As you already know, my mom and dad made a short list out of all your proposals for my name. The short list was made based on the 110 different name proposals that you have been sending to my e-mail address little.mogly@gmail.com. Out of these 110 proposals, 67 (61%) were girls’ names and 43 (39%) were proposals for boys’ names. After that you could vote the short list for the name you liked most.
That was a competition for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize. Votes so far: 109. The poll is now closed, it is time to announce the winners:
Since no. 1 is my dad’s proposal, and no. 3 is my mom’s proposal, the main prize will go to the one who proposed the name no. 2 (17 votes). The prize goes to… aunt Marche (Marija Dimitrijevic)!!!! Yupiiiiiii!!!! Congratulations and thanks for the beautiful name!!!
There is also a special prize that will go to my cousin Ina, for her great dedication and involvement in this project. Thanks you Ina, and I can hardly wait to come out and meet you in person!
However, mom and dad will have ME as a reward, for the rest of their lives!
Once again, I thank all my friends that have sent all these beautiful name proposals and that follow my blog.
I have a great position and I am ready to get out of my mom’s belly. Oh, I am so anxious to greet the world as soon as possible!
I continue to build a layer of fat to help control my body temperature after birth, although it's likely I already measure about 50 cm and weigh a bit over 3.2 kilos, like a small watermelon. The outer layers of my skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath.
Today is day number 274 and I am weeks pregnant. I have 6 days or 1 week left, and I am 97.9% of the way there. In other words: 39 weeks down, and (according to mom’s doctor, not less than) one week to go…
I decided to listen to the doctor. If not a week, I will for sure try not to come out for two more days, because tomorrow is a big day for my parents and especially for my dad: he will become a Master tomorrow!!! And not just any kind of master, but Master of Arts, i.e. he will (I know for sure) successfully defend his master thesis in the field of communications.
The title of the thesis (although very long and at first look a bit confusing) is “Semiotic as an adequate theoretical-methodological model in the research of processes of creating of meaning at advertisements, focused on advertising teasers”. In simpler words, it is a pretty interesting research of teasers in advertising, something that no one has made before my dad. Which makes me even more proud!
This is day number 268 and I am 38 weeks! I have 12 days or less than 2 weeks left, and I am 95.7% of the way there. Although I am full term already, my mom’s doctor believes that I will probably not be born before the due date, which is March 4.
I am now really plumped up. I weigh over 3 kilos now and I am over 50 cm long. I have a firm grasp, which my parents will soon be able to test when they hold my hand for the first time! My organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.
Wondering what color my eyes will be? Well, you may not be able to tell right away. If I am born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If I am born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time I am 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after she's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.
For my mom it is getting harder and harder to carry her heavy stomach, it's getting even harder to breath while she talks, cause her stomach is pushing her lungs up. She also has a trouble sleeping: sometimes she wakes up in the middle of the night and can't go back to sleep till the morning. During these night hours, I am keeping her awake and amused with my active stretching, kicking and dancing, and most of all – moving down and getting ready to come out. But she says she generally feels fine – she is still active, going to work every day and trying to walk as much as she can… or as much as I let her to.
For my mom and dad, the next days and weeks are a waiting game. They are using the time to prepare my nursery or to take care of necessary tasks they may not get around to for a while after I am born. My dad made new furniture for me in the bedroom, as well as in the rest of the home. Tomorrow they will take me to pick up a bed for me, and a stroller....which is not an easy task at all!
This is day number 260 and I am 37 weeks! I have 20 days or 3 weeks left, and I am 92.9% of the way there. This means that I am full term and that I arrive now, my lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though my due date is still three weeks away.
I now weigh around 3 kg and measure a bit over 48 cm, head to heel. I think I also have full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1-4 cm long. My mom and dad heard my heart work on a strange device at my doctor’s, called CTG, and according to that my heart works just fine, although I sometimes feel excited, especially when my mom and dad decide to take me to a R’n’R’ band gig, an exhibition, somewhere “на гости” or some social event in town.
For my mom, it is getting harder and harder than ever to get comfortable enough to sleep well at night. She tries to take it easy through the day — for this may be her last chance to do so for quite a while. She now looks as she has a huge Pilates ball under her blouse, which is growing bigger and bigger every day.
This is day number 254 and I am 36 weeks! My due date is 4th of March, I have 26 days or 4 weeks left, and I am 90.7% of the way there.
I am still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. Theoretically I now weigh almost 2.7 kgs, like a Crenshaw melon. God, my dad is anxiously desperate for the summer to come and we to gorge ourselves on his favorite fruit – her sweetness the Melon.
