This week has been great. My pelvis has been behaving itself and I have been able to tick lots off my to do list ready for Bump's arrival. I'm surprised how quickly I have forgotten about work. Within two weeks I have completely disassociated with the projects I was manically working on, staying late and losing sleep over. I am definitely missing the people and office gossip though! It was the right thing to do finishing early as fatigue is really catching up with me. One hour of activity now has to be balanced by an hour of rest to recover! Walking is also interesting as baby must bounce on my bladder with every step I take...

A new development has emerged on the sleep front. I'm generally sleeping fine (except for the constant need to switch sides all night to give each hip a rest and prevent thigh cramp). However, Little E has decided this is the perfect point in her life to start waking throughout the night demanding to sleep in our bed. Refusal to remain in her own bed has resulted in sleepless nights spent continually replacing her or giving in and sleeping on the edge of the bed with little feet kicking my back. I am wondering of the clingy behaviour is linked to the imminent arrival of Bump or just a usual phase. Either way we have three weeks to nip it in the bud!

Yesterday was funny day. It began with brunch at Harvester with Husband and Little E. I did think it was a little odd as Husband and I were going out for dinner but it meant a Full English so I didn't voice any complaints! I then had to rush over to see my Bestie's new house and help her measure up. Only when I got there the estate agent had cancelled last minute - so we sat outside relandscaping the front garden in our minds for half an hour before I toddled off home to find all my family and friends of the female persuasion in my front room and a smug looking husband about to take off to leave us all to it.

I was immediately informed that second time mums get a baby sprinkle rather than a shower which I found rather amusing! The idea is that you focus a bit more on the mum as they are already worn out, shells-of-their-former-selves due to raising baby number one. Sounds about right! My sisters-in-law had organised lots of games, my favourites being the taste and identify the jarred baby food flavour (worryingly the only one anyone could identify was cauliflower cheese) and guess the baby photo which involved everyone bringing an anonymous baby photo along and us all guessing who was who - a hard challenge as 20 odd babies look surprisingly familiar! There was lots of food courtesy of Husband (Sainsbury's party platters) and cupcakes galore made by my Bestie (yes, she did make it along after the fake house viewing ruse!) and my six year old niece/godaughter Big E.

I was thoroughly spoiled with lots of presents for Bump and pamper bits for me. My favourites being a 'I love my big sister' vest for bump and some super comfy looking yoga pants for after my C section.

What a super Husband, family and bunch if friends I have. Super lucky girl. #MagicMoments

Join in the Magic Moments fun each week over at http://theoliversmadhouse.co.uk

I've been spending a lot of time this week wondering if Bump is a boy or girl. When I was pregnant with Little E I was convinced she was a boy - to the point where I was secretly buying blue baby grows! Everyone else was 50/50. This time 95% of people are convinced I am carrying a boy. I think I am too but once bitten twice shy so I'm keeping an open mind!

Most people seem to think we want Bump to be a boy and say things like 'it'll be so nice for your Husband if it's a boy'. They are wrong. We are honestly quite happy regardless. Husband has three sisters so he's quite comfortable in a household full of women (I think he likes being unique!) and I know he won't feel any sense of loss if we don't have a boy. If we do then that is great too, a different challenge for us and time to clear the loft of the plethora of pink stored up there!

There was no question of finding out the sex before baby was born. Husband even averted his gaze at the 20wk scan for fear baby would be an exhibitionist! But I know for many people it is a big deal. Would I feel the same way if Little E had been a boy? I don't know. My relationship with my mum is so strong I can't imagine not having that relationship with a daughter of my own but I also know the love I felt immediately when I saw Little E didn't change once I knew her sex (in fact I thought she was a boy for 30seconds until the midwife corrected herself!) The love was the same regardless. The first time I felt that kind of love was eight years earlier when I met my nephew for the first time. I remember the rush of emotion being so strong that I was completely freaked out and I really didn't know what to do with the feeling. I was scared at how much I loved that little person and the lengths I would go to to protect them.

So, for now, I am left happily wondering and the nursery is staying yellow!

This post is linked to the #PoCoLo fun on twitter. Join in each week at www.vevivos.com

What a crazy week! The pressure of organising Husband's surprise 30th party plus both myself and Little E having a nasty cold took it's toll and I have felt pretty exhausted constantly! Baby bump has been moving and wriggling lots to the point where my stomach looks completely out of shape at times. I have quite enjoyed freaking Husband out though.

