Baby "Bun" Brewing

According to the latest scan, we are 16 weeks into the pregnancy. The first trimester was rather trying with the constant nausea and indescribable tiredness. Just when I thought I couldn't go on, smack on 12 weeks, just like the experts predicted, it all changed and we were back on track. I must say it is nice to have the flexibility of having a rest most days - we hope this will in turn reward us with a calm baby......

As you can see there is a small bump where our "baby bun" (affectionately nicknamed after Dad - who is better known to many as BUN) is growing in leaps and bounds. Jb is well within the worldwide average and this is what the experts & our scan said about the fetal development at 16 weeks:

• Baby is about the size of an avo/potato
  
• approx 11.5 cm crown to rump
• weighs approx 140 grams
• feet are 2cm
• very playful, the umbilical cords serves as the first toy
• circulatory system & urinary tract are in full working order
• inhales & exhales amniotic fluid through the lungs
• skin is starting to get more colour
• hair starts growing
  

Its going to be interesting to see how big this tummy grows over the next 24 weeks. (who knows I may even be given time off for good behaviour??)

Jubilance for Jellybean

Today has most certainly been a really happy day for us "parents to be" as well as for our little Jellybean. We had to be at our gynae at 7.15am this morning for a routine 16 week scan. ( I must say I was less than happy about the appointment time, esp as I had only got home from work at around midnight - 6hrs sleep, pregnant and having to battling traffic is not a good combination! - the appointment had been booked back in March so that it would be easier for Dad to be there.....)

So, even though it may have seemed to start off on the wrong side of bed it was truly short lived when we got into the consulting rooms and were told that the final chromosome results we back with NO abnormalities. My blood pressure was back to normal and no protein in my urine and I had actually lost a little weight. So far so good and the day looked set to only get better! (Reinette is not concerned about the weight loss as long as Jb is growing nicely!!!)

We then went through to see how Jb has been developing in the last month.... Once again little one was showing the ever persistent early signs of either stubbornness (no doubt from Mom) or sheer defiance (clearly from Dad). At first he/she did not want to lie in a position we could see him/her properly. Jb seems to favour lying with the head down towards my right hip bone with bum & legs curling round my tum with feet towards my chest. So with the gentle persuasion (actually having to be woken) by Reinette we were "A for away" and had a good look.

Unfortunately the print outs don't show too much but what we saw was really awesome.....

First we had the heart beat which was back to 139 beat/min - good and strong. Then we looked at the stomach and bladder and checked the 4 chambers in the heart. We then looked at the brain and all looked good there too. The head circumference, thigh bone and arm bone were all measured. The chin and mouth area also looked fine - checking for cleft palate, as was the spine and ribs. In the scan pic I have attached Jb had his/her foot measured and we could clearly see a well defined heel, so no club foot. Proportionally the foot looked rather large so we had a giggle that he/she may have uncle Mike's big feet. What really made me go all mushy was when looking at the legs, Jb had knees bent and legs crossed over, like this was the most comfy place to be. According to the measurements our EDD is now 20 Oct, which is more in line with the original dates I first calculated. We have decided to still go ahead with another visit to the specialist, this will be in the next 3-5 weeks depending on appointment availability. Prof Niccolau will do a detailed scan that checks absolutely every detail - as much as the measurement between nose tip and op lip. Once we get the all clear from him we will all have great cause for more celebration. Thanks again for all the love and support that has been showered over us!!!

First Fire

Having been down to Natal for the long weekend we returned on Tuesday afternoon to a rather chilly Joburg. Chris was most delighted as this meant we could FINALLY try out our "new brand" wood fire place. No sooner had we settled down to a late lunch with Graham, who we gave a lift from Hilton to Joburg to catch his flight to visit the Smeetons in Bloomington, and Chris was itching to try his hand in pyromania and get the fire lit. Graham & I insisted on finishing lunch and having our walk before Chris got to the fire. While Graham freshened up after the walk, my boy scout got going and made us a beautiful cozy fire. We then had to drop Graham at the airport and by the time we got back our home was rather snug. We have also had the underfloor heating going and I must say "What a win!!!" I think I can safely say we'll survive the Highveld winter.