Fletchers First Fireworks

Last weekend, we headed in to the centre of Norwich to watch the fireworks at the Castle in Norwich. Although Fletcher was in fact born and out of the womb at last years fireworks, he was only a week old, so we could exactly go and watch them.

I was so excited for these this year, having not been to fireworks in Norwich in years due to travelling. This years fireworks did not disappoint! set to rockier songs than I actually expected, it ended with a background song of Nirvana, Smells like teen spirit (yes!).

thank you Norwich for having amazing fireworks for fletchers first year. He was completed unamused. he didn't cry or scream, or show joy to be honest. Brad and I enjoyed it at least. What a great evening we had, only thing missing was mulled wine, and a sparkler!

Post Partum Update

So, on tuesday it was 12 weeks since i had fletcher.12 weeks where has the time gone! Im generally feeling great, if a little sleep deprived (but thats to be expected). Fletcher has gotten much better at sleeping through the night, even spending a few hours in his own room (which is off our bedroom).

We have now pretty much adapted to family life and recently myself and brad have decided to get back into shape and be healthy. Since neither of us spend all day every day on out feet anymore we have pretty much piled on the pounds (let me just point out we arent huge just not how we used to be!) its been lovely and refreshing to eat cleanly and heathily and i have already seen after only a few weeks the difference in my energy levels. I've got an old pair of jeans that i bought right before i got pregnant that is my aim to fit back into them. 

We spent a rather lame new years eve at gime watching movies and then the countdown on tv as myself and fletcher were very poorly! Exciting times this parenthood marlarky is! (Its honestly great but that just sounds super lame!) 

We have also done some further modifications to our house to make it feel more like a home so possibly i'll do an updated house tour in the near future. Unfortunately im only finding time to sit and write blog posts when fletcher is asleep (which is a lot less during the day now) this happens to also be the time that i have to get some house work done theres is so much laundry now!! 

Anyway i must now nip off and do a bit of dinner prep whilst fletcher is asleep! 

Has anybody else decided to get fit? Let me know how your doing it in the comments! 

Love

Kelsie xxx

The Pregnancy Truths

Having given birth just 4 weeks ago i now feel a lot more like myself ( even wanting to dye my hair crazy colours again, i've refrained so far) i now feel it may be an appropriate time to reflect on those lengthy 9 months and give you the truths about pregnancy, basically what they dont tell you!

1. You may not get morning sickness. 

I had absolutely no morning sickness at all. A lot of people realise they are pregnant because of morning sickness. A lot of people realise because they are late  for their period. I was part of the latter. I didnt throw up at all. There was one time where i took some whitebait out to a table (was a waitress at the time) and it smelt so awful that i almost almost threw up. But i didnt. Im pretty thankful for this. You mah get sick, you might not. 

2. At around 30 or so weeks pregnant or possibly earlier you will just pop and your belly will start looking significantly bigger. This is also the time you maybstart getting stretch marks (time to purchase those creams!) 

Again i was quite lucky that i really didnt get many stretch marks. I did a post all about then HERE. 

3. Be prepared to be tired, ALL THE TIME. I napped so much during my pregnancy. Trust me make the most of it. Sleep is rare with a newborn. 

4. Everything will get bigger. That acene in friends were they say her boobs, feet and bum will get bigger. Well rachel aint lying. My feet swelled so badly towards the end of my pregnancy. I took to waddling everywhere. Wide fit shoes are also a dream here! Thankfully the swelling on my feet went away really quickly and i an back in ny old shoes. Some women's feet dont ever return to their old size! 

My fingers swelled so badly i got carpel  tunnel syndrome (basically numbness and pins and needles in my fingers and down my arm). My fingers swelled so much i couldnt take my rings off and they started digging in. Left them hoping they would be alright afterwards. Update swelling has reduced in my fingers but my knuckles have put on weight (yay!) so rings are still firmly in place but no longer digging in!

5. Not all women enjoy pregnancy. I hated it. I didnt feel like myself. I didnt feel like i was 'glowing' at all. Hated it all. Plus it was a super hot summer and i just felt awful. Obviously i am mega happy now, i love and adore Fletcher. 

