This week has been great, I seem to be growing well and my stomach is getting really tight, Paul can't believe how much it has grown over the last few weeks. The babies are always moving and its a fantastc feeling, Paul keeps putting his hand on my stomach to feel them move, and everytime he puts his had on my stomach, they seem to stop moving. He has felt them move quite a bit this week and sits watching my stomach, poor Katie keeps missing it. I get her to watch when they are moving but her attention span isn't so good and she gets bored easy watching her mums stomach doing nothing. She has felt them move as I put her hand on my stomach and the babies kicked, I don't think she fully understood what was going off but she seemed pretty chuffed with it.

We've been reading up information on pregnancy and babies in general and we read about how good it is to talk to the babies whilst they are in the womb, so Katie continues to sing them a song and talks to them all the time, Paul has just started to talk more to him, but to be honest, I think he feels a bit daft talking to a stomach with no response back.

We've also started to watch the "in the womb" dvd on a weekly basis too, although we watched it when we first got it, its amazing how much you forget over time, so its great watching a week by week progress of what the babies are up to. I have talked a couple of my firends who are also expecting into purchasing the dvd, and they thought it was great. We all seem to be watching it at different stages and watching it week by week, so we all have something to talk about and can relate to one another about our experiences.

When I had Katie, I must admit I didn't really get any stretch marks, I had a few silver type ones that wasn't really noticeable, certainly not the great big red stretchmarks. This time because I am a lot bigger at a smaller stage, I seemed to have gained quite a few more silvery stretchmarks. When I visit my sister in law she is obsessed with having to look at my stomach to see if I have any stretchmarks and she seems really gutted that I haven't!!. In the past I have always used baby lotion and I thought that using this with Katie did help and did keep my skin really supple. I also think it has helped this time around too, but I did happen to wonder into Boots and have a look at their mediterrian pregnancy range and bought some Olive Milk Neroli which is skin soothing bath milk, which during pregnancy soothes, conditions and moisturises extra dry and stretched skin. Normally, I don't purchase things which claims to help stretched skin and possibly help with stretchmarks, but on this occasion I decided to give it a try.

I had a lovely relaxing bath and used the Olive Milk and I have to say that I was extremely impressed with it, I could feel the difference on my skin almost as soon as I had dried off. My very large stomach felt very soft and although I couldn't see how it had improved my silvery stretch marks, I could certainly feel the difference. I didn't mention it to Paul as I wanted to see if he noticed, you know what men are like they don't always notice these things, but I was shocked when Paul noticed immediately . He said it has taken the redness of the lower part of my stomach (the area I really can't see) and how much it had improved my stomach. When he felt my stomach he said he could feel the difference, so I am definately impressed with this and would definately encourage expectant mums out there to give it a try.

I am also struggling to reach the bottom of my legs and feet, so whilst in the bath the other morning, Katie kindly offered to help me wash my feet and the bottom of my legs, she thought it was really funny that mummy's big belly was stopping me reaching my toes, that she kindly tells everyone. Paul has offered to help so I've got to make sure I have a bath/shower when Paul is around.

The weather this week has been unbearable, normally I don't mind the sunshine, but it just seems to be getting hotter and hotter and with the weight, I am really struggling. I am so glad that this is Katie's last week at nursery, the constant rushing from work to her nursery and walking home in this heat is really beginning to take its toll on me. I am that worn out when I get home, that I need to have a sleep, so I end up lying on the settee cat napping. I don't want to fall into a deep sleep as its not fair on Katie. Although she is happing watching the tv, or playing with her toys in the lounge, I don't like the idea of me being asleep even though we are in the same room, so I try to keep going until Paul comes home from work and it has been a real slog this week.

My feet are beginning to swell up most nights now and Paul has been quite concerned about it, he's been reading about pre eclampsia so he's been quite concerned. I think its just a combination of rushing around and the constant heat, so I try to put my feet up at the end of the night, but its not easy when you have lots of work around the house to do and a four year old to look after. I am going to mention it to my consultant, I just hope he doesn't stop me working just yet. I know I need to rest as much as I can, but sometimes its easier said than done.

We've been talking about the sexes of the babies, everyone has their suspicions as to the sex of the babies, and although I can't talk Paul into asking what sex they are, he has agreed that if I really want to know then he will pop out of the room and see if they will tell me. He thinks I won't be able to keep it secret and that I will accidently drop it out to him, I have to admit I would be dying to tell him, but mums the word on that. At least I will be able to go out and buy some baby clothes and hide them until they are born. Sorry guys but I can't even tell you if I do know - just in case Paul is reading this. I will tell you if I have asked or not, I just won't be able to reveal the sexes.

I purchased a pregnancy pillow a few months back and have found it to be a real help over these last few weeks, its curved so it fits to your shape really nicely and my bump fits nicely within it so it does give me plenty of support when I am sleeping which is just what I need right now. Again with the weather I haven't been sleeping too well and can't decide if I want to sleep on my side or on my back, the only problem is because my bump is getting bigger, its starting to become more uncomfortable sleeping on my back, but with the heat sleeping on my side has been difficult too. On one night I ended up sleeping downstairs on the settee as it was the only place where I could get comfy and have some sleep.

Well my two beautiful babies are kicking away as I'm typing up my diary and its an absolutely fantastic feeling, I just can't wait to see a little foot or hand sticking out somewhere, but its such a great peace of mind knowing that my little ones are growing well inside me and are making sure I am constantly reminded that they are in there. I love being pregnant and I know I am one of the lucky people that can have children, and I'm reminded of that everytime I feel my babies move.

Well that's all from me this week, I only have two more weeks before my next scan and I am really looking forward to it. See you all next week.

Anita

In the Womb - view at 25 weeks

If you are keen to follow your babies growth buy the dvd In The Womb which gives you fantastic imagery of how your baby looks at stages throughout your pregnancy.

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