Bump Update | 30 Weeks Pregnant with Baby #2

 
I'm 30 weeks pregnant and now in the final countdown to baby number 2! It's crazy to think that in 10 weeks time we'll be welcoming a new baby into our home and Myles will be a big brother. 

I've been lucky enough in this pregnancy to be in a position where I can take a full year of maternity leave off from work and due to annual leave before and after it means that I'll have a total of 14 months away. When I first started my maternity leave I had all these crazy ideas that every weekend we would have amazing family time. That we would use the time to go on day trips and enjoy our time as a family of 3. Well, that hasn't quite gone to plan. Instead of all the fun times we had planned we've been crazily sorting out our home. Nesting has oficially kicked in and all I can think about is reorganising our home and making sure that everything is just right for when baby arrives. Baby #2 room is almost complete and Myles' room has been completely moved around. The living room is completely different and I still want to paint the walls, and all sorts of little areas are getting organised too. Phew, it's been a lot of hard work and we've faced quite a few hurdles along the way, but apart from my dust allergies I've really enjoyed it. Some days we've included Myles in with all the DIY and other days we've kindly asked his grandparents to watch him for a few hours but it feels nice to be getting on with things and most of all, spending time as a family. You don't always need to be out and about to feel like a family, as long as your all together and having fun it doesn't matter where you are. 

 

How far along? 30 Weeks 

Total weight gain/measurements: Still 20lbs though I'm sure next week will be higher due to my new obsession with haribo sweets. 

Maternity clothes: I bought a few new items from Asda Maternity, which I mentioned last week, and I kinda love them. I'm going to post a haul for you guys but overall I'm impressed with the quality though the sizing does seem a little off and I wish that I'd have chosen smaller sizes in some and larger sizes in others. But just like Goldilocks some are just right!

Stretch marks? I have a crazy amount of stretch marks from my pregnancy with Myles so I wouldn't have a clue if I have any new ones.

Best moment this week: Sorting out our home ready for baby boys arrival.

Miss anything? Not being in pain.

Movement: Lots of movement this week. He's rolling all over the place. I think he having as much trouble getting comfy as I am.

Food cravings: Sweets for some reason. I've never really been much of a sweet lover but this week I've been obsessed. It probably has something to do with giving up chocolate for lent. Also I've been loving breaded chicken this week. You know that awful processed stuff! Ergh! Well that's all I've wanted.

Anything making you queasy or sick? I do keep feeling nauseaous on and off and I am leaning more towards thinking that it's due to feeling hungry. I've found it rather difficult to know when I'm hungry this pregnancy so when I go a while without food I seem to feel a little queasy.

Gender: BOY!!

Labour signs: Nope, phew!

Symptoms: I have this awful pain in my upper left abdonimal muscle that been causing me a lot of discomfort recently, but this week it's been pretty bad. The pain only seems to be relieved if I push down on the spot but that's not always possible. I remember the pain with my first son but it only seemed to happen if I laughed, coughed or sneezed. This time it's excruciating in those situations but it's a pretty constant ache the rest of the time. 

Belly button in or out? All the way out and has been from around 16 weeks.

Wedding rings on or off? On, and still turns quite comfortably.

Happy or moody most of the time? Happy. I seem to have a lot of patience too which is odd.

Looking forward to: The weekend for more family time. 
 

When baby kicks as you're taking your weekly bump shot.

Katie 

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Changing Bag Dilemma | Baby # 2

I've spend hours upon hours trawling the web on the hunt for the perfect changing bag for baby number 2 and I've got to admit that I've loved every second of it. There's something so much different to choosing a bag for this baby compared to when I was on the hunt for my first with Myles. Being a first time Mum I didn't quite understand the importance of a changing bag. I knew that I needed one but I couldn't get my head around the cost. I've never been one to splash out on myself so spending a minimum of £60 on a bag seemed absurd. Oh the times have changed. I've gone from spending £30 (finding an awesome half price deal) to looking at bags from £40 all the way up to £130! Incase you're curious I opted for the Babymel Ella Tote bag with Myles and it's held up over 2 years and I still love it!

A lot of important factors come in to choosing the perfect changing bag, especially when it comes to having 2 young children and size for me is at the top of that list. Upon my hunt, I first came across the Babymel Grace and fell in love. Babymel is definitely a brand I trust. The quality is amazing and after 2 years of constant, every day use my Babymel Ella is still going strong and is only just starting to show a little wear and tear, so obviously this was my first choice. I love how the Grace is on the larger size and also looks more like a handbag rather than a changing bag, and that's most definitely what I'm looking for this time. It's also on the lower end of the price bracket at only £62, so happy days! It comes in a few different colours but I've got to say that the black is definitely my favourite. 

