Saltram House, Devon

Christmas, for our family, is all about the build up. So each year from November time onwards, we try and do as many festive things as possible.

The staple of each year is usually a trip to Saltram National Trust park near Marsh Mills in Plymouth. We’ve been going for years, since before me and my sister moved out of our family home, and it’s a tradition we like to keep up with. 

In the past few years, it’s changed slightly. Whereas it was originally an outdoor event in the entrance, it’s slowly moved further inside the grounds, with the stalls now all situated directly in front of the house entrance.   

The nice thing about it as well is that Saltram always have some sort of experience or event around a similar time so there’s something nice for the little ones to burn off some steam whilst you browse all the local stalls. 

Each year the house is also decorated. In past years you have to pay extra to enter the house however this year the full £5 entrance fee (unless you’re a National Trust member in which case it’s free!) includes both the gardens and house which meant we got to have a look around the beautifully decorated house for no extra cost. This year they have themed it as fairytales, and it definitely doesn’t disappoint! From the beautiful underwater little mermaid scene to the perfectly lit Christmas trees, it’s a sight for sore eyes! 

And those of you who follow me will know by now that I never pass up a photo shoot opportunity! 

39 week bumpdate!

39 weeks.

It's crazy to think that we've been sharing this body for 39 weeks.

 Every day brings something new - wriggles, kicks, hiccups, I've loved sharing every little movement with you - from that first 'is this gas or did my baby just kick' to the 'oh my God, this baby is about to crawl out of my lady garden' (honestly, you've got to stop trying, it'll open when it's ready!)

These last few weeks have been agony on Mummy's thighs - you've definitely dropped down into position; it's like having a bowling ball between my legs. Let's hope you're not the weight of one, though! Not that I mind - it means we're closer to meeting you!

 It feels so bittersweet, thinking about the transition from being pregnant to being a Mummy. I cannot wait to have you in my arms, but I'll miss all our little moments. Up until now it's just been us, and of course daddy when he talks to you and tells you stories and you kick him in the cheek. I'll miss how excited you get when it's morning and we wake up, you do the breakfast dance, and the 11:30am dance to remind me to eat lunch. I'll miss when you stick your bum out so far I have to rub it to get you to sink back into place again, or when you prod me with your little foot so high up it makes me jump and then laugh. I'll even miss how you make yourself extra comfy when I go to the loo, as if there's suddenly lots of extra space in there and you do a starfish in my tummy! 

Our birthing pool is here, the kit is ready to go, the cleaners have done their deep clean and I've finally got all your bits and pieces together so we are ready when you are, little Princess xxxxx

First day of maternity leave - a cream tea!

Me, bump and my nephew!

32 week bumpdate!

I can't believe I've been so busy with work and decorating at home that I haven't done a bump date since 27 weeks - sorry for being so rubbish!

So here we are, writing this at 33 +1, but we haven't taken this week's photo yet, plus it's officiallyther Easter Weekend so this one seems far more appropriate ;)

The third trimester has been lovely. Hormones have been flying and I've been quite short-tempered, but because that's not naturally who I am I find it hard to ever actually act on it! But boy oh boy, sometimes I hear my brain shouting JUST SHUT UP!!! at people. 

I've LOVED finally having a big enough bump to warrant looks in the street, people offering to carry things for me, and people giving up seats for me. That's one thing I am massively grateful for - my bump isn't huge, I probably don't look nearly 8 months pregnant, but HOLY JUSTIN BIEBER it's hard carrying around 5lbs of baby! It's tiring, but more than that, it throws your whole centre of gravity off balance. I have to make an extra effort not to walk into things, and make sure I have enough room to get through smaller doorways and walkways.

Some of the less glamorous symptoms have been quite testing, but we'll save them for when I write a book for something! 

I have got three weeks left at work which I am super excited about - it's going crazily fast, and training 2 new people as well as doing my job properly has been tiring and emotionally draining. I am definitely ready to go, but I know these next 3 weeks are going to be busy busy busy! At least it means they'll go fast! 

CRAVINGS

Pregnancy is weird when it comes to cravings. 

I always expected to be laying in bed at 2am and sending hubs to the garage for gherkins and peanut butter, because I NEEDED them. It's not like that at all.

