Red Boots

Guest Post from Rhianne of For The Easily Distracted

noreply@blogger.com (Red Boots) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:57:00 +0000

Kindly guest posting for me today is Rhianne from For the Easily Distracted, a great UK based blog where Rhianne shares her awesome photos and frankly amazing camera collection (I may have camera envy!!).

Rhianne is posting here today on her favourite things, so take it away Rhianne:

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Hey Red Boots readers... Its Rhianne here from For the easily distracted...

I am so thrilled to be here whilst Wendy is busy being a Mummy. I first read Wendy's blog over 2 years ago when I started my blog and I was incredibly lucky to meet her in 2010 on a visit to Edinburgh. Needless to say I have been incredibly excited for Wendy for the last few months and I want to offer my huge congratulations to both Wendy and her little family! I'm so happy for them!

Anyway, I'm here to blog about my favourite things, it was a little more difficult than I expected as my favourite things seem to change regularly, but here goes.

My all time favourite thing in the world (other than family and friends) are dogs. Especially this little chap, Harry, my parents dog. I've wanted a dog ever since I was little and I'm not really that picky about what kind of dog I ever get. I can't wait to eventually get one of my own.

Another of my favourite things is the beach. Any beach... in whatever weather.
I love the feel of a sea breeze, sand beneath my feet and looking out at an endless landscape of sea and wondering whats on the other side.

Another of my favourite things is cameras. I have quite the collection and taking photos is undeniably my favourite hobby.

So there are my top 3 favourite things, what are yours?

Rhianne x

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Thanks so much for taking part Rhianne! Be sure to check out For the Easily Distracted - it's one of my longtime favourites!

xx

Guest Post from Missy of Oh Missy Me

noreply@blogger.com (Red Boots) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 14:42:00 +0000

I've got another great guest post lined up for you today from Missy of Oh Missy Me. Missy has the most adorable nephew - Cayden - and she's here to tell you a little bit about this cute little boy:

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Hello all, I'm Missy from Oh Missy Me. Red Boots kindly asked me to do a guest post while she is out having her little pumpkin and I'm so thrilled to share a little bit of me with all of you. Red Boots and I go way back. She is the biggest sweetheart and I cannot even tell you how excited I was to find out she was having a little baby. I can't wait to see pictures of their little baby. I'm sure it will be absolutely gorgeous like its mother.

My guest post today is pretty basic. If you're like me, I kinda skim over guest posts and every now and then I actually find someone I like. I don't want to take up too much of your time since I know you're missing Miss Red, so please enjoy my little tid bit.

I think one of the best things about having a baby, is, not only do you get a ton of free gifts at the multiple baby showers you have, it's their absolute pure being. I'm a very sensitive person when it comes to people and I'm affected by your mood. Regardless if you're a stranger or a close friend or family member. Babies almost always make me feel so calm and warm. They are so helpless and depend on us as adults more than we really realize until we've either had one or someone close to us has. Since I am not a mother yet, I've learned quite a bit from my little nephew. He is my absolute world and I adore him more than words. If I can love him as much as I do, I cannot even imagine the love I'll have for my own children.

Cayden was born a little over a year ago. The first picture I received of his gorgeous little face, he had a giant grin on his face. He had this little old man look to him, but he was oh so sweet. He loved to be cuddled up to you and enjoyed looking around at everything. Ever since he was a newborn he has been so curious about everything around him. He has only grown more curious and absolutely loves other kids. He gets the biggest smile and tries to make his way over to them. He has a big heart and so much love for everyone around him. Don't get me wrong, he has a sassy side and definitely can be picky about who is around him, but the majority of the time he is all smiles.

When, and if, I have kids, I hope they are similar to their cousin. He seriously is such a joy to my family and I can't imagine life without him now. I'm sure Red Boots will feel the same as soon as she pops out their little baby. Good luck Red Boots. I hope your labor goes well. You will be an excellent mother.

xoxo - Missy.

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Thanks so much Missy! And be sure to have a look at her great blog!

Guest Post From Erin of Pugh's News

noreply@blogger.com (Red Boots) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:18:00 +0000

While I have some mother-baby time and get to grips with motherhood I've lined up some great bloggers to keep you company!

Today the lovely Erin from Pugh's News is kindly guest posting for me today on one of her favourite things - Christmas. Baby Elsie decided to be fashionably late and miss her first Christmas, even though she was meant to be here for it, so I'm already super excited about next Christmas!

Erin has two gorgeous boys and makes motherhood look like such a breeze and so much fun - I'm hoping to learn some great lessons from her blog!