However, as the day before yesterday we went to the doctor whose face shall be one of the first I am to see upon birth, his own diagnosis surmounted the limit of three kilograms, him being even confident that I am almost 3.2 kg! This got my dad upset a bit as he is still doing exercises (popularly known as 'се билда') with funny 30 kgs, since my current weight is promising one leading to me being healthy even 4kg baby, the birth weight of my both parents combined.
I am now 46 cm long. And I am shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered my body as well as the vernix caseosa ("Que?!?"), the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. ("Oh, thaaat!") I swallow both of these substances ("Ghaaagh!'), along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement. In other simpler words that we all can understand: "It's getting shitty tight and anticipating in here".
At the end of this week, I will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) I am definitely in a head-down position. Thus spoke our doctor and his instrument two days ago.
Otherwise I had great weekend hanging around with my dad's guests and friends, and my own buddies: Kalin, Marko, Prohor, aaandd Jakov, who's much older. It was my dad's 31st birthday. However, it is a pity Jana did not show up. I know it was with good reason. Although I shall not treat such an absence on my own birthdays! :)
I hope to see my cousins this weekend I spend some time with them. Tomorrow my aunt Hrisitina is coming from faaar away – Austria. Can't wait to chat with her as I have not done so for some 4-5 months now. She only knows me as veeery small. :)
Well, guys, 4 weeks to go. Fasten ye patience, and …
Hi, guys! Today is day number 246 and I am 35 weeks! I have only 34 days or 5 weeks left, and I am 87.9% of the way there.
It's getting tight in-here now that I am 45 cm long. And bit over 2.5 kg And I am finally being compared to my dad's favorite fruit – sweet-as-sin, a juicy, smelly 'диња', melon i.e. Because I am so snug in my mom's womb, I am not likely be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times I kick should remain about the same. Well, what did they expect – to take both my gym and the full equipment with it.
I still have the walls to serve me the purpose of a boxing bag. My kidneys are fully developed now, and my liver can process some waste products. I am now officially member, as my dad puts it, of this shitty world to which I am a full contributor. Ha! Let him be patient for a while, and he'll know what real featrobution is. Most of my basic physical development is now complete — I'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight. OOO right, 5 weeks to go and counting.
The past week was great. I spent a lot of time out there with people. First, last Thursday I was tortured for some good three hours by "I-don't-know-what-I-want,-but-you-should-listen-to-me-and-suffer” gang of people who were trying to 'ги опраат' things in MK cultural life and prosperity by organizing an almost pointless tribune on the topic of blogging and arting. In my dad's words, a typical MK winking and winning style.
During the weekend I was taken to the park by my friend Kalin and we had great time! Actually, Kalin had a great time, playing around with other kids, with his and my parents, with the waiters, while I was in my mom’s belly, waiting to try the delicious soup of Уранија restaurant! After that, I met a new friend – Marko. He is 2,5 yrs old, and he is amazed by books on cars and trains! This will be my next present for my new friend Marko.
But then two nights ago I was amused by the sounds of people cheering about something called baklava (баклава), though I do not know its full meaning. My dad's saying that the second best thing that happened to the world after the dissipitation of the always-hard-cored-закржлаени сендвичи од Метропол. And that it is the sweetest thing in the planet, after me of course.
Although the Baklava music was nice, and the documentary movie was amusing, that night I still haven’t tried of the sweetest baklava that everyone is talking about…
Now I weigh slightly over 2 kilos – hurray, just like two of the juiciest melons, those from Strumica sold in trucks and tractors under the big Canadian maples on Naroden Front street. My fat layers, not the ones you know as ‘мрсни јастучици’ — which will help regulate my body temperature once I’m born — are filling me out, making me rounder like a ball.
My skin is also smoother than ever – an undreamed paradise for modern day cosmetic and genetic industry. My central nervous system is maturing, and as my dad says I am now centralized and I shall not mumble about any decentralization for the years to come.
My lungs are continuing to mature as well. And to tell you the truth I can breathe better than my mum in this period. A new skill that she has to master before I come out, and exactly the reason for her’s and my dad’s second parental preparatory class. This time as my dad claims was more practical in nature although he was not quite serious all the time.
For example instead of carefully scrutinizing what the speaker, remember the Синѓелиќ-hairdresser looking woman, was saying. Instead he was paying more attention to her speech as to guess her non-skopjan origin. And when she started to show how to breath properly during the time of contraction and that by suggesting that each exhalation should be accompanied by the s sound, he was trying to practically counter argue the use of other sounds, “z” for example, or “tz”, or even “sh”. Just to come to the conclusion that “s” is best suited for the purpose. And when the lady, well to be over euphemistic, started talking about prep techniques ad tricks he went bit far in his fantasy in regard to nipples, pumping and milking it out. I have no idea how I will handle such infantile parent?!
