Dear Shrimpy (explained below!)

Today you’re 29 weeks and 4 days old. Next week is the big 30 – your Daddy and I are getting VERY excited to meet you in 10 weeks or less (but please, not toooo early!) Although no matter when you come, you’ll be welcomed with a ton of love. You won’t be able to get away from it!

I wanted to write this letter to you, to explain my pregnancy journey so far, so when you’re older you’ll be able to learn the ups and downs but also the excitement you’ve brought to Mummy and Daddy and the surrounding family.

I hope this isn’t too TMI (I’m sure you’ll know what that means when you’re older – as well as lots of other abbreviations that we won’t know as we’ll be too old haha) but it all started in the beautiful Greek island of Corfu. Mummy and Daddy enjoyed the trip, so much so that we created you! We’ll take you back to Corfu one day. Nanna might come too. She’s always wanted to visit and was super jealous when we went without her!

Mummy didn’t find out she had been blessed with your presence until Nanna’s birthday – June 19th! Daddy was at work and mummy was VERY shocked. I went off to my nail appointment all in a daze and then went straight into town to buy a couple more pregnancy tests, just to be sure! I bought a little card for Daddy, stuck inside the first test and surprised him when he got home. He was over the moon! I don’t think it sunk in straight away. We both decided to not tell anyone for a few days, just to have you all to ourselves. We broke the news to your Nanna and Grandad, Nonna and Nonno a few days later and they were very surprised but super happy for us!

At first it was like you weren’t there. I had no symptoms. No sickness, nothing. I just carried on as normal, until a couple of weeks later when it all sunk in and I had a little panic. Of course, it wasn’t about you but myself. Would I be good enough? What if something bad happened?? Daddy had to come home from work and look after me one day, but don’t worry, Mummy was right as rain a few days later. Nonna and Nonno were visiting your brother-in-law and fam nearby, and so Mummy spent a lot of time up there, keeping occupied! Mummy was eager to start shopping for cute little outfits for you but decided it would be best to wait until after our 12 week scan. We did however get to see you before our 12 week scan as we’d decided to pay privately for a 7 week one; we were just so eager to meet you! That is when we nicknamed you Shrimpy. You looked like a little shrimp on the screen and Mummy and Daddy were mesmerised by how tiny you were – only half an inch! Nonna and Nonna came over for dinner that night and we celebrated with a Thai takeaway.

Did you know that you’ve been to Italy already? Yep! In August when you were almost 12 weeks, you went to Italy with Daddy and I, Nanna and Grandad. Tirano first so we could take Grandad on the Bernina Express for his Birthday. Oh so you’ve been to Switzerland too, as the train went to St Moritz, where we spent the day! You also went to Venice and Mummy found it VERY hot and tiring. It was around this time (July/August/September) that I had the worst tiredness. All I wanted to do was nap. We made sure we got lots of nap time in whilst on holiday! You then went and visited your Nonna and Nonna in Piemonte and Mummy and Daddy finally got some rest (the previous parts of the trip were very tiring with all the train travel!)

Once we all arrived home, it was only a week until we got to finally see you again, and boy had you grown! You very much looked like a baby now and Mummy was a bit shocked that you were inside her – I still couldn’t feel you! We were eager to know your gender but it was a tiny bit early. We had to wait another 8 weeks to know that you are a boy!

The 20 week ‘anomaly’ scan landed on Daddy’s 28th Birthday and our wedding Anniversary (as well as your Auntie Lisa’s and Uncle Clive’s)! Daddy had to leave work early to come and meet Mummy for the scan, and so we drove down to Cheltenham hospital, feeling very nervous but excited. The sonographer didn’t wait too long to announce that we would be having you – our little baby boy. Daddy and I looked at each other and grinned. You’re going to fit in well! Also that day you certainly showed your, what we think is a very cheeky personality! You wouldn’t play ball and get in the right position for the sonographer. You were VERY active but just wouldn’t stay still, so Mummy had to come back a week later so they could measure your face and head. All was fine in the end! Oh and Mummy and Daddy celebrated with Thai AGAIN as it’s Daddy’s favourite. AND you’re little friend R was born on this day too! He’s eagerly waiting for you to be born so you can play together!

It was a happy time, having the scan and seeing how much you’d grown but also a sad one – we have to wait until you are born to see you again, and we’re still waiting. Mummy is very excited to know what you look like. What colour hair will you have? Will you be blessed with Daddy’s olive skin?? It’s all very exciting!

Since the scan, Mummy has been a lot better. No more draining tiredness, thankfully! We both think you’ll have a sweet tooth when you’re born as Mummy has craved lots of orange juice and oranges, sweets and chocolate! We also hope you’ll be into spice as i’ve had my fair share of spicy curries, one time actually biting into a whole chilli and I got worried you wouldn’t like it!

There has only been one incident when Mummy got a little worried about you. It was just after Daddy’s Birthday and we’d planned a trip to London to visit the Royal Albert Hall. Mummy had just about started feeling your presence but not often. You didn’t yet have a routine. But Mummy didn’t realise this was a huge factor, and in the morning of the trip when I didn’t feel you, I panicked and we ended up missing our coach to London and visiting Gloucester hospital instead to make sure you were ok. You were fine!! You were kicking and swimming around the Midwife said! I reckon you were just sleeping in! Anyways, don’t worry as we both went to London in the end and had a lovely stay overnight at the Hilton on Park Lane, and Daddy got to feel you kick for the first time! He was over the moon!

Now that you’re 29 weeks old, you’re making your presence known everyday! You’re still a very active baby and are constantly kicking mummy all over the shop! I think you quite like the breach position… please don’t choose it as you exit… head down is the way to go! You have your little routine now. You like to sleep in in the morning and wake up around lunchtime. You have a little nap after lunch and then stay awake pretty much all afternoon/evening! You do settle quite well in the night though, after Mummy has finally got comfortable! Sometimes we read you a story and sometimes I like to play a little game with you called ‘chase the hand’. You’re very good it – you manage to find and kick my hand every time!

Like I said at the beginning, we’re all so, so excited to meet you. Mummy and Daddy have ‘graduated’ from our antenatal class so we know how to care for you (just about!) I’m sure it will be a bumpy ride but a ride that we’re both eager to start and enjoy. We’ve got so many places we want to take you, lots of holiday plans already!

I’m going to end this now as I think i’ve written an essay.

I hope you enjoy reading this when you’re older, and I hope anyone else who reads this, likes the little insight into our journey so far as a family of 3.

Lot’s of love,

Mummy xxxx