Sunday, July 31, 2011

14 Weeks Pregnant!

I can't remember if I said it before, but this pregnancy is going so fast!  In less than 6 weeks time I will be halfway!



I am now starting to feel a lot livelier than I have in recent weeks and I don't feel like crashing 2 or 3 times a day (not that I would have the chance to anyway!).  I have felt the baby move a few times and it's lovely.  I felt movement early with Ollie too.  Apart from the movement and my growing bump there is nothing else to make me feel pregnant.  Boob pain has gone, nausea and sickness is gone and I have my energy back.  I feel almost normal!

The baby is now about 8cm long and is beginning to get eyebrows and hair!  The baby can now make facial expressions and it can grasp, squint, frown and grimace.  Although the baby is still small, it has fingerprints already.

Oh! We bought the pram!  It's very very cool.  In the end I decided to get the Mamas and Papas Zoom.  It comes with a carrycot to so can be a pram and a stoller, both forward and rear facing.


How far along? 14 weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: -5lbs.
Sleep: Sleeping a little easier than in previous weeks!
Food cravings: Watermelon, cherries, fruit juice, feta cheese, caesar salad!
Best moment this week: Feeling the baby move when I wake up most mornings.
Movement: ^^^ As above!
Gender:  I can't wait to find out!  We have our gender scan booked and it is less than 4 weeks away!
Stretchies: None yet.
Belly Button in or out? Almost out!
What I miss: Iced coffee, brie, goats cheese.
What I am looking forward to: My bump getting bigger!  Love it!  Also looking forward to feeling PROPER kicks.
Symptoms: None!
Milestones: Second trimester whoop!!!
Weekly wisdom:  I have none!
Emotions: Excited!

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

What I'm Loving Wednesday



  • Pinterest
  • Feeling the baby move
  • Sun!!!!
  • Being able to play in the garden and the paddling pool
  • James has booked time off work at the end of the month
  • I'm going to spend my birthday money tomorrow.... hurrah!
  • .... and taking Ollie to the Disney Store for the first time.
  • Feta, mint, cucumber and tomato salad
  • Instagram
  • Burt's Bees Mama Bee Oil...... seriously delicious!
  • My handsome hardworking hubby
  • Ollie telling me stories about his trains
  • Tropicana still lemonade
  • My hair being long enough to put in a pony!
  • Baths

Wordless Wednesday


Friday, July 22, 2011

Interview with Ollie at 3 years and 7 weeks




What is your full name?
Ollie shoes (Ollie Hughes)

What age are you?
I'm free (three)

What is your favourite colour?
Blue

Who is your best friend?
Emmmm.... Ruby

What is your favourite animal?
A T-Rex

Where are you going to work when you are grown up?
On a airplane... ill be a big man and drive you to the holidays

What is your favourite movie?
Polar Express

What is your favourite book?
Bright Stanley, Elmer

What makes you happy?
Trains and cars erm stones and paper, boats and fishes and hugs

What makes you sad?
Scary things and monsters and when mummys cross

What is your favourite food?
A pineapple, watermelon, cheerios, cake

What is your favourite song?
wheels on the buses

Got the idea for this here.

I felt the baby move!!

In the last couple of days I have felt the baby move a little bit.  The first time I felt it properly was when I woke up a couple of mornings ago and as soon as I rolled over to face hubby, I felt a SQUIRM..... yep.  Early I know, but I felt movement from 14 weeks with Ollie, while feeling it PROPERLY at about 16 weeks, so I'm not surprised.

Since then I have felt the baby a few times a day.... little tickly sensations, always around the same area.

Also, when I use my doppler now, the baby is so much easier to find and the heart beats SO LOUDLY now.  I don't have to dig the doppler right into my pelvis anymore to find it... it is about an inch and a half below my belly button, very slightly to the left.

:)

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

What I'm Loving Wednesday


  • Pinterest
  • Hearing my baby's heartbeat
  • The funny things Ollie says these days
  • It's only a week until payday
  • Planning what to spend my birthday money on
  • It is only 5 1/2 weeks until we find out the baby's gender
  • Thinking of baby names
  • Baking with Ollie
  • Yankee candles  - Bahama Breeze and Cherry Blossom
  • Matte nailpolish
  • Coca Cola
  • Baths
  • Little Me body butter
  • Decluttering my reader and filling up with new blogs to read
  • Betty Crocker chocolate fudge frosting.


