Miami Photo Diary

It's been a year today since I headed off on my American adventure so I thought it was about time I actually shared some of my snaps - it's been a long time coming! I spent five days in Miami before heading to New York and I stayed in the Freehand Hostel, partly due to recommendation from a girl I used to work with (shoutout to Steph!)

New York still owns my heart but I love Miami so much. The Art Deco buildings are such a unique attribute of the city and I'm so glad I've been to see them for myself. If you visit the city then Ocean Drive is a must visit, in the day and at night when it's all lit up. I don't want to chat on forever but I'd highly recommend the Miami Beach Botanical Garden which is right opposite the Miami Beach Convention Centre, then right around the corner is the Holocaust Memorial (the images of the giant hand). The Memorial is kind of surreal, it's right on a main road but you wouldn't believe how quiet it is, and the amount of lizards I saw around here that were the size of small alligators was crazy.

On my last full day I booked a 24 hour hop-on, hop-off Big Bus Tour ticket. There are three different bus routes and I wanted to make sure I did all three before they finished so I didn't do any hopping on or off, but I'm telling you now, I learnt so much about Miami on those three buses!

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One Month Post-partum

Height/Weight The health visitor came round on Tuesday and Willow was a little chunky 8lb 14oz. We hadn't had her weighed for two weeks because we planned on going to Wales earlier than we did so I was shocked when she'd jumped from 7lb 11oz to 8lb 14oz. I'm not sure what she measures, and right now she's asleep so I'm not whipping the ruler out to measure her.
Routine There is no routine at the moment. In the first few weeks I completely allowed myself to spend most of my days sat on the sofa with her asleep on me. I would sit for hours just watching her. How could I not? People love to remind me how fast she changes so I refused to feel guilty or feel like I was spoiling her.
I think it's hard when breastfeeding to establish a routine, especially since I'm just feeding on demand. For a start I never know how much she's had to drink, all I have to go off is how long she's at my breast feeding for. In all honesty though me and Kyle are that chilled out routine is hard to come by. 
Sleeping They say when she sleeps I should sleep, but when she sleeps I tend to sneak off and do some housework, or in the morning if she's napping I'll have a shower. It took all my will power after a few weeks to start putting her down when she fell asleep on me during her feed. In the day she just sleeps whenever, although her longest nap tends to be late afternoon.
During the night she normally wakes around 2.00am, then again around 5.00am, then from around 6.30am onwards she'll go back down but only for about 30 minutes at a time until we actually decide to get up which tends to be around 9.00am. She is really good in the night, she wants her milkshake then goes back to sleep. I luckily don't have to spend ages settling her.

Feeding I always had intentions of breastfeeding, and luckily she has taken to it really well. At the minute she is solely breastfeeding, a teat hasn't been near her mouth, which I think it is recommended that they don't have a bottle or dummy in the first four weeks anyway to establish a proper attachment. A lot of people ask me if she has a dummy, I always tell them she's too pretty to have a dummy covering half her face, and I don't think she's that hard to settle anyway. I was always adamant she wouldn't have one so I didn't even bother buying any.
Sizes She's at that inbetween stage where her little toes are all curled up in her first size baby grows, but her 0-3 months look like little penguin flippers on her feet. It doesn't help that she's got a long body and short little legs. She's got so many little 0-3 outfits that just look so big, but I only like to put her in babygrows at the moment. She's not worn any proper clothes yet, I figured she spends most of her days asleep and she's not going to be newborn forever so for I'd rather her be comfortable than fussing with things like waistbands and tights.

Milestones I was surprised that little over a week old her she was holding her head up and throwing it around, she can be a right little head banger when she's got one on her. For the past week we've been getting smiles from little miss. Everytime she cracks one my heart just breaks.
Me A lot of people ask me how I feel and I never know what to say other than "yeah fine". I had to have stitches but they really weren't as bad as I expected, people made out like I'd have to be pouring jugs of water between my legs when I peed but it didn't sting at all. I was having to take painkillers for about 3 weeks but since Halloween weekend I've been okay.
I think I fit back into my jeans after about 10 days. There was a few days when there was no chance I could wear my maternity trousers without them falling down but I still wasn't ready for my Jamie jeans. I fit back into all my tops, it's just trousers and skirts I'm struggling with at the moment. I'm back down to 9st 7lbs so I'm about 3lbs off what I weighed in January. I definitely need to get walking more and that 3lb will be gone straight away, then I can start exercising more just to tone up my loose skin on my tummy. I'm holding out for my six week check just to be sure though. 
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Those first hours after having a baby

