Dear Diary
Yesterday was our last scan appointment. The scanographer said it looks like my wonky umbilical cord is not impeding Amelia’s growth so there is no need for any more scans. I am most glad because I do not like being gelled-up and poked with that proboscis-on-a-cord-thing but I will miss seeing our baby girl on live TV. The coolest part of yesterday’s scan was seeing Amelia’s little skull and face, and her hair. Warren and I had a ‘debate’ about the size of her lips later in the day: he says they are small, I say they are lusciously pouty – I guess we will find out in five weeks. Yes Diary! FIVE WEEKS. It’s pure madness. I finally managed to book an antenatal class after procrastinating for many months. It is being held at the hospital where Amelia will be born (University College Hospital) and it will be good to know that what I actually need to do when the ‘big day’ arrives but I am so not looking forward to watching dodgy birth videos. Eeeeuuuuw times a million! I much prefer to make like an Ostrich and bury bury bury when it comes to birth visuals thanks. I intend to drown my post-antenatal sorrows in coffee and cake at the Hummingbird Bakery in South Kensington afterwards.
My friends threw me a fabulous baby shower at Candy Cakes in Covent Garden on Saturday morning. I kind of sniffed it out but wasn’t sure when it was going to happen. Warren had the difficult task of getting me there. And boy, was I a royal pain in the ass. Warren was trying, in the most diplomatic manner he could possibly muster, to hurry me so that I could actually be there on time and all that made me do was retort “why should I hurry on a Saturday morning” and so I took longer to get ready. The poor man. Hopefully Amelia is not as stubborn as I am! Anyway, I had a fun time and Amelia was spoilt rotten. We hung around chatting and getting high on plastic sugar-icing and hot chocolate for four hours. If Amelia talks as much as I do I feel sorry for her father (who seems to be getting an awful lot of sympathy from me today) … and even more empathetic if she interrupts as much as I do! The messages from my friends and family in South Africa made me all teary and nearly destroyed my make-up – THANKS HORMONES!
Otherwise, dear Diary, Amelia is moving around lots and is lying with her head down – which is good (ie. in the right position to fight her way out). She is enjoying going to concerts and being read to by her Dad. In fact, we had a stupendous time interviewing Paradise Lost last week and ministered to by Mr Metal (married with three boys) who gave me some parenting advice: mediocrity is uncool and it is totally okay to be extreme with babies – take them to watch rugby matches, dress them in black if you like, play them metal straight after birth – instil in them a sense of extremism that defies the fearful mediocre stance adopted by most of society. It was like talking to a dude version of me. Back to my initial update (I even interrupt myself – it’s a problem). My tummy is growing and my bellybutton has finally poked out. Warren says that I have an extra finger (how rude) and can’t stop fiddling with it – typical boy. My belly still looks pretty much like a soccer ball and most people cannot believe that I am having a baby in five weeks. I am starting to retain water in my legs and am developing the features of a puffer-fish but I am feeling great physically. I have had it pretty easy so far – lucky me! Hopefully that statement does not come back to bite me in the ass in five weeks. Okay … head back in sand for now.
