rose

This beautiful little girl arrived into the world on Monday morning at 7.20am, weighing 7lb 11oz. Her name is Rose Everly and we are totally besotted with her. She is like a perfect minature doll with such a sweet face and temperament. Any worries I may have had about the possibility of loving a second child in quite the same way as the first vanished the moment I laid eyes on her and held her in my arms.

She was three days late but thoughtfully arrived in good time for her Auntie's wedding which took place yesterday. After undergoing a ridiculously long labour ending up in an emergency c-section with Lila, I was really hoping for a natural (not to mention muh shorter and less traumatic) delivery and am happy to report that it was a vast improvement this time around, lasting only 7 hours. She did get a bit stuck at the end and had to be pulled out with a suction cup, but she dealt with it all very bravely and only had the hint of a cone shaped head for a day or so. I definitely wanted to avoid an epidural this time around and was really proud of myself for not caving in and begging to be given one as soon as I got into hospital!

She has such long fingers which maybe means she has a promising career as a concert pianist ahead of her but while it's fun to imagine all the things she might do and what her future holds, I am taking care to soak up and savour every second of this time when she is a tiny newborn as I know before I can even blink she will be three years old and careering around on a little scooter, singing her heart out into a toy microphone and tearing up the dancefloor at wedding parties.

baby countdown

Just two weeks to go now. How it has come around so quickly is still shocking me. Although my body is starting to get heavy and weary, I'm still not feeling 100% prepared. Most probably because my husband is still over on the other side of the world for another week and the thought of anything happening without him being here yet somewhat terrifies me! However I've been slowly ticking things off the list...going through yet more boxes of Lila's tiny baby clothes, sorting and washing them, purchasing a pretty snazzy double buggy, getting my hospital bag packed and trying to remember everything/anything I learnt in my antenatal classes last time about giving birth. Seem to have blocked most of it out from the last time funnily enough.

I spent 3 days down in London visiting my dear friends, who threw me a wonderful baby shower during which an obscene amount of cake and other treats were consumed- by me at any rate. Apart from catching up with friends, a large proportion of time was also spent shopping, ahh, how I have missed thee UK shops. I made a beeline for all my favourites- Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, Zara, Magma (just touching the tip of the iceberg here) and only just managed to struggle back home on the train laden down with bags. The buzz of the city is awesome and inspiring and it was great to be back in my old stomping ground. It did definitely make me grateful that I no longer have to contend with the underground and the insane crowds on a daily basis though. Wow, I can't believe I just wrote that, it that makes me sound so old.

Anyways, for now I'm happy to be back amongst the green fields and cows, and patiently bide my time until this new little lady decides she is ready to enter the world (note to bump: please wait for Daddy! Thanks in advance x)

nursery inspiration

We've begun to make a few changes to Lila's nursery/bedroom in preparation for the new arrival. The baby will be sleeping in our room for the first few months or so but we have started to make some space in the nursery as they will be sharing a room after that. We packed away some of the toys Lila has outgrown and have been busy getting all her baby things like the moses basket and the bouncing chair out of the garage and giving them a good clean and sort throgh ready to be used again. We have also aquired another chest of drawers to store all the teeny tiny little clothes in.

To say that the nursery is on the small side is a huge understatement, but I'm still determined to make it as pretty as possible for my girls. Here are some images of beautiful childrens spaces from around the web which have caught my eye and given me lots of inspiration.

The pastel/muted colors used in the top two images create a great atmosphere and are a creative alternative to sugary pink. I'm also drawn to the diverse assortment of prints used in the furnishings.

These oversized pom poms attached to the ceiling are an amazing focal point...

Love the painted brick walls, iron bed frame and eclectic assortment of objects on display...

This is ultra sophisticated with a great colour scheme, furniture and picture display. The graphic chevron rug just makes it...

The vibrant yellow cot contrasts so well with the blue walls and the tapestry hoops on the wall are a great decorative idea, not to mention the pink light fixture!..

The unabashed girliness of this closet had me at hello. I love how it is overflowing with treasures...

