PREGNANCY #3: Preparing my Hospital Bag for the Third Time

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It's that time again...time to pack the hospital bag. This is when reality hits that there is actually going to be a baby here soon, a reminder of how small newborn baby clothes are and the excited feelings of what is to come. As we're expecting our third baby I'm certainly not new the packing a hospital bag, but it still feels like quite a daunting task to me. I think it's the unknown that makes it trickier; not knowing the kind of birth you're going to have, how long it will be, when it will happen, where it will take place etc. Obviously we all have some level of a plan in place, but babies are notorious for just doing whatever they want to, aren't they? When it came to packing my hospital bag this time around it is with the vision of giving birth in hospital and not having a c-section. Only time will tell whether I end up needing an emergency c-section, but at the moment it is not part of my birth plan so have therefore not packed for one. 

PREGNANCY #3: Let's Talk About...How Announcing Pregnancy Changes After Your First

Announcing you're pregnant for the third time is a funny one really; the excitement of announcing for the first time has certainly reduced, yet it can come at an unexpected time so has that shock/surprised factor. Pregnancy and trying to conceive is a very personal journey for each couple and this is my experience of announcing we were pregnant for the third time. When we announced we were pregnant with our first baby everyone was beyond excited; baby showers were thrown, NCT classes attended and I was well and truly looked after by all those around me. If I could have the experience of being pregnant for the first time again I think I'd have endless children because it was honestly one of the most special times to look back on. The excitement, love and anticipation that we shared with everyone around us was just incredible and those moments I'll cherish forever.

PREGNANCY #3: The Pressure of Keeping Everything Going.

There always seems to be a point in pregnancy when things start to become real, the anticipation peaks and the final preparations are being done. That is 37 weeks for me, when I'm full term and it really is a waiting game. It's a funny one really because I spend the majority of the pregnancy willing 37 weeks to arrive, so that our baby will be born when they are fully ready, yet the moment I get there everything changes. I become anxious, worried, unsure and most of all completely preoccupied with trying to guess when our baby will make an appearance. This is where I'm at right now. I'm currently two days off 38 weeks and feel like I'm crumbling under the pressure of everything. 

PREGNANCY: 8 Month Update - Low-Lying Placenta, Anaemia and Surprise Special Moments

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I can barely believe that I'm sat here writing an 8 month pregnancy update and the first one since the first trimester - where has the time gone? Pregnancy with two children running around, starting school, reaching milestones, needing attention etc. doesn't leave very much time to actually sit back and focus on the pregnancy itself. It's to be expected I guess; long gone have those days of my first pregnancy where I could enjoy a relaxing bath in peace, book in for pregnancy massages and have an uninterrupted conversation with my husband about baby names! The tiredness is certainly more intense third time around, but there have also been quite a few unexpected aspects to this third pregnancy that have made it so special in its own way. As soon as you have other children pregnancy isn't just about you, it's about sharing the experience as a family and that has been truly incredible this time around. 

CHILDREN: The First Week of Starting School - Highs, Lows and Everything In-Between

Starting school. The milestone dreaded by many and one that is truly life changing, whether you like it or not. I have spent the last year or so getting myself wound up about this September and Isabella, my first baby, starting school. I just couldn't see life without her at home with me, especially as she was the one who made me a mummy in the first place. I didn't know motherhood without her there all the time and she didn't know life without me there. We spent the summer trying to squeeze in as many special memories together as we possibly could. After my second daughter, Poppy, was born I had a tricky time personally, but we had finally found our feet as a team and I just wasn't ready to let that go. I wanted to dig my heels in, scream and shout and not let the education system take my daughter away from me five days a week. I knew it was best for Isabella and she spent the summer so excited for September to finally arrive, but the run up was completely the opposite for me. However, we are now over a week into school life and a lot has changed, I've learnt a lot and Isabella has learnt a lot too.

PARTY PLANNING: Throwing a Rose Gold Hen Party

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Throwing a Hen Party (or Bachelorette Party if you're in America) is such an honour and exciting event to be part of; the love and thought that is poured into the planning makes this one of my favourite parties to throw. At the end of this year my sister-in-law is getting married, so this summer we threw her a very special Rose Gold Hen Party and it was just incredible. The planning process was very much a team effort amongst her friends and family, which was such a lovely way to do it and meant that it didn't all land on one person's shoulders.