26+5 - Ill

Just a quick update to say all is well here, but I'm not feeling great at the moment so not blogging in any great length. Baby is well, kicking away and reminding me that she is happy in there :).

Annnnd wanted to add a little photo of our beautiful pram, as modelled by Mitch! Hoping to be feeling better soon, and back to some kind of normal updates.

With love and light xo

25+5 - 3D Scan Photos!

Here is our little girl :). Videos to follow soon - need to edit it down as I'm sure you don't all want to see 15 minutes worth!
With love and light xo

25+4 - 3D Scan tomorrow!

Just a quick post to say our 3D scan is tomorrow at 6pm, so wish us luck :). Really excited - finally sorted some music out to have in the background today. Now just worried that cupcake won't co-operate! It will be fantastic to see her again, especially in 3D.

Will post some photos from the scan, probably along with a clip from the video or something. Technology is amazing :D.

With love and light xo

25+3 - Bump Photo

So here's my 25 week photo! Click here to see any of the other bump photos :).

Bought the pram today which is just sooooo exciting - it's beautiful! I keep going into the spare room just to look at it, or push it around a little. That's a bit weird right?

With love and light xo

25+2 - Resolutions

Oh I completely forgot - New Years Resolutions! I don't normally do these, but 2011 is a fresh start, sooooooo:

1. Have a healthy and relaxed (as much as possible!) last 15 weeks of pregnancy. I know this is something I can't really control, but I'd like it to be a resolution anyway!

2. Don't wish the time away! It's so easy to count down the pregnancy and wish weeks away, but I need to make sure I appreciate every second and how amazing it is.

3. Remind myself every day how lucky I am. Self explanatory, but sometimes I may need to be reminded! I have an amazing boyfriend, family, extended family, and I really am incredibly lucky!

4. Buy some hypnobirthing books / CDs, and use them. I can't really afford any of the courses, but I really want to try and use some of these techniques to have a positive birth. This may seem a bit silly to some people, but that leads me on to my next point....

5. Grow some balls! Sorry to be crass, but I really need to learn to stand up for myself and things I believe. I know millions of people in the world has been through birth and raising children, but I also know that I need to try some things and decide for myself! I'm well aware that I will be wrong lots of the time, but that's okay :)

And finally...

6. Do my best. Obvious, but I need to remind myself that this is all I can do. I am only one person, not ten million people.

Anyone else got any resolutions they'd like to share?

With love and light xo

25+2 - Happy New Year!

Happy 2011 everyone! Hope you're all as excited about the new year as I am, although obviously we have an extra special reason to be excited this year! It is now officially 103 days until my due date, which I'm sure will absolutely fly by.

I'm not feeling too fantastic, so this will just be a short post. I'm really hoping I'm not coming down with a cold or something, but just feel really rotten - achey, sore throat and pounding head. Going to spend the night on the sofa relaxing and hopefully be fine in the morning!

Cupcake has been kicking up a storm these past few days! There are no mistaking the kicks now, and they're becoming much more frequent. As of this morning I noticed that you can see them on the outside, looks very strange - like my tummy's made of jelly (thanks to Mitch for the description!)

We've been super busy these past few days - run lots of errands, seen lots of family, and become much more prepared for baby. The cot arrived yesterday, so we set that up (pictures to follow), organised cupcake's room a little more, and had a play with the car seat. I know we've got tons of time left, but this week has been our last week off together really until due day, and I do like a good organise!

Obviously last night was New Years Eve, and we went to a family party. I realised that staying up past midnight is quite difficult for me - I have no idea how much harder it will be next year! I kept feeling a sharp pain in my tummy, which worried me all night. I had it again this morning but seems to have passed now, and she's been kicking around since. Just felt like a really painful stitch, but came on all of a sudden. Will definitely keep an eye on this!

Went to see the midwife on Thursday which was fine. I saw my third different midwife in three visits, which is a little disconcerting but I suppose it's not really important. She measured my stomach and had a listen to baby - I'm measuring exactly right (25cm whatever that means?!), and cupcake sounded good - nice strong heartbeat and kicking away!

My blood pressure was quite low, about 80 / 40, when it should be about 120 / 60, but I expected that as I've been having quite a lot of lightheadedness and dizziness lately. I've always had low blood pressure and there's not really a lot that can be done! Just lots of liquids - I'm really bad at remembering to drink though. I feel like I need to set a reminder on my phone or something!

