29 weeks pregnant with Baby Pritchard

How far along? 29 weeks + 6 days.
Total weight gain? 10st 12lb I'm surprised this isn't more, I've pretty much spent two days this week sat on my arse.
Maternity clothes? Same old. When I'm at home I still live in the joggers in the picture above. Kyle joked the other day that I don't dress up for him anymore. I told him that's because I have about four pairs of bottoms that fit me, about seven tops and two dresses. I've got a whole wardrobe full of clothes folded up in a box waiting to be worn!
Stretch marks? Still no new ones. I'm being really vigilant with the Bio Oil though, twice a day minimum these days. The midwife gave me a well done when I lifted my top up the other day, I warned her there's still time!
Sleep? It's weird that without Kyle in the bed it's kind of uncomfortable, like there's too much space. There's nobody to curl up into. Oh how I'm looking forward to tomorrow night.
Best moment this week? It's been a bit pants since Sunday but a couple of things that stand out are taking the puppy for a stroll on the beach on Saturday, and hearing baby's heartbeat again when the midwife came round on Friday.  
Miss anything? You know what, I miss being able to sleep or just generally chill on my belly.
Movement? So many! There seems to be a little foot wedged in my rib most of the day, but thankfully the midwife said baby is head down now thank god! I was sat with my sisters and Mum earlier and they could all see baby moving, I love that the movements are big enough now to see.
Food cravings? Nothing really. I bought some frozen yoghurt when I went shopping the other day, I don't know if it's just a fancy word for ice cream because it seems the same to me. 
Anything make you queasy or sick? I was so impressed with myself on Tuesday when I got home from work and cleaned the cat sick up. My sister did warn me that he'd been sick on the dining room floor and I may have cried because I'd had such a rubbish day and lumpy cat sick really topped it off, but I manned up and cleaned it up without heaving.
Gender? I really have convinced myself this baby is a boy. I don't know why, it's not even that I want a boy over a girl, it's so hard to explain. I think I'm having a boy and my sister who is due boxing day is going to have a girl. Watch this space...
Labour signs? Still just the occasional Braxton Hicks, but nowhere near as much as I was getting them
Symptoms? I've had such bad pain in my pelvis since Saturday. I was complaining all day Sunday about my hips and I ended up staying off work on Monday. I braved Tuesday, but I really wish I hadn't, I was doubled over from a pain all across my pelvis, I felt so defeated by the time I'd shuffled home. I ended up not going in again today and I think I'm going to try again tomorrow but I'm absolutely dreading 8 hours on my feet. I tried to get in contact with my midwife but she's not in until tomorrow, I just feel so useless when I struggle to even put my own underwear on.
Belly button in or out? Out.
Mood? It's been a lonely old few days, Kyle's working in Wales for the summer holidays as a lifeguard so I'm here on my own with our little kitty. I can't wait to go back and see him for a few days. Luckily my family live next door so there's always someone nearby if I need them. 
Looking forward to? Going back to see my love tomorrow. I really do feel lost without him. Although the house has never looked so tidy, he's like my tornado.
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Afternoon Tea anyone?

H&M dress

Primark bag

Primark shoes

Primark sunglasses

It's all been quite baby focused around here lately so I thought I'd share something a little different for a change. I don't know why but whenever the weather is warm I just want to flock to Ironbridge for a stroll. The first day I met up with Kyle we went for a stroll around Ironbridge with Sacha, little did I know he's not good with heights and seemed extremely underwhelmed by the bridge and practically ran across it. We then ended up walking through woodlands for about two hours, completely unaware of where we were going. It was lovely.

Back in June I was back here playing tourist with Mum and my two younger sisters. It was thankfully not too busy considering the weather was so beautiful. We had a walk along the high street and around Dale End Park, which I can't help but think would be perfect for an afternoon picnic with a little baby toddling round and the puppy running around the grass.

We then headed to the Maws Craft Centre just across the river in Jackfield. I've not been here before but it is such a quaint and pretty location. The tea room was just as beautiful. One of the reviews on Trip Advisor said that "if you like Cath Kidston, you'd love the tea room". They weren't wrong! I could imagine Amy from work being in her absolute element in there.

We arrived and picked our sandwich fillings and what cake we'd like and the rest was pretty standard, but still so delicious. My sisters both had milkshakes and although I don't like them myself they looked totally Pinterest worthy. We didn't wait long for our food, Mum had booked in advance with Groupon and it cost about £31 for four of us (that's a guess, don't quote me on it). 

