An update from me...34 weeks!

Well, I am now officially on maternity leave! So hopefully I will be able to get on here alot more from now on.
I am now 34 weeks pregnant, so only 6 weeks to go! I had the midwife yesterday who confirmed that baby is in the breech position - I have a scan in 2 weeks to see if he is still that way, and if he is then I will have to discuss with the consultant about having him turned. This scares the life out of me, but so does having a C section, so I have a lot of thinking to do! I am feeling ok at the moment, just really tired and can't get motivated. I am having a lazy week this week, but would like to get out and do some things with Grace next week - providing this horrible weather clears up! 
Just a quick one from me, will be back soon with a more constructive post! 
With love from, Danielle x

My pregnancy must haves!

Well I am half way through my week off work and i'm not sure if I am feeling less stressed or not!
I absolutely love spending time with Gracie, she is such a cheeky, happy little girl - but lately she has been quite demanding and clingy! I'm not sure if she has actually started to realise that there will be another little person in the house in a couple of months, so is using this to her advantage! I just hope she has snapped out of it by the time baby makes his arrival. 
Anyway, I thought I would share with you a few of my must haves that have helped me so far through this pregnancy - these are things that I have been using daily and really feel like they deserve a mention!

Mama Naked Calming Bath Foam
What they say:
"Whether you’re expecting the pitter patter of tiny feet or the little ones are getting under your feet, Mama Naked has been specifically formulated with you in mind. Our calming bath foam is a welcome treat for those moments when only a long warm bath will do to soothe those achey limbs or caress those tired feet. It’s brimming with a natural blend of aloe vera, calendula and camomile, and because it’s free from harsh chemicals, pregnant and new mums really can relax."

I have only had this for about a week, but I have been using most evenings in my bath and I love it! I love relaxing in a nice bath anyway, but this seriously does feel like it is taking away every ache and pain of mine and really calming me down for a nice nights sleep - I feel like I could fall asleep in the bath!


Johnson's skin perfecting oil
What they say:
"Developed with JOHNSON'S® expertise in soft, delicate skin and enriched with Botanic Oils and vitamin E, JOHNSON'S® Skin Perfecting Oil boosts your skin's elasticity - leaving it feeling beautifully smooth and supple, helping to reduce the appearance of stretch marks."
                                                  

I have horrendous stretchmarks from my pregnancy with Grace, so I knew there was no point trying to avoid them this time around and also trying to get rid of the ones I have when I am pregnant was a stupid idea! But when Johnson's bought out this new skin perfecting oil, I thought I might aswell give it a go and it might even prevent me from getting any new ones! I have been using it for around 4 weeks, but not every day. I use it on damp skin once I get out of the bath and I can seriously say that my stretchmarks do not not look half as bad as I think they should at this stage! I imagined them being very purple by now considering how much my belly has grown, but they are seriously not looking that bad - I can obviously see them more being stretched, but they are basically the same colour as my skin. My belly also seems very smooth. I will definitely carry on using it for the rest of my pregnancy and for quite a while after I think.

DreamGenii Pregnancy Pillow

What they say;"Our Premium, patented dreamgenii^® Pregnancy Pillow is Recommended by Midwives across the UK and is recognised as the only specifically designed pregnancy pillow to adequately support back, bump and knees at the same time without taking up all of the room in the bed. It encourages you to lie on your left side which is the best position for mother and baby (But 

is just as comfortable on your right by passing the leg support through the back of your knees) and gently prevents you from rolling on to your back during your sleep (Which can restrict bloodflow to your baby). Using the dreamgenii^® 

Maternity Pillow from about 20 weeks pregnant, can also encourage your baby to adopt the optimal birth position which can mean a shorter and less painful labour. The dreamgenii^® Pregnancy Pillow used as a breastfeeding support, is designed to support your back during feeding and keep the baby at the correct height and position for breastfeeding. 

The dreamgenii^® Pregnancy Pillow is certified as a Class 1 Medical Device.  It is used by thousands of women during pregnancy, as well as by NHS midwives, breastfeeding coordinators and in NHS delivery suites to provide comfort and support to pregnant women and new mothers."

