Introducing...

Archie Leo. 

8lb 12oz of pure perfection. Arrived 12 days late on 12/9/16 at 3:17am after a labour that honestly couldn't have gone any better (more on that another day). We are beyond in love with him and our beautiful family. My house full of boys.

41 weeks pregnant

41 weeks. Enough said. Henry had arrived by now and honestly, I assumed this one would have too. I'm not really particularly fed up or majorly uncomfortable or anything so it's not all bad, it's just a funny waiting game and I'm stuck between wanting to keep busy, but not wanting to take Henry anywhere on my own that's too far away or anything like that. Oh well, into my last week of pregnancy....potentially ever!

How far along? 41 weeks!

Baby is...just bigger than last week. And Henry was a big baby, so that thought stresses me out a bit. I really would rather not have a 10pounder! 

Weight gain...31 pounds. Seemed to have dropped a pound on last week so even if Simba is piling on the pounds, at least I'm not! 

Stretch marks? Not one, and my Bio Oil is dangerously close to running out too. If I get a stretch mark this week, Simba, there'll be big trouble!! 

Sleep: Bloody amazing considering.

Most nights I get up once for the loo, but there are nights where I don't wake up at all which I can't really get over. I have the bladder of an 80 year old at the best of times, so why it's chosen now to actually behave itself is beyond me?!

Best moment this week? Not going into labour with a cold! I suddenly came down with a really horrible cold when I was 4 days overdue and had a horrible panic that I was going to go into labour feeling really really poorly. Luckily it's mainly cleared up now, as has Henry's and Marmar's, so at least we shouldn't infect Simba when he/she arrives and if we do, my antibodies will definitely help!

Miss anything?  Making plans and being able to do what we fancy. We had such a lovely summer holiday with loads of trips out, but I do suddenly feel wary about going too far away, particularly with Henry, or making plans with friends and then possibly having to let them down at the last minute, even if it would be for a good reason! 

Food cravings: Still nothing exciting. 

Gender: Since this is my last guess on my blog I'm going to say girl...

Labour signs? All kinds of little niggles. A few contractions here and there, period pain, not feeling myself at times. But clearly nothing that's meant anything! I still feel really really well in myself. My wedding rings will fit, no swelling whatsoever, I don't feel too heavy or have any major aches and pains. I'm beginning to wonder whether this is, in fact, a phantom pregnancy?! 

Mood? Not bad. People seem to automatically assume I'm miserable and desperate to give birth but I'm honestly not. Give me another week and I could change my tune, but right now I'm absolutely fine.

Appointments: I still can't believe I made it to my 41 week appointment! Blood pressure was nice and low (110/60), urine was clear, baby still head down and she also did a sweep. It was uncomfortable but not painful, and although she was able to do it, she didn't seem to think labour was imminent or anything. So I have another booked for Saturday and then induction all booked in for next week. Eeek!

Looking forward to: Meeting this lazy little baby finally! 

Our Summer Holidays - week 6

A much much quieter week to end our holidays with a poorly weekend thrown in at the end. Henry had the cold first and then it hit me like a ton of bricks and has definitely made us all slow down a little! 

A couple of hours spent at soft play at the sports centre. Easy for me, fun for the little pigwidge.

Baking banana and walnut cake. He really loves cooking so much and it's probably not something we'll get much time to do once Simba arrives, so we're making the most of it at the moment. 

So many delicious cuddly naps this week.

His last Finding Dory swimming session of the holidays, with Marmar this time. I loved watching him so much, I could have sat and sobbed at how grown up and confident he was in the water. He's definitely not a baby anymore 

Overdue and trying to get the baby out with a spicy curry. Didn't work. 

Trying copious amounts of pineapple too. Didn't work.

Getting organised and wrapping all of Henry's birthday presents so that we don't have to worry about it in a couple of weeks when we'll have a baby to think about too!

And there you have it, our summer is over and maternity leave has officially begun. I'm looking forward to cosy autumn days with my children (!!!), birthdays and Christmas too. Lots of exciting times ahead and I'm so grateful for all the beautiful memories we've made together this summer. Our last as a three. 

40 weeks pregnant - due date!!

Somehow it's my due date, these last few weeks have flown over and I genuinely can't believe that tomorrow is September and we're going to have a baby really really soon. It still feels totally surreal, I still don't feel prepared and can't imagine what it'll be like doing those newborn days all over again but with a toddler this time. It's super exciting but a bit terrifying too. Let's hope this little one doesn't keep us waiting too long now...