Our sweet little bug is four weeks old today so I thought I'd finally try my hardest to sit down and write about those first hours after birth, (it's taken me ages, inbetween feeding Baba and settling her). We ended up staying in hospital until the Friday afternoon, I would have been out earlier but I think somewhere during the day we got forgotten about. 
I'll always cherish that first night in hospital with her just after I got moved into the side room. I was left alone with her for pretty much the first time since she'd been born. Just me and this tiny little human that would need me more than she needed anybody else in the world that night. It's scary, but also liberating watching her chest move up and down as she slept, knowing I'd carried and kept her safe for the last nine months. The photo in the bottom right corner is my favourite of her, taken at 5.45am, she was just over 24 hours old. I'd nipped out of the bed that we ended up sharing all night for a wee and she just looked so peaceful when I came back, much like she does now as she lies next to me on the sofa four weeks on. What a four weeks it's been, so I'll start our story from the very beginning of Willow's first day.
9.00am I've just woke up since we got moved here three hours ago, even just those couple of hours sleep I got I feel so much better. I can vaguely remember them wheeling me from one end of the hospital to the other and thinking how quiet the main corridor is compared to during the day. I really need a wee but do I just leave her sleeping soundly in her little tank? She's beautiful, she looks like a little bug right now.
Alice has text, she said she'll come round on her break because she works in the hospital somewhere. She doesn't know the gender though, she wants a surprise when she gets here. I meant to phone my brother and sisters but I don't know if I'm allowed to make calls in here.
A couple of ladies changed my bedding so I took the opportunity to nip to the toilet. They burst around my curtain asking if I was staying or going home. I was under the impression I had to stay in at least 24 hours because of the strep B. I told them I was staying, I mean, they're the only people who have come to see me since I got moved here so I have no idea if I'm fit to go home or not. In all fairness I don't fancy going anywhere at the moment, I thought I was going to pass out going to the toilet.
10.00am Alice has text me again to say she's not allowed in until visiting at 2pm, they turned her away at the door, I bet she's gutted. 
I phoned Nan and Grandad to let them know, Nan fully squeeled down the phone at me! I told my eldest sister and my brother too. God I've never made so many phone calls in one day before. 
12.00pm I must have fallen back asleep at some point, because I've been woken up by a phone call from Kyle. His Mum's dropping him back off to me with a Mcdonalds, I think the most I can stomach is a Happy Meal at the moment. Willow is still asleep, I keep checking she's still breathing. 
Baby's got her first bits of pink! Kyle's bought her in a little flowery bodysuit and pink leggings (the one in the picture where she's screaming), and she's got a big bunny with floppy ears. I said give it five years and it'll have one eye and a stitched on ear.
1.00pm It's about time we give this baby a name. She can't be Baby Pritchard forever. I'd been thinking about it briefly this morning and I quite like Rose for a middle name. My sister is Alice Rose and Kyle's sister is Tanya Rose. It's so weird, Rose isn't a name we'd mentioned at all throughout the pregnancy. Willow was though, I remember us both putting Willow on our lists when we were playing our game of pick five girls names and five boys names and we'll see if any are the same. It seems like a nice autumnal name too, naming her after a tree in the one month of the year when the trees are the most beautiful colours. Willow Rose, it suits her.
2.00pm Willow still hasn't fed since 7am so the midwife suggests some skin to skin to try and wake her up a bit. Scratch that, whilst she's been lying there looking prim and proper all day she's done her first giant poo. Nice. The midwife opted for a quick bath to clean her up, I'm not sure a few baby wipes would have cut it. I just sat on the bed and watched, standing up is still a struggle, I just feel so faint.
Auntie Alice turned up midway through bathtime so there was no chance of making her guess the gender. I think she was shocked, she said all day she's been convinced we'd had a little boy.
3.00pm Auntie Tanya and Nanna Nia have arrived and I think they've kitted Willow out with the whole of the baby girl section from George at Asda. So much pink, I'm so grateful! Auntie Em's popped by too whilst Mum picks Abbie up from school. We think it's time to tell them her name, but Kyle can't bring himself to say it. He said once he's said it that's it, there's no going back. I can't see her as anything else now. I liked Eliza and Martha, but she's definitely a Willow (and I don't think Kyle liked either of them anyway). 
Auntie Tanya's dressing her in her little pink leggings and vest that Kyle bought in. I don't think she's happy with all the attention. She's still so sleepy, and still not fed! My littlest sister Abbie is desperate to see her so Mum's bought her to the window by my bed so she can see her through there, that'll have to do until we come home and she can meet her properly.
5.00pm Steak pie and mash for dinner, Kyle's sitting out on the ward with me, I'm still so faint, but I've been told not to take my iron tablets I brought in with me. My midwife Deb has been past because she'd heard I had the baby. Oh I'm gonna miss Deb, she's so lovely!
I spoke to the midwife about going home but she said she'd rather I stay here until Willow has fed and they know she's properly latched on. She said the first 24 hours they do tend to just sleep, then they start to wake up and feed properly from then on. If that's the case I'd rather do another night here, as much as I want to go home I really don't want to formula feed. Kyle's headed home for some rest, it's been such a long and surreal day.
6.00pm Mum and Dad have come to visit and Auntie Alice has popped back again, I told them Willow's name, I think Alice is pleased that she's a Rose too. Mum's bought her lots of bits from Tesco, I've got enough to stay here for a month I think.
8.00pm Just as Mum and Dad left, I had another smelly nappy to contend with. Two midwives poked their head around my curtain, I thought they were about to watch me change her nappy. They said they'd noticed that it was quite smelly from a couple who had arrived whilst Mum and Dad were here, (in all fairness I thought it was either me or Mum that smelt - sorry Mum!). They're moving me into a side room which I'm pretty sure they probably regretted instantly when they realised how many bags I've accumulated. 
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Our little Willow Rose

