6 Months Pregnant

6 months pregnant, 27 weeks pregnant, pregnancy, baby girl bump diary, 27 week baby bump

I am now 6 months pregnant and the third trimester isn't far off.  Considering how slowly pregnancy is meant to go, this past month has flown by and whilst in my head I still have months and months left, full term is only 10 weeks away which isn't all that long.

I am definitely finding this pregnancy tougher than the other three, physically and mentally.  I am finding if I overdo it (which is very easy with three small children around) then I can barely walk by the end of the day and I have mastered the pregnancy waddle early.  I have a repeat GTT (glucose tolerance test) this week as both baby and myself are still measuring very big, but I am hoping I just make chunky babies and have very relaxed stomach muscles.

This month the little kicks have turned into something stronger that the bloke can really feel and that you can sometimes see.  My anterior placenta means I still don't feel as much movement as I did in Archie's pregnancy but baby seems to be in quite a routine with party time being late evening (10-12 specifically).  

Mentally I am definitely more hormonal this time, I snap easier, cry easier and am much more likely to be drawn into arguments than usual.  I can see the way the hormones affect me but can't seem to do much about it.  I don't know if this is a girl thing, but I will be happy to go back to calm once she arrives. (well as calm as life gets with four under fives!)

This month I have tried to curb the shopping as I have a feeling she is going to be a big baby and not get to wear half her clothes otherwise!  I have given in to a few things though and I love finding girly bits without being pink and frilly.  We haven't started thinking about the big things yet, but we are pretty sorted having had a newborn not that long ago.

This month has started with Dylan asking questions about how the baby will come out and I know I will have to satisfy his curiousity more as I get bigger so I have a couple of books ready.  My tactic is to answer just enough, but not give him too much information and it seems to be working although every now and again he comes back with a new question so I know he must be thinking about it still.

I am seeing the midwife much more often this pregnancy due to bump/baby size which means an appointment every 3 weeks on top of seeing the consultant and April brings two midwife appointments, one consultant one, a GTT, Whopping cough vaccination and a growth scan (unless they want to throw in anything extra over the coming weeks!).

And finally here is Britney bump, measuring a little too big but completely wonderful.

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What the Boys Wore - Tootsa MacGinty SS16

For two weeks now, I have had all three of my babies at home, and it has been amazing seeing them all together.  There always seems to be something going on at the weekends and we all needed time to just take things at our pace, enjoy each other's company and have our own adventures.

These three boys are the best of friends (although they can fight like only brothers do), they love to be together, but they all have such different personalities too.  I always loved the idea of dressing them matching, but as Dylan is growing up and Finn still feels so little, I don't find much that seems to span their ages and come in all the right sizes too.   

Tootsa MacGinty's Spring/Summer collection features beautiful brights ready for the sunshine and as soon as I saw these raglan sleeved tops, I knew they would be perfect for my boys.  Each one is unique, but they slot together so perfectly, they compliment each other, much as these three little personalities do.  

Dylan loves the colour blue, he wants something a bit 'cool' (his word not mine) and this lolly tee was a huge hit.  Archie suits yellow, despite or maybe because of his beautiful hair and this is my favourite style of top on him.  I love Finn in real brights and the watermelon is seriously cute (and I love how fruit is all over clothes this season). 

The bold colours look great as the seasons change and the 3/4 sleeves help transcend spring and summer too.  Finn was also sent some leggings and I chose the 'Tour de France', partly because dogs riding bicycles is pretty fun and partly because the two cuffs are different colours, one the exact yellow of Archie's sleeves and the other the blue of Dylan's.  I love that little touch and we already know how fantastic their leggings are.

The fit on the tops is on the smaller side, depending on how you like to wear them.  Finn is a pretty average 13 month old and is wearing 1-2, Archie has just turned 3 and is in 3-4 and Dylan is a big 4 year old in 6-7.  The leggings are quite generous, Finn has the cuffs rolled on these and they will easily last him beyond his second birthday (they are age 1-2).  He has some in 6-12 months that still comfortably fit, but the style of these means you can wear them a little looser and they still look great.

