7.75 Months: Bump Preparedness Update

Our home while in Abu Dhabi

What a rush!! 31 weeks pregnant on Thursday!

I feel like the Queen’s coming over to visit and everything has to be perfect for a great first impression.

This could be Savannah’s first lesson, be it, in the womb, on first impressions.  I do realize she won’t be so much concerned with the lovely pink details on her bedding or coming home outfit, but rather, if she’ll have a regular supply of milk.  J

Maybe one day she’ll look through pictures and I’ll tell her all about the little thoughts we put into everything. 

You could also say this is a lesson on how to work with what you’ve got.

I’m going through a full-on nesting phase.

Since we’re in a leased home during our assignment in the UAE,  painting the walls and big remodeling projects aren’t in the cards.  Nursery and general home prep for this baby isn’t what I wish it could be.

The house is spotless at all times (thanks to the nanny).  This is one of the best perks of living as expats...hired help!

There’s always a home-cooked meal at dinner time (even though I’m not the one preparing it, our nanny also takes care of these).  Hey, I’m the one selecting our weekly menu & recipes!

Domestically speaking, I take the manager, rather than the labor force role.

Anyway, throw in the fact that Savannah is set to arrive right before Christmas, and now I have even more pressure to make everything about our home beautiful and inviting, even if it is with bland white walls.    

I’m putting the finishing touches on her nursery, washing her bedding and clothing.  This, I am actually doing myself and not handing off to the nanny.  I’ll take pictures as soon as we finish, most likely by next weekend. 

I’ve just ordered her coming home outfit and her Christmas dress.  Every girl should have a new Christmas dress!  I’m sure she’ll wear it just long enough for a picture or two to be taken, then need to be changed out of it and back into cozy pjs. 

We’ve been working our way through the shopping list, down to just a few last items such as a humidifier (because the A/C’s run all year long here) and a new video recorder for daddy!

Time is flying by and slowing down all at once.  There is no mistaking my walk anymore, it has that distinct side-to-side wobble. 

 It’s getting very real, especially because of how much talking I find myself doing to my belly.  I caught myself giving a makeup application lesson the other morning. 

The general fit of my clothing is also starting to tell me a strictly stretchy material policy is about to be applied.  Stretchy pregnancy work slacks, though comfortable, are not as easy to walk (wobble) around in.

I began stocking up on a few extra pregnancy dresses as I’m working until the end of November and can’t go into preggo mumu-dress (tent) mode.  It’s likely that once I check out for maternity leave (first week of December), my wardrobe will become a lot more lax. 

Give me some credit though, I’m keeping up professional appearances until the end of my 37^th week!   

Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai



I’m super excited about the weekend ahead!  We’re booked for prenatal classes at the American Hospital in Dubai (where we’re delivering).  It’s two days, Friday – Saturday, 9am-4pm, consisting of everything related to welcoming a new baby. 

Since I’m far away from family & close friends, we’ve opted to turn this weekend into a 3-day weekend and have a little fun…something to make up for the fact that I won’t have a formal baby shower.   We’ve purchased nearly everything the baby will need for the first few weeks, so we’ve decided to sunbathe & lounge in style rather than shop! 

We’re driving Thursday morning from Abu Dhabi to Dubai, and are booked from then until Saturday at the Atlantis, The Palm Dubai  uber-fancy resort!

We hope to have a fun & relaxing day around the pool and beach on Thursday, have a fancy dinner at Nobu, then head to breakfast and the class at the American Hospital on Friday morning.



A great aerial view of  The Palm in Dubai



I’ll have to remind myself to be a diligent photographer on this trip.  It’s likely to be our last hoorah as DINKs!