How far along? 40 weeks!

Baby is... the size of a jackfruit (what a jackfruit is, I know not!)

Weight gain...32 pounds so just over 2 stone. Totally happy with that at this stage.

Stretch marks? No, good old Bio oil has meant that I still have a nice smooth big old belly 

Sleep: Not bad at all. Still sleeping all night most nights without getting up for the loo. Henry's still needing mummy cuddles in the middle of the night but that's all fine. If we all get this much sleep, I couldn't care less who sleeps in whose bed for the time being. 

Best moment this week? Getting to my due date and (hopefully) ensuring a September baby. 

Miss anything? Sleeping on my front. I always sleep totally flat on my stomach and really miss it. My hips are so sore when I wake up at the moment from lying on my side. After I had Henry I assumed that I'd be able to lie on my tummy immediately but it was a good while before I could. My tummy was tender as all of my organs rearranged themselves again and massive milk filled boobs don't lend themselves to lying on either, but hopefully it won't be long. 

Food cravings: Nothing at all. This pregnancy has been terrible for good cravings!

Gender: I don't know, honestly. But I'm so so excited to find out who we get, boy or girl. And what they'll be like, who they'll look like, all of those things. 

Labour signs? Firstly I can't believe how well I've been these last few weeks. I've felt totally fine in myself, hormones are in check, no major pain, not majorly tired. We've been busy every day, I haven't struggled with Henry at all (but still super grateful for our two nights off a week where's he's stayed at my mum's!), it's all been really pretty easy. 

On Saturday night I had proper contractions from about 11pm-midnight. I timed them for around an hour and they lasted a minute and were around 5 mins apart. I was so sure that that was it and decided to get a few hours sleep if I could but then woke up a few hours later with nothing so it was obviously just a little trial run! I then had a lot of back pain on Sunday night which felt very much like my last labour, but that had gone by Monday! Tuesday morning was odd too, I woke up beyond achey and suddenly felt shaky and sick at the check out in Morrisons of all places, but then felt totally fine again after a nap. 

With Henry I had absolutely zero symptoms until I went into labour so it's all a bit of a novelty having all these 'signs' and not knowing what they mean, if anything at all! 

Mood? All good.

Appointments: My 40 week appointment went well. The head is now 3/5 engaged, whereas until now it's been totally 'free' and my blood pressure is nice and low still. Heartbeat was nice and strong and we're all set to go. I have a sweep booked in for a week's time at 41 weeks and she said induction would be booked for term+14 which would be the 14th September, a week before Henry's birthday. 

Looking forward to: Being holed up in hospital with my baby for a day or two. It sounds stupid but I love the thought of it just being me and him/her, getting to know eachother, cuddling, feeding, with someone making our dinner and drinks and just generally looking after us. 

Our summer holidays - week 5

And so week 5 is over and if my due date is anything to go by, potentially our last full week! Time seems to be slipping through my fingers and I can't believe how quickly this summer has gone. Here's our week 5 update and I really hope we have a week 6 update next week at least....just hold on a week or two more baby Simba! 

Arrived back from his Marmar's fast asleep after a sleepover and busy morning. I just sat and cuddled him for well over an hour and he was so pleased to see me when he woke up. Just beautiful. 

Been loving my baths this week with my Kindle. I pretty much spend the entire evening in there eating and drinking and it's so relaxing.

Our usual (but last) oases session in the park. The theme was mud and sticks and this little one thoroughly enjoyed digging up mud, making mud pies, painting with mud and lots of other messy fun! No community centre cinema session for us this week, we saw our friends at the garden centre for lunch straight after instead.

Another swimming morning, this time to the special Finding Dory session at the local pool. He loved it, I I was bloody knackered! We had lunch afterwards in the cafe and then home for a snuggle and nap.

A lovely walk on the old railway collecting leaves, berries and flowers in an old party bag!

Finishing our dream catcher with all of the things we found on our walk.

Daddy plays football on a Wednesday so this little one and I had a bath, got into our PJs, made a huge bowl of popcorn, snuggled up and watched a film together.  It was absolutely lush and I think we'll be doing it again this week if we are still babyless by Wednesday night!

A Museum Mice class at the Hancock in Newcastle. Loads of dinosaur activities and games.

Followed by lunch in Jamie's Italian.

A really really lazy start to our Friday. A breakfast picnic on the living room floor - hot cinammon buns, orange juice, yogurt and berries. Henry loves nothing more than a picnic and it was so lovely to slow down a bit and not be rushing out of the house. 

