What is this?

This is a very long, open and public letter to Baby Bean McGyver, the little boy curently residing in my belly, to be evicted in December, likely during Christmas dinner.

I promise to back everything up in print to read to him during the sleepless nights. Oh, and in case you are wondering, the title did come from a horribly catchy Gwen Stefani song that is always stuck in my jukebox brain.

I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoy writing. Thanks for stopping by!

Wednesday 25 September 2013

Week 26 - Eggplant Baby

Hey baby!

Just for the record, I love eggplants (I even look like one on the picture, look!) and even though they cost an arm and a leg around here, I bought one this week to celebrate how big you are. I plan on having it parmigiana-style, in case you are wondering.

Last week was Zucchini week, but I'm guessing they were basing this on an abnormaly large prize-zucchini because, boy you are expanding like a balloon inside of me. I hope you are happy and warm and well-fed. We can feel you move a lot and respond to touch. I noticed that you are not a fan of cold, like your mommy, but don't worry, because Nana is knitting some nice cute wooly things for you. I'm very sorry, but my knitting skills are very limited. I can fold a mean origami though, if that helps on the craft department.


The main reason I didn't write anything last week was lack of power. Not mine, although being pregnant has taught me that there are things I have no power over, like my hunger, my heartburn, my bladder and the crazy crying.

No, we had a major storm, with very strong gusts of wind that blew heaps of trees over the power lines and knocked us out of the grid for almost 8 days. It was not fun at all having to shower at other people's houses, cooking on a little gas burner, using torches and no heat pump or wi-fi. Thank God - and the linemen - that is now history and our home is back to its nice and warm self.

This week I've been thinking a lot about being a role-model and how I don't wish on you a few traits that we have. For example, if I have it my way, you will believe until the age of 15 that Mommy lives on nothing but smiles and water, because I cannot ever let you see what a horrible picky eater I am. Or how scattered-brain I am. Or a terrible athlete. No. I have to make you better than we are, you will be a sum bigger than its parts.
If I never do anything else in my whole life again, Bean, I will make sure that you are a great person, better than we are.

I know, not even born yet and such high expectations, right?? Geez lady, back off won't you?!?
The painful truth is, I have very high expectations of what kind of mom I'll be, mainly because I've never, ever - ever - wanted to be anything more than your mom.
I'm sorry to say, but I'm not ambitious (and I wish fervently that you are!) and just the thought of being your mom makes me completely fulfilled, like I'm finally taking a test I've been studying my whole life for.

So...I guess I'm apologizing in advanced because I can see the future, and it tells me that we are going to butt heads at some stage; this whole "role-model/expectations" thing may fall short sometimes and you'll see that, while wanting you to be the best person you can be, I am not.


I am watching: Jamie Oliver, my daily torture. He always makes something sooooo delicious-looking and so easy and makes my mouth water around dinner time. It's not nice, because I never have a single ingredient for nothing he ever cooks. Like now, he's making Pasta Primavera with asparagus and peas and smoked fish and mint. All I have in my pantry is the pasta. Forever disappointed.








Sunday 8 September 2013

Week 24 - Grapefruit Baby

Hey baby!

Right now is Sunday night after a glorious weekend of sunshine that made Daddy and I go out and about and laugh and enjoy every second of his time off.

The highlight of it all was you, of course. We got you a stroller! It was most exciting buying it, but getting it home and assemblying all its bits and pieces was a challenge, so I'll say that was parenthood challenge number 2, check! (First one, I assume, is not running away screaming in panic once the test is positive. I didn't, so, check!)

And the cherry on the transportation sundae was visiting Gian and picking up the capsule we borrowed, so now you're sorted to go out in style!

Just in case you're curious, the stroller we got you is this one here and its name is Bob, look:
So in the grand scheme of things, we are happily on our way, baby. You've got a pretty nursery, a cot with sheets and blankets, a stroller, nappies, a play gym, a few stuffed toys, books and some clothing. The list however, is not even close to finished. Baby monitor, Ergobaby, carseat, lots of luxuries for such a tiny creature!

We're almost 3 months away of seeing you and so much....stuff to be done! The garden is being planned as we speak and right now I'm thinking of some other things that need to be fixed (my GHD iron) and sorted (gahhh our visas) before you arrive, not to mention all the dreams I have of travelling, celebrating my birthday and even a bump photoshoot that are not likely to happen, but I can dream anyway.

Dream is cheap: there's a lesson you're never to young to learn.
Dreaming is free and it will take you everywhere!

Is actually difficult to think of anything else, really.







Wednesday 4 September 2013

Week 23 - Pomegranate Baby

Hey baby!

Actually week 23 is almost over, but I love the word pomegranate, so I needed to register it anyway.

It's been a pretty quiet week around here. Right now there's a major storm outside, rain, hail, wind, but you and I and Pepsi and the cat are very cozy inside, just listening to the howling and eating delicious orange cake. You, bean, has made me verociously hungry, and the heartburn that follows is equally verocious.
I'm sure it's a trick designed by your genius mastermind to keep me awake, so I can stare into my own belly-button for hours on end, feeling you fly around the trapeze and jumping on the trampoline I know it's in there.

Did you know that even though you're not born yet, there's a lot of people that love you already? Yes, I mean more than 2!  Probably more than 10 even! Let's start with the family...

Pepsi and the cat, who are not "officially" people, but love you anyway. I hope...


Grandma Ligia and Grandpa Kiko (the two in the end), and Uncle Du and Antie Bru (the two pretty ones in the middle)

 
There's Grandpa Antero and Grandma Silvia


A multitude of uncles, aunties, cousins....everybody is very excited and waiting for you, bean!





Also, bean, there's another category of people, they are called "friends". They are the family your heart choses. Mum and Dad are blessed, because we have some of those too! And from the moment we told them you were joining the party, our friends became your friends too, how amazing is that?!

You weight around 500g now, lighter than a Harry Potter book, and already have so many people that love you. You have friends all the way from New Zealand to Brazil and back. And those people are going to make you laugh and cry, will get you in trouble, will help you with math problems and girl problems, will make your life better in every way just by being there. And if at some stage, they say they "know you from the womb" it's because they mean it, so no eye-rolling, young man!

It means that they know how much you were wanted and loved from the moment the little faint line showed up in our lives. In our lives and their lives. They will be your aunties and uncles and cousins and brothers and sisters. Your family from the heart.
It takes a village to raise a child, or so they say. Our village is gigantic, bean, so never fear. We'll be just fine.


What I have been doing: baking. I usually love it anyway, but I guess you love it more than I do! Meringues, focaccia, bread, cakes, pies. You name it, I'll be in the kitchen up my elbows in butter in flour! If I become a fat mama with flabby arms, I'm blaming you.