We have found out that our C section is booked for 18th February - which coincidentally is Husband's actual birthday. So he's getting the best 30th birthday present ever! I have been busying myself the last few days getting the nursery ready now we are counting down the last few weeks. Washing has been the main priority and I am loving putting all the tiny clothes away ready for Bump's arrival. Despite our hard work getting the nursery ready over the past few weeks the pre-baby to do list is still pretty long...

• Wash all newborn and 0-3 neutral clothes (3 loads down, 2 to go)
  
• Wash all pram, cot and moses basket bedding
  
• Finalise hospital and baby bags
• Order nursing bras
• Order sheets for the co-sleeper cot
• Locate steraliser in the loft
• Fix new hook to back of nursery door
• Sort out the under-stairs cupboard
• Source a cleaner for 6 weeks post C section
• Tidy the utility room
• Finalise Little E's baby book and pack away
• Sort small chest out
• Sort toy box
• Buy Husband, Mum, Dad and Little E's birthday presents (all within a week of the birth)

Last day at work yesterday! Whoop whoop! I must admit it felt very surreal and I don't think it has properly sunk in yet. When Little E is at nursery tomorrow it will all feel real.

I leave work with a mixture of emotions. Relief being the first because over the weekend my pelvis gave in leaving me unable to manage more than a shuffling walk, so physically it is the right time. But there is also some sadness and a sense of unease. Work gives my life structure and allows my brain to channel different avenues which don't get stimulated at home. I like engaging with people on subjects other than mine/their children and being challenged with opinions different from my own. The overriding feeling is that I will miss my team. I work with a fantastic group of people who have been great during my pregnancy. Some I have only known for a short time and others I have worked with for years but they are my home from home and I am going to miss them all.

This is cheating slightly as week 33 actually finished yesterday but this post can act as a review of the week just passed. How did it go? Well to sum it up: rubbish. I feel like a pregnant heffer who can't walk properly, sleep comfortably or digest any kind of meal efficiently. Plus despite putting on a lot less weight this pregnancy my skin is creating a whole new road map of stretch marks, this time above my belly button.

I know I am lucky to have got to what is effectively the home straight with only minor niggles and the odd night of broken sleep but I've abruptly got to the point where anything more than the basics is really too much effort. It was my sister in laws birthday meal on Monday. Lovely as always but really, who wants to be sitting in a Chinese restaurant eating a four course banquet when you can barely digest a toasted sandwich? I did force down a duck pancake and some wontons but when the main courses came I was too paralysed by trapped wind to partake. Baby must have been growth spurting because it felt like they were literally about to force their way out of my stomach. Brings a whole new meaning to the song Under pressure.

This baby is much higher up than Little E. I feel like I have a beach ball under my boobs whereas she felt like she was firmly nestled deep inside me, bump emerging from my hips. Amazingly with this one i still have a waist and the bump is all out front. But the downside is the new stretch marks - much higher than the old ones. I am going to blame Husband who is much less attentive with the Bio Oil this pregnancy. In fact I think he has applied it once. Definitely no chance of a bikini now *coughs* Ok, there wasn't much chance if before if I'm honest...

This post is linked to the #PoCoLo linky. To join in the fun visit www.vevivos.com

Third trimester has been quite kind to me so far but this week I have felt properly pregnant. As the day draws to an end my waddle becomes more pronounced until I am virtually a cripple just before bed! I cannot complain though as this point last time I was a cripple all day long so this is a great improvement. I am still in shock that I am sleeping well and it is only my bladder which wakes me. Little E took joy in kicking the bed all night which left me sleep deprived watching CSI reruns at 4am. I am forever thankful to this baby for letting me rest!

Eloise is now in her big girl bedroom and we are sorting out the nursery. Mum came up to help me think about what we need for bump and start packing my bags - bit freaked out at the idea of three nights in the hospital post C section after receiving no help with Little E first time round. Can't imagine doing it alone for longer whilst recovering from surgery too... I wish Husband could stay on the ward to help with the night feeds and changes.

Today is New Year's Day and I that means I am have exactly 14 days left at work (gulp). I stayed it up until midnight (Yaay!) but three sips if champagne when Big Ben chimed gave me heartburn (Boo!). I hope 2014 is the kind of year I can look back on and smile about with a little less if that 'we made it in one piece' feeling which seems to accompany being a parent! Happy New Year! Xx

Baby bump has woken up in the last few days. It is like having a little disco going on inside. Until now baby has been pretty quiet and I have barely noticed the little kicks and jabs but now it is doing rolls and tumbles, all very visible on the surface. Hardly anyone has been able to feel baby move but with Christmas just days away all the family should be able to get their hands on a little kick. It is really reassuring to feel these movements and I am relax knowing baby is having fun in there.