I'm on a pretty good cycle with Lady P. Every three hours she feeds and within that time she always naps for 30 minutes. That's not long though. 30 mins to get on top of what you need to do without having one eye on her goes by in a flash. Especially when you get you get your head around that the time between feeds is from the start of the feed. Let me explain...
If you feed at 1pm, that might take 30 mins. Regardless of how long it takes, the next feed is 3 hours away, at 4pm - so you've now only got 2.5 hours in which to do whatever you want to do. Gym, supermarket, coffee with friend, bake - and then BAM is time to get your tattas out again. The next thing you know it's bedtime and it all begins again.
At least I know I've got those 30mins every 3 hours. I've hung the washing out, tidied the spare room (Mum is coming to visit) and then I thought, fuck it - just sit down and please yourself for 10 of those minutes. Haha! 10 minutes. Whoopee doo! You've gotta laugh.
Anyway, this wasn't meant to be an account of my days! Just an account of one part of this day, weigh day. Stayed the same. Of course I would have loved to have lost something but I had a Chinese, sweeties, and a power of booze on Saturday night. So it was not to be. Fair enough. We're going on holiday a week on Friday to Crete with TB's folks and naturally there will be many delicious Greek foods. I'd love to lose 2lbs next week to try and get my down a bit before I put it all back on again!
This week I'm only gyming it twice so I'm going to do a home workout on Friday night - and my usual 10k of walking every day. Onwards!
I'm on a lifelong mission to ditch the lard. Stones away from my heaviest, I'm closing in on my pre-pregnancy weight. Next up, my wedding weight! Onwards!
Wednesday, 23 September 2015
Saturday, 19 September 2015
Hello from the first stop
In my last post (which was bloody ages ago) I said my first stop in the old weight game, was going to be the 13s. Just like a Eurovision contender, here I am, calling from the 13s. 13 stone 9.25lbs to be exact! Can you see me? That's me waving from a town called, Super Chuffed.
I'll stop with my terrible analogy, cause it isn't even really one. My grey matter is a bit rusty.
So in total I've lost just over a stone since I started actually trying post baby. I'm very pleased with this result as I deserve it! Let me tell you, I am working hard. Almost every single week I am at the gym three times. Once is a weight workout, once is spinning and once is a glute and shoulders workout. Mon - Fri (including the gym) I'm covering at least 10k - so my fitbit tells me. And of course what's going in my trap is mostly super healthy. It's only in the last few weeks things have really started to move though. One week I even gained. As you can imagine this went down like a lead balloon.
Breastfeeding dictates my whole day as the little munchkin feeds pretty much every three hours, but I've tried to forget about it when it comes to losing weight. The official line is that it means you're using up another 500 cals a day. I can't see it. The rate I'm losing weight at is slow. Which is good, I mean, I need to make sure I'm getting plenty of the good stuff to pass onto Lady P. But the pounds aren't just falling off like some people would have had me believe. I am putting the work in. For sure.
We've only got two months left of until we begin weaning (holy shit- I just counted that up) so I'm hoping as she gets bigger and feeds more and more efficiently, taking more and more milk, that these next eight weeks will see the back of at least half of the the last 13lbs preggo pounds.
You may be wondering where the baby chat is. Apart from the fact I'm going to tell you Lady P is such a good baby (mostly!) there is none. I spend SO much time thinking about her, I'm not inclined to bore you with the details. And there are so many details. The tiny things she does, that change and advance every day are mind blowing. To me. Four months of baby life, and I am loving it but I am also loving that I am still me. However, I am still gonna show you some pics of my wee darling.
And leave you with the hope of more regular blogs but you can always check out my instagram @mrs_lainey
I'll stop with my terrible analogy, cause it isn't even really one. My grey matter is a bit rusty.
So in total I've lost just over a stone since I started actually trying post baby. I'm very pleased with this result as I deserve it! Let me tell you, I am working hard. Almost every single week I am at the gym three times. Once is a weight workout, once is spinning and once is a glute and shoulders workout. Mon - Fri (including the gym) I'm covering at least 10k - so my fitbit tells me. And of course what's going in my trap is mostly super healthy. It's only in the last few weeks things have really started to move though. One week I even gained. As you can imagine this went down like a lead balloon.
Breastfeeding dictates my whole day as the little munchkin feeds pretty much every three hours, but I've tried to forget about it when it comes to losing weight. The official line is that it means you're using up another 500 cals a day. I can't see it. The rate I'm losing weight at is slow. Which is good, I mean, I need to make sure I'm getting plenty of the good stuff to pass onto Lady P. But the pounds aren't just falling off like some people would have had me believe. I am putting the work in. For sure.
We've only got two months left of until we begin weaning (holy shit- I just counted that up) so I'm hoping as she gets bigger and feeds more and more efficiently, taking more and more milk, that these next eight weeks will see the back of at least half of the the last 13lbs preggo pounds.
You may be wondering where the baby chat is. Apart from the fact I'm going to tell you Lady P is such a good baby (mostly!) there is none. I spend SO much time thinking about her, I'm not inclined to bore you with the details. And there are so many details. The tiny things she does, that change and advance every day are mind blowing. To me. Four months of baby life, and I am loving it but I am also loving that I am still me. However, I am still gonna show you some pics of my wee darling.
And leave you with the hope of more regular blogs but you can always check out my instagram @mrs_lainey
Saturday, 18 July 2015
Seven
Seven weeks post Miss P... I'm back on the exercise train. Toot toot!
TB is away on a stag do so baby and mamma are kicking back with my folks. With doting grandparents on hand there is no better time to get into the swing. Not my usual gig but a nice start was Zumba with mum last night. It wasn't hard but I could feel myself getting tired moving my heavier limbs about and I was so ready for it to be over!
This morning I went for a run. I think my last run was when I was about 16 weeks pregnant. Today was a 20 minute number, not exactly at high speed. But I did it without stopping. And well, I just did it. Pretty chuffed.
I quickly took these snaps last night. I probably should have taken my jacket off. I've a way to go but I'm on the road. First stop, is 9lbs away... the 13 stones.
Wednesday, 15 July 2015
Back to blogging
Life with Miss P is certainly different, but also kinda the same - just MORE.
I did have a post drafted all about how life is with her, what the first few weeks were like and of course, the actual birth. But as we close in on 7 weeks together, the significance of it all has faded and each day is a day of learning as we continue to get to know each other.
I mean, part of me wants to tell you what a good baby she is (well, just did), about the lonely moments in the middle of the night in the first few weeks when I uttered the words "I can't do this", how clever she has been at taking a bottle, my conflicted emotions about giving her formula from time to time, and how a bad night (of which there are few) is quickly forgotten about when I get to pick out a cute wee outfit for her just how god damn cute she is! I could go on forever. But that's not what this blog is about. Yeah, it's about my life but it's really about the size of my arse and how I'd like to reduce that!
First of all let me tell you that I almost gave up blogging. You know what it's like when you've not done it for weeks. Can you really be bothered to find the time again? That is key for me. When Miss P sleeps, I am trying to do 101 other things. I have no time. Actually no time. I should be hanging out washing right now! So who know how regularly I'll be posting, but I am going to keep it up and I suspect when I start losing weight (when, not if) it'll at least be weekly.
Anyway, I now no longer have a baby in my tummy so what are the dirty deets. Just how fat am I?! Pretty fat, but not as fat as I thought I would be!
During pregnancy, my heaviest was 16 and a half stone. Ooft! Post birth I was 15 stone 1.5lbs. A week later I was 14 stone 8.75lbs. Which is where I am now. So I've got about and stone and half to lose to get back to my pre pregnancy weight.
I have to take a moment to salute planks and side planks. Even just a few days after giving birth you would never have known I had just had a baby - stomach (with just a little additional flab) back to normal. Backside, not so much!
Let me leave you with a picture of my little bug at two days and seven weeks. Much less squished and swollen!
I did have a post drafted all about how life is with her, what the first few weeks were like and of course, the actual birth. But as we close in on 7 weeks together, the significance of it all has faded and each day is a day of learning as we continue to get to know each other.
I mean, part of me wants to tell you what a good baby she is (well, just did), about the lonely moments in the middle of the night in the first few weeks when I uttered the words "I can't do this", how clever she has been at taking a bottle, my conflicted emotions about giving her formula from time to time, and how a bad night (of which there are few) is quickly forgotten about when I get to pick out a cute wee outfit for her just how god damn cute she is! I could go on forever. But that's not what this blog is about. Yeah, it's about my life but it's really about the size of my arse and how I'd like to reduce that!