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Wendy's baby is due any day now, so I'm here on Red Boots guest-posting for her while she gets some rest and prepares for her life to change overnight! {I'm so excited for you, Wendy... Motherhood is an amazing adventure!}

Since it's the most wonderful time of the year, I thought I'd share with you a few of the things I love most about Christmas. Ready? Go!

Wrapping presents

Watching classic Christmas movies with my sister {It's a Wonderful Life is my favourite}

Holiday tea parties with friends

Sending and receiving cards and parcels

Christmas music, especially if it's sung by Bing Crosby {don't you just adore White Christmas?}

Christmas lights

Decorating the Christmas tree! {while we eat ice cream floats... it's a long-standing family tradition}

The magic and the thrill of anticipation I get to share with my boys on Christmas Eve. There is nothing lovelier.

What do you love best about Christmas?

images 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8

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Thanks so much Erin! And be sure to check out Erin's great blog!

Happy New Year!

noreply@blogger.com (Red Boots) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 15:52:00 +0000

Hope you have a good one! We are celebrating with a little baby:

Our little lady was born on 28th December at 3:36am after a quick 4.5 hour labour, and after being more than 10 days past her due date.

We've named her Elsie May.

We're so much in love.

We couldn't have asked for a better start to 2012.

I've got some guest posts lined up for the next wee while so hope you enjoy!

My Second Favourite Christmas Song...

noreply@blogger.com (Red Boots) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 15:25:00 +0000

Last year I shared my all time top favourite Christmas song, here.

This is my second favourite Christmas song:

As you can see I don't tend to go in for super traditional all out festive songs.

It's not a Christmas song, per say, but this was the number one song in the UK over Christmas 1994. My then 13 year old self thought East 17 were the bees knees. Maybe I hadn't seen this particular video! Mind you that year I also had a thing for wearing Sweater Shop jumpers, so it's safe to say I had dubious taste at that age.

Christmas 1994 also saw my one year old niece and nephew so confused but excited about Christmas and their toys. Being the youngest in my family, and rapidly growing up, Christmas had been losing it's magic with me for a few years, but with small children running around, and seeing the day through their eyes, I remember it being the most exciting Christmas I'd had in ages.

Right now I'm looking forward to future Christmases with my own child, rediscovering that magic that only little children can bring to the season.

Merry Christmas...

noreply@blogger.com (Red Boots) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:41:00 +0000

...everyone!

This year our Christmas could go either way. It will either mostly involve Boyfriend and I being holed up at home, with copious amounts of food and Christmas tv and films on (the Dr Who Xmas Special, and hopefully a bit of Die Hard 2 and the Gremlins - classic Christmas films!). A bit of Phil Spector and the Beach Boys on the iPod. Perhaps a long walk after Christmas dinner. Oh, and waiting for baby to arrive.

The alternative will be I'll be in hospital pushing out a baby.

I'd take either, although the second option would make for a happier Wendy, but I'm not holding my breath.

If baby doesn't come on or before Christmas then it's definitely coming before New Year. Doctors orders. They aren't letting me go too long over my due date.

Then we'll be ready to start 2012. A new family. A new baby. A new outlook on life.

I highly doubt I'll be blogging between now and New Year (with the exception of a scheduled post for tomorrow), so do have a wonderful Christmas and a special New Year!

Thanks for all of your sweet comments, support and readership throughout 2011. It really means a lot to me. Hope to see you all in 2012! And hopefully with some exciting news! And we'll see who guessed the sex correctly (we still don't know)!

ps: I'm not sure where the image of the tree came from. If anyone knows then let me know and I'll link to it.

This Last Week Or So In Pictures...

noreply@blogger.com (Red Boots) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 13:13:00 +0000

...Lots of bouncing on my birthing ball trying to bounce this baby out (it's not working)

...Long walks along the canal trying to walk this baby out (it's not working)

...Endless cups of tea (the birthing ball doubles as a handy footstool)

...Trying to feel like it's Christmas (it's not happening)

...Our parrot feels more festive than we do: she keeps saying "ho ho ho", like last year.

...Working on the nursery (I've got a thing about animal lights it seems)

..Getting annoyed at the countdown on this (I've now deleted all of my baby apps!)

...Not pictured: the 101 old wives tales I've adhered to in order to coax this little one out of my belly. Conclusion? All old wives tales are a bunch of baloney. This babe will either come out of it's own accord by New Year's Eve or be forcibly ejected out of my body by a doctor.

