Junior's hiking gear

As we like active vacations we plan on taking Junior for nice hikes in the future. We had already briefly looked into the framed backpacks that exist for hiking. However we didn't feel it was necessary to buy one right away since we won't be able to use it until Junior is 6+ months.

But then a colleague of mine mentioned she was selling hers because her daughters are getting to old for the backpack. We got a great deal on the backpack, so we decided to buy it after all.

Clover didn't want to volunteer showing off the backpack so once again Mr. Hippo was our model!

Last trimester is starting

As of today we are officially in the last trimester of the pregnancy. This is going to be an exciting trimester I think. We are going to some classes and a "tour" at the hospital to totally prepare. Also my maternity leave will start in less than 8 weeks already. On the downside the belly is getting heavier and I will be more limited. I am starting to have the little annoyances now like reflux, bloody gums, shortness of breath and of course still going to the bathroom 5x per hour. But o well, so far I still can't complain as the pregnancy has gone by without any major issues (luckily) so far and I have been able to function normal.

Belly pictures at 28 weeks

It has already been 4 weeks since I posted my last belly pictures. My belly measures 88 cm by now and as you can maybe see in the picture I am starting to show a linea nigra. I haven't been able to find what the use/meaning is of this line that runs from my belly button down, but it is just pigmentation.

So far my belly hasn't interfered much with my activities, but now I am starting to notice it more and more. During aerobics class last Friday I actually had a harder time with some of the exercises, and also bending over to dry of Clover's feet during the last couple of rainy days is more tricky. And Clover is testing me for it, b/c she is moving around all the time when I wipe her feet..... she mean.

Hickups

Yesterday I just happened to have my hands on my belly to try to make contact with Junior. I felt this regular but slow beat in my belly and at first was wondering if that was my heartbeat. But it was just going to slow.

Than I remembered babies can have hickups from drinking the amniotic fluid. So I just looked up how you recognise hickups, and indeed, that is what I must have felt last night. How cute!

Snow stress at 27 weeks

After a nice relaxing Easter weekend it was stressful to get into work this morning. The past couple of days have been snowy, with hail, rain etc..... all mixed in. That together with commuting turned into a mess. At the moment there is 700 km (+/-425 miles) of traffic jam in Holland!

I don't know what it is (hormones again?) but for some reason I get more mad and concerned about possible danger since I am pregnant. I did read somewhere that some women have that happening to them, they see danger everywhere, are more worried about relatives etc. This morning that clearly happened to me too. When I drove into work there was this one car passing everybody left and right at high speed during a snow storm. He just made me furious and I was swearing at him in the car out loud. Not like that helped, beside releive on my part, but I just don't want to get into an accident because of idiots like that guy. Probably the mother instinct of protecting my baby against that kind of behavior is kicking in.

6 months (week 26)

Yesterday was a rainy day and we spent most time inside, watching tv, reading etc... I was making some pictures of my belly and Sean was too at unexpected moments (notice the enthusiastic expression on my face). When looking back at the pictures I realized that not only my belly has been growing, but I have the idea that my face is round like a soccer ball! O well, this must mean that Junior is growing good. But that pregnancy glow that everybody is talking about? I don't know......

100 days to go

The pregnancy countdown shows exactly 100 days to go today! In 2 weeks I will enter my last trimester, and starting Tuesday I will move into month 7 (still don't get the weeks, versus months, versus trimesters....).

But no matter what way you look at it time is going fast!