welcome to the world

On sept 16th 2011 our gorgeous girl Izzy was born. So thrilled with her, will blog more soon but it's now 5am and I havent really slept yet! X

lady with a baby coming through

People are nicer when you are pregnant, I don't mean friends and family (although they are great too) but random strangers.. Old ladies in the street, bus drivers and shop assistants. People fall over themselves to help you and check you are ok and it makes me feel really good! I think pregnancy makes most people smile .. I suppose seeing a woman waddling along the street is fairly amusing and I don't know whether it's the thought of a new life growing or seeing me in this funny state but everyone seems very happy for me. A friend text me after leaving my house last week and said my pregnant glow had made her really cheerful and broody! Anyway although I'm very uncomfortable, hot and sore I'm also kinda enjoying this stage of pregnancy and looking forward to meeting our little girl :-) Yesterday I had a crazy nesting/cooking day and my freezer is now filling up with meals to easily reheat post labour.. However I realised I had slightly overdone it when I looked down and saw I had elephants feet- woah they aren't kidding about the swelling are they? Today I have mostly been taking it easy and I feel much better for it.. Although I did take a slight tumble and banged my nose earlier - a good look for the wedding I have to attend tomorrow! Anyway hope you are all well, I'll be back soon xx

Feeling good

Well I finally seem to have turned a corner and sickness is easing and I just feel a billion times better! Still very sore and lots of heartburn but that's to be expected and I can deal with that. Anyone having heartburn probs I have found that milk or milkshake helps a lot more quickly and effectively than gaviscon and surely better for us pregnant ladies too. Angel delight have just launched a milkshake powder which is currently on offer in Asda for just £1 and is pretty scrumptious so I would highly recommend it. The days seem to be flying by now and there is still a lot to do but I'm really starting to make progress on my various lists which I'm happy about and still finding time ( and even better energy) to cook. I made a pretty big batch of biscuits yesterday from a recipe of Rachel Allens that I have used a few times and I split the dough into 3 making 1 plain batch, 1 with choc chips and another with shredded coconut.. All were received well! I've also made a home made Korma and a pitcher of strawberry and mint slushy from Jamie Olivers 30 minute meal books which was so refreshing: Biscuit recipe - http://m.goodfoodchannel.co.uk/recipe/607380/basic-cookie-recipe/ Anyway hope you are all having a good weekend :-D xx

Lazy

I've been a lazy blogger these past few weeks.. Apologies. I haven't actually been lazy though ..even with my incredible lack of sleep I have managed to keep busy at home preparing for the babys arrival and cooking A LOT! At the moment it seems that if I fancy eating something then I want it promptly so on most occasions I try to cook it at home myself..makes me feel a little better about indulging! This past week has seen me make: diggers (oaty delicious flapjacky creations) butterfly cakes with jam and buttercream, apple crumble with an oat crumble topping and today I will be making banana bread (yum) I have also cooked some reasonably healthy dishes such as red lentil curry, some new pasta recipes and lots of spinach related delights. If any of you want the recipes let me know- they all went down a treat with my other half and family :-) Next week I want to start making meals to freeze ready for when the baby comes so any freezer & budget friendly recipes that you have I would love to hear :-)

Baby shower

On a brighter note my friends completely spoiled me last night at my baby shower/girly meal! I had lots of presents, flowers and gorgeous baby shower cupcakes made by minirhibakes. I have to admit I wasn't keen for a shower .. I didn't want the fuss but now I am so glad we did it. Pressies included beautiful clothes, baby VANS, stretchmark and nipple creams as well as baby toiletries. Thanks to all my lovely friends xx

sickness and moans

Being 30 weeks pregnant and still feeling/being sick is not pleasant! I normally love it when my little one is active but when you feel really nauseous the feeling of a baby doing a somersault doesn't really help! Never mind.. Only 9 & 1/2 wks to go and as long she remains healthy I am happy! Hope you are all having fun in your pregnancies and not being sick!

