17 week pregnancy update

Today I am 17 weeks and 4 days pregnant with my second child.  Above is my belly this week, its getting bigger every week. I'm formally only wearing maternity clothes now.  Here is what has been going on this week.

How many weeks? 17
What's going on with baby?: Its about 13cm by now, the size of an onion.  The baby can swallow, suck and blink.
Appointments: I had my 16 week appointment last Tuesday.  It all went well, we got to listen to the baby's heartbeat which was 158bpm.  I had blood taken which is being analysed to find out the baby's blood group as I am rhesus negative.  If the baby is also Rhesus negative then i won't need to have anti-D at 28 weeks.  My blood pressure was 118/68.
Symptoms: Still getting dizzy spells, feels like i may get them throughout this pregnancy.  I have been extra hungry again and tiredness has been creeping in too.
Weight: 132.8lbs
Gain/Loss this week: +1.0 lbs
Total gain: 10.8 lbs
Belly:  36 inches
Sleep: Same as last week really but I've been going to bed a bit later the past few nights so haven't needed a wee in the night!
Movement:  Lots of movement every day now.
Cravings: Nothing specific.
Purchases:  Gina Ford, contented baby and toddler book.
What I'm wearing:  Next maternity jeans and new look t-shirt.
Male or Female?: We don't know the baby's gender yet.
Looking forward to: Seeing my mom this weekend and getting my oven cleaned!

Here is my 17 week pregnancy vlog

See you at 18 weeks
Love Suzanne xxx

16 week pregnancy update

Today I am 16 weeks and 3 days pregnant with my second child.  Above is my belly, this week I feel more fat than pregnant.  Probably has something to do with all the pizza and cake I have been eating!  Here is what has been going on this week.

How many weeks? 16
What's going on with baby?: Its about 12cm by now, the size of an avocado.  In the next couple of weeks the baby's weight doubles (I hope mine doesn't!).  It has grown finger and toe nails.
Appointments: 16 week appointment this coming week.
Symptoms: I've had a few dizzy spells this week again.  I've got my 16 week appointment with my midwife tomorrow so I'm going to ask about it.  I have also been getting a numbness in my toe which isn't bad but a little bit annoying.
Weight: 131.8lbs
Gain/Loss this week: +1.8 lbs
Total gain: 9.8 lbs
Belly:  36 inches
Sleep: I've been waking up around 5am needing the toilet but I've been holding it in as i don't want to wake my son up as he can stir about this time.  This means i effectively don't get back to sleep but at least i am resting.  Roo has been getting up about 6am this past week.
Movement:  More flutterings and definite movement feelings.  Baby is doing a little dance at the moment whilst i am writing this!  It so reassuring.
Cravings: Nothing specific.
Purchases:  None this week.  See i told you i don't buy things every week :-)
What I'm wearing:  New Look reversible jeans i bought last week and a grey t-shirt from Tesco.
Male or Female?: We don't know the baby's gender yet.
Looking forward to: My 16 week appointment with my midwife.

Here is my 16 week pregnancy vlog

See you at 17 weeks
Love Suzanne xxx

15 week pregnancy update - Baby #2

Today I am 15 weeks and 4 days pregnant with my second child.  Above is my belly, it definitely feels like it is growing but I still think i don't look that pregnant!  Here is what has been going on this week.

How many weeks? 15
Weight: 129lbs
Gain/Loss this week: -0.4 lbs
Total gain: 7 lbs
Belly: not measured this week
Symptoms: My hunger has subsided but I'm still eating lots, out of habit and because i enjoy it.  I'm trying to have more fruit than cakes though but the odd Mars bar and packet of Doritos is creeping in.  This week I've really got the nesting bug and been doing a lot of sorting and tidying.  Long may this continue!
Cravings: Pizza, orange juice
Sleep: I get up to go to the toilet about once a night.  It's still ridiculously hot so that has been disturbing my sleep and my son has had a few 5am get ups which can be tough.
Movement:  I have started to feel flutterings but not every day.
Purchases:  I had the luxury of a few hours to myself on Saturday and i headed into town.  I had a lovely couple of hours looking round the shops and I got a couple of maternity things.

