Pregnancy | You Know You're Pregnant When...

If you've been pregnant, you'll most likely agree with the majority of these. Being pregnant is amazing, there's no doubt about it (well, it has been for me anyway)... although some of the things that come with pregnancy could do with not coming at all!

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You know you're pregnant when...

• Relaxed? Feeling good? Just eaten? Okay, get ready because heartburn is about to hit. Burping acid? Lovely, you got this.
• You know when you're washing dishes or peeling potatoes at the sink? Pre-pregnancy, that's all fine, easy to do. During pregnancy, you'll find that your bump is in the way, meaning you're about 586750 feet from the sink... or at least it feels like that! Nothing quite like looking down to see the beautiful bump though.
• Just got comfortable in bed? Now is the time that your bladder will decide that you need to pee, right. this. second. After a while, wait for that kick from baby, straight into your bladder, that will have you running to the toilet again.
• Those lovely kicks in the ribs that take your breath away... not in a good way either!
• You see that little shape on your belly? Is it a foot or a hand? A little baby booty? Who cares, it's cute as hell!
• Your nails grow like a weed. s l o w d o w n
• Those cravings that come out of NOWHERE. I used to hate the thought of pork scratchings. Then I tried one and I was like 'hmm these are okay'. Then my craving came up a few weeks ago and hasn't left me since. I feel like I MUST have them or I might cry...
• ... which leads me on to this one... crying at television adverts. Or for no reason at all. You know that ad where the dog in a home has a small toy shaped like a man with glasses? Then a man (the spitting image of the dog's toy!!) comes to rescue the dog, and the dog is over the moon. That gets me and I'm tearing up now just thinking about it! Baby adverts are the worst. The Clearblue one where a woman is telling her friend she's pregnant. Burst into tears the first time it came up on YouTube.
• Up at 7.30am, or even earlier? You'll probably feel ready to crash at like 10am. Maybe because getting to sleep sometimes can be so hard to do. Or maybe because you're growing a human inside you. That's tiring work!
• You add the word 'pregnancy' into everything you Google. Absolutely guilty of this one!
• Ever rub your bump and speak/sing to it in public? I did that the other day. First & last time I'll do it. Had an old lady look at me very pityingly! Really?!
• Can't see your toes? Welcome to pregnancy! A beautiful bump is a much nicer view than toes if you ask me!
• Used to sleeping on your tummy? Not anymore!
• Used to sleeping on your back? Not anymore!
• Find a comfortable position to sit or lay in... now it's playtime for baby!
• Those godawful stretching pains, ESPECIALLY when you sneeze. When I do this, I find myself glued to the spot for a few seconds to make sure I'm still in one piece, and baby did not in fact, make a very early appearance.
• You see that glass of water? You're not allowed to lift it. That shopping list? Too heavy. Shopping bag? Hell no, don't even think about it. I'm able to lift stuff! Maybe not a bed though.
• Worrying about ABSOLUTELY everything. This is more true for first time mums I think, but every little thing seems to worry you. Or me, rather!

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I totally sound like I'm complaining but I'm really not. Okay maybe just about the heartburn because it's a bitch! I love every little hiccup, every little (or big) kick, even those that do take my breath away. It's amazing to know that I'm growing a little human inside me, who will join us in less than three months. All those sleepless nights, the tender belly and the urge to pee 500 times a day is all worth it for my little man. Even the godawful heartburn!

Happy hump day from me & bump!

Pregnancy | My Five Must-haves!

Pregnancy is no mean feat. It's amazing, although that can be hard to see when you're feeling terrified, uncomfortable and hungry 24/7. Maybe the hunger thing is just me because I love food so much,... and not just during pregnancy either, haha. I've compiled a quick list of some of my must-haves for this magical time in your life. These are things I swear by to help me through pregnancy. Less than three months to go!

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1. Fetal Doppler

This is by far one of the best purchases we've ever made, without a doubt. Early in my pregnancy, I had a small bit of bleeding so I freaked out. Everything was fine, but I hated feeling on edge all the time and worried something would go wrong. It got to a stage where I was too scared to pee incase I saw more blood. We had seen fetal Dopplers online, some of which were mental prices! My boyfriend came across one on a buy & sell site, which we ended up paying €20 for. It was a Sonoline one and in absolutely perfect condition, batteries included too. Best €20 ever spent! Of course, we tried it when we got back and I immediately felt at ease. As it turned out, we were listening to the placenta the first few times *facepalm* but quickly found the heartbeat. The old midwives tale says that horses galloping is a girl, and a train means a boy. Ours was a train, but honestly, I think it's just how the baby is laying. Ours still sounds like a train though! We used aloe vera gel, but now we just use coconut oil. I find it better as it doesn't dry out as quick. Anyway... we used the Doppler every day for a week or two, then every second or third day for a while. Then our little man started kicking and I felt the need to use it less. He kicks and moves so much now, but every so often, I'll get the Doppler out just to hear his little heart beating. It still amazes me... especially when he kicks the Doppler off my tummy! Some people say not to get one because you'll drive yourself crazy, but I was going crazy without one. It has helped to ease my mind on so many occasions, so I really can't recommend it enough. I've still got mine and won't sell it until we're done having babies. In like the year 3000. 

