I have no idea where the past 18 weeks have gone. Well, I have some idea. They have disappeared in a whirl of working, being sick, sleeping – and cuddling my dogs. I don’t really look pregnant yet, just like I’ve been eating too many cupcakes. Laying on my back helps my bump stick out (see pic).

Seeing that photo, it seems a good time to plug my two favourite pregnancy books – am loving Jools Oliver’s Minus Nine to One (I’d like to have a chat and a few wines with Jools!) and Kaz Cooke’s Up the Duff. Recommended reading for anyone expecting a baby. Not boring and full of statistics like some others.

Oh, and the best part about the past 18 weeks? My scan at 13 weeks! Oh. My. God. Hello small person. I love this scan pic in particular because it looks like she’s waving at me. No, I don’t know (officially) it’s a girl, it’s just a feeling I’ve got.

So we fast forward and I find myself at 24 August … this week I have the really important scan to find out if bubba is okay and to find out if it’s a boy or a girl (officially).

I miss my dad. I wish I could see his face when he finds out he’s having a grand child. I’m trying to prepare myself for if they tell me on Friday I’m having a boy. I know if they do then I’ll miss him even more.

I’m really excited about Friday’s scan but I’m also terrified. I’m scared that something will be wrong. I don’t think I’ve felt any kicking yet. I have felt some butterfly kind of feelings, but I’m also full of gas (pregnancy is so full of fabulous side effects!), so how is a girl supposed to know? I’m having all sorts of odd aches and pains too. Am sure this is because bub is growing and pushing everything else out of the way, but there’s always that niggling feeling.

What do I know – it’s not as if I’ve done this before?