29 Weeks 5 days

Gosh, it is hard to believe that over a month has gone by since my last post. I am feeling well, but things are definitely changing with my body expanding and baby growing. I feel great outside of a few niggily aches and pains in my hips at night and mid back when I sit a certain way. I am really enjoying this part of the pregnancy as I can feel the baby moving more often and I can tell when I touch my belly if I am hitting a hand, a leg or a solid part of little one's trunk. It is so much fun to feel the little one and at times I jump with surprise when I can feel a limb going across my stomach. The first five months of pregnancy are so quiet that it is almost hard to believe that there is a baby in there and then all of a sudden, the belly is out like a little moon and the baby is kicking around like she is learning how to dance salsa. I look at myself when I go to take a shower and I can't believe the changes that have occurred in the last month.

On Friday, we did our "Happy Birthday" song to the little one for the 29 week milestone and David gave the baby twenty-nine kisses. It is so sweet to see him talk to the little one and tell the baby about his day or what we are doing. One day he said, "I wish I could take the baby out and give him or her a million kisses and then put her back." He is so excited about being a dad. We both can't wait to meet this little one, but we keep reminding the baby that she needs to stay in there for at least nine more weeks in order to come without any difficulties. I look at pictures of my nephew, who was born at around 28 weeks, and it is hard to believe just how well developed and big this baby is inside of me.

In the last month, we went to a classical music concert at Angel Place in the center of Sydney. It was a concert called, "The Best of Mozart," and it was fun to feel the little one moving around while we sat there and listened to the different pieces. This Friday, there is another classical music concert that we are going to go and listen to as we figure it is good for us and good for the baby.

Mike has booked his flight to come and visit the baby in the belly at the end of July. I have not seen him since Christmas when we told him about our pregnancy. He is very excited as are we to see him.

On that note, my Mom has also booked a flight at the end of September and will be staying with us for three weeks, four weekends. I am so very happy that she is coming and we will get to spend some time together on our very own. I have never had three weeks just with my mom. It will be a special time to spend with her and the baby. I am hoping that the little one arrives close to her due date as I would like some time with David before Mom comes for her visit. David is planning on taking about a month off from work and it would be great if we could have most of that time together with our baby without too many visitors.

I am really getting excited about the upcoming birth. I just feel really confident and trust my body's ability to birth. I am looking forward to the experience with a great deal of curiosity and anticipation. I hope I have the presence of mind to catch our baby myself, but I know most women are so consumed by the overwhelming sensation of pushing their babies out that they do not have the awareness to reach down and catch their own baby.....I am going to ask Betty, our midwife, to help me catch the baby if I am in the right position. If I can't, David has been considering trying to catch the little one, which would be equally as special.

Tomorrow night, we are going to go to a parenting talk about how to help babies to sleep as well as listen to a speaker on attachment parenting. Thursday, Betty comes for her monthly visit, Friday, we are off to listen to some music and on Saturday, we are going to a Lebanese restaurant in the city for a friend's birthday party. It should be great fun as there is belly dancing and the menu look delicious! We normally are not that busy, but everything seems to be falling on the same week.

I am waiting for a call from our friends Kate and Ricardo as they are due to have their baby any time now. They are very excited about meeting their little one and I will be their support person, so this will be the last birth I support before we give birth to our little sprout.

Being pregnant is like having a bit of magic inside you and you don't know what to expect until the special day arrives and meeting this little life will be such a wonderful surprise.