Summer Wardrobe

1. ASOS maxi dress 2. Topshop bag 3. Saltwater Sandals 4. Mango necklace 5. Noir studded bangle

Finally the nice weather has arrived and it has got me thinking about summer outfits. I will be living in maxi dresses and Saltwater Sandals as always but for sure this summer with my post-birth body. I already have a red pair of Saltwaters but will definitely need a brown pair as I am really loving all these muted colours I have seen about for this summer. 

Roll on summer, drinks in pretty beer gardens, 99's on the sea front, walks in the woods and picnics on the beach! 

Treats to look forward to...

I have loved being pregnant. People told me I would but I didn't believe them. I was the person that squirmed when listening to someone talk about their baby move within their tummy. It all seemed a bit too Sigourney Weaver and Alien to me. But here I am, loving and cherishing every movement. I love slipping into bed for an afternoon nap when I can, and I just lie there and feel baby move. He has started to stick his little bum out now and I stroke it, as I stroke, his bum goes back in but as soon as I stop he sticks it out again. It's our little game and already I know I will miss that. 

So as much as I am loving it, there are some things that I miss and looking forward to having back in my life...

1. Hot bubbly bath and G&T - this was my little Friday night treat. Hot bath with insane amounts of bubbles, Ray Lamontagne playing and a G&T with excessive amounts of fresh lime squeezed in and ice. 

2. Lying on my tummy and back - in pregnancy you are advised to lie on your side. I can't wait to sleep on my tummy again and get back to normal yoga and stretching back on a hard floor.

3. Pate on toast, charcuterie board, Brie, Chardonnay..... food - the thought of a perfectly chilled glass of buttery Chardonnay, sat in a beautiful long stemmed glass, with condensation forming on the outside honestly makes me dribble a little. The thought of it next to a charcuterie board is enough to make me swoon. I took these things for granted when unpregnant, but now I am without and have been for 8 months, I just can't wait to be reunited. I have had the odd sip of Dan's wine and enjoyed some bubbles at Christmas and it's been nice but it's not the same as it's laced with that little bit of guilt. I want that guilt-free beautiful glass of wine just for me with a massive hunk of oozy Brie and bread on the side.

4. Star jumps and shimmies - ok, I don't really miss these things but I do miss the ability to do them should the mood strike. Now heavily pregnant I really am limited to move freely. The other day I so had the urge to run, just run and run. I have never in my life been a runner, I hate it. But at that moment I just wanted to run, jump and tumble. I am sure there will be lots of running and tumbling when my boy is here.

Not long to go now at 36 weeks and I am incredibly excited, more to meet our baby then anything else but the things above are added bonuses which I can't wait to enjoy again. 

The weather has not improved but I am defying it here, I have been making lemonade and pretending it's not snowing outside. I love making lemonade in the summer and a friend had mentioned she adds basil to hers, which I thought sounded a bit strange but I gave it a whirl. It adds a really nice flavour and tastes so refreshing. Looking forward to making some more over the summer. 

Ingredients
3 lemons (minus seeds and skin)
Handful of basil leaves
6 tbsp of honey
3 cups of water
1 cup of ice

Put the whole lot in a food processor and whizz. Pour into glass and add pretty straw. You may want to vary the quantities above to suit your taste. 

34 weeks

Woah! So, at this point the weeks are flying by. We started our NCT classes last week and wow it has given us a kick in the bum. We had lots of bits sorted but we quickly realised we needed to tie up other loose ends and get the last few bits and pack THE bag.

I know people have mixed views on the NCT classes but we have found them so useful. It is nice to have friends nearby going through the exact same thing. We found the classes to be packed full of great information and have been a great reassurance to us, all the possible concerns or worries are discussed and we feel much calmer and better prepared. I also really liked that the dads were so involved. A lot of dads I know want to be involved in pregnancy and the birth, want to ask questions and understand what is happening but so often are shut out by old-fashioned attitudes, which is so sad. At the NCT the dads play an active role and are invited to ask questions and contribute their fears, anxieties and the things they are looking forward to. Our tutor was also fabulous at explaining and defining their role as supporter, what is expected of them and even what they should pack in their hospital man-bag - things like food, to maintain a stable mood!

I said before that I was worried about slowing down, that is definitely happening now. I've definitely got my waddle on and more upsetting is that my legs have started to mottle, swell and have gone a nice red shade. None of my friends have experienced this so it was a little surprise. Midwife says all very normal and should go away after the birth.

It's also very difficult to get a good night's sleep, with all the loo-trips! I hear this is good practice for when the baby is here. 

I now try to avoid overly-luxurious low sofas/seats because unless there is a crane nearby or a strong man, it is almost impossible to get up again. Mum recently tried to pull me out of a sofa, she almost went over my head and behind it!

Another thing I have noticed is that you become a messy eater in the third trimester, no, not because you are so hungry you eat like Fantastic Mr Fox (that was the second trimester), but because your bump puts you further away from the table. This is no big deal at home as I tend to hold plate/bowl with hand or rest on bump so nearer to mouth, but you can't do that in all situations. The forkful of food has a further distance to travel from plate, over bump and to mouth. My washing has increased a lot because of this and I have started to travel with little stain remover wipes because of the number of accidents. After mealtimes I really start to resemble Jim Royale, the swollen belly with stained clothing! Clio has also become wise to the bump ledge, that gathers crumbs. Whenever, I sit next to her she gives the bump a once over just incase I missed a stray crumb. 

