Maternity Photoshoot. ..feel like a star!

I got a maternity photoshoot voucher from Destination Maternity back when I was somewhere in my 3rd month.

Last night we went on board with Ian (Scottish Sr. Professional Photographer of Pink Pepper Studio of Dubai Mall) and it was fun for me and my hubby.  We go for a black and white theme for classic look. I even bared my tummy (glad didn't have any stretch marks). Hubby bought a Monsoon sparkly red baby shoes for Peanut as props too.

In the old times pregnancy photos are prohibited by the old people in my culture due to some myths. However, I was quite glad that we can document our first bump quite nicely without fear of offending the old people. xoxo

She Got the Moves

I have often wish to write about my pregnancy journey but somehow, I didn't get the urge to do so. Therefore, at 28 weeks, Peanut is truly amazing and her fetal movements are now available for my husband's entertainment.

I can feel her hiccups and the pulsation she is creating inside my stomach. Her kicks on my bladders (which she got the habit of doing so once I am on the service bus travelling home and making me give the best effort I could muster to stop myself from peeing on my pants). Yes, it getting more wonderful everyday... feeling her move around when the shouting at the office starts in the morning ( I work in construction site, therefore these shouting are considered normal form of communication).

I can feel my belly-button starting to pop out slowly and people started asking if my due date is around the corner or if I got twins. Apparently due to my petite frame, my belly looks like a giant watermelon. Yes, I can sympathize with Jabba the Hutt nowadays... I happen to waddle like a penguin more and more as each days pass by. 

During bed time, hubby places his hands on my belly and Peanut will do her jiggly dance...that somewhat starts to resemble like a judo karate moves. She knows her daddy's hands, I guess. I told hubby that Peanut is a showoff... of course, he didn't agree with my statement. He tells me that Peanut is unconscious of her movements thus she cannot be, will never be a show off. Well, I reckon she can sense if daddy's back from work or his hands on my belly because she moves a lot... whereas when its me talking to her softly... she just do a bit and that's all I get. A daddy's girl in the making. :)

Peanut Travels the World

Currently on my 28th week and wishing for a snowy vacation somewhere in Europe. After some cajoling, I managed to secure a travel certificate from my OB. Hubby and I were planning to go to Georgia (I've been there in 2014 with my friends) and I am excited to do the bookings and plan for this last hurray vacation where there will be just the two of us (technically three...but nonetheless Peanut doesnt count yet). Then my OB reminded us in case Peanut decided to join the outside world in Gudauri (its very hard to give birth on a mountain of snow) the medical help will be a long way and will endanger the baby.

Something clicked in and hubby decided to play it safe. We will not go anymore...and there goes my dream of making another mini snowman and breathe the fresh, cold mountain air untainted by human pollution. My asthma was getting worse so another respiratory doctor prescribed me Combivent (note: dont take when your pregnant unless the doctor says so!) and Pulmicort to help me breathe. Thus, a morning and evening nebulizer session materialized. 

I am not being selfish or what, but I feel that Peanut will be a good girl and stay warm inside me. I have been talking to her to stay 12 more weeks so Daddy and I can have a nice, quiet vacation. I do strongly feel she wanted a vacation and fresh air too... but then again, people are mortified with the idea of a preggy lady on a plane. So I guess, I have to let go of the vacation dream.... and be contented waiting for another 12 weeks for Peanut's grand arrival. Somehow, there is still a lot of stuff needed to be arranged and cleaned to ensure the house is free from harmful dusts and mites that may harm the baby. My lovely and sweet hubby promised me that we will bring Peanut with us next time and will be christened in Georgia. 

So better safe than sorry...no more plane rides for me until Peanut arrives. For now, I have to content myself that Peanut did went to two countries already (technically speaking....err writing? She have been to Seychelles, Africa and turkey even before she finished the first trimester...tough baby eh?) prior to her arrival to the world. My best guess is, she will also be a travel fanatic like me.

Getting Ready

Im on my 27th week now and Peanut is moving a lot... not that I am complaining. Especially when my hubby's hands are on my tummy on the location where her head is, she will start to show off her judo moves.

We went around to look for Peanut's stuff and a friend of mine insists I should have a baby shower so I wont need to buy stuff. Well, it on the plan in November once I reached 32 weeks, inshallah. We also opened a file now in government hospital as per my OB's advice in case I have preterm labor. So basically, we have 2 hospitals to go to, the private (if Peanut is a good girl and came out on her due date, then she will be pampered here) and the government (also a good and well-recommended choice since the have the best NICU in Dubai, although its a no-frills straightforward hospital...meaning dont expect to be treated like a queen). So far, I do vomit sometimes that takes out the whole energy out of me. But Peanut is doing good and I know she can hear me when I talked to her. We did try for 4D last week just to see her face but unfortunately, she hid behind her hands so it became a regular 2D. However, all vitals are doing good and I feel she will reach her 40 weeks properly. 

By next week, we are planning to do the belly cast even if my belly button is not yet protruding like normal pregnant women has (most probably because I have too much fat before). My hubby did complimented that he loves my pregnant body (yes folks....he loves it that I get a wolf-whistles when I dress myself to work in the mornings). I lost some weight in this pregnancy contrary to gaining weight which I think is good rather than totally feeling like Jabba the Hutt. Sometimes I waddle like a true penguin when I walk and got some early morning cramps. However, my sweet hubby do massage my feet to keep it from swelling during night time along with the tummy butter belly rubs. That makes me feel like the luckiest wife in the world.... 

So sleeping on the left side does helps a lot, because I am not swelling and getting some "cankles" (hopefully I really wont till the due date). Although my asthma did hyped up a bit (good thing that nebulizer is ok for pregnant women), everything feels quite normal. I stopped reading too much stuff about babies in the internet as my mind started to get confused with all the information and different advice. Anyhow, as they said, every pregnancy is different.