4 weeks to go - Mint and Leopard

'Morelle' Mint Beaded Chiffon Dress - Ted Baker 

'London'  Mint Clutch - Ted Baker

'Lamarr' Leopard Slip Shoe - Dune 

36 weeks Pregnant 

Well I can't believe it's been 6 weeks since I last blogged but I have been so busy finishing up work, having a baby shower, attending birthing classes,  resting, eating, meeting friends, getting the house ready, buying the last of things for the new arrival and now just taking it easy.

This dress was my baby shower dress which I teamed up with a pair of nude heels but today I wore it with my new leopard 'mummy' shoes from Dune which are just so unbelievably comfy and aren't going to be off my feet when the baby arrives.  This dress is great because it flatters around my bump but I still feel dressed up for a formal event and also find it works keeping it casual with flats.  The great thing about this style of dress is I can wear it post-natal and is going to be perfect for my friend's wedding when the stomach area is in limbo a couple of months post baby.  

I feel it has been day and night from how I felt 30 weeks pregnant to now.  It is getting really uncomfortable just even doing the food shop or vacuuming the house and my moans to the husband have been constant.  It is really uncomfortable lying in bed at night and the maternity pillow does give great support under my back and keeping the bump a little elevated, although it is baby's movements that keep you awake and with my little one sitting really low in my pelvis the bladder situation is a 5 trip situation to the bathroom every night.

We've been to 2 birthing classes with NCT with another 2 to go and it has been lovely meeting other couples who are going through the same stages as you and I have already learned a few things I had no idea about.  I have asked to take some images of the next NCT class and I will go into detail about the structure and the benefits of the classes in a future post.

I have also been busy finishing up the last of my photoshoots and the sessions from the last few weeks have been amazing as it has been capturing special family moments.  Here is a link to my photography website to view some of these sessions

www.juliagrahamphotography.com      

My next post will feature what's in mine and baby's hospital bag which is all ready as you just never know when you'll need it!
       

Keep it bright

Ribbed Jersey Orange Dress: H & M £21.99

Leopard Print Sandals: Zara £19.99

Black and White Bowling Bag: Zara £39.99

Leopard Mirrored Sunglasses: Topshop £16.00

Pregnancy Week: 30

Countdown: 9 weeks, 5 days left

Tiredness has returned and the pain on my left side is making it difficult to sleep at night,  A lot of fetal movement.  

Things to do: Whooping cough vaccination

Maternity Shoot

I have to start this post with a thank you to my bikini wearing, little sister who took time out of essential sunbathing and pool time to take pics of her growing, very round sister and 'I could so be a model' brother-in-law.  I really wanted to have images of my little family but didn't think I would have the chance to because of crummy Scottish weather and work so to plan a shoot when on holiday would be the perfect opportunity.  It did take me till the last day of holiday to get my husband to get out of the pool and shoot but he went from moaning to asking my sister to take solo images of him - shades on, shades off - blazer on, blazer off.

So I set up the camera and gave my sister a quick demo of where to point, frame and shoot and I am so happy with the outcome.   It's going to be so good to have these printed and framed for the baby's room.

Still cant believe how fast time is flying now that i'm in my last trimester

Something Borrowed, Something Pink

Navy Stripe Top - H & M (Maternity) £6.99

Pink Full Circle Skirt - Priamark  £11.00

Yellow Lips Clutch - Lulu Guinness  

Blue Satin Pump - Manolo Blanhik 

Well I am starting to pack for my holidays which I would usually just do the night before I leave but being pregnant a little planning has to be done just to make sure pieces are going to fit and also be flattering.  Still not sure about the swimsuit and bikini options but a kimono is going to be my friend so will probably keep as covered-up as I can by the pool and beach.  So while in Spain we will be celebrating our wedding anniversary so I wanted to make sure I had an outfit for our dinner and I have been trying a few options and I think this is the outfit.  I like it because it has a little bit of heel, a feminine shape and is comfortable too so I think it is going to look great at dinner, by the harbour with hubby and bump.  My bump is getting big so yes I know I do look very full at the waist but I don't care, I feel girly and comfortable and love it with my 'Something Borrowed' Manolo Blanhik wedding shoes which I haven't worn for a long time.  

I will be blogging on holiday with the help of my little sister to take the images and hoping to get some beautiful backdrops so watch this space.

Sometimes you got to just take a break and reflect

Sometimes you got to just take a break and reflect.  In a few months my daily routine, social life, relationship and sleep is going to flip 180 and I can not wait.  Yes, I know it's going to be challenging as people keep wanting to inform John and I - 'enjoy your sleep now - while you can' and 'it's your last holiday alone, enjoy every minute' but struggling to conceive for 3 years was the most frustrating and emotional challenge we have ever had to face as a couple.  I have been very open about the craziness of falling pregnant a month before we were due to start IVF and it is so easy to forget about the fertility struggle as our baby is growing but today I just felt a huge sense of relief and appreciation that it happened this way for us as I'm not sure how I would have coped with failed IVF attempts.

The best quote I read from a blogger which sums up how you feel when you are trying to conceive is:

'My period feels like a miscarriage every month'

I have forgot about the hard times but when my sleep is deprived and the crying seems to never end I will always appreciate how different this year could have been.

I also just wanted to share a few websites that I were good for support and advice for couples trying to conceive

www.myfertilityblog.blogspot.co.uk

www.countdowntopregnancy.com/success

www.babycentre.co.uk/c2/actively-trying-for-a-baby

www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Fertility/Pages/Getpregnant.aspx

www.netmums.com/pregnancy/trying-for-a-baby

www.huffingtonpost.com/kathryn-kefauver-goldberg/dear-fertility-doctor-what-i-wish-you-knew-about-infertility_b_4643835.html

#OOTD Bonjour and French Fries

 

New bag, new phone, new phone cover and new hair.....so be good to do a post of all the newness.

My Moschino phone cover arrived today and I love it or should I say 'mmmmm, i'm lovin' it'.  I bought this from Net-a-Porter £45 and there are versions of it from Ebay for £20 but who knows what the quality is like so I wanted to splurge on the real deal.

I wanted to match my phone cover and needed a small bag for my holidays and this strapped clutch from Zara £19.99 is perfect and I love the 'Bomjour' slogan in gold, just makes it a cute touch and ties in with the French fries.  

So I went for the chop as I was getting bored of always tying my longer lengths of hair up in the tiniest ponytail ever and I'm so glad I did.  It's a shape that suits my face and because i've kept the front long it is not as drastic as a pixie cut.  It also means, a quick blast of the hairdryer in the morning and some wax and I am good to go - which can only be a good thing when the baby arrives.

Oh. and you may have noticed a hint to the little man's name with my new necklace.  I'll give the initial but the name is still a secret!

Moschino French Fries Cover - £45 - Net-a-Porter 

Bonjour Clutch Bag - £19.99 - Zara

Denim print Jersey Maxi Dress - £12.99 - H & M

Alphabet Necklace - £5.99 - H & M