Image sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

10 week countdown

So I'm officially in the third trimester of my pregnancy now and there's just 10 weeks to go. Seriously, where has the time gone?! This little lady will be here before we know it and I'm very, very much looking forward to meeting her. Lila has been incredibly patient so far, it's only in the past couple of weeks that she's started tapping on the bump saying "Hurry up and be born tiny baby!" She also likes to lift up my top and give tiny baby a kiss every now and then.

When we first told her she would have a little sister soon I thought she would be asking us every second of every day when she would be arriving, but she has been taking it all in her stride so far. Maybe she has cottoned on to the fact that at the moment she has no other contenders for Mummy and Daddy's attention so she is wisely enjoying it while she can!

Here are some pictures Curt took of Lila bonding with the bump (these were taken last weekend, when I was 29 weeks).

pregnancy essentials

I can't believe that baby will be arriving in just 12 weeks! It certainly goes so much quicker the second time around. When I was pregnant with Lila I had it all pretty much sorted by this point- nursery, clothing, accessories, pram- the whole shebang. The only thing I've bought so far this time is a little pair of pink booties. It makes it a lot easier that we do already have almost everything we need but I do plan to buy a few select bits and pieces for our new little arrival when we arrive back in the UK so she won't be resigned to a life of only hand-me-downs from day one.

For anyone else also expecting a little bundle of joy or planning to at some point in the future, I thought I'd share some of the things that have been helping me through the pregnancy so far.

1. Champneys Pillow Mist Spray- I find that from around 25 weeks into the pregnancy onwards, getting a good nights sleep gets much harder. Partly due to trying to get comfortable and partly due to my mind running on overdrive about all sorts of things. This magic spray contains a blend of mandarin, chamomile and lavender and smells divine. It really seems to help me switch off and after a quick spritz I can drop off in about 2 seconds flat into a really good, deep sleep.

2. Dark Chocolate- Green & Blacks is the best. This is a serious craving for me, I am literally eating truckloads of it every evening at the moment. If I run out, I am not a nice person to be around.

3. Clarins Huile Tonic Treatment Oil- Hands down the best way to prevent stretch marks. A little goes a long way and it smells amazing too.

4. Mothercare Maternity Pillow- This really helps when it comes to finding a comfortable position to sleep in and cuts down the endless tossing and turning when you lie in bed every night. Yes, my husband complains that it takes up way too much space in the bed but does agree it's preferable to being kneed in the back on numerous occasions.

5. Maternity Bra from Elle McPherson Intimates- Most maternity underwear is not what you'd really class as attractive but I was pleasantly surprised by this pretty bra which I snapped up on first sight. The rest of her maternity range is definitely worth a look if you want something a little more pleasing to the eye than the usual offerings.

As I did with pregnancy number one, I've also been taking a pregnancy yoga class every week which is really worthwhile. It's a great way to stretch out the aches and pains and also focus on some breathing techniques and relaxation which help to soothe the mind and body. The premise is that you can use the breathing techniques to help relax during labour. Nice idea in theory but personally, the reality of giving birth was far too intense to give much thought to such things and more about screaming for the strongest drugs available...though maybe that's just me!!

Top image found here.

dressing the bump

for work & night...

Grey wrap top Isabella Oliver, Butterfly blouse Topshop, Animal print ruched dress Dorothy Perkins, Embellished blouse Topshop, Black skinny jeans Topshop, Floaty cape blouse Topshop, Jersey tube skirt Topshop, Cowl neck dress Gap

for weekends & days off...

Jeans Dorothy Perkins, Lace keyhole jumper Topshop, Grey floral 2-in-1 top Dorothy Perkins, Striped knit tunic Topshop, Print cap sleeve top Gap, Zippy harem pants Topshop, Grey wrap top Topshop

Having practically lived in a pair of ripped denim shorts and various vest tops during the past month of holiday freedom, the fact that I had to return to work last week required me to actually open the wardrobe and try and find something suitably stylish and which preferably didn't need ironing. Straightforward enough, however there was also the issue of accommodating the baby bump which has apparently grown quite substantially over this time. The fact that I could only feasibly fit into about three dresses, none of my jeans and a very limited range of other garments spurred me on to take a look at the maternity options around at the moment.

