Mummy Musings

Bump Diary: 20 weeks

2013-05-19T18:53:32Z

It’s halfway week! Time is definitely speeding up. A little late getting this post up as we were at Butlins last week (and had a fab time!)

Baby: Now the size of a banana, or a cantaloupe melon, measuring around 6 inches and weighing approximately 11 ounces.

Symptoms: Still none really.

Weight: Have finally put on a couple of pounds. This is just as likely to be caused by all the food I ate while away last week than it is by baby but it makes me a little happier!

Clothes: Mostly maternity with the odd pre-pregnancy top. There’s no way I could fit in any pre-pregnancy trousers though. I’ve just discovered maternity leggings too. A-mazing.

Movement: Getting much bigger movements in the past week. Now able to see and feel some from the outside which I was quite shocked at as I wasn’t expecting it so early on.

Cravings: None

Stretchmarks: None so far

Sleep: Apart from one bad night I had it’s been normal

Appointments: None, but have our anomaly scan and a consultant appointment next week

Best moment: Definitely when C got to feel baby kick for the first time, the look on her face was awesome!

Worst moment: None

Anything else: Nothing to mention this week

Bump pic:

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The Proud Mummy Post

2013-05-10T09:29:42Z

A few weeks ago, when picking C up from nursery, her teacher mentioned to me that they’d started doing letter sounds with her class and that C was doing very well and knew most of them. This didn’t come as a surprise to me as we talk about letters a lot at home, and I know she recognises most of the alphabet now but this was obviously a bigger thing to nursery than it was to me.

The following day as I collected her, the head of nursery asked if she could have a word. My first thoughts were that she’d done something naughty but it turned out that they wanted to move C into a group of slightly older (6-9 months older) children when they were doing their letter work.

C’s doing really well in the older group and it hasn’t phased her at all as she knows the children anyway.

This week as I collected her, another teacher mentioned that she’d been to see the headmistress as she’d done some good writing. They’ve had writing assessments where the children were asked to write a shopping list of some vegetables. They had a sheet with the words written on already and were just asked to copy the sheets. I was shown what C had done and it was good but, to me, that’s just C. She regularly writes at home on her blackboard and is constantly asking me how to spell things so it wasn’t really anything new to me.

It wasn’t until yesterday, when I stayed at nursery to help out, that I realised how far ahead C’s writing skills were over others the same age.

I was chatting to M about it last night and we both agreed that we know she is a clever child but she is who she is. The reading and writing are just what she does and, although we do praise her a lot when she does nice writing or reads a word, we don’t go over the top. This is a little odd when I’m shown work at nursery and I say ‘oh yes, that’s good’ while the teacher is making a big fuss but we’re used to how she is!

We are really very proud of how well she’s doing, especially as she doesn’t turn 4 for another 6 weeks, and I think she’ll enjoy full time school in September but I’m just bemused with how my reactions to C’s work differs to the teachers. After I leave I wonder if they think I’m a horrid parent who doesn’t praise their child. I hope not!

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New Hoops and Crosses from Walkers

2013-05-09T14:05:16Z

A few days ago we received some surprise post; a green box with pictures of monkeys on it. It turned out that the box contained a packet of Walkers new crisps, Hoops and Crosses as well as a cuddly monkey for C to enjoy.

The crisps stayed unopened for around ten seconds before C & I shared them. We were sent a packet of roast beef flavour, which is my favourite crisp flavour anyway, and these didn’t disappoint. Sometimes when crisps are advertised as healthy they don’t have a lot of flavour but these were definitely tasty and very beefy.

We all know that we shouldn’t eat too many crisps but these ones are almost healthy! They are made with 56% wholegrain which we should all have as part of a healthy balanced diet. Hoops and Crosses also contain fibre and 30% less fat than average crisps as well as containing no artificial flavours or preservatives.

Hoops and Crosses are available in multipacks in roast beef, salt and vinegar or prawn cocktail flavour. They’re available in all major supermarkets and retail at £1.59.

They will definitely be in my trolley on my next shop.

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Bump Diary: 18 weeks

2013-05-03T19:38:21Z

After the first 12 weeks taking what felt like a lifetime to pass, the weeks since my scan have really sped up.

I didn’t start this blog until C was 9 months old so I don’t have any record of my pregnancy with her which I think is a shame. For that reason I’ve decided to start writing a pregnancy bump diary. I’ve not decided if I’ll do it weekly or fortnightly yet but I’m starting now with week 18.

Baby: Now the size of a sweet potato or a bell pepper depending which site you get your info from, and is about 5.5 inches from crown to rump.

Symptoms: Feeling pretty normal really. A little more tired than I would be pre-pregnancy but feeling good other than that. Still having moments where I forget I’m pregnant.

Weight: No weight gain from what I was pre-pregnancy. Undecided whether to be pleased or concerned about this. My bump is growing and I’m eating normally so not too worried about baby but will mention it at my next appointment.

Clothes: Most trousers are now maternity but am still wearing most of my regular tops. Sorted all my old maternity clothes out this week and I really need to shop! As I worked full time when I was pregnant with C they’re mostly plain black or white t-shirts. So boring!

Movement: A few movements this week, just small ones

Cravings: Enjoying sweet things which I have been the whole pregnancy so far

Stretchmarks: None

Sleep: No problems and enjoying it lots

Appointments: None

Best moment: Feeling proper movement this week

Worst moment: None

Anything else: My hair is looking good at the moment; it’s less greasy than usual and generally nicer. Long may this last!

