The little things in life...

To be honest not much has changed really, nothing dramatically anyway. The one thing I must tell you, well shout to you is that I am starting to feel more like myself! I am much less sick, much less tired and generally am starting to feel a little more human that before. Which is such a relief, I just can't tell you how draining it is!!

DID I TELL YOU WE ARE HAVING A BOY?????????????? Yes a BOY! A BLUE ONE! 

I am still in massive shock, I am not sure if I will get my head around it to be honest until I see that teeny little man in real life. I really do need to start getting things sorted for him as I guess I am pretty much half way now. Everything I currently have is very, very girly! 

I still get tired easily and if I'm off or able to then when Daisy naps I will join her for half an hour, lazy bones I know! But hey if you can't beat them, join them! 

I am actually able to stay awake past 8pm now and am now going to bed normal time again for me, around 10pm. I  even managed to stay awake past midnight on New Years Eve, yeah go me!! Although I did wake up the next day with a non alcohol induced hangover, how is that fair? 

Food wise, I do have my appetite. It comes and goes in size but the only plus is that I am still really enjoying fruit and actually have found myself really wanting more veg in my meals. I really need to kick start this healthy eating so this couldn't have come at a better time, cue ordering a fruit and veg box from our local supplier! Along with a good appetite also comes a thirst, sometimes I just can't quench it. Which is great really because if I'm not thirsty then I just won't remember to have a drink, I know, terrible.

The worst thing for me this past few weeks has been this dreaded "pregnancy cold", I just couldn't shift it. I must have had it for at least 6 weeks and I just felt disgusting! Even the good old vitamin weren't making much difference, although I am not very strict with them so maybe I should get right back on the Centrum pregnancy vitamins that I took last time. The only thing that has helped much at all is putting Vicks on my feet at night under socks (an old wives tale that seems to help for at least an hour or so!) and drinking as much water as I possibly could. I tried not to take anything if I could help it and only took paracetamol on the one night when my throat was on fire. I would just rather not if I can help it. I must admit I did actually use Daisy's Calpol Saline spray for a few days to try and ease my sinuses too, it seemed to work!

My bump has popped out a little, sometimes it looks much bigger than others though. I guess it must be his position to how it looks. Visually I haven't changed much at all to be honest, I am still too small or not pronounced enough to wear any of the maternity wear I have purchased, the only thing I can get away with wearing is this top from ASOS and even that is still not fitting perfectly, another few more weeks and I am sure I will be rocking that maternity wear! Other than a rounder tum and boobs the only difference visible to me is that my hair is growing rapidly and my skin is better. To others they may hopefully be starting to think I don't look quite so rough as I have been trying to make more effort this past few weeks what with having a tiny bit more energy and some special occasions thrown in there!

Movement hasn't got all that much stronger yet really, I do feel him more often than say 3 weeks ago but it certainly isn't a KICK KICK yet, more of a gentle poke. I am looking forward to the day I can actively encourage it!

I did a video update this week too to go along with this update, you can see it here:

Pleased to say though that the sickness has subsided slightly, the nausea too. I am probably sick once a day, usually during the night and that I can deal with. In one tiny way I actually quite like the reminder that my hormones are doing their job and looking after my baby like they should be, especially as I am still yet to feel proper full on movement in my tummy. The nausea isn't with me all day every day now, which is a relief. In a morning I feel rotten but once I have had my breakfast - toast, it is the only thing that will cut it, then I feel fine. I know as soon as I start to feel yuck that it is time to eat again, little and often. And now this tends to be just before a proper meal time rather than every hour!!!

I am also thirsty again - hooray! Which means I can have a proper drink without feeling horrible and it doesn't have to be ice cold anymore! Which just was not practical. Although I do still love the clinking of that ice! 

Talking about movement, I have actually started to feel turns or waves or bubbles what every you want to call them. It is not predictable and it is not all that frequent, but probably once a day, usually in the night or at bedtime I can feel that familiar little pushing sensation, so light and gentle but reassuring. I am looking forward to the days when I can feel it from the outside and actively encourage it! 