After stumbling across a changing bag review on youtube for the Timi & Leslie Rachel Changing bag I suddenly found myself torn. This is the most expensive of all the changing bag I came across at £125 which at first almost gave me heart palpitations. Spending that much money on a bag seemed crazy but I just couldn't stop thinking about it. It's hard wearing, (thank you reviews) beautiful on the more casual side, massive and has the most amount of pockets I've ever seen. For the first time I was contemplating spending a great deal of money on a bag. 

Sticking to the youtube videos I was then suggested to watch a changing bag review on the Babybeau Isabelle Tote changing bag, and I'll be honest I wasn't 100% sold. I loved the size, I loved the compartments but I only liked the design. That was until I came across the navy and brown version. That was it! Love at first sight! Reatiling at £109 it's still on the pricey side but just look at it's beauty and size! I dream about this bag. 

Last up is the Babymoov Style chaning bag retailing at £44.99 so at the bottom end of the price range, and I've got to say that I'm intrigued. It's definitely has a more changing bag apperance than the other bags in my selction but I just love the design. It has plenty of compartments and just looks so classic. The price also helps too. The only downside to this bag is the size. I feel as though it would be a perfect changing bag for a first time Mum with only one baby but for two babies or a baby and a toddler I'm not quite sure if this would be big enough. 

As you can tell I'm still a little torn. I've not yet built up the courage to part with my hard earned cash and to make a final decision but hopefully I'll get there. If nothing else I hope that this post has shown you a few more options when it comes to changing bags and that you don't always have to feel quite so Mumsy. You can hold onto your style while still being an awesome Mum! 

Katie

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Bump Update | 29 Weeks Pregnant with Baby #2

It's crazy to think that I'm 29 weeks pregnant already! In fact as you're reading this I'll be 30 weeks along and on the final countdown to baby. There may only be 10 weeks left of this pregnanct but I'm going to keep updating this blog until the end. I've missed out on so much already and I don't want to miss anything else. 

One thing I can say is that second pregnancies are so much different from the first (or at least in my case.) Firstly they fly! I remember finding out that we were blessed with our second baby like it was only yesterday, even though it was way back in August last year a few days before my 27th birthday. It's been so hard keeping track of how far along I am as I already have a little someone who keeps every day busy for me. Secondly, my body definitely isn't as fit as it used to be even though I'm not as heavy this time. My pregnancy with Myles was a breeze. Of course I had my ups and downs, and aches and pains but for the most part I felt ok, with this pregnancy it's hard. I'm so tired all the time and I can feel the stress that the extra weight is putting on my body. In saying all this though I wouldn't change it for the world. I cannot wait to meet my second son and officially welcome him in our family. 

How far along? 29 weeks

Total weight gain/measurements: 20lb so far... eeek! After loosing 32lb between 6 and 11 months after the birth of my son this is really difficult for me to get my head around.

Maternity clothes: Plenty. I had to make an Asda Maternity wear order online this week as I had nothing to wear to work. I'll show you my choices once they arrive.

Stretch marks? I have a crazy amount of stretch marks from my pregnancy with Myles so I wouldn't have a clue if I have any new ones.

Best moment this week: Picking up some of baby's new furniture from IKEA. Our home will be full of their products soon. 

Miss anything? A good nights sleep. I get a dead leg if I sleep on my side, I'm super uncomfortable if I sleep on my back and if I do get comfortable I have to wake up to go to the toilet.

Movement: Lots of movement. He's so much more active than Myles ever was and much lower down too. In saying that he still loves trying to fit his feet inbetween my ribs.

Food cravings: Terrible food and chocolate but I'm unsure as to if these are pregnancy related or greedy Katie related. I've given up chocolate for lent so hopefully this will combat my chocolate addiction.

Anything making you queasy or sick? I have felt a little nauseous on and off this week but nothing too bad and I've not pin pointed exactly what's been causing it.

Gender: BOY!!

Labour signs: Not labour signs, but plenty of braxton hicks. I had these only once with Myles so I'm hoping that with these being a little more frequent I might actually go into labour on my own this time. Finger crossed.

Symptoms: Nesting! I've never felt the overwhelming urge before to get my house just perfect but it's all I can think about. Ikea furiture is becoming my organisational best friend. 

