20 Week Pregnancy Update ¦ Baby Number2 ¦

Half way! Oh my goodness, where has the time gone? 4 months and we will be meeting the new arrival, Tyler's going to be a big brother, and he's going to have a baby brother or sister... which brings a whole new level of excitement to our pregnancy this time. When pregnant with Tyler the excitement of not knowing, was different to the excitement we are feeling for finding out this time.

So on with the update after my ramble of our excitement!

How far along: While writing this i'm 21 weeks and 3 days. However this is my 20 week blog so lets get into how I found 20 weeks was. This picture was taken at 21 weeks and 4 days.

Stretch Marks: Still not yet, my old ones are a little noticeable, but like I mentioned in my last pregnancy update  I'm a little over worrying about stretch marks they happen, their isn't a lot you can do about it, and given time they fade away.

Has your partner felt the baby move: Yes, I've left the details for my best moment this week.

Babies movements: Yes, lots. I think this baby may be a early riser.

Belly Button ... In or Out? I think my belly button may already be starting to pop out! It did with Tyler so I'm kind of expecting it.

Best moment of the week: Richard has finally felt the baby!! This had me so excited, his face, his smile, the moment shared together when you can both feel your child moving is amazing. I had a nap on Sunday and Richard came put his hand on the bump, when he did the baby kicked and it just felt like the baby was saying hi dad!

Cravings: Not really anything new, so unless I have a new craving that takes over my life then I doubt I'll be mentioning this question again.

Anything to add? Well as you can tell this week has been A LOT better than last week! Where I felt rough and just tired and very fatigued, this week my energy has been better and I have been taking the time to rest more. Which for me I have created a bit of a routine, around half 12 I prep myself some lunch and then take Tyler up to bed at 1pm for his nap, then I get some lunch and a snack make a brew and head up to bed to put my feet up and rest! If I sit down stairs I get too tempted to tidy up and anything else that may pop into my mind that I could do, I have to say I have found resting a life saver. I'll be calling for my blood results soon to see if I am anemic as well.

I look forward to sharing week 21 with you and our scan update!!!!!! Aghh So Excited!!! Boy or Girl you'll have to wait to find out!!

19 Weeks Pregnancy Update ¦ Baby Number2 ¦

Welcome back to baby bump update for my 19th week pregnant. I am getting ever more excited that in just under 2 weeks we will be finding out what this little bundle that kicks me in the night is. We didn't find out with Tyler as I mentioned in my last video, which was just as exciting. But this time around the prospect of knowing brings a new level of excitement for the bundle of joy that you carry.

So how has week 19 been for me...

How far along: As stated above this is the 19 week update so I'm now 20 weeks while writing this blog. As I prefer to do my blogs slightly behind so I can give you my whole thoughts on the previous week of pregnancy and how I have felt.

Maternity Clothes: This will be the last time I answer this question in my blogs, because for myself maternity clothes are a definite! I do fit a few of my old baggy or stretchy tops, but bottoms are the same as last week ... definitely maternity!

Stretch marks: As of yet, no new ones. Nearly everyone gets stretch marks during pregnancy, whether it be at the start, middle or end. And believe it of not, people even get them when not pregnant, so I'm over the hype of "oh no a stretch mark!!!"  lets face it their just another one of those little imperfections that crop up. Its not the end of the world!

Best moment of the week: Hearing the babies heart beat again. I wasn't meant to have any more appointments until 28 weeks, however I had been rather unwell, and tired all week so the midwife suggested I pop in for bloods and a check up. As when pregnant with Tyler I did become anemic. Hearing the heart beat was so funny as my appointment was around the time the baby is normally at it's most active in the day. So every time we heard it for a few seconds the baby would kick the monitor, had all of us including the midwife chuckling.

Cravings: My mom so kindly the other day, mentioned to me on skype that she going to go have a nice brew and some homemade Jam Roly Poly, with fresh cream ...... My jaw dropped! Not only is my moms homemade jam roly poly the best I have ever had! But the words fresh cream .... Craving alert!
So thanks mom ... shall be waiting for the delivery of jam roly poly any day!

Babies movements: Definitely getting stronger! They are also very regular now, they tend to be when I wake up, lunch time and then all evening.

Has your partner felt the baby move? Sadly still not yet but I'm sure he will in time.

Anything extra to add: Like I said early in the blog, I have had a pretty rough week, heart burn to no end, restless legs have now joined the party along with dizziness and extreme fatigue. Hoping the bloods I had done will have some answers... Plus the fact I have to remind myself this isn't my first pregnancy and I now have a toddler who wants to run around, play and needs my attention too. So I think that added in has left me a little low on energy ... along with my stubborn side that doesn't like sitting down all day doing nothing!! But I will begin to listen to my partner and try to resist cutting the lawns and doing a mad spring clean each week!!

Hope you enjoyed this update guys, comment below letting me know how your getting on with your pregnancy or if you have any questions and be sure to look out for my vlog update on youtube!

18 Weeks Pregnancy Update ¦ Baby No2 ¦

Welcome back to my second pregnancy update, with baby number two. Some of the questions for this blog will come with basic answers if they are the same as my 16 week update and I may add new questions as the weeks go on, just to keep things interesting! 