I haven't been blogging much as I'm a little antsy/frustrated/impatient/insert any other applicable adjective, as well as super tired. However I'm on twitter lots these days if you want to keep up with me there!

What have you been up to this week?

39 Weeks

noreply@blogger.com (Red Boots) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 13:12:00 +0000

I'm 39 weeks (and 3 days) pregnant!

When I was 4 weeks, even 12 weeks pregnant (when I first saw our tiny little baby on the sonographer's screen), the idea of being 39 weeks felt so far far away, but really it has come round so so fast.

Not much more to say at this point, just that we are really really looking forward to meeting our little one. Sometimes patiently waiting, sometimes impatiently, sometimes very impatiently! Though I think this baby is pretty laid-back and it doesn't seem in a hurry to be anywhere at the moment or have any care for due dates - so I'm fully expecting to be pregnant for another week at the very least!

We chose not to find out the sex of the baby, but that doesn't stop us from wondering. We've had our guesses as to what we're having (as always, Boyfriend and I have differing opinions!!), but being so close to our due date I was wondering what you guys think we are having? Girl or boy?!

I Like Venn Diagrams...

noreply@blogger.com (Red Boots) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 21:34:00 +0000

...especially this one:

From here

Christmas Most Wanted

noreply@blogger.com (Red Boots) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:03:00 +0000

Vouchercodes.co.uk, the online discount code finder, asked me to take part in their Christmas Most Wanted Home Styling Challenge. The challenge being to pick out some essential Christmas items under £50 that will inject some festive cheer into any room. Always one for a challenge, and especially a Christmas related one, here are my top picks for your home on a budget this Christmas.

When it comes to Christmas decorations, I'm all about the kitsch:

1. Pedlars - Dog Christmas Tree Decorations - £24.95

These are pretty much the cutest things in the world, ever.

2. Habitat - Set of 3 Robot Baubles - £8

There is a certain man in my life who would love for these robots to be hanging from our tree. Vouchercodes.co.uk also have a 10% discount for Habitat, available here.

My love of Christmas kitsch doesn't just extend to my tree but to my walls as well:

3. Whippet Grey - Stag's Head - £24

This cardboard stag's head would look great in any living room or dining room.

4. Little Yellow Birds - Multi Coloured Spot Garland - £6.50

I'm not a fan of tinsel, but the stag's head would look equally festive draped in a coloured garland, especially this one from Little Yellow Birds.

5. Paperchase - Small Shatterproof Bauble Wreath - £20

I'd hang this super kitsch wreath from either my front door or in my entrance hall, to give guests a cheery welcome!

However I'm also a firm believer that Christmas is a time to be cosy and warm at home, and the days before and after Christmas are best enjoyed curled up on a cosy sofa, with flickering candles, cups of tea or mulled wine, and Christmas movies on the TV. So here are my cosy Christmas essentials:

6. John Lewis Christmas House Tealight Holder - £20

This would look lovely sitting on a mantlepiece, flickering away, perhaps sat next to some tealights in jars? Vouchercodes.co.uk are also offering some exclusive gift voucher deals for John Lewis - available here.

7. Marks & Spencer Cushion - £35

You've got to be comfortable whilst watching your favourite Christmas movie, and this festive cushion from Marks & Spencer would do the job perfectly, with the added bonus of looking stylish.

8. Indigo & Rose - Plaid Wheatdog - £24

Pop this beauty in the microwave for a few minutes to keep cosy on the sofa. It has the added bonus of looking like a stylish home accessory!

And finally, it's not Christmas without the food and drink, so here are my food essentials:

9. Eggcup & Blanket - Donna Wilson Red Felt Snowflake Placemat - £16.95

What a stylish way to serve up dinner on. Or for placing candles or vases of festive flowers on.

10. John Lewis - 6 Bottle Tree Wine Rack - £40

I can't think of a more stylish way to store your bottles of wine (or in my case this year: my non-alcoholic mulled wine from Ikea).

Check out the Vouchercodes.co.uk website for exclusive discount codes for the White Company, Debenhams and many more!

Really?

noreply@blogger.com (Red Boots) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 13:49:00 +0000

Dear Urban Outfitters,

What in the name of sanity is this?

It's described on your website as 'owl bedding'.

I'd love to know how this works as bedding exactly. And why the model is wearing shoes. High heeled shoes at that. For bedtime.

I'm speechless. Really.

ps: there's a panda one too, which equally confuses me.

38 Weeks...

noreply@blogger.com (Red Boots) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:53:00 +0000

...and two days:

Our house is mostly finished, including the nursery - so baby can come whenever it likes :)

We've set up the moses basket next to our bed. It's a little odd waking up to it and trying to imagine a little person in there.

