Okay, so I think I made a mistake. Two weeks ago I thought I felt a flutter, a little movement before I went to sleep. But since then, nothing. Nada. My pregnancy book tells me that at 17/18 weeks, “if this is your first pregnancy, it is now that you will probably feel your baby move for the first time. It’s an exciting experience to feel the reassuring movements of your baby, telling you that everything is fine.” Where are those reassuring movements? Why can’t I feel anything?! I’m hoping that it’s because our baby is all lovely and relaxed and calm. That it has a laid back disposition just likes its Dad, happy to lie motionless for hours breathing in the world around him.

Last night, before Iwent to sleep, the most wonderful thing happened. I felt a little flutter in my tummy. I lay incredibly still for a few seconds and then, there it was again. I pushed my hand firmly against my abdomen and I think that I felt the tiniest of movements push back. I woke up this morning and I thought - maybe it was a dream. Maybe I just imagined that I could feel you.

Tonight, I'm going to go to bed and before I roll over to sleep, I'm going to stay really still to see if it happens again.

You are nearly 16 weeks. Soon I will be able to feel you move.

The pollen count has gone off the scale these last few days. We made the mistake of going to Oxford for the weekend. I should have remembered from my youth that it's a death trap in summer if you get hayfever - something to do with lots of rapeseed fields. Anyway, we went to our youngest nephew's 2nd birthday and, well, there's no other way to describe it, my nose exploded. Mucus production went into overdrive and I was left with a red raw face from the constant blowing. After a horrendous 24 hours, we made it back to London and for the last two days I have hid in my bed with the windows closed terrified of the pollen in the air.

I have tried everything. No sugar, wheat, dairy. Lots of vitamin C. Obsessive showering when I get in to remove all trace of pollen. Short of leaving the country for the next 2 months I really don't know what else to do. I have told Dan that should we try for another baby in the future we can only conceive in August in order for me to miss the hayfever season during pregnancy. That or we leave this godforsaken country with its strange and lethal grass pollen.

There's no hiding it anymore. Whichever way I stand and look at myself I have a definite bump. It really has popped out in the last few days.

Hello little one. You are making yourself known to the world at last.

Sweet BayJesus. What is going on. Either I’ve got my dates completely wrong or something crazzeeeeeeeee is going on inside my stomach. It has simply ballooned in the last few days. I look about 7 months pregnant not 4. I’m told it’s the second trimester bloat and the only thing I can do about it is eat more fibre. Like I don’t eat enough already? Whoever said women bloom in pregnancy were forgetting about those of us who balloon. I look like a big roly poly and I’m only just over a third of the way through. Plus, it’s summer which means tight little tops and figure hugging clothes. Just what is a girl to do?

We joined an NCT class today. Eight couples will attend from the Stoke Newington/Hackney area. I was too scared to ask what the classes involve although I think it's lots of breathing and women ganging up on their 'useless' partners. I'm hoping that we'll meet some good people otherwise it's gonna be just me and the baby next year. Oh, and possibly a dog since I decided yesterday that I want one of those too. Dan thinks I should try having a baby first, but I think he's being mean.

You are 14 weeks today. The hair on your head and your eyebrows is now developing. Fine hairs are growing allover your body to protect your skin. We have now entered the second trimester, and you are hurtling ahead now, growing and changing at a phenomenal speed. In just 4 weeks I should start to feel you, maybe sooner. In just 2 weeks you will start to hear me. We are joined by a placenta and a bond that is stronger than anything in the world.