First of all let me tell you that I almost gave up blogging. You know what it's like when you've not done it for weeks. Can you really be bothered to find the time again? That is key for me. When Miss P sleeps, I am trying to do 101 other things. I have no time. Actually no time. I should be hanging out washing right now! So who know how regularly I'll be posting, but I am going to keep it up and I suspect when I start losing weight (when, not if) it'll at least be weekly.
Anyway, I now no longer have a baby in my tummy so what are the dirty deets. Just how fat am I?! Pretty fat, but not as fat as I thought I would be!
During pregnancy, my heaviest was 16 and a half stone. Ooft! Post birth I was 15 stone 1.5lbs. A week later I was 14 stone 8.75lbs. Which is where I am now. So I've got about and stone and half to lose to get back to my pre pregnancy weight.
I have to take a moment to salute planks and side planks. Even just a few days after giving birth you would never have known I had just had a baby - stomach (with just a little additional flab) back to normal. Backside, not so much!
Let me leave you with a picture of my little bug at two days and seven weeks. Much less squished and swollen!
Tuesday, 2 June 2015
Penelope
She finally graced us with her presence... Penelope.
Born Thursday 28th May at 5.40pm, a chubby little 9.1lbs - why am I not surprised!
Tuesday, 26 May 2015
Day 13
13 days overdue.
Can you believe this? I'm beginning to question if there actually is a baby in there. I always thought I'd be late, but not this late. And I have to admit, as my 14 days allowed before I'm induced have slowly disappeared, it's been tough.
I've been mentally prepared for a water birth throughout my whole pregnancy, taking place at my local maternity unit - just a mile from home. However, as induction is more medical it means I have to have the baby at the nearest hospital - 45 minutes away.
It's fine, it's not that big a deal, it's just not what I've visualised for the past nine months. On Sunday I went for a second sweep (sorry, I hate that word) with limited success. It was then I realised that I'm more than likely to be induced. That was not a good day and I spent a lot of it in tears; the culmination of almost two weeks of hanging around, carrying this baby, being uncomfortable, hormones, and lack of control.
So unless this baby makes a move in the next 24 hours, induction here I come. One way or another there is going to be a baby in my arms in by Friday. A little Gemini baby.
Can you believe this? I'm beginning to question if there actually is a baby in there. I always thought I'd be late, but not this late. And I have to admit, as my 14 days allowed before I'm induced have slowly disappeared, it's been tough.
I've been mentally prepared for a water birth throughout my whole pregnancy, taking place at my local maternity unit - just a mile from home. However, as induction is more medical it means I have to have the baby at the nearest hospital - 45 minutes away.
It's fine, it's not that big a deal, it's just not what I've visualised for the past nine months. On Sunday I went for a second sweep (sorry, I hate that word) with limited success. It was then I realised that I'm more than likely to be induced. That was not a good day and I spent a lot of it in tears; the culmination of almost two weeks of hanging around, carrying this baby, being uncomfortable, hormones, and lack of control.
So unless this baby makes a move in the next 24 hours, induction here I come. One way or another there is going to be a baby in my arms in by Friday. A little Gemini baby.
Wednesday, 20 May 2015
Grasshopper slices
If this baby doesn't make an appearance soon I'm going to bake myself into a diabetic coma.
Yesterday's endeavour was a minty choc delight described by the Hummingbird Bakery cookbook as a Grasshopper slice.
It all nearly went tits up as I had to make a white choc ganache with 1kg of chocolate. Yes, 1KG! That is a shitload of chocolate. So of course, I managed to split it. And when I say split, it wasn't just bit grainy looking, it looked like curdled milk. The oil from the cream had separated out so badly it was sitting on top of it. Horrific. And I was raging.
However, a quick google later and I read that a fix is to heat up some semi-skimmed milk and add it a bit at a time to the mix, stirring well. Holy milky bar kid. It worked! I am amazed! I was ready to chuck it in the bin, it was that bad. I mean it looked more lumpy than my thighs in their current state (i.e. VERY). The end result, creamy, smooth silky ganache. Amazing!
Anyway, here is a slice of the finished product (with a bite out it - ummm... baby was hungry!).
Obviously there is still no god damn baby! My friend who is a midwife told me to have more sex. Well, sex. Ha! Look, it's bloody awkward and heartburn inducing at this stage!
In other news (yes, this is my high octane life just now) I've cooked twice with quinoa this week. We had healthy burritos made with turkey mince and quinoa instead of rice. Very delicious they were too!
TB is on a health kick and so while I might still be chowing down on cakes and sweeties, my meals are all very healthy as I'm cooking for loverboy. It's been really good actually as it's helping me get back in the mindset - ready for the full on health kick which is imminent. Tonight's tea is a crazy tasty fritatta with leftovers including spicy turkey mine, roast sweet potato and leek. Can't wait!
Yesterday's endeavour was a minty choc delight described by the Hummingbird Bakery cookbook as a Grasshopper slice.
It all nearly went tits up as I had to make a white choc ganache with 1kg of chocolate. Yes, 1KG! That is a shitload of chocolate. So of course, I managed to split it. And when I say split, it wasn't just bit grainy looking, it looked like curdled milk. The oil from the cream had separated out so badly it was sitting on top of it. Horrific. And I was raging.
However, a quick google later and I read that a fix is to heat up some semi-skimmed milk and add it a bit at a time to the mix, stirring well. Holy milky bar kid. It worked! I am amazed! I was ready to chuck it in the bin, it was that bad. I mean it looked more lumpy than my thighs in their current state (i.e. VERY). The end result, creamy, smooth silky ganache. Amazing!
Anyway, here is a slice of the finished product (with a bite out it - ummm... baby was hungry!).
Obviously there is still no god damn baby! My friend who is a midwife told me to have more sex. Well, sex. Ha! Look, it's bloody awkward and heartburn inducing at this stage!
In other news (yes, this is my high octane life just now) I've cooked twice with quinoa this week. We had healthy burritos made with turkey mince and quinoa instead of rice. Very delicious they were too!
TB is on a health kick and so while I might still be chowing down on cakes and sweeties, my meals are all very healthy as I'm cooking for loverboy. It's been really good actually as it's helping me get back in the mindset - ready for the full on health kick which is imminent. Tonight's tea is a crazy tasty fritatta with leftovers including spicy turkey mine, roast sweet potato and leek. Can't wait!
Monday, 18 May 2015
Come on out!
I'm still here and I'm still pregnant! Today I'm 40 weeks and five days so officially overdue.
The past month feels like it's been really busy - what with finishing up at work and generally just getting (parts of) the house organised. Last week I thought I had feck all to do and then my accountant asked for all my tax return info so that was three days of spreadsheets!
And inbetween we've also had my birthday and our wedding anniversary. I'm actually really pleased we've managed to get those dates out the way so that the baby's birthday it a date of it's own - and let's be honest, who wants to be pushing a human out their vagina on their birthday? Not I.
So yeah, that's me 35. It doesn't feel or seem that old (and I know if you're older than that you'll be scoffing right now) but then I realise that's 17 twice over. I moved to Edinburgh for uni when I was 17. I can't believe it's been another 17 years since then. So, so fast. I really feel like I just left uni a few years ago.
Despite moving around like a big lump, I had a lovely birthday. My mum came up to see me and we went out for lunch at my local beachside cafe. Cannot wait to go for walks here with our baby.
My lovely parents in law also took us our for dinner. I've not got much to wear at this stage so I donned my trusty, striped maternity dress which has been a new look god-send. There ain't no hiding in this and I did get a few looks at the restaurant. There's a baby in my tummy - deal with it! You can also see in the background the freshly painted bedroom and new carpet! Loving our new 'coastal' bedroom. You might also spot our crib which is just waiting for a wee person to go in it!
Sunday was our first anniversary. It's been a fantastic year. A really busy year. I am such a lucky girl to have found TB and I can't wait to have lots and lots more years together. We spent the day, cutting the grass and tidying round. So romantic! Ha! Someone asked me if we were doing paper gifts. I said yes, a birth certificate.