The slightest amount of snow sets us in a bit of a panic, after we got snowed in for nearly two weeks this time last year. We've got a bit of a distance to get to the hospital and are reliant on taxis to get us there. So snow on that scale would be a bit of a disaster.

I had a burst of energy at the start of last week but this has long gone and now bed is my favourite place ever. I'm glad I finished up work at the end of 36 weeks - I really couldn't have lasted any longer.

We've not really thought about Christmas. But we are giddy with excitement about other things :)

Those First Few Moments...

noreply@blogger.com (Red Boots) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 09:00:00 +0000

The day I found out I that I might be pregnant is indelibly etched on my mind. I remember how tired and exhausted I felt, like no exhaustion I had ever felt before. I remember the warm spring wind that whipped my face. I remember the walk to the chemist - the streets so empty apart from a women and her baby, and wondering if that might be me soon. I remember waiting to see if a line would appear. I remember the myriad of mixed feelings of shock and happiness and fear and nervousness and excitement, and really really wanting to see Boyfriend, to give him a great big cuddle, and to tell him the news face to face.

My mind was racing and heart was pounding so I went on a walk to try calm myself down. As I walked an older man on a bicycle approached me. He was dressed in high-visibility gear. I thought he might be looking for directions. Instead he told me he had just written his first ever limerick, inspired by something he had seen on TV the night before and that he wanted to test it out on me. So he started reciting his little limerick that was all about a hedgehog in a tent. I wish I could remember exactly how it went, but my mind was still racing with thoughts on my expanding family. Needless to say it was a very very surreal moment in my life.

So now, when I think back to first finding out about our new addition I invariably think of hedgehogs (which is only a good thing as I adore hedgehogs).

The other week I wanted to buy our baby something special as it's first ever toy. Something it will grow up with and love and cherish for a long long time. And I couldn't think of anything more special and fitting as a toy hedgehog, to mark the moment that I first found out about baby. After an internet search, I came across UK based textile artist Sara Carr, who sells these beautiful hedgehog plush toys from her Etsy shop:

Aren't they gorgeous? One is currently on it's way to me as we speak. I'm sure it's going to be much loved for a very long time.

I'm also in love with Monty the Fox - perhaps it'll be a future present for when baby is a little older... Or maybe as a present to myself...!

37 Weeks

noreply@blogger.com (Red Boots) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 10:00:00 +0000

I took this photo on Sunday, after Boyfriend and I enjoyed our last meal out as a couple. We went to our favourite pub in Linlithgow - The Four Marys - and then walked around Linlithgow Loch in the freezing cold wind, but beautiful winter sun.

Our meal was 'enhanced' by the fact that as soon as I went into the pub the barman came running over to tell me that people under the age of 18 weren't allowed in the bar area, so I would have to leave. I had forgotten my purse so didn't have any ID on me to prove I was over 18, so I had to explain to him that I was 30, and also 9 months pregnant, so there was no danger of me drinking anyway. Thankfully, common sense got the better of him and he let me stay so we could enjoy our lunch.

Pregnancy has got a little bit easier for me lately. I know it's supposed to get harder, but my back doesn't seem to hurt any more and sleep is coming a lot easier to me. I also seem to have a lot more energy, though maybe that's from finishing up at work, not having to travel for hours each day, and getting to enjoy some much need long lies in bed.

This is going to sound a little strange, it may be just me, but it just seems so unreal that so very soon there's going to be a little baby in my arms. However, last week two of my friends, who announced their pregnancies just a few weeks before I did, have had their babies. Beautiful baby girls. Which has kind of made it hit home that I will actually have a baby. Very very soon. I'm still finding it hard to grasp exactly how our lives will change - although I have thought about it a lot - more so than the actually giving birth bit.

I've been super emotional lately. When our washing machine went a bit wrong I was able to cope with it for a while, but by the sixth day of us not being able to fix it I went into total meltdown and spent most of the day in tears. Nothing Boyfriend could do would snap me out of it. Other small things set me off as well. I'm the first to admit that sometimes I've been a nightmare to live with lately.

Maternity leave is everything I'd hoped for and more. I think 36 weeks was the ideal time for me to leave. I couldn't have lasted any longer at work, but had I gone off on leave earlier I think I would have been bored and stressed out by the state of our house. As it is, there isn't much more to do and our house will be pretty much finished on Sunday. I'm going to finish painting the bathroom today. The carpet fitters are coming on Friday to lay the carpet in the baby's room, and then we'll get all of the furniture and baby things in the room. Then all of our spare furniture will be moved into storage on Saturday. And on Sunday we'll have a great big clean. It feels good to finally have an end in sight after months and months of living in upheaval. This is providing baby stays in until Sunday of course. And as I mentioned, our kitchen won't be 100% finished for quite some time, but I'm really ok with that.

