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I am really looking forward to having a nice, juicy, steak once I finish cooking this baby. We recently went to Rockpool to celebrate Gavin’s birthday and while the seafood stew I had was delicious, I wouldn’t have minded tucking into a mouthwatering steak like everyone else.

At 32 weeks I am still feeling pretty good - the only niggling issue is the cramps I get in my fingers in the middle of the night. Apparently, this is called Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and feels like what I’d imagine arthritis to be like. Hope I am never unfortunate enough to develop that. The bubs squirms around inside alot and the movement is different to the usual thumping kicks, leaving hard lumps and bumps that can be felt from the outside which I assume are his body parts!

We also got a 3D scan done of the little one. Most of the time he looked like a little alien but it was pretty cool to see something that resembled a baby when he did co-operate and showed us a bit of his face. I think he looks like his dad, the Asian genes don’t seem to even get a look in!

Funnily enough, the Queen’s Birthday isn’t celebrated in the UK. And by celebrate, I mean we don’t get a public holiday.

This long weekend we were blessed with the most glorious weather and rather than hang around Sydney, we headed out to the Royal National Park to do part of the coastal walk. I love going for long walks and ones which involve views of the water are my favourite.

Celebrated in style at Cottage Point Inn in the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.

In the five or so weeks that I have been traveling to work, I have only ever been offered a seat once. Many a times I have noticed fellow commuters staring at my stomach and averting their eyes, pretending not to notice.

I understand that there may be times when a woman’s pregnancy is called into question - does she reeeaaaally have a bun in the oven, or is she just bloated? I myself, have pondered this very same question riding along London’s metro system at times when I have spotted a bit of belly, not wanting to offend anyone who may just be having a fat day.

But c’mon. Look at me. Does this really look like all bloat and no baby? Granted, there have been days where my stomach is partially hidden by a scarf or jacket but if the waddle and the belly doesn’t give it away, surely holding a book called “Baby Love” would?

My first cake

I’ve never baked before. No, I lie. I did once bake a cake using a Betty Crocker cake mix - one of those ones that you add water to and throw into a baking tray. Even the frosting was ready-made. This was the first cake that I have ever baked from scratch. It’s the Nigella Lawson Guinness chocolate cake which I first tasted when my friend Van baked one in London. Guinness in a chocolate cake - pure genius.

Our first visit to the Botanic Gardens…

…since we got married in 2007. I love that we can go and relax at the spot where we married in front of our family and friends.

The first kick

…it’s a boy!

I am now 20 weeks along and aside from a bit of pain above my left tailbone that leaves me feeling like an old woman, everything is ticking along perfectly.  Baby is healthy with a good heartbeat, all fingers and toes and everything else in good working order.

A few random facts about my pregnancy:

* I discovered I was pregnant after a weekend drinking with Matt and Ray who were visiting from New York City. The first night I asked for some water and Ray asked: “Why are you drinking water?? Are you pregnant?”

* A common response to the pregnancy has been: “Oh I KNEW you guys would come back pregnant!”. We must be the only ones who didn’t know because we certainly didn’t plan on it.

* I really thought I was having a phantom pregnancy and didn’t believe it until we had the 12 week scan. I cried when I saw our baby and its little heartbeat because I had worked myself up so much over it. 

* Seeing Riss’s photos of her gorgeous twin girls made me crazily hope to see two blobs when we had the 12 week scan.

* I only suffered from a bit of nausea and extreme tiredness up until about 8-10 weeks. I threw up once and went off alot of my usual favourite foods.  Lived off marmite and cheese toasted sandwiches until I got sick of them too.

* Aside from a bit of pain just above my left tailbone that leaves me feeling like an old woman, I have been generally feeling very healthy, energetic and un-pregnant like. 

* I love maternity jeans and will probably wear them even when I am no longer pregnant. Elasticised jeans should be a staple of any modern woman’s wardrobe. 

* My stomach starts off small in the morning and balloons out in the afternoon.

* Unlike other women, I am hoping my boobs don’t grow too much. Not that I have good boobage, but because I find it annoying to keep having to buy new bras.

* We had to cancel a snowboarding trip to the US in January after we discovered I was pregnant but this was only after googling whether it would be safe for a pregnant woman to snowboard . It’s not, but I’d hoped that it would be.

* Our baby has nothing aside from some gifts as we have been too busy trying ot furnish our apartment we have just moved in to. After driving all over Sydney looking for furniture I am dreading having to drive all over Sydney to look at baby items. 

* I have had very vivid dreams of giving birth to a girl, but not a boy.

Me and my bump at 20 weeks:

Over the weekend we drove to Griffith to attend our niece’s christening, spending 12 hours in the car in just 2 days…aah the joys of living in Sydney again!