Every item here is completely unisex which is perfect for us with a baby girl on the way.  Tootsa is designed to last and be passed down and I have hopes that the blue lolly top will be worn by all four of my babies at some point.  I love how their clothes are designed for children, with movement and comfort in mind.

We are back to just weekends where we are all together now, although hopefully the brighter evenings and warmer weather means we can make the most of after school time.   I love watching their relationships change and develop and it is going to be even more hectic and exciting when we add baby no.4 into the mix!  For now I get to spend a little extra time with this baby of mine, whilst he is still the baby.

Thank you to Tootsa MacGinty for sending us these pieces, we really love them all

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School gets the best of him, I get the rest

School gets the best of him, I get the rest.

I don't know whether this is something all parents of reception children experience, I don't know if it is because my August born baby started school almost as soon as he turned four with trousers a little too long and sleeves that reached over his hands or maybe because he has always needed a little more sleep than your average child but I miss the 'him' that I have been reminded of these past two weeks.

Every morning I wake him, his eyes still sleepy and his body slow. I make breakfast and he dresses with little conversation. The walk to school sees him perk up, the fresh air hits and we chat about what the day holds. His eyes gain their sparkle, he holds my hand all the way and he is my boy. Almost as soon as we set out we are at the gates and he excitedly runs into the classroom with a kiss and a smile over his shoulder. 

His teacher gets the pleasure of his company between 9am and 3:15, she watches him learn and explore, build friendships, learn independence, laugh and smile. The child she sees is a delight, sociable, inquisitive and full of energy.

I meet him at the school gates and nothing beats the look on his face as he spots me, a smile that lights up his whole face.  He runs out and gives me the biggest hug. I ask a question about his day but I already see him shutting down and by the time we walk through the front door he is done, he slumps into the sofa requesting food immediately and needs some quiet time.

The rest of the afternoon is both long and short at the same time. The hours until bedtime seem to drag but nothing really happens.  I don't push too much as I can see already that I won't get anywhere, he can manage to watch tv, listen to a story or two but not much else. His energy is spent, he is still my boy but not completely.

The weekends are spent recovering, catching up on sleep, getting things done, time with his brothers who he misses in the week and Sunday night seems to follow straight on from Saturday morning without us really having time to catch our breath.

The past two weeks I have had him at home with me, and I have realised how much I love his company, how sweet and caring and intelligent he is, how much I miss having him around, how much fun we have together.  He has been at school since September, this isn't the first break but a mixture of the beautiful weather and all the possibilities it brings and the fact that by the next week off I will be so heavily pregnant that things won't be as easy, I won't have as much energy and he won't have as much of my focus.

This fortnight has been amazing, I have been privileged to see the side of my boy that only his teacher really gets at the moment, we have made memories, spent time just holding hands and making sense of the world, we have curled up together to watch films, done puzzles on the floor, built sandcastles on the beach and relaxed into our days with no set times to be up and out.  It has been the first time since he started school when I have seriously considered home schooling, just so that I could spend more time with this wonderful boy of mine.

Dylan doesn't feature so heavily on the blog any more and this is a big reason why, there just isn't enough time in the week with him.  I love this boy of mine, I love watching him grow, learn about the world and about himself.  I love his sweet smile, how he is so protective over his brothers, so loyal to his friends and how he can still be my baby when he gets tired.

School will be claiming his energy again but I am holding out for the next week off and some time to really appreciate him again.

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On Being Discharged

Finn was born beautiful, at least in my eyes.  He was so much smaller than we were expecting, but each tiny finger, each little toe was just perfect. I fell instantly in love and he slotted into a space in my heart I never knew was empty.

