Monday, May 19, 2008

38 weeks

In direct contrast to a previous post, the last few days have been much, much better. I have had more energy and fewer naps. I don't know what it is - perhaps it's the cooling of the weather.

...I have eaten cupcakes bought home by M from Candy Cakes in Covent Garden and then been inspired to bake my own vanilla cupcakes dressed with butter icing and violet flowers (above) as well as butter scones, which we demolished over the weekend.

...I have slow-cooked ratatouille for my mother-in-law and sister-in-law and enjoyed an evening eating it with them before they crossed the waters to Portugal for a week's spa break.

...I have slow-cooked a courgette, cherry tomato, ricotta and lemon sauce for orecchiette pasta for M.

...I have eaten a scrumptious Indian meal cooked by M from Madhur Jaffrey's comprehensive Ultimate Curry Bible: Cauliflower gosht (above) and lamb in a mustard seed sauce.

...I have spent many an hour preparing our bedroom, as it is shaping up to be a Zen haven with a lovely corner just for the baby (above with moses basket, baby changing unit, and armchair and footstool for holding and feeding her and singing to her), for she will sleep in our room for her first few months before we move her to the nursery. I can see myself and Little Planet spending most of our hours in this heavenly corner.

...I have finished reading Mavis Cheek's witty and sardonic Yesterday's Houses and started reading Penelope Lively's City Of The Mind; I have thrilled to both Boy Child and Climate Of The Hunter by Scott Walker, whose sexy deep vibrato seems to always set Little Planet off, and have also been enjoying Madonna's Hard Candy and Nick Cave's Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!; and I have swooned to Katherine Hepburn in the magical movie Summertime.

...I have hosted a coffee morning for some of the mums-to-be from my antenatal class and enjoyed the company of these women who range from civil servants and researchers to TV and music producers.

...Here's my bump at 36 weeks - 2 weeks ago. I don't know why my wrist looks so strange here; must be the overhead lighting...

...I have perused online for terracotta pots and herbs to grow in our garden, plus ideas for growing a Japanese garden.

...I have been weirdly excited by a phone call from a client who hadn't realised I was on maternity leave. It made me miss work.

...I have craved, just for a couple of days thankfully, bland ready-made curries and samosas and quiches and potato salads and cheap chocolate mousse from the supermarket, which was strange as thus far in my pregnancy I had only craved milk and fruit (perhaps why I have only put on 15lbs in weight to date - I thought I would put on much more, but really the only thing that has gotten bigger on my body has been my stomach).

...I've bought more clothes for the baby from Green Baby (and her first teddy bear from Mothercare)...

...With women in my antenatal class beginning to go into labour now, I have written my birth plan and begun packing my hospital bag just in case.

14 comments:

RD said...

Love the cupcakes! Love the cauliflower. I really need a good Indian cookbook, as so far I've been relying on my mother's recipes and I feel this always makes me too self-critical (will never taste like Mum's!) And what a cozy corner indeed. Now if only I had a cupcake cooling on my counter the world would be perfect! xoxo BB

Anonymous said...

Glad you're feeling much better! These must be exciting times indeed - of course, I'm just living all of this through you right now! The baby's room looks so adorable. Best of luck!

Anonymous said...

good to see u feeling better :)

the food looks delicious!!

If by chance u have recipes in soft copy...do pass them on1 i am still learning :D

~nm said...

Reached here from Chandni's blog!

Those cupcakes looks just so yumm...

And the nursery looks so wonderful!!

dipali said...

Your baby corner looks gorgeous! And the food, and the itty-bitty clothes. Enjoy this time:)

Anonymous said...

Loved this post the most! The little corner looks so cozy. And the teddy is the cutest! And finally we get to see the famous bump! I hope everything goes great! Waiting to hear more...hugs

Sukhaloka said...

Wow, the food and the baby corner look so very beautiful. :)
the mouth is watering most shamelessly, what a great intro to your blog.
That's a beautiful baby bump you have there. Best wishes to you, the babe and babe's papa!

Olivia said...

Woah! For all I know you could be in hospital right now!

I love the zen room. If you'd gotten that white Bliss bag, I think it would blend in so well you'd never find it again!

You have a very neat bump, if I may say so :)

Unknown said...

Good to know you've been busy . the zen corner is amazing and I imagine baby halder and parents will have a restful time there !the baby bump is pretty neat - good luck :)

Sunita Venkatachalam said...

The room looks lovely.. And the bump totally awesome!

Do keep us posted when the baby arrives! Good luck

Anonymous said...

Thank you all for your best wishes!

Anonymous said...

Oooh! Good luck, good luck! Keep us posted.

Anonymous said...

Reading your posts, always leaves me feeling hungry! I blame my weight gain to your lovely blog! :P

Anonymous said...

yes, they are. I am going to do a post on each one of them soon.