There are just a few things i found out about being pregnant. There are some more things i realised whilst being pregnant but these are some of my most notable! 

Did any of this surprise you? Have any of you had a baby and had a similar pregnancy experience? 

Toodles

Kelsie xx

Tiny Nails ; My Birth Story

Prepare yourself. Everyone knows labour isn't pretty, easy or painless. There is, however, a lot you do not get told. So here I am to tell you of those little things.  Prepare yourself for a lengthy post, but filled with truths you normally don't get told. Also don't let it scare you too much. Eductation is key, for some people knowing the ins and outs provides more comfort for a situation.

Now before I gave birth I did try my best to avoid other peoples labour stories, videos and generally anything that tells the truth about labour. That was my coping mechanism. What I didn't know couldn't frighten me or hurt me(I get crazy squeamish). Nor did I then have any expectations. I didn't do amazingly at avoiding everything I did watch Hannah Maggs birthing video ( HERE) and I also read Louise's/Sprinkle of Glitters blog post on her labour story for Darcy (HERE). Both of which put the fear in me. After reading them I did my best to forget them.

People always say when you go into Labour you WILL know. I questioned this. 'How would I know?' ' what if I had a pain already in my life that was similar to an early contraction meaning I didn't recognise I was in labour?' 'how was I to be sure my waters had broken?'. Well I was right to question it. On the 27th October I was feeling just a tad under the weather, a little bit run down and went to lay in bed at around 9pm. I woke back up around 11pm when my brad came up to bed. Now my knickers felt a bit damp, but they did a lot by then anyway due to my constant trips to the bathroom I just wasn't sure. about half hour later and about 3 more trips to the loo I thought it maybe this is it, maybe they have broken. I stated to get very light stomach cramping pains (much like intense period pains). Still I wasn't all that sure. I sat and tried to see if these pains came and went regularly, which they did. So I called the midwife, she told me to try get some sleep, which was not happening at all. This is what they don't prepare you for in child birth the growth of pain. it starts uncomfortable and just gets worse and worse.

For me the contractions grew rapidly. I called the midwife 3 times that night, nothing she suggested eased the pain at all. it just got more and more intense. (I sent brad to bed for a bit to try get some sleep) at half 2 I just couldn't wait around any more. walking around was all I could do to ease a bit of the pain. Alas I was no going to be able to do that for long.


We arrived at the hospital at 3.05 am . I had gotten no sleep, the pain was just getting worse. I was popped into a room and then a stream of midwives and doctors started coming into the room. It suddenly felt quite serious. Fletcher's heart beat was far to high and they didn't know why. I was put on a drip to hydrate me and him, his made his heart beat drop but lower than they wanted it to.This meant that along with the monitor attached to my belly I wasn't moving any where! the c word was chucked about, doctors telling me all this stuff in medical terms. What they don't tell you before labour is how many people will look at your vagina (and not bat an eyelid) They also don't tell you that you will end up with some ones hand in you vagina. I would like to point out by this point I still had been given no drugs. I almost threw up at one point through the pain and was then offered gas and air (amazing stuff, I made brad try it too!)

I had my legs up in those things that Ross plays around with in friends, I couldn't see anything 'down there ' , Thank God. I was honestly the sweatiest person ever during this, fans were pointed at me and glasses of water continuously handed to me. I had people doing stuff 'down there' to Fletcher that I had no idea about (something was clipped to him for a more accurate heart rate?!?)

I always knew my labour was going to be quick. I always liked to get things over and done with, and well so does my body apparently. It was too quick for me to be given any other drugs, so just gas and air for me (I told brad afterwards I reckoned I was a god for that!) I felt the need to push at some point and with the midwives help I was guided through each contraction, seeing as I had avoided everything to do with learning about labour, I felt like a natural and I kept being told I was doing very good (I do think they say this to everyone though).

At 6.32am on the 28th October, Fletcher was born, just 3 and a half hours after we had entered hospital. As he was placed on me someone jabbed an injection in my leg (thanks for the warning!). After giving birth to your child you have to push again and deliver the placenta, brad actually saw this and I think it is something that has forever been imprinted in his brain! I was also snipped (yay thanks for that one!) so I was being stitched up, something you really cannot feel but it is uncomfy for a couple of weeks after. Just another warning, you will have someone put a finger up your bum, probably more than once too. But by that point yo don't give a crap, you have a baby and have already have enough happen in that 'area' that you could no longer give a crap..