New Look Reversible Jeans - £9

Red Herring Grey 3/4 t-shirt - £12

Red Herring Blue & White t-shirt (and nursing top) - £8

What I'm wearing:  New Look vest top and cream linen trousers from Matalan.  Both maternity.
Male or Female?: We don't know the baby's gender yet.
Looking forward to: Getting my hair cut this week.  It's been so long and my roots are awful.  We are going to a family fun day at the weekend with some friends.  There are a lot of people on holiday at my work so i get a car space which I'm so excited about.  I hate getting the bus! I'm also looking forward to sorting out my wardrobe and hanging up my maternity clothes.

Here is my 15 week pregnancy vlog

See you at 16 weeks
Love Suzanne xxx

13 Week Pregnancy Update

Hi everyone, i know it's been ages since ! last posted.  Sorry.

Been so busy with my almost 2 year old and working.  I am going to try and update more especially as we have exciting news...I'm pregnant again and due in January.

Here is my 13 week pregnancy update (and you can also find my 14 week update on my channel as well).  Enjoy!

Love
Suzanne

April Favourites

Here are the products i've loved in April...

1. Boots No 7 Instant Radiance Highlighter £9.95

Quick and easy to apply and gives a nice glow to the skin. I have it on the the photo above.

2. MAC Paint Pot in Soft Ochre £15

I can't believe that this is my first MAC product.  I find the counters quite intimidating, so i went with a friend for extra confidence.  I'm using this as an eye primer and love the way it evens out the tones on my eyelids as well as helping my shadow stay on longer.

3.Garnier Miceller Cleansing Water £2.99

This is such a bargain, it takes your make up off easily but feels just like water.  It isn't irritating to the skin and is great for using before your cleanser.

4. Joico Body Lux Root Lift £9.99

This gives me volume at my roots and some grit to my hair.  I've only ever used conventional mousse before but i love how the nozzle enables you to put this directly on your roots and i will definitely be repurchasing this one.

5. Dragonfly Vanilla Rooibos tea £1.99

Caffine free and a great addition to my tea collection.  I enjoy these in the afternoon whilst Reuben has a nap. 

6. JME Really Good Rice Pot £38

Designed for the JME at home range, i am really enjoying using this rice pot (and not just for rice).  I pop either rice or pasta into the microwave for a few minutes and when i get back from collecting my son from nursery his dinner is already made.  Brilliant.

7. Soap & Glory Whipped Clean Shower Butter £8.00
I use this in the shower after my shower gel, it makes a great shaving lotion and gives enough moisturiser that i don't need to moisturise after my shower.  Great all round product and time saver.

Thanks for reading
Suzanne

Battle of the body conditioners.

My new favourite product of 2014 so far, has to be body conditioners. I didn't know what a body conditioner was until a couple of months ago but now i am obsessed. 

I use mine in the shower, after my shower gel.  I put it on whilst standing out of the water and then leave for a couple of minutes before rinsing off.  I've found they have the added bonus of also being a great shaving lotion, so I put on and shave and by the time I've done that it's time to rinse.  After rinsing i get out of the shower, towel dry as normal and then get dressed.  No need to moisturise.

I have to admit being a working mom, I have skipped the moisturising stage over the last year as i just don't have the time. The discovery of body conditioners is something that has literally made a difference to my routine and i don't think i will ever look back.

So which ones have I tried and what are my favourites?

I started with Lush Ro's Argan Body Conditioner.  I'm a bit obsessed by Lush at the moment and the lady in the shop talked me into trying this and I took away a sample.  I've loved the product but at £15.95 i thought it was a bit pricey, so I went on the hunt for a cheaper alternatives.

That's when i came across the Soap & Glory Whipped Clean shower butter.  This is amazing stuff.  It's definitely my favourite and is the product that has got me hooked on body conditioners.  It smells nutty and leaves a lovely feel to my skin.  

After realising there was no turning back, I went and bought the full size Lush Ro's body conditioner.  Out of all the ones I've tried, this definitely is the most moisturising but I'm not keen on the smell.  So, if i could only buy one it would be the Soap & Glory but I'll probably end up alternating between the two.

