36 Weeks

Hi Shona

I complete 36 weeks today and that brings me one more week closer to your arrival date. It excites me as well makes me little anxious. Anxious because I wonder if I'm ready. I'm ready mentally but not at all if you look at the amount of shopping that is still left for you and for me both. However, at the same time I am somehow hoping you will not make me wait till the EDD given by doc and will arrive earlier.

I saw couple of videos of baby births a while ago. Natural birth, C-Sec birth, water birth and even one twin birth by c-sec. And I cried. Cried while watching each video. I don't know why but I did. The moment they would show the baby coming our or being pulled out from the womb I cried. But frankly I think I cried at the c-sec video, when I saw how they cut and pull and tug at the abdomen muscles to take out the baby, because I was scared. Scared of going through a c-sec. I'm praying really hard that I can manage a regular vaginal birth with you with no complications whatsoever. Rest I leave it to destiny.

I've been feeling slightly better these days when it comes to fatigue. But at the same time I feel like an old granny when I've to change positions. For e.g. sitting up from a lying position or standing up if i was sitting so on and so forth. It takes me few moments to get my body to do the desired action. And once I stand up, it again takes a few moments before I can take a step forward. I'm sure you can imagine my current state now :)

And to add to this granny state, couple of days ago while stretching my legs, I got a nerve pull in my left leg at the calf area and its been 3 days and it still hurts to put pressure on that foot when walking. I'm literally limping. It was around 3:15 AM when it happened and I had a real hard time waking your dad to rub the area as I wasn't able to reach it as I was lying down. I teased him how would I manage to wake him when it is time to go to the hospital. He went one step ahead and asked me to keep a bottle of water next to me and pour it over his face in case he doesn't wake up. I had such a laugh hearing this.Your papa can be really funny at times.

I weigh 65 KGs now. I guess I will gain another 1-1.5KGs by the time I deliver which will bring me to the same weight that I was before I delivered your bhaiyya.

I have to get the hemoglobin test done tomorrow and am planning to slightly delay the doc visit next week. Instead of going on Monday am thinking of visiting her on Friday. If I'm feeling normal, I will go on Friday else may visit on Monday itself.

Love you jaan.

(@36 Weeks)

I'm getting a little impatient

As the D-day for our arrival is getting closer, I'm also getting impatient. I so want to hold you, kiss you, cuddle you, see you smile and of course cry too :D

I had my doc appointment yesterday and got to hear your heartbeat. As always it brought a big smile on my face. You are already in a head down position since past 2+ weeks. I asked the doc about your position and she told me that your back is towards my spine. And that explains all the movements that I feel, the nudges of your elbows and hands, the pushing of your knees and legs.

I weighed 64.5 Kg and my BP was slightly on the lower side at 100/50. However, doc was not very concerned.

Since I was having bad side-effects (loose motions to be precise) on oral iron tablets ingestion I had to undergo iron IV infusion last to last week as my Hemoglobin was dropping in every test. So when it reached 10, the doc asked me to get two shots of 200gm of iron done through IV on two alternate days.

On the second and the last day of the IV We had taken a tour of the labour and delivery room as well as the post delivery room in the hospital. We came out satisfied with the cleanliness as well as the hospitable staff. I just hope and pray that the staff is this nice when we are there and need it :)

My food intake keeps varying day to day. There are days when I'm perpetually hungry and there are days when I don't want to eat at all. Those are the days when I eat just because I've too. I despise garam masala in any food item and also zeera. So most of the food is being cooked in mustard seeds. I prefer south Indian cuisine, Chinese and continental stuff more than regular north Indian food. I still don't like to eat sweet stuff. Actually its not that I don't crave for it at all. Eating sweet stuff makes my taste go real bad and I start feeling nauseated. So I intentionally avoid to eat although I may crave for sweet stuff sometimes. Sometimes I give in to some specific mithai and then have to bear the consequences.

Your bhaiyya these days loves to caress you by way of caressing my big tummy. He will lie next to me and keep caressing for few minutes at a stretch and sometimes kisses too.