Having a bath with a naked toddler running around...

...is not easy!

I was having some cramps in my bump this morning so I ran myself a bath and put some yummy mum to be bath soak in it.  I told Ollie my plan.... I told him that I was going to have a bath to relax a little.  He agreed and went off to play.

No sooner had I climbed in to the bath when he came in naked (?):

"I need a poo mummy"
..... fair enough....
 "Count my poos when I'm doing them mummy!"
....... erm....
 "Haha... doesn't it make a funny noise mummy"
.........
"Does daddy do poos in the toilet?"

After I wiped his bottom (while I was still sitting in the bath), he ran away only to appear 2 minutes later:

"Do you have boobies mummy?"
.....yep I do!  Why don't you go and read a story to dinosaur....
"Do you have pecs?"
.....No only men have pecs....
"Does daddy have pec boobies?"
.....No just pecs....

I suggest to him again that maybe his soft toys would like to be read to... he runs away and I hear him getting into his mickey mouse playtent with his toy dog and toy dinosaur and I hear him reading his book 'Elmer' to them.

He then comes in and reads 'Elmer' to me too.

Have you ever tasted bath bubbles?  Ollie has.... lots of times.... he kept sweeping the bubbles out of my bath and eating them.... wiping the remainder on his face!

"Mummy, I'm cold now!!"
......why did you take your clothes off??.....

My bath is cold by that point anyway and my cramps have eased off so out I get!

Monday, July 18, 2011

12 Weeks Pregnant!


Woohooo! I made it!  12 weeks is that milestone that a lot of people feel relaxed enough to tell family about.  The rate of miscarriage drops to below 2% at 12 weeks also!!  Next week is the start of my 2nd trimester and I am excited to get some energy back!

The baby has been growing so much in the last couple of weeks...

The baby now measures almost 6cm.  All of his (I hate saying it's) organs are there and are now just out of the critical development stage and now into the growth and maturation stage.  His size has more than doubled in the last three weeks.

I'm starting to feel a little better!  Nausea is GONE completely which is nice.  I'm still pretty tired most of the time but I'm sure that will ease up a bit in the coming weeks.  I'm definitely showing now... but am still at the in between stage where I feel flabby and fat in most clothes rather than baby bump-ish. 

How far along? 11 weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: -7lbs.
Sleep: Need to make a point of going to bed earlier!
Food cravings: Ice-cream, strawberries, Indian food, chicken nuggets, cheese!
Best moment this week: Reaching 12 weeks on my birthday.
Movement: I don't think so though I can't be entirely sure!
Gender: So exciting!  We have our gender scan booked and it is less than 6 weeks away!
Stretchies: None yet.
Belly Button in or out? Almost out!
What I miss: Iced coffee, brie, goats cheese.
What I am looking forward to: My tiredness easing up and feeling the baby move!
Symptoms: Exhaustion, bigger boobs, mood swings, spots!
Milestones: We had our 12 week scan (at 11 weeks) and only 1 week until 2nd trimester!
Weekly wisdom: Too tired to think of wisdom this week!
Emotions: Up and down ALL THE TIME!


How I celebrated my 27th Birthday!


In our house.... birthdays mean lie-ins, breakfast, family trips, presents and yummy dinners.

This year was no different!  I didn't have quite as long a lie-in as I would have liked because I had to get up to take Ollie to a birthday party.  BEFORE that though, James made us gorgeous french toast with maple syrup and fruit salad.... with pink lemonade to drink.  It was DELICIOUS!



After breakfast I took Ollie to the birthday party for his friend Ivy.  It was fancy dress so he went as Thomas The Tank Engine.... I wish I had got a photo of him!

When we got home we headed off our our family day out.  It was raining very heavily so we were unsure if our plans would work out but we drove in the direction anyway.  We stopped for lunch at The Mourne Seafood Bar in Dundrum where I had Langoustine and Crab Claws.  It was delicious!



After lunch we went to Seaford Butterfly Farm!  






We had a lot of fun!  Ollie was really pleased with himself when he was holding the butterfly.  He was so careful, gentle and serious!


When we got home we had caterpillar cake! I have seriously had a caterpillar cake almost every year since I was very little!  You can't beat it!

