My first Mothers Day :)

Woke up this morning to a FABULOUS surprise...or should I say surprises!!! First of all a HUGE pancake breakfast and latte and then 2 WONDERFUL cards from my B....THEN.....a TIFFANY DIAMOND necklace with "B" on!!!! SUPER spoilt!!!

Look at my cards! and my lovely necklace :)





Daddy and I went out for a great steak lunch at Gibsons followed by a walk by Lake Michigan. What a lovely lovely perfect day.......Oh and it was Bella's first meal at a restaurant and she was an angel and slept the whole time (phew!)

Dressed up in my cashmere for mummy's day lunch

Daddy by the lake (brrrrr)

nicknames so far! And a beautiful blanket knitted by R's mummy in New Zealand

PUNKY!!!! The snuggler, Snuffler Bittle, Bittle one, pincess (without the R) Dirk Wriggler, Im SURE knowing us many more will follow.....Squeaky....oh and of course "ducky" "the duck" when you do your funny face when we burp you!!! ha ha!!!

Beautiful blanket knitted by R's Mummy, We use this to tuck her up when we go out into the chicago cold!

1 WEEK OLD!!!

I am one week old today :)

Just been to see "Dr Dan" and he said her jaundice levels are going down and she has gained 3 oz so is now 2 oz off her birthweight. He said we got an A+ for baby care, funny how proud and peacock like that makes one feel ha ha....He said keep doing what we are doing :) We are feeding 3 hrly during day and 4 hrly pretty much at night, he said now we can push it to 4-5 at night and next week IF she is at her birthweight and IF (big big IF) she wants to sleep we can let her wake up not us wake her up in the night as we have been doing for feeds...Today we are changing over to UK milk Aptamil so fingers x on that one...

We have been doing lots of skin to skin and she loves her swing and being in her nappy on our laps kicking her little leggies about :) She ADORES her Daddy and Daddy has been amazing from the man who pretty much wouldn't hold a baby as he was too scared to being ALL in. He adores her right back.
Her hair is getting blonder, in fact she looks like she has some serious highlights!
She has had 2 trips to the Dr, and Wallgreens and one to the Mall where we bought her 2 suits that actually nearly fit in Macy's.

She has these DARK blue/grey eyes (wonder if they will stay or go hazel like Daddy) and Daddy's long eyelashes (yes) and his pouty lips, think we are going to need a shotgun for when she is a teenager ha ha!

We have loved all our skyping/facetime with family and besties, the support has been amazing....
We got sent some lovely cupcakes last night by a work friend of M's.

our hospital photoshoot :)

Bella Hope Kit CJ is here!!!

On friday about 7pm  R called as her waters had gone! We wolfed down our chicken nuggets and rushed in a taxi and told the driver to "drive as fast as as you can, without breaking the law!" by 10.36pm you were out and alert weighing a hefty (not!) 6.6 pounds and gorgeous with a full head of hair and big blue eyes....I did the ugly cry Daddy is insisting I put that pic on so I will (urgh!) Daddy just beamed, R was VERY brave and a right  trooper as a section is serious business. We are so grateful to R, She has given us this bestest gift ever, The nice thing is we were worrying about her and she was worrying about me so its shows how a bond can develop between a scatty posh English bird and a tough kiwi ;) I feel she will hold a special place in my heart forever.

Bella is so beautiful (may be biased) and everyone tells us so she is doing very well for a preemie and feeding well etc, passed her hearing test today too. We had a bit of a scare the night she was born with her breathing buts thats fine now. She seems very chilled and content and loves being snuggled by anyone. She has visited with her "tummy mummy" and we will take her again later to see her "tummy brother and sister". We had a fabulous nurse called Suzy- note to uk nurses to be more like this!!!

We had a photoshoot that they do at the hospital so pics will be up when we have them, mummy looks fugly as have half wet half dry hair but daddy and Bella look divine....

We hope to go "home" tomorrow so that should be nice. Her star swing should arrive which is good as she loves looking about.

anyways pics!!!

Just born chillaxin to the maxin whilst be checked over!

holding Daddys finger

gazing at mummy

ok here is the UGLY CRY as you were born, my whole mask filled with snot!!!

The nurse made you a punky headband!!!

Snuggles with Daddy Bear

36+2 our little smiler

Bella was 6.11 pounds and full head of hair and even did a smile for mummy and daddy! Fluid was still the same but we just have to wait...given the polyydramnios and R history its unlikely she will make it till 9 April, 1 April latest, We think next week. R was actually having contractions today so....maybe...who knows?!

36 weeks 1 more week till fully baked bear!