How far along? I am 18 weeks this Saturday (10th May) So hopefully fingers crossed this blog is posted no later than Sunday! 

Maternity Clothes? Definitely, from now on forth this question is going to be a simple yes I think, I'm hoping their may be some none maternity close I will be able to still fit and buy but leggings, jeans etc are all definitely maternity. 

Stretch Marks? Luckily at the moment I think I still only have my old ones, my partner was the best and got me some oils to start using. I was using a cream by mum & me which I will be reviewing soon along with the Nspa mum to be nourishing stretch mark cream. I'm hoping I can keep them at bay.

Sleep or No sleep? I did go through a bit of a faze last week, of sitting up till twelve am, I'm not sure why, I just didn't seem to be feeling tired, or like my brain could shut off. I am still managing to only get up once a night, although I fear very soon that will increase to twice a night!! As they say its your bodies way of preparing for the new arrival. 

Best moments of the week? Well my energy is still at an all time high! Which is making me feel great all the time. Along with Tyler almost going 2 weeks accident free at bed time, couldn't be any more proud of how quickly he has learnt how to use the potty in the night. With the night time potty training has come Tyler wanting to use the big toilet in the day time, So we have brought a toilet training seat, and hes had me going up and down stairs all day long to use it!! at least that's one way to keep fit during pregnancy

Missing anything I can't have? I can't say I am really. Nothing really strikes me that I feel I need, other than a dippy egg! 

Cravings? A few new cravings this week, I am still feeling weak at the knees over chocolate, however I have managed to swap those cravings for sugar, for strawberries! Oh eggs, I am really loving eggs, scrambled, hard boiled, fried or an omelette. 

Babies movements? I can definitely confirm that it is the baby I have felt moving, the kicks are getting stronger every night. I normally feel the baby, straight away in the morning, around lunch time and when I'm sat with my partner in the evenings along with when we go to bed. 

Has your partner felt the baby? Not yet. 

Anything extra to add? I have been suffering heart burn and indigestion from the very start basically and it has been playing up since Wednesday again, and not just in the evenings but all day long! It actually made me feel quite sick the other day, which wasn't pleasant as Tyler kept wanting to use the big toilet, I didn't want to stop him as he had started asking, it wasn't something we had to prompt, but the joy on his face from using the big boy toilet was enough to make not sitting under a duvet on the sofa more than worth it! 

Remember to watch my 18 week pregnancy vlog update on youtube, for a belly shot. 

Potty Training Tyler ¦ Day Time ¦

Happy Thursday to you all, it's nearly the weekend.. woohoo although unlike a 9-5 job parenting is 24/7 seven days a week, three hundred and sixty five days a year.... So I guess, or at least to me weekends have become time where my mobile doesn't get a lot of attention the laptops are left off and we have family time!

So what do I have for this weeks mommy blog? Well if you haven't read the title, It is of course potty training your toddler!

My little boy is now 2 and a half years old, and it has taken us 6 months - or their about. To potty train Tyler. 

Apparently potty training girls is meant to be easier and can happen sooner and from what a lot of health visitors have told us Tyler has done extremely well starting so young as most boys don't start until they are closer to 3. So we have happily given ourselves a well earned pat on the back! 

I have done a video which I will put at the bottom of this blog, but here is a bit more information about how we tackled the nappy to pants dilemma. 

We had started by keeping Tyler in his nappy but every 2 hours or so we would take it off and sit him on the potty asking if he needed a "do do" or "wee wee" once he had done a wee a couple of times we decided to try the, Huggies pull ups. Which are meant to "tell your child" when it's time to go to the potty with an indicator that tells them they are wet. However we found these completely useless. Tyler just wee'd in them, then pulled them off. Because the nappies don't allow your toddler to feel that horrible wet/damp feeling they learn to associate with "an accident" they can't understand the nappy is full or its time to go. 

So we got rid of those completely ... and instead took a leap and decided it was time... yes you know whats coming.. it's time for your toddler to run around as naked as the day they were born, in their birthday suit to be as free as they always want! -- lets face it, toddlers hate wearing clothes! Tyler won't even keep socks on in the house these days! On the plus side it means all that washing - that is never yours gets put on hold. 

Getting naked, those first few days or even week will be a lot of oops and accidents along with wet patches all over the carpet... so warning get some slippers and have plenty of towels ready to soak up the wet patches with some anti bacterial cleaner! The main part about no nappies is to watch your child, sit with them, watch for signs. Tyler normally squats, holds himself, fiddles or hides behind something so I don't see him. It's time to be like a hawk with eagle eyes and watch watch watch!

With plenty of praise and rushing your toddler to the potty .. which I suggest be kept close by at all times.. your little one will slowly but surely start to realize, where they should be going to the toilet. 

Once they have started to go regularly, it's maybe time to go out and buy them some pants make sure they come with you and pick what they like make it fun, and like a treat. The get them home and get started. Show them how to pull them off and back up and remind your toddler they are pants not a nappy and if they need to go wee wee they use they potty. 

Once you've got them going is just a case of not giving up and carrying on, no matter how long it takes!

I hope this has helped in some way, let me know your potty training tips and tricks in the comments and don't forget to look out for my night time potty training soon!