Week 20 and 21

Well, where have I been. Sick again.... Oh what fun it is to be pregnant and a kids English teaching in the middle of cold and flu season. Though, I think I would rather now, than in the middle of Summer over here. Gosh, that would be terrible. In fact, I think April/May is a perfect time to deliver. Not too hot or cold.
Apart from the sickness, the last two weeks have been great pregnancy wise. Little Pi chan is kicking more and more, and harder each day (thankfully, not too hard yet). Last night, Husband was even able to feel the kicks! Unfortunately it was 11:30 at night, and he was due to get up in 4 and a half hours, so I will forgive him not being too enthusiastic.

I am really starting to pop out too. The last too weeks has given me a proper little pooch, which is nice to see with clothes on. I am still getting used to the way I look now with clothes off. Maybe when I get even bigger I will be more comfortable with my new shape- I know that sounds weird, but then it will be big pregnant and round, instead of poochy and as big as I am wide.

Nothing to complain about for pregnancy symptoms either, which is so nice. I am really going to enjoy it while I can. It is my last week of full time, and will be dropping my hours a further 6 teaching hours a week (it doesn't seem like much, but when you add in lesson prep, and teaching times it makes a big difference). My pay will also drop unfortunately, but I was sick of fighting (not really) with my boss and was happy for that one particular stress to be over with.

I am also trying not to stress about my current visa- which expires in two weeks. Usually it would be enough time to do it, but they are are closed for 6 out of the next 10 working days, and the days they are open, we will be away in Kyoto. We have taken the afternoon off to try and beg them (we have been back twice before with our paperwork, and each time they keep telling us that we need more evidence). The problem is, now that last bit of evidence we need is in a different prefecture, without enough time to get it too us... Still, stress isn't good for Pichan, so I will be thinking positive thoughts that they will be compassionate.

Anyway, I will be having two weeks off from writing as I am off on holidays for two weeks, and my parents are over here. Merry Xmas to all, and a happy new year.


Week: 21 and a half
Baby bump: Nice and poochy
Movement: The kicks are getting stronger and more frequent. It's a lovely reminder that Pi is growing well.
Complaints: None at all
Maternity clothes: Nothing yet, but my order is due to arrive in the next day or so. Yay

19 weeks and appointment

I am a few days late writing about 19 weeks, so thought I would include today's appointment in there too.

Little Pi is slowly kicking a little bit more, not as much as I would like, but every now and then I feel a little patter inside and think, "was that Pi?". I am slowing accepting that it is Pi, and not just a muscle twitch, or my heartbeat (which I really feel through my stomach these days). My tummy is slowly growing out, which is kind of nice to see. Thanks to a piece of elastic and some clips, I have fashioned a pants holder upper thing to go under my belly band (of which, I now have three). Two from Ebay that are kind of crap and loose, and one from a Japanese maternity site called "milk tea".  I prefer that one, and would buy more clothes from there but I find it hard enough to find clothes that fit right when I am not sporting a belly, let alone when I am sporting one.

I finally placed an order from Zulilly the other day. With some basic camis, jeans, and a couple of casual tops. I will probably need some business tops in there too, but there weren't any on sale. Which is the only problem with ordering from that site-0 things are only on sale for 72hrs and it is one brand up at a time, which means that if you want to wait until you can get a few things from different stores, the things you originally like have either sold out, or gone off sale. The price of postage is what stops me from placing multiple orders- at $77, it's a lot of money but the bargins make it worth it. I have finally cleaned out my cupboard a little bit too, and put away about 70% of my wardrobe which is mostly unwearable.

Today's appointment was the 19 week scan, where they go through things in a bit more details. It wasn't with my usual doctor, but another guy who didn't speak English, and after I told him I only speak a little Japanese, he went fairly quiet until the end (though maybe that is just his way when he is checking things out). At the end he flipped the screen around. Pi-chan is about 250g and growing well by the looks of it. He said that everything is fine. I asked him if it is a boy, or a girl and he told me "Maybe a *beeeeep* (we're trying to keep it a secret until the birth). From what I hear the Japanese 'maybe' is usually pretty certain, they just want the security that a 'maybe' provides.

I have gained nearly 2.5kgs in the last two weeks! Gah! (She types with a bucket of cupcakes next to her...). However they didn't say anything. Hopefully it will only be one in the next 3 weeks, though in order for that to happen I need to exercise more, and eat less junk food. That really doesn't sound fun at all...



Week: 19
Baby bump: slowly growing.
Movement: Little flutters, very very few though.
Complaints: Nothing really.
Maternity clothes: An extra belly belt that fits better, and an internet order that is yet to arrive.