34 weeks pregnant

Hello everybody! It's so nice to start thinking about blogging again 

after a week's break. We have all had a wonderful Christmas and I'm looking forward to sharing some of our memories with you over the next upcoming blog posts. Today I turn 34 weeks, which means I am down to only six weeks left of pregnancy! Now that Christmas day has been and gone, I know the rest of these last weeks are going to fly by and it's actually a bit sad to think these weekly 'bump dates' will come to an end.

Before I get ahead of myself though, i'll give you a rundown of the last couple of weeks as I didn't get around to posting my 33 week update last week as we were in the midst of last minute Christmas preparations!

How far along? 34 weeks!

Total weight gain/measurements? As we have been visiting family and are now staying with Eddy's family for New year, I haven't been weighing or measuring myself. Also, as last week was Christmas week, I was too scared to jump on any set of scales as I know we have been feasting! So, for the last couple of weeks, I have tried to completely avoid worrying about weight gain -we will see what the scales say next week!

Maternity clothes: I am wearing maternity clothes pretty constantly at the moment. Although I'm starting to get tired of repeating the same formula of maternity jeans and long tops, I am reluctant to keep shopping for new pieces now as I know the pregnancy is coming to an end. However, I have had a few nice pieces over Christmas which are not maternity: A couple of winter coats and some boots and shoes have been a nice alternative to my usual uniform!

Stretch marks: No new ones, but I still have a couple of those red dots on some old stretch marks that I mentioned in my last post. They haven't changed in any way and they are pretty minuscule anyway,so I am not too bothered by them.

Sleep: My quality of sleep seems to have taken a bit of a 180 degree turn. I'm finding it pretty hard to get comfortable and my muscles are feeling quite sore at the moment. That said, once I do fall asleep- I'm out for the count!

Best moment this week? It would have to be last week on Christmas day- seeing Noah's excitement and joy. He loved his stocking from Father Christmas and was very excited to see all the goodies under the tree too. He particularly loved playing with his little 2 year old cousin and I think just seeing their interaction with each other was so precious. It's really special to think of how close my older sister and I were growing up and now to see how close our children are becoming really moves me!

Miss anything? Not especially :)

Movement? Loads of movement especially in the evenings. I was saying to my husband yesterday that I really can't remember Noah being this 'punchy' even when I was in the last stages of pregnancy with him. This boy is so strong and active, I'm pretty convinced he is going to be a big baby like his brother!

Food cravings: Pass...we have just had Christmas so I am not going to punish myself with guilt, haha!

Anything making you feel queasey or sick? Heartburn!

Gender: Boy!

Labour signs? I remember late in pregnancy with Noah feeling a kind of constant 'periody' feeling with lots of dull aches and cramps. Those symptoms seem to be flaring up again but don't worry- I don't think I am anywhere near giving birth yet! If anything, I think my body is probably just starting to get ready.

Symptoms: Heartburn has been at its all time worst these last two weeks and after eating anything I get horrible burning in my throat and stomach. This was definitely not as extreme with Noah, and it is pretty uncomfortable, I'm not going to lie! Rennies are helping a lot, but its frustrating me that every time I bend over to pick up Noah, or even roll over in bed, I have a surge of fiery heartburn. 

The other symptom that I have really noticed over the last few weeks is discomfort in my hips and lower back. In labour with Noah, especially in the early stage, I remember feeling pain in my hips and back and it's not too dissimilar to that sensation. I find I can't sit at the dinner table for too long or in any one position for too long without it becoming pretty uncomfortable. I am sure that the baby has 'dropped' down a bit as the pressure has changed and these new kinds of symptoms are pretty typical of late pregnancy.

Belly button in or out? Out!

Wedding rings on or off? On!

Looking forward to? New year! I can't believe tomorrow is the first day of Jan 2015, which means we will be having this baby the following month! 

That's everything for this week's update, don't forget to check back next week for my 35 week update! 

I hope you all have a wonderful New Year's celebration if you are doing anything fun! And I wish you all the best for 2015!

Love Bunty

xXx

Christmas jumpers

I have to admit that this year is the first year I have bought into the whole cliche 'Christmas jumper' trend. However, the shops have been full of designs and, as part of the requested uniform at a recent Christmas dinner with friends, I felt we had better get ours sorted! 