I've been doing quite a lot of baking since I've actually had some time, which has been fab. So nice to enjoy the new kitchen and potter around making cakes. TB's colleagues are pretty happy about it too as they are on the receiving end.
We've had a bit of a cat situation on our hands. Papa Lazarou is just as affectionate as ever - as seen here with bump - but Dave is seldom seen at the moment. He appears for some food once ever few days and that's about it. Turns out some dame who lives on the next street has been feeding him! She took him to the vet to see if he belonged to anyone (thank for microchipping) and so they called me to make sure he had a home to go to. Ummm - YES! How about you stop feeding him and don't let him come in your house. I want to get him back home and settled before a wailing sprog sends him running again!
So that's me covered just about everything apart from how I am feeling about waiting for this baby to show up! I am ready to stop being pregnant and I am so ready to meet this wee monkey. I've got until I'm 42 weeks before I'll be induced - so just over another week left. I really don't want that though as it means I have to go to the big hospital 45 mins away, rather than my midwife led maternity unit where I've had all my appointments (and the fact I am sick of lugging this sprog around in my uterus) At my last visit there I was examined and they said the baby's head is very low - so that's good news. I'm booked back in for a sweep (ugh) on Thursday so I'm hoping that will chivvy things along if there is nothing by then.
It's weird being in this limbo like state. I'm not physically able to to walk far and I don't really want to be that far from home - so we are just waiting. TB is worse than me; he is desperate for us to have our wee baby and bring it home. In the meantime, what else is there to do apart from make jaffa cake cupcakes.
The past month feels like it's been really busy - what with finishing up at work and generally just getting (parts of) the house organised. Last week I thought I had feck all to do and then my accountant asked for all my tax return info so that was three days of spreadsheets!
And inbetween we've also had my birthday and our wedding anniversary. I'm actually really pleased we've managed to get those dates out the way so that the baby's birthday it a date of it's own - and let's be honest, who wants to be pushing a human out their vagina on their birthday? Not I.
So yeah, that's me 35. It doesn't feel or seem that old (and I know if you're older than that you'll be scoffing right now) but then I realise that's 17 twice over. I moved to Edinburgh for uni when I was 17. I can't believe it's been another 17 years since then. So, so fast. I really feel like I just left uni a few years ago.
Despite moving around like a big lump, I had a lovely birthday. My mum came up to see me and we went out for lunch at my local beachside cafe. Cannot wait to go for walks here with our baby.
My lovely parents in law also took us our for dinner. I've not got much to wear at this stage so I donned my trusty, striped maternity dress which has been a new look god-send. There ain't no hiding in this and I did get a few looks at the restaurant. There's a baby in my tummy - deal with it! You can also see in the background the freshly painted bedroom and new carpet! Loving our new 'coastal' bedroom. You might also spot our crib which is just waiting for a wee person to go in it!
The next big change to the house is cutting one of the bedrooms in half to make two rooms. The velux windows went in when we were on hols and last week we got the new door in place. Some jobs you just gotta pay a joiner to do. This new half is going to be the baby's room and the other half will still have room for a double bed - it was a huge room. There is no massive rush for this though as the baby will be in with us for the first while.
Sunday was our first anniversary. It's been a fantastic year. A really busy year. I am such a lucky girl to have found TB and I can't wait to have lots and lots more years together. We spent the day, cutting the grass and tidying round. So romantic! Ha! Someone asked me if we were doing paper gifts. I said yes, a birth certificate.
I've been doing quite a lot of baking since I've actually had some time, which has been fab. So nice to enjoy the new kitchen and potter around making cakes. TB's colleagues are pretty happy about it too as they are on the receiving end.
We've had a bit of a cat situation on our hands. Papa Lazarou is just as affectionate as ever - as seen here with bump - but Dave is seldom seen at the moment. He appears for some food once ever few days and that's about it. Turns out some dame who lives on the next street has been feeding him! She took him to the vet to see if he belonged to anyone (thank for microchipping) and so they called me to make sure he had a home to go to. Ummm - YES! How about you stop feeding him and don't let him come in your house. I want to get him back home and settled before a wailing sprog sends him running again!
So that's me covered just about everything apart from how I am feeling about waiting for this baby to show up! I am ready to stop being pregnant and I am so ready to meet this wee monkey. I've got until I'm 42 weeks before I'll be induced - so just over another week left. I really don't want that though as it means I have to go to the big hospital 45 mins away, rather than my midwife led maternity unit where I've had all my appointments (and the fact I am sick of lugging this sprog around in my uterus) At my last visit there I was examined and they said the baby's head is very low - so that's good news. I'm booked back in for a sweep (ugh) on Thursday so I'm hoping that will chivvy things along if there is nothing by then.
It's weird being in this limbo like state. I'm not physically able to to walk far and I don't really want to be that far from home - so we are just waiting. TB is worse than me; he is desperate for us to have our wee baby and bring it home. In the meantime, what else is there to do apart from make jaffa cake cupcakes.
Wednesday, 22 April 2015
Doing and Dealing
How are we nearing the end of April. HOW?
I'll tell you how, life has been so crazy busy that the days are passing in a mahoosive blur. The kind of blur that makes me feel entirely exhausted and just a leetle bit over sensitive! Using the wrong jug to froth milk? I will take you down. You know, that kind of over sensitive.
I'm 37 weeks pregnant today (so I am allowed to be irrational - OKAY?!) and boy, am I feeling it. I'm still don't have the biggest of bumps but I am really aware of the extra weight I'm lugging around. When I stand up, I can feel it all going into my pelvis and lower back. Even when I lie down, there is just... this weight. Walking is slow. I am slow! With just three weeks to go until my due date though, this is pretty good going I reckon. I am tired, mind you. I feel wiped. Physically and mentally.
Even though we had a week away on holiday we just haven't stopped. For months. It's just been constant. TB'd dad was giving me a row last week for painting. I didn't want to be painting. Let's make that clear - I am over it! But the carpet was coming, and this baby is coming. Shit's gotta get done.
I did lose the plot a few days later when I was trying to paint the lower wall and it just wasn't happening (bending down is not part of my range any more). The tears came and through my wailing I tried to explain to TB that I'd had enough and maybe it would be easier to just go back to being two. Just us. How's that's possible I don't know but at the time it seemed like a very appealing idea. I'm definitely getting more teary again. Work has been proper mental too, which has been getting me down but I've broken the back of a VERY challenging project and I've just got this week and next - and then I am DONE!
After my painting meltdown we did get bedroom finished before the carpet arrived on Monday. So we're back in our bedroom, the baby's chest of drawers is built up and stocked. We are gaining control! I also got my kitchen shelves up which I am love with. I've been planning these for quite some time! You gotta love those jobs where you can select a few lovely items and place them with care. I've been dreaming about using my new le creuset tea pot for over a year!
The rest of the house is bonkers messy though. I got a huge pile of baby clothes from my sister in law (which I've washed and put away), along with various bouncy chairs, a Moses basket and other stuff I've not had a chance to look at. Lucky me! But where does all this new stuff go?
It's all been chucked into our front room that has no furniture in it (which we are lucky to have) but it has sort of been our DIY dumping ground. Currently there are piles of kitchen cabinet off-cuts, our old cooker, paint pots, bits of an old kitchen table, ALL the tools - as well as our new pram and car seat! Just shutting the door on it just now. Cannot deal. Don't actually need to deal - this is what I must remind myself. We have done a power of work. Not everything needs to be sorted in one go.
I've been really excited to have our baby, but also scared. What have we let ourselves in for? My mindset kind of changed at the weekend. My childhood best friend was due six days before me. She had to get induced early and had her baby on Sunday; a wee girl. She's got her baby. She knows what she looks like. I want to meet mine. I can't wait.
I'll tell you how, life has been so crazy busy that the days are passing in a mahoosive blur. The kind of blur that makes me feel entirely exhausted and just a leetle bit over sensitive! Using the wrong jug to froth milk? I will take you down. You know, that kind of over sensitive.
Even though we had a week away on holiday we just haven't stopped. For months. It's just been constant. TB'd dad was giving me a row last week for painting. I didn't want to be painting. Let's make that clear - I am over it! But the carpet was coming, and this baby is coming. Shit's gotta get done.