2. 'Bump' pillow

I don't have a specific bump pillow, so I use a normal pillow instead. Enough (and good!) sleep is vital in pregnancy, especially when you get worn out from just 'being'. Heck, we're growing a human, so of course we'll get tired, haha. Being well-rested feels so good! I sleep with my 'bump' pillow supporting my bump and between my legs. It helps so much, and means I can get a good rest. Except the nights I have killer heartburn because nothing helps me with that. With the pillow, I'm into such a habit of flipping it over when I turn over, so I use it when laying on both my left and right sides.

3. Belly oil

Bio oil might work best for stretchmarks, but I find using coconut oil is great too. My belly feels really moisturised and I've read that it can help with stretchmarks when the skin is supple. I have a few small stretchmarks, but I really think the coconut oil is helping, as I thought they would be worse by now. Maybe I've just jinxed that. It might have helped more had I used the oil before the stretchmarks appeared though!

4. Prenatal vitamins

I take Pregnacare and have done since early pregnancy, and it feels good knowing I'm doing right by my baby. It contains the recommended levels of folic acid and Vitamin D, as well as plenty of vitamins and minerals, which are essential in pregnancy. I've worked out that I have enough, plus 2 left over if he arrives on his due date! This totally sounds sponsored, but I swear it's not!

5. Maternity clothing

I've got a pair of maternity jeggings and they are sooo comfortable with the belly band on them. I find it gives a lovely shape to bump too. To be honest, I see myself wearing them a lot after pregnancy until I'm back to my pre-pregnancy weight. I have a maternity top too that I don't fit into yet, but it's so comfortable and soft. I've tried the hairband trick on my normal jeans, but it doesn't doesn't feel comfortable for me. Maternity all the way!

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Happy almost weekend, from me & bump!

26 Week Pregnancy Update!

This is the first bump update I've done, and will probably be one of very few! I'm actually almost 27 weeks now, but I wanted to get this post out. The picture was taken at 26 weeks (my weeks change over on a Monday!) Here's what 26 weeks has been like so far...

How far along? 26 (almost 27) weeks!

Total weight gain: Luckily (?), we don't have a weighing scales. I want to know, but I'm dreading finding out.

Maternity clothes? Just my maternity jeggings and some normal black leggings! I'm kind of nervous to try my normal jeans with the hairband trick! My usual tops still fit for now.

Stretch marks? A few small ones, but I'm using coconut oil for moisturising my bump.

Sleep: Some nights are great, and some are just so uncomfortable that I find it hard to sleep properly. Bump is getting big, boobs are too big! Pre-pregnancy, I liked sleeping on my back, but I'm getting better at sleeping on my sides, mainly the left! If I wake up on my back, I just turn onto my side. Also, it's so damn warm, which makes it harder to get to sleep.

Best moment this week: Feeling my baby hiccup... amazing!

Miss anything? Runny eggs! I swear, my first meal when baby's born must include runny eggs!

Movement: Oh, ALL THE TIME! He's so active. He seems to already have his own sleeping pattern. Mornings see me being woken up with some sweet baby kicks and rolling about, as if to say 'good morning, mummy!'. He quietens down in the afternoon, but will kick if I play music or talk to him. I swear he knows his name already! Some evenings, he'll kick for ages. Other evenings, he'll kick less but will make sure he gets some hard kicks in before I go to sleep. I've three months to go and I'm already missing being pregnant, haha. I'll never tire of the movements, it's incredible to see him move and feel the kicks... even when he kicks me in the ribs. Ouch!

Food cravings: Anything lemony (I thought I was over that!) and uh... pork scratchings!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Spaghetti Bolognese! It used to be one of my favourite meals, now I can't stomach it. This started probably around 8 or 9 weeks and it's stuck with me. I still eat mince, I still eat pasta... but spaghetti bolognese, I just can't deal with!! I don't know if it will get better when baby's here though. Also, we have this room spray which, when sprayed, makes me want to gag. I loved that before, but now I just can't!