Well I have been fairly remiss in typing since saturday as struck down with sickness and now have a horrid cold, watching lots and lots of "breaking bad" and having cold meds and immune boosting stuff.

Breaking Bad is AWESOME!!! How have we come to the party so late?

here is Walt and Jessie

We have just started the third series our of 6 (our evening entertainment!)

Now onto you. You are 36 wks today So 1 week from full term but really the longer you are in the better.  The 18th is what we said in our fortune cookies and was the 3rd of our predicted days! Im hoping that you don't come today as a) you need another week to cook and b) my stinking cold might not be acceptable in the hospital!? But we will see you at the scan in 48hrs and your size and the fluid level which should be WAY down now certainly not up and nor the same as last time...Trouble is if the waters are so big and you are so big and well the SPACE in R tummy is not so big it can cause IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction) and make you little body grow all funny so we WILL be speaking to the dr's pretty seriously if the fluid is the same or up and /or you are over 7 pounds....that maybe eviction should be at 37 wks or 38 not so late at 39.

We shall see I guess in a couple of days. Im pretty homesick, loving the hotel, Its nice having cleaners and all that but miss family and doggies and home.....Cant wait to get home with Bella, know our routine and see how we go and get the parental order done, done with just about all the "process" stress and just wanting to be getting on as a family. I know there has to be a process but It just goes on and on, As if we haven't been through enough, I just want it done already.

Your baby is still gaining weight – about 28g a day. She weighs nearly 2.7kg and is about 47cm long from head to toe. You may begin to feel an increased pressure in your lower belly and notice that baby is gradually dropping. This is called lightening or engagement, and your lungs and stomach will finally get a chance to stretch out a little – breathing and eating should become easier. 

However, walking may become increasingly uncomfortable. Some women say it feels as if their baby is going to fall out. Also, you may still feel as if you need to go to the loo all the time. Check out our eating well guide and stock up on those last-minute nutrients. 

The good news is that by the end of this week, your pregnancy will be full-term and you could give birth any day. Babies between 37 weeks and 42 weeks are considered full-term. A baby born before 37 weeks is premature and after 42 weeks is post-term. 

Your may have noticed that your breasts are leaking a little. This is quite normal. They are producing the rich, first milk called colostrum that will give your baby a great start in life.

Chicago river goes Irish Green

Its funny the Americans all like to think they have Irish or Scottish "roots" ha ha but it was quite the spectacle! They literally turned the river thermonuclear green  and had bagpipes, The water colour was a bit disturbing , reminiscent of the nuclear wasted that comes from Mr Burn's Nuclear plant that makes the fish in springfield have 3 heads....but the bagpipes always remind me of my Daddy, found myself blubbing away...Im very emotional today and feeling incredibly blessed right now......

LOVELY afternoon , Full moon and fortune cookies...

So yesterday we went to the store and bought our last bits for you...Then we went to see R and family, Had great fun playing with the kids and chatting to R and D and we had yummy chinese takeout. R's mummy had made us a beautiful blanket which I have taken a pic of on our camera and will upload later on..SUCH a kind gesture...We spoke to her in NZ and we hope she will be ok they had VERY strong winds forecast! R and D also have the worlds cutest cat (and Im not really a cat person) Bootsy, she was VERY snuggly but unfortunately when we got home I got rather itchy eyes and hives on my wrists, so I guess Im still a bit allergic to cats!! It was worth it for the cuddles though, I really am missing the doggies!!!

R has had a few "braxton hicks" we think as bump goes very hard and tight on and off. Didn't feel Bella kick which was a shame but maybe she will when I see R tomorrow for our pamper afternoon...We are going to have nice massages and then Mark will join us for tea at another hotel. Funny to think chinese was our first meal together- as in Bella and us eating the same thing!

R and I both got 18 as a number in our fortune cookies so wonder if 18 is the lucky day, 18 is also M and my lucky number... Also there is a full moon on sunday the 16th and legend has it full moons can start labour the day of and before and after its full, bit of a myth maybe but who knows! R and I also both feel though it will be a middle of the night situation! 3am ish... the hotel phone is right next to my head so it will scare the bejesus out of me ha ha!

Im not a city girl but I don't think I will ever get tired of the chicago skyline at night driving towards the city, its almost a bit magical.

Really glad its friday today as M is working so hard he is working harder probably than if he was at work about 12 hrs...I cant wait to spend the weekend doing stuff.