In the meantime, I started seeing TV adverts for a Nivea Body Moisturiser.  It seems like the rest of the world was now talking about body conditioners.  They were half price in Tesco last month, so for about £1.60 they were worth a try.  However, I'm not impressed.  They aren't as conditioning and the smell is too Nivea like (if you know what i mean?!).   For now I'm sticking with Lush and Soap & Glory.

Have you tried Body Conditioners?  What do you think?  Let me know if you have a favourite you think i should try.

Cheerio for now
Sx

Reuben's 19 month update

Ok, so Reuben is now 19 months and i'm just getting round to his one and a half year update. I'm always late.  Expect his two year update around Christmas!

Me and Reuben in Brixham at Easter 2014

Reuben at the top of a slide

Weight: I haven't taken him to be officially weighed for months.  i think he gets a two year review with the health visitor so that will probably be the next time we get him weighed.  However, he loves getting on our bathroom scales and he did this last week and he was 1 stone 11lbs.

Height: He is definitely growing, but again no official measurement.  He is in 18-24 month clothes.

Clothes: Mainly 18 - 24 months. He no longer wears vests and most days his 'uniform' is a t-shirt, long sleeved top and a pair of blue or light grey joggers.

Feeding: Cows milk when he wakes up and at 6.00pm (when the bedtime hour starts on cbeebies).  He has his milk drinks out of a tommy tippie beaker.  He has 3 meals a day plus a couple of snacks. He doesn't eat that much generally and at nursery I often pick him up and they tell me he hasn't eaten his lunch. Top 5 meals are, Fish Fingers, Spaghetti Bolognaise, Scrambled egg, roast dinner  and Shepherd's pie.

Development: Walking has now turned into running, he can climb onto chairs and the sofa.  He dances around in a circle when he is excited.  His language has really come on in the last month and i've counted he has over 50 words or phrases (see below)

Up, more, please, no, yes, daddy, mummy, grandpa, grandma, tick tock, juice, ready steady go, toast, all aboard, ball, dog, mmm (for moo), baa, quack, miaow, peppa, duck, bird, dirty, bubble, pop, night night, bye bye, hiya, there, Nana (for banana), apple, pear, choo choo (for train), shoes on, door, ta da, uh oh, baby, one, two, three, four, Five, wee, its a phone, bowl, peas, help, turtle, goal, e-i-e-i-o (from old MacDonald), roar, ne-nah, beep, stick

Reuben has also been learning Makaton signing and can sign: more, food, drink, bath, bubble bubble pop song, wind the bobbin up song, help, pig

Activities: My working days are now Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and on those days Reuben is at nursery. On mondays and tuesdays we generally do similar things.  Mondays are Noah's ark toddler group or gymnastics centre in the morning and shopping or park in the afternoon. On a tuesday we generally go to the Long Ashton coffee shop in the morning and toddler group in the afternoon.

Favourite things: A bat and ball, balls in general, skuttle bug, books, ikea panda cuddly toy, biros and pens, stickers, slides and swings

Poo: We are averaging 2 a day.

Nicknames: Roo, sausage, monkey, poppet

Routine:  Is a little bit more flexible but a good day looks like this.

6.30am get up and milk from beaker. We generally get up between 6.00 and 7.00. 
7.30am Breakfast - cereal, half a banana and a piece of toast 

7.45am brush teeth and get dressed (and then to nursery on those days)

9.30 Snack of some sort

10.30-11.30 - Activity

11.30am Lunch. 

12.30-2.30 Afternoon nap, mostly in cot

2.30/3 - drink and small snack

3-5 Outing

5.00pm dinner
6.00pm - milk from beaker

6.40pm Bath

6.50pm  brush teeth, story (I love my mummy/dig dig digging/That's not my reindeer are favourites)

7pm bed  

Purchases: A few clothes, wellies 

Places we've been: Centreparcs Longleat, Brixham,Walsall, Shaftesbury to see Great Grandpa

Reuben making friends with the ducks at centreparcs

See you at 2 years!