Hips Don't Lie

But they do hurt. 

ALOT. 

Shakira, bringing the pregnancy glam.

This particular Pregnancy Pro has only just hit this weekend. And it's hit me hard. I was lying on the bed, pinning away quite merrily (trying to find neutral decor ideas for sharing a bedroom with a boy, it's actually way hard to make things look pretty AND masculine!?) and when I went to get up... I couldn't. The very bottom of my back was just locked. It hurt to try and roll over. It hurt to try and sit up. And then it hurt just to lie there. I felt like a little beached whale. And everyone else was asleep, so I was an abandoned, helpless beached whale. 

Ok I may have over dramatised that slightly. 

But only the abandoned, helpless, endangered mammal part. 

The pain was totally dramatic. 

And then in the morning I woke up and it felt like I had a dead hip. So I turned over (because this particular morning I was DETERMINED to have a lie in. And within 5 minutes the other hip felt dead. So, completely disregarding the beached whale situ 12 hours earlier - I tried laying on my back. Bump too heavy. Back ache. So I kinda just kept turning myself over until eventually I got up. 

But the hips still really hurt for a couple of hours. So I checked in with NHS online to see whether this is cosha (Being a completely naive first time mum I often have to check NHS or BabyCentre for reassurance that I'm not dying** - this is fine, and they usually placate me and I go happily back to my everyday potterings. However, I will say DO NOT go on to forums for reassurance. Because although they can be very helpful places to find people who may well be going through similiar symptoms, they can also be places full of complete scaremongery and ladies who may unfortunately be having some really rare difficulties - which you should not read because a) you will be scared of everything and b) you will just worry that every little symptom is the end of the world and who really had time for that?!) **This overly dramatic thing is a new phase I'm going through right now. I'm sure it'll totally pass. 

Anyway - NHS said yeahhhh it's completely normal and to ease hip pain it's helpful to lie on your side. 

Lie on your side. 

You know, where your really painful hips are. 

THANKSSSSSS!

And actually as it turns out, it made me realise that 'Lie on your side' is pretty much the ONLY 'remedy' for anything achey that you get given. 

My back aches. 
Lie on your side. 
(The bump is too heavy and squishes your organs) 

My chest is tight and I can't breath easy. 
Lie on your side. 
(Apparently there's some vein or something that the bump squishes lying on your back) 

I feel light headed and a bit dizzy. 
Lie on your side. 
(Big vein thingy again) 

I'm having trouble sleeping. 
Like on your side. 
(Actually, I'm lucky enough to have a big pregnancy pillow and this does really work & make lying on your side pretty bearable. BNF brought it for me and I think he got it for a good price on Amazon. But apparently you can put normal pillows around you and between your legs and it helps too?)

My hips still hurt. But I'm coming round to accepting this as a given. Although I will say - kneeling on all fours for 5 minutes gives momentary relief. And I have read a couple of times that swimming, or just being in a pool is supposed to really help with aches and pains as it takes the weight off. So I'm going to give that a go too once we're all moved in.

Until then I shall do my best to channel Shakira glam... *snuggles on sofa and stuffs another fig roll in face*

Mx

Summer Is Ending...

Well actually, knowing this country it'll probably be back at the end of September! 

But for now I'm getting ridiculously excited about Autumn! 

I love, double love, super love Autumn! Always have done. I also get ridiculously excited about Winter and all things Christmas (and this year - baby!) so take this as a gentle break-in for the crazed hype that will ensue towards the end of the year!

A few of the things I'm super excited about right now are... 

- Drinking hot chocolate with marshmallows 

- Movie night date nights 

- Pumpkin carving & Halloween 

- Firework night 

- Cinnamon EVERYTHING

 
- Gingerbread peoples

- Going for cool walks with crispy leaves 

- Conkers 

 
- Starbucks dates 

- Curling up under a blanket 

- Big knitted jumpers. And scarves. And socks. 

- Lots of cuddling 

 

- Hosting my very first Thanksgiving (I am aware that this is not custom in the UK, but there's such a long time between firework night and Christmas that I need a stopgap celebration, and I like the sentiment and story behind Thanksgiving, so I'm making it a new Malibu Tradition!) 

