Pregnancy Update Week 29

How far along: I'm 29 + 2 days pregnant

Baby's size: baby is now the size of a large butternut squash, at the 4d scan the rough weight was 2lb 11oz.

Maternity clothes: I had a lovely trip to Cambridge with Grant and he brought me a blue shirt and black v-neck vest top from Topshop both maternity. We also got a pair of pink converse (no laces) as I'm finding bending down more and more difficult.

Stretchmarks?: still being kept at bay, not having any itching either.

Sleep: I have been sleeping much better these past few weeks, only needing one wee stop a night.

Miss anything: being able to bend down!

Three of us on a night out x

Movement: baby has a nice little pattern of movement, mainly active at night after I eat.

Best moment this week: having our 4d scan, I can't stop staring at the pictures and thinking of this little person. I also started pregnancy yoga which was really relaxing.

Cravings: my jelly sweet addiction is a little less, now wanting eggs on toast and fruit mainly mango.

Belly button in or out: it's still in just about!

Happy or moody: I'm really happy and excited at the minute can't wait to meet our little person. Grant even said to me the other day he was really excited, which was super cute.

Baby buys: i got baby another neutral outfit from Mothercare, just couldn't resist. We also purchased an Amby baby hammock to use instead of a Moses basket. I put it up yesterday and it was really easy will do a blog about it once baby is here and using it.

Little outfit x

Have a happy week everyone xx

Peekaboo (4d scan)

We had our 4d scan today at Verulam Clinic St Albans. This is where we had an early scan at 11 weeks. Baby is 29 weeks tomorrow.

The sonographer was lovely and really took her time to show us baby. I was a little apprehensive about having the scan but I think it has helped me to bond more. The middle two pictures the screen was turned to HD Live it was really scary how clear the photos were. I'm now thinking Boy!! 

Baby Shower Cupcakes

Last weekend I was invited to a friends baby shower and I volunteered to do some cupcakes. She knows she is having a girl so pink themed cupcakes is what I made.

Beautiful mum to be

Cupcake recipe: I've used this recipe for years and was from an American website but it no longer exists. It makes about 12 large muffin tin cupcakes and I've made about 16/18 normal cupcakes with this recipe. 

Turn oven onto 160 degrees or gas mark 4/5

180g Caster Sugar

180g Self raising flour

180g Butter

1tsp Vanilla extract (I always use Dr Oetker) 

1tsp Baking powder

2 large eggs (3medium)

Pinch salt 

1) Beat together butter, sugar & vanilla until creamy

2) Beat eggs in bowl lightly then slowly add to butter/sugar

3) Sieve flour into a bowl & add baking powder and salt

4) Spoon in flour to rest of mixture 

5) Spoon into cupcake cases and bake in oven for about 12-15 minutes (until golden and toothpick comes out clean) all ovens vary.

**I also put a small teaspoon on strawberry jam on top of each cake so when it rises the jam ends up in the middle, so people have a lovely surprise. I've used lemon curd, cherry (almond extract), Nutella and marshmallow fluff to make a great alternative**

Baked & Decorated

I have recently purchased a silicone mould from trulymadlysweetlycupcakes there cakes are amazing and she offers decorating classes which I will try to attend once baby has arrived. To use the mould I brought pink ready rolled fondant icing from Asda, put lots of icing sugar on my work surface rolled out the fondant placed the mat underneath and then used a rolling pin over the top to get an imprint. Mine weren't perfect and I need to buy a bigger cutter so they fit better over the cake. I put a little bit if buttercream on the cupcake and then placed the print on top.

For the Buttercream

1 small box icing sugar 500g

250g Lurpak (slightly salted) butter (melt slightly)

1tsp Vanilla extract (or flavouring of choice)

Splash food colouring of choice 

1/2 tbsp milk (if the mixture needs softening) 

Mix butter and sugar together until soft consistency is achieved (I always try a bit to see if it tastes nice, I don't like to taste butter in it), add vanilla extract and food colouring. Put into disposable piping bag and pipe the cupcakes with desired look. I like to use a large nozzle. 

IBX Gel Protection

Dadi'Oil, IBX & IBX Repair

I purchased the system to use in my salon at the end of Febuary, I was really excited about getting a product that would help my clients who are having gels constantly. I have been using Shellac for around three years and am very impressed with it however some clients like to pick off the gel or soak off with pure acetone, as much as I try to educate clients as to how you best look after your nails there are still some who do damage. 