I did lose the plot a few days later when I was trying to paint the lower wall and it just wasn't happening (bending down is not part of my range any more). The tears came and through my wailing I tried to explain to TB that I'd had enough and maybe it would be easier to just go back to being two. Just us. How's that's possible I don't know but at the time it seemed like a very appealing idea. I'm definitely getting more teary again. Work has been proper mental too, which has been getting me down but I've broken the back of a VERY challenging project and I've just got this week and next - and then I am DONE!
After my painting meltdown we did get bedroom finished before the carpet arrived on Monday. So we're back in our bedroom, the baby's chest of drawers is built up and stocked. We are gaining control! I also got my kitchen shelves up which I am love with. I've been planning these for quite some time! You gotta love those jobs where you can select a few lovely items and place them with care. I've been dreaming about using my new le creuset tea pot for over a year!
The rest of the house is bonkers messy though. I got a huge pile of baby clothes from my sister in law (which I've washed and put away), along with various bouncy chairs, a Moses basket and other stuff I've not had a chance to look at. Lucky me! But where does all this new stuff go?
It's all been chucked into our front room that has no furniture in it (which we are lucky to have) but it has sort of been our DIY dumping ground. Currently there are piles of kitchen cabinet off-cuts, our old cooker, paint pots, bits of an old kitchen table, ALL the tools - as well as our new pram and car seat! Just shutting the door on it just now. Cannot deal. Don't actually need to deal - this is what I must remind myself. We have done a power of work. Not everything needs to be sorted in one go.
I've been really excited to have our baby, but also scared. What have we let ourselves in for? My mindset kind of changed at the weekend. My childhood best friend was due six days before me. She had to get induced early and had her baby on Sunday; a wee girl. She's got her baby. She knows what she looks like. I want to meet mine. I can't wait.
Thursday, 9 April 2015
Fatty boom boom BOOM
Holy crap. I stepped on the scales this morning. Oh my god. MY GOD.
I am kind of laughing about it because I am indeed carrying a 5.5lb human being inside me right now, not to mention all the other bobbins that goes with it - and the gigantic boobs - but I'll say it again... Holy Crap.
I'm 16 stone! Ha! SIXTEEN! Jesus wept. In fact, he sobbed his little heart out. This is unchartered territory for me. I used to talk about Fresh Fat (FF) when I was losing weight. Well, this is FF alright, just fresh fat that has gone ON. And I've still got over a month to go. Dear God.
This means I have put on 3stone. That's some amount of weight. I hope you're suitably impressed. That takes skill. No wonder my feet are sore!
My heaviest ever was 15 and a half stone. Those were not fun days. Thing is, I don't think I look like I did then. My face certainly ain't quite as chubby. That's something I have to thank the ageing process for, I suppose.
Oh well, here I am and there's not much I can do about it now. A few months time though.... oh it is all kicking off! Frumpy mamma, I am not going to be.
I am kind of laughing about it because I am indeed carrying a 5.5lb human being inside me right now, not to mention all the other bobbins that goes with it - and the gigantic boobs - but I'll say it again... Holy Crap.
I'm 16 stone! Ha! SIXTEEN! Jesus wept. In fact, he sobbed his little heart out. This is unchartered territory for me. I used to talk about Fresh Fat (FF) when I was losing weight. Well, this is FF alright, just fresh fat that has gone ON. And I've still got over a month to go. Dear God.
This means I have put on 3stone. That's some amount of weight. I hope you're suitably impressed. That takes skill. No wonder my feet are sore!
My heaviest ever was 15 and a half stone. Those were not fun days. Thing is, I don't think I look like I did then. My face certainly ain't quite as chubby. That's something I have to thank the ageing process for, I suppose.
Oh well, here I am and there's not much I can do about it now. A few months time though.... oh it is all kicking off! Frumpy mamma, I am not going to be.
Wednesday, 8 April 2015
Shaping up - and out
Hols were fab.
Lazy and fab. There was a lot of lounging around, reading, napping and eating. Perfect. I'm really feeling the extra weight so it was just what I wanted. Getting myself up off a low seat or couch and tying my shoe laces are no longer easy tasks so throwing on a sun dress and pair of flip flops was just about my limit.
We got home really late on Sunday night, got up at lunchtime on Monday and came back to work on Tuesday. However, things at home have progressed a good deal as we came home to two new velux windows in the room we're cutting in half to make two smaller rooms, and our bedroom is totally plastered ready for painting. On top of that the kitchen floor is finished and our dining table and sideboard arrived on Monday.
So finally, we have a (just about) completed kitchen. Sitting at the table to eat our tea on Monday night felt amazing! Last night we unpacked our remaining wedding gifts (which was most of them!) and got them put away/in use/on the wall. Only taken us the best part of a year! It's been worth the wait though. Hello le creuset tea pot and Orla Kiely cake tins! I must get some pics.
That's the house - all coming along nicely. A bit like the pregnancy! I've got 5 weeks until my due date. Holy crap. So that means it could be three weeks or seven weeks. My palms just got a bit sweaty. I am not even joking.
The baby is wriggling ALL. THE. TIME. It's wee bottom often pushes out just above my belly button and there is a foot on the left hand side that loves to poke out. It's the weirdest thing. I love it but I am feeling so crushed in there - especially when I am sitting at my desk all day long. The baby weighs about five and a half pounds so that means there are still a good two or more to go. How it's all going to fit in there I do not know. It really tight as it with gasp inducing punches getting lower all the time. Ouch!
I had an appointment on Monday with the midwife who gave me the usual once over - blood pressure, bump measurements etc. and as has been the way with the whole pregnancy - textbook. The baby is in the right position and I am feeling fine so all good. I've been really lucky. We talked through my birth plan which I am pretty relaxed about. Actually, I'm pretty relaxed about the whole labour part. Sure, when I think about it, my heart goes a little faster and the thought of squeezing a human out my vagina makes me wince but I'm not worried about it. This baby is going to come out one way or the other so there is no point in getting worked up about it or having a fixed way in mind that I want to do things. Although fast and pain free would be lovely!
Lazy and fab. There was a lot of lounging around, reading, napping and eating. Perfect. I'm really feeling the extra weight so it was just what I wanted. Getting myself up off a low seat or couch and tying my shoe laces are no longer easy tasks so throwing on a sun dress and pair of flip flops was just about my limit.
We got home really late on Sunday night, got up at lunchtime on Monday and came back to work on Tuesday. However, things at home have progressed a good deal as we came home to two new velux windows in the room we're cutting in half to make two smaller rooms, and our bedroom is totally plastered ready for painting. On top of that the kitchen floor is finished and our dining table and sideboard arrived on Monday.
So finally, we have a (just about) completed kitchen. Sitting at the table to eat our tea on Monday night felt amazing! Last night we unpacked our remaining wedding gifts (which was most of them!) and got them put away/in use/on the wall. Only taken us the best part of a year! It's been worth the wait though. Hello le creuset tea pot and Orla Kiely cake tins! I must get some pics.
That's the house - all coming along nicely. A bit like the pregnancy! I've got 5 weeks until my due date. Holy crap. So that means it could be three weeks or seven weeks. My palms just got a bit sweaty. I am not even joking.
The baby is wriggling ALL. THE. TIME. It's wee bottom often pushes out just above my belly button and there is a foot on the left hand side that loves to poke out. It's the weirdest thing. I love it but I am feeling so crushed in there - especially when I am sitting at my desk all day long. The baby weighs about five and a half pounds so that means there are still a good two or more to go. How it's all going to fit in there I do not know. It really tight as it with gasp inducing punches getting lower all the time. Ouch!
I had an appointment on Monday with the midwife who gave me the usual once over - blood pressure, bump measurements etc. and as has been the way with the whole pregnancy - textbook. The baby is in the right position and I am feeling fine so all good. I've been really lucky. We talked through my birth plan which I am pretty relaxed about. Actually, I'm pretty relaxed about the whole labour part. Sure, when I think about it, my heart goes a little faster and the thought of squeezing a human out my vagina makes me wince but I'm not worried about it. This baby is going to come out one way or the other so there is no point in getting worked up about it or having a fixed way in mind that I want to do things. Although fast and pain free would be lovely!
Friday, 27 March 2015
Time to unwind
The weeks are just flying past - somone hit the pause button!
It's been a busy old time with me - as per. House stuff is really moving on and I feel like we can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel. Well, for this phase anyway! And that is bloody good feeling.