Gender: Boy!! ❤

Labor signs: I had Braxton Hicks a few weeks ago, but that was it!

Symptoms: Oh god... heartburn is a real bitch some nights but seems to be getting better. Leg cramps are a nightmare too, sometimes the pain will wake me up! Walking for long periods of times makes my legs ache, so I have to stop every so often. My lower back gets really achey too sometimes, but my boyfriend is a star with his massages and back rubs.

Belly button in or out? In!

Wedding rings on or off? I don't wear one (yet, haha)

Happy or moody most of the time: A mixture of both, but mostly happy when I think about everything we have to come. It's so overwhelming. but extremely exciting.

Looking forward to: Spending the weekend with my boyfriend when he's off work!

Happy Friday from me & bump! ❤

Top Ten Thursday - Current Playlist

After any kind of day, I always find music is the best way to help me unwind or relax... cuddles too!

My 'current playlist' changes all the time, because I find myself going back to songs I haven't heard in years. Personally, I think the best music was produced from the 60s up until the very early 00s. I class a lot of the really recent stuff out there these days as 'noise'... Don't get me wrong, I love a lot of current music, which is why my playlist changes so often. I find that I get bored of some music, but usually end up going back to it after a few weeks because I miss it... then realising how much I love it!

Here's what I'm listening to at the moment...

Train - Drops of Jupiter (baby's favourite song to kick to!)

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Queen -  These Are The Days Of Our Lives

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Taylor Swift - Wildest Dreams

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Elvis Presley - The Wonder Of You

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Westlife - Flying Without Wings

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Jon Bellion - Carry Your Throne

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Kodaline - The One

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Mary Black - No Frontiers

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Birdy - Wings

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Bell X1 - The End Is Nigh

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What are you listening to these days?

5 Things I'm Looking Forward To...

I'm not sure I've done one of these posts before, but it's something new, so why not? I've got some things coming up that I'm looking forward to this year... and of course, I wanted to share them with you all! The only thing is... it's all pregnancy & baby related!

1. Finishing the nursery

The nursery is finally painted, so next up is figuring out the placement of the furniture and how we want to decorate the room. I'm excited to see it finished. It's coming together, but we have a few more bits to get. I think there's a huge rush yet though, as he will sleep in our room until he's around six months... so I tell myself anyway!

2. Antenatal Class

In the middle of July, both myself and my boyfriend will be attending a six-hour antenatal class in our local hospital. I'm looking forward to it, although I've read about a lot of people saying not to bother because it was a waste of time. Both myself and my boyfriend have baby books and lots of apps that we read, so we know a lot there is to know. I'm sure some questions will pop up when we're at the class. Six hours though. SIX. HOURS. Dang.

3. Having more 'us time'

I love the time we have together, and I know a baby will add something huge to that. We've only got three months until our little boy is here (!!!), and my partner works long shifts, so we're trying to squeeze as much 'us time' in as possible, before baby comes along. Plenty of cuddles and TV series and shows to watch, and hopefully a few more days out squeezed in too!

4. Holding our little boy

I think this one is pretty self-explanatory! After carrying the little monkey for nine months inside me (and having him kick the crap out of me!), neither of us can wait to have him with us and in our arms. He is already so loved and holds the biggest place in our hearts.

5. Christmas

... and we will have a three month old. That's incredibly scary to think about, because last Christmas was SO quiet as we had just moved house. Can't wait for it this year with my own little family!

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What are you looking forward to this year?

Review | Sleek 'Face Form' Contour, Highlight & Blush Palette

Do you remember the first time you started wearing makeup? If you're like me, you definitely didn't realise the importance of things like eyebrows, contour and highlight. Thank god those days are gone! I'm no 'pro' at makeup, but I think what I do suits my face shape, though I know it could be better.

I'm extremely pale, which I blame on being Irish and rarely seeing sunlight, haha. Looking like a milk bottle baby meant that finding a nice contour (that wasn't too dark!) proved to be a big issue for me. I've tried numerous contours, but I just couldn't find one that wasn't really 'dirty', making it look like I had just rubbed mud on my face... attractive!

This picture was taken from the Sleek Makeup website, as as I've lost the photo I took of my packaging!

