All about onii chan.

In Japan, when you're pregnant, they encourage you to wear a tag on your bag that lets everyone know you are, in fact, pregnant. (You're provided with this tag when you register your pregnancy.) It apparently reserves your right to a good seat on the train, however this rarely happens!

Anyway, so combine this very obvious indication with the fact that I am slowly starting to show, and what do you get? Everyone wanting to talk to Billy (and I) and call him 'onii-chan'. This means, and is what they call, their big brother.

'Yes,' I say politely. 'He is going to be a big brother.'

'Itsu?' they say. (When?)

'Ichi-gatsu.' (January.)

'Sugoiiiii. Kawaiiiii.' (Wow!!! Cute!!!)

At the moment, this conversation is averaging atleast once, if not twice, a day! So, I thought I'd dedicate this post to our little onii-chan, who loves showing off his tummy, and his big boy's room.

Planes, trains, boats and cars.

B is for Billy.

Suntory jersey.

Pockets for his treasures.

'You are my sunshine....'

Decisions, decisions!

A beautiful cushion by Japanese designer, Atsuyo Et Akiko. Random, but I love it.

There's a new bedding option in the equation! And it's by good old Australian 'Boori', made from high quality Araucaria timber, sourced from plantations in Queensland. That makes me happy! I can't believe they have it here. Another bonus is that it's only a tiny bit more expensive than what you pay in Australia.

The Boori Urbane Bassinet

(Pictured in English Oak. It also comes in Heritage Teak, which is a

lighter wood, and White.)

There is also a new pram in the equation. But not really. Sort of.

Sigh. The Bugaboo Donkey.

It's the pram of all prams and I'm in love. Of course, it comes at a hefty price, one I am not even going to mention for fear of giving some a heart attack. Why, oh why, did Bugaboo have to release this just as we are (I am) shopping around?

20 weeks and 3 days

It feels like it was weeks ago, but here is an update from my check up on Friday. I was quite confused going to the hospital, because I had an appointment booked for 10am, yet they called on Wednesday and said I needed to make an appointment (??). I tried to explain that I already had one that was confirmed, and all she could say was, 'OK, 9.30am or 10.30am?'. The language barrier really stopped us from getting anywhere on the phone, and while there was a lot of talking going on, the majority of it was definately lost in translation. I booked in for 9.30am.

After doing the routine urine sample, blood pressure test, and weight check (I've put on 1.3kg), my number was finally called, 40 minutes and one very naughty toddler later. It turns out that the 9.30am appointment was a consultation with a midwife, followed by my general check up with my obstetrician afterwards. The consult was a very detailed chat going through my health, Nug's health, family history, previous labour and birth, my birth weight, Nug's birth weight, what we thought when we found out we were pregnant, and a message for our baby. The midwife spoke brilliant English and the amount of effort they had gone to really put me at ease.

Then it was on to my obstetrician who must have been waiting for me all morning, as he was very excited to announce that we are both Scorpios. Hopefully this will mean he will look after me! We listened to the heart beat, the nurses checked for 'swelling in my legs' and Dr Katayama checked the baby thoroughly, taking all sorts of measurements, and finishing each sentence with 'normal' or 'very good', which, of course, is always what you want to hear.

He also said, with a chuckle, that the baby is still a girl.

About 10 viles of blood, and over 2 hours later, we were finally finished and on our way home (well, off to pancakes with Kaoru, who had very kindly come to help).

And I made a not so silent vow that that will be the last time that Billy will ever come to an appointment!

Oh, and nothing to see here. It's just me without my clothes on again.

Almost half way!

Well, I can't believe it. Today, I'm 19 weeks and 2 days, and fast approaching that 20 week mark. Where has the time gone?

I can now see and feel her kicks, ever so gently, from the outside, which is absoloutely one of my favourite things. It's when it really feels real.

I have my next appointment this Friday the 9th, which I am really looking forward to. I am taking a Japanese friend with me who will be able to translate, so I will be writing a list of questions that I want to ask about the hospital and their procedures, visiting hours (so, who's coming?), pain relief etc etc. I'll let you know how it goes!

Finally, here are my latest tummy pics. I don't know what you think (I'm being laughed at by some of the girls here!), but I really feel like there's something going on there!

Yesterday...

This morning...

This evening...