40 Weeks Pregnancy Update!

I wrote this post a few weeks ago and had it saved ready to post. Fast forward to today and I am sat holding my beautiful baby boy! (more on that to come!) But in the meantime, this is my 40 week pregnancy update!

This baby is fully cooked and ready come out! But sadly that doesn't mean he will! 

I really had it in my head that he would come a few weeks early as he is so big already, he's been head down since 17weeks, his head has been engaged for a while already and we had some dates confusion at the beginning of the pregnancy. So because I have been thinking that this whole pregnancy, now I feel like I'm already sooooo overdue due even though I'm not!

Pregnancy has gotten really hard the past few weeks...

1. Maternity leave, without a baby, has gotten truly old. I am so bored! Everything is ready for baby boys arrival so I genuinely have nothing to do and its killing me!

2. I cannot get comfortable. My whole body aches, it doesn't matter what position I am in, sitting, standing, laying, doesn't matter. It hurts.

3. Ive been really trying to make use of the birthing ball and bounce as much as possible but it is easier said than done when your body is this big and painful.

4. Baby boys head is fully engaged and super low down so that is contributing heavily to the discomfort I'm feeling, the bottom of my stomach/pelvis area is just so heavy. I feel like I need to sit with my legs wide open like a man all the time. Too sexy.

5. Stretch marks have been minimal until now but now that baby has dropped I've suddenly gotten horrible red ones under my bump and on my hips. I never thought they would bother me but they really do, they aren't even that bad and I know its completely natural but I have to admit its getting me down a bit.

6. Another sexy symptom is this week is diarrhoea and it is not enjoyable, a lot more often than usual and my farts stink so bad that I keep thinking it's the dog but it's actually me. 

7. My nips have been quite sore this week, they have been leaking for a while but they haven't been sore. So this recent soreness has been crap but hopefully it just means labour is imminent. Wishful thinking.

8. Everything is swollen, my feet, my fingers and my knees are the worse. I can't stand it, I hate not being able to wear my engagement ring and flip flops were ok until our crazy rain this week so because I can't fit in any other shoes so i've been getting very wet feet. 

9. All anyone says to me is "No baby yet?" or every phone call we make is met with "Is it time?!" NO, HES NEVER COMING OUT!

10. We have tried everything we can think of to get this baby out, spicy food, raspberry leaf tea, long walks, birthing ball, massages, sex. The lot. Nothing is budging this boy!

As this will hopefully be my last pregnancy update, I'd just like to say that although these updates don't always make pregnancy out to be all that great. Actually, i've really loved being pregnant, despite all the gross bits, the uncomfortable bits and the stress, it really is the most magical experience. I don't think there is anything quite like growing a little life inside you and I'd do it all again in a heartbeat! 

Bath Time with Tranquil Beauty! *

The bath pillow was gifted but all thoughts are my own*

I have never been a bath girl, mainly because I have never had a decent bath anywhere that I have lived. When we got on holiday I often treat myself to a bath bomb and make use of the hotels bath though! 

But recently my very pregnant, very large body has been aching like crazy and I've just needed a bath! I've been having one almost every night so went into Superdrug and treated myself to a few bath products to make it all the more luxury! Despite my tiny, old fashioned green bath. I will talk about those things a little later!

One thing I was missing was a bath pillow, as my bath is so small I often ended up with a sore neck and just couldn't stay in the bath for that long as it was just so uncomfortable. I was considering getting myself one when I was contacted by Tranquil Beauty. 

Tranquil Beauty are an Amazon shop specialising in beauty and spa items. The reviews on their store really do speak for themselves so I had no concerns that I wouldn't like this product! I was not disappointed!

Something that first impressed me was the delivery, you are kept so well updated on the items progress and it came the day after dispatch! I was so shocked when the postman delivered it! Such incredible service so already step one impressed me greatly.

It came in a fancy looking black box as shown above, meaning the product was well protected during delivery and it also means that that this product could make an amazing gift! That was my first thought, I bloody love wrapping presents and this box is the perfect box for wrapping. I feel like this is the sort of product you could gift to such a variety of people due to it's neutral colour and who doesn't love a bath? 

It would be great for an older lady who needs a little support in the bath, an aching pregnant women like me, someone who just loves a bath or even kids!

There are 7 suction cups on the back of the pillow, they are super strong so they ensure than once your pillow is where you want it, that baby is not moving. The pillow itself is made up of two segments so it can be made to fit different shape baths, my bath doesn't have a very large back so it doesn't sit quite the way I'd like it too but it still does the job and stays secure. 