Our little bubble didn't take long to burst and it was discovered very early on that he was very poorly.  I wrote about our early experience and the diagnosis of congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV), and whilst it was now over one year ago, there are so many parts of our stay in SCBU that are still fresh and vivid in my mind.  I remember where I was sat when they gave us his diagnosis, the doctor that had the horrible job of telling us, the papers they handed over to explain in more detail what was going on, they way they talked about his prognosis.

There was a seventy per cent chance he would survive, but cCMV means more than that, it means that the children that make it lead different lives to their peers.  Disability can take many forms, it can be physical or mental, seen or unseen, often both.  There was such a high chance that he would never reach some milestones and if he did then we shouldn't expect them when other children would.

We were told our perfect baby boy may never lead the life we hoped for him, and that is the hardest thing to hear.  That day we had to leave our expectations at the door, we had to stop planning his future and learn to live for the present.  Every day was a wonder and everything he managed to do would be special, and not taken for granted.

He was discharged but struggled at home, he didn't grow, he didn't attempt to lift his head or move, he was poorly and helpless. Around 11 weeks, after a diagnosis of dairy intolerance, the end of the toxic medication he was on and the start of his growth again, things started to change.  Finn started to show an interest in things, to regain a healthy colour and to feel more like a normal baby boy.

He continued to thrive, amazing us every day and at his six month check with his peadiatrician they were amazed at how well he was doing, as was I.  He was behind his brothers in every sense,  but they were both ahead of the average child at that age.

As the next few months progressed, Finn really became himself.  He started babbling, he learnt to crawl, he started clapping, and blowing kisses and copying you. He tried to join in with his brothers more and his whole body filled out until he was hitting the 50th centile in his little red book.  I knew our baby was thriving, I could see him learning, growing and reaching new milestones constantly, but I still worried about his next check up.

This week we saw his peadiatric consultant for a slightly overdue one year check.  And the result?  We have been discharged.  We no longer need to be seen at the hospital because this little boy of mine, this little miracle is doing everything he should be.  His consultant has no concerns for his health in any area,  

I don't think I will ever relax, the words we were told so early on will always stay in my head, but hearing the consultant tell us that our son truly is a miracle, that he doesn't need to be seen any longer was the best possible outcome and I am thankful every day that he is here, healthy and ours.

This baby boy of mine is something special, he is a reminder not to take things for granted, a lesson in appreciating things for how they are right now and he makes me proud every day.  

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My Pregnancy Skin

This pregnancy has been so different from my previous three and whilst I felt like I was really 'glowing' with the others during the second trimester, this time I have dry grey skin that I seem to pour moisturisers and oils on each night only to wake up peeling again.

Vital Touch saw my struggles and sent me some of their facial skincare range designed for pregnancy and beyond.  Whether you are glowing or grey, chances are your skin is going through some pretty big changes just like the rest of you during pregnancy and I have found some of my usual products aren't working the same or are even causing a reaction whereas before they were fine.  I never knew there were face care products designed specifically for this period, but it makes sense now!

The Natalia Radiance Replenishing range is gentle even on sensitive skin and is designed to balance and brighten.  I am becoming much more conscious of the chemicals involved in every day life so the fact that it is free from parabens, SLS, artificial perfumes and petrochemicals is important to me too.

The range consists of a cleanser, exfoliator and moisturiser.

The cleanser is easy to use, leaves my skin feeling fresh and has a simple smell.  The exfoliator left my skin feeling moisturised which surprised me as often it feels very dry straight afterwards and it didn't feel as harsh as my usual one.  The moisturiser soaked in quickly, and whilst it felt a little sticky the first time I used it, that sensation was gone pretty quickly.  I have been slathering it on in a bid to stop my face from peeling and it is definitely making a difference.  I have found that the best combination for me is an oil based moisturiser before I go to bed and using this as a daytime one.

My skin is still far from glowing and I think the grey tone may not vanish until Finn starts sleeping through the night, but I am finding my skin more manageable now and I will be sticking with these products until the end of pregnancy (and beyond if they last).  