All of baby's clothes, sheets and blankets have been washed and are currently drying. It feels good to start getting prepared on that front too.

None of my dresses fit me anymore, length wise. They all sit so short, like tunics. I only bought maternity jeans a few weeks ago, before we went on holiday up north, as it would be cold and we'd be outdoors walking a lot. I was worried I wouldn't get much wear out them. As it happens I live in them now.

And that is what it's like being 37 weeks pregnant :)

Our Kitchen...

noreply@blogger.com (Red Boots) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:26:00 +0000

...We've not quite finished our kitchen yet, and I wasn't going to share the photos with you until we are finished, but realistically, we've got a workable, liveable and safe kitchen and what with baby expected to arrive anytime in the next few weeks I don't see us finishing it for quite some time.

So I thought I'd share with you the photos of our kitchen so far.

First, here's our old kitchen from when we first moved in:

I guess it doesn't look *too* bad here, I guess. A little dated perhaps? And that Christmas tree in the corner adds a little certain something, doesn't it?!

We'll, after a year and a half of us living here, here's a really bad quality, grainy iPhone photo of what it looked like about half an hour before the workmen showed up to rip out the old kitchen:

Yes, we were living with exposed electrical cabling, big holes in the wall, and unpanelled sections. It was lovely.

We had a very small budget, and wanted to get the most for our money, so Boyfriend and I went to Ikea and picked out a kitchen and appliances that we liked. We went for the Adel kitchen in cream. Design-wise, we didn't have a clue, apart from knowing that we wanted to move the sink to the far window to give us more countertop space. So, for the small fee of £20 an Ikea designer came to our house one evening and spent an hour listening to what we do in our kitchen, what was wrong with our old kitchen, and measuring and planning and plotting. After he'd finished he presented us with plans, 3D drawings of what our new kitchen would look like and a quote. We were super impressed, especially what we would get with our budget. Even better, Ikea were running a promotion at the time, where you got £100 in Ikea vouchers for every £1000 you spent on their kitchen range. So we got some money back to spend on things we needed for the house - win!

We were going to do the work in installing the kitchen ourselves, but figured between both of us working full-time, me heavily pregnant, and us having no real DIY skills, that it would take months and months and months, time that we just didn't have, and would look less than perfect. The Ikea quote for installation was astronomical, so we went with a joiner who is the friend of a friend and got it professionally fitted for a great price, in only five days.

Here's how it looks so far:

We had to make a few compromises due to cost. We wanted real wood worktops, but couldn't stretch to them. So instead we went for Ikea Pragel worktops in walnut (£35 for over 2 metres). Originally we were going to go for the Pragel in light oak, but after a second trip to Ikea to look at the worktops, we thought the walnut ones looked way better and more expensive than the light oak worktops. Due to the length of our kitchen, unfortunately there has to be a join in the worktops, but c'est la vie.

We also wanted a tiled floor, but after removing the old lino we found an old parquet floor. Which would have been perfect to sand and re-varnish, but a previous owner had at some point poured concrete over big bits of it. To renovate the parquet would have cost too much, and to take the parquet up, level the floor and tile it would have cost a fortune. So instead we got some timber floor effect vinyl. I had been dead set against having any kind of vinyl/lino but after having a look in our local flooring shop at how far it has come in the last few years I was a convert. And the price was good!

We still have to tile the walls, paint, sort the ceiling and put a couple of shelves up (which will remove a lot of the countertop clutter), but otherwise we are very happy with our new kitchen. The sink in the new position gives us a lot more counter space, and by removing the shelving than ran the length of the right hand side of the kitchen makes the room look a lot bigger.

ps: I'm not sponsored by Ikea - we just liked their kitchens :)

36 Weeks

noreply@blogger.com (Red Boots) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 21:18:00 +0000

EDIT: I wrote this a few days ago but didn't get round to posting. So I'm now 37 weeks and 1 day pregnant :) I finished up work and am now officially on maternity leave and we went for lunch as baby isn't here yet :)

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I'm currently 36 weeks and 5 days pregnant. Here's me as of yesterday:

Here's a collection of random thoughts that have been running through my brain this week (I'm a bit too tired to write something coherent, sorry!):

I'm finding it really hard to remember what it's like to not be pregnant. At the same time I'm finding it hard to imagine not being pregnant.