Our sweet little baby Willow arrived a whole week early on 6th October at 2.37am. A week early is pretty good by mine and Kyle's standard (we're late for everything) and I must say the whole thing was not as bad as expected.
I hit "publish" on my 38 week update and went out to pick Kyle and his friend Joe up from fishing. I'd made the most of being home alone by hoovering, mopping and just generally tidying around. Em popped round and took my bump photos (I think I knew deep down these would be my last so I put a nice lipstick on). I'd been getting a lot of back pain all day and when I'd nipped next door to see Mum I said I wasn't sure how painful they were meant to be and she said maybe I just have a high pain threshold. We left for the hospital around 7pm and by 8pm we were heading up to delivery - I was already 5cm. After about six and a half hours our little sweet pea was here at last. 
Two weeks on and we're loving every minute of getting to know our little Willow. She's such a content little sweetheart; she'll happily lie on anybody for a cuddle for hours if they'd have her, but she won't mind being put down in her moses basket or on her playmat. She is sure to let us know when she's hungry and wants some of Mama's milkshake (code name for booby milk). She hates being put in her car seat but as soon as you get off the drive she'll have settled into a sleep. She seems to enjoy when the football is on the TV, she must like the vibrant green colour, even though it's probably only a green splodge to her. We're besotted, to say the least.
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38 weeks pregnant with Baby Pritchard

 How far along?