We were lucky enough that we were allowed home that very evening with Fletcher. We went through all that initial fuss having plenty of doctors coming and looking at monitors and my vagina to actually be very healthy with Fletcher feeding well and allowed out of hospital the same day!

Sitting here now recounting it, it is magical what a human body can go through and be recovered so soon afterwards. Fletcher's now sleeping in his bouncer right by me, filling my heart with joy with every little noise he makes.Me and Brad were fascinated by his tiny finger nails! It is all worth it, even if none of it is planned.

Toodles

Kelsie xxx

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Introducing Fletcher...

Some people may have noticed i have been quiet for a little bit. To be honest i havent even got a clue how long its been (its only a matter of days) but i also havent got a clue what day it is now. See on Tuesday 28th October, Our little boy decided to make his appearance and after a relatively quick labour at 6.32 am Fletcher Brian Day was born! I am now incredibly tired a little bit sore and tender but just enjoying spending time being a mummy and having a little family. He is currently happily asleep (like i should be too) and now is my time to finally settle down from getting my house back in order and give the world a little up date, as well as relax and start to learn my new role as a mummy.

Yes i do have a cracking narnia prince caspian pillow (the comfiest pillow ever)

I will be back with pictures, labour story and general other stuff i have learnt along the way but in the mean time i may just take a bit more time off the blog so i can recover a bit more and spend some quality time with my gorgeous little boy.

Im not entirely sure how much of my life i am willing to put on the internet and i am quite wary about posting pictures of my child so this may be the only picture of my child that will appear. This may change but for now i am quite wary of protecting him from the internet for now.

In the meantime follow my instagram for more regular little updates (this but minus the words really) HERE. So thank you for being patient with me. i have so many post ideas running through my head now which i am super excited to compose but im really aware that i have to just go a bit slower in my life at the moment, especially as i need to actually physically heal in the downstairs area yet! Again thank you for being patient with me.


Toodles

Kelsie xxx

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What's In My Hospital Bag? Baby Edition

As I said in my previous post a couple of days ago, I was splitting these into two posts, otherwise I think it would be ridiculously long. This is what I am packing for my baby boy! Again I must apologise for the poor quality of my pictures I must have been very tired that day! 

All of this is so cute and blue, I am so excited for him to arrive already! 

1. Baby blanket and swaddle cloths - To wrap him up in and bring him home in. The blanket was actually hand knitted by Brad's auntie which I absolutely adore. 
2. Baby wipes - Kind of obvious this one, however, I do know that some hospitals don't allow you to use baby wipes and prefer cotton wool and water
3. Booties and scratch mittens- Baby essentials shall i say. The shoes were actually a gift, and I believe we picked up some mittens from mamas and papas.
4. Sleep suits and bibs- Again gifts but these are pretty plain and standard though!
5. Hats - The woollen one was again a knitted gift from Brad's auntie. I adore this so much its so cute and with our Snowboarding background is just perfect! The other hat I got here as part of a set. 
   
6. Cotton Wool - In case baby wipes are not allowed!
7. Muslin clothes - for sicky times, burps etc.. 
8. Socks- These are so cute and small. I found these ones on Mamas and Papas website (adorable)
9. Cardigan - Knitted again by Brad's aunt
10. Toy - a gift from my sister, when I initially found out I was pregnant

I have also packed new born nappies, but you don't really need to see that. I'm so fully excited for his arrival now. I'm dreading the labour pain (trying not to other think that) but I really really want to be skinny again now! 

Toodles

Kelsie x

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Pregnancy update #4 - 34 Weeks

How far along? 34 Weeks

Maternity clothes? no new ones since last week, but i am taking to wearing some of my old clothes (i particularly liked baggy clothes before i was pregnant) especially round the house.

Stretch Marks? A couple. Have a few now just slightly appearing on my boobies but have been using stretch mark products. See my previous review post on these products here

Sleep? Getting crazy dreams now, but actually sleeping really well. Only getting up a couple of times a night to wee.