Let's face it, maternity wear is generally pretty bleurgh. When I was pregnant with Lila I wore my normal clothes for as long as humanly possible then bought a few things from the Topshop maternity range (thank god for Topshop) which I then lived in. After a peruse online I'm pleased to see that in the couple of years since then there has been an improvement in the number of high street stores producing decent maternity lines and apart from the garments pictured here, the maternity ranges from my all time favourite shop Zara (sadly not availaible online) and also H&M deserve a mention.

The butterfly blouse, above, is a must have and I definitely need a pair of maternity jeans, and a couple of smart tops for work. The only small geographical blip standing between me and these items is massive amount of ocean and various continents. Unfortunately the New Zealand fashion market is a little backwards in terms of maternity options, however my recent discovery that Topshop delivers to these shores for the reasonable cost of £9 provides a happy solution to this problem!

it's a....

GIRL!

I had my 20 week scan earlier this week and we found out that the new addition to the family is a little bundle of sugar and spice and all things nice :)

I can't honestly say it was a surprise as both Curt and I had been pretty sure this was the case from the start (at least my instincts are a little more on track these days- when I was pregnant with Lila I was absolutely convinced that she was a boy and didn't initially believe the sonographer when she told me she was a girl).

We are very happy, though of course I do feel for Curt a teeny bit who will be completely outnumbered in a household full of women! Lila is thrilled as she has been asking for a baby sister ever since she found out about the tiny baby in Mama's tummy. As I am one of two sisters, I am excited to think of my two little girls growing up and experiencing a childhood together and sharing a precious bond as close as the one we have, knowing that what ever happens they will have a best friend for life.

P.S The ridiculously adorable baby booties are from the Etsy shop handmadebabylove

three plus one

I know my blogging/ general social presence has been sporadic lately to say the least, however I promise that I do have a very good reason for this. A large proportion of the past three months has been spent hovering over the toilet or pathetically clinging to the sofa whilst simultaneously trying to operate normally on a daily basis- getting to work, entertaining a two year old, putting together an edible meal and so on. My attempts have been a bit shoddy to say the least, so massive thanks must go out to my long suffering husband- sorry for the amount of beans on toast you have had to consume for dinner and for doing all the housework. I think it's all definitely worth it though as we are thrilled that our little family will be welcoming a new arrival in May next year. Woohoo!

P.S Big thanks must also go out to the manufacturers of Coca Cola, raisin toast and salt and vinegar crisps as they have been the only things that have seemed to wish to remain in my stomach. Sadly not at all healthy but absolutely necessary to enable semi normal functioning.

upwards and onwards

I have probably spent a lot of hours looking up at the sky. One of my very favourite things to do on a warm summer evening is to lie in a meadow of long grass and stare up at the sky. Watching the clouds gently drift past and watching the light as it falls through the leaves of the trees above.

It's a small, simple thing but it always makes me feel happy. Shame there aren't too many meadows in London but I am looking forward to spending several days at my parents farm next week for some time to re-group, be thankful for all the good things in my life, get my head in order and generally do very little.

Here are some beautiful sky pictures in the meantime...

All images found via we heart it.

P.S. Thank you so much to those of you that stopped by to leave a comment on my last post. Your kind words are greatly appreciated.

And to end on a high note... sometimes when a sad thing happens, it's hard to remember how to smile again but a dose of hugely happy news came just when I needed it. On Monday my sister phoned me from Australia to tell me that she is getting married! Huge congratulations Jo and Blair!

goodbye dear small one

To my tiny unborn baby,

Yesterday was supposed to be a day of excitement. Our chance to glimpse you and see you moving for the very first time. Instead, we looked at the screen and you seemed so very small and still. As the lady started to say "I'm so sorry, it's bad news. There isn't a heartbeat", I think I detached from my body and the words seemed so distant, like it was all a dream and happening to someone else faraway.

Your Daddy was very brave and strong and I fell to pieces as I realised that we would never get the chance to meet you. To hold you in our arms and to see the person you would have grown to become. That you would never meet your big sister who would have loved you so very much. So now we must accept that it was never meant to be. For a reason we will never know, you were not destined for this earth. We must try to move forward and carry on as best we can with whatever twists and turns life brings us next.