It is waterproof (obviously) and wipeable should you get makeup all over it like it did. It is a sort of memory foam type material on the inside so it moulds to your shape making it super comfy. 

Cost wise, it isn't the cheapest bath pillow out there but it certainly isn't expensive either. I would definitely say that it was worth the money! I can see it lasting me a really long time and getting loads of use.

Purchase your own one here!

As for products to make my bath all the more relaxing, I've mostly turned to trusty Zoella products. I went for Bath Frosting which is a bath powder that turns your water milky white, moisturises your skin and smells amazing! It is from the Jelly and Gelato range which is my favourite of all the Zoella scents.

I also got Scooper Dooper which is a bubble bath in the original Zoella scent, another one of my fave scents. I use a huge scoop of this too create the most perfect bubbles!

My favourite thing though is this Imperial Leather Cherry Bakewell bubble bath, it literally costs 90p, smells incredible and creates the most bubbles! Scooper Dooper is a little pricey so I find myself being really sparing with how much I use meaning less bubbles but as this one is only 90p I pour it in until my whole bath is a pink bubbly masterpiece and don't feel bad about it! 

These can all be bought from Superdrug!

Baths have been revolutionised for me! I am hoping to still get the time for them once baby arrives which is probably wishful thinking but I am sure as hell going to try! 

Check out Tranquil Beauty on Amazon and Instagram for updates!

36 Week Pregnancy Update

The past few weeks have been busy to say the least! We went on holiday to Devon for 5 days, had a baby shower and Liam graduated university for the last time!

It is so lovely to have the photos and memories of Baby Fish at these events but my god did he make himself known!

Things have really ramped up recently, let talk about it!

1. Officially nothing fits, nothing. I have been shoe horning myself into maxi dresses and hoping they don't burst at the seems. 

2. It's not only clothes that doesn't fit, now neither do my shoes or my jewellery! I noticed while on holiday that my ankles had really swollen up and I could barely get my shoes on, I wore a Thomas Sabo anklet on the first day of holiday and by the last, I couldn't get it on. I did have a ring snuggie on my engagement ring which I no longer need and I live in flip flops. 

3. A whole week of walking along beaches and non stop activity really took its toll, I have never felt more tired in my life but also never felt better in my own skin! It was so nice getting my bump out in a bikini and taking gorgeous beach bump pics! 

4. I had the best time at my baby shower and am so grateful to everyone that made the day special and got lovely presents for Baby Fish. 

5. Washing baby clothes is a bloody nightmare, the whole time a wash is on I find myself constantly worrying that everything will come out misshapen or the wrong colour. It hasn't happened yet but I'm a washing disaster so I'm waiting for it!

6. I think I have a stretch mark, it is faint and pink but I feel like its getting darker. I'm not too sad about it as I expected it to happen but with only 4 weeks left! How annoying!

7. I am still being sick, I think it is safe to assume now that it isn't going away. I'm fairly certain I will throw up during birth/labour. 

8. His movements are so strong now that they are quite often really unpleasant. His rolls make me feel physically sick but at the same time, if I don't feel like every 5mins I panic like crazy.  

9. I think I have carpel tunnel, my fingers are constantly tingling/numb. Midwife says it's nothing to worry about but it really is driving me mad! 

10. We have had our 36week scan which was a horror from start to finish, the lady who did my blood test and blood pressure I swear was trying to kill me. She did my blood pressure repeatedly until my whole arm went purple and I couldn't move it then she tried to take blood from that arm which obviously didn't have any as it was dead! So she proceeded to wiggle the needle around and stab at me for ages before moving to the other arm. Then the lady doing the scan was so rough that she bruised my stomach but the overall outcome was that baby is fine and not quite as large as they originally thought so thats good at least!

I honestly can't get my head around the fact that he is due to be here in 4 weeks! We are completely prepared though, everything is washed, folded, put away, built and stocked up! The only thing left to do is get a mirror and window shades for the car, so I'm just using my time to sleep and relax my aching body now! 

Please don't be late little boy! I can't wait any longer to meet you! 

Baby Shower!!!

Last Sunday was my baby shower, my mum and my sister (above) planned the whole thing and it was held at my mums house. A baby shower is something I never dared to think about when we were trying to get pregnant as it just seemed like something we would never get to do, the fact that I'm even pregnant amazes me everyday and getting to share this special day with all my loved ones was just magical. 