I LOVE this pillow so much! I have been using it since I was about 15 weeks pregnant, I decided to get a pregnancy pillow this time around because I never had one with Grace and was constantly using pillows between my legs, under my bump and behind my back - and this does all that for me! I chose this one because I liked the fact that it stops me from rolling onto my back, it is so comfortable and having a pillow between my legs really helps to take the pressure off my pelvis. I even use it when i'm watching tv on the sofa! I have had no trouble sleeping at all and think it is definitely down to this!

Do you have any must haves that have helped you through your pregnancy? Would love to hear them!

Have a lovely Easter everyone! With love, Danielle x

Pregnancy ups and downs...

Errgghh I am so not loving being pregnant at the minute!! Here I am at 28 weeks pregnant and up until last week I was actually suprised at how well it was all going! When I was pregnant with Grace, I seriously hated every second of my pregnancy - I had horrendous heartburn, was signed off from work with SPD, and managed to break my ribs 4 weeks before I was due, so really not the best of times. And here I am doing it all over again! I was determined to enjoy this pregnancy more and hoped that having a summer baby would make the difference, at least if I can't move I can still get out and relax in the garden with Grace.
I'm finding simple things quite difficult now, Stuart has been away for the weekend and it has been gorgeous weather out, so there was no way I was going to sit indoors and mope about. Grace and I have been doing all sorts, we have been to the park with her scooter, down the seafront for fish and chips (and ice cream!) and to the play park, aswell as boring shopping ect. But man am I paying for it now!! My pelvis feels like it is going to drop out and my back is killing me, I have been referred for physio so hopefully that will come through soon and make me feel more human, before it gets as bad as last time!
As much as I am moaning though, I feel so incredibly lucky to have a healthy baby growing inside of me, that all my problems seem completely stupid considering what some people go through to have a happy and healthy pregnancy. Each time I feel my baby move it brings a huge smile to my face, and it is so comforting to know that I am never alone. And, as Gracie has just told me when I tucked her into bed "your my best friend, Mummy" I have best friends for life - that is what makes it all worth it!

My favourite maternity outfit...

I have got to the stage now where I can't fit into my normal jeans, so am now rocking the leggings/loose top combo. I went clothes shopping last weekend and invested in some cute cardi's and blouses to jazz up some plain vest tops, to stop me from looking so boring!

I am currently sitting here looking out at the cold, miserable weather outside and wishing the summer would hurry up (although I probably won't be saying that once I am as big as a hippo!)

The thing I love about maternity wear is that you can take one simple item and make it look fantastic with gorgeous accessories which will see you through till way after the baby is born!

Here is a gorgeous summery outfit that I think would look cute once the hot weather arrives, perfect for those picnics in the park and long walks on the beach...

Dress - £12.99

Necklace - £6.99

Sandals - £34.99

Bag - £19.99

All from New Look

I can't wait till the summer now!

With Love, Danielle x

Beautiful cakes...

Well, I feel as though the nesting feeling has well and truly kicked in now! I really have the urge to completely sort out our house ready for the baby and I really want to get our kitchen in order and start baking properly. We have a fairly small kitchen and have nowhere to sit as a family and have dinner, although there is space in there to have a small table! So my job in the next few weeks is to make our kitchen beautiful and hopefully get a small table in there.

As you probably know, I got married in September and in the planning stages I absolutely LOVED looking at different cake designs and getting inspiration for our wedding cake. We were very lucky that my Nan is a keen baker and offered to make us any cake we liked! 
Although I have made cakes in the past, I have never really had any experience in cake decorating - so I have made this my aim in the next couple of months, and hopefully get more experienced whilst on maternity leave. I see this as my dream job, being able to create such beautiful creations for other people to enjoy. My first goal is to make my Mum a cake for Mothers day which is in a few weeks time. I love looking at inspiration for cakes, and here are a few cake designers that I really admire.

Cotton and Crumbs

I first found these beautiful cakes on Facebook, through another wedding supplier. They were my main inspiration when I was wedding planning, the cakes are absolutely stunning! I especially love their flowers, they are so beautifully made and look really lifelike, I would love to be able to make roses like these. It is a shame that they are based up north, otherwise I would be first on the list to attend a class!

Maki's Cakes

Oh my goodness, how gorgeous are these cakes?! I have only recently come across Maki's cakes and these 2 cake designs jumped straight out at me. I absolutely love the bows, I want to try and make a bow for my Mums Mothers day cake. The detail on these are amazing, I love square cakes as they are so different. I love it when square tiers are topped with round tiers, they look so unique. The broderie anglaise on the second cake is stunning, I could only wish that I would ever get this good!