So I am TOTALLY fine with the rainy grey days that have taken over this last week and the cooler weather (I have always been like this, but it is also true that the hot weather does not mix so well with pregnancy... and kinda leaves me feeling like a walrus abandoned in the desert. So not glam.) 

Plus I kinda like the idea of being able to start again. I love Summer just as much as the next girl, but this years has been a bit of a roller-coaster. We are hopefully *crosses everything and does a lucky dance* getting the keys to our little flat on Sunday, the last day of August. So for me, I personally cannot wait to start the new chapter, during my favourite time of year!
 

Bring on the new season! 

Mx

Malibu's Lazy Rainy Day Chili

Horrid day full of rain, feeling a bit rubbish, Lulu & BNF at work all day... Everyone needed some love today! 

So I made this chili with jacket potatoes (which we ate way too quickly to take any photos) and everyone was happy for at least half an hour! 

This is a super easy, no fuss, idiot proof recipe that will give you a bit of comfort on 'one of those days'.

Ingredients: 
1 large red onion 
1 teaspoon Lazy garlic 
Shake of Paprika
Shake of Cumin 
1 teaspoon of lazy red chilies
Approx 600g lean mince 
300ml Beef stock (oxo cube) 
1 Carton of chopped tomatoes 
2 Big squeezes of tomato puree 
1 Can of red kidney beans 
Salt & Pepper 
Lea & Perrins

Served 4 with a little left over

Method: 
- Chop the onion and fry off on a medium heat with the garlic, chilies, paprika & cumin for about 10 minutes (until the onions look all clear and are a bit smushy) 

- Add the mince, a little at a time, and fry off until all brown (keep prodding it with the wooden spoon to break it down until it looks normal) 

- Make up the beef stock with boiling water, add to the saucepan. Add the carton of tomatoes. Stir in well and let simmer on a low heat. Add in the tomato puree, salt & pepper and Lea & Perrins (this is to taste, I like to splash quite a lot in). 

- Bring all to the boil & stir well. Then lower the heat and cover with a lid whilst gently bubbling, and leave for 20 minutes (do check on it though, and give it a stir) 

- Then add the beans. And if you feel like you're in the mood, another big splash of Lea & Perrins (I was in this mood today) Stir well, re-cover with the lid and leave for another 20 minutes until the liquid is as absorbed as you like it. 

- Then remove from the heat and serve! We topped jacket potatoes with the chili then added grated cheese, because we just wanted fuss free cold weather feel good food. But you can add guacamole or sour cream - whatever you fancy! 

Mx

Sweatpants Are All That Fit Me Right Now!

Bonjourno!

Ah Regina George & The Plastics... how do we love thee... (I actually think that part of the reason I was a baby boy so much is so that I can decorate him with candy canes and call him Glen Coco - how cute?!)

Anyway!! With the whole 'blossoming' and 'blooming' thing it kinda feels like 'ballooning'... and it kinda happens overnight.

All these clever ladies on Pinterest showed me this fab idea of 'stretching' my skinny fit levi's by looping a band through the button hole - I literally thought this was the most clever thing ever.

So I merrily went along to a cinema date with KC with the jeans held together with this band feeling all smug - thinking I was rocking this whole pregnancy in my skinny jeans thing.

Holy crap. I have never, EVER felt so uncomfortable in my life. Firstly there's the whole issue of there not actually being any support to hold your jeans up - so the constant and rather unflattering issue of having to pull your jeans up every five minutes.

Then there's the band itself, just sitting there making a deep indent into your poor little bump - that lets face it, hasn't really done anything to deserve that.

And I dont care how how Marky Mark is (I do actually, very much so) but sitting through nearly 3 hours of this elastane induced hell kinda takes the edge off Optimus Prime doing his thing. But not Mark. In fact, lets just take a moment to appreciate that sweet man. 

Seriously. He just gets better with age, no?

Got time for a bit of a throwback? Oh goodness me. 

Anyway - let's get back to the point. Go and buy some maternity jeans. Seriously. They are the BEST invention in the world ever. And they don't even have to be expensive - I brought mine in H&M for £19 a pair and I got a dark denim smart looking pair and a light-wash denim for more of a casual look. I cannot tell you how comfortable these are and how happy they have made me!! (Look, I've given up all alcohol and bad things until the bubba is here, just indulge me with what brings me happiness now, ok? Thanks)

Also. Upper Body Reinforcement.