From the past week, all the newsletter tells me about your growth is that you are getting plumper. That you are gaining fat under your skin. So I guess all the other body growth is complete now and you just have to gain weight. In hte ultrasound at 32 Weeks and 5 days you had weighed 2.1 Kgs. I guess I can safely presume you to be around 2.2 Kgs or a little more currently which is a decent weight. Your bhaiyya at birth was 2.8 Kgs and measured 51 cms. I'm guessing you would also be around the same measurements at your birth.

I prodded the ultrasound doc a lot to find out about your gender but she just didn't tell me as the rules do not allow them to because of the female foeticide rates. So we have to just wait for you to come out in the world to know your gender. Although we all know its immaterial but I can't lie about my curiosity of wanting to know it beforehand. :)

Grow well my bachha.

(@34 Weeks 3 Days)

You are about 16.5 inches long

I got to hear your heart beats last Friday on Aug 26, 2011 my bachku. I always love to hear it. Its the best music for my ears...gives me such a peace of mind.

I had gone for my fortnightly check that day. Doc told me you are in head down position so that was a big positive news for me. She wrote the 8th month ultrasound which we will get done this week sometime. I had got my hemoglobin test done last week and it came to 10 and because of that she has asked me to get iron infusion done via IV as I'm not able to take iron pills. She said it takes about 30 min for the infusion and I will need to get it done twice on alternate days. And this is when I so so hate needles.

On the day I went for checkup my weight was 64Kgs and BP was 100/60. So all is well in that front. However she feels you are measuring 2 weeks smaller than you ideally should and wants me to take complete bed rest. However, I'm not buying her judgement till the ultrasound report comes and gives a fair idea on your weight and growth.

Yesterday I told your bhaiyya that you are hiccuping and he placed his hand on my tummy to feel your hiccups after I explained to him how they feel like. He was pretty amused and kept saying "Ek aur.." (another one) at each hiccup. After feeling them for couple of times he suddenly went "Bhow" loudly...trying to imitate a dog barking. I was a little shocked as to what brought that about. And then I realised what he was doing. He was trying to use the method to get rid of hiccups generally - by scaring the person having hiccups. I had such a laugh and told him that this technique will not work with you at least till the time you are in the tummy  :)

Your bhaiyya also tries to imitate you when he sees my tummy jiggling because of your movements and asks me if you are kicking like this or boxing like that by his hands and leg movements. He is so so eagerly waiting for you to come.

(@32 Weeks 3 Days)

You are about 16 inches long

I have a mix of feelings these days. A mix of happiness and anxiousness. And both because of the time that is left before your arrival :)

The newsletter tells me you are about 16 inches long and weight about 3.3 pounds. It also told me that you are heading into a growth spurt and you can turn your head from side to side. Your  arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath your skin. It also told me that you are probably moving a lot, too, so I may have trouble sleeping because of the kicks and somersaults. I would like to change the word "probably" to "definitely". I don't think you sleep for more than 8-9 hours in the whole day. Will you be like that once you are out too? If yes, I just shudder at the thought.

There are times when you kind of wedge yourself between my ribs/spine and front of my tummy and push hard. God!! It hurts so much then. And there are times when I feel you are trying to stretch to the max and your legs and arms poke at both the sides making me wince. All said and done, it also gives me the comfort that you are fine. :)

We bought some clothes for you this weekend. Some dresses, some nappies and a sweater for winters. Since it will start getting colder when you arrive, we have to buy full sleeved stuff for you. And it being summers right now we didn't get much options to choose from. So another round of shopping will be done in a months time.

I feel a wave of warmth enveloping me up when I think of holding you in my arms. I feel so happy when I imagine you and your bhaiyya bonding with each other.

Grow up well my bachha and come on time :)

(@31 Weeks 3 Days)

I saw you in my dream yesterday

Hi mumma shoncha.

I hope you are growing really well inside. I can feel you having a gala time by kicking/moving around a lot. Sometimes it makes me smile and sometimes it makes me wince in pain too.

