own unique pillow collection and set-up.

As if there's not enough to keep track of already, are you remembering to drink lots of fluids? Plenty of good ol’ fashioned H20 (water) can help reduce swelling in your poor ankles and feet-- resulting from the pressure your now over-sized uterus is putting on your pelvic veins, thereby slowing fluid circulation to the lower half of your body. Also, if you want to further reduce the dreaded appearance of pregnancy “cankles” (calf-ankles) try to avoid sitting for long periods of time—and for the hundredth time: don’t forget to stay active! Keeping your fluid intake up is also good for your little resident swimmer as dehydration is frequently connected with premature birthing. Yep, it’s a lot of responsibility, but you can do it! You’re almost two-thirds of the way there already! Keep up the good work mom!

I'm sick...

I woke up with a very sore throat on Saturday. No house warming party for us. :( But I found out that our friends are having a baby late April. That was fun! Congrats!

But back to me, little ole me. Sneezing with a runny nose and coughing my lounges out. Well, not entirely true, but it feels like it. I'm home from work of course, lying on the couch feeling utterly sorry for myself. Will be home tomorrow as well. My throat still hurts and I think I have a fever. NOt fun at all. Especially since I've begun experiencing pains in the pelvis area due to the gaining weight and growing uterus. Not fun at all. I've been wining about not having enough symptoms before, and now it's payback time as it seems. Well, thank you for that!