The kitchen/dining room floor has been getting laid this week. In the meantime we have stripped our bedroom wallpaper and totally cleared the room out so that it can get a skim coat of plaster next week. Also next week in the biggest of all the bedrooms we are getting two velux windows put in as we're going to spilt the room in two and so need more light. It's all go! But next week while this is happening, we're on holiday! Whoooo fricking hoooo!
Man, do we need this holiday. It's been six months of hard graft. Poor TB just goes to work and then comes home to work on the house. It's been non stop with all our energy and money being put into the house. To have a week sitting around in the sun, relaxing, not having jobs hanging over us will be so good. The last holiday we went on was our honeymoon, in June last year. God, we need this.
When we get back, the kitchen will be pretty much done apart from a few fiddly bits and we'll be bashing on with decorating our bedroom. Easy when you've got freshly plastered walls to work with though, compared to our usual three weeks of sanding and pollyfilly prep.
Work has also been bonkers busy - cannot wait to leave that behind too.
And alongside all this - I'm getting more and more preggo. I've had the easiest time of it but now my feet are starting to get sore. Carting all this extra weight around with me is not easy and I'm beginning to feel it.
I forgot what it was like to get sore feet. To walk for more than a few miles with two stone plus on your frame - it's tough. Since I've been fitter, rushing around the place without stopping is no big deal. Running up the stairs - easy. I totally took that for granted. At the moment I feel like don't walk, I kind of lumber around. I'm doing my best to hold myself normally and not be OTT with it but man, I gotta sit down a lot! And it's only going to get worse. The baby is currently around 4 and a half pounds. It could double!
I've only got seven weeks left until my due date. Seven weeks! Gah! We built the crib/co sleeper up the other day and it's now next to our bed. It's been really nice to see it in place. Every time I look at it, I think to myself, soon there's going to be a wee baby in there.
If I think about it too much, I can't get my head around it. There is a fully formed baby inside me right now. It's just a matter of weeks until it's out and we have to do everything for it. Two will suddenly be three. No matter what I think I can expect, I know I've got no idea.
It's been a busy old time with me - as per. House stuff is really moving on and I feel like we can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel. Well, for this phase anyway! And that is bloody good feeling.
The kitchen/dining room floor has been getting laid this week. In the meantime we have stripped our bedroom wallpaper and totally cleared the room out so that it can get a skim coat of plaster next week. Also next week in the biggest of all the bedrooms we are getting two velux windows put in as we're going to spilt the room in two and so need more light. It's all go! But next week while this is happening, we're on holiday! Whoooo fricking hoooo!
Man, do we need this holiday. It's been six months of hard graft. Poor TB just goes to work and then comes home to work on the house. It's been non stop with all our energy and money being put into the house. To have a week sitting around in the sun, relaxing, not having jobs hanging over us will be so good. The last holiday we went on was our honeymoon, in June last year. God, we need this.
When we get back, the kitchen will be pretty much done apart from a few fiddly bits and we'll be bashing on with decorating our bedroom. Easy when you've got freshly plastered walls to work with though, compared to our usual three weeks of sanding and pollyfilly prep.
Work has also been bonkers busy - cannot wait to leave that behind too.
And alongside all this - I'm getting more and more preggo. I've had the easiest time of it but now my feet are starting to get sore. Carting all this extra weight around with me is not easy and I'm beginning to feel it.
I forgot what it was like to get sore feet. To walk for more than a few miles with two stone plus on your frame - it's tough. Since I've been fitter, rushing around the place without stopping is no big deal. Running up the stairs - easy. I totally took that for granted. At the moment I feel like don't walk, I kind of lumber around. I'm doing my best to hold myself normally and not be OTT with it but man, I gotta sit down a lot! And it's only going to get worse. The baby is currently around 4 and a half pounds. It could double!
I've only got seven weeks left until my due date. Seven weeks! Gah! We built the crib/co sleeper up the other day and it's now next to our bed. It's been really nice to see it in place. Every time I look at it, I think to myself, soon there's going to be a wee baby in there.
If I think about it too much, I can't get my head around it. There is a fully formed baby inside me right now. It's just a matter of weeks until it's out and we have to do everything for it. Two will suddenly be three. No matter what I think I can expect, I know I've got no idea.
Wednesday, 11 March 2015
Fruition
Well hey guys. Hope everyone is tickety boo, fine AND dandy.
I have a very VERY sore throat but I'm feeling pretty positive so let's not mention that again. Keeping the vibe on the up, people.
On Saturday I had a glimpse of life without DIY. Sure it'll always be there when you live in an old house but there once was a time when it didn't consume our every waking moment - and we had one of those moments on Saturday. We had our first antenatal class and then decided to go for a drive and out for lunch, just the two of us. It was SO nice. And we talked about how we're looking forward to spending time as a family this summer. Actually enjoying spending time together and going to visit people, and having people visit us - and not constantly feeling like we should be painting or fixing stuff. Cannot wait.
Kitchen floor fitters, plasterer for bedroom skim coat and roofer for velux windows have all been booked. Three weeks from now that will all be done! They are all big jobs that will make a huge diff.
The antenatal class was actually quite good. I'm planning to have the baby at my local maternity unit - just a mile away from home. Very handy! They've got an excellent reputation and the class, run by them was very reassuring about when to come in once you're in labour. The only downside in choosing a maternity unit over a labour ward is the pain relief. By choosing the former I am saying that I don't want an epidural. I don't. Right now, I don't. But when I'm in pigging agony... well - I'll have made my choice and will have to endure a 45 minute ambulance ride if I change my mind. Anyway - that's a whole 9 weeks (or more!) away. A lifetime! Hahhaaahaaa...
I feel like I've been getting on top of a few jobs that have been hanging over me forever, which feels so good. I got TB a lovely Nikkie McWilliams print for Valentine's Day. Not only is that now framed and hanging on the wall but I've got two other frames which this weekend I will be populating. One with the knot we tied during the knot tying ceremony at our wedding and the other, a collage of lots of ticket stubs, maps, postcards, pics and other delights from our honeymoon. That's a job for this weekend.
I'm still eating way too much of the wrong things. No longer is a standard chocolate bar enough, I'm buying a big sharing bag and scoffing the lot in one go. Oh dear. BUT I am feeling more positive. Yes, I'll have put on a shed load of weight but so what, I'll lose it again. It's what I do, right? If anyone can do it, then I think I can. Make a plan, get it done. And I'll have a wee baby who I want to be healthy for and with.
Break out the flags... we have made progress on the name front! Last night TB told me the top two boy names he likes. What a minute... Those are the top two names I have been mentioning since FOREVER! Seed planted, is now blossoming me thinks.
Wednesday, 4 March 2015
10 week countdown
10 week countdown. Even just typing those works makes me feel a bit... waaaaah haaa haaa, oh my god, we're having a baby. I might have been pregnant for what seems like a pretty long time (well, to me it does!) but only now does it kinda feel like it's sinking in.
My bump is growing pretty rapidly now (as you can see for yourselves) and for the first time a stranger offered congratulations. I was wearing my clingy gym gear mind you, so there was no escaping it! Everyone keeps telling me how neat I am though and the midwife did comment on my strong stomach muscles. YES, thank you planking and running.
I am really missing being the person that I was a year ago. The very active, healthy eating person. Sure, I'm pretty active for a third trimester preggo, but you know what I mean. I'm going to have to throw myself back into it (once I get over the shock of giving birth and realising I'm responsible for another life) but I'm going to be starting from a place I never though I would be again. And when I say place, I mean number. At my all time heaviest I was 15 and a half stone. I'm going to be pretty close to that, if not more, by the time I have the baby. That's a long way to go to get back down to be close to where I was.
In recent times my heavier weight was in the high 13s. In fact, I was there a few months before we got engaged. 11 months later when we got married - after some SERIOUS hard graft (we're taking 5 workouts a week and super strict healthy eating) - I was almost two stone lighter. I'm going to have that to lose at least, oh and the small matter of a baby to look after. I'm going to have to do it though. I'm going to have to get my head in the game and just get on with it. I need to start our new life together as a healthy one.
In terms of how I'm feeling, the answer is totally fine. A couple of minor aches and a bit of heartburn has been the sum total of issues. I sleep like a log and generally everything is just peachy. The baby is moving about loads and yesterday I there were a couple of massive thumps that actually made me exclaim out loud.