Babymoon

Just a short note tonight as I am busy excitedly planning a babymoon! Just a few nights in a uk hotel sometime soon.. Found some great deals on superbreak.com - be nice to have a few days just me and my boyfriend prior to our little girls arrival! Anyone else planning this? X

My sweet tooth

Since being pregnant my love of sweet treats seems to have escalated, I am trying to keep it in check as much as possible and so tonight instead of having the chocolate fudge cake that I craved I had a generous portion of homemade mango&coconut sorbet! Its really refreshing and light, if you fancy making this yourself I have included the recipe below and it's really simple to make. Mango &Coconut Sorbet 1 tin of mango pulp ( I bought mine in Morrisons in the world foods section) 1 tin of coconut milk (not coconut cream) Blend ingredients together in a freeze safe container and place in the freezer taking out every hour for the first 3 hours and blending with an electric whisk. Freeze overnight and then enjoy whenever you fancy it!

I miss Pimms

Before I got pregnant I wasn't a heavy drinker by any means, I would probably drink maybe twice a month and only if I was going out or on holiday etc I was never one for drinking a glass of wine at home whilst watching a film or eating a meal. Since I became pregnant however my only major craving has been for Pimms! I really really miss alcohol. I've had 2 holidays and attended several bbqs/parties and I am proud to say I haven't touched a drop since the day I found out I was 7 wks pregnant with this little one. I have found one or two alcohol substitutes which I particularly enjoy when the sun is shining.. Firstly kopparberg alcohol free pear cider (really refreshing) secondly strawberry &elderflower cordial with fizzy water - closest pimms alike I have found! Let me know if you have any suggestions.. My reward to myself following labour will definitely be a long cold glass of Pimms!!

Beautiful Bellys

Some pretty cool belly art on show at : http://www.babble.com/pregnancy/my-pregnancy/pregnant-belly-art-body/?page=11

Extreme overnight growth

I woke in the early hours of this morning with a very sore stomach.. It also appears to have grown A LOT since yesterday.. Anyone else had days with startling growth? I feel huge this morning and don't get me started on my map of the world 36DD breasts. When you start as a 34B any growth is a shock.. Pity they don't hang about afterwards hey. I have so far (touch wood) avoided the dreaded stretch marks .. This may be down to my overly enthusiastic use of oils such as Boots Sanctuary mum to be & BettyHula Secret Oil or maybe they will just appear in my final weeks but fingers crossed. What kinds of changes have you noticed this week? My baby seems a little less active (less room to move apparently) but her movements are more obvious and woah she's strong. Anyway I will be back later with more ramblings.. For now I need a cup of tea&giant cookie as I have been awake since 5am. Hope you are all doing well x

A remote control life

If I had a pause button
I would press it now
In this moment
When we are lying together
Touching but apart
Speaking but silent

If I could fast forward
It would be to a summer day
When we can play in the surf
And bask in the suns rays
Happy and tanned

If I could rewind it would
Be to the moment when I first saw you
To remember what I thought
To capture your first smile
Your touch
Your kiss
To see your eyes when they fall on me
For the very first time

If I could record it all I would
I do, I have
My memories
And yours combine

How do you begin to blog...

Ok so today I decided that I would like to have a go at starting a blog.. now I have no idea what I will be writing about or even if it will hold any vague interest for anyone else but here it goes. A little bit about me..as of today I am nearly 29wks pregnant. I am sore, tired but generally happy and excited about whats to come.. I am a civil servant (yes you pay my wages) and I have a big supportive family as well as a pretty awesome boyfriend so life is good..most of the time. I have had some really bad news in the past few weeks about a member of my immediate family having cancer and its reaaaally tough to know how to deal with it but my aim for the future months is to be positive!!! People beat cancer every day and I know that as a family we need to be strong and get through this.. I think this blog will be a way for me to rant and muse .. and will do me a lot of good! More about me.. I love music, cooking,reading, eating (well its for 2 so I have an excuse) spending lots of time with loved ones.. films..feeling my baby kick in my huge belly and lots of other things that you will discover as I chatter. I will post links to sites that I like or stories that have tickled me as well as recipes and pregnancy moans and I would love some feedback from anyone in the wide world who is reading this. I'll be back very soon. X