My mum came and collected Ollie shortly afterwards and took him to her house for the night, and James and I got ready for our night out.  We went to Sakura Japanese Restaurant with 3 of our friends.  I LOVE Japanese and would eat it every night of the week if I could afford to!

I ordered a lovely non-alcoholic cocktail with pineapple, ginger and mint.... Golden Dragon Rolls (Avocado, tempura prawn and sweet potato sushi) and I had Beef Ramen for my main.

Our friends came home with us afterwards and we just relaxed and chatted!  I was able to stay awake until midnight!!

On Sunday we went to my mums house as she always cooks a special meal on our birthdays.  She made a gorgeous ham joint, cabbage, mushrooms and baby potatoes.  It was delicious.  Instead of cake, she made meringue and because I don't like cream, she made me my very own individual one!





As for my gifts?  OOOOOH I got LOADS!  My mum and step-dad bought me a sewing machine!  My first one.... I've never had a sewing machine before and can't wait to make things for the baby and for Ollie.  They also  bought me some books.  My brother Ryan gave me a photography dvd and Paul Smith perfume... my brother Jason gave me The Sanctuary Spa pamper things.... a friend gave me a gorgeous maternity nightie.... my other friend gave me special mum to be pamper bits including belly butter, a hairband and cute cup.... my mother in law took me shopping for maternity bras so that my boobs are no longer tortured by underwires.... my dad gave me some money... my granny sent me an amazon voucher and James is giving me money on pay day so that I can treat myself!!  I can't wait!

The best gift though?  I've reached 12 weeks in my pregnancy.  The milestone that takes an age to get here!!

I had a lovely birthday :)

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Lovely Weather To Visit The Beach!

Sliding down the sand dunes.

His underwear was full of sand by the end!

...and his trains had to come too!

Muddy sand!

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Rockin' the Baby Link-Up!


Shell at Things I can't Say, is hosting this baby linkup tomorrow (I'm posting early)!  Stop by to join in!  She wants us to link up our favourite baby pictures!

Now, I don't have trouble choosing favourites out of my stack of baby photos of Ollie.  I actually have trouble trying not to pick too many!  Every single photo of Ollie as a baby brings back memories of that whole day.  It reminds me of little things I have forgotten, little noises he used to make, how chubby his little cheeks were!

On the day Ollie was born I started Project 365.  I took a photo every single day for the first year of his life.  I love the collection of 365 photos.... but it also meant I was never short on photos!

I also have a photographer for a father and this came in very handy (and still does!) as we were able to have sets of professional photos done for free!


I took the above photo myself and I love it.  I love how you can see his perfect little nose and the newborn fluff on his cheeks.  You can tell by his face it is nearly sleep time again.


My dad took this photo and the one below.  These photos were taken when Ollie had just turned 1 month old.  His eyes are so big and shiny!


Looking at these photos again, brings back so many memories and feelings.... and it makes this pregnancy seem even more real!  I'm going to be doing this all again!  I can't wait!


Friday, July 8, 2011

Meet Baby Hughes No. 2!

Ta da!!  Introducing our little baby bean!

We had a brilliant time at the scan.... it was lovely to see our baby jumping and moving around... it was very active!  The baby measures right on target and so far looks very healthy and happy.  The midwife who did the scan for us was so nice and let us take home 3 pictures.  I get my next scan at 20 weeks! (9 weeks to go!!!).

I don't know why, but I have a feeling this little bubba is a boy :)  I think Ollie would LOVE to have a brother.

It really feels like we are actually going to have a baby soon, after all the trying and waiting.  I hope the next few months go as quickly as the last couple of months have gone!  I can't wait to meet him/ her!

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Our scan is tomorrow!

I'm more excited than nervous now, having heard the heartbeat all week!  I wasn't looking forward to it before as my worries had taken over any positive thoughts.... but now I'm so excited I just want to go to bed so I can fall asleep and then it will be morning quicker.... like at Christmas!

Fingers crossed everything is well with our little bean :)

Ollie's Preschool Visit!

I completely forgot to post all about Ollie's school visit.  He went to visit his new school a few weeks ago in June.  The kids got to visit the school, meet their classmates and meet their teachers so that there is some familiarity when they start in September.  James and I had already been to the parents meeting to gather the information about curriculum, uniform etc.