How ever, I think he is gradually coming over his phobias, especially after a Sunday chat with my friend Jana and her folks. She is sooo nice and enjoyable a company. And only 9 months my senior. I hardly wait for us to get together. About my mother, well, Pedro once said Todo Para Ella, isn’t what all my dad’s domestic frolicking all about?
During the past 33 weeks, I made my mom gain lot of weight, because of which she now sometimes has backache and she moves with more difficulties as before… Although she tries to exercise a bit during the pregnancy, she realized that it is not enough, so she decided to search for a better exercising program that will ease her pain and make both her and me more comfortable.
Exercising is good for many things. It boosts mood, improves sleep, and reduces pregnancy aches and pains. It also prepares moms for childbirth by strengthening muscles and building endurance, and makes it much easier to get back in shape after the baby's born. Pregnant women who perform exercises often find they have an easier birth.
So, I am writing these recommendations also for other moms who read this blog. The research showed that there are several types of recommended exercises which are safe during the whole pregnancy.
The most recommended types of exersises are: walking, yoga, Kegel exercises, swimming (only if the pool is really clean!), aerobics and dancing. Exercises to avoid: skiing, water-skiing, horseback riding, mounting hiking, etc. Some physicians have different opinion and recommendation regarding exercises such as running & jogging, bicycling, stair climbing machines, etc., so every mom should talk to her doctor first before starting an exercising program.
When you Exercise: Don't wear tight clothes. Breathe deeply, drink a lot of water, and remember to keep your heart rate under 140 beats per minute. Stop exercising if you have any vaginal bleeding, dizziness, faintness, shortness of breath, contractions, or nauseous feelings.
The best video exercises my mom found on the internet are those of Dr. Cathy Wendland, expert in fitness, nutrition and wellness. The showcase pregnancy workout videos and helpful tips helped her a lot, and will help any pregnant woman to maintain a healthy pregnancy and healthy lifestyle. Dr. Wendland is a Chiropractor, Group Fitness Instructor, Writer and Professional Speaker.
Warm Up. Warm up that can safely be performed throughout your entire pregnancy. Effective, safe moves for anyone interested in strengthening and toning their body.
Back and Butt. Exercises for back, legs and glutes that can safely be performed throughout your entire pregnancy. Effective, safe moves for anyone interested in strengthening and toning their body.
Yoga. Yoga poses that can safely be performed throughout your entire pregnancy. Effective, safe moves for anyone interested in conditioning and toning their body.
Chest and Triceps. Exercises for back, legs and glutes that can safely be performed throughout your entire pregnancy. Effective, safe moves for anyone interested in strengthening and toning their body.
Biceps and Legs. Exercises for biceps and lower body that can safely be performed throughout your entire pregnancy. Effective, safe moves for anyone interested in strengthening and toning their body.
Kegel Exercises. Kegel exercises help strengthen the muscles that support the bladder, uterus, and bowels. By strengthening these muscles during your pregnancy, you can develop the ability to relax and control the muscles in preparation for labor and birth. Kegel exercises are also highly recommended during the postpartum period to promote the healing of perineal tissues, increase the strength of the pelvic floor muscles and help these muscles return to a healthy state, and also increase urinary control.
To do Kegels, imagine you are trying to stop the flow of urine or trying not to pass gas. When you do this, you are contracting the muscles of the pelvic floor and are practicing Kegel exercises. While doing Kegel exercises, try not to move your leg, buttock, or abdominal muscles. In fact, no one should be able to tell that you are doing Kegel exercises. So you can do them anywhere!
3-5 sets of Kegel exercises a day are recommended. Each time you contract the muscles of the pelvic floor, hold for a slow count of five and then relax. Repeat this ten times for one set of Kegels.
This is day number 232 and I am 33 weeks! I have 48 days or 7 weeks left, and I am 82.9% of the way there!
This week I weigh 2 kilos minus 200 grams. Yeah I know – 'high mats'. And I am almost 43 cm tall, or long, or whatever applies to a head down situated little one like me. I am rapidly loosening what my dad's calling ET look, and beginning to resemble, as my dad points out, all normal and boring people. My skeleton is hardening too and I am becoming, again in my pa's linguo, a 'тврдокичмењак'. The bones in my skull aren't fused together, which allows me to move and slightly overlap.
My father has already started visualizing the commercial prospect of such a ninja - Tom Cruise skill, without knowing that this serves the sole purpose of making it easier for me to fit through the birth canal. These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as my brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.