Belly button in or out? All the way out and has been from around 16 weeks.

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or moody most of the time? Generally happy. My maternity leave has officially started so I'm feeling a lot more relaxed and I don't feel as though I've been very grumpy.

Looking forward to: Sorting out baby's nursery. It's painted and the main bits of furniture has been bought, we just need to build it and then I can sort out all of Myles' old clothes. Eeek!!

Katie 

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Never Missing A Moment

The last time I updated this blog was back in June 2014, and let me tell you a lot has changed since then. I changed my life style, lost over 2st 7lb, found a new career, started to grow our family, had a few set backs, watched my little man grow from a baby into a little boy, started a fitness plan and then life changed again when we were blessed with another pregnancy. 

The most surprising of all of those changes has been watching my little boy grow up. He can turn a terrible day into a perfect one by just being there and every day that passes I feel like the luckiest person in the world. Don't get me wrong being a Mum is hard work, every day is a challenge and there will be days where you wish you could hide away and cry but no matter what, even on those really difficult days, there will be moments that make you smile uncontrolably and make you feel so proud to be that little person's Mum. 

Now a year is a pretty long time to cover in one post but I wanted to make a start as I relaised just how much I was missing out on by not blogging. I'm about to embark on another huge life change as we welcome our second little boy into our family in April and I want to remember every second. For me blogging encourages me to capture those specical moments, whether it be a family day out or a first smile, each moment equally as incredible. It encourages me to make the most out of life and to treasure every moment. I'm currently enjoying my first week of a 14 month maternity leave and I don't want to waste a second of it, so here I am, documenting those 14 months (at least) and along the way letting you in on the past year of memories.

Katie 

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Mummy Monday | Lamaze Classic Discovery Book Review

Last week I reviewed the Lamaze Captain Calamari, if you missed it then click here to check it out. Keeping with the theme of Myles' favourite toys I thought that this week I would show you another. Once again it's Lamaze, no surprise there then, (I just adore how knowledgeable they are when it comes to designing toys for babies) but this time it's the Classic Discovery Book.

 

I picked up the Lamaze Classic Discovery Book on a whim when amazon had it as one of their Black Friday deals around Christmas last year. It dropped to such a great price and I being the avid book reader that I am, I knew that I had to buy Myles his first book. Though I never knew just how much he would enjoy it and that it would become a staple in Myles' day.

The Lamaze Classic Discovery Book contains 8 pages including the front and back, some of which crinkle, some squeek, some rattle and each have a different texture. The colours are extremely vivid and definitely appeal to my little man. I personally love the crinkle pages as the noise porduced is a great distraction for when he's feeling a little fussy, but he also loves to crinkle them himself. He's now at the age where he enjoys turning the pages too. I'm not 100% sure that he turns the pages to look at something new, but it's definitely an intentional act. He also likes to put anything he can into his mouth and with this being extremly soft I have no fear of him doing so with this book.

As with most Lamaze products you can attach this to many things by the hook. We don't tend to use this, instead we lay it across his lap and leave him to it. It such a great piece for self entertainment, but I also love how interactive it is. We tend to spend time each day flicking through the pages enjoying the textures and pointing out the different animals. It's also been great for Myles' developtment, encouraging him to explore new things with his hands. For such a simple product it sure does keep Myles entertained.

Overall I love this book. As with all Lamaze products I own they are extremely well made. Not one loose thread in sight and definitely built to last. I even feel that once Myles is finished with it, it'll still be in pristine condition and I'll able to save it for my future children as the colours are still as bright as the day we bought it. At £8.99 it's such great value for money and if for some unfortunate reason we were to lose this, then I wouldn't think twice about repurchasing it.

Hints of Summer

We visited Thrybergh Country Park for our Wedding Anniversary this year. It's quite a drive from our home but it's such a lovely walk in all weathers that it's worth the travel. Since having our son we've found it so important to be able to include him in our special occasions, so a lovely walk in the unexpected sun was perfect. I strapped on the baby carrier (by mothercare incase you're curious) and we wandered around. Mike and I talked and laughed as Myles enjoyed the scenery. We also went for a little retail therapy and then back home again just in time for Myles' bedtime. 

Life definitely is a lot different now that Myles is here but it's different in a good way. We waited so long for him to come along and I feel so blessed to be able to share our life with him. It does feel a little weird to know that Myles wont remember this day but at least we'll have our memories and in the future we'll have these pictures to show him.