My tummy jiggles so visibly and so many times your papa gets shocked when he feels you moving around and he asks me 'Itni zor se?!" And I just smile. Coz most of the time when he has felt you moving have been the not so strong movements. I wonder how will he react when you are really practicing kick-boxing :)

I saw you in the dream yesterday. I dreamt that I just gave birth to you and it was a very very easy birthing process. I was telling everyone, in my dream, that I had only an hour of labour pains. And how adorable you look. Either it was a very short dream or I don't remember what all I saw as this is all that I remember now. But I was happy when I woke up and thought what fun it would be if it really is a 1 hour show only :D

Your bhaiyya was doing countdown of months as to your arrival and his eyes really sparkled when he realized  its just 2 months away.

About myself, I'm feeling a lot more fatigued these days and that too with doing minimal chores/movements. Sleep cycle is varied..there are days when I sleep through whole night and there are days when I stay awake for 2 hours at a stretch right in the middle of the night.

I feel a lot hungrier these days too. But whenever I see the food I am not interested in eating that. I want to eat something "nice" and "tasty" but what I just don't know. And that really gets to your papa and you can almost see fumes coming out of his ears and nose :D

Your papa has been taking real good care of me...pampering me. He massages my back, rubs oil on the tummy and the stretch-marks, always asks me what I want to eat or do...trying to ensure that I do not have any kind of discomfort. He is so adorable. But trust me, he wasn't like this before you came in my tummy. So I tease him that you are doing all this for the baby and not for me. And then he will retort "Bhalai ka to zamana hi nahi hai!" (there is no value of good deeds these days).

(@29 Weeks 5 Days)

You are about 15 inches long

Hi mera shona baby.

It been almost two weeks since I wrote to you. You would have really grown in these two weeks. You would have grown in length by 1 inch and in weight by 200gm. You can open your eyes as well as blink them. You now have eyelashes. And with your eyesight developing, you may be able to see the light that filters in through the womb. The newsletter told me that I would be able to feel your hiccups. Well...I didn't need the newsletter to tell me that as I had long before started feeling your hiccups. Although they are not as pronounced as they were at your bhaiyya's time.

Your movements are going good and strong and you still do not like me to lie on my sides. Although the newsletter told me that I would be able to make out the knees from hands from head and from bums. However, at the max I can figure out your head and nothing else.

My hunger/cravings have started to increase day by day and so has my weight. I weighed myself yesterday and it showed me at 64 Kg. I was sure the scale has conked off till the time your papa stepped on it and it showed his correct weight. That means I have gained more than 2.5 Kg in the past 2 weeks :(

I've been able to eat little bit of milk products these days. Although they make me a little nauseated but at least I do not throw up unlike earlier. I've been gorging on a lot of paranthas and namkeens such as khakhra, namakpara and roasted namkeens.

Your bhaiyya has already decided a name for you in case you are a boy and that name is "Arjun". And in case you are a girl, he has given me the "permission" to decide your name :)

I have my next doc appointment on Aug 12 and I am so eager to hear your heartbeats :)

Grow well my bachha.

(@28 Weeks 5 Days)

You are such a brat already!

Do I sound like a meanie mommy? But that's how I feel you are :)

Two days back you were kicking around and moving so much and continued it over two days. I was hurting all over due to that. The ribs, the back, the pelvic area, the sides..you name it and it was hurting. It started on Sunday morning and continued till Monday night. Your papa told me that from the look on my face I was literally in tears. And you bet I was.

I got to you see you again on 11 Jul 2011. I had gone for an additional ultrasound to check if the placenta has moved up as my office is moving to Gurgaon which would mean about 2.5-3 hrs of traveling everyday. I had to check the placenta position and then decide how safe it is for me to travel so much. Since it hasn't moved much and is still quite low (2-3 cms from OS) I would be going to work 2-3 times a week and the rest I would work from home.

In the ultrasound the doc showed me your face in 3-D. You had your right hand on your head as if you were in a deep thought. I wonder if you were already thinking about your life outside? :D

My appetite has really increased in the past few days and I feel like eating every 2 hours. On the day of the ultrasound, my weight was 60.7 KGs at the docs clinic while at home scale it showed me at 61.3 KGs. I'm sure it has increased as the home scale showed me at 61.7 Kgs yesterday. So even if we look at the difference in scales at the hospital and at home, I would have still gained 1+ KGs so far. Your weight as per the ultrasound was 818 gms which is fine as per doc. So again no worries with respect to my low weight gain.

