Dealing with becoming a single parent

Well I have been on one hell of a rollercoaster ride recently. Life's been crazy hard, but i'm trying to put a positive spin on everything. Whilst i'm currently writing this, I have the WORST toothache ever, and I have like 2 days until I have an appointment at the dentist, so i'm looking at it as at least i'm gunna lose a bit of weight (Also I know that this is not a healthy way to lose weight, but i'm trying to put a positive spin on this current pain i'm in).

When everyone else gets to nap but me..

Becoming a single parent is never going to be easy, first off it's the breakdown of a relationship, and depending which side thats initiated by there might be some hard feelings to deal with there too. At the same time as dealing with that, you need to make sure you set yourself up in a one parent home and have all your 'ducks in order' (that's the saying right?).

I had to get the tenancy agreement for my house changed to solely my name. A process I swear my ex wanted to make as difficult as possible. I feel that when you become a single parent there is a lot to organise, this is completely the most important. Even if you move, just make sure you have some funds for a deposit. I was very lucky that my property managers were SO caring about my situation, and i have always paid my rent half a month in advance.

Still on finances, I4 stupidly allowed all child benefit payments and tax credits to be paid into my ex's bank, so I had to get these changed, the more proactive you are and quicker you do it, the easier it is going to be in the long term.

With the financial stuff aside, I had to organise childcare to fit around pretty much just me and my job, and to not rely on anyone else. I've had to deal with a lot of lies in my life so I know that I can only really rely on myself and my close family. To be honest, I just don't feel like there are that many people I would trust enough to look after my son.

When you become a single parent the most difficult aspect is never having a break. My son spends time with his Dad every other weekend, but stays here every night. There is pretty much zero time off for me. Be prepared to do ALL  the hard  work, disciplining, dentist and doctors trips, (all the Ds there), the sick nights, the night wakes, the attempting to figure out when to potty train. All the decisions like that are now in my hands. There are so many aspects to everyday life that have sort of changed for me. In all this when you do get time off, make sure to remember who you were before you became a parent, to find love in the things you enjoyed doing before, with such a small amount of spare time you must fill it further enriching your life and doing the things you enjoy.

It's strange how much one person can change, when they are suddenly solely accountable for a small human being. It's not all difficult ,there's lows and hard times sure, but I also get to enjoy seeing my son grow and develop everyday. I get to see his personality and habits come through daily. The afternoon sleepy cuddles are the best, which make me the happiest person ever. When he comes and grabs my hands, and pulls me through to a different room to show me something he's excited about, I literally am so proud of the tiny boy I created and grew inside me, and there is no love that compares to how I feel. I kind of like that I solely get to experience the majority of these things along for the first time, maybe that's a little selfish but it is the way it is now.  Taking both parents roles is challenging but sometimes the only option. It's also the most rewarding thing I have ever done in my life.

(EDIT: Just to end, I finished this like 2 weeks after the toothache and I have been to the dentist, i'm fine now. Also I don't encourage people to choose to become single parents, but i'd like to think that with everyone that is a decision that takes a lot of thought.)


All The Love Friends!

xxx

Moving On From A Break Up

This post is all about my honest thoughts and how i am working at moving on from a horrible event in my life (see THIS post). I know worse things happen to other people,and worse shit happens everywhere. This however effected me and my family life. My little world.

                            

Honestly, right now i feel great, i feel like i am finally in a really positive place that i actually strived to be in whilst in that relationship. I feel like writing posts is my therapy. Getting all my thoughts and feelings written down . There are still days when I' angry. I think of the arguments and retaliations i would have to said arguments running through my head. However there's nothing counting to 10 and a few deep breaths don't cure. when i feel like that i honestly think of all the great things in my life. Fletcher, My family and friends. The opportunities i have in life. The things i can do now, that because of the manipulative and constricting relationship i was in, i can now go and do.

Hindsight is great right? Now i look back i can see what i thought was a great relationship really wasn't. An argument was always my fault. I was forever wrong and always the first to apologise. In actual fact i don't think i ever received an apology.