But I want you to know that we love you with all of our hearts and that I will think of you every day. May you always rest in peace.

Love from your Mama xxx

waiting for baby

So the highly anticipated due date has finally arrived...and still no sign of baby. It's hard not to be disappointed, no matter how many people tell you that first babies rarely arrive on time and are late more often than not. It really is the most frustrating thing, waking up every morning thinking, 'ahh, perhaps today will be the day!' and then as every hour passes and still no signs of labour occur, the level of hope that this will be the case slowly diminishes. As we have now been impatient for a while, we've already tried nearly all of the natural ways to induce labour... so far to no avail. It wouls seem she is a stubborn little one who will arrive when she is ready and only then, no matter the amount of pleas we put out to her!

hello summer

Yay! So it looks like summer here in London (or at least spring) has finally shown its face. After a long, miserable winter and a slow start to the warmer season (what was beginning to feel like weeks of constant rain and clouds), we have now had a few days of glorious sunshine. Have been feeling very lucky to be on maternity leave this week as it has allowed me to spend hours lying in the park 'resting' whilst soaking up some sun and all importantly getting some colour to my pasty white limbs. Have also been lugging my sketchbook along with me and been using the opportunity to work on some drawings and paintings...as I know when baby finally decides to arrive there will be rare opportunities for such creative ventures in the first few months!

So here is my latest one at the initial sketch stage (a close-up due to the size restrictions created by my rather small scanner)...

Hopefully more will be on their way very soon if this surge of inspiration and motivation combined with the promising weater continues!

cupcakes and pretty baby gifts

My lovely friends Natalie, Jo, Laura and Katie threw me a baby shower/tea party on Friday evening. This called for an afternoon of baking where I threw myself into the creation of cupcakes and corn-flake cakes (and soon turned the kitchen into an area of mass carnage).

The girls decided to trial out their own baby bumps with the help of some balloons!

some things

I will miss about being pregnant...

being lazy and not feeling too bad about it...having a good reason for letting other people do things for me like make me food and cleaning the house (mainly poor Curt!)...feeling her kicking and moving around(though this can sometimes can feel more like punishment when it wakes you up at 3am, if you actually stop to think about it, this really is something quite amazing)...the excitement of daydreaming and wondering what she will look like/act like when she is born...my pregnancy yoga class...pre-labour maternity leave (the chance to lie in and watch daytime TV whilst still being paid is not to be sniffed at ...afternoon naps...being able to eat as much chocolate and other sweet type treats as feasibly possible without feeling guilty about it.

I will (most definitely) not miss about being pregnant...

my swollen sausage fingers (which are currently causing me to have to wear my engagement ring on my pinkie finger!)...the 3 moths of gruelling morning sickness, which I wouldn't wish on even my worst enemy... having to get up to pee multiple times during the night and not being able to get back to sleep again...the lower back ache...not being able to fit in any of my clothes (*sigh* for all the pretty summer dresses in my wardrobe...soon, soon my lovelies!)...not being able to eat blue cheese/goats cheese etc- all the cheeses that I love the most...being (almost) tee-total- though on the plus side my liver has definitely thanked me for this.

new beginnings

Little Miss at 11 weeks...(now a darn sight larger and hopefully preparing for imminent arrival)

Well now seems as good a time to start this off as any. I'm sitting here on my sofa a 6.45am on a Friday morning like a beached whale, wondering if today will be the day she finally decides to arrive...wondering how my brain power could have deteriorated to the extent that I forgot to buy milk yesterday when the most challenging part of my day involved lying on the sofa changing the channel on the TV remote. Everyone says that first babies are usually late but surely there are some exceptions to the rule...me, for example. I was born two weeks early so surely some kind of logic may suggest that she would kindly do the same, but hang on...nope. The kicking and squirming has already begun, a sure sign that today will not be the day after all. If the tottering pile of baby and pregnancy library books threatening to fall off my bedside table are all correct (and I feel that the odds are probably high on this one), a little one as crazily active as this is not one which is quite ready to make an entrance to the world just yet. And so another day of the waiting game begins.