I have been using IBX on a few clients since feb to see what results I could get, I do think you need a few applications. Below are before and after photos on a client who picked her shellac off and uses cleaning products regularly 

Dry nails

Damage from poor removal

For the first application I did one treatment of IBX repair then two applications of IBX and left the nails bare with just Dadi'Oil to nourish. The client then came back after two weeks and we did one coat of IBX Repair and one coat of IBX the results are below 

Redness has disappeared 

I am very impressed so far with IBX. It can also be used under any gel system and helps to protect the nails from constant gel use. I have yet to try it under Shellac but will hopefully being doing so soon. 

Great Bra Debate!

I keep getting asked about what bra is best during pregnancy. My boobs grew by about week 14 by one whole back size but stayed the same cup size, I felt really uncomfortable wearing underwire as it seemed to dig in and hurt my back. My biggest worry was my boobs not having any support and heading south! I also didn't want to go to nursing bras too early as I don't feel you need them until your breast feeding. For many woman you need support as your boobs grow and even at 26 weeks pregnant mine are inevitably going to get bigger!

My life savers (photo courtesy of M&S)

Who says you have to wear maternity/nursing bras. I found these gems in Marks & Spencer store and they are for post surgery they are so supportive and padded, have no underwire (heaven) and the duo pack of black and white are really handy. They retail at £29.50 for the pack of two, they also have some printed patterns as well they come in all sizes ranging from 32A to 40DD (I'm lucky I fit in this bracket). M&S have a great measuring service and I know I will be purchasing more of these until I have baby. 

Bugaboo Has Arrived!

Our Peppermint order has arrived yay!

Where do I start! 

We got our gorgeous Bugaboo Cameleon 3 in Classic khaki, Besafe Izi Go car seat, adapters & isofix base for the car. I spent Monday putting the buggy together and having a play with putting up and down. 

The Besafe Izi Go car seat is really easy to put on the Bugaboo and take off, I love the way the straps have little magnets which hold them out of the way whilst you get baby in and out. The hood is pretty funky as well. We didn't get out the isofix base, will save that for our new car.

The verdict is the Bugaboo was really easy to put together (considering two woman did it!) only part I needed the instructions for was the basket part. The buggy is so light to move about. And my brother was impressed with the suspension (he's a mechanic). Will review once bubs is here.

I must admit it really hit me when the Bugaboo was assembled that it won't be long until our little 

person will be here and lying in the buggy, extremely scary & exciting all at the same time. 

* UPDATE * our Bugaboo wool liner arrived later as wasn't in stock x

Pregnancy Update Week 25

Pregnancy Update: 25 Weeks  

How far along: I'm 25 + 3 days pregnant

Baby's size: baby is now the size of a Aubergine (13 1/2 inches) and weighing around 1 1/2 pounds.

Maternity clothes: I've still only brought maternity jeans from Topshop but am also getting quite snug in my normal tops and the belly starts showing! Grant brought me a blue maternity top from Topshop that I have been wearing for work, it's really comfy. 

Stretchmarks?: so far so good I'm still using Elemis Japanese Camellia oil in the morning and have been using Palmers cocoa butter at night. Fingers crossed they stay away.

Sleep: this past week I have been sleeping through till about 4am when I need a toilet trip then I go back until I wake up. I'm enjoying the sleep as I had a couple of weeks of being wide awake at 4 and not being able to sleep again.

Miss anything: Pâté this will be my first thing I eat once bubba is here.

Movement: baby is really kicking now and at night especially I can watch my belly popping about! I love the reassurance (not sure I will be saying that when I have a foot in my rib)

Best moment this week: putting our new Bugaboo together and having a play at putting it up and down.

Cravings: I'm still craving coca cola and any jelly sweets! I'm trying to have nuts instead but they just don't hit the spot.

Belly button in or out: my deep belly button is staying in for now, I'm not sure for how long though as its the flattest I've ever seen it.

Happy or moody: grant would probably say I'm always moody, but I'm feeling really happy at the minute I have so much to be thankful for and am trying to embrace every second. Putting the buggy together made me stop and think that in 12 weeks there will be a tiny person laying in there amazing. 

Baby buys: upto today I haven't purchased any clothes for baby but after my midwife app I had a little shop and couldn't resist the outfit below, it's first size upto 9lbs from ASDA. I'm really struggling with neutral outfits and don't want to get too many as once baby is born I'm sure we will want to put them in pink or blue.