Now, I AM overwhelmingly relieved to know that after sooo many cold and sick days my mom is feeling much better. She isn't fully recovered, but after that long frustrating period she's very near to it. It was this reason only that I have not hanged out with many people lately save this Saturday when we (me, mom, and pa) and my aunt and two cousins went to check out what beds are available on the market and what shiny wheels are on offer. It seems that the former is almost decided upon, provided my father approves of the color, where as -- in regard to the latter, it seems that tastes and opinions multiply and even conflict. However, I have no doubts that my family will provide me with the best (and am taking all factors into account, not only looks, but affordability and functonability as well) ride in the days to come. It's worth mentioning that my cousin Ivo, poor him being surrounded by female cousins, is still enthusiastically hoping that the doctor has misdiagnosed my gender. Well, the least I can do in future is to show keen interest in some boys' games, and wear some heavy blue and military green.
Oh! Out of curiosity. My parents started attending some pre-natal or pre-delivery classes for pregnant families. :) My mоm found the first lecturer looks and talks as a “фризерка од Синѓелич” (“hairdresser from Singjelich suberb”)… Where's my dad not paying full attention was frustrated by other baby's moms taking what should have been the basic-know-lecture to be a fully fledged scientific examination of some moms. Шмизли! Does knowing what 'isio-pjiuguegvdh-TOMY (a word that has been repeated for some hundred times and the meaning of which is still a misery - yes!!! Misery NOT mystery to my poor dad) mean makes them better parents? This is what my father would like to know.
This is day number 224 and I am 32 weeks now! I have 56 days or 8 weeks left, and I am 80.0% of the way there!
By now, I weigh about 1.6 kg, and I am about 42 cm long. And I am the biggest occupant of my mother's uterus, not that there are 500 others (of course respectively represented in number as the Ohrid framework agreement).
My mom is gaining half a kilo each week, out of which a fair portion of the deal- 50%- goes to me. Ha! I am a respectable, equal nutrition share holder. As a matter (mu njegova) I'll be gaining third up to half of my birth weight in the next 7 weeks as I fatten up for survival outside the womb.
Now I have toenails and fingernails, unpolished but nailee. I will soon start doing that according to my father's ignorance and choice of a color. And Listen to this!!! I have a real hair now! My father hopes it is a curly one (see the photo? that's him when he was 2 yo), my mother that it is full of volume, and I... I hope it will stand in and out through out. My skin is becoming soft and smooth, smelly of ambrosia and tasty as nectar (my dad's note).
Now, the past few days my mom hasn't been feeling well, some running nose, sore throat, and sporadic coughs. So I sleep and rest as much as possible to give her more strength to recover. Or at least my dad likes to think so in his desperate state of not having a clue what to do. Any how, he's been shitty for a while thinking that he is unprepared for my coming.
What does he think, that I am attending specialized course in development of communicative skills with special attention on getting my self introduced properly to my parents, a course delivered by world famous prenatal sociologists? C'mon dad cheer up! It is all about learning in the most optimal time. You're a pedagogue, or? If this has not convinced you in the futility and ungroundedness of your fears, try imagine an actual child delivery. :)
Well, as for my mom, I hope she'll get better in no time. And as they say "it will pass to her as a dog". :)
While inside my mom’s womb, my temporary name, or my ‘working title’ was Mogly, cause my parents those days felt too excited and confused to choose a real name for me. Even a temporary one. So they announced a call for name proposals and later organized a poll where friends and visitors could vote for the names in the shortlist. That is how I got my current name - Gala.
However, I had to name somehow this diary which my parents and I started to write after they found out that I am on the way! So Mogly’s Diary it is. And it will remain such.
Anyway, the name Mogly came as the first proposal from my aunt Maca (after Mogly, the main character in the ‘Jungle Book’), who then believed that I will have my dad’s hair and my mom’s eyes. It turn out she was more than right!
In the past months, my parents have mastered finding way out from the bureaucratic labyrinths of our bizarre society....
So I share here their guide (based on their experience) for all new parents in Macedonia wondering how to begin and where to look for financial help...
Download the "Bureaucratic guidelines for new parents" (in Macedonian) here.
As you already know, my mom and dad made a short list out of all your proposals for my name. The short list was made based on the 110 different name proposals that you have been sending to my e-mail address little.mogly@gmail.com. Out of these 110 proposals, 67 (61%) were girls’ names and 43 (39%) were proposals for boys’ names. After that you could vote the short list for the name you liked most.
Since no. 1 is my dad’s proposal, and no. 3 is my mom’s proposal, the main prize will go to the one who proposed the name no. 2 (17 votes). The prize goes to… aunt Marche (Marija Dimitrijevic)!!!! Yupiiiiiii!!!! Congratulations and thanks for the beautiful name!!!
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