Of course, not every part of that relationship was bad. I wouldn't have been in it if not Now though i'm excited to see what the future holds in every aspect. New relationships, new opportunities, new travel destinations etc.

I have a few tips that have helped me get to a good place.

1. Find a great breakup song.
Thank god for Little Mix is all i can say to this, I mean Hell Yes to 'Shout out to my ex'. Theres also some pretty damn good playlists on spotify

2. Surround yourself with great friends including the online ones!
I mean most friends would support you in this situation, but sometimes you find out some are pretty shit. so i have my good friends surrounding me, and i'm so bloody thankful for them. My advice, cull the ones that don't bring positivity to your life.

3. Say yes to new opportunities.
I am all for this. going out with different people. put yourself out of your comfort zone. No adventure really starts in your comfort zone after all. plus its a great way to take your mind off things.

4.  Talk to People/write everything down
My last post (my open letter) was crazy therapeutic. I felt amazing afterwards. The kind words I received after that, online and in real life mean the world. If your friend goes through something similar, just be there for them. If you go through it, even if no one else reads it, write it down. Once everything is down, it seems silly to hold on to it. try to never hold on to anger. anyway the best revenge is being completely happy in your own life.

Those are just a few points, that I have found have helped me. I have really tried to surround myself with friends so I can at least take my mind of the shit show that may be my love life.

If you have anything else that may help people, let me know in the comments!


Love

Kelsie

xxx

Playlist : November 2016

Here are my picks of my favourite new and old songs for the month of November.
I'm fairly certain I have missed a couple of months (although there probably wasn't a lot of new music in those couple of months)

This month however, my playlist is the longest it has been and I have been so happy about that. So here is just a couple of my picks for this month

1. Dodie - Absolutely Smitten -
She's just released her EP, and I am completely and utterly in love with it. This song is so beautifully hopeful and happy. Please go buy her EP here, and follow her youtube channel here

2. Blink 182 - She's Out Of Her Mind.

My pop punk heart is finally fully happy and satisfied again with this song, and the video they did for spotify sessions. I am absolutely completely ok with there being no Tom Delonge too (possibly an unpopular opinion, who knows?) I feel like they are back to their best. Link to Video Here

3. Metallica - Moth Into Flame

I love this. I love Metallica. I Love new Metallica. I also love Metallica shirts. Enough Said. (also not the video for the song, but this is better anyway. ENJOY)

4. Bruno Mars - 24k Magic

I wouldn't have normally found myself listening to this song, I mean its by far NOT my favourite Bruno Mars song. What happened is, Conor Maynard and Alex Aiono did a sing off over the base of this song and I loved it. As I can't have the mash up on my playlist (put it on spotify already Conor!) I guess the original will do. Both Videos are below. 

5. Sainte - Technicolor

Tay Jardine previously from We Are The In Crowd, has returned with this. I Love it. Its one of those songs I like to belt out whilst I am giving Fletcher a bath. There's always music on in the bathroom right? or just me?? 

As always there are far more songs on my monthly playlist on Spotify which you can find and follow HERE. Also if you enjoy their songs, make sure you follow the artists and support them too. 

What have you been enjoying this month, music wise? 

LOVE

KELSIE

xxx

Summer Days with H&M

I have been in this dress for most of the hot days we have had here in the UK so far. I recently had my little niece and nephews christening to go do, and with the weather being as hot as it has been I had no idea what to wear... I had done a little shopping trip with a couple of the girls from work and had picked up this dress a while before, and it turned out to be the perfect outfit choice for the day I found it in H&M and  i am in love with it.

The little top bit means you can go bra free, and not have fear of nipples protruding for all to see. I love that this dress can be dressed up or down for a chilled day time outfit, or dressed up for a going out out outfit.

What have you all been wearing this summer??

Love 

Kelsie 

xxx

This is not paid for or sponsored in anyway, just my opinions on a dress i found.

