Not a lot has happened really, except for the fact that the bump has blossomed substantially in the last week or so! Baby is also getting very strong, and seems to have way too many limbs! (some of which feel as though there are hooves attached! We have nicknamed him Billy as in the billy goat!)

My skin is still awful, im getting proper spots these days, as opposed to my usual pimples. I was a smug spot free teen, and have only had the proper pus-filled variety during this pregnancy! Thanks son! Couple that with the dry patches which itch like crazy and im a complete state, none of this glowing malarkey for me!

My back is beginning to give in to the strain of supporting the bump. I always tend to stick out a bit more which i always put down to my height, and this causes my back to curve which hurts like hell! I had to do the washing up in stages yesterday, whilst kneeling on a chair (im so short my bump digs in to the sink if i stand normally) To be fair, Pete did offer, but i sent him out for painkillers instead, my second ones so far! Im sure there will be plenty more. Im going to have to dig out that bump support soon i think!

Im also swinging wildly from constipation (i was "trying" at 4:30am today) to diarrhoea (and decorating the toilet at 10am!) which is not pleasant for me or baby!

No closer on names, im a woman obsessed, watching the credits on programmes, quizzing mums in random shops and website forums, name generators, even Birthday Time on Cbeebies has me watching avidly! Im sure we will get there in the end, but i just want it done, one more thing sorted! Just found out today that my friend Jemma is also having a boy 5 weeks after me, so it will be tough not stealing eachothers name choices!

Well, since last weeks scare, my little pickle has been busying himself giving me internal bruising, his escape attempts seem to have advanced quite substantially! I swear when he is born they will find a pneumatic drill, battering ram and map of Europe! Bless him!

So, i had my official midwife appointment today, which went well, no trace of protein in my urine (bonus) blood pressure fine, heartbeat fine. My bump is measuring average. Average? Im bloody enormous! But at least everything is going tickety boo.

I mentioned (alright i whinged) that my boobs are killing me, and she thinks i have mastitis, which im surprised at as i havent been breastfeeding recently! (to my knowledge anyway) I had to see the doctor, who gave me antibiotics which should clear it up along with the cough ive been suffering with for a month. I think the midwife must have had a word with him, as he was ever so nice to me today! Im not knocking it!

So all in all, everythings dull and boring, but in a good way!

Im afraid this may be a bit of a whingey post, as thats how i feel today! I havent slept properly in about 3 weeks now, and am getting so exhausted that small things really seem to bother me more. Add to that the fact that baby has been very quiet the last few days, and then i hadnt felt him move all day today, i burst into tears and decided to ring the midwife.

She was very short with me, and made me feel as though i was putting her out, she asked if it could wait until wednesday!! When i havent seen her for 10 weeks now! But when she arrived and saw what state i was in, she was a bit nicer to me. She has suggested some herbal remedies to help me sleep, and also suggested that i change my gp, as he doesnt seem to listen to a word i say.

She found some protein in my urine which ive never had before, so she said that i should go the clinic on wednesday again to see if it has cleared up. Then she found the baby's heartbeat which shocked the girls how fast it was! But it was a real relief to hear it galloping away, and she assured me that babies are selfish creatures and will get what they need regardless of how it affects the mother, and that me not getting enough sleep wont harm him.

After she left, baby woke up!

Ive decided to change my font colour to blue! It feels a bit wrong writing about my son in pink! Not very "metrosexual" of me, but hey, im a traditionalist!

So, nearly a week after finding out the baby is a boy, im still in shock! It hasnt quite sunk in yet, as every time ive been pregnant before, it was with a girl, so i just assumed it would be this time too. Its still really weird to think of him as "he"! Im getting a bit organised now, i have been given a lot of baby boy clothes (so cute!) a Moses basket, bath etc, and ive also been buying a few bits myself. I have a daily rummage through my baby clothes and try and imagine having a son, but the whole concept is still so bizarre to me, i feel like im just pretending!

The girls are super-chuffed as is Pete, in fact the girls have really taken it all in their stride. Ella sings to her little brother while Leah prefers to poke him, or lay her head on my belly to see if he can kick it off (which wont be long, the little bruiser!)

We are definitely not calling him Tyler now, ive gone off the name too, which is weird because i did really love it! Now im really into Zachary (Zack for short) and Alexander (Alex for short) but surprise surprise, Pete isnt keen. In fact he hasnt come up with a single name yet, but pooh-poohs any ideas i have. I said to my friend Carly last night, that seeing as im awake in the night anyway i may as well try a bit of hypnosis - whispering names i like in Petes ear while he sleeps! Im sure i can win him over on Zachary if i say it enough!!

As i said im having real trouble sleeping, i have caught Ella's cough which is keeping me awake, and also my hips are starting to really hurt now if i lay in one position too long. No heartburn as yet luckily (maybe he will be bald!) but the dreaded thrush is back! Grrr! Am absolutely pooped, and by the time the girls are in bed you can usually find me asleep on the sofa.

For all my moaning, you would think im hating being pregnant - not so! I love my wriggly bump, and spend every chance i get playing with it. Last night i realised how little i expose my bump to light. When i was in the bath, baby was doing backflips in the light, he was having a great time (either that or he was trying to sleep!). Then when he calmed down i splashed warm water on my belly and he started his disco moves again. Im a little worried that i am breeding a clone of H from Steps (which is partly why ive started writing in blue, and give the poor boy a chance!)

Next week i actually have a midwife appointment! *faints* Its been 9 weeks now since ive seen her, which i think is pretty bad! And another 8 days to go! But the pregnancy has been relatively trouble free. Im feeling a lot more positive now, i think maybe i was depressed earlier on, because of the unexpected-ness of it all, and other issues, to which i finally have closure, ad i am now feeling quite a bond with my baby boy!