The hotel has been brilliant and we came back last night to a beautiful brand new bassinet they are loaning us and today a glider chair is being delivered! Again I shall post pics later....We are having a swing we bought and a baby bath delivered soon, All set then after that, just need a baby ;)

going to see YOU and R in 24 hrs! and where I show my Englishness....

SUPER excited, we get to see you tomorrow!!!! And we are stopping at the store to pick up your last bits first then hang out with R and have dinner...R and I have a pamper day booked for saturday, massages and a high tea, nom nom...I really need to try out the pool I am eating so much American junk its very naughty!

Just showed how embarrassingly English I am...Was just in the elevator (lift as we say) with the Houston Rockets who are apparently a big deal? saw a bunch of really really tall guys and said "any room for a little one" (just had a massage-hair all wild- not a good look) and they ushered me in the middle, So I say "are you guys basketball players you are sooo tall!" "one chap says very kindly "Im guessing you aren't from the USA?" "Nope I say Im from London" so I say "sorry I take it you are really famous then?" and they laugh and say pointing to Omar Asik (think that was what they said) "HE is TRYING to be" and laughed again...then we got off on the same floor.. :)

So shall be looking out for them as the Houston Rockets are playing the Chicago bulls tomorrow night...Daddy was going to have a workout in the gym but has now decided he wont as he will look really unfit, silly daddy, Id be there trying to chat to them ha ha!

This is the chap I was standing next to Omar Asik who is the one they were joking about being the next big thing apparently, as you can see he is pretty tall. Imagine how small 5 ft 7 me felt ha ha!

35 wks and in CHICAGO baby!!! and coconut time!

its funny to think we are so near you!!! Trying to sort our everything in our apartment, and your birth plan, yadda yadda....what we have left to buy....

Im just now waiting for you..Im bored already ha ha!!! Think its hard to switch off when have been rushing about like a mad thing, but I must as this is the LAST peace I will probably get in hum 18 yrs?!

The apartment is lovely, your crib is set up, your apatamil milk arrived form uk phew...

Our flight was bleurgh, had a man next to me sniffing and being very ill all flight, Id say about every 5 mins I disinfected my hands and used my anti virus nose spray every hr!!! Daddy and I were silly and took pics of me next to people sleeping in silly poses...Immigration took FOREVER....We finally got into bed about the equivalent of 4am uk time so pretty pooped today, Im sitting Im my dressing gown eating and watching trash tv and catching up on the news. Daddy has been working since 7 am, bless him...Hopefully he will stop at 4pm and we can go exploring, Think its due to snow later? So its 35 weeks, 11 March 2014 , the first of my predicted birthdays for you! whats going on in there then little bear?

Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that she's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds . Because it's so snug in your womb, she isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times she kicks should remain about the same. Her kidneys are fully developed now, and her liver can process some waste products. Most of her basic physical development is now complete — she'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight. Bella is about the size of a coconut ..put the lime in the coconut...bla bla.....

NB : From here on out, R will start seeing her practitioner every week. Sometime between now and 37 weeks, she'll do a vaginal and rectal culture to check for bacteria called Group B streptococci (GBS). (Don't worry — the swab is the size of a regular cotton swab, and it won't hurt at all.) GBS is usually harmless in adults, but if she does have it and pass it on to your baby during birth, it can cause serious complications, such as pneumonia, meningitis, or a blood infection. Because 10 to 30 percent of pregnant women have the bacteria and don't know it, it's vital to be screened. (The bacteria come and go on their own — that's why you weren't screened earlier in pregnancy.) If you're a GBS carrier, you'll get IV antibiotics during labor, which will greatly reduce your baby's risk of infection.

Bella Hope......and now added Kit

we have added your Grandpa's nickname...I hope he is happy, God I miss him so much, Know he wasn't the hugest fan of babies per se but he loved his grandchildren, wish he could play hide and seek with you in his navy dressing gown, Wish he could chuck you about the swimming pool and sneak you chocolate and talk about history with you....and teach you the time and tell you the story of the 2 bears in the cave, and the wind went whooooosh and the rain went pitter patter.....And give you great big (fat tummy) hugs. Hopefully he is watching you and us from heaven xoxo

34 +2 scan

here is the little Bear at 34 +2.....

fluid level has gone up, should be decreasing he said at this stage but hes isnt tooooo worried.....next scan on 20 march and we will be there for that :)

At first I was like whats the lump?!!! But on closer inspection something is across her face maybe the cord?!

random things that make me smile

SO I just made a cup of tea this morning and out of the drawer of posh cutlery came "The B.A spoon", this spoon makes me smile...One of my parents, most likely my father must have stolen this spoon at some point in the 80's, 90's and it made its way into their cutlery drawer and when we inherited "homes" cutlery it then made its way into our drawers, most people might think "urgh whats this horrid airline spoon doing in my drawers?" and dispense of said offensive object stat but for me it makes me smile as I can imagine my father pocketing it for some bizarre reason, our housekeeper finding it in his travel things and just washing it along with the rest, this thought comforts me , hence why the B.A spoon is somewhat of a celebrity of spoons in the spoon section.