Bump pic:

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April Round-up

2013-05-01T16:17:57Z

I take quite a few photos on my phone, and we do go out and do things, but often it’s not really enough for a blog post. For this reason I’ve decided to do a round-up post to show you the little things we’ve been up to over the past month.

The month started with a bank holiday and we went to our local farm park for an Easter egg hunt. C also had her face painted, she wanted to be a pink tiger.

We were also looking after our friends dog as they had gone away for the weekend, and I just love this picture of C chilling on the floor with the dogs.

During the month we visited Heeley city farm. We’ve been meaning to visit for a while now but after seeing they had a spring fling, and the weather looked nice, we decided to go. It was very busy and I’d like to visit again when it was a bit quieter but we enjoyed a nice hour or so looking at the animals and strolling round the stalls. C made friends with a lovely ginger pig.

The weather finally brightened for a while which meant we could get outside. C loves it outside and doesn’t actually let the weather put her off most of the time but it was nice not to have to be wrapped up in coats and hats.

I also managed to get in the greenhouse for the first time this year. At the moment we’re growing tomatoes, chillis, sweetcorn, courgettes, aubergine and butternut squash in the greenhouse, with some carrots and strawberries outside.

We went to the Peak District in our new (old) caravan last weekend. I’ve already wrote about our first caravan trip but here’s a few more photos of the weekend.

So that was our April. What happened in yours?

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The First Kicks

2013-04-29T16:25:07Z

As of today I’m 17 weeks and 3 days pregnant.

For the past week or so I’ve been wondering if I’ve been feeling baby move but I couldn’t say for sure as it could have just as easily been wind!

They say you feel baby earlier with each pregnancy but with C I had an anterior placenta so that was between her and me which cushioned any movement. This meant I didn’t feel anything until I was past 21 weeks, and it meant I missed out on the flutters so just felt definite kicks once she was stronger.

I’ve been hoping that I wouldn’t have to wait as long before I felt anything this time and today I have felt definite movement! I can’t really describe what it feels like, other than it’s pretty amazing!

They’ve been happening on and off all day while I’ve been sat at my desk. It’s such a wonderful feeling and even though I’ve done this all before it doesn’t make these moments any less special.

So, so happy!

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Our first caravan trip

2013-04-29T09:14:52Z

Well the first trip was a success. M towed the caravan there on Friday afternoon with no problems and we managed to remember how to set everything up once we got there.

We couldn’t be bothered to cook once we’d got sorted so we went to the pub down the road for something to eat and to let C play on the park. The steak and ale pie from The Travellers Rest is amazing, just in case you’re passing!

We all slept well that night, despite intermittent rain, and woke up feeling refreshed on Saturday. We decided to walk into Hope village, which is about 3/4 of a mile from the campsite, and found a nice park for C and a lovely deli where we bought some local cheeses. The heavens opened as we were about to set off back to the caravan so C and I took shelter in a local tearooms and had scrummy hot chocolates while we sent M and the dog back for the car to pick us up.

After sandwiches for lunch we decided to drive up into the mountains and have a walk. The sun had come out now although it was very windy up there!

C had lots of fun exploring and trying to stroke the lambs that were everywhere and the dog got a nice walk out of it too.

We were all tired from all our fresh air so spent the remainder of the afternoon in the caravan, apart from a little kite flying on the campsite. We were all asleep by 10pm that night and didn’t wake until 8am Sunday morning which is later than we usually get up at home.

We had to come home on Sunday so after breakfast of toast and cereals we packed everything away and got ready to leave.

We had a lovely weekend and are already planning a Lake District trip in June, a few days near London in early August and back to the Peak District for August bank holiday (though I’m now wondering if I’m brave or stupid for this one as I’ll be 8 months pregnant!)

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The one with the caravan

2013-04-23T13:53:26Z

Huge news! We bought a touring caravan! It’s an old one but is in great, clean condition and I’m so excited!

Old readers may know that we have camped for years and, although our tent is lovely, we feel that it’s time to upgrade, especially with #2 on the way.

C is super excited and has eaten her breakfast in the caravan for the past 2 days. We’ve been busy sorting out our camping boxes and moving all of our plates and cutlery and other accessories into the van already.

We’ve decided to test it out this weekend at Hardhurst Farm, one of our favourite campsites in the Peak District and will then plan some trips a little further away. We’re definitely planning a trip down to London during the summer so we can take C to Legoland as we’ve promised her a trip there once we buy a caravan for the past year.

We’re complete newbies again now we’re caravanners. Any top tips or things we need to know about caravans?

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Erm, hello…

2013-03-26T14:57:30Z

I’m back!

I haven’t really been anywhere, I just lost my blogging mojo. Or rather, I had things going on that weren’t really blog fodder so I just kept away.

I’ve been rubbish at Twitter too. I’ve missed all kinds of exciting news in the past few months so I can only apologise and promise that I will try harder from now on.

So what has been going on in my life? Well C started nursery in September and loves it. She goes every morning and it’s really been good for her. She has some lovely friends and her teachers are all great.

Christmas came and went, nothing too exciting there, followed by a mega busy January at work where I worked more hours than I used to when I was full time.

My grandma has been battling cancer and after a long few months of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy we had news last month that the tumours have shrunk which was the best possible outcome for her. Fingers crossed they don’t cause more problems for a long time.

Other than that, February and March have just been as they are every year.

Oh, and I’m pregnant. Meet baby B, due early October.

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Happy Halloween

2013-04-23T13:25:57Z

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