Your papa has been ensuring there are plenty of fruits at home all the time and also that there is lots of variety. I have been having mangoes, pomegranate, Pears, Plums, Apples and once a week coconut water too.

I love to eat Sabudana khichdi and make it almost 3-4 times a week. I also crave for Chinese cuisine but because of MSG I've to avoid it :(

The 26 week newsletter told me that you are about 14 inches long now. With the development of the network of nerves in your ears,  you may now be able to hear me and papa chat with each other. You have also started inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of your lungs. It also said that these so-called breathing movements are a good practice for you when you are born and take that first gulp of air. You continue to put on baby fat.

Your bhaiyya continues to talk to you often and always refer to you as "My Baby". He will ask "Mera baby kya kar raha hai? Ninnu kar raha hai?" (What is my baby doing? Are you sleeping?")

We moved your bhaiyya in a separate bed in our room itself so that he can get used to it before you arrive as you would need to sleep between me and your papa. It took some time but its all sorted out now. There are no tussles or fusses to handle.

Grow well my bachha. We all love you.

(@26 Weeks 5 Days)

I wonder

Hi Shonu bachha!

These days I wonder if you respond to me when I talk to you. Somehow it has happened way too many times when I talk to you, you start squirming or kicking inside. And then I feel as if you are responding to me.

And not just that, so many times when I'm talking about you to either your papa or bhaiyya, you start moving as if you know you are being talked about. I wonder if its just a coincidence or do you really respond to your name "Shona baby". I really wonder.

You are very very very chulbul. But then you are my baby and I was named chulbuli by my school friends and then by my college friends too. :) You have been very very active since yesterday. You were kicking away for good hour and a half at lunch time. Then in evening also you were pretty active for about 30 min. And then at night around 9:30 PM, it took about 2 hours for you to sleep. And then you woke up again around 1:30 AM at night and just wouldn't sleep and thus kept me awake till 3:30 AM.

And you have not slept for more than 1 hour at a stretch since I woke up at 6 AM. Even now as I'm writing this post, you seem to be practicing football and have been at it since the past 40 min at least. Tera kya karoon bachku ram. To kinna bammashu bachha hai!!

Lately your bhaiyya talks to you saying "My baby" and the love in his eyes is so evident. The way he smiles when he talks to you, the way he caresses you, the way he showers you with kisses, the way he tries to tickle you and I have to stop him as it tickles me a lot...it makes my heart smile.

The 24th week newsletter told me that you weigh around a pound (450 gm) and are about 12 inches long. Grow up well shoncha!

(@24 Weeks 5 Days)

You are about 14 inches long

Hi Shonu bachha!

These days I wonder if you respond to me when I talk to you. Somehow it has happened way too many times when I talk to you, you start squirming or kicking inside. And then I feel as if you are responding to me.

And not just that, so many times when I'm talking about you to either your papa or bhaiyya, you start moving as if you know you are being talked about. I wonder if its just a coincidence or do you really respond to your name "Shona baby". I really wonder.

You are very very very chulbul. But then you are my baby and I was named chulbuli by my school friends and then by my college friends too. :) You have been very very active since yesterday. You were kicking away for good hour and a half at lunch time. Then in evening also you were pretty active for about 30 min. And then at night around 9:30 PM, it took about 2 hours for you to sleep. And then you woke up again around 1:30 AM at night and just wouldn't sleep and thus kept me awake till 3:30 AM.

And you have not slept for more than 1 hour at a stretch since I woke up at 6 AM. Even now as I'm writing this post, you seem to be practicing football and have been at it since the past 40 min at least. Tera kya karoon bachku ram. To kinna bammashu bachha hai!!

Lately your bhaiyya talks to you saying "My baby" and the love in his eyes is so evident. The way he smiles when he talks to you, the way he caresses you, the way he showers you with kisses, the way he tries to tickle you and I have to stop him as it tickles me a lot...it makes my heart smile.

