Paying Electricity and Water Bill

Today we paid our electricity and water bills for the first time... our own apartment bill!

New Apartment

We have officially moved out from Khalifa City and now living just outside the busy Abu Dhabi city. Located along Muroor road, we are very close to the bus stand and the new football stadium. Had our little gathering for few close friends last Saturday (28 Nov) and for the first time I cooked for more than two people. Surely my family at home will faint if they knew I prepared a decent meal for my friends. Made few dishes for the first time too and glad they all enjoyed themselves. Had few people asking for my recipe which actually nothing out of ordinary, just had the idea by chance. I hope my baby will inherit the creative cooking and he can cook for both mommy and daddy *grin*.

No pictures of the new apartment yet. That's our next project. Soon.

20 Weeks!

Today my little fetus turned 20 weeks. That would mean I am in my 5th month, sort of. Doctor counts by the weeks, we count by the months. We went for our monthly check up today and my baby is growing nicely. Doctor mentioned that baby would be a boy last time and this time he said most probably still a boy. I don't care, as long as the baby is healthy.

I am starting to look a bit 'pregnant' now. Clothes are hiking up my tummy and I have to pull them down each time. Had to buy few more sweaters and inner shirts since it's winter time in UAE. Not so much of the temperature, it's the wind that's making it cold and unbearable for me. I don't know if it is affected by the weather but am starting to feel aches all over my body. My back, my thighs, the sides of my stomach, you name it. Everywhere is growing and expanding!

Movements of the baby inside me are becoming more apparent too especially the past week. I read in the internet that the baby now has stronger bones and trying out his new reflexes. Stretching, kicking, feeling my stomach, my baby is active. Sometimes, he gives me jolts while I am doing my reports. I guess he is also typing in there. I noticed that when I am talking, he is quiet. When I am counseling my staff (which may sometimes turn ugly), he does not move for a long time until I calm down. Poor baby. Too bad, his daddy can't feel him yet.

We have not started shopping for baby stuff. We might start later this month, hoping for a nice Christmas or year end sale. Baby clothes and other baby stuff are not cheap here. Perry and I agreed on buying baby stuff in normal department store rather than the branded ones.

That's all for baby and mommy news. Let's see what news I can bring to this blog next time.

3 months

I was supposed to update this a week ago but never had a chance to do it. Work schedule is just too hectic for both Perry and I that we only see each other for 3 - 4 hours in a day.

Back to our baby's progress. The truth, I was very nervous that morning of October 08th. I will see my precious one again and hopefully we will see his or her pulse and maybe more nice surprises. The wait this time was not that bad in the clinic. When it was our turn, we were ushered into the ultrasound room again. Doctor Imad magnified the image of the 3.7cm little baby and we were able to see the tiny pulse. I was relieved. We even saw the shape of the whole baby. Head, tiny hands and legs, it's developing nicely. As Doctor Imad was explaining, the image moved! It was as if he or she was stretching. It was a wonderful sight. I think he or she is showing off to mommy and daddy :) Mental note: Must bring videocam next visit! After the ultrasound I was asked to go to the Lab to get my blood and urine sample taken. Another waiting session.

Our next appointment is in another 3 weeks, more news then :)

Cool T-Shirt

Perry found this shirt when we went looking for some new clothes for me to wear this evening :) Bought it straight away!

End of Ninth Week

This week we will be entering the tenth week, gosh, time flies! I do not think I am gaining much weight but I am not surprised. I cannot seem to get myself to eat especially looking at the cafeteria food selection. I would still eat but hunger strikes minutes after I clear my table. I am forever feeling hungry and sleepy. What a bad combination! I look forward to this Thursday where we get to go for another check up and ultrasound. Excited :)

*Sneeze*

I am not feeling well today. I feel that I am so weak and can't focus for long. I think I am getting the flu bug but I hope it's just my feeling. My throat feels dry the whole day, not to mention the sneezing marathon in the office.

Have to be healthy for tomorrow's check up at the doctor, we will be hearing our baby's heartbeat for the first time :)

Our Fifth Week

It's a mixture of worry, happy, excited, lack of sleep and a lot of hungry, very very hungry moments. Before I was pregnant, I already had a huge appetite for food. With a baby growing inside me, I think the appetite just tripled. I don't have any particular cravings yet but I do enjoy fruits, juices and hot soups since I got pregnant. I don't think any of my jeans or pants fit. My uniform is getting a bit tight, skirt is hugging my stomach. It's always un-hooked now. Hahah. I need a new set of clothes now. Help...

Pregnancy Book

We bought a book at the Mina bookstore called Everything Pregnancy book. It's actually a book good for those living in America as most of the numbers to call and doctors recommended are based in America. The general information is useful though especially for us first time parents-to-be. Good font size :) (I don't like books with small fonts!)

The chapters are divided by months so the reader can relate to their experience and the information given. There are few pages in every chapter for Dads, which is nice too.

I have read and seen other better articles in the internet but I prefer to hold a book :) Old-fashioned? Maybe. I just don't want to stare at the computer screen too long.

We're Pregnant!

First pregnancy test was done on 26 August 2009 (Wednesday) and as it was my first time seeing a different result appearing on the test kit, I was not sure. Decided to tell Perry anyway. Took another test the next day and took a photo of it. Maricel, our friend and nurse, told me it's positive. I felt dizzy with excitement but still I want to really make sure. We made an appointment with a Dr Imad from Al Noor Hospital that very morning.

Dr Imad made us wait for 2 hours in the waiting area. The administrator guy was apologetic but assured that we were the first patient, once the doctor comes in from his surgery. I was dizzy, nervous, scared, excited and hungry! My bladder was filling up, I could feel it. We were almost giving up as there were no signs of the doctor and am starting to get moody. I am not that friendly when my stomach is empty.

The doctor walked in hastily but 2 local arabic women stood up and see him. Patience, patience. Waited for the ladies to go out about less than 10 minutes later. Doctor did an ultrasound on my abdomen area, could not find anything. Then he reached out for a long stick, put gel and condom over it and asked me to remove my undergarments. I found out later that this is called a transvaginal or internal ultrasound. The doctor found the little fetus which looked like a little mole on the screen. He measured the fetus and told us that our baby is 4 weeks and a day old, on the right track (meaning growing in the right place of the uterus) and I have a healthy and clean ovary.

We're coming back in two weeks to listen to our baby's heartbeat. Super excited!