Best moment this week? My midwife appointment where she said I could have him as soon as 37 weeks (3 weeks away!) as she thinks this would be easiest for me to give birth to a healthy little boy! Very exciting stuff. Just need to get my self prepared for the rest of the week. Also Sons of Anarchy is back!

Miss Anything? Dippy eggs and still Alcohol. Can not wait for that first beer!

Movement? seems like he is doing back flips, he's got his head down towards my cervix now and his feet just seem to constantly kick out the side of my body! Very uncomfortable!

Food Cravings? Chocolate still. Anything sweet. Also new found love of bananas, I just have to eat them when brad isn't around!

Anything making you feel sick/queezy? Nope not really, got a bit of a cold at the minute anyway. I still can't seem to handle the smell of tuna at all at the minute

Gender? A Boy

Symptoms? Tired and exhausted, let me tell you stairs are a very big challenge when heavily pregnant! Pins and needles in my hands!

Belly button in or out? Still in!

Happy or moody? Really happy. Very giggly days at the moment. We have both been a bit poorly, so down in that front but not moody really.

Looking forward to? A Friends surprise leaving party from our previous place of employment this weekend, going to be lovely to catch up with some friends.

If I am able to have him in a few weeks I will be very excited. I want him to come earlier rather than later.

Toodles

Kelsie x

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Pregnancy Update - #3- 33 Weeks

How far along? 33 Weeks

Maternity clothes? Oh yes. Had to purchase some new black jeans the other day. As we all know black is slimming and I really like black jeans anyway. Thank you H&M (£14.99). And I purchased some nice new tops from Topshop. One in a Khaki Green, which is a colour I am loving at the moment. Pretty disappointed that both the New Looks in Norwich has discontinued their maternity range. Very Annoying New Look! I can fit in a lot of my old tops still though just a nice tight bump showing fit!

Stretch Marks? Been pretty lucky that I have only just noticed the tiniest of little marks on my muffin top area :( I had some there when I was younger from a nice little growth spurt I must of had. And they didn't bother me much then. I have been given a nice load of cream to fight this (review coming soon)

Sleep? Honestly, pretty well. started having crazy dreams. I get up a couple of times a night to go to the toilet (thank you little bug pushing on my bladder)

Best Moment this week? Having lunch with my sister and dad and playing with my sisters new puppy. Also Brad is progressing at work still which always makes me happy. And at the weekend (so not this week really) we had the baby shower and got so many lovely gifts from family and friends and had a great time with everyone!

Miss Anything? Alcohol. So badly I could kill for a beer.

Movement? Pretty much constant but every time I lay down to nap or sleep, the kicking and wriggling starts, And the hiccups the other day

Food Cravings? Chocolate. I honestly cannot go a day without my fix. Also cold custard with whipped cream and sprinkles. a dessert I always used to eat at my grandmas when I was a kid.

Anything making you feel sick or queezy? Not really. been very lucky I have had absolutely no morning sickness at all. I used to be an avid coffee drinker, but I have gone off that somewhat.

Gender? A boy

Symptoms? not a lot. Bit of discomfort in my back. sometimes period type pains

Belly button in or out? Still in! I hope it stays that way!

Happy or moody? I was extremely moody yesterday as I had really bad toothache as well. generally very happy though. Pretty tired a lot of time though

Looking forward to? Strangely enough food shopping this evening! we are trying to be healthier so lots of vegetables to pick up! And in a few weeks we are planning on going to do the studio tour of harry potters wizarding world!

Only a few more weeks to go! Follow my other social media accounts (links below) to be the first to know everything


Toodles

Kelsie x

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Review : Benefit They're real! Push-up liner

Now I have made it no secret that I am a huge benefit make up fan. I already love the They're Real! mascara, so I felt I had to give the eye liner a try. I am pretty good with liquid eye liner and all eye liner types (blow my own trumpet!) I've been applying it since god knows when but I have a pretty steady hand and find it pretty easy.