The 24th week newsletter told me that you weigh around a pound (450 gm) and are about 12 inches long. Grow up well shoncha!

(@24 Weeks 5 Days)

You are little more than 11 inches long

Hi Shona bachha

You continue to be a chulbul bachha although sometimes you are very very quiet for long these days (You just moved inside as I wrote this line :D). You still do not like me lying on my sides and start squirming within seconds.

On Sunday afternoon, when I was telling your bhaiyya a story, you were moving around a lot. So I asked your bhaiyya if he wants to feel you and he promptly put his hand on my tummy and you should have seen his wide eyed amused expression as he felt each movement of yours. He caressed you, gave you so many puchhas and even sang couple of nursery rhymes in baby-talk style to make you sleep.

We went to a new doctor in Moolchand Hospital last week as recommended by your Doctor Nana. She was nice and sweet and noted down detailed family history and asked us tonnes of questions pertaining to my first delivery and other aspects of health. She saw all the previous ultrasound reports and prescriptions. When she learnt I am unable to take iron supplement tablet, she suggested various other natural sources of iron that I should add to my diet.

She checked my blood pressure which continues to be 100/60 from the beginning of my pregnancy. I was a little a little disappointed when the weighing scale showed my weight as 60.5 Kg as that means I haven't gained weight as I had been happy that finally managed to gain 1 Kg. But she was not concerned or worried about my weight when I told her what all I eat in a day. More so because she said you are growing well too.

Overall we found her quite thorough but we were still a little confused if she is better or the one we had been going to so far. So I spoke to your doctor Nana again and said that I will have to go by his evaluation of this new doctor from a doctors point of view as we will not be able to judge a doctor's capability from our perspective as he has worked with her when he was in Moolchand Hospital. He confirmed that he feels she would be a good choice looking at her experience and exposure. So your papa and I decided that we will continue showing to this new doctor, Dr. Alka Gujral and will go to Moolchand for delivery too.

(@23 Weeks 4 Days)

You are such a chulbul bachha

Ohh yes you are. You are constantly moving around and kicking away. For the past week, I can feel you moving around for good 5-6 hrs in a whole day if not more. And I wonder..if you are such a chulbul bachha inside, what should I be prepared for once you are out? :)

Your bhaiyya was a very shaant bachha and looks like you will be totally opposite. I guess God must have thought that I've had too easy a time and its time for me to taste the other flavor too :)

Talking about flavors, my health has been good. I am now able to eat a normal diet now and I have finally gained 1 KG of weight between 20 weeks and 22 weeks. I was 60.3 KGs when you turned 20 weeks and when I checked it again at 22nd week, I was 61.2 KGs.

I've been eating parantha with pickle almost everyday for the past 2 weeks and I guess that can be attributed to this weight gain :) I still don't like to eat sweets or fried stuff. I am eating lots of cucumbers and seasonal fruits such as mango, musk melon, peaches, cherries and apples. Your papa makes awesome nimbu pani for me and I relish it every evening. No one makes it as good as your dad!

(@22 Weeks 5 Days)

You are about 11 inches long

You are 22 weeks today! I almost forgot the count :)

Today a very cute thing happened in the morning. While enjoying nice cool breeze in our living room with your bhaiyya cuddling next to me,  your bhaiyya asked me if you are awake. When I told him no, he started to talk to you wishing you a good morning and asking you to wake up as its morning now. He said "Wake up baby. Subah ho gayee...ab aap uth jayo..." and he said it couple of times in different ways and suddenly you kicked. You actually woke up!! :)

When I told this to your bhaiyya, he was very happy. He gave you a good morning kiss and did "gooji...gooji"  (the sound he makes for tickling) to you. I had to make him stop as I was very ticklish. Then he continued his conversations with you and you responded again.I love this bond developing between you two already. And I hope it stays as amicable even when you both are together :)

The weekly newsletter tells me that you are about 11 inches long and almost 1 pound. Your lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and tiny tooth buds are developing beneath your gums. Your eyes have formed, but the irises still lack pigment. It also tell me that if I could see inside your womb, I'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that cover your body and the deep wrinkles on the skin, which you'll sport until you add a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside your belly, your pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

Grow up nice and healthy my shona!