I picked up this little pretty in the shade 'Fair' in May 2015, on offer for €9.99 in my then-local pharmacy. It ranges from €12.99 to €14.99 in other places I've seen it. I'm pleased to say that it's still going strong over a year later! I wore makeup every (if not, most) days up until January of this year. Nowadays, it's more like 3 days a week. Obviously these photos were taken before I used it, and the matte black case is sadly no longer as clean as it was on day one! I've hit pan on the highlighter, and I think that's brilliant considering it's over a year old and I use it every time I do my makeup. I love the sleek (haha) simplicity of the packaging, no fuss.

The matte contour shade is perfect for me, not muddy at all. I use quite a light hand but it's easily buildable and creates a beautiful finish. It lasts all day too, which is always a plus! The highlight is the most beautiful illuminating highlight I've come across so far. It gives a radiant glow and adds a perfect touch to a made up face. I use it on my cheekbones, upper lip, down my nose, on my brow bone, on the inner corners of my eyes and on my forehead (I'm surprised I didn't hit pan sooner than I did, yeesh!) The blush is a beautiful rose gold colour, and my favourite ever blush. I always use a very light hand for this, because it's so pigmented. Again, buildable... if you're into that kind of look! This blush has a slight shimmer to it. which I personally love, but if you're not into that, stay away from the blush. I would still purchase this just for the contour and highlight though.

Since this picture was taken, I've upped the contouring a little bit, as you can see from the second picture of me!

This all-in-one perfect palette is available from Boots for €14.49. I'll definitely repurchase this, but I do think what I have will last another while. This palette is available in Fair, Light, Medium and Dark, so there's something to suit every skin tone. And hey, if Fair suits me, it'll suit the palest person ever! I can't recommend it enough.

Back to Blogging & Pregnancy Update!

I can't belieeeeeve it's been over 2 months since my last post was published on here! Reason being, my laptop charger is screwed, so I can't use my laptop. I need to get a new charging cable, but in the meantime, I'm using my boyfriend's computer. ALSO, HOW IS IT JUNE ALREADY?

I have a list of posts I want to do, saved on my phone, and I'm actually quite excited to fall back into the blogging world again. I find blogging extremely therapeutic... even if some days saw me taking 2 or 3 hours to put out a decent post. But that's normal, right? Anyway, I'm back now, currently taking a break from scrubbing the house and tidying!

If you've read my previous post, you'll know I'm pregnant... 24 weeks and 2 days today. I'm amazed at how quick time seems to be going. I can't believe we're well over the halfway mark already. Our little boy will be here before we know it... although let's hope he stays in there until his due date in September! We have already chosen his name, and at the moment, we're deciding on what to do with his nursery. Paint colour, decor, location of furniture, etc. It's really exciting, and we can't wait to meet him. Hospital appointments, my glucose test, decorating and antenatal classes will make the time go faster I think. And we'll have a three month old at Christmas, how does that even make sense? It's overwhelming at times and I find myself crying for no reason, but overall, I love it. He usually reacts to the Eastenders theme tune, and he's kicking me as I type this! ❤

Pregnancy so far has been good to me, for the most part! My sickness didn't last long at all and I had an extreme craving for anything lemony... lemon cake, lemonade, lemon mousse. The other night in bed, I found myself with a strong craving for pork scratchings. PORK SCRATCHINGS. Of all things. Oh god, they all sound so good right now. So, I've decided I'm making lemon drizzle cake when this post goes out. ANYWAY, let's stop talking about food and get back to pregnancy. I first felt him move around 18 and a half weeks, just little small kicks and movements. They're SO much stronger now, and sometimes his kicks make me jump because they're so sudden. I'm quite a jumpy person anyway, so this might not happen with anyone else! In saying all that, I can't even imagine how strong his kicks will be when I'm 36+ weeks... helloooooo broken ribs! The heat is really getting to me, but I can't complain because I live in Ireland, and from time to time, forget what the sun looks like! So I'll make the most of it while we have it. It's a good excuse for ice-cream, ice-lollies and ice-cold water! What am I saying, anytime is a good excuse for ice-cream.

All along, I thought our little bubs was a girl. I wasn't the only one. Almost everyone I spoke to predicted a little girl for us... only my boyfriend said he had a feeling it was a boy! So, of course, at our gender scan, we found out that I was in fact carrying a healthy baby boy. I'm never going to live it down because he was right ;) not that I mind one bit, I love my boys more than anything in this world. I find it a little crazy to think that something that's not even here yet, can mean absolutely everything to us. I can't imagine not having our little boy growing inside me now. I love being pregnant, and watching our little boy's movements and feeling his kicks is amazing. He is so loved already... spoiled too and he's got another 3 and a half months of growing to do!

I think we're decorating the nursery next week, so I'll be sure to do some updates on how it's coming along...

Happy first day of June from me & bump ❤