What's in a name?

"When are you coming?" I hear you ask. Well, quite soon actually because I'm nearly 39 weeks old now. We went to see the doctor on Tuesday and mum and dad were so impressed with what they saw on the ultrasound- I was practising breathing and they could see my diaphragm moving up and down. At the moment, mum breathes for me and so I can just sit back and relax but that's about to change. When I'm born I will have to do it all by myself, with my own lungs and mouth, so I'm starting to see what breathing in and out it will feel like and then it wont come as quite a shock when I make my big arrival into the world.

Doctor also said that the ultrasound machine thinks that I am about 4kg which is about 8.8 pounds, which mum thinks is big but not too big. I think she's hoping that I stop fattening up so quickly though in these last couple of weeks but I'm so hungry all the time I just can't promise anything.

Mum and dad have also been talking lots about my name. They are being very indecisive about the whole thing and just when I was getting used to my Arthur Bear label, they have now decided that I might not even be called Arthur. They have drawn up a new shortlist of names just in case I don't "look like an Arthur" when I'm born, whatever that means. To be quite honest, I don't think I'll look much like anything other than a baby (but a rather handsome one at that). These are the names they are toying with now:

Arthur (Artie)
Harry
Archie
Finlay
Jack

In Spain you only have 8 days to register a birth so they'll have to get cracking once I'm born and make their minds up. They will also have to change the sign on my door and the name of this blog if they don't end up choosing Arthur after all, what a palava! Please share your thoughts on our shortlist if you have any...If you know someone called Finlay who is a real pain in the bum we need to know about it or likewise if there's a heroic Harry in your neighbourhood, let us know.

Some people say that your name has the ability to shape who you are as a person and I can see the truth in that theory if you're called something like ramsbottom and teased all your life. But really, what I think is most important, is that you are surrounded by people who love you. And I feel very lucky because I don't have enough fingers, or toes for that matter, to count the amount of people who already love me. I can't wait to meet you all...not long now.

Love from "un-named". (Artie)

Where I'm going to be born

Hi everyone, I'm 37 weeks old and a bit now which in doctors' speak means I'm 'full term' which in our speak means I'm ripe and ready to come out. Mum and dad have been getting ready for that exciting trip to the hospital when my birth-day finally does arrive.

We went for a tour of the hospital that I am going to be born in and because we live in Spain, I'll be spending at least my first two days in the world there. Mum and dad thought it was important to check that it was going to be a nice environment for us all and we were happy with what we saw. The hospital isn't too big and it is very new and clean. We will even get our own private ensuite room with a bed for me, mum and dad and even a telly too. Dad can sleep over with us for as long as we stay there which me and mum are happy about. Mum says that it is a bit of shame that maternity care is a bit old-fashioned here compared to England because we can't have things like a water birth or an early discharge from hospital if I'm OK, but she said the most important thing after all is that we are going to be in safe hands.

Mum has also packed overnight bags for us so that when she goes into labour dad can just grab them and go because I'm not sure mum trusted dad with the responsibility of packing all our things last minute! She has put some snacks in one bag for dad because he gets hungry all the time and put some tiny baby clothes in a bag for me too (they might not fit mum, I'm really big!). She has packed some comfy clothes for herself too and the camera so we can take lots of pictures after I'm born to show you all.

Here are some pictures of me in mum's tummy. She has to wear dad's boxers now because it's really hot and sunny here and she can't fit into any of her own shorts.

Bear hugs from Artie xoxoxo

Nesting which has nothing to do with birds

Hi everyone, me again. I'm 36 weeks old now and the doctor who's going to deliver me says I'm ready to come out any day but when I do I have to go all the way back to zero weeks and start again. This seems a bit silly to me because I definitely don't look or feel like I'm nought years old.  Anyway me, mum and dad went to see him yesterday and they had a peek at me to check I'm still healthy, which of course I am. I was sleeping at the time so didn't appreciate all the prodding but then I indulged in a little mischief myself when the doctor tried to monitor my heartbeat with a special machine. I showed off all my best football moves and so he kept having to move the thingy on mum's tummy to find my pulse. Dad was really impressed and thought it was funny I think.

Mum has been doing lots of preparations this last week in time for my arrival. I think they call it nesting which is strange because we aren't birds. I have my own bedroom which mum and dad finished decorating at the weekend. It has lots of blue and yellow things in it which is great because they're my favourite colours. All my clothes have been washed too so that they are nice and soft. Mum and dad joke that I have more than them put together but they are forgetting how much more often I'm going to need changing than they do.

Mum has been doing lots of cleaning and tidying too and she wants dad to clean the car because she says it's filthy. He thinks all this cleaning is silly because things will only just get dirty again, especially when I arrive and I would tell mum the same if I could, but I think actually she enjoys it because of this nesting thing. She has started to drink this herbal tea too which tastes really weird. It's made from the leaves of raspberries and people say that it can help me to come out on time and more easily if its drank every day for a few weeks. It tastes like mud so I suppose if anything, that's enough to encourage me to get a move on, but really I'll just come out when I'm ready, tea or no tea.

Here's a picture of my nursery so you can see for yourself.

Love Artie

I'm going to be here soon

It is nearly time for me to make my appearance in the world you all live in. I'm really cosy in mum's tummy so I'm going to stay put for a few more weeks but I'm really excited about coming out too and meeting you all soon. I know my mum is too because it's all she ever talks about now. Me and dad sometimes get a bit bored of it and wish she'd just let us watch the footie in peace.

You'll be pleased to hear that I am already living upto my name. The doctor told mum and dad last week that I'm a really big boy and that I need to stop growing so quickly. I can't help it though, I love food just like my dad and I want to grow up to be strong like him.

It is getting a bit cramped in here now though. I'm still trying to practice my kick-ups and headers like dad told me too but I'm running out of space. It's easiest when mum is lying down asleep during the night. It wakes her up, especially when I'm tickling her ribs with my feet, but I'm sure she doesn't mind because she always gives me a little pat and tells me what a great kicker I am.

Anyway, it's time for my nap now. I'm trying to get lots of rest so that when I'm born I can stay up all night with mummy and daddy so they can coo over just how cute I am.

If you haven't already, circle the 10th October in your diary. I'm supposed to be coming out to meet you all then but I think it will be much more fun to surprise you and appear on a completely different day. Mum and dad hope it will be earlier but you'll all just have to wait and see.

Bye for now from Arthur Bear.