Wheelbirks for lunch and ice cream! 

Another sleepover at Marmar's meant mummy got to put her feet up, finish her book and watch an entire film with Daddy before bed. 

A lazy Sunday tea at Zizzi

39 weeks pregnant

39 weeks! A week to go but hopefully at least 8 days so we get a September baby. Just for the record I'm guessing 4/9/16 and 9lb 2oz.

How far along? 39 weeks

Baby is...the size of a watermelon. And I can really feel it!! 

Weight gain... about 29lb

Stretch marks? Still none, hoping that if I did get some now they'd only be tiny anyway. Fingers crossed.

Sleep: Still good. Getting up some nights for a wee once but some nights not at all. My mum had Henry on Sunday night and I slept for 9.5 hours solidly without as much as stirring and it felt amazing.

Best moment this week? That sleep on Sunday. It'll be another few years before that kind of sleep happens again, I'm sure! 

Miss anything? Not really

Food cravings: Not so much a craving but I've been loving my baths on an evening. I tend to stay in for a good couple of hours and Mr B keeps me fed and watered throughout that time (as well as making the most of sitting on the Xbox without me nagging!). This week I've been loving J2O pear and raspberry fizz to drink and chocolatey choux buns. Really healthy!

Gender: If I had to put money on it, I'd guess girl. But really there are only 2 options so it's just a 50/50 thing and we're so excited to find out now. 

Symptoms:  Nothing major, hips are achey on a morning especially and I can definitely feel the extra weight, but I reckon that's pretty much expected by this stage. 

Mood? All good, excited and enjoying our last few weeks as a three 

Labour signs? A lot of periody type pain this week which comes and goes, plenty braxton hicks which are increasing painful as my bump gets bigger and that's about it I think. No swelling at all still, wedding rings still fit and I still have ankle bones! 

Appointments: None! I'm being left well alone. My next appointment will hopefully be next Wednesday on my due date. 

Looking forward to: the excitement of going into labour. 

Excuse the lack of makeup. Henry and I were off swimming! 

Our summer holidays - week 4

I can't believe week 4 is over. The end of summer holiday blues are hitting hard, even though I'm not actually back at work in two weeks like most teachers. We've had such a gorgeous summer just at home, following our own little routines. We've been so busy, but not too busy to stop for plenty snuggles and naps. The weather has been decent so we've spent so much time outside, Henry's favourite place to be. He's been beyond loving and good, there hasn't been a day where I've felt frustrated or cross with him, not a day where he's thrown a tantrum or caused a fuss. He's had one potty accident the entire time (day and night) which is pretty impressive and he's just turning into such a beautiful big boy and the best company. I'm so so glad that we've had this time together before Baby Simba arrives. Normal maternity leave would only have given us a week or two, but thankfully a well timed summer baby has meant more time with this beautiful big boy. 

A walk in Causey Woods with Marmar and Parpar too, complete with a little picnic snack and picking wild raspberries in the woods.

Another fab free morning at our OASES park class. This week's theme was environmental art and this little one just loved it.

A peg butterfly, clay pot, nature colours and nature rainbow 

Followed by our usual lunch at Marmar's and some outdoor fun for Henry. We also went to the community centre for the weekly film, The Good Dinosaur, which was really lovely.

A lazy Wednesday morning and then lunch and swimming at Consett pool. This little one loves the water and had a fab time.

My friend came down on Thursday with her tiny 7 week old baby and I didn't take one photo. Agh! On the evening we went out for dinner for my father in law's birthday and I must say, Henry looked super smart in his new Boden tractor cardi 

Checking out his new caterpillars which we are growing into butterflies. He woke up, asked to see them immediately and greeted them with "well hello there my tiny little darlings"

A rainy day meant we were off to the cinema to see Finding Dory.

Followed by Wagamamas of course! 

Saturday morning breakfast at Flat White. My happy place. At some point in the near future (and in our next house) I need a long, solid wood table like this for lazy family weekend breakfasts. 

And Saturday dinner at Akbars 

Continuing the food theme...Sunday lunch at the Pavillion. This little crazy loved the chicken and sweetcorn soup.

Snuggling with his Parpar

Sunday night with no little pickle to put to bed. He pestered Marmar at lunch for a sleepover and of course she said yes! So daddy ran me a bath, made me tea and brought me chocolate. It's amazing what he'll do for an hour on the Xbox with the boys!!