I'd never been for afternoon tea before so wasn't sure what to expect, but all in all it was a really lovely afternoon. It seems to be all the rage at the moment so if you're looking for something to do this summer and live in the area I'd definitely recommend paying this little tea room a visit.

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28 weeks pregnant with Baby Pritchard

I've not had change to take a photo this week. My photographer has been out walking since Sunday for her Gold Duke of Edinburgh award and she only got back today. I didn't have the heart to drag her out (even though she only lives next door), but well done Em, you survived!
How far along? 28 weeks + 6 days.
Total weight gain? 10st 12lb, nearly at the 11st mark!
Maternity clothes? Nothing new, I just live in the joggers Lou from work gave me. I'm starting to worry though that right near the end nothing is going to fit me at all and I'm just going to have to stay in the house until I go into labour. 
Stretch marks? No new ones on the ones I already have.
Sleep? Still okay. This last week or so when I've been lay on my left side it almost feels like there's a little mouse scurrying around on the left side of my belly. It's such a weird feeling. I've started to struggle rolling over, sometimes it seems like more effort than it's worth to change sides. Last night was rubbish, I woke up about 4am with heartburn and ended up having to fall asleep sat up.
Best moment this week? It sounds silly since I've been feeling movement for so long now, but I just love all the big pronounced movements I've been feeling. 
Miss anything? Nothing that I haven't already mentioned. It's a strange thing pregnancy. You spend 9 months out of a year anticipating that arrival and it's almost like some things just get put on hold until then. I was chatting to a girl I went to primary school with who had the sweetest little boy a few weeks ago and she said she cried because she missed her bump. I'm determined when I'm on maternity leave to out with Em and take loads of photos.
Movement? Lots and lots! More often I can feel little things that I'm guessing are feet or elbows, it's such a strange sensation but it puts the biggest smile on my face.
Food cravings? Nothing new, but I did read something the other week that said ice cravings was a sign of low iron. Turns out all those tip tops were trying to tell me something as I got a letter back from the hospital on Saturday saying they had my blood test results back. I phoned Monday morning and they said I had an iron count of 99, which I have no idea what that means other than that it's low. We were at the hospital anyway on Monday for my anti D injection so we popped round to antenatal for some iron tablets.
Anything make you queasy or sick? Nothing this week.
Gender? I had a dream last night that we had a girl. But I still feel like it's a boy. We actually sat down last week and properly talked about names. We got a list of 100 names up on Pinterest and each wrote five names for each gender that we liked. Some were the same, some were very different. We'll see, we've still got nothing set in stone though.
Labour signs? No new signs, which is always a good sign.
Symptoms? It's funny it feels like something new pops up every week. This week we've dealt with another brief funny turn at a BBQ for Grandad's birthday and heartburn reared it's ugly head. I've never had it in my life and oh my god I thought I was going to die in the shower the other night haha. 
Belly button in or out? Out. I've done some good examining this week, they're really not as deep as they seem when they're in and they are in fact pretty gross
Mood? Excited to get these last three weeks at work over and done with, I'm so ready for a break now. I can't wait to get things done around the house.
Looking forward to? Our home visit with the midwife on Friday. I've not been measured yet so I'm excited to see what she thinks baby is weighing and what not. Our midwife looks like Jacqueline Wilson, I like her.
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27 weeks pregnant with Baby Pritchard