I ended up genuinely liking each jumper though, so much so, that we all decided to wear them for our family Christmas photo! (Another new tradition!) Eddy and Noah's are both from Next and I got mine from ASOS maternity. Mine is actually a New Look one which is in the sale now - just in case any expectant mums out there  are after a last minute Christmas jumper! 

I just love Noah's facial expressions in each of these photos and couldn't resist sharing them with you!

As we are all winding down for Christmas now, my blog is going to be a little quiet as I enjoy time with the family. So, I just want to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas! I also want to thank you all for your continued support in reading my blog and all the lovely feedback I have had. It really means a lot to us all and I'm very thankful to have such great support from you all.

Love Bunty!

xXx

Maternity outfits

Here is a post I have been meaning to do for a while now! I wanted to start putting outfits together to show you how I have been dressing in my third trimester. Being that it is now winter and the weather is considerably cooler in general, I have been relying a lot on wooly jumpers, lots of layers and boots! When I am just around the house though and not going anywhere special, I really like teaming casual wear and light clothing for a more comfortable feel. 

I am hoping to make these posts in the final few weeks of pregnancy more consistent, even though it seems a bit of a challenge as it seems that the more weeks that pass, the harder it is to dress myself comfortably, let alone fashionably!

My first 'look'  has become a staple in the last week or two. I am wearing a pair of black skinny maternity jeans from ASOS and a long grey tank top from H&M. My jumper is such a gorgeous knit and is super comfy and soft. It is also by ASOS maternity, although it would still be very wearable post-pregnancy so I look forward to getting a lot of wear from it! My boots in this look are from River Island. They have a bit of a heel, but are still very wearable and comfy which, at this stage, is of prime importance when shoe shopping!

My second look is a very relaxed 'mom around the house' look. I am wearing the same black skinnies with a plain white tee from New Look. The top is not maternity but I just got the next size up as it is such a light material, it works a treat! My midi cardigan is also from New Look and I really like it because it covers a lot of me!  I really enjoy wearing this in the evenings over my pyjamas as part of my snuggly 'sofa and movie' uniform. My plimsolls are from Matalan and were so cheap and cheerful, they had me at hello, haha. If I'm not wearing my slippers around the house, I like to pop these on as they are really comfy and easy to move about in. 

Those are my two looks for today. There's nothing especially glamorous about either, but they represent where I am now and comfort is definitely way more of a concern than anything else these days! I have never felt confident going for a leggings and long top look as I always feel like there is something crucial missing when I do! Personally, I have never liked the whole 'leggings as trousers' look anyway, so I have pretty much banned them from my wardrobe. But, I have been pleasantly surprised with the maternity jeans on offer at ASOS and have collected a few this pregnancy. I look forward to showing you more in the next post!

Love Bunty

xXx

32 weeks pregnant

Hello everybody! Here we are, another week down and only one more week until Christmas! How exciting is that!? We have had a rather busy week ourselves, visiting friends over the weekend and working on various projects in between...the days seem to have disappeared! This weekend we are heading home to my parents to enjoy our Christmas break. But until the relaxation can begin there is a shed load of laundry, organising, shopping and cleaning that needs to be taken care of first! I know I will most definitely have my hands full for the next few days!

Anyway, moving on...this week has been really lovely, but in terms of pregnancy it has been a little more difficult. The usual late pregnancy symptoms are starting to really emerge and I have found myself feeling quite emotional about the next few months ahead. Knowing we are walking into a new season of life is both wonderfully exciting but also quite scary too. I have found myself looking at Noah and feeling a kind of melancholy sorrow that my focus on him is about to change drastically. I know this is normal and part of the dynamics of family life when the family expands, But I really feel the weight of the countdown is on and I'm trying to just cherish every moment with Noah the way things are now. 

Of course, it goes without saying that we, as our own family unit, are so completely on tenterhooks with excitement and anticipation of our new arrival. Noah reminds me every day that there is a baby in my tummy-by demanding he pull my top up and give my bump great big sloppy kisses. These are the moments that pull me back from my other worries and concerns: whether it be weight gain, stretch marks or fatigue, little Noah has a great gift for helping his mummy see life in perspective...even when it's so much harder doing so than saying so!

How far along? 32 weeks!