The baby's room is almost ready. Having fun arranging...and rearranging the bits and bobs I have been collecting. We have also been having a lot of date nights, as strongly recommended by ALL my parent friends. This has been really nice, making the most of our last few weeks as a duo. Now most of the work is done on the house, we've also been really enjoying lazy Sundays with food, films and duvet.

Blogshop London

So a couple of weekends ago I was thrilled to be attending Blogshop London with the amazing Bri Emery and Angela Kohler. When I first got into reading blogs, Bri's was one of the first I fell in love with. DesignLoveFest is one of those blogs that makes you go all tingly with excitement and you have to read the entire blog the minute you find it. For the last two years I have lusted after a place on the blogshop which Bri and Angela run. I never thought at 7 months pregnant I would be going but my lovely Dan surprised me with a place on the course. I am still a little overwhelmed at the gesture and thoughtfulness.

I had high expectations for the course, how could you not when you see Bri's blog?! The workshop went above and beyond my expectations. I have learned so much from that weekend, that I am still digesting it. But it wasn't just about the learning, it was so nice to be in such a beautiful environment (Custard Studios in Shoreditch), a room flooded with light, huge windows and all white and being among such creative and talented people too.

The course is not for the faint-hearted, it is hard work and pretty intense. I would say that you need to be Mac confident and have at least dabbled with Photoshop. Dan had bought me a Wacom tablet too so I could learn how to use some of the handwriting features - I struggled using it in class, I really needed to have become familiar with it at home first, my mistake.

I have come away from Blogshop feeling so inspired and enthused, like I say, not just because of the mammoth amounts of knowledge I have gleaned but because of the positive energy that exuded from those studios all weekend. It was particularly nice for me to have a couple of days off baby-obsessed mind. As we near the big day, I have been so focused on preparing myself and the home that it was really nice to have a couple of days to be uber selfish and do something creative, so absorbing and just for me.

So spring is supposed to be here, yet we still have minus temperatures and snow is falling. I just see this as more of a reason to bring spring in to the home. I have bought Primroses for the garden and they are currently stationed in the conservatory as I fear they may die if I put them out now. They cheer the room up. I have been busy making spring seed packs for friends, decorating the house for Easter and writing Easter cards.

I made the seed packs with yellow sweetie bags (I have hundreds of these, I use them as much as possible). Inside I packed some seeds I had from last year, some I collected from my garden and some I bought. I also added in some of these beautiful vintage flower seed pack labels, which I found on Ebay, wrapped in bakers twine and then stamped label. 

I get really fed up with seeing Easter eggs and all the ridiculous plastic packaging they come in. So for my nieces  I have made up cardboard baskets filled with mini chocolate eggs and chicks with hats - is there anything cuter then a chick in an Easter bonnet??

I also found a double duvet cover from a charity shop, vintage Laura Ashley with daffodils and geese on. I picked it up for £2 and made them in to two tote bags, one for a dear friend and one for me. So even though it is bitterly cold, I shall be wearing my spring tote bag and willing the spring to come. 

For those that have asked about Blogshop, my next post will be all about it. 

29 Weeks

It has been a little while since I have last updated so here we are. Now in my 29th week, the bump is starting to feel heavy. It has been a tough few weeks, I had the mother of all colds that turned into a chest infection, which turned into bruised ribs and torn ligaments! Just as I thought I was getting over that I have come down with yet another cold.

The third trimester has brought with it tiredness and breathlessness.  I am sticking to my yoga which is really helping. I find the need to stretch overwhelming at the moment and it also helps me to relax. We have finally made decisions on all the baby stuff. How difficult is it to choose things??? There is just too much choice. The breast pump and baby monitor have probably caused the most stress, trying to weigh up the pros and cons having read all the reviews. With the first you are having to do things a little blind, you're not really sure what it is you want from a breast pump or baby monitor.

We probably have more than we need but I am a planner by nature and for me to feel relaxed and calm, I have to have all boxes ticked. We've been lucky to get a few hand-me-down's too that we are so grateful for as babies are expensive business.

I have so enjoyed making up our little man's room and searching for the cutest books and toys. I feel like I am getting to know him more and more. His movements are becoming more familiar, I like to read to him and am so enjoying washing his little outfits and hanging them in his wardrobe.

I have a mild sense of panic about my body slowing down in a few weeks, so I am trying to get as much done now, in the hope that when my body does slow, I can simply relax. The thought of not moving and just reading is quite appealing at the moment.

The third trimester has brought back the tiredness that I had in the first, come 6pm I am fit for nothing. It has also brought back the weird pregnancy dreams, last night I dreamt that I grew a nipple on my face, my main concern was what people would think when I try to breastfeed! Lots of dreams that he has arrived already and that I had forgotten all about him and left him downstairs.

I have a feeling that I will really miss my bump, it's such a lovely feeling and the most special I have felt my whole life. The weeks are flying by now and although I can not wait to meet our baby, I am squeezing the most out of each moment.

Although I have not found the time to blog as much as I thought, I have enjoyed the process. It's therapeutic and also has put me in touch with lots of other lovely mums that have been a great source of information, advice and inspiration.