38 weeks + 6 days. Eight days until due date!
Total weight gain? I've lost another 2lbs this week, so I'm down to 11st 3lb. 
Maternity Clothes? Not for much longer I hope! I've been sorting through all my pre pregnancy clothes to see what will be suitable when I'm breastfeeding. I noticed earlier that one of my favourite maternity tops that I've had from really early on has got a big bleach mark on it. I'm pretty sure it was the first maternity piece I bought - gutted!
Stretch marks? My belly has turned into a tiger this week - I did so well! It was definitely down to baby dropping because from up here above my bump it seems so small. I've started using coconut oil on my belly though, the proper stuff that you find with the vegetable oil in Aldi haha. 
Sleep? My two least favourite things at the moment are sleeping and driving. My SPD seems to be worse when I'm in bed, it feels like there's just a big massive hole in my pelvis. I read something the other day that said SPD can come back afterwards when you have your period, I really hope that's not true!
Best moment this week? So many this week to mention them all. Last Wednesday evening we went out for a meal with Kyle's sister Tanya and her boyfriend John, along with his family. It was lovely to meet all his family and see Nanna Nia (Kyle's Mum) and her partner Jeremy. Also, we hit October on Saturday which means stew is back on the Dad's cooking menu  (thank god!) So that's us sorted for Saturday and Sunday's for the foreseeable future.
Miss anything? I've been pregnant for pretty much the whole of 2016, it might sound silly considering I was never a big drinker anyway, but I'm so excited for an amaretto and coke. 
Movement? Baby's movements have been pretty normal until Monday night when I couldn't remember when I'd last felt it move. Normally it's quite active after I've eaten which it wasn't so I did the whole cold drink lie on your left side and we ended up heading down the hospital just after midnight. Typical, the midwife got me all strapped up to the machine and the little bugger starts wriggling around without a care in the world.
Food cravings? It's not a craving but Mum keeps knocking on my door with pineapples. How can I refuse?! I'm a pineapple cutting pro now, and Em taught me how to know when they're really ripe. They both decided to drag me around town for three hours on Saturday (not really, I agreed to go), then Em thought it was hilarious in Costa that I couldn't sit down my back hurt that much. I had to stand swaying by the table with my bum in the face of the couple sat next to us.
Anything make you queasy or sick? Not this week.
Gender? Kyle decided the other day that it's definitely a girl, because too many people think it's a boy. Mum sat in the hospital all smug because she obviously knew the heart rate thing and we didn't, but she wouldn't share her findings. I googled it after because it didn't drop lower than about 140bmp and at one point it peaked at over 200bmp. Some of the gender myths are ridiculous. Apparently you're more likely to have a girl if your pillow faces south?!
Labour signs? When we went to the hospital they monitored the heartbeat and my tightenings. She kept asking me if my tightenings were painful because they were coming regularly, but they've not been painful just uncomfortable. 
Symptoms? I'm still getting a lot of lower back pain, and horrible Braxton Hicks. In between my cleaning frenzy (which just seems to be never ending) I do try to nap, but it's just so uncomfortable, on the sofa or on the bed.
Belly button in or out? Out, and pretty much non existent. 
Mood? Stupidly excited! In just over a week we'll have hit due date and I've got a feeling baby will be here by then. I'm kinda glad we ended up at the hospital on Monday just because we're booked on the new consultant led unit and they don't do tours on there, so at least now we've seen a delivery room and know what to expect. We even heard a little baby being born as we arrived.
Looking forward to? Everything! Baby being born, everybody getting to meet it. Bringing it home, taking it out. Nanna Nia's Halloween party (which I've been eyeing up a tiny costume for). We've waited all year for October, it's going to be top notch!
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37 weeks pregnant with Baby Pritchard

How far along? 37 weeks + 6 days. The excitement for baby to come now is unreal. I just hope I don't go over.
Total weight gain? 11st 5lb. I would have put money on me losing a little weight this week. I said to Kyle on Saturday that my bump looked smaller. It's about normal at this stage to lose a couple of pounds apparently.
Maternity Clothes? I saw a picture of a girl on Instagram from when she was heavily pregnant to now and she was wearing a sports bra. I decided to dig mine out not thinking they'd fit but they've been so comfy!
Stretch marks? I've got a few around my belly button, I think when baby dropped it changed the game and my poor skin just couldn't handle it. 
Sleep? I normally get up twice in the night to pee, but now the bedside light has to go on, which Kyle isn't too impressed about. I did warn him that I don't like scary films when him and his mate put the Conjuring 2 on last week. There's no chance I'm having that lady jump out on me from one of the bedrooms whilst I'm innocently going for my 3am toilet trip!
Best moment this week? My sister Alice was disgusted with how dirty my car was last week and she text me on Saturday asking if I was going out in it at all. She came round and we spent about three hours cleaning it inside and out. It sounds silly but it was so nice to spend a few hours with her, we're all grown up now and don't see each other maybe as much as we should, there's just so many of us!
Miss anything? I'm excited to get back in my old wardrobe now. If I'm not leaving the house I don't tend to even bother getting dressed. That sounds so gross but I spend my days cleaning and I have two pairs of trousers that fit me, about ten tops and two dresses. I've started to wash all my pre pregnancy clothes in with whatever colour wash I'm doing just so I'm not trying wash loads of clothes when I come out of hospital (there'll already be loads of teeny socks and sleepsuits to get washed as it is). 
Movement? A lot of my movement now is along my left side of my button. I guess baby is squashed now. A foot in the ribs doesn't really happen now - thank god!
Food cravings? Nothing.
Anything make you queasy or sick? Not this week.
Gender? Whatever gender baby is, it's still not got a name.
Labour signs? From the moment I got up on Saturday I was in so much pain. One of Mum's Avon customers who was a midwife said to keep moving as much as I can from now on - gravity and all that! I genuinely thought I was going to go into labour. My back was falling apart and I kept getting period like pains really low down. When we popped to Kyle's friends house in the afternoon I couldn't sit down, I had to stand up swaying and every time I sat down it felt like I was pushing things up. Sunday was pretty much the same not as bad and by Monday I felt fine again.
Symptoms? Still just the same, swollen feet, rock solid belly, bit of a waddle. I'm really attractive right now. Oh and I dunno if it's more common this late in the game but baby gets hiccups soooo much lately! Big vicious ones that I can feel down in my bum. 
Belly button in or out? Out. One thing I do keep wondering is why it's brown? I know it's not just mine because I've seen it on advertisements, it's just weird how when it pops out it's brown.
Mood? Maybe a little apprehensive. Not because I'm scared about labour but I'm just not sure what to expect early on. It's all well and good googling 'how to know you're in labour' but it's still hard knowing what you're meant to be looking out for.
Looking forward to? Meeting baby, finding out whether it's going to be a cheeky little boy or a sweet little girl. Finally giving it a name, it won't just be 'baby' anymore. 
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36 weeks pregnant with Baby Pritchard