One day, I'll eat 6 oranges and still fancy 6 more. I'll really fancy a certain food and nothing else really satisfies the craving until you get it, whether it's that day or another. And then you finally get what you fancy and it doesn't taste the same - that KFC toasted twister I was so excited about? It tasted like peanuts. Just peanuts.

But I did realise this week I have a 3rd trimester craving. The 1st trimester was wotsits, bananas and oranges. 2nd trimester was thai noodles, bananas and oranges. This trimester I've eaten us out of house and home with oranges and bananas, and am now massively loving natural Greek yogurt with honey. I've always loved it, but if I eat a pot, I immediately need another. In fact I'm sat here with an empty pot in front of my and an empty fridge and if it weren't for the fact I'd need to put clothes on, I'd be running to Lidl for more.

NURSERY UPDATE

The window is finished and the plastering is set. 

We had a quote from our usual decorator to paint the room which was slightly higher than we hoped for, especially considering I am providing 90% of the paint from both Rustoleum and Valspar, but he's doing a few extras like painting the skirtings, the radiator and the cupboards, all in two days, so I guess we can justify it.

They're coming next week, so hopefully if all goes to plan, this time next week I will be able to share the first photos of a newly painted nursery!

Once that's done, it's just the carpet before we can crack on with the fun bits ;)

MIDWIFE CHECKS

So you know we have opted for a home water birth, which means we get our midwife appointments at our house more often than not. It's lovely, as it feels far less formal and I think it helps the midwife feel comfortable in our home, which is going to be a massive thing when she gets that 11pm WE'RE IN LABOUR! phone call in a few short weeks time...! 

At our 28 week appointent where they do the usual - nump measurement, heartbeat and blood pressure, baby was measuring spot on. But at 31 weeks she was still measuring at 28 weeks. It meant we had to be referred for a growth scan - we had an appointment for a week later and that week was very stressful. I tried not to worry but you do, and it completely overtook my mind. Happily though, the scan went amazingly and they said she's 57th centile for her abdominal size and 87th centile for legs, so she's going to be a lanky little thing! But all in all, everything was spot on. Her head is also really low - they joked that she's waiting for the exit to open!

SO that's pretty much it for week 32-33! 

We have another appointment at 34 weeks, so I'll be sure to update you all then.  

In the meantime, be sure to check out my next post all about the amazing Baby Shower I was thrown yesterday!!!

xoxo

24 weeks

24+4.

Pregnancy is amazing.

To think that I'm growing a little person, a human life, and I really don't have to consciously do much - it's incredible!

I've been noticing my body changing from the get go - the hormone changes at first caused some really weird symptoms (my toenails fell off!) I felt sick, I was super tired all the time, I got spots. Then as we entered the second trimester my skin got better, I felt a glow, and bump started showing!

I've watched body parts change, my body adapt for this growing baby, preparing to breast feed, and it's all just breathtaking that it's finally happening for us.

I feel so thankful, and not one day goes by when I don't thank fate for blessing us with this miracle. 

She has been kicking me like crazy recently, which I absolutely love. The best thing about it though is that her Dad gets to feel her too. We often lay on the sofa together watching movies in the evenings after work and she puts on a tap dancing show for him :) 

She also responds to his voice, and knows the second I walk in the front door after work!

I recently had these amazing underwater bump photos done with WaterBumps, sister company to WaterBabies, who also do aquanatal classes for pregnant women. The whole experience was amazing and I am super excited to be sharing my photos with you!

The experience itself was brilliant - the whole Water Bumps team were amazingly helpful, and put me at ease straight away (I'm not used to being so exposed in just a bikini!). The photographer, Anna, was brilliant and knew exactly what poses to get me into to show off my little bump. I did try to push it out a little by filling up on Ikea meatballs an hour before - when in Bristol! ;)

I think Beyonce would be proud (!!)

I absolutely think the shoot was value for money - these photos will be treasured for ever. I'm so happy with them that I've booked to go back in April when bump is bigger, so we can have comparison photos! 

I've also finally booked my space on the Daisy Foundation's birth, baby and antenatal classes - it's a 6 week course that I am super excited to be involved with, and I will of course let you know how I get on! 

Pregnancy is amazing, and I am so so blessed to be able to share my experience with you all. But it's also really scary. I worry every single day about things that could go wrong, so I've decided that when she's here, little baby bear and I, and Daddy, will be donating to Tommy's charity, in the hope that we can help more lovely families have their family dream come true. 

Speak soon! xo