Total weight gain/ measurements? After seeming to have gained three pounds last week, I think my weight is balancing out a bit more this week as I have actually lost a pound instead of gaining. So right now I have gained a total of 28 lbs so far. My waist measures at 29" and my tummy measures 41 1/2", which is less than last week too. I'm wondering if the baby is starting to turn upside down and into position for birth, as my bump feels as if it may have dropped slightly! 

Maternity clothes: Okay, I know I have been so rubbish in saying I will post blogs about my maternity clothes and never getting around to it...I am, however, enjoying a few new pieces and I will try and get a post up later today showing you some of my latest faves.

Stretch marks: No new ones, but I have got a few suspicious tiny red dots here and there....I am watching them, but in reality there is nothing I can do about them. Perhaps they will disappear, perhaps not, but in the mean time, I'm not going to get too worked up about them!

Sleep: I went to Dunelm yesterday and pretty much bought every last pillow in sight. We have gone from using one pillow each, to three each today! My heartburn has been really awful lately and propping myself up really helps to manage it so I am enjoying sleeping much more than I had been!

Best moment this week? Probably having a good catch up with old friends in Birmingham. I also got to see one of my brothers who I haven't seen in months now, which was so SO nice! It's not always easy being away from loved ones for months on end, but that is why I am partly so excited for our Christmas this year and being able to have a real catch up with my own siblings. 

Miss anything? Not really

Movement? Yes, plenty every single day-which is what we want! This little one has particularly good timing in waking up just as I am lying down to sleep...then the party in my tummy really commences!

Food cravings? No cravings, but constant hunger is the new normal :s

Anything making you feel queasy or sick? Heartburn again :( It got worse this last week which isn't very nice. I am taking rennies after most meals now. Thank goodness for them otherwise I'm pretty sure my head would be in the toilet a lot of the time...not a very nice thought!

Gender? Boy!

Labour signs: Nope!

Symptoms: As I said, heartburn is really stepping up at the moment. I also feel my muscles are all quite loose at the moment which is typical of pregnancy hormones. I managed to accidentally pull my shoulder yesterday just by twisting around. Another symptom has been the crazy restless legs again, especially in the evenings! The only way I can relieve them is to massage my legs and feet. Poor Eddy has his work cut out!

Belly button in or out? Out

Wedding rings on or off? On!

Happy/moody most of the time? Happy!

Looking forward to? Christmas! My family haven't all been together in such a long time now, it has actually been a year! I can't wait to see everyone!

That is everything for this week's update. Sorry it looks a bit like an essay but it feels like a lot is changing at the moment and it's nice to document those changes week by week. :) Don't forget to check in next week for my 33 week update!

Love Bunty

xXx

Toddlers and Nativity sets!

Having a toddler running riot in our home this Christmas has got me thinking a lot more about how we present Christmas to Noah. I think it's really important to show our children more than just the materialistic side of Christmas- as exciting as present opening is! Last year, Noah was only six months old and I remember the fairy lights on the Christmas tree completely mesmerising him. He, obviously, was too young to really engage in any of the festivities, although he did enjoy playing with (and eating) wrapping paper!

This year, however, he is so far advanced and I feel there are so many more things we can do in the home (or at the grandparents houses) that can get him thinking more about why everyone else is anticipating Christmas day so much! Noah, like most toddlers, is very stimulated by what he sees and through tactile, hands-on learning. I (finally) put our Nativity set up yesterday and he was very interested to see what was going on! He instantly could pick out animals among the scene as he started making his dinosaur roars when he saw the donkey. (Close enough!) He also recognised Mary holding a 'baby', which, as you know is a daily topic of conversation in our house at the moment. 

I know that considering we are leaving this weekend, I really should have had our Nativity set out weeks ago, but already it is having an impact on Noah and I hope it will continue to become his focus at Christmas time. 

Paper Chains

Last week I was shopping with Noah and we found these cute paper chain decorations which I thought would make a fun toddler decorating activity. Seeing these took me back to my childhood, where I used to love creating paper chains in school and at home. They have such a childish charm about them and I think it's nice to now incorporate more child-friendly decor into our Christmas scheme.