How far along? 36 weeks + 6 days. I'm officially full term tomorrow, how absolutely crazy is that!
Total weight gain? 11st 7lb. That's just over 2st on my pre pregnancy weight and I can definitely feel the extra weight I'm carrying around now. The midwife was shocked on Friday that there's no fat on me, it's all just baby. Then when she measured me it had gone from 35 (cm I guess) to 39 within a week. She asked me if I felt like I'd had a growth spurt, which a few days before Kyle had said I looked bigger. That's when she ended up sending me for the glucose test to see if it was gestational diabetes. I get my results tomorrow!
Stretch marks? I've actually developed a few on my belly this week! They're really low down, just above my pants line and at the moment they're still quite faint. It's so hard to tell what's what, especially when I've had my support band on. I'm nearly through another bottle of Bio Oil but I'm going to pick up another for my hospital bag just to aid my recovery afterwards.
Sleep? Oh god, horrendous! I'm finding my right side more comfortable than my left at the moment with a pillow wedged in between my legs. As soon as I wake up though I'm pretty much out of bed, my hips and back can't handle just lying there.
Best moment this week? By far my baby shower! I knew something was being arranged by the girls at work but I didn't know what and on Friday night Mum, me and a car full of sisters headed off to Amy's house, it wasn't until Mum turned up her road that I realised where we was going! She'd decorated perfect, exactly how I'd imagine my baby shower to be and it was so lovely to have all the special people in my life in one place. Thanks again Amz! 
Miss anything? I'm just missing feeling normal, being able to get in and out of the car relatively quickly, shaving my legs, painting my toes. I just can't wait to have our little baby in my arms now. 
Movement? Still lots of limbs wiggling around, my belly is rock solid what seems like all the time now.  
Food cravings? Nothing. I've taken quite a liking to jelly but nothing I couldn't live without.
Anything make you queasy or sick? Nothing this week.
Gender? I had a dream the other night again that it was girl. The lady who did my glucose test was so excited that we didn't know. It tends to be the same reaction from all medical staff when they ask what we're having. I guess not many people don't find out these days.
Labour signs? Sunday I had some strange feelings down below but they passed eventually and as I type this now I'm getting funny sharp pains every now and then. I'm hoping that's a head moving down and pressing on my bladder or something. 
Symptoms? Just the usual nine month pregnant issues. Heartburns not been so bad, but I get very tired these days so a nap in the day is a must. My feet are swollen more often than they're not so I've been living in the same pair of sandals for the last month.
Belly button in or out? Out. In all fairness it looks more like a bum hole right now...
Mood? Excited! Everyone told me the last few weeks go really slow but at the moment I feel like there's not enough hours in the day. Granted we did have a lazy day on the sofa on Monday watching Tarzan and Zootopia but the weekend with Kyle's family really tired me out (and we just wanted to spend the day in our new living room).
Looking forward to? Meeting our little baby for the first time. And finishing my hospital bag. Baby's bag is all packed but I've got a few last bits to put in mine. 
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