Week 12: The bump goes on holiday!

Every November, the hubby and I try to go away and celebrate our wedding anniversary (we got married the same day as TomKat you know!) and this year was no different. In the summer we booked a dream trip to Cuba - all inclusive, action packed, lots of sunshine. Of course at the time, we didn't know that I would be with nublet...

Going on holiday when you're pregnant is strange. You can't do any of the activities normally associated with holidays - you know, copious amounts of binge drinking, eating strange and somewhat dangerous foods, riding motorbikes, sunbathing, taking part in watersports, late nights. Facts that were only compounded by the fact that we were staying in an amazing all-inclusive resort with all the booze and food you could possibly consume.

I was looking forward to the holiday but wasn't sure how I would enjoy the change, but I needn't have worried. Even though I had to mostly stay in the shade, avoid the delicious homegrown mojitos and daquiris, and being attacked by full on mossies, I still had a fabulous time. It just goes to show that you can adapt and that perhaps being a mum won't be quite as crazy and scary and life-changing as I thought.

One of my biggest concerns was getting into a bikini! I wouldn't have minded if we'd gone when I was properly pregnant, but at the moment, I currently look like I have a beer belly. I needn't have worried though - I was smaller and more toned than most of the non-pregnant women around the pool. Actually, it gave me such a great sense of freedom, knowing yes I had a belly but it was for a good reason. Bizarrely, it was probably the most confident I've ever felt wearing a bikini!

I even had a taster of a daquiri at one of Ernest Hemingway's favourite bars and let me tell you after not drinking for so long, it was extra delicious! I also partook in early morning dance classes where I learnt how to do the cha-cha-cha, which I never normally would've been up in time for, swam with dolphins, got a nice tan, ate gorgeous food and fully relaxed.

The only thing I hated was the flight. My belly became even more bloated and it felt very uncomfortable. Top tips for that is to avoid gassy drinks prior to and during the flight, and to wear flight socks as thrombosis cazn be more common when pregnant.

Needless to say, the hubby and I enjoyed it so much we're now planning our babymoon - our one last holiday before the baby come. Our baby will be so well travelled before it's even born!!!

Week 11: The week where um... oh god.. what was I saying?!

The sickness is slowly subsiding, thank god, but I am now faced with a new problem - I appear to be brain-dead.

I've always prided myself on my excellent memory. Whether it's remembering useful information for work or not so-useful-information (quiz me on any Take That lyric, go on!) - I've suddenly become well a bit blonde. OK, so I am blonde, but I've never been the dumb blonde variety before.

This morning for example, I struggled to remember the name of a close friend's partner - Kat, Alice, Julie... no, it's actually Anna. Doh! At work, my to do list has become the most important document on my desk - if I don't write it down, it doesn't get done! So you can imagine my dismay when I had to interview Mariah Carey last week.

For the first week after finding out I was due to interview the diva, I mostly worried that I would throw up all over her stupendous rack. As the nausea faded however, I was filled with a new worry - that I would totally forget my questions. I've interviewed numerous celebrities on camera and have never needed more than a few notes jotted down on paper, but even after reading and re-reading my questions several times, I had to write the full questions out.

Thankfully, even though Mariah kept me waiting for 4 hours, I didn't freeze during the actual interview, which was a HUGE concern but I know I was having to concentrate on what I was going to ask her much more than I normally would.

I also spent the entire interview trying to suck in my burgeoning belly. Mariah may look super curvy on TV but in reality, she is quite svelte and I didn't want to look like a porker next to her. God, what if I have to interview a huge, beautiful celebrity when I'm huge and not-so-beautiful?! Ther perils of pregnancy continue...

Top Tip: Join the band!

I promised top tips but I've been so busy dealing with the sickness and tiredness, that I've not yet got round to it, however yesterday while struggling to get into my favourite black skinny jeans, I came up with a genius solution - even if I do say so myself!

After putting a few pounds on, I'm not exactly big enough for maternity gear but don't quite fit into some of my clothes - like the black skinny jeans. After a massive tantrum, which involved throwing said jeans across the room, I suddenly had a flashback to one of those Innovation catalogues that come with the Sunday papers! I remember a product that promised to create more inches on tight clothes, which was really just a glorified elastic band.

So rummaging around in my drawers, I pulled out a hairband and voila - my own crafty way of expanding my beloved jeans. I just looped the hairband round the button, through the button hole and back round the button - genius!

OK, so I still have to wear a long top over the jeans but it means that I can wear my favourite clothes for that little bit longer, without feeling too much like a big old whale. Just have to hope no-one catches sight of my my temporary make-do...

Week 10: Vomitting is not fun!

What's all this crap about pregnancy making you feel all glowing and healthy? At the moment, between  puking my stomach contents up and feeling so tired that I fall asleep as soon as I sit down on the train home, I've got no time to glow.

I knew this first few weeks would be hell, but didn't really realise just how bad it would be. After years of pushing my body to the limit (whether that was too much partying, too much work or too much bad food!), I'm now having to listen to it. What?! It's obviously a taste of things to come in my new life - the nublet (as it will henceforth be called due to its nubbs for fingers) is going to take control of everything! I hate the fact that I'm too tired to go to the gym, or too sick to stay up and watch TV - thank goodness my fave show Gossip Girl is on at 8pm.

I also hate the fact that whatever I do, I'm going to get fat! It's such a strange feeling after years of eating healthily and exercising in order to ensure I stayed slim. If I was feeling better, I'd say to hell with it and stuff my face with cake but the thought of that... actually I can't think about it, otherwise I'll be paying an urgent visit to the work bathroom!

It doesn't help that all the pregnant celebs you see look blummin fantastic. Take ole Christina Aguilera who posed in her birthday suit for Marie Claire and still looked sexy. I feel as sexy as a dirty old sock.

I know they must have their off days, where they hide behind their high gated walls, but why can't they look a bit more normal? I can't remember seeing Claudia Schiffer looking anything other than blummin radiant when she was pregnant! And Kate Hudson may have piled the pounds on but she looked stylish and a normal healthy colour the entire time!

Perhaps I should go into hibernation until this first trimester is up?! Any suggestions on how to deal with vomiting-work-life balance would be greatly appreciated!