How far along? 27 weeks + 6 days. We hit the third trimester tomorrow, wowzer!
Total weight gain? 10st 11lb so I've gained 3lb this last week. That puts my total at 1st 7lb. I googled my BMI and I because it's is normal, I should gain between 25lb to 35lb in total.
Maternity clothes? My wardrobe is getting slimmer and slimmer every week. The new autumn catalogue has so many nice things in it, I'd like a bomber jacket in every colour and all the bags and boots as well.
Stretch marks? I've got a few small stretch marks appear on the top of my thighs, but I've already got some there anyway so I'm not too bothered by them. Still none on my belly thank god but my app told me I've still got a quarter of my pregnancy weight to gain in this last trimester so I'm not holding my breath too much.
Sleep? Considering the heat I've not been too interrupted. Tuesday night Kyle and I decided it would be cooler to sleep on the sofa so we left the patio door open, it was like being abroad. I've got a pregnancy pillow but I've still not  felt the need to use it yet.
Best moment this week? My parcels all arrived! I'm so in love with our Moses basket, but I'm refusing to build things until I'm on maternity leave. Tanya, Kyle's sister came round on Saturday with lots of little baby treats, which was a lovely surprise. 
Miss anything? Having normal non veiny legs/vagina.
Movement? Movements seem to get bigger and better every week. Sometimes when I'm walking home it feels like the bouncing of me walking is going to send it shooting out of my side. I had a bath thinking it would wake it up but I think it sent it to sleep. If that's the case we'll make bath time part of the bedtime routine every night.
Food cravings? I've been eating a lot of cheese and crackers this week. I also struggle to go too long without a glass of cola. So place your bets, crackers suggest boy, cola suggests girl.
Anything make you queasy or sick? Nothing this week thank god. I've got so good at avoiding bad smells!
Gender? I'm still saying boy, Kyle's still saying girl. His friends Mum keeps giving him grief about lack of baby names but it's such a big decision and I seem to have a tendency to like 'different' names. We seem to like more of the same boys names than girls names.
Labour signs? My Braxton Hicks have calmed down now, but not altogether stopped, in all fairness I don't think they will now. I think I had a head down baby for the first time the other day, just above my belly button was really hard with what felt like a teeny skinny foot.
Symptoms? Bloody varicose veins. I'm not happy about this. I'm only 23! The one I mentioned a few weeks ago at the top of my leg seems to have spread onto my ladies parts and oh my is it painful. I have had to resort to wearing Kyle's boxers because some of my underwear was cutting in my groin. I even made Mum inspect it, ha I bet she loves being our neighbour. I popped round and was just like "I need to show you something" and whipped my pants down. No shame, none at all. 
Belly button in or out? Out. It looks a bit red today, I'm guessing where it rubs on my clothes.
Mood? Impatient, it still feels like we've got so long to wait! I'm starting to construct a list (I bloody love a list!) of all the things I want to get done on maternity leave before baby arrives.
Looking forward to? Having next week of work. It's my last week off before I go off on maternity leave. Once I go back to work I've only got three weeks left. Roll on 20th August!

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26 weeks pregnant with Baby Pritchard

How far along? 26 weeks + 6 days. It's 3 months today until our due date and we're in our last week of the second trimester - crazy!
Total weight gain? I'm still sitting at 10st 8lb, although like I said last week I feel like I'm getting bigger by the day.
Maternity clothes? My friend from work gave me a pair of jeans and joggers and oh my god they are the comfiest things ever! I put the jeans on last Friday and I was so happy to be wearing a good tight fitting pair of jeans. Then on Monday she gave me the joggers and I throw them on an soon as I get home. They're both from H&M if you're curious.
Stretch marks? Kyle spotted a new one on my hip this week. Only small though which I'm okay with. 
Sleep? I don't struggle getting to sleep but it's getting harder and harder to wake up early for work. I used to be able to get up from just one alarm but now I have three.
Best moment this week? Our weekend at the caravan, it was dampened by a very rainy Saturday and an upset tummy but it's still nice all the same to get a change of scenery. A few days in the house are much needed though.
Miss anything? Nothing in particular this week.
Movement? Turns out that baby is breech at the moment, which is totally okay at this point. I've been saying all weekend there was either a bum or a head that kept sticking out by my belly button and when the midwife felt the other day she said it was definitely a head and she kinda grabbed it through my belly and gave it a wiggle. So weird! She promised it didn't hurt though. That's why a lot of what I feel are little kicks inside, more like it's using my bladder as a trampoline.
Food cravings? On our way back from the caravan on Sunday night I said to Kyle I really fancied some rice. We got home and Kyle had a nice yummy sourdough pizza and I had a bowl of plain boiled rice. Boy did it go down a treat!
Anything make you queasy or sick? Only a quick whiff of dog fart turned my stomach the other day.
Gender? I don't think I've had anyone this week tell me what they think it is. I've still got a boy feeling and Kyle had a girl feeling until we heard the heartbeat yesterday and he changed his mind and said it was that quick it was going to be a busy body like him. I'll be grey by the time I'm 30 looking after another Kyle!
Labour signs? Braxton Hicks started last Thursday. All day at work I was thinking oh god I'm gonna wee myself! It's such a weird feeling, almost like a wave of pins and needles all across my lower abdomen. I didn't think they started until much later on in pregnancy, but as long as they stay pain free and 'practice contractions' for now then we're cool.
Symptoms? I keep getting these funny turns which according to the midwife is normal in the second trimester as your blood volume increases. Yesterday's resulted in me on my back on the office floor at work haha, I think my heart was going that fast and I just couldn't move of the chair that I'd started to panic a bit. We went to the antenatal unit just to check that it wasn't anaemia and it turns out my blood pressure was really low. Everything else was fine, baby is wonderful and it's little heartbeat was like some wild galloping horse. She said I did have some white cells in my urine which could be a sign of thrush which for some reason Kyle found hilarious. He's so funny in awkward situations, when I was being examined by the Doctor last time I bled he said he was trying not to laugh.
Belly button in or out? Out.
Mood? Excited and impatient. Two people I know had babies over the weekend it makes me so mushy scrolling down my newsfeed seeing beautiful newborns. I just can not wait to meet our baby. Three months still seems so far away, but I know it's gonna fly by.
Looking forward to? Well I'm still waiting for the parcels I mentioned last week, hopefully at least one of them will arrive this week! I'm just looking forward to a few days off to spend at home, I worked Monday to Friday last week then  as soon as I got home Friday we went straight to the caravan for the weekend then we got back Sunday night and I was back in work on Monday. I think it's time to slow down a little.
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25 weeks pregnant with Baby Pritchard