After having a go at making his own chain, Noah soon lost interest, so I continued his chain and hung it for him on our mirror. I think I am going to move them into his room though as I think he will enjoy looking at them in his own space. Although they have little cut out stars on the strips of paper, they are not explicitly 'Christmassy' so I think we could easily get away with them hanging around ( excuse my pun) a little longer than just the Christmas season!

How do your little one's like to decorate for Christmas?

Love Bunty

xXx

Christmas baubles

Tonight I have been digging through my Christmas baubles as, with only one more week here at home before we go to my parents for Christmas, I know we need to get the house in the festive spirit while we have the opportunity. I thought I would share some favourites which, I must admit, I am thinking of bringing home to my parents tree, just to get the most out of them over this Christmas season!

Having a toddler in the house has suddenly become a bit of a hazard when it comes to using glass baubles. But it just so happens that all of my favourites are glass! We have already had several breakages this year, though thankfully, my most treasured remain safe. 

One of my ultimate faves is a clear bauble which has gold stars in. I have two of these from M&S last year and they are so beautiful in the way they catch the twinkling fairy light. I also love our homemade clear glass bauble which has our wedding vows on slices of paper inside.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek at some of my favourite Christmas baubles...what are your favourites on your own tree? 

love Bunty

xXx

Christmas present sacks

I have been finding lots of Christmas inspiration from magazines and Pinterest recently and one idea I simply loved was using old white pillow cases as sacks for Christmas gifts. I decided to replicate the idea and I love it so much, I may just make our own little tradition of using these-it certainly saves on buying endless rolls of wrapping paper! 

I have simply doubled up two pillowcases (four in total) and have stuffed them full of gifts, tying them with some brown string at the top. Once the opening was secure, I added pretty baubles using some spare lace ribbon and some satin ribbon. It's such a simple idea, but a really effective look and a nice alternative to the more traditional bright reds and greens we often see printed on wrapping paper.

These would make a lovely parcel at the end of a loved one's bed, or even under the tree. I hope I'm not giving too much away to any members of my family who might happen to be reading this! 

Haha!

What do you guys think?

31 weeks pregnant

Good morning everyone! This week seems to have rolled around very quickly indeed. We are starting to enjoy the work wind-down to Christmas now which means the holidays are going to be here very soon! (Major excitement!) I think we are all ready to take a bit of a break as things have been super busy lately. I'm definitely feeling way more tired too, so I am looking forward to being around the family over Christmas and having lots of willing hands to race after Noah! 

How far along? 31 weeks!

Total weight gain/ measurements: So this week I think my little man had a massive growth spurt. Not only have I seemed to have gained a whole 3 lbs, but he just seems to be really big and strong. I mean, some of the kicks this week have seriously nearly knocked me for six! My waist measures 29 1/2 inches and my tummy is 43 inches. That's two inches larger than last week so I'm pretty sure this little boy is gaining inches too!

Maternity clothes: Post coming on that this week! I am starting to look forward to not wearing maternity clothes and being back in regular ones soon. This pregnancy is starting to come to the end  and I can see the end goal in sight now. As much as I enjoy it, I am looking forward to looking and feeling more like myself. 

Stretch marks: No new ones, but my tummy is quite itchy recently so I am lathering the lotions everyday!

  

Sleep: Sleep has been pretty good this past week. I'm feeling pretty good even when I don't get as many hours as i'd like...all good preparation!

Best moment this week? Starting Christmas shopping properly got me very excited this week. It just means we will be heading home soon and being surrounded by family. This will be our last Christmas  as a family of three and with Noah being that little bit older, I think it is going to be really magical for him.

Miss anything? Not really!

Movement: As I said above, there has been a lot of movement this week. Not all of it very comfortable either! I really think little man is stocking up on fat stores and filling out in general as I can really feel the difference in his punch power! Haha!

Food cravings: I'm just so hungry all the time! It's a little hard to deal with because when you feel hungry all the time and every week the scales seem to be going up, sometimes I think I am too hard on myself and forget that a lot of weight gain at this stage is purely baby's growth. I'm just trying to keep eating a balanced diet and drink plenty of water to help keep the cravings at bay! 

  Anything making you feel queasy or sick? Heartburn!

Gender? Boy!

Labour signs: Nothing!

Symptoms: Feeling generally quite tired and sore in the afternoons. It's really not all glamorous all the time! Haha! 