I still can't quite believe that right now there is a baby weighing more than 3lbs in my tummy. We've been buying more bits - changing mat, clothes, monitor - but it 's all sitting in a big pile in the spare room under a big plastic sheet so it doesn't get covered in dust. I think once we actually build the crib up (once the plastering of our bedroom and the new velux windows are in) that'll help me to get my noggin around what the hell is going on. I'll never truly be prepared though. An impossible feat!
We've got our first antenatal class on Saturday. I had to confess one of the things I'm hoping to get out of it is not some sort of chat on which way up the baby goes (although that would be helpful) but some new friends. I'm a lucky girl with lots of friends but none that don't live more than an hour away. Someone in the vicinity would be lovely!
Kitchen update (of course!) the first coat of the new colour is on and it is SO much better. Two more coats and then we're just about ready for the floor! Thank GAWD! Poor TB spend several hours in the pissing rain drilling a 6" hole through a sandstone wall (for the extraction hood thingy pipe) and so that's another great job done!
Wednesday, 25 February 2015
I want it all and I want it now
The kitchen dining room updates are quite frankly, dull DULL DULL, they have been going on that long but to be honest, that's the main thing in my life these days so an update you shall get!
I'm also beginning to panic somewhat about how much time we have left before the baby is here to get all the house stuff done we want to. It''s going to be a really tight squeeze and I really am expecting a lot from TB. He's not had any time to himself for months.
Last night he pointed out that when the baby comes I'll want help in the evenings and weekends but he can't give that to me if he's busy trying to sort the nursery - which involves putting up a wall to make one room into two, and making a whole new door. And then all the snash that follows, new plugs, insulation, skirting boards... and so on. It's not a weekend job. Nothing in our house ever is.
So I've just done a week by week plan so see what is actually achievable - let's just see if TB agrees!
Fridge/freezer is in and it it huge! We built the units to go around it and it sticks out from said units much more than I expected. I had a bit of a strop last night when I realised how it was going to look. It's frustrating when you've planned your dream kitchen and it's all sleek and lovely and then a honking great appliance fucks up the vibe - and we chose to put it there. So I was pretty miffed, which father in law witnessed as he's been helping decorate loads. Little did he know that at the same time I've decided I don't think the colour for the walls in the dining room are right - and Father in Law had just put on the first coat that very night.
I'm going to let TB have the pleasure of telling him "we" have changed our minds! God, I am such a madame.
I'm also beginning to panic somewhat about how much time we have left before the baby is here to get all the house stuff done we want to. It''s going to be a really tight squeeze and I really am expecting a lot from TB. He's not had any time to himself for months.
Last night he pointed out that when the baby comes I'll want help in the evenings and weekends but he can't give that to me if he's busy trying to sort the nursery - which involves putting up a wall to make one room into two, and making a whole new door. And then all the snash that follows, new plugs, insulation, skirting boards... and so on. It's not a weekend job. Nothing in our house ever is.
So I've just done a week by week plan so see what is actually achievable - let's just see if TB agrees!
Tuesday, 17 February 2015
It's all progress
This weekend was very enjoyable. Friday kicked off with the delivery of a dozen red roses. Aw shucks. He's a naughty monkey though. Spending money on that sort of thing. I've still got last year's (on the mantelpiece) which I dried. They are lovely though. Lucky girl.
Then it was time for some pampering. Hello red, glittery gel nails (which were a Christmas present) and then we headed off to my homeland for a leaving do, via my folks.
The next day, armed with a few of my childhood soft toys which my mum looked out, including my first teddy (called, Teddy - OBVS), we went pram shopping. Bloody hell, what a minefield. A very expensive minefield. After a lot of consideration, clicking on and off of parts, and wheeling around of potential baby wagons, we decided to bite the bullet and just go for the one we liked - no more faffing. It's all on order apart from the car seat and base which we took away then and there. Teddy helped us work out how the hell you use it.
I have to say, getting the pram has made me more excited. I had a moment when we were back at home, figuring the car seat out. In three months time, there is going to be a baby, for real, in there. Everything feels like it's speeding up, I'm going to blink and we'll be parents. Holy moly.
Which means we really need to crack on with the house stuff. We are so close to being finished with the kitchen/dining room. TB and his dad got on with painting the dining room part yesterday which has made a big difference.
I weighed myself on Friday. Oh my. Oh ho ho hohohaaaaaa. 2 stone. I've put on two stone since the love kitten came into being. Christ. That's quite a lot - especially considering I've still got three months of serious baby growth to go. In fact, it's not quite a lot. It's freaking LOADS. My mum, so helpfully, pointed out that she could see it on my face, when I saw her. That's really pissed me off, actually. Why bother mentioning it? My bump is pretty neat so two stone can't be blamed on that!
Any pregnancy stuff I read now refers to the fact I am eating lots of healthy foods. Am I? Am I really? Sure, my meals are healthy enough but any notion of snacking on fruit has long gone out the window. Case in point, I just threw a BIG bag of minstrels down my neck like they were nothing. I've not been to the gym for about three weeks thanks to a busy schedule but this really has to change. Thursday I am going. I will empty that fruit bowl (and not by throwing the rotting contents in the bin).
PS) Pic of my big boy just cause he's the boss
Wednesday, 11 February 2015
My Happy Place
The grouting isn't done. The dining room isn't painted. All the woodwork still needs painted. All the plug sockets need wired up. The new fridge is still in the garage and we've still got open floorboards. BUT, the kitchen is functional! I have a sink, hob and oven. Better still, I have a dishwasher! So bloody happy.
I love to jam. Strawberry, bramble, chilli.... but my signature preserve is my four fruit marmalade. I was worried I was going to miss marmalade season this year, thanks to lack of a working hob but no, I made it! I made the season and I made my marmalade, all 34 jars of the stuff.
The radio was on, the marmalade was on a rolling boil, and I was organizing jars as the winter sun was streaming in my kitchen window. That is my happy place.
Thursday, 5 February 2015
Orange you happier?
So I've had a word with my face and I'm feeling a bit brighter.
I'm usually quite a steady kinda person, not really prone to mood swings so this is all kinda new to me. I've had a couple of really REALLY busy days at work but it's actually felt great to be so busy, getting shit done. Too much time to think about things is never good.
I'm working from home today and the plumber is FINALLY here to get the sink connected up as well as the hob. Holy macaroni, I'm going to have a functional kitchen later today. And here is the best bit.... DISHWASHER! I've actually done no dishes for almost two days as it should have been in by now and it's kinda like a protest/sign of hope - that things would be working. Cannot wait to load that baby up!
The end is is sight for the kitchen. We're onto woodwork, prepping walls and unit cornicing. It's all deathly dull but it does mean that we're maybe about two weeks away from it all being finished. I cannot actually put into words how this makes me feel. Every single room, bar one, has been affected and I can't wait to get the house back to normal! That is for around an hour and then we need to crack on with decorating our bedroom. At least that doesn't involve knocking down walls! Mind you.... we are going to get two velux windows put into our eaves in another bedroom before the baby comes - so the disruption continues!
We've got a quiet weekend ahead. TB is on a night out on Friday and so if I can get my hands on some Seville oranges I'll start my four fruit marmalade prep, now that I've got a hob I can actually make it on. It's my signature preserve (yes, I have a signature preserve - don't you?!) so I'll be gutted if I've missed the orange boat.
I'm usually quite a steady kinda person, not really prone to mood swings so this is all kinda new to me. I've had a couple of really REALLY busy days at work but it's actually felt great to be so busy, getting shit done. Too much time to think about things is never good.
I'm working from home today and the plumber is FINALLY here to get the sink connected up as well as the hob. Holy macaroni, I'm going to have a functional kitchen later today. And here is the best bit.... DISHWASHER! I've actually done no dishes for almost two days as it should have been in by now and it's kinda like a protest/sign of hope - that things would be working. Cannot wait to load that baby up!
The end is is sight for the kitchen. We're onto woodwork, prepping walls and unit cornicing. It's all deathly dull but it does mean that we're maybe about two weeks away from it all being finished. I cannot actually put into words how this makes me feel. Every single room, bar one, has been affected and I can't wait to get the house back to normal! That is for around an hour and then we need to crack on with decorating our bedroom. At least that doesn't involve knocking down walls! Mind you.... we are going to get two velux windows put into our eaves in another bedroom before the baby comes - so the disruption continues!