This led me onto other random things which make me smile...a lot have connotations of my father, his navy cashmere jumper , his old soft pink and white checked shirt, a book he gave me -The Man eaters of Tsavo - all of which pop out on sad days.
My teddy bear "Roy" because he is corduroy fabric, or once was, my teddy that at age 34 and 3/4 I cant sleep well without, that has had 1 major bout of surgery and is in DIRE need of another but I simply cant bare to be parted from him even though he looks REVOLTING.
My rings by the kitchen sink make me smile, all the little bits of jewellery Mr CJ has given me over the years, some expensive, some not at all, but all equally precious, old valentines cards, finding photos of school days and old partners in crime, long grown up and gone our separate ways...Coming down in the night for a glass of water and hearing the thump thump of Roo's tail as he is pleased to see me but cant be arsed to move off his bed and hearing Tyler's soft snoring...Lying in a bath at sundown seeing all the birds flying back to their nests above and in our home...Seeing the daffodils and snowdrops emerge in our garden hinting at spring, lots and lots of things in fact If you think about it...and sometimes you do, and it helps "what makes me smile? what LITTLE things make me happy?"

Daddy gifts from Work

The london office gave you this LOVELY Rocking horse...

And the NYC office gave us a HUGE stash of Dollars to spoil you with in Chicago!!! More shopping!!! How fun!! SO kind of them, and some lovely cards too....

34 weeks MILESTONE

34 wks!!! WOWZERS...THIS is a HUGE milestone....I feel much much more confident now that if you come early you will be ok. Touching wood of course....Had a bit of a wobble today and Godmummy Emma came over to see me, Not wobbling about YOU per se..but well everything....so much to do so so so much to do...and worried about the hospital tomorrow.....yadda yadda...Your scan on thursday....

so whats new? Well we are over 50k hits which Im rather amazed and chuffed with. Poor old Leo Di Caprio missed out on his oscar for a fourth time....Mummy DIDNT stay up to watch, ok snuck down to see a few of the dresses early on but I saved the awards for monday, all very jolly, Ellen ordered pizza for the stars and they broke twitter with the most re-tweeted pic, thats was very funny, I like Ellen as a host, Ellen, Billy Crystal, Steve Martin and Bob Hope are my favourites... Here is a pic of THAT selfie...

Jared Leto (Oscar winner) Jen Lawrence, Channing Tatum, Meryl, Ellen, Kevin Spacey, Julia, Brad and Angie and Bradley Cooper and Lupita Nyong'o (Oscar winner) then randomly her brother photo bombing!

now YOU...34 wks....

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds or more likely in your chubba case about 6!!! (about the size of a cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

See what your baby looks like this week.

33+4 bumpage

R says she feels bigger and harder than her babies and also that she feels baby is lowVERY low and sometimes she feels like her waters may go if she stands to long!!! EEK, we NEED her to hang in there till 37 wks to try to avoid the NICU care, that would be not fun. We arrive late on 10 March. At least hang in there till THEN little bear, please....Scan on 6th, we should know fluid level and growth by about 7pm our time..Then the next scan on 21- if we make it that far... we will be there :)

packing up!

Packing up is fun! for all those moaning about hospital bag packing we will have that to do as well once we get there....pretty hard getting all packed for 2 months or so, seems our daughters stuff is 90% of what we are taking yet she only gets that allowance on the way home (despite us explaining our situation) THANKS British Airways...grrr. Bella gets a bag we get a bag and her pram and car seat etc take up lots room...on the way back we are laughing but on the way there lets just say Mr CJ and I are packing light....like weekend away light...inneresting......

The dogs know something is up and getting all sad and moping about :( will be horrid leaving them for so long but needs must and they love the grannys house! :)  Have to be careful not to rush getting them back and do the introduction to B PROPERLY and carefully to to avoid future issues....but will miss them dreadfully, even after a week I start looking at photos of them and getting all sad! Getting the house ready, secure, alarmed, notifying neighbours all that jazz...running about like blue arsed flies...hoping to get to Chicago and sleep for 24 hrs straight in bed with fudge cake and a film. First though HEAPS to do and another hospital visit, fun times ahead though, just looking FORWARD.