July's Music Favourites

I really like writing these posts about the music I have been listening to this month. I love finding new songs to learn all the words to, and pop on whilst I am on the bus home from work (one day these will be on in my own car where i can sing out loud to my hearts content).

From source (not my image)

On to the music - I got spotify premium, and wow has my life changed.  I love that I can find pretty much anything to listen to, I use it to send me to sleep and to download new albums I want to have with me. My selections have been pretty varied this month but here they are...

1. Biffy Clyro -. Ellipsis.

I have always loved Biffy since seeing them when I was 15, at the UEA before Puzzle even came out. This album is so good, I have been listening to it on repeat. My favourites on this are Animal Style and Friends and Enemies. Absolute bangers!

2.Blink 182 - California

Again a long time favourite band - this album is GOOD. I have really been enjoying blink sounding like their happy old selves. I had an in depth conversation with my friend about them the other day, where although we both love this album, we both think Take off your pants and jacket is our favourite.

3. Deaf Havana - Sing (single)

James in deaf havana has an amazing talent at song writing. this song is also brilliant. Randomly I always go back to old Deaf Havana albums. Give them a listen for great music and lyrics.

4. Chvrches - Bury It (single)

Im new to Chvrche, but this song is my jam at the minute. I love singing it wherever and whenever. Plus the addition of  Hayley Williams is always welcome in my opinion.

5. Shawn Mendes - Treat You Better

Some days I just love a good pop song, this is this months

What are your favourite songs this month? Please let me know I want more music to listen to!

Love

Kelsie

xxx

Managing Your Money

I feel that now I am a parent and 25 and classed as the overs category on x factor *sobs*, I am so much better with my money. recently with bills to pay and nursery fees coming out of my account every month, budgeting and planning have been important so we actually make it through the month and manage to put some away in savings.

Whether you have a monthly/weekly wage or pocket money, I put together some tips to help save and manage your money better

1. Make a list of all your known outgoings - i.e. bills you pay every month, what days they go out etc. I have nursery fees and phone bills come out of my account. All the other bills leave Brads account. however we have a list of all the bills that leave our account collectively to see how much money we have left over once all bills leave our accounts, leaving us with spending money for food/ petrol/ general spending money

2. write your food shopping list before you go and stick to it. this is the best way to ensure you don't spend more than necessary. we don't not buy ourselves little treats here and there we just try and be modest with it. we also plan our weekly meals, making sure we don't waste any food or anything goes out of date.

3. spending money - anything left over that gets spent we write down (keep receipts and write down exact expenditures). a handy tip I learnt from a friend years ago. you know those time you check your account and wonder where the hell all your money has gone. This.

4. savings - make a plan of how much you want to save each month, is it realistic? can you actually live the month with out that money? wanting to see your savings increase drastically is what everyone wants but sometimes its not feasible. if your outgoings are low, put more into an ISA etc. Make more from your own money, interest can be the best thing in some circumstances.

5. Those pennies you always end up with in your purse. Get a giant bottle or money box and just pop them in there. they amount up eventually and you'll be surprised by how much you actually have.

I really hope these tips help. I work a full time job and you know bills suck, I have an actual job where I can work overtime and be paid for it. its worth it, with Christmas coming up.

have you got any other tips for being Savvy with your money? share them!

Love

Kelsie xxx

Updated house stuff

So we have been in our house for just over 6 months now and we are still doing little bits and pieces to make it feel more like our own home so i thought i'd put a couple of photos together to show you the things we have added to our home!

I think my favourite part of the while house is our snowboards now, with that being a huge part of mine and brads life!
In case any one asks the small star lights in the jar are from Next, which i got just before Christmas so may not be available anymore (jar is an old coffee jar) 

Do you have your own home if so whats your favourite thing in it? Or even your bedroom? Would love to know! (Im always looking for interior inspiration!) 