I know I forgot a belly photo this week, so will try and take one tomorrow for 25 weeks :). And will post photos of cot soon too. I think we're going pram shopping tomorrow which is super exciting - then everything big is pretty much done :D

With love and light xo

2010 A Photo Diary

So there it is - my 2010! If anyone wants to know where any photos were / what they are - just ask :).
2010 involved 3 different countries, buying a flat, a new kitty cat, lots of giggles, having a huge surprise and finding out we were having a little girl. It has certainly been a year to remember, as I'm sure next year will be even more. I hope you all experienced a great year too!
With love and light xo

24+4 - Shopping times

Hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas and got everything they wished for! We all got completely spoiled (Mitch, Cupcake and Me!) but me especially - I must have been a very good girl this year! I couldn't even begin to list all the beautiful presents I got; I'm still completely overwhelmed by everyones generosity and kindness. I will take a few pictures of some of the lovely things Cupcake got for Christmas, and hopefully try and post those over the next few days.

I'm also aware that I'm due a bump picture which I'm going to try and take tomorrow (better late than never right?), but I'm pretty convinced that the majority of my bump is now turkey based, so shouldn't be judged too harshly. I have eaten so much lovely food these past few days, and it doesn't really show any signs of stopping over the next few days. Buffets, meals and family gatherings seem to be the order for this week, which is lovely, but I'm also shattered! Not sleeping particularly well - I'm just going to put that down to constantly being excited about something.

Today was a hugely exciting day as we went proper shopping! It started off with a 9am IKEA visit involving free bacon cobs, and ended with collapsing in the bath at about 5pm with very achey feet. Still, the visit proved hugely successful, as we have ordered / bought -

1. The drawers for the nursery from IKEA, ready to be put up tomorrow. Cheap and cheerful, and match the wardrobes already in the spare room. (Link)

2. A few things from the Sleepy Owl range at Dunelm Mill, for decoration and cuteness! (Link)

3. A cot! This should hopefully come early next week when Mitch is still off work, so may even be put up next week too! I'm reeeeally excited that this may be put up soon, and really like the cot we've ended up getting - plain white and simple but seems really chunky and practical. Thank you mum and dad! (Link)

4. Kind of cheating as it was last night we ordered this, but the car seat. I wasn't going to get an expensive car seat - just an Argos branded one, however this on sale last night for about half price so we ordered it. Back to full price this morning! (Link)

So I feel much more organised than previously. Mitch is making the ultimate sacrifice and unboxing his DVDs (temporarily!) to put into folders to make room for baby stuff. This is where I wish we had more room, but we don't, so not a lot of point wishing really! That should mean we can have a shuffle round with furniture and decide what can go where. This, along with the fact my dad is coming to do some shelving tomorrow, should mean I can start organising baby things as and when we get them. How exciting!

Anyway, I intended for this just to be a short update as Mitch is asleep, but you might be able to tell I'm quite excited today :). Little one has still been kicking away a little - still not consistently but I'm attributing that to the anterior placenta still. Seeing midwife again on Thursday so looking forward to that, then it's down to going every 3 weeks!

Big Congratulations to someone who received some very good news over the last few days, and a belated Happy Christmas to everyone else.

With love and light xo

24 - Posi

Wanted to post a huge entry this evening, but not really feeling up to it. However, just wanted to concentrate / focus myself on the positives -

1. It is Christmas Eve Eve :). I love Christmas, and can't wait much longer! Hopefully everyone likes the presents we've bought, I always worry so much about it but it's a little late now!

2. We have reached our "V Day" as it's referred to on BabyCentre! As I am 24 weeks today, baby is considered viable, and every day from now her chances of survival increase I were to go into preterm labour. Not that I will obviously, she's far too comfy cooking away! But it's still a slightly reassuring thought, if also slightly morbid.

3. Our little girl has a name. That is still perfect.

4. I think we've chosen the music for the 3D scan. We needed about 15 mins worth, so will have another listen tomorrow then post the songs for people to listen to.

Must stay positive. x

With love and light xo

23+5 - 2010 Photos

I've been working on a summary post for 2010 on and off all day, but will hopefully get around to posting it in the next few days. Just wanted to look back at what a busy year this has been! For now, here's a sneak preview...

Finally finished (hopefully!) my Christmas shopping today and did another few hours of wrapping, so feel a little more in control now. Going to Meadowhall tomorrow with Chlo-bot but don't need anything, so going to try and make it a stress free meander (how naive!). Need to make sure I keep a drink with me - very nearly passed out in Boots at the weekend, which was very embarrassing, and I just feel like such a fool when it happens!

Getting some great ideas for the songs, also found a few more ourselves. Hoping to make a decision in the next week and try and stick them together in one long mix! Keep the suggestions coming :)

With love and light xo