We've got a quiet weekend ahead. TB is on a night out on Friday and so if I can get my hands on some Seville oranges I'll start my four fruit marmalade prep, now that I've got a hob I can actually make it on. It's my signature preserve (yes, I have a signature preserve - don't you?!) so I'll be gutted if I've missed the orange boat.
Monday, 2 February 2015
Face like a wet weekend
So my exercise regime has kinda gone out the window. Not entirely but it's not how I imagined things would be - a year ago when I was kicking the arse out of it all.
I'm going to the gym/seeing my personal trainer once a week - or thereabouts. And that's it. Today I walked along to the gym, did my weights/stretches workout and then walked home. It's probably around 3 miles all in. That's as much walking as I want to do though as my back gets sore. Really low down, almost into my bottom, it gets sore after less than a mile!
I would consider doing more but there are two reasons this isn't actually happening. 1. Every evening we're working on the kitchen and those walls won't sand themselves. 2. I can't be arsed. That's really about the size of it. Simply as that. I'm still very active (the DIY is seeing to that) but actual exercise... not really happening.
I'm also feeling so flipping hormonal just now it's not even funny. One minute I'm super excited about everything that's happening and the next, I am totally down in the dumps. Yesterday TB commented that a radiator I've spend a long time painting, wasn't good enough. Well that sent me into a flood of tears that lasted about half an hour. Just feel all over the place - and not in control of it at all. And when I do feel down, I feel guilty that I'm feeling this way - and also it worries me what things will be like when the baby comes.
I'm going to the gym/seeing my personal trainer once a week - or thereabouts. And that's it. Today I walked along to the gym, did my weights/stretches workout and then walked home. It's probably around 3 miles all in. That's as much walking as I want to do though as my back gets sore. Really low down, almost into my bottom, it gets sore after less than a mile!
I would consider doing more but there are two reasons this isn't actually happening. 1. Every evening we're working on the kitchen and those walls won't sand themselves. 2. I can't be arsed. That's really about the size of it. Simply as that. I'm still very active (the DIY is seeing to that) but actual exercise... not really happening.
I'm also feeling so flipping hormonal just now it's not even funny. One minute I'm super excited about everything that's happening and the next, I am totally down in the dumps. Yesterday TB commented that a radiator I've spend a long time painting, wasn't good enough. Well that sent me into a flood of tears that lasted about half an hour. Just feel all over the place - and not in control of it at all. And when I do feel down, I feel guilty that I'm feeling this way - and also it worries me what things will be like when the baby comes.
Thursday, 29 January 2015
Bumpy Ride
Finally, there is a more than just a tummy that looks choc full of Christmas pies. It's taken me well into my fifth month, but at last, we have a bump.
I won't lie, I've been excited and searching for the bump since the day we found out I was pregnant. I've been searching hard. And although my shape changed and I filled out a bit, there really wasn't much to see. Maybe because I'm not a skinny wee thing, or maybe because I have child bearing hips, or maybe it's because I'm 5ft 7 - but really until about ten days ago, if you didn't know there was a baby in there, you wouldn't know. You know? In fact, I started this post yesterday and since then, actually overnight - there has been some serious growth. No wonder I was flipping knackered yesterday!
I work alongside a girl who is also preggers and is just two weeks behind me. She is very tall and is maybe a size 22/24. Because our pregnancies are pretty much at exactly the same time, there is nothing that happens to me that hasn't happened to her. And I have to confess, the way she is constantly rubbing her 'bump' confuses me. There really is no bump to speak of - just her tummy that was there before. For some reason I find it really disconcerting. It takes very little to annoy me at the best of times but all this exaggerated rubbing of what is essentially - just tummy - is about to send me over the edge.
And then there is the touching. I had no idea I'd feel like this but I am totally freaked out by anyone trying to touch the bump. The first time it happened was before Christmas when there still really wasn't much of a bump to speak of, or cop a feel of. I was just leaving the office when a colleague I really don't know that well, came towards me with hand outstretched asking if she could touch 'bumpy'. She was coming at me to feel what was was very little than my normal jiggle. Emm, how about no? I actually stopped her and said: "I'm not really into touching". I'm sorry but her hand was going to be just a few inches above my pants. I think not. I'm not okay with that. On Tuesday the receptionist at work who normally sees me with my coat on, saw me without my outer layers on. She is such a sweet person and before I knew it she had a little rub. Everyone is just excited and happy for me, which is lovely but the touching is just too much.
You would never touch someone on their tummy that wasn't pregnant. It's just not okay. Similarly, it seems to socially acceptable for people to say things like: "Let's have a look at you" and blatantly look at your tummy. The other day at work someone commented they thought it looked like the bump was getting bigger. The next thing someone from the back of the room said: "Let's see!" and the whole room turned to scrutinise my shape. It's like your are suddenly fair game for people to comment on, as if you're not an actual person. And the bump that they all saw got waved away with: "That's nothing, that's not a bump." Right, okay, thanks for that. I'll just go back to feeling like a total frump then.
And breathe - I just had to get that out my system. I'm being over sensitive, that combined with my usual tolerance level of zero is making me extremely short tempered.
Despite all that I am feeling really positive and excited. Our kitchen renovations have romped on apace this week - the worktop is in and half the tiling is done! Tomorrow the hob and the sink get plumbed in - I will no longer have to cook and wash up in the spare bedroom! Whooo Hoooo!
I won't lie, I've been excited and searching for the bump since the day we found out I was pregnant. I've been searching hard. And although my shape changed and I filled out a bit, there really wasn't much to see. Maybe because I'm not a skinny wee thing, or maybe because I have child bearing hips, or maybe it's because I'm 5ft 7 - but really until about ten days ago, if you didn't know there was a baby in there, you wouldn't know. You know? In fact, I started this post yesterday and since then, actually overnight - there has been some serious growth. No wonder I was flipping knackered yesterday!
I work alongside a girl who is also preggers and is just two weeks behind me. She is very tall and is maybe a size 22/24. Because our pregnancies are pretty much at exactly the same time, there is nothing that happens to me that hasn't happened to her. And I have to confess, the way she is constantly rubbing her 'bump' confuses me. There really is no bump to speak of - just her tummy that was there before. For some reason I find it really disconcerting. It takes very little to annoy me at the best of times but all this exaggerated rubbing of what is essentially - just tummy - is about to send me over the edge.
And then there is the touching. I had no idea I'd feel like this but I am totally freaked out by anyone trying to touch the bump. The first time it happened was before Christmas when there still really wasn't much of a bump to speak of, or cop a feel of. I was just leaving the office when a colleague I really don't know that well, came towards me with hand outstretched asking if she could touch 'bumpy'. She was coming at me to feel what was was very little than my normal jiggle. Emm, how about no? I actually stopped her and said: "I'm not really into touching". I'm sorry but her hand was going to be just a few inches above my pants. I think not. I'm not okay with that. On Tuesday the receptionist at work who normally sees me with my coat on, saw me without my outer layers on. She is such a sweet person and before I knew it she had a little rub. Everyone is just excited and happy for me, which is lovely but the touching is just too much.
You would never touch someone on their tummy that wasn't pregnant. It's just not okay. Similarly, it seems to socially acceptable for people to say things like: "Let's have a look at you" and blatantly look at your tummy. The other day at work someone commented they thought it looked like the bump was getting bigger. The next thing someone from the back of the room said: "Let's see!" and the whole room turned to scrutinise my shape. It's like your are suddenly fair game for people to comment on, as if you're not an actual person. And the bump that they all saw got waved away with: "That's nothing, that's not a bump." Right, okay, thanks for that. I'll just go back to feeling like a total frump then.
And breathe - I just had to get that out my system. I'm being over sensitive, that combined with my usual tolerance level of zero is making me extremely short tempered.
Despite all that I am feeling really positive and excited. Our kitchen renovations have romped on apace this week - the worktop is in and half the tiling is done! Tomorrow the hob and the sink get plumbed in - I will no longer have to cook and wash up in the spare bedroom! Whooo Hoooo!
Thursday, 15 January 2015
Ranty pants
I am SO glad the new year is here and some of my most favourite bloggers have been inspired to get back into sharing their plans, thoughts and goals.
