Bug = 1 year 6 months 10 days
Bub = due in 137 days

Ten days ago Bob and I went to Bub’s anatomy scan. This is the most common ultrasound scan that pregnant women have, and is to check the features and measurements of the baby (plus the placenta, uterus, and whatever else is in there) for anything that could indicate a potential problem.

Verdict: All is well with Bub!

The anatomy scan is also when you can find out the sex of the baby. We didn’t find out whether Bug was a boy or a girl until he was born. This time, however, while I would have liked another surprise, Bob was keen to find out the sex. I decided to let Bob have his way (for once!). I soon decided that – although I would have still preferred a surprise – the major advantage of finding out the Bub’s sex was that we’d be better able to prepare Bug for the new arrival. It would be awkward to have to say “…your little sibling…” or “…your little brother or sister…” for six months!

So on 17 August (Bug’s 18-month-birthday) we found out that – with 90% certainty – Bub is a baby GIRL!!

Bug = 1 year 6 months
Bub = due in 147 days

What are Bug’s latest tricks?

• He can blink on command.
• He can do “Round and round the garden…” on other people.
• He likes to climb (but he’s pretty sensible… no real accidents yet).
• He loves to kiss. Sometimes he kisses us, sometimes it’s the cat, sometimes in mid-air, sometimes it’s the most dull inanimate object in sight.
• He’s getting blowing kisses worked out (thanks to Aunty Claire’s efforts).
• He actively cuddles us now – he reaches his arms around our shoulders or around our heads and gives us lovely big hugs that we can’t get enough of.
• He loves our cat Squee, and the feeling is mutual. He cuddles her, pulls her legs, kisses her, and plays with her, and she stays put and doesn’t raise an eyebrow. (Our other cat Jasper won’t have a bar of him!)

(And he’s still nursing 1-3 times a day and still probably not getting any physical nourishment from it.)

Bug = 1 year 6 months
Bub = due in 147 days

Linus has turned into a magical sleeper. I’ve been nervous about saying it, let alone blogging it! It’s not the sort of thing you want to jinx.But now it’s been over a week, and without fail every night Linus has gone down to sleep in his cot without so much as a whimper. No more coaxing him to “lie down”… no more sneaking out of his room dreading the floor creak… no more debating when it’s time to give up and leave him to have a cry for 5-10 minutes… no more leaving his door open because we don’t want the squeak of the handle to disturb him.

Then he sleeps… and sleeps… and sleeps… and wakes up at the thoroughly civilised (in Mummy’s opinion, not Daddy’s) hour of 7am, sometimes babbling to himself for a while, sometimes crying (he obviously misses us deeply).

We’re almost feeling offended… it’s like he’s waiting for us to leave the room so he can go to sleep.

Oh, and HAPPY EIGHTEEN MONTHS, Bug!