So we had our 12 week scan and baby was looking good. We have since had an appointment with a consultant who we saw during my last pregnancy, he checked baby's limbs over to ensure all was looking right and checked organs as much as he could. This was obviously an additional scan to most people but is due to Daisy's hand being identified early on in our last pregnancy. If you haven't read that post, catch up on it here. It has been such a relief to see all is looking like it should! The only thing we haven't been able to see properly is the little ones face, sleeping babies, face down aren't all that helpful!! 

I have grown a little bit this past week I think, but still I could get away with not being pregnant. I am sure my tummy looks bigger some days than others, I guess it is positioning of the baby and maybe what I have ate  etc? 

I will pop a photo in here for you! 

So I don't have much else to report on really, I am looking to do a VLOG update on my YouTube channel later this week/ early next week where I may chat a little more :)

Lots of love, 

A not so sick,  Hayley xxx

 I found out quite early on because I just didn't feel right and because we were planning for a baby I was probably looking out for the symptoms too. My symptoms started at around 4 weeks when I just felt Bleurgh! It is hard to describe but I just yuck. Not necessarily sick or vomiting and not exhausted but a mix of the two, just generally lethargic. i always tell people that have never had morning sickness or felt that way that basically it is a hangover!!! I also had those niggly, achey pains where it feels like your cycle is continuing but in fact it is just your body implanting that little set of cells into your uterus! 

We went on holiday to Italy shortly after and I did panic a little thinking if it was anything like my pregnancy with Daisy then I would be in for a rubbish holiday! And I risked ruining it for Daisy and Ben at the same time. Thankfully if I made sure I ate often then the yucky feelings stayed away. We had lots of rest so that helped too, the perks of a napping toddler! 

Unfortunately the sickness and nausea did arrive but not until around 7 weeks so I guess I should think myself slightly lucky, although I do feel like I need to say that I was still very grateful and still am to have this tiny little pea pod growing inside my tummy. I managed to keep the actual sickness under control with drinking plenty (not prosecco!) and nibbling lots, going to bed early and generally avoiding anything too strenuous or smelly!! What is it with pregnant ladies noses?? Like hound dogs!! But I really did forget how truly exhausting pregnancy is in those early days and with a toddler to chase after I'm sure it makes it that even more tricky. 

I have so much help available with looking after Daisy but making myself get up and do it myself, enjoying time with her so doing things like swimming lessons still really did help. It didn't feel like it at times, when I'm sat retching at the thought of having to cook her tea and  getting in the car to go somewhere when I'm feeling so naff but it really did help in those early days. And having her reminds me that it certainly is worth it! 

Picking her up from nursery really was the hardest part for me. Nurseries have a certain smell, it's not horrible by any means but there is a smell of some kind and for some reason it really didn't sit well with me. I usually pick up Daisy just after they have had lunch so it is probably that that left a funny old smell! I could feel myself turning green even at the thought of walking in, I'd sit in the car sucking a mint and giving myself a countdown to go in!!! The staff must have thought I was so rude because I couldn't get away quick enough!!

Other sympotms have included ligament pains, everytime I cough or sneeze my god I feel like I am tearing my body into pieces! I shout OWWWW every single time I have to sneeze! The pain is in your lower abdomen, almost where your legs attach! And you can feel the ligaments almost go ping! Ouch!

Other than that it has been the usual greasy lank hair, unpredictable skin, those really painful spots that never actually show their face and just sit annoying you like a bruise under your skin, sniffles and aches all over the place!

I will pop a little bump shot in here, but I really don't think there is one there just yet! I do feel bigger in an evening than I did with Daisy at this point but it really is difficult to compare. I didn't show properly until probably 18 - 20 weeks with her and even then I was never really huge until the last few weeks, and even then it wasn't huggggggggggge! So we shall see how this one goes!



Lots of love,
Hayley & Daisy xxx