I have my proper camera and my polaroid with me but I was so busy enjoying the day that the only photos I took were polaroids. Not that I mind as these photos are adorable! These are close ups of the polaroids and I just think they look so vintage and its so special to have just one copy of them which I am going to scrapbook along with other memorabilia from the day. I adore scrapbooking and can't wait to start on it! 

The shower was girls only but Liam did pop in towards the end to see the presents get opened and help with the cleaning up. 

My mum organised some games, there was no eating out of nappies at this shower (gross), we did the price is right, guess how many sweets in a bottle and the game above which you have a bag for each letter of "BABY SHOWER" and we had to guess a product that was in the bag starting with that letter. It was extremely hard, I sucked at it but my gorgeous niece Evie sure did enjoy emptying out all the bags once we were done and making a right mess! Look at that grin!

Evie's grin making an appearance again as she stuffs her face with cheese balls. This girl can really eat! She devoured half the buffet then sat on a scone, covering herself and her surroundings in jam!

Food in her hand again! 

The best bit about the shower was getting to see family, having all the girls together is so nice as it doesn't happen very often. Having everyone together to celebrate our impending little boy just made me so happy to know that he is going to be so loved and surrounded by such a great family. 

  

My mum went all out on the decorations and they looked great! 

We had a pick n mix table that pretty much just melted in the scorching heat but while they lasted, they looked absolutely adorable!

She also made this amazing nappy cake! It took me ages to take apart once we got home but we certainly won't be running out of nappies for a while! 

I had the best day and am so grateful to my mum and sister for organising and decorating everything and so thankful for all the gorgeous presents we got given. Little one will certainly not want for anything with this lot around! We could barely fit it all in the car to take it home! 

Now to chill out and wait for this little fish to make his grand entrance! 

Our Babymoon!

For the past five years Liam and I have been to the same place in Devon on holiday every year, Woolacombe, North Devon. Last year, he actually proposed while we were there at our favourite private beach so we were really sad when we ultimately decided that we wouldn't go this year as I would be 34 weeks pregnant and it was the only time we could go between Liam's university commitments and baby's arrival. 

As we go every year, the holiday park that we always stay at were sending an abundance of emails and letters about booking a holiday, deals and offers. We got sent such a good offer that we just couldn't ignore so decided that we would take the car chair and hospital bags with us and hope that the baby didn't make an early arrival and that I wouldn't die of tiredness while there! 

The huge bump and my swollen ankles didn't stop us from exploring the beach, we opted to hire some adorable deck chairs and enjoy the beach in a more peaceful way rather than exploring the rock pools like we usually do! It is extremely hard to get out of a deck chair however, when you are very pregnant! 

Couldn't not take at least a few classic Liam from behind photos! They are my favourite to take! 

On the last day we visited a beautiful little village and had a cream tea while taking in this amazing sea view! This village had the steepest hills on earth, I've never panted so much in my life and Liam had to physically push me up hills but it was worth it for this incredible view!

I mainly took polaroid photos because they just feel so much more special than a digital and the camera is also a lot lighter to carry than our massive camera we usually use! This worked out so much better for my tired whale body to handle! 

We took some lovely bump shots but this one is probably my favourite.

I have an insatiable appetite at the moment so we did spend most of our time either eating or planning where to eat next. We had loads of amazing cream teas, drank loads of tea and drowned ourselves in fudge. 

The best meal though, was the tapas. We went to this same tapas restaurant last year the day Liam proposed so it felt really special to go back again with baby fish as well. He kicked away in my tummy like crazy while I drank a delicious Peach and Passionfruit Daiquiri Mocktail, we went for the endless tapas deal so we had so much food and left feeling painfully full but it was worth it as the food was genuinely the best I have ever eaten. 

This was the view from our deck chairs I mentioned earlier, who wouldn't want to have a picnic looking at this and reading a book in the sun! We did get a little burnt though, despite the sun cream. But again, so worth it. 

We had such a good week away, the last just us two before we become a family of three! I can't wait to take the little one with us next year. We didn't take our dog, Watson, this year as we felt Liam would have his hands full looking after me let alone our needy yet adorable pup but he will definitely be coming next year so we can have a proper family holiday! 

The best Babymoon! 

Maternity Occassion Wear

One             Two            Three             Four            Five

I have two big events coming up in June, Liam's graduation and my baby shower. I am going to be pretty damn pregnant for both and on a budget as I go on maternity leave on the 1st June so I've been scouring the internet for a dress I can wear for both occasions that is relatively cheap but also going to be comfortable and flattering on my blossoming bump! Especially as lots of photos will be taken on both occasions! 

