Thriving Thirty~

Turning a year older was a special and different experience for a pregnant mama-to-be as there will be a new addition to the family celebrating my bday next year~
Cliff planned my pre-bday trip to Eastern Taiwan, Hualien, which we have not visited in the last decade!

Don't the two chickens looked familiar? The "How we met" story played at our wedding last April.

It took me close to 5 mins to complete the puzzle b-day card that Cliff designed. I was expecting a "hatching egg", but it turned out to be a baby bunny! Ponyo is expected to be born in the year of the rabbit. She will be our new addition to our family and to my bday celebration in the coming 2012. 

Highlight of the trip~ a day at the ocean park watching dolphins perform and kissed by a seal.

We missed our pre-natal check up at the hospital on my bday but caught up with the 4th ultrasound the following day to check how Ponyo is growing @ 31 weeks.

She was thumb sucking during the ultrasound and weighs 1600g.

28 weeks 5 days

Trying to keep up with the dog~27 weeks~

28 weeks~ size of a cauliflower~

No matter how I dress, trying not to look pregnant,  at almost 29 weeks, it is obvious, I can't hide Ponyo anymore. Before she gets bigger, as I've been warned how tired I will be getting around with my Xtreme belly, we've registered for a number of pre-natal classes at the after-birth care center in the month of October- http://maan.tw/jhubei/

Prior to giving birth, we are encouraged to attend pre-natal yoga after 4 months into pregnancy, a series of "Daddy" classes at the after-care center.

Today, we attended Daddy course #1: How to bath a new-born

Cliff was the serious and hardworking papa-to-be!

Ponyo: travelling baby

Travel plans abroad has finally come to a full hault. 2 wks in S'pore, 11 days in Czech, 5 days in Kyushu Japan. All I can say, I am glad baby Ponyo liked travelling as much as I do, breathing in fresh crisp air, hearing different languages, tasting good food! Ponyo became more active, I feel her doing somersaults, performing side kicks, punching, rolling, I figured her nick Ponyo~ cartoon character a swimming fish will be more suitable than Kiki.

Ponyo definitely grew from a pumpkin to a small size soccer ball after the trip to Europe, since we had 3 course meals lunch & dinner everyday! Soon to be, in the next week or so, my tummy will expand to the size of a basketball >_<

Sex of the baby?

Everyone's been asking! At 21 weeks 1 day (5 mths into pregnancy), 

the sex secret will be revealed!

2D ultra scan was performed today for 40 mins. As I laid down watching the doctor's serious facial expression instead of the ultrasound screen, I wasn't eager to find out the sex of the baby, but my heart was beating fast, as it was more important to know if the baby is healthy physically. Other than the umbilical cord around baby's neck is what we'll have to wait on, baby's very active & is constantly belly dancing.

Baby's expected delivery date is Dec 25, 2011.

***To my lady friends, Yes, we can all dress up, hang out, have afternoon tea or coffee! ***

It's a Girl ~!

Baby's position drawn by the doctor- with one hand right by her mouth

Both cliff and I were wondering why the doctor took more than 4 photos of the baby's face?!

Are you able to see her eyes, nose & mouth?

Good news revealed!

One year after our wedding, we have an official announcement to make, most friends have heard us inform them personally over the past few months. Yes, check out my tummy! 

OK, it's not that obvious, since this was taken when I was @ 16 wks.

 

At 9 wks, 1st ultrasound revealed the tiny fetus, the size of a strawberry, length marked by the two dots connected, with a fast pacing heartbeat!

In Taiwan, news of pregnancy can only be widely announced when the baby is at least 12 wks old. At the 4th-5th month (2nd trimester), this is when the fetus is more stable. Until then, we kept the good news within family and some close friends. 

At 16 wks, our 2nd ultrasound revealed a growing baby, with a large head and a clearly developed spine!

Since our 1st doctor's visit, regular check-ups such as (weight , blood pressure measurement, blood & urine test) were done. Our 2nd doctor's visit included a down syndrome blood test. 3rd visit was just the regular weight, blood pressure, urine test, and we were informed that my blood test for down syndrome's was at a very low risk, whew! The pack a glucose as big as the palm of my hands will be what I have to drink it down with a cup of water at our next doctor's visit for the glucose tolerance blood test.