Best Pregnancy Blog

When I started blogging over three and a half years ago, I had no idea what would come of it.  I needed to use my brain after five months talking to a baby and my love of writing meant a blog seemed the obvious thing to do.  I was a first time mum looking to have my say.

I had no idea at the time that blogs could become commercial, I didn't knowing that rankings and awards existed and I wrote in my own little bubble for the first few months.  I joined twitter, set up a facebook page and started discovered other mums like me.  I felt a connection to people across the country who were sharing my sleepless nights, weaning messes and love of prams.

It has been nearly four years since I wrote those first words and I have never looked back.  Blogging has become such an important part of my life, I have made many new friends, had amazing opportunities and found a hobby that I have finally stuck at!

It seemed only natural to share my pregnancy with Finn and I loved coming up with a unique way to share our happy news.  I recorded a fortnightly diary about my growing bump and baby and shared our gender reveal.  At 39 weeks my little Pretzel became my baby Finn and I wrote my birth story and about our struggled in SCBU.  I was over the moon to be nominated in the MAD blog awards for my pregnancy writings and amazed to find myself one of six finalists amongst some of my favourite blogs.

On Friday night I attended the MAD blog awards ceremony at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington and I am finally starting to get over the shock of winning my category!  I picked up the award for Best Pregnancy Blog 2015!

I want to say a huge Thank You to everyone that reads my blog, that follows me on social media and that voted for me - I couldn't have done it without you. 

Now I need to work out where to put my award that my little monkeys can't reach!

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Thank You

The last 12 months have been a rollercoaster ride.  Archie entered the world in Febraury and I don't feel like we have stopped since.  I was over the moon last year to make it to the finals in the MAD Blog Awards Pregnancy category after sharing our story, and life with two under two was exciting, challenging and exhausting.  

The past 12 months has seen Archie change from a helpless newborn into a confident, troublesome tot.  He is finding his feet and his voice, learning new skills every day and growing into an energetic and loving little boy.  This year I have recorded his life - the moments, the milestones and the memories and I am so excited to have made it to the finals again, this time in the 'Best Baby Blog' category.

To say it came as a shock was an understatement, with so many amazing blogs out there, whose stories I have been following.  My blog started as a little project to keep my brain ticking over when conversations with a five month old weren't  quite stimulating enough, but I had no idea people would read it.  Two and a bit years down the line, this blog has taught me things about myself, taken me to amazing places and given me opportunities I would never have had.  I have met so many wonderful writers, photgraphers and women and am inspired everyday by other bloggers.

This post is coming to you straight from Butlins, Bognor Regis.  Billy Bear and the gang have worn out my two little men, and as they snooze I needed to say Thank You to everyone who has helped get me this far.  Your nominations are so appreciated, and I can't thank you enough.  If you have enjoyed reading my tales of Archie's first year and our life with two under two then please vote for 'The Mummy Adventure' under 'Best Baby Blog'.  There are some wonderful blogs in all the categories as well so hopefully you can discover a new read whilst you are there.

Thank you,

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Legoland Day Out

I was over the moon to find out that I was a finalist in the 'best pregnancy blog' category for the 2013 MAD blog awards earlier this year, and when they announced a trip to Legoland for all the shortlisted bloggers and their families, the little kid inside me was jumping around in delight.  

The day finally arrived and well rested after staying in a hotel the night before, we made it to the Legoland hotel for 8am.  We had an exclusive screeing of the new Chima 4d movie before the park even opened and then we were let loose with the most amazing wrist bands ever.  Not only could we use the Q-bot entrances all day, if the ride didn't have one, we simply show up at the exit, flash our gold bands and got straight on the rides! This was priceless with a toddler who has no concept of patience.

Taken by the lovely K from My Two Mums

We went on rides, got soaked to the skin, enjoyed delicious pizza and made the most of synchronised napping by getting on the big rides.  We spent the day with

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My Pregnancy Adventure

I started blogging just over a year ago as a mother of one gorgeous baby boy.  I recorded my life with Dylan, our milestones, our days and our moments.  I love making memories with him and I love having a permanent reminder of our little adventures.

In the middle of last year I found out that Dylan was going to be a big brother and so this blog became a way of recording my pregnancy with Squish whilst all the while keeping an energetic toddler entertained.  I announced our news just after Dylan's first birthday and kept a bump diary from 12 weeks until the little man arrived, just days before his due date.

I absolutely love pregnancy and I am so happy to have a reminder of my growing bump, the way I felt and the excitement.  I also love the fact that other people have followed my pregnancy adventure and enjoyed it enough to nominate me in the MAD blog awards.

I am excited to say I am now a finalist in Best Pregnancy Blog alongside 4 brilliant bloggers whose journeys I have enjoyed reading about over the last few months.  I have no expectations of winning the award but I am over the moon to have got this far and am looking forward to the big awards ceremony and party in September!  

If you have read my pregnancy posts and enjoyed them, then please do feel free to send a vote my way.  Virtual cakes will be winging their way to you!  You can vote for The Mummy Adventure by clicking on the badge below : 

  

There are some amazing blogs in this year's finals including some of my favourites and I am not looking forward to having to choose between them! 

Good Luck to all the finalists. 

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The Mad Blog Awards

II may not have been there as a finalist but getting to mingle with fantastic bloggers and dress up was not an opportunity to be missed so I was delighted to win a ticket.  The Mads took place in a swanky hotel in central London and there were people on call to do our hair and make up before the big event.  I was very impressed that the girls from Regis managed to curl my hair, and that they stayed in! This is a first and I am hoping that with the samples they gave me I can recreate the look at home

The awards were preceded by a delicious three course meal where I got to catch up with one of my favourite bloggers, Kate from Makeshift Mummy.  There were some fantastic winners including the brilliant Mamasaurus, and the wonderful Coombe Mill but all the finalists have such fantastic blogs that my google reader is now very full! 

Tiffany Rose, a company selling gorgeous maternity dresses provided me with an outfit to wear and I felt so elegant, despite having a rather large bump.  The dress was stunning and beautifully made, perfectly flattering for pregnancy and I had a lot of compliments.  Now I could really do with some more invitations to glamorous events before February so I get to wear it again!  

The Liberty gown is a gorgeous two layer deep blackberry coloured dress, floor length even with 5 inch heels on (and I am 5 foot 9)!  There is a removable sash that helps show off the bump and the cowl neckline hangs beautifully.  I absolutely loved wearing it and felt very glamorous! 

Before I had to run off to catch the last train home (next time I am definitely booking a hotel!), there was just enough time to climb aboard a giant red stag in the hotel lobby with fellow pregnant blogger Katie from Mummy Daddy Me.  Surrounded by cushions it was far too inviting and I know for sure we were not the only ones making the most of the photo opportunity!  

 Congratulations to all the nominees, finalists and winners of this year's event, and thanks to the wonderful orgnaisers!  I would love to go back again next year!

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