Peggy Porschen

Peggy Porschen is probably the most well-known cake designer, her designs are so divine! I love how the 2 cakes above are completely different to each other, it just shows that she has an amazing eye for design. I have told my Husband that he needs to take me to her cake parlour the next time we go up to London, I would love to try her cakes to see if they taste as good as they look! She also takes all sorts of classes, which I would love to be able to go to one day. Would be amazing to create such a beautiful masterpiece. 

Maisie Fantaisie

I have also just recently come across Maisie Fantaisie cakes, they blew me away as soon as I saw them! The detail on them is absolutely gorgeous, it must take so long to create such beautiful cakes. May Clee-Cadman only established Maisie Fantaisie in 2003 and has already come so far, her cakes are regularly featured in wedding magazines. She has published 2 books, which are on my shopping list to help get me started!

If any of you have any baking/decorating tips for me then I would be so grateful to hear from you! And I shall hopefully be showing you my finished creation in a few weeks time!

With Love, Danielle x

An update from me...

I've not been on here for ages and have so much to update you all on!

Firstly Gracie has turned the big 3!! She is very excited about being a big girl now, but I cannot believe she is 3 already, these last 3 years have been the best and I can't believe how much she has grown up. She amazes me every day with how much she has learnt and makes me laugh so much with the things she comes out with sometimes! 

She didn't have a birthday party as we went to Disneyland the day after her birthday for 4 days. It was lovely to get away for a little holiday, as the 3 of us have never had time away together! It was soooo cold in Paris, so I think we probably didn't choose the best time of year to go, but we still had a magical time. I think Grace was definitely at the best age to go, she is really into her Disney Princesses at the moment so she was in awe of everyone that we saw, I think the next step is saving up to go to Disneyworld in Florida when the baby is abit older!

After our lovely weekend away, we came back to have our 20 week anomaly scan! It was such a lovely experience and things have certainly advanced since I've had Grace. The images were so clear and we got a good look at the baby for about 20 minutes! We were told that I would need another scan with a consultant, as they said about a measurement on the front ventricles of the babies brain which were out by 1mm. They didn't seem worried at all, so I am trying not to dwell on it to much until the scan next week. But we were told the great news that the baby is a BOY!! We were really not bothered about the sex at all, but we are so happy as it will be lovely to have one of each. So I am sure I will be bringing you lots of posts filled with baby boy finds! I am hoping to start bringing you regular posts now that our crazy few weeks are out of the way, so keep your eyes peeled!

With love, Danielle and Gracie x

Feeling great in pregnancy...

I'm getting to that stage in my pregnancy where I am starting to feel slightly normal again - although it won't last for long!! I am trying to take care of myself more in this pregnancy than I did in my first, only because I felt awful the whole way through last time and I am trying to avoid it this time around. 

I thought I would share my tips with you, I am no expert but I feel like it is making a difference to how I am feeling!

Staying active

I lost 2 stone in the run up to our wedding in September, this was mainly down to going to exercise classes 3 times a week, and I knew once I fell pregnant I didn't want to stop going. There was a girl that I done classes with who went 3 times a week up until 4 days before she had her baby! I went a couple of times in my first trimester, but then just felt too exhausted so only started going again a couple of weeks ago and I feel it definitely makes a difference. 

I am going to start going swimming once a week and I also walk to work and back every day, although it is only a 10 minute walk, every little helps! Exercise promotes muscle tone, strength, and endurance, so it will help you to manage the extra weight you will be carrying and help prepare you for labour, it will also be easier to lose the weight after the baby is born.

Look after your skin

My skin has been awful since the day I found out I was expecting! I have certainly not got that "pregnancy glow"! It has been dull, blotchy and breaking out in spots! 

For my face I make sure that I cleanse, tone and moisturise every evening and use a purifying cleanser in the mornings. I also try to use a face mask once a week, to make sure my face gets a proper deep clean! My favourite products to use are definitely the simple range.

For your body, you should avoid using soap during pregnancy as it removes the natural oils from your skin. Using a moisturising body wash will help to maintain the essential oils in pregnant skin and give you a healthy glow. My favourite body wash at the moment is the Dove silk glow body wash it smells delicious and leaves my skin feeling silky and soft. 