Although I love my pregnancy body and feel extremely confident showing off my bump, pregnancy has also given me enormous boobs (if they weren't big enough before!) and I've gotten a little chubby  so I am dreading finding something that will be flattering in photos. 

My first thought was a wrap dress to show off these bangers as when they are under cover they just look even bigger but I'm concerned that a graduation is not the time to get the girls out! I'm thinking however that if I go for a more conservative looking dress with some length to it, I can pull off the booby look. Dresses two, four and five tick these boxes! I am really leaning towards the red one.

Dress one is really lovely and has a super flattering cape style top section, I've never worn anything like this so I'm not sure if it would suit me but I'm sure tempted to order it and try! The navy colour is especially appealing and I feel like the floaty material will drape nicely over the bump.

Dress three is similar to a dress I already own so I know the style suited my pre pregnancy body but I'm not sure how it will compliment my enormous boobs and big bump. It could look super flattering or I could end up looking like a black sack with legs. I really do like it though! 

Gahh! This is hard! What do you think? I'll probably order maybe two of these and hope that one of them looks good! Which two should I order? 

24 Week Update: Pregnancy Is Hard!

I am now 24 weeks pregnant coming up quickly on 25 weeks and it has been a rollercoaster! My bump is quickly expanding, the kicks are getting stronger and the nursery is all coming together but pregnancy is not all the sunshine and roses that many bloggers make it out to be! 

While I am loving being pregnant and feeling this little babe get bigger and stronger, counting down the days until Baby Fish is here, pregnancy really is hard and I've still got a way to go! 

I thought today was the day to talk about those things...

1. I am so tired all the damn time. I still get 10+ hours a night (broken sleep but still) then still need to nap during the day for at least two hours. 

2. I love my body more than ever but also can't stand the sight of it. Watching my bump grow is amazing but the cellulite that has now appeared on my legs, the lizard like skin on my face and my hideously veiny nipples make me want to cry. 

3. Walking or moving in general has become a difficult chore. I get so achy and tired after just a little walk around a shopping centre which means baby shopping has been halted recently as I just can't keep up!

4. I am constantly worried, I thought this had gone away after week 12 but now that I am feeling the baby kick and move regularly, its all I think about. Not enough movement, movements weaker than last week and at a different time, every slight change although perfectly normal panics the hell out of me.

5. I can't stop peeing! My work must think I'm such a lazy cow because I'm constantly disappearing to the loo, my had a growth scan the other day and were told that babies head is completely pushed into my bladder so that explains why!

6. Some days my nips leak and some days they don't, is that normal?!

7. I feel like the count down is on, 15 weeks left until his due date suddenly doesn't feel like a lot. I had felt pretty well prepared but now I just feel like I need everything to be done, assembled and washed. Nesting has well and truly kicked in!

8. I am hungry all the time! I need to eat every hour otherwise I start to feel really really sick so that means constantly hiding in a corner to eat at work and raiding the cupboards at home all through the day. 

9. The sickness hasn't left me yet! Although the daily puking is long gone, every so often sickness will just wash over me and I end up throwing up my guts all the over the street outside Poundland in front of loads of people. I'm not even embarrassed anymore, its my life now.

10. Most importantly, although I am in a constant state of worry and tiredness. I am so completely in love with this little person and can't wait to meet him! 

Baby Wishlist

One               Two                Three                 Four               Five

Now that I'm almost 19weeks pregnant, it is full steam ahead with baby shopping! We have started to buy more practical things like the breast pump, nappy bin... the boring but necessary bits. But what really excites me are the adorable little clothes and soft plush toys! 

One

This little set of bodysuits is from H&M, they are a practical clothing purchase which would be great for everyday wear and the hedgehog print is just adorable! I am really loving the sage green theme H&M currently seem to have going on with a lot of the baby range. Although I think intended to be unisex, I definitely think this colour looks especially lovely on a baby boy. The grey bodysuit is in a sort of cord material which I think is super unique and easily paired with other items so well.

Two

With the new Peter Rabbit film coming out soon, the shops are full of Peter Rabbit bits. This little dungaree set is from Mothercare and it just melts me! Unfortunately I don't think ill be purchasing it as with the baby due on 1st August, it would likely be too warm to wear it! 

