The Day I Ate Two Brunches (or thoughts on the last day of my second trimester)

It’s half-term which means my other half has the week off, so we’re filling it up with a bit of life admin and ‘us’ time.

We spent the day wandering Camden, Primrose, Regents Park, Soho & Highgate. An all together nine mile walk - something we’ve grown accustomed to on our Sundays together over the last three months. The day was fuelled by brunch from our local Hilly Kitchen. Strong black americano with scrambled eggs, smoked salmon and toast for him. Decaf cappuccino and fresh orange juice with poached eggs, french toast with lashings of maple syrup, blueberries, bananas, and strawberries for me.

Upon mopping up the maple syrup remnants with my last bite of french toast, T’s eyes shifted towards my empty plate and he asked “Is that going to fill you up? Would you like another one?” To which I sheepishly responded “Yes please.” I mopped up that plate too.

Two brunches. Two.

Admittedly, this is the second time this week that I have had two back to back breakfasts. Two days ago it was a heaping bowl of bran and dried fruits, quickly followed by an omelette of egg, cheddar, and fresh juicy tomatoes. 

Is this what will become of me over the next three months? At least it beats the first three and a half months of eating nothing but beige: Plain pasta. Cream Crackers. Cheddar. Jackie P’s (no toppings). Oranges. Shreddies. On repeat. But oddly, never rice. Get behind me satan!

All in all, the second trimester has been good to me. Here are a few points of note from weeks 14 to 27:

- An appetite to be proud of. Hello wonderful world of colour. I missed you.

- After two miscarriages (the first at 12 weeks. the second at 5 weeks.), it is okay to still think your pregnancy is not viable even after that life changing 13 week scan. It’s okay to be cautious. But try to be positive too. It’s a fine line, but it can be a good line. (Lazing around in the Kefalonian sun during that 12th week works wonders for the nerves too)

- At your 20 week scan, if you don’t want to know the gender, you probably don’t want to see the scan. Our boy is definitely all boy. He showed us from the get go. ;)

- I have become a human pin cushion. Blood tests, flu jabs, acupuncture. Oh my!

- Once your belly swells, people will freely tell you their pregnancy stories without sugar coating them. And ohhhhh the advice they give. Be prepared to hear things you cannot unhear and try to disregard all the crazy comments. Although, apparently boys are better than girls, according to the Muswell Hill mum massive. I’ll take that.

- “You’re blooming!” roughly translates to “wow, you’re HUGE!” Or so I think?

- Hello hip pain. Hello free acupuncture. (Definitely take advantage of all the free treatments & classes the hospital has to offer. God bless the NHS.)

- I no longer have a belly button. Not even an outtie. My stomach is a vast heaping plain.

- My boobs are stuck between needing a new home, and not being large enough for the next cup size. To think I used to be happy flinging my bra off at the end of the day to free those puppies. Now I need to fling it off just to breathe!

- Hello tiny lung capacity. Look what’s happening to me!! 

- Little buddy loves a bit of 3am exercise. Right hooks to the ribs and a game of “Mama! here’s my foot!” (It’s okay to be a little freaked out by the alien-esque movement of your belly)

-It’s absolutely adorable watching your partner try on baby carriers because you’re too big to model them yourself.

The list goes on and on. 

Here’s to the home stretch (and double brunches).