I like to use a body brush before I get in the bath, I gently brush my skin in upward motions starting from my feet and you should always brush towards your heart. Dry skin brushing has many benefits, it improves circulation, sheds dead skin cells and helps to tighten the skin. It definitely helps to wake you up! Also use a good moisturiser when you get out of the bath to help your skin to look healthy, and especially over your bump to stop you from getting stretch marks! Palmers cocoa butter is great for this.

And my top tip for your skin is DRINK WATER!! Water has many benefits in pregnancy, not only does it help to keep your skin clear and fresh, but it prevents common problems such as constipation, hemorrhoids and bladder infections. Also, the more fluids you drink during pregnancy, the less your body retains - odd I know!

Dressing your bump

It can be hard to find clothes to suit your changing shape, but it doesn't mean you can't still be fashionable! 

Comfort is very important in pregnancy, stick to natural fabrics as anything itchy will just irritate you especially as you will find your bump gets itchy as you get bigger! 

Your body temperature is slightly raised in pregnancy, so opt for lighter layers that you can take off when you get too hot!

Maternity jeans are great, you can wear your usual style with a stretchy waistband so they will grow with you as you get bigger. Topshop maternity jeans are great. 

Empire line tops are great as it separates your bust from your bump, or you can cheat by adding a skinny belt above your bump. Wearing a loose fitting top can actually make you look bigger than you are, so wear your bump with pride and choose clothes to show this off!

It is important to get fitted for a good maternity bra a couple of times throughout your pregnancy, as you will most certainly go up a few sizes! You might also want to wear bras that aren't underwired as will be more comfortable. 

Spoil yourself!

Being pregnant is a great excuse for getting pampered! Make sure you treat yourself to a manicure, pedicure, or some new makeup. 

I get my nails done once a month, this helps me to have some me-time and having pretty nails always perks me up! I had a pregnancy massage a few weeks ago and I would recommend it to anyone, it makes you feel so relaxed!

Eat Well

Eating a healthy balanced diet can help you to maintain a healthy weight and give you a boost of energy. You will probably feel more hungry than usual, but it doesn't mean you should eat for two! Eating the right foods will help you to feel fuller for longer. 

Fruit and Veg - Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables as these provide you with vitamins and minerals, as well as fibre which helps digestion and prevents constipation. Eat at least 5 portions a day,

Carbohydrates - Starchy food are an important source of vitamins and fibre, and are satisfying without containing too many calories. They include bread, potatoes, cereals, rice, pasta and Oats. These foods should be the main part of every meal, eat wholemeal varieties when you can.

Protein -  Sources of protein include meat, fish, poultry, eggs, beans, pulses and  nuts. Eat some protein every day, but make sure it is cooked thoroughly. Try to eat two potions of fish a week.

Dairy - Dairy foods such as milk, cheese and yoghurt are important because they contain calcium and other nutrients that your baby needs. Choose low-fat varieties where possible. Aim for two-three potions every day.

Healthy Snacks - If you get hungry between meals, try not to reach for snacks that are high in fat/sugar! Good choices are Fruit, yoghurt, vegetable sticks with houmous,  or breakfast cereals. 

Taking a prenatal vitamin will also help you get all the vitamins you need.

For more information on eating healthily in pregnancy and for foods to avoid go to the NHS website.

I think hope these tips have helped you! And if you have any tips of your own, please share them! 

With love, Danielle x

My favourite outfit...

I thought it would be a good idea to start regularly showing you different outfits that I have put together, from what I have seen in my favourite shops. I am starting with one of my all time favourite shops...River Island.

I know it is only January and we have only just got over Christmas, but I am loving the new Spring/Summer collections that are coming in the shops!! It is making me a bit sad that I will probably be as big as an elephant by the time I could get to wear any of it, but I may be able to get away with a few things?! Maybe wishful thinking! I am loving the gorgeous pastel colours that are in River Island, this outfit would look great as day to day wear, and could easily be dressed up with some nude heels and some more accessories. I think I am going to treat myself to this top - I think it could look cute with a baby bump!

Light green lace top - £20.00

Pale pink super skinny jeans - £40.00

Pink floral print sunglasses - £13.00

Gold flower sandals - £35.00

All from River Island

With love, Danielle xx

A few baby things...