I've been trying desperately hard to savour every little movement from baby. I want to be able to remember the feeling of it moving just for me, and just how magical and special it is to feel my little one move, completely protected from the outside world.

I finish up work tomorrow. This is the start of a new chapter - of being Wendy who goes to work, does her job and comes home, to being a full time mother - the most important job I'll ever do. It feels good to be finishing up, and I certainly won't miss my 3 hour plus round commute, but it's also a little sad in a way. But mainly good!

I'm excited that in two days time I'll be considered full-term. Should I get that far boyfriend and I are going out for lunch to celebrate.

I can't help but wonder what our little pudding will look like and what traits it will take from me and what it will take from Boyfriend, and what kind of personality it will have. I also can't help but wonder if I've been growing a little boy or a little girl. Time will tell!

xx

ps: Now that I'm on maternity leave, with bit more time and more energy, I'm hoping to catch up on all of your blogs! Yay!

Holidays...

noreply@blogger.com (Red Boots) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 18:56:00 +0000

The other week, Boyfriend and I (and our parrot - it's her annual break too!) headed up to the Highlands of Scotland for a week, thanks to my kind parents who let us stay in their holiday cottage. As our first and only holiday of the year it was a much needed break.

We've been up there a few times now, and normally we do lots of cycling and walking and outdoor activities, but being 8 months pregnant with a growing baby in my belly meant we had to curtail our outdoor activities. Growing a baby and carrying it around in your belly is hard and tiring work! No mountain biking for me this year.

Instead we discovered the best cafe in the world, ever. Seriously. We had the best veggie burger of our lives, and believe me, we've tried many a veggie burger. Although it was hard to pick something to eat - every item on the menu sounded amazing, and all of the plates coming out of the kitchen looked seriously delicious. It honestly took us half an hour to choose what to eat. Which is unlike us. I am sorry I have no photos of any of this, but as soon as food is put in front me I have to eat, straightaway. I don't know how food bloggers manage to take photos of their food. It really is beyond me!

The Mountain Cafe also has the biggest homemade cake selection I have ever seen, with what must have been over twenty types of cake. We were sat right beside the cakes, and could not take our eyes off of them. The veggie burgers were seriously massive and we didn't have room for cake in the end, so we did the decent thing and got cake to go for later. Boyfriend opted for a chocolate and beetroot cake (so good) and I went for a berry and chocolate brownie (also good). The cakes were so good in fact, that on the day we were leaving I had to pop in and get more cake to take-away. I'm having serious withdrawal symptoms from lack of cake now.

Best find ever. Just a shame we live so far away.

Unfortunately our other favourite cake shop (we are all about the cake!) was closed for the season so we didn't get to go. Which was probably a good thing for our waistlines.

Apart from eating (which we did a lot of), we met up with friends in our favourite pub again, went on lots of little walks, spied red squirrels frolicking in the trees and on the ground, and even fitted in a trip to the Culloden battle field and visitor centre. And also just generally ambled around Aviemore and Rothiemurchus. It really is our favourite part of Scotland. One day we hope to find ourselves with the good fortune to live up there, but for now it's nice to be able to go and visit, and then look at our photos and sigh...

35 Weeks

noreply@blogger.com (Red Boots) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 19:48:00 +0000

...Hello, and sorry for the blogging absence. We've been on holiday in the Scottish Highlands (blog post to follow). I was also diagnosed with a very low iron count, which accounted for me being super sleepy and having no energy. Hence lack of blog posts. I'm now on iron tablets, which have been almost as bad as having a low iron count - leaving me feeling sick, with hot flushes and more. I seem to be adjusting to them now and feeling leaps and bounds better, with a bit more energy, which is a relief!

So here are Bump and me at 35 weeks (and 5 days):

This little pudding is already making moves to enter the world, having dropped down into my pelvis. Apparently this doesn't mean it's going to be early though. Which I'm happy about. I'd rather it stays in and grows healthier and stronger for as long as it can.

Nonetheless, my hospital bag is packed, and I'm all prepared with my birthing ball and Tens machine. I tested my Tens machine on Boyfriend to make sure it works. I wouldn't recommend this!

We built our moses basket stand the other week, and put our moses basket on it. It's odd to think in a few weeks time a little person is going to sleeping in there.

I finish up work next week - I am beyond excited about this!

Our whole house is still a disaster zone, but this weekend will see us working super hard on getting the baby's room ready.

I'm going to miss my perfectly round baby bump.