(@22 Weeks)

You are about 10 and 1/2 inches long

Hi shoncha bachha.

You turn 21 weeks today. Your kicks are becoming stronger day by day and the frequency has also increased. The newsletter tells me you are about 10 and 1/2 inches long. And it told me that I may feel as if you are practicing martial arts as your initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. And I so agree with it. :) It also tells me that your eyelids and eyebrows are fully formed now.

You are very active around 5 AM everyday and keep me awake until 6 AM with your movements. And then I want to sleep on although the time is to get up and start the day with the daily chores. You don't like me to lie down on my sides. If I do lie down on any of my side, minutes later you start kicking quite hard and then I've to lie in a position which is midway of lying sideways and on my back with the support of pillows.

Yesterday was your papa's birthday and we went to a nice restaurant by the name of Qube in The Leela, Chanakyapuri. Later on I was generally asking your papa and your bhaiyya if they all had a good time and added that I definitely did. And then your bhaiyya kissed you and asked you if you had a good time too.

I found that so sweet. Something which never crossed either my mind or your papas' - to even think about if you had a good time or not. :)

Love you bachha.

(@21 Weeks)

You are the size of a banana!

Hi Shona.

You have become very active lately and I can feel really strong movements quite a number of times during the day. Your Papa also finally felt you yesterday although your movements were little soft that time. But in the evening when your Bhaiyya felt you, you were kicking really hard. Your bhaiyyas' eyes were wide with amazement as he felt you.

Whenever I tell your bhaiyya that he is my "pyara sa, ladloo sa bachha" he will caress you (by caressing my tummy) and say "Aur yeh mera pyaara sa, ladloo sa baby". He continues to shower you with kisses.

Last week he went with his Papa to watch Kungu Fu Panda 2 and the reason he gave for not taking me along is that "Baby darr jayega" as there will be some fighting and scary animals in the movie. :)

We saw you on 27th May when you had turned 19 weeks. You had your right hand on your head as if you are deep in thought. It is such a pleasing sight to see you moving around and to basically just see you growing well. And the sound of your heart beating is the sweetest sound for my ears.

During the ultrasound, when the doctor was showing your body parts and body organs to us, she told us that you had just passed urine as few seconds ago your bladder was full. Your bhaiyya had such a laugh and he had so many questions thereafter about the peeing and pooping of babies inside the tummy. I told your Bhaiyya how he as a baby had swallowed meconium and he made such a face totally disgusted by the thought of it. :)

The newsletter tells me that you are about 10" tall from head to toe and weight about 300 gm. You have started peeing and producing meconium (a black sticky by product of digestion). The hair on your scalp has started sprouting. Also, your legs and arms in proportion with the rest of the body now.

Your papa continues to take very good care of me. He doesn't let me do anything in the house and is constantly feeding me some fruit or juice and thus keeping me on a healthy regime of food as well. he is pampering me so much that I wonder if I will be able to get back to the routine once you are born or will I continue to be as lazy as I'm these days :)

(@20 Weeks 3 Days)

Your bhaiyya felt you

Today morning your movements were pretty strong. I was able to feel them from outside as well. Your bhaiyya was sitting next to me so I took his hand and kept it on the tummy. For few seconds we waited and you finally moved again. Your bhaiyya could feel you. He had a big smile on his face. I waited for him to say something but he didn't say anything. When I asked him if he felt your movements only then he confirmed. He moved around his legs to show how you might be moving your legs around :)

When I told your papa that Anirudh felt you move, he asked me if you were still moving. But by that time you had gone quiet. So your papa is still waiting for the moment. Such a tease you already are Shona :)

(@18 Weeks 4 Days)

I can feel you

Hi Shona baby!

I can feel you since yesterday evening. And I'm 100% sure its you and not anything else.

Earlier when I used to have the similar sensation of movement I wasn't sure if it was you or gas as they commonly say. Now I know that flutter was because of you moving around.

