Pregnancy update - 33 weeks

The little kicks inside have turned to pushes and jabs as baby runs out of room. I don't remember her big brother ever being this active, she reminds me of her presence every couple of hours with a squirm or a push and the outline of a foot or elbow, head or behind briefly appears and disappears on the surface of my bump. She reacts to taps and strokes and is most active when I sit down for dinner in the evening.

I'm not sure if she's still breach, I hope not. I kind of think the jabs I'm getting up in my ribs are more likely from teeny feet rather than little hands or elbows, but we'll see at the midwife appointment in a couple of weeks.

I took a labour ward tour last week, something we didn't bother with for Charlie. It's not necessary but is certainly calming to visualize the walk from the car park to triage and then onto the room where we'll meet our girl. Queen Elizabeth's is nice, the rooms are bright and clean, much newer looking than Lewisham and with less of a clinical feeling than Chelsea & Westminster. If everything is straightforward they will let us leave between 2 - 6 hours after the birth, if we need to stay, the maternity ward is good with only 3 beds per room. I stayed at C&W with Charlie for 3 days and shared my section of the ward with 7 others, so 3 per room is really good.

I have just 12 working days before starting maternity leave, suddenly after an incredibly long wait, we're almost there! Next week's diary is hectic as I try and cram in as much planning as possible. There's publisher meetings, autumn activity planning and a 2015 brainstorm session, thankfully the following week is less hectic, I'm already beginning to slow down and suspect having 4 or more meetings a day every day is going to be tough.

This bump is definitely bigger than at the same stage with Charlie. We're quickly running out of room for the cat and the boy to sit on my lap. Baxter has come up with some interesting positions, curling up around the bump or using it as a pillow! Charlie prefers to sit to one side and stroke the bump and talk to the baby. He's very good at kissing her goodnight and feeling her kick in the morning. 

Plus I got some nice baby things in the Emma Bridgewater sale, including a lovely patchwork blanket and a teeny vest with lambs on.

Flashback 4 years

Looking back at the boy on 21st June for the last 4 years...

2010 - sleepy boy in moses basket

2011 - Lying down for a drink

2012 - Nap time

2013 - New hat

2014 - First time in the new paddling pool

Days Out - Kew Gardens

For Mum and Dad's Christmas present this year we gave them each a day out for 2014. In May we joined up Dad's day out with Charlie's birthday and had a lovely day on The Watercress Line and at the start of June we went to Kew Garden's for Mum's. My brother, his wife and baby I came too.

Kew Gardens in Surrey was a perfect day out for an energetic 4 year old. There was so much space to run around in and so many things to explore. The tree-top walkway was a big hit, lots of steps to climb and then a wibbly wobbly walkway which blew in the breeze - T was not a fan! C also loved a little tunnel near the walkway which was filled with mechanical insect artwork.

There were peacocks throughout the garden and we were lucky to see one displaying it's plumage. Charlie and Grandad snuck around to get a better look!

Baby I is now 8 months old and full of smiles. C was entranced by her and kept on going to say hello or stroking her face or giving a hug.

Pregnancy update - 31 weeks

After waiting so long to get this far, I can't quite believe we're well into the third trimester and only 9 weeks to go before we meet this little one.

Baby is currently the size and weight of a large coconut, from head to toe she's 41cm long and weighs c. 1.5kg. She is much more active then C ever was, with long periods of time at the start and end of the day spent kicking and pushing and generally moving around. At the 28 week check she was breach, but she made a massive movement the following week, so I'm hoping that now she has turned around.

Mama is getting a bigger bump every day. This bump is much higher than with C, little feet (or head) is high up pushing into my chest so I'm getting lots of indigestion this time around. Beginning to get tired again, feet are swelling a little in the heat and uncomfy at night. But I know that it's all worth it and every time she kicks it's reassuring that everything is all ok.

We're getting the nursery ready, all C's baby equipment has come out of storage and the first set of newborn clothes are washed and into the drawers. I've been given some extra things from a mama friend who's 2nd baby is now 6 months, plus we have a few more feminine items picked up over the last few months so she's not totally in boy's clothes! The nursery has some pretty terrible wallpaper, cream with red fleur de lis all over it and the carpet is dark red, so we're going for more of a red and white theme this time around. I'm putting together some ideas on this Pinterest board - Nursery for a Girl.

- Bump shadow on the beach
- Baby girl clothes
- Boy, bump, cat
- Baby clothes washed and ready
- Bump on the beach

Charlie on the beach

Beachy gems from the last 4 years...

Aug 2010 - 3 months - Lyme Regis

July 2011 - 1 yr, 2 mnths - Selsey

July 2012 - 2 yrs, 2 mnths - Isle of Wight

Aug 2012 - 2 yrs, 3 mnths - Greatstone

July 2013 - 3 yrs, 2 mnths - Pagham

June 2014 - 4 yrs, 1mnth - Broadstairs

Seaside holiday 2014

With little bump due in August, we took an early holiday this year and spent the 2nd week of June at the seaside in Broadstairs. Picked because it's only an hour and half's drive away from the house (in case of any emergencies) I hadn't realised what a hidden gem this little seaside town is. It has sandy beaches (hard to find in Kent), friendly locals and a real seaside vibe. We will definitely be going back for day trips, Charlie absolutely loved it.

We went with Nana and Grandad and Uncle A and cousin M (now a 3 year old) joined us for a few days at the start. The boys had so much fun, we went to the beach every day and the weather was really good, a little cloudy at the start and then lovely hot sunshine for most of the time.

C got his 2nd proper haircut! He was a nightmare at the barbers over a year ago so I've been cutting it myself, but we tried again whilst on holiday and he was so much better. C&M spent indoors time watching and rewatching Frozen. M was obsessed by Sven the reindeer and C loves to sing along to Let it Go. There was a 'holiday cat' who lived nearby and visited us most days, he was really friendly and C loved stroking him. We visited Deal castle and T and I had a morning in Canterbury, but pretty much spent the rest of the time on the beach. C got up early EVERY day and we took it in turns for early morning beach walks with him, he loved the freedom of being the only person on the beaches! Charles Dickens lived here (in Bleak House) and nearly all the shops, pubs and restaurants in the town make reference to him and his books.

So here's my favourite pics:

From T-B, L-R:

Viking Beach - the sandiest beach with lifeguards and a mini fairground, but we preferred...
Lousia Beach - C & T digging a pool by the sea - the next bay along from Viking, with rock pools and a little quieter.
Viking Beach in the early morning.
C&M sharing a hole.
Mini fair on Viking Beach.
Our windbreak and fishy wind sock - C chose this from a holiday shop with Nana.
A cheeky boy next to a stripy beach hut.
Bump shadow on the beach.
Paddling boys.
Boys at Deal castle - with Robbie the nursery holiday rabbit.
Windbreak.
Charlie.
Our super 'train track' sandcastle.
Bucket boy.
Sunrise boy on the beach.
Starfish and C.
Viking Beach and purple flowers.
Icecream from Morelli's icecream parlour
Early morning Broadstairs.
Shark! at the mini golf.
Boys.
Beach boys digging together
Digging.
Charles Dickens' Bleak House (in the distance on the left).
Beach.
Holiday cat.
Digging holes.
Splash!
Divers, sharks and whales.
Digging in the sand.
Boys.
Sunrise on Louisa Beach.
Starfish and little M.
Bump on the beach.