In spite of my low iron count and things we still have to do to the house, I can honestly say I don't think I've ever been happier than I have been now. Baby and I have come a long way in the past 35 and a bit weeks, and I'm so glad we've made it this far. Lets hope the next 4 and a bit weeks go smoothly!

It's Slightly Disconcerting...

noreply@blogger.com (Red Boots) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 21:34:00 +0000

...that all the baby books and apps refer to your's baby's size in terms of similar sized fruit and vegetables.

While it was cute at first to think of baby being the size of a blueberry or even an apple, I've reached the stage of pregnancy where all the books and apps proudly tell me my baby is now the size of a honeydew melon:

From here

Now all I can think is "Fuck, how on earth am i going to squeeze out a honeydew melon??".

Next size up is a pineapple, apparently. Don't even get me started on how that makes me feel.

32 Weeks

noreply@blogger.com (Red Boots) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:19:00 +0000

I decided that seeing as I'm in the last leg of this pregnancy lark that I'd start taking photos on a weekly basis. So here I am at 32 weeks (and 5 days):

Baby is kicking less but rolling more. Sometimes it turns it's whole body and it's pretty uncomfortable but kind of amazing at the same time.
We still haven't settled on a boys name.
We still haven't done any work at all on the baby's room - but the electrical work starts tonight, thank goodness.
I'm counting down the days to my maternity leave starting next month.
Bed is the best place in the world. I'm having so much difficultly leaving it at the moment.
My shower is the second best place in the world. Again, I find it difficult to drag myself out of there.
I had a pre-natal massage the other day. I was in heaven. I would completely recommend this to any other pregnant ladies in their third trimester. My back felt amazing for the first time in weeks, my shoulders felt loose and relaxed, and I felt like I was walking on air. Oh, and I almost fell asleep!
Stairs are my nemesis - I'm completely breathless by the time I get to the top of any.
After having people I know and people I don't know telling me how big my bump is and how I'm going to have a big big baby, or asking me if I'm having twins, I was very happy to hear from my midwife that baby is on track for being normal sized. They have a very scientific method of calculating this - apparently your bump size should correspond roughly with how many weeks pregnant you are (seriously, I wish I was making this up), and mine is bang on target. Because I'm on the short side and fairly petite she says the same sized bump on a taller or wider girl would look way smaller. So I'm a happy girl.

What not to say to a pregnant lady...

noreply@blogger.com (Red Boots) — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 20:35:00 +0000

...After letting someone know when your due date is do not, I repeat do not, say "Oh, are you having twins?". This has happened to me twice now, even though I'd consider my baby bump on the petite size, and each time I've worried that I'm packing on the pounds at an alarming rate.

...Don't ask them if they'd prefer a boy or a girl. I find this to be quite a stupid question which I've fielded so many times since letting people know that I'm pregnant, and many times more since it first became apparent to strangers that there is a baby in my belly and not just a whole lot of pies. I think most people, like us, are just thankful that we are having a baby and will love it regardless of what sex it is.

...Don't ask how long they've been 'trying' for. No-one wants to discuss their sex-life or contraception with anyone else, least not with shop assistants at the local supermarket.

...Don't tell them about your nightmare 36 hour labour which involved tearing from ear to ear. Or about your nightmare breastfeeding experiences. Really not helpful. In the slightest.

Instead I want to hear about your beautiful child or grandchild, or niece/nephew or friend's child, or the excitement of pregnancy, or something equally positive and non intrusive. Is that too much to ask for?!

31 Weeks

noreply@blogger.com (Red Boots) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 19:40:00 +0000

I'm 31 and a bit weeks pregnant now. In the first trimester time went so slow as I tried to hide the fact I was pregnant. But since hitting the 12 week mark this pregnancy has gone so fast, I swear:

I've completely lost my centre of gravity. Last Tuesday morning, I fell down, near my work. I picked myself up and in total shock and fright, burst into tears. I hobbled to my work, still in tears, and without even asking what was wrong, my boss took one look at me, went and got the work van and drove me straight home. Where I barely moved off the sofa, and spent the morning in a frenzy of panicked calls to my midwife and my doctor. Turns out baby is ok, and I'm fine too (apart from a sprained knee - but I'm just so relieved it was nothing more serious).

Hobbling (with a sprained knee) and waddling is not a good look.

I think I'm reluctantly going to have to cut back on my four mile walks a day. I'm seriously struggling now.

Sleep is non-existent for me, and because I don't get any then Boyfriend doesn't too. But at least it's good practice for when baby arrives.