Your movements are not much strong right now. Its just a soft little feeling. I can feel you move only when I'm lying on my back. Or sitting in a way which puts little pressure on my tummy for e.g. folding my legs to my chest.

I'm so happy! Finally I can feel you! :)

Your bhaiyya came back home yesterday night and he has been showering you with kisses since then. Every time he is near me, he kisses you multiple times. He asked me yesterday if I can feel you and when I told him yes, he wanted to know when will he be able to feel you move too. Since I didn't know myself how long will it take to feel your movements from outside, I told him a tentative period of 2 weeks and now he is counting the days :)

(@18 Weeks 2 days)

You are about 5 and 1/2 inches

Hi Shona.

You are 18 weeks now. Am so excited to think I'm almost halfway through. And I guess more excited that I'm just a week away from the 19th week ultrasound. We all will get to see you again!! Yay!!

The weekly newsletter told me that you are busy flexing your arms and legs — movements that I'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. How eagerly I'm waiting to feel them Shona.

Your papa sometimes teases me by mimicking me the way I talk to you. He is so  funny and cute :)

Your bhaiyya is away since the past week to his bua's place spending his summer holidays with his cousins in Faridabad. I'm sure you are missing his daily good mornings and kisses :) I surely am missing him a lot. I so want to cuddle and snuggle with him. He is coming back tomorrow and am feeling quite happy. Also happy that he was able to spend good happy enjoyable times with his cousins.

(@18 Weeks)

You are about 4 and a half inches long

How eagerly I look forward to the weekly updates from Baby Center telling me the developments in you.

The newsletter says you are 4 and 1/2 inches long. Your legs are more developed and head is more erect and your scalp pattern has started developing although there are no hair yet. Your toe nails have started developing.

Soon I will be able to feel you moving inside and how anxiously I am waiting for it. And I think about 5-6 days ago I did feel your move when I absentmindedly lied down on my tummy. I am 90% sure it was you as it definitely didn't feel like gas.

And its just not me. Your bhaiyya is also eager to feel your movements. Today morning he asked me if he will be allowed to come and meet you at the hospital once you are out of my tummy. And when I said yes, you should have seen the spark in his eyes. I can feel he is also a little concerned how will he sleep without me when I'm in the hospital as he sleeps snuggled into me till date. But I'm sure he will manage. I've heard kids suddenly maturing at such times.

(@16 Weeks 3 Days)

You are about 3 and 1/2 inches

I was very excited to read about the developments in you in the past week. You have learnt to emote - squint, frown, grimace, smile...Wow! Lets see what expression you give me at the next ultrasound.

You have also learnt to pee and may be how to suck your thumb as well.

I worry about the nutrition you are getting from me sometimes as I'm not able to eat much still as the nausea and vomiting continues. I end of throwing up my food approx. once a day. The day I don't, I feel so happy and good.

We do not have a maid and a permanent cook currently and your Papa has been taking really good care of me. He doesn't let me cook or do any of the house chores. The day the temporary cook doesn't come in, like today, he cooks and packs my lunch for me so that I don't have to eat the outside food. And must say, he has learnt to cook really well.

I'm hoping the placenta has moved up a bit in the past week and its perfectly fine at the end of 17 weeks.

You grow up nice and well bachhu.

Love from your Bhaiyya, Papa and Mumma...muaahh!

(@14 Weeks 5 Days)

You are about 3 inches

Hi Shona baby.

We all got to see you on Friday evening. You gave the doctor a tough time to complete the scan as you were moving around so much. By the time she was done with entering data, you would have moved from the position.

Once she was done with her measurements and noting down the required points she showed you to us, me, your bhaiyya and papa. You were moving around a lot and swaying your arms and legs. You waved a "hi" with full hand open. Your bhaiyya was so ecstatic and asked in amazement if the baby (you) can see him.

Doctor told us that you are growing up fine inside. And everything is just fine except that I've a low lying placenta for which she asked me to not walk or stand or exert too much. So next 4 weeks I would be strictly following these instructions.

(@13 Weeks 3 Days)