I picked up the push-up eye liner after seeing so many people comment on how good it was and how easy it is to use. I must say it did come with a pretty hefty price tag for an eye liner (£18.50) but then you do pay for what you get. I've never been a big fan of gel eye liners as they always seem to smudge with me, for the past few years I have stuck with liquid. This one however is so bold and easy to apply that I may have been converted. (I have already recommended it to my sister!)

I have read a lot of reviews saying it doesn't smudge at all and well to be honest i do not know what these people do with their days but I have experienced a tiny bit of smudging. I do not feel it is that bad, very easy just to wipe away with your finger. I probably have very hectic days compared to others, with getting ready for a baby and everything!

I do think the eye liner is superior to other I have tried, especially in the gel line of eye liners. It really frames my eyes and gives a very strong very black colour and is so easy. Honestly I think a child could apply it!

Have you tried the Benefit They're Real! push-up eye liner? what did you think? any other products I need to try? let me know in the comments below!


*I am not sponsored by Benefit at all. All opinions are my own.

Toodles

Kelsie x

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August In Photographs

As if it is September already! August went by far to quickly!
August in photographs for you all. I have just looked back at august and realised how much I have done and all the beautiful things I have been able to see! I think my highlight was my baby shower! (look lout tomorrow for a post about the baby shower! and so many pictures from it! )


How was your August? what did you get up to?

Toodles
Kelsie x

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Pregnancy Update #2

I am now 9 weeks away from B-day! (thats baby day or birthing day!) woah, pretty scary now. I'm getting huge! I headed to my midwife appointment on Wednesday and all again is well, the only concern being that my iron levels have dropped slightly, so now I am having to eat more red meats and spinach apparently! all high in iron. (I hate spinach though). I could opt for tablets but I have such a struggle swallowing them and I would rather try raise my iron levels naturally. It also gives some meaning behind to why I have been just so tired and out of breath recently.

Also say goodbye to the blonde hair, I have dyed it back to brown, for pure low maintenance issues, which means I do not have to worry about it, with the baby due so soon I do not want to worry about how it looks, I am also planning on going and getting it cut to about shoulder length in the coming weeks again, just to make life a bit easier. Not that I particularly worry about my beauty regime I do not want to be hassling with taking ages to straighten my hair or curl it. So be prepared for a post coming about my new hair colour! 

Toodles

Kelsie x

Planning for a baby!

This is the hardest thing to do, like learning to read and write all over again. You have no idea what you will need for a baby. A cot is an obvious essential but what people don't tell you is other little things, which I have come across from a light spot of googling! i still have a list as long as my arm of bits and pieces i need!!  here are some pictures from the journey so far of the small things we have purchased and the cutest little polo shirt! As my fiancée mainly just wears polo shirts its a like father like son thing!

 Babys first picture!!

Can you imagine anything being small enough to bathe in this??

Beautiful storage options bought for us by my fiancées sister.

Straight from my auntie in Canada before we knew the gender!

Tiny polo shirt

If you would like to know where I got some of these please just leave me a comment or message me on one of my many social media's!!

Toodles

Kelsie x

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Harry Potter themed Nursery Tour

So in around 100 days i will be giving birth to my first child ( a little boy). I'm beyond scared about this by the way! I am kind of just winging it until he comes. You can never be too prepared for it right?? what we have been preparing is his nursery. Before we found out the sex of our baby we had already settled on a harry potter themed nursery, (who doesnt want their childs world to be magical??) which we discovered on pinterest from other people who had wanted a nice themed nursery. We have bought a few things but we are no way near done. Here is what we have completed, but theres still a long way to go! (we haven't even put the cot together yet) The pure fact that by the end of the year I will be a mother is utterly terrifying. i am already missing getting up and going to work!

The nursery comes off of our bedroom so our little boy will never be too far away!

Changing table and baby bath all kindly donated from family!

The Leaky Cauldron Sign from Harry Potter!

Storage! because you can never have enough! also what you can just see here is our authentic marauders map which we havent as yet decided how we are going to put this up!

We feel we have made a very positive start on our nursery, especially considering we only moved into this house 2 weeks ago and my partner has been at work for the majority of it! we have a couple more weekends of work to be done and hopefully we should be finished! i have a nice long list of all the things i need to still get! those may have to wait until pay day though! 

Toodles

Kelsie x

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