I adore baby's kicks and rolls and jabs. I love that it's just for me, especially when I can't sleep at night.

I'm thankful mince pies are back in stores. Baby and I love mince pies. Even though I get laughed at for buying them by the shop assistants.

Our house is nowhere near ready for a little person, but work on our new kitchen has started. Once our kitchen is done we can work on baby's room. Even though baby will be sleeping with us for the foreseeable future I'd like to have it's room ready. It's purely psychological.

I've learned that pregnancy hormones are what cause otherwise sane women to be hormonal, stressed wrecks. I thought I passed this stage when I left the first trimester behind, but no, turns out the hormonal irrational moods comes back stronger than ever in the third.

I'm learning there is nothing dignified about pregnancy or birth. At my last antenatal class they went over the things that will happen in birth, including bodily functions, and things you should do to prepare your body for birth. I was mildly in shock.

I love seeing how excited family and friends are about this little one's arrival. Like, seriously excited.

ps: sorry for my last of posts lately - I lost my camera and cable. Found now!

This Is What Happens...

noreply@blogger.com (Red Boots) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 14:19:00 +0000

...when you share photos of yourself on the internet - be it a blog or on Facebook:

Some well-meaning person takes it upon themselves to save a copy of the photo and get it printed on to a birthday cake.

This happened to me last weekend at my 30th birthday party. Cutting up your own face and eating it, and inviting your friends and family to eat it too, is rather a strange experience!

So take that as a warning when you decide to post a photo of yourself wearing a moustache!

This was part of my birthday celebrations, which saw a lots of people rammed into our living room. Then 8 people camped out in our living room over night, one person squeezed into our hall, one person in our kitchen, and one on the floor of our bedroom. Our house is rather tiny and not really geared up for lots of overnight guests, but we managed! In the morning friends piled into my bed, and we sat around chatting and laughing for hours - it felt like a good old fashioned pyjama party from my youth, without the Truth or Dare, or Light As A Feather games mind you.

So yeah, being thirty isn't all bad. But don't say I didn't warn you about the photo thing!

28 Weeks...

noreply@blogger.com (Red Boots) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 12:08:00 +0000

...I'm 28 weeks (and a few days) pregnant now - hello third trimester!

Baby is increasingly wriggly, and as well as kicks I can feel and see it's little head and limbs pushing up against my tummy as it does somersaults. I love feeling it move, and feel it getting stronger with each passing day.
I've felt a sense of relief knowing that if baby decides to come early the chances are it would now be relatively healthy. For the entire duration of my pregnancy, at the start of every week, I've been telling my baby to hang on in there for just one more week. I'll continue to do this, but just feel I can relax a bit more.
Boyfriend and I have been to antenatal classes and I think we have finally accepted that very soon we'll have our own little baby, and that we can actually do this thing known as parenting.
In the past week I've developed my first craving - Kellogs Coco Pops (Cocoa Krispies outside of the UK?). I've managed to abstain thus far.
I finally find out if I do have gestational diabetes for sure in the next couple of days. If I don't there is a jar of Nutella in my cupboard with my name on it! And a bowl of Coco Pops!
My back is struggling with carrying the extra weight. Luckily Boyfriend's sister has a massage chair cushion that I can borrow for a while. I swear I am never going to get off the chair once it arrives!
I love it when strangers ask me when my baby is due, etc. It means they can see there is a baby in there and I've just not been excessively eating pies!
Although having a visible bump has it's downsides - strangers/passing acquaintances (rather than close friends) seem to think it's ok to touch your belly, and ask you rather personal questions like how much weight you've put on and asking things like how long were we 'trying for' (not a fan of that phrase).

South Queensferry...

noreply@blogger.com (Red Boots) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 13:00:00 +0000

...I've been spending a lot of time recently in South Queensferry, a seaside village only a few miles away, for baby matters. Even though it's so close, up until now it's not somewhere I've ever spent any time.

The other week I missed a bus home by only a few minutes, and had a whole hour to wait until the next one. So, with an hour to spare, what's a girl to do but go for an hour long walk with her camera?

Jubilee Clock

High Street

High Street - I want the house with the purple door.

This house is my favourite house ever {excuse the pesky rain on my lens}

Forth Rail Bridge

Forth Road Bridge.

Both bridges connect Edinburgh/the Lothians to the Kingdom of Fife. Even though I've been over both bridges many many times, and even abseiled off of the Rail Bridge, I still get excited about going over them, especially the Rail Bridge. You get such stunning views. Sadly on this day in question I wasn't travelling over the water, so you'll have to make do with photos of the Bridges, and take my word for it!