Love

Kelsie xxx

New Huurrrr

I made a huge decision to get an awful lot of my locks chopped off not that long ago. Let me tell you i loved my long hair! I really enjoyed styling it different ways (seeing what i could do with it). I loved dying it different colours and generally playing about with it. Since becoming a mummy i just havent had the time for it. I had barely any time to even wash and blow dry it! So i decided it had to go. I needed a shorter , easier more day to day, mother friendly hair and voila!!

It feels amazing! So much lighter and quicker to dry, and an added benefit i hadn't thought of is how much less of hair products i need to use! After all its only hair right? It will grow back but for now im more than happy for shorter hair! 

What do you think? I recently say Zoella snipped her hair off! What do you think to that? Let me know in the comments

Love 

Kelsie xxx

January Playlist

source

This year i really wanted to return to a huge love of mine. Music. We used to always have music on, but as life got hectic that took a back burner for us. Now things have slowed down and we are going for daily jogs we have much more time for music listening! So heres a few tracks i've been loving this month..

1. All Time Low - Somethings Gotta Give. Video

A teenage years fave i'm loving the new up beat offering from ATL. Dare i say back to their weightless sort of days! Loving it

2. Iron Maiden - Fear of The Dark. Video
Reliving summer at sonisphere and a couple of years ago at Download. Always a favourite. Never get bored and i love listening to them in the car on our long journeys

3. Mark Ronson featuring. Bruno Mars- Uptown Funk. Video

Showing my pretty eclectic taste in music. But i love the vibe of this song and enjoy singing and dancing to this with Fletcher. His smiles are the best! 

4. Stone Sour - Get inside Video

Another car journey tune, that we played to death last year. Corey's voice is just smashing. I really suggest giving them a go!

5. Deaf Havana - Hunstanton Pier Video

Home county band. I always used to listen to this when out if the country and mussing home. Living just a few miles down tge road from sunny hunny. Greag band! 

source

6. Paramore - Escape Route Video

Final song for this Playlist installment. Paramore, my favourite band ever. Any new tunes makes me happy. Particularly this one with some old punk pop vibes in it! Catch it on the new release deluxe self titled album! 

What songs can you not get enough of this month? Any new suggestions always appreciated!! 

Love

Kelsie xxx

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

We're Going Through Changes...

(This pictur has no relation to the post, it's just cute. Norwich Lanes if yor interested

I decided after a hefty blogging break over xmas and new years to change up my blog a bit with regards to contents. For a while i actually felt a bit of pressure to post what was going to get people reading my blog forgetting why i actually started as something fun and entertaining for me to do whilst whiling away my pregnancy. From now on my posts may not be beauty reviews unless i find something i really think others should try. There will probably be more music, more babies, more lifestyle (in the way of fitness updates, what more motivation do you need than knowing hundreds possibly thousands of people can see your progress!) there just probably be more posts of what i fancy writing about! Recipes? Restuarant reviews? Who knows. From now on im not going to pressure myself! Life is busy enough with a beautiful baby to spend time with! 

Whats your favourite kind of post to read? Besides beauty related ones? Let me know

Love

Kelsie xxx

A Survival Guide For New Mums

Its been 11 weeks since Fletcher has been around and in those 11 weeks there are a few things I have found to be essential in surviving these first few weeks with a newborn! So I have decided to share those things in the hope it will help other current new mums or as a reference for people to come back to when they have their first child.

source

1. Coffee. This is your new best friend. It will keep you awake when you feel you should be asleep. Its your fuel. You won't have time to eat like you were during your pregnancy. I cannot stress enough how good coffee has been to me. My advice, invest in a large jar of high quality coffee. You will not look back.

2. Dry shampoo. I love the person that first thought up dry shampoo. Batiste is a heaven sent tool. There is limited time in a day that you get to yourself with a newborn. Washing,drying and styling your hair takes a backseat. Dry shampoo therefore steps up to be a vital tool in making yourself look presentable day to day. (Smashing tool for a little daily volume boost too!)