How far along? 25 weeks + 6 days.  p.s excuse the photo again, my photographer is out celebrating two years with her boyfriend. Have fun Auntie Em and Uncle Tom!
Total weight gain? Still 10st 8lb, although I feel like I'm getting bigger a lot quicker this last week or so. 
Maternity clothes? Nothing new. I've been eyeing up this dress in store even though it's not maternity. I tried my sisters on which she bought in a size 12 and it looks so nice with my little bump, but I'm gonna try an 8 or a 10 because the 12 was still a bit too big.
Stretch marks? Still just my boobs. I've had a funny mark on the very top of my thigh for weeks it almost looks like a green bite, turns out it's a varicose vein. Oh pregnancy you're so damn glamorous!
Sleep? Still fairly good thank god.
Best moment this week? On Sunday I went to watch the show that the dance school I used to go to put on every summer. I went in to the dance school a few weeks ago for the first time in years to watch the dress rehearsal and take photos for the programme. It was such a lovely feeling seeing my photos in the programme, I was so happy with how they turned out. The show was brilliant as always as well. I've got a feeling if this baby is a girl a lot of time will be spent waiting whilst she has ballet or tap lessons. I went there for 10 years and had so much fun, it will be lovely for her to have that too.
Miss anything? I don't particularly miss anything but I can not wait to have a whole wardrobe of clothes to choose from again.
Movement? Baby's been so calm this week. I think it doesn't help that I really struggle to sit down and just chill. Most days even though I finish work at 4.30 I won't sit down until about 9 o'clock at night because I have to be doing something and obviously baby gets rocked to sleep by movement doesn't it.
Food cravings? I tend to find tip top wrappers in my door in the car and in coat pockets though. I've left a box of them up the caravan too just because they're so damn tasty!
Anything make you queasy or sick? Nothing this week thank god! 
Gender? At the moment I'm feeling like it's a boy, but for a good few weeks I thought it was a girl. I asked the midwife Friday what she thought from listening to the heart beat but she said she couldn't guess because it was sat right in the middle of the two. She did say she was really glad that we didn't know, she said the atmosphere is so much different when a couple know what they're having to when they don't know. I can't wait for that moment!
Labour signs? No.
Symptoms? Just these nasty hormones. I've been calm since since Monday but Saturday night I stormed over to one of our neighbours and started shouting through her kitchen window. Serves her right, she shouldn't let my kitty in her house. Kyle had to go round and play peace keeper before we headed to the caravan for the night. I grounded kitty and he got his revenge by pooing in the bath (luckily Mum found it when she went to feed him so she cleaned it up). I put a status on Facebook about my hormonal state and I think some people took it as moaning, which it wasn't. I've always been that chilled out that I can just laugh it off. It's just funny when I do get worked up because I've never suffered with PMT so being 'hormonal' is quite new to me. They were laughing at me at work on Saturday because I was like an absolute dragon.
Belly button in or out? Out. Me and Amy had a quick examine of it yesterday in the middle of the shop floor haha. It looks so gross! 
Mood? Calmer than I was. I feel very much like a weight has been lifted.  Looking forward to? I can't wait for baby parcels to arrive. It's like bloody Christmas! I'm waiting for a playmat and moses basket and stand to be delivered. Our spare bedroom is starting to look like a warehouse with boxes but I refuse to unpack anything until at least September. I also got an email from Mamas and Papas today with a £15 gift card so I'm going to put that towards my changing bag.
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24 weeks pregnant with Baby Pritchard