Belly button in or out? Out!

Wedding rings on or off? On!

  Happy/ moody most of the time? Happy!

Looking forward to? We are staying with some of my old friends from uni this weekend and I can't wait to see them all and have a good catch up.

So that is everything for this week's update! Don't forget to check back next week for my 32 week update!

Love Bunty

xXx

*Invaluable: The World's Premier Auctions*

I was recently introduced to Invaluable who specialise in auctioning a huge variety of products from fine art, furniture, real estate and jewellery- to name but a few! I certainly found some beautiful items on their website which, being so close to Christmas, had me sorely tempted!

One of their popular products are their huge range of high end watches which, I think can really pull an outfit together. I love the versatility of watches in that you can style so many different looks around one timepiece, whether it be for a formal occasion, casual day out, or Christmas party!

With all this inspiration in mind, I have curated a 'look' around one of their beautiful mens Cartier watches. I think there is something really chic about a woman wearing a man's watch and this one in particular caught my eye as an absolute classic timepiece. I just love gold teamed with black and, with the party season in mind, the colouring could not be more suited!

I have decided to throw together a look with an office Christmas party in mind where, looking glamorous is a must, but you still want to maintain elegance, style and some amount of formality. I, personally love the femininity of a midi skirt with an elegant heel to finish it off. My loyal readers will know I also have a huge burgundy/berry colour obsession, so I have incorporated the three main colours of burgundy, black and gold. Perfect seasonal colours, I think!

Top/ Skirt/ Clutch/ Jacket/ Heels /Watch

What do you all think? 

Love Bunty

xXx

Joy to the world!

As I mentioned in a recent post, this year, to help prepare Noah for Christmas in a practical way, we are adding decorations to our Advent tree each day. We popped this one on yesterday and it has become one of my faves already. I bought this for Noah in Wilkinson's last week and I just thought it summarised so simply not only the joy of Christmas, but also our anticipation and excitement for the big day.

It certainly brings a little joy to each and every day of Advent as we get closer to the 25th!

Happy Sunday everyone!

Love Bunty

xXx

Winter decor

Yesterday I was in good old Matalan having a look at their Christmas decorations and I was rather inspired. Although I didn't come away with any tinsel, bright red or green decs, infact, I didn't buy any one thing that was deliberately 'Christmassy', I did buy a couple of things to help transition towards a more festive atmosphere at home. 

I found this enormous wooden heart which I have hung from our mirror. Because our mirror is so large, I think it looks nice with something hanging in front of it, typically a wreath of some description. This heart is not Christmassy, but I think it could be made to tie in nicely with my upcoming decor ideas and, hopefully, it will add a bit of rustic charm to our decor theme this year!

I also picked up a wooden tea-light holder which sits on the far left of my display. This was not expensive at all, but so pretty and I thought it would also complement the 'wood theme' that seems to have taken over slightly!

You must know by now that I am a complete sucker for candles! I won't bother denying my obsession anymore, so when I found this huge candle which just happens to have a gorgeous scent too, I couldn't resist! I like lighting these after Noah has gone to bed, when we have the lounge to ourselves. As we don't have a fire, it is nice to recreate something of the cosiness a real fire brings. Candles do just the trick!

So, still no tinsel, real tree, or real fairy lights... but hopefully things will change in the next few days as I literally cannot wait to get decorating properly for Christmas!

How are you all decorating your homes?

Love Bunty

xXx

December dinner party

Last night we had a group of friends over for a bit of a dinner party. It was such a lovely time to be together, enjoying wholesome conversation, plenty or laughter and food a' plenty! Eddy and I really enjoy hosting dinner as it is one thing that tends to be really easy for everyone, no baby sitter required! 

I get so much out of it too as it offers me a chance to unwind and build on my own friendships whilst Noah doesn't need my attention.

I was setting up the tables whilst Noah was finishing off his dinner last night- hence his mouth open pose! Haha- Please excuse him! 

Sorry I didn't take many photos of the meal itself- the lighting was typically dark and gloomy as the nights are so dark at the moment. But we rounded off the night with fresh coffee and these cute cadbury chocolates...delish!

I love setting the table for a homely meal and I cannot wait to start doing more Christmassy themed tables! 

Love Bunty

xXx