The cleanser costs £12.50 for 100ml, the moisturiser is £16.50 for 50ml and the exfoliator is £15.50 for 50ml.

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What the Boys Wore - Dribble Stop Vests

Rosy red cheeks and sleepless nights, a tube of teething gel in every room and dribble pouring from his mouth, this baby boy of mine is well and truly teething.  His first two didn't appear until he was just over 10 months and three more have cut in the last month with another causing lots of misery and pain.  I don't remember the other two struggling so much with their teeth, but it may be something my brain has blocked out.  The nights are long and restless and my normally happy boy has periods where he really isn't his happy little self.

Dribble bibs have become a staple in his wardrobe, but we were recently sent a pack of dribble stop vests which do the work of a vest and bib in one - perfect for when Daddy gets him dressed, or when you just don't have a bib that goes with their outfit.

The bibs have a handy panel inside made of waterproof material but which is still completely breathable.  It is still only super soft jersey against Finn's skin, but dry jersey.  Finn has really been putting them to the test, and I am happy to say that they work!  He stayed dry, although the actual seam along the top did get slightly damp at times.  He didn't get irritated by it and the vests are lovely quality and a great fit.  A vest lasts him happily for a whole day without needing changing - something that would never happen without a bib usually.

At the moment there are three options, a pack of two white, a blue stripe and white and a pink stripe and white.  I would love to see some bright ones added in as the company expands, but a white vest is a staple in Finn's wardrobe and the blue and white stripes looked gorgeous with his dungarees too.

I was really impressed with the vests and can really recommend them.  Somehow the bloke managed to dress Finn and put one on back to front this week - it takes some skill and I can confirm they still look lovely the wrong way round, although they don't work nearly as well!

The vests retail at £13.99 for a pack of two and look and feel great quality.  They are available in sizes 0-3 up to 18-24 months, Finn is wearing the 12-18 months here at 13 months old.

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Spring Style for Archie

Spring has arrived and we already enjoying building sandcastles on the beach, lunch in the garden, bare arms and the odd ice cream. It feels like there was a sudden shift from winter coats to leaving the house with just a cardigan but I am not complaining (nor am I expecting it to last without a few colder days thrown in the mix)

In honour of the wonderful sunshine I have started thinking about the boys' spring wardrobes and making wishlists. I have been browsing for Archie and seem to have found a bit of theme with white, black and yellow.  His wardrobe is pretty full of colour and these simple shades will go really well and maybe be a bit more grown up for my newly turned three year old.

Archie Spring Style by beckygower on Polyvore

Beau LOves Inky Black Arrows Davenport Pants / Clarks Tric Roar G Canvas Shoes | Brantano.co.uk / Woven Hood Shirt, Beige, Boy 2-7 Years, Kids | Lindex / Patterned Sweatpants, Turquoise, Bottoms, Kids | Lindex / T-shirt with Print, Yellow, Boy 2-7 Years, Kids | Lindex / Black Short Sleeve Dinosaurs Slogan T-Shirt (3mths-6yrs) / Aarrekid clothing | Short Sleeved T-Shirt - Whale | Finnish designed... / Mini Rodini | Swedish Children's Clothing | Mini Rodini T-Rex SS... / Lucky No.7 childrens clothing |Lucky No.7 Rebellious Tee - No! / Lucky No.7 childrens clothing | Lucky No.7 Pants - Shark / Albababy | Albababy Gelas T-Shirt - Yellow Striped | Albababy tshirts

Archie is still living in his wellies so we need to get him some more suitable Spring footwear for the dryer says and I love these Clarks sneakers from Brantano as they are fun but still pretty Archie -proof (dark colours!). We only have a couple of these items already but I am hoping to slowly get a few more over the coming weeks (slowly so that the bloke doesn't notice of course). Lucky no.7 is my new favourite brand for Archie and so the t-shirt tóp left and the shark shorts are top of my list!

Have you started buying ready for Spring/summer? What have you seen that may accidentally fall into your shopping basket?

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