I get so many people telling me they look forward to reading these posts every week. It's almost become a little overwhelming and I never quite know how to respond. I only ever started writing them because I was rubbish at writing in a baby book and I wanted to have something that I'd be able to look back on. I do feel the need to keep it as real as possible though, my friend Danielle warned me that pregnancy isn't glamorous and she wasn't wrong, but never did I think I'd be sharing my constipation with quite so many people.
Don't get me wrong, I am the most grateful person in the world that I'm pregnant, especially after miscarrying in January and knowing people who aren't fortunate enough to get pregnant, but it really is hard this whole pregnancy thing, I think some people underestimate just quite how much, emotionally and physically. 
So I just wanted to say, to everyone who reads this every week, thank you. Whether you genuinely are interested in our little journey from a couple with a wolf cub and a polar bear for pets into real life actual parents, or whether you're just being nosey you don't know how much it means. 

How far along? 24 weeks + 6 days. 15 weeks to go!
Total weight gain? Still 10st 8lb. Normally I weigh myself when I get home from work but today I did it just after dinner. Not very accurate I know. 
Maternity clothes? Nothing new. Still being driven mad by baggy legged jeans. I'm seriously contemplating living in dresses until October. I did buy a pretty white dress from work last week in a size 8, pretty happy about that. At least I know I'll be able to wear it next summer too, although I might have it taken up an inch or two then, everything sits slightly higher with my little bump.
Stretch marks? Still just my boobs. Knowing my luck I'll get them after baby is born and my bellies shrinking back down.
Sleep? Good, apart from the cramp that's been making an appearance of late. I woke up the other day swearing like a sailor, I don't think Kyle was quite prepared for that.
Best moment this week? Saturday night when Kyle's sister Tanya felt the baby kick for the first time. She kept telling me to wake it up since she got to the caravan on Friday night but every time I thought we were on to something baby would stop. Then a few hours later his brother John felt it too. I thought John was gonna start crying.
Miss anything? Nothing in particular.
Movement? I'm starting to get used to baby's routine now, it always goes a little wild between 5-6pm. It also has a good move around after I've eaten my dinner, I always wonder whether that's because there's not as much room there after I've eaten. I can't wait until my whole belly moves from side to side! 
Food cravings? Still none.
Anything make you queasy or sick? It's been another good week for my stomach. 
Gender? The Chinese gender calendar says it's a boy. At first I put my age in as 22 when we conceived and it said girl. Then I remembered I'm 23 and it came out saying boy.
Labour signs? No.
Symptoms? Just aches, today I ached all over and kept having dizzy spells where I'd go all faint, my arms go all weak and my heart starts to race. A few people said it sounds like anaemia. It got to lunch time and I just felt so defeated by how little I'd got done. 
Belly button in or out? I think when you can feel your belly button through your top it means it's definitely become an outie. 
Mood? Foul. How I bite my tongue I don't know. I'm really glad I've not had to suffer any really rude customers at work because I probably would snap. My hormones are absolutely hellish, I can be in a foul mood or set to burst into tears. Today has been a bad one for me, I came home from work, took myself off to bed for an hour, maybe had a little cry for no reason whatsoever, dusted myself off and now I'm okay. Em text me as she does every Wednesday because it's now known as 'picture day' and she's chief photographer for this blog, but in all honesty all I wanted to do was put my pyjamas and chill out.
Looking forward to? My check up with the midwife on Friday. It'll be the first time I meet her since I moved from Shrewsbury to Telford just after my 16 week appointment. I've got so many questions about hospital visits and antenatal classes, and I want to ask a few things about Strep B, especially now baby has got to be born on the consultant unit, does that rule out a water birth completely, and does it mean I have to stay in afterwards? 
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