Memorial weekend in photos

This weekend is memorial weekend. Matt got Friday and Monday off work, which is his first long weekend all year as he didn't even get Easter over here!

Luckily the sun was shining and therefore we spent lots of time outdoors.

On Saturday we went to New Jersey. Some people we met on holiday have an annual 'chilli bake off' where people bring a chilli and everyone tries and votes. Ethan loved playing with Lincoln, the four year old he met in Mexico.

On the way home Ethan got to experience his first MacDonalds which he loved.

On Sunday we went to the beach in the morning with our friends Caiohme and Dave and their daughter Lucy. Ethan and Lucy spend a lot of time together and are becoming pretty inseparable which is sweet. 

After a ten minute car ride home this was the end result!

In the afternoon Matt took Ethan out on the bike to a memorial Marine show. Ethan got to go in a helicopter which he loved!

On Monday we went round to the beach club we've joined. It's for people who live in our area and is a two minute walk from the house. Ethan loved walking round the children's pool so I think we'll be spending a lot of time there during the summer.

Other highlights of the weekend involved dog walking with Daddy and doing stretches with Daddy.

Fun in the sun!

The sun came out this week which led to lots of fun times with Ethan.

At playschool we got to play outside, Ethan loved playing with the hose.

And then my friend Caoihme and I had our first afternoon on the beach which Ethan loved. We've paid to join our local beach so we'll be spending lots of time there over the summer.

Here's Ethan's friend Lucy serving him his water

Playing tourist

One of the fun things about having visitors to stay is it's an opportunity for us to play tourist and get out and explore the city.

On a recent trip with Ann and Phil (Newnes, Matts parents) we had two days out in Manhattan doing things we'd not done before.

We went up the Rockafellar centre which gave us great views of Central Park

And then we went to Central Park zoo. Ethan loved the sea lions!

On the next trip we went to the 9/11 memorial which I had done before. And then we walked through battery Park to the ferry terminal where we got the Staten Island ferry past the Statue or liberty. Ethan loved watching out across the water.

Other highlights of a busy ten day trip included (another) trip to the Bronx zoo, the children's museum and lots of fun time with Ethan.

Scan photos

Week 7:

Week 12:

Week 20:

Week 26

Week 28

Week 30

A 4d scan (not the clear as face was squashed against placenta but looks like an Aspinall nose!) and a foot!

Pregnancy care in the US

So a lot of people have been asking me about pre natal care in the US and what it's like, so I thought I would cover it on a post.

The care out here is consultant led. So instead of seeing a midwife, I see an OBGYN. At 14 weeks I've seen her twice and had two scans, a confirmation scan at 7weeks and then 12 weeks. The quality of care is very high and overall I feel very comfortable here. I will give birth I'm a hospital, attended by one of the OBGYNs from my practice. 

The downside is the care is very medical and clinical, given I'm considered high risk due to Ethan being early that has its advantages. However the US is renowned for having a high level of interventions during labour so I need to do some preparation to ensure I'm ready to stand up for what I want!

And to reduce the risk of another premature birth I will be getting weekly progesterone shots from weeks 17-37. So fingers crossed this one makes it full term!