3. Concealor - I have preference for rimmels wake me up under eye concealor. When I don't have time to put a full face of makeup on I just chuck on some concealor under my eyes to cover those sleep deprivation revealing bags!! Again a tool just to make you look more alive, even when you don't feel it.

source

4. Biscuit/crackers - because you just don't have time to eat properly. I love a good Ritz cracker, something I can snack on throughout the day and gives me energy to get through till dinner time. Possibly here it would be more sensible to eat something like nuts that are healthy and provide you with the energy to get through a day as well. Or alternatively when you get a chance a bowl of porridge will also sustain you for a lengthy period.

5. Blankets - blankets for him (trust me, there are never enough) and blankets for you. To snuggle up under on the sofas to get that nap in, whilst your baby is sleeping too. After all they say you should sleep when they are. Which isn't always possible unless you want no clean clothes or a clean house, but you take it when you can.

6. Primark. Thank you primark for providing Cheap clothes to bridge the gap between maternity clothes and your old clothes. When your maternity clothes become too big, primark is smashing for cheap trousers that bridge the gap when you are still looking weight but nothing else you own fits!

7. Lush bath bombs and bubble bars. Perfect for that occasional relaxing bath you do manage to get when the other half is home to look after the baby. Lush particularly make my favourite bath bombs and bubble bars. I also love the seasonal varieties you can get. My favourite item from lush is 'the comforter' bubble bar smelling sweet like some candy I used to eat as a child.

These few things have literally been my lifesaver in these early weeks of being at home with a newborn. I hope it may help some other people in those early weeks with a baby. It does get better I'm told!

Is there anything else that has proved vital to anyone else during the early weeks with a newborn that I should know about?

Love,

Kelsie xxx

Review; Bleach London Part Deux

The world must know my life of bleach London products by now surely?? Well what a surprise I have another review of a couple of their products. This time v it's the turn of the 'split fix hair serum' and the 'swamp spritz'.

First up let's talk about the ' swamp spritz'. I have never been a fan of sea salt sprays, my hair does not seem to take well to them. I decided to give this one a try and finally I have found a spray I like. Its the first one I have found that doesn't leave my hair feeling greasy after a little while. The bleach swamp spritz is a brilliant sea salt spray that gives you those nice waves in your hair that you want from a product like this. Just don't over spray it!!

Secondly and probably my favourite bleach product is the 'split fix hair serum'. My hair loves this stuff and if it could talk would thank me every time I put it on my hair. I had a 'life changing moment' where I realised I really needed to take care of my hair if I wanted it to look healthy like my favourite celebs. Seeing as I don't have a personal hair stylist to hand I had to take the care of it into my own hands and alas my favourite hair care step is this hair serum. After I have used it my hair feels incredible. Literally incredible. (Team this with a use of the reincarnation hair mask and your hair will feel like an angel has blessed it!)

I really don't have a many bad words to say about Bleach London. They are a brand I love and can get on board with. What are your opinions on Bleach London? Can you recommend any other hair care brands I should try?

Toodles

Kelsie xxx

*this post has not been sponsored in anyway, (I honestly love the brand). Everything I've spoken about I purchased with my own money. All opinions are my own as are photos

Deck The Halls

This week Brad and I decided to put our Christmas tree up, its a bit early for me normally but seeing as this year we have Fletcher and people will be visiting us through out the month, we figured the house needed to look festive!

I am quite a perfectionist  and would not let Brad decorate at all plus he's a bit of a Scrooge and I'd rather do it myself. Let me tell you it is hard to put up Christmas decorations with a new baby. It took me two days to put it up but I am so happy with my tree in the end!

This year my side of the family are all getting together and having Christmas day at my house. It will be the first time in a long time that I have spent a Christmas day with my grandma, and every year she gets us a Terrys chocolate orange ( we don't talk about the year she tried to trick us). The traditions are all coming out in this house this year. Think home alone, Christmas tree chocolate decorations and mulled wine!!

What are your Christmas traditions?