This is the reason why I started blogging, as a way of sorting through my thoughts and to keep me mindful about healthy eating and exercise. Those are the kind of blogs I love to read and find inspiring. I've been lucky enough to follow some people for years and keeping up with their lives means a lot to me and I love reading about what's going on. To get that kind of peek into someone's life is a privilege and I often think about these ladies when I'm going about my day-to-day.
What I don't love is opening up my blog reader and seeing post after post which quite frankly, bore me to tears. For example...
And paid for product reviews? Okay, do it once or twice with something relevant to your blog, but not once a week. If I wanted to read an advertorial I would buy a magazine.
It's my own fault though, I'm following these blogs. I think it's time for a refresh. If there are any good blogs out there that you reckon I should take a swatch at, please do let me know.
This is the reason why I started blogging, as a way of sorting through my thoughts and to keep me mindful about healthy eating and exercise. Those are the kind of blogs I love to read and find inspiring. I've been lucky enough to follow some people for years and keeping up with their lives means a lot to me and I love reading about what's going on. To get that kind of peek into someone's life is a privilege and I often think about these ladies when I'm going about my day-to-day.
What I don't love is opening up my blog reader and seeing post after post which quite frankly, bore me to tears. For example...
- What's in my handbag
- Make-up reviews
- Holiday posts
- Weekend away/places to visit posts
- Product reviews
- How to...
And paid for product reviews? Okay, do it once or twice with something relevant to your blog, but not once a week. If I wanted to read an advertorial I would buy a magazine.
It's my own fault though, I'm following these blogs. I think it's time for a refresh. If there are any good blogs out there that you reckon I should take a swatch at, please do let me know.
Monday, 12 January 2015
Packing it on and in
It's been another weekend of DIY delights. As well as sanding down and filling this door, I've painted radiators, painted walls, wielded pollyfilla and done a load of general house snash. You know, the usual washing, hoovering blah blah blah.
We're now in the fiddly job stage which I hate. Kitchen units going in makes a big difference quickly. Prepping this door for painting took flippin ages and there ain't much difference to see. It WILL look superb when it's done but right now - dullzzzzzz.
This was all broken up by going out for dinner with friends. I find that if I drink a small glass of red wine really quickly it feels amazing! The excitement. My liver must be loving me right now. 5 months off the booze... it must wonder what the hell is going on.
I saw my PT on Thursday for the first time in about two and a half weeks. I'm still finding it no problem at all to do everything. The workout isn't hard mind you. 10 mins on the x-trainer, a series of weights (split squats, leg presses, triceps, shoulders) and then various strengthening work (bridges/dead bugs). I was really keen to see him though as my lower back is really beginning to hurt. When I was at my fattest I used to have a sore lower back quite often - well here it is again! Last week when I spent two days sitting at my desk it was pigging agony and I had to do some stretches in in the stationery cupboard! So I've got exercises to do at home. I NEED to make sure I do them as I've got another four months to go - and by that time I will be huge so it'll be sore even when I do have the baby!
I've sort of been weighing myself most weeks and things are naturally on the up, but they aren't as bad as they could be! Pre-christmas I was about 13stone 12. After Christmas I was 14 stone 2. 4lbs on in two weeks is pretty good going - especially as it's about a pound a week you're recommended to gain at this stage. This week I've pretty much stayed the same. I'm happy with that.
I'm really only working out about once a week though, and I'd like to up that. Even twice would be good. I've been stuck waiting in for various tradesmen and deliveries last week and today - and the evenings are spent on the house. Excuses though - maybe I could venture for a swim tomorrow straight after work...
Wednesday, 7 January 2015
2014 - What a belter
Well here we are, a new year. Another, new
year. Isn’t time a funny thing. It can seem so far away… next month, next year,
five years away. And then… it’s here. A place we could barely imagine is
suddenly our reality.
I can remember so clearly a conversation I
had with TB back in 2011, about marriage and babies and the thought that I
would probably be waiting until I was 34 for those things to happen seemed
forever away. But here we are, in no time at all – and I have everything I
could hope for.
2014 was a pretty big year for me and
because of so many wonderful moments, it does seem like it was quite a long
year.
Marriage
Safe to say this was one of the two biggest
events of my whole life! Organising and planning our wedding was definitely
hard work at times and there were several occasions where I would have gladly
punched various people, but the end result was a weekend that was more than I
could ever have hoped for. From the relaxed ceremony filled with laughter and
tears, to the hilarious speeches and a dress that I am still in love with, I
could not have asked for more.
But that was the wedding. The marriage?
Well, the marriage kicks the wedding into a cocked hat. We’re almost 9 months
into our first year and whoever said the first year is the hardest is the
hardest, must have been in a shitty marriage. Our first year is amazing. If
it’s possible I love him even more and every day I can’t wait for the end of
the working day so I can see him. I am so lucky and so excited to spend the
rest of our lives together. You may now
be sick.
Work
I’ve had a good year workwise – on par with
my best yet and say I that purely relating to fiscal matters. As a freelancer
it’s mostly all about the money. I really enjoy what I do but one eye is always
on the bank account. You see there is also the small matter of maternity pay,
or lack of. As I am self employed I only get government statutory. I’ve always
known this so over the past 18 months (yeah, I was erring on the side of
caution) I’ve been saving like a maddie so I will be able to take a good six –
nine months off when the baby comes.
Fitness
and Body Image
I could write an essay on this one topic.
Overall, I have felt amazing this year. Size 14 jeans and running a 10k in 1
hour. Hoo Ha! I am so proud of myself and my dedication which saw me feel and
look the best I think I have ever. For once I felt good about myself all the
time. Getting dressed to go to any event no longer filled me with dread about
what to wear. Being slimmer and fitter made me feel more confident and I was
more relaxed about things as a result.
I also loved the challenge of getting
there. No, not the weeks when I was faced with temptation and scoffed a load of
naughties, but the weeks when I forced myself to run longer, faster and as a
result I could say “I just ran 4 miles”, which made me feel invincible. I
promised myself I would run a 10k before my wedding and I did. Forget the time
it took me; I love that I made up my
mind I would do it – and I did.
I’ve ended the year in a totally different
place. Being pregnant has affected me more than I thought it would. I thought I
could keep up the exercise regime and really stay on top of things. Yes, I’m
still exercising and plan to for as long as possible (albeit it just one or two
times a week) but my body is changing and I need to adapt to that in a more
drastic way than I thought I would have to.
I’ve definitely not been as strict with my eating as I should have been
and over the last few months I’ve been very good to myself. Anything I’ve
wanted, I’ve had. I learned a lot this year though – mostly that I can be
consistent with my eating and I do eat a very healthy diet. I’m looking forward
to getting into that groove again – which has already begun to happen this
year.
Home
Ever since the first time we went to view
our house, we knew doing the kitchen up was a must. Nothing to do with style
but the state of the manky, 30 year old pine cabinets. But not only did we
decide to do it up, we’ve knocked a wall down through to the dining room and created a super amazing
dining/kitchen space. WE (but mostly TB) have been working hard on it he’s
almost finished putting the cabinets in! I am beyond excited for it to be
finished as not only will it look SO good,
I won’t have to wash the dishes in a basin in the spare bedroom anymore.
Hello dishwasher!
As soon as we finish the kitchen it’s all
systems go with our bedroom – which only has 1/3 of a laminate floor thanks to
sorting kitchen electrics from above. Won’t be sorry to have that replaced
though!
Relationships
I’m really lucky to have many wonderful,
female friends and I was lucky enough to see a lot of them over not just the
festive period but throughout the year, what with my hen do and the wedding. But
it struck me the other day when catching up with one of my closest friends that
I now only see a couple of times a year (whereas we used to live in each other’s
pockets) I miss having a close friend that lives near me. I’ve got a packed social
life and I can’t fit all my friends in as it is, but sometimes, when you’ve got
an hour – you just wanna pop over to
your pal’s and have a right good chin wag. God, I want it all, don’t I?
Baby
Hand in hand with getting married, the best thing to happen to me in 2014, is getting pregnant. I am getting so excited for it and I can't wait until we get to meet our baby. But I am also not excited for people trying to touch my bump - which is still pretty small and jiggles like any normal tummy. I am also more than happy to have time to crack on with all the DIY and decorating!
Over the past few weeks I've been feeling it move all the time which is kinda weird, but exciting! Last night TB managed to feel it kick for himself, following instructions from me to 'push your fingers in here, harder!'
Let’s finish with some pics from the last few weeks.
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