Three

We aren't planning on buying many toys at first because realistically newborns don't play with them but we will get a few little things. I really like with Mickey Mouse rattle from Disney Store because it  is simple and pretty, subtly boyish but not too in your face. A good first toy! 

Four

Another adorable sage green set from H&M, I definitely will end up buying this set. The colour just get me! It is a really practical, a whole outfit with the only addictions needing to be mittens and socks. So simple but stunning. 

Five

JellyCat toys are my favourite at the moment, I literally snuggled this fox and squealed in John Lewis the other day! Im not going to buy him or any other soft toys until after the baby shower because I'm sure we will get some gifted to us and don't want to end up with an abundance of toys! I also have a soft spot for the classic bunnies and the dinosaur! 

These are the things I've been eyeing up recently! I am really trying to remember that we are limited on space in our little house but its all just so tempting! 

Thanks for reading! 

We're Having A BOY!!!

Liam and I are so excited to announce that we are expecting a baby BOY and couldn't be happier! 

We booked in a private gender scan weeks ago and have been eagerly counting down the days, we had the scan last Wednesday at which time I was exactly 17weeks pregnant. I was so worried we wouldn't be able to see the gender because previously our baby has been quite the little fidget! But luckily little man decided to cooperate nicely and grabbed himself a handful of willy showing just what a little boy he really is! 

I had been guessing boy from the very beginning, a few other people were too but Liam and most of the rest of our family were pretty convinced he was a baby girl. Liam is always right so I had almost convinced myself of that too but it turns out I was right all along! 

It was such a strange feeling being told we had a son! This whole pregnancy has been emotional but this was the most emotional part for me and for Liam I think. We've both had permanent smiles on our faces since the moment we found out, I feel like knowing the gender has made it all feel so real! We have a SON, a little BOY! 

My whole life I have imagined myself having a girl, right up until that first scan I honestly felt like I was having a girl but the moment we saw our little miracle on the screen my heart just told me he was a boy and I was right!

The boy shopping is now nicely underway, we have quite the pile of adorable blue clothes and batman attire! I'm really trying to hold back though so that he doesn't end up with way more clothes than he could ever wear but it is so hard without all the cuteness around! 

Are you a mum of a boy? Whats it like?

I'M PREGNANT!!! First Trimester Update

If you don't follow me on Instagram (which you should btw!) you won't yet know that I am finally pregnant!!!

This journey is not something I have discussed at all as it all made me feel really down and pretty uncomfortable but Liam and I had been trying for a year and a half and were starting to lose hope. Well, I had lost hope after being told that I had PCOS and it was likely not going to happen for us without intervention. We had our first appointment at the infertility clinic in October 2017 and left feeling broken, we then had to jump straight in the car and head straight for Centre Parcs for a weekend away with my family (who knew nothing about any of this). Frankly, there was nothing I wanted to do less and I ended up in tears in front of loads of people in the Centre Parcs swimming pool. 

To make things worse, my period came later that day confirming yet another month of failure. I did manage to cheer up though and had a lovely holiday. Little did I know, that period would be my last one for a while! 

Thankfully we didn't need any help from the infertility clinic and managed to somehow make this little miracle all by ourselves and at the exact time I needed it the most! 

Lets talk through the first trimester!

1. Omg, morning sickness is real! And it's bad! I threw up constantly from week 7 to week 12, lost so much weight and was generally giving up on life when a miracle happened and it just stopped!

2. I had the glorious pregnancy glow for all of about 10 seconds before my usually clear skin became a volcano of spots and dull skin. 

3. I completely went off all foods for such a long time and genuinely couldn't eat anything, I pretty much lived on happy meals and pot noodles. Thankfully my appetite has finally come back and I am making the most of it! 

4. How big is your bump meant to be? I feel like I've been an elephant for weeks already?!?

5. Work is hard. I get so tired, everything aches and throwing up in works vile staff toilets was not fun at all. 

6. Our little miracle baby is a major fidget! Every scan lasts a life time because the baby just won't stay still! Literally doing backflips and a selection of yoga poses. Nothing like it's lazy mummy!

7. I could drink milk until I turn into a cow. I am addicted.

8. My hair is growing like crazy so I'm making the most of it and growing it back out lovely and long again! Thanks Baby!

9. I genuinely don't know what I'm doing and am considering buying loads of pregnancy books so I can read them all and be a pregnancy/baby expert by our due date on the 1st August. 

10. I am the happiest I've ever been and feel so blessed to finally be carrying our little fish! I am dying to find out the gender and go on a mental baby shopping spree!