So, I have been obsessed with looking at baby things this week and already starting to feel in the nesting mode! We only live in a 2 bed house at the moment, and i'm really finding it hard to see how we will also fit a baby (plus all the things that comes with them!) into our tiny house. As I said in my new year post, one of our resolutions is to save for a house which we won't be able to even think about getting until at least the end of the year, and I don't really want to move into another rented house if it is only for a little while. So I guess I will have to make do with the space we have at the moment, and the baby will have to be in with us for 6 months or so. But this doesn't stop me dreaming about beautiful nurseries..here are some I have fallen in love with

This is my favourite room. I love the light in this room, it looks so airy and the blue is a gorgeous colour

I also like this yellow nursery, it's such an uplifting colour and can go well with pink or blue!

I really love wall stickers, when we have our own house I am going to have them everywhere! If you look closely, the branches of the tree are the letters of the alphabet, So cute!

I have also just discovered Pottery Barn Kids, I knew they were an American company but had no idea they shipped to the uk! I think it is going to be my new favourite site. I love this changing unit, it is gorgeous!! Shame we don't have the room (or the budget) for it!

We've also been looking at prams, my absolute favourite one is the icandy peach, but it is a little out of our price range! What buggy did you or will you be having?

I definitely want to get a Pink lining Yummy Mummy changing bag, they are gorgeous! They have so many lovely ones, but I think this one is my favourite

We will absolutely be getting a baby swing this time around, we didn't have one with Grace and we regretted it! We were constantly rocking her and bouncing her in her bouncer, she would have loved a swing! I like this one from Mamas and Papas, I love that it has little "starlights" over babies head

And lastly, another must have will be a Bumbo, Grace lived in hers and it was so good in helping her to sit up

I'm sure I will be bringing you more baby things in the future, especially when we find out what we are having!

With love...Danielle xx

Baby thoughts...16 weeks

Hi guys,


Sorry i've not posted all week, been a hectic one!
I haven't talked about the baby much yet, so I feel like I will have a lot to say in this post!!


So I am now 16 weeks pregnant and I can't believe how fast it has gone! We found out on October 10th after our first month of trying (honeymoon baby!!) We were so lucky to fall that quickly. I had quite an easy first 12 weeks, only a little bit of sickness, but lots of tiredness! I really don't feel pregnant at all, I can go all day not even thinking about it. I think the first time round it is all you think about, but the 2nd time you already have a little one to think about so can't spend all the time obsessed with baby things! When I was pregnant with Grace we had nearly everything by now, but we haven't bought one thing yet! We started to look at buggys the other day, but still not decided on anything. I think once we find out the sex then it will seem more real. I really can't wait to find out, and I honestly have no preference this time! We find out on the 1st February, yay!
I am determined to enjoy this pregnancy more, as I didn't at all last time and I really regretted it. I went through all sorts of things and it was horrible...but I got a beautiful little girl at the end of it, so it was definitely worth it. Gracie is excited about the baby, but i'm not sure she really understands that there will actually be another baby in the house!


I don't really have a "bump" yet, but I have most certainly put on weight - 8lb to be exact! It's quite hard, because I lost 2 stone before the wedding and was eating healthily and going to the gym 3 times a week and that has completely gone out the window! I really would like to start the gym again now I am feeling less exhausted, as I think it will maybe help me to feel more energetic and prepare me for the labour, but we will see how that goes! I'm also finding it hard to find clothes to wear, as i'm at that "inbetween" stage! I am going to have a sort through my wardrobe this weekend and put together some outfits to show you.


Hope you all have a fabulous weekend...with love, Danielle xx

Cupcakes with Gracie...

I've had a lovely chilled out day today, we took the Christmas tree down and had a a little new year clean up - it always makes me feel fresh and ready for the year! This afternoon Gracie and I made some cupcakes, now they didn't really turn out as we'd expected so don't expect some Delia Smith masterpiece!! It's just Great to do something fun together, I'm really going to try and do a lot more fun and creative things with Grace as often as possible and, as I only work afternoons, we have plenty of time each morning to have some fun!

     

We have now had lots of fun eating them!! Oh and on another note, I am 16 weeks pregnant today, can't believe how fast the time is going! I will be doing a bump post in the next couple of days...

With love Danielle and Grace xx