24 weeks down, 16 to go

Waist measurement this week: 28 inches/70 cm. Not too shabby.

Nick was away for a few days this week so I had a chance to get a few things in order around the house. My nesting instinct has definitely kicked in. I feel even more of an urge than usual to clean and tidy. I also feel my awareness of myself and my environment is much sharper than usual. I'm super conscious of what's going on around me, of my own 'space', and what I'm doing at any given moment. It's quite a bizarre feeling.

Baby girl is getting more active by the day. I'm sure I felt some hiccups this week!

23 weeks down, 17 to go

This week: stretch marks. They have appeared on my thighs, bum, and hips (though not, so far, my tummy). It's a bit distressing and resulted in a few tears last night. I've been really careful to put on all the right lotions and potions but, I suppose, it was inevitable that they'd get me in the end.

On a happier note, we celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary yesterday with a wonderful day together. We had a lovely brunch with our dear friends Ben and Bryony, a walk into town to buy shoes (for me) and a maths book (for Nick, naturally), an afternoon spent together doing a few little bits and bobs around the house, and a delicious and posh dinner at Gee's. My gorgeous husband gave me earrings to match the beautiful necklace he gave me for my 21st birthday. Now he's gone to Madrid for a few days for a conference. I miss him already. He'll be back on Thursday. I can't wait.

22 weeks down, 18 to go

The last few weeks have been really exciting for us. We found out at our 20-week scan that we are having a girl! She is growing well and looks healthy. We can now feel and see her kicking and movements. She's very active! My tummy is growing rapidly and I now have a well-defined bump that's actually pretty cute, for now.

We're now gearing up towards making our major baby purchases: pram, car seat, cot, and nappies. With a busy summer ahead of us, we're going to have to be organised! The baby's room is nearly empty of its previous contents so we can now think about decorating it and kitting it out as a nursery - which is probably among the favourite part of pregnancy for most mums! I'm excited about painting it and making it a little haven for our little one. I'm really looking forward to meeting her in a few short weeks, although I do have moments of panic occasionally about what to actually do with the baby, parenthood, and the changes that will happen to our lifestyle. However, one thing's certain and that's that we can rely on God for his plans and timings and everything - which is a weight off our shoulders!

Here are some pictures of my growing bump:

Before...

17 weeks...

18 weeks...

19 weeks...

20 weeks...

21 weeks...

22 weeks and counting...