So, in September he will be starting preschool here everyday from 12.30 until 3!  HOW EXCITING!  The building nursery is set in is so cute, very colourful and fun!  They each have their own coat peg and a photo of them with their name above the peg.  They each also have a little box to put crafts, paintings, worksheets in.


Ollie loved his visit.  He was very chatty with the other kids and had fun playing with all of the toys there.  They have a shop corner, LOTS of building bricks, playdoh, a messy craft area, a sand and water table..... and TINY toilets.  They have a small covered playground (so even if it is raining they can go out to play), a climbing frame, a ball run, 

I had a chance to chat to his teachers and I feel very comfortable now with leaving him there.  They seem friendly (but firm!) and I think he will really enjoy himself there!  He didn't really want to leave when it was time to go!

I'm nervous now though!  

We still have to go and get his school uniform.... I can't wait to see him in it!

* the photos are off the website!

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

10 Weeks Pregnant (+ Heartbeat)

I'm a bit late in posting this one as I turned 10 weeks on Saturday!  It's been a bit of a hectic week here.


Ollie has been waking so sooooooo early and I am SHATTERED!  Extreme tiredness coupled with waking up before 6am does make for a jolly mama!!  I've been taking naps when Ollie sleeps.

Already some size increase in my little bump.  I love having a bump and can't wait for it to get bigger (I love my maternity clothes.... the majority of them are nicer than the clothes I normally wear day to day!).

I had my first midwife appointment last week and she was so nice!!  She did all the normal things... blood pressure, urine sample etc.... and we talked a little bit about where I would give birth.  When I said Dundonald Hospital she absolutely raved about it, which has made me feel super confident!  I have my 12 week scan in less than a weeks time when I will actually be 10 weeks and 6 days!

The baby is approx the size of a lime now and already has all his/ her fingernails and toenails.  It seems crazy to think that something so small with already perfect little fingers, could have such teeny tiny fingernails.  Apparently this is the landmark week in that the whole plan for my baby's body is already laid down.

I had such a feeling of doom and gloom on Friday, partly to do with my hormones probably.... but while shopping I got some cramping.  I freaked out and got myself so worked up about it even though everyone cramps at some time or another in pregnancy.... I mean, look what your body has to go through!  Freaking out while my emotions were already playing havoc, had me a blubbering mess.  I went to my mums house that evening for a chinese takeaway and some girly chat.  My mum always makes me feel better!

On Saturday morning... the cramps had disappeared and I took it nice and easy.  The weather was gorgeous so we all headed to the beach and I was pretty relaxed, but super tired.

on SUNDAY.... the most EXCITING day................ I FOUND THE HEARTBEAT!  I bought a doppler a couple of weeks ago after reading reviews on Amazon from people who managed to find the heartbeat at 10ish weeks.  I made myself more worried when I couldn't find it on Friday and Saturday.  I found it just before my shower on Sunday and there was no mistaking the steam train sound of the baby's heart beating at 168bpm!!  

To say I was relieved is an understatement.  A feeling of pure and utter calm and excitement came over me and I grinned all day!  When I was feeling down and gloomy, I was not looking forward to my scan this Friday at all.  The reassurance from the 6 week scan had worn off and I just wanted to get the scan over and done with to see if my baby was ok...... now I am MAJORLY excited to see my baby bopping about!

Wanna hear it??  It's clearest at about 4 seconds



Baby Hughes heartbeat at 10 weeks and 2 days! by Emma Rodwell Hughes


How far along? 10 weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: -5lbs.
Sleep: Sleeping well at the moment!
Food cravings: Celery and humous, grilled halloumi, takeout food, icecream!
Best moment this week: Finding my baby's heartbeat.
Movement: Not yet!
Gender: Only 10 weeks until we can find out!
Stretchies: None yet.
Belly Button in or out? Still in.
What I miss: Iced coffee.
What I am looking forward to: My scan in 3 days time!
Symptoms: Nausea, exhaustion, frequent peeing, bigger boobs, seriously hormonal, spots!
Milestones: I announced the pregnancy on Facebook haha!
Weekly wisdom: It's HARD to find the heartbeat this early... don't freak out if you can't!
Emotions: Excited x 100!