Toodles

Kelsie xxx

Review; Gro Hush Baby Calmer

The Gro Hush is a product by The Gro Company, a company i became aware of when i fell pregnant and began shopping around for items for my baby. I stumbled upon their Gro swaddles and have since fell in love with them. ( my favourite is the woodland print one which you can get HERE)

The Gro Company were kind enough to send me the Gro Hush to test out on my Newborn. I was super greatful seeing as i love sleep and knew i would be lacking in that once Fletcher was born. 

The Gro Hush is a baby calmer that plays white noise in the sounds of a mothers heart beat, rain on a tin roof and ocean waves. Me and brad have decided we could fall asleep to the rain one far to easily. The white noise is played at 75 decibels which is a tested safe sound level for babies.

Fletcher has a restless patch everynight from about 8 to 11ish! The perfect time to test out the Gro Hush on him. it takes a little while for him to be soothed and i have found he most prefers the rain sound (like his parents hey?! ) I have also taken to using it to get him into a deep sleep by leaving it near him on his bouncer. It turns itself off after 10 minutes so i have found it is great for this. So far the Gro Hush has been great, i am a tad concerned that he will just get used to it and it will stop having the same effect on him, but for now what a handy little gadget for every new mum! (And it comes in an adorable little travel case, reckon the grandparents will aporeciate this too!) 

You can get a Gro Hush Baby Calmer by following this link - http://www.gro-store.co.uk/gro-hush.html

Also have a browse at the other products (i have my eye on the Gro-Egg!)

Have you ever used anything from The Gro Company? Is this a product that you would consider using on your baby? Let me know in the comments! 

Toodles 

Kelsie xxx

Positive vibes; Charlavail

I don't normally do posts like this buy o just want to share the love and positivity, theres far to much negativity on the internet these days and i just want to spread a bit more love. I know Zoe Sugg has spoken about the negativity she has seen over the internet and well lets just go about proving there are some good people out there.

I came across Vail years ago. I literally cant remember when, nor can i remember the hair colour or length from the time. Seriously if you need some hair-spiration, shes the lady for you. 

I have always been inspired by her, her art work, her hair, her out look on life, her love of confectionary and her love for travelling and adventure. What i am most inspired by is her positivity, i have seen her take a few knocks over the years but I have also always seen her move on from them and somewhat always seem positive about what the next step in her life will chuck at her

. 

If you dont know her give her tumblr a browse HERE (pups galore) or just search her tag (hello all the hair styles/colours) 

I want to spread the positivity i get from every post i always see from Charlavail. I hope some people can realise that we should all be kind to each other, i could easily be jealous of Vail and what she has/ is able to so, instead i choose to support her and live vicariously through her too! BE NICE TO EACH OTHER LADIES! THERE'S WAY TO MUCH NEGATIVITY ON THE INTERNET.

charlavail's links-
http://charlavail.bigcartel.com/
http://charlavail.tumblr.com/

Who inspires you? Let me know and leave internet links if you can!! 

Toodles

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

Matalan Christmas

Just to put it out there first, Matalan have not asked me to do this post nor have i been sponsored by them. I genuinely went on to their website and fell completely in love with all their christmas stuff! 

This year is going to be my first Christmas at home, in my own home, with a new baby boy. To say im excited is an understatement. In the past brad and I havent had enough space to buy a Christmas tree and decorate a house, so this year I'm really eager to make it something special. Especially as Brad is a bit of a scrooge. This year is going to be our first at home, in our own home surrounded by family. In the past we have always worked on Christmas day, so I honestly cannot wait to get planning and decorating.

I found all the items pictured on Matalans Website, and i just think it is adorable. It looks so nice and traditional too and nothing is overpriced at all. I can not wait to start purchasing some of this stuff! 

I'm aiming for a very traditional theme this year, as in France and in the mountains thats just the way Christmas Feels. It is so beautiful and i would love to just recreate that a little bit in my own home. All this makes me feel like a child entering a sweet shop for the first time. My opportunities are endless! 

Are you getting anything new for Christmas decorations wise this year? Is there any shops for Christmas decorations you would recommend? any suggestions very appreciated!

Toodles

Kelsie xx

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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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