I am a girly girl. And I love all things frilly and with bows and all those wonderful things.

But right now?

I love my Soft & Comfys from Asda. Seriously; They were inexpensive, they have super thick straps and they resemble a sports bra with no seams and made of the softest cotton you have ever felt.

They're like chest shaped marshmallows. They're just heavenly.

Because my pre-preggers bras have somehow shrunk into some scrap of cover you might find in the costume box of a dubious movie. And they hurt. And quite frankly, we're just not friends right now.

Granted, I am quite lucky that my wardrobe was already full of floaty, transition friendly pieces but I guarantee you that during my bloat-to-bump days these are the two biggest things that have brought me joy in the preggo wardrobe department. But it doesn't matter what it is that you go and buy - what I really need you to know is that you HAVE to be comfortable. With all the hormones that are flying around anyway, you do not need to be getting upset because your clothes don't fit.

Leave the skinny jeans in the draw. Dump the old favourite bra. These things will fit you again (I'm actually not sure about the bra - come back to me in a year and I'll let you know!) but regardless - what's important right now is that you are comfortable and your bump is supported. And that you are happy to enjoy this wonderful time :)

For goodwill I shall leave you with just ooooone more pic of Marky Mark, because it is Bank Holiday after all :)

Big kisses.

Mx

Ooh Baby Baby!

Aloha bunnies! 

Soooo yes BigNoseFrank & I are expecting a tiny little bubba! So again, I apologise for disapearing off the face of the planet again but there has been a slight roller coaster of crazy going on! 

Bubba is due on Boxing Day :) and we have no idea of the sex officially although I'm pretty convinced that it's a boy! I can't tell you why - and I'll probably be wrong haha! But I just feel like it's a boy. 

Now, being pregnant is THE bestest feeling in the world. BUT, when you are not married, still living at home with your parents and your boyfriend (however wonderful he may be) is 4 years younger than you... a positive pregnancy test might just come as a bit of a shock to you. 

However - I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason; even when that reason is seemingly non aparent! "Unknown to you, the Universe is unfolding as it should." <-- This is the vibe I'm going with right now anywho. 

But since June, having ridden the roller coaster and survived the shock and cemented our relationship - we're actually over the moon and so blessed to be expecting and very excited to start the next Chapter of our little adventure :) 

However as a girl who is the first of my school friends to have a baby I have some things that I need to share with you other ladies who are expecting / hoping to have a little one soon that they just don't tell you... 

- Everyone over the age of 38 will say 'Oh well done!!' to you on learning that you are carrying a baby. Like you've passed some sort of fertility test of life. Just smile and wave. It's an oldy thing. 

- For the first 12 - 15 weeks you will just sleep. And eat. (And maybe be sick, I *touch wood* have had no sickness - but I don't wanna sell ya up the river on that one) I actually didn't find out I was pregnant until I was 9 weeks. But looking back, there was a Saturday where I REFUSED to get out of bed, and only did so at 2:30pm on the precis that BNF would take me to McDonalds and get me chicken nuggets. HOW we didn't guess it I will never know. 

- You will only feel comfortable in your old bare thread flip flops. Your swollen feet will fit in your beautiful closed wedges for about 2 hours and then will bust outta them bad boys like elephant feet. 

- When people learn you are pregnant, any sign of emotion you show is just "hormones". It does not matter that they have behaved like complete butt munches and were super horrid, you're "just hormonal". {NB. This may actually be true, but your hormones will make you feel sensitive to it anyway} Also - your new found hormonal surges will enable you to go through a range of On Top Of The World Happy As Larry - to - Bottom Of The Ocean Darker Than Dark - to - Psycho Bitch From Hell - to - Super Insecure Needy Emotional Wreck in the amount of time Mariah Carey can go through 5 octaves. And just as impressively.

- If you're like me, your bump won't show until about 20 weeks. You will go through this wierd chubby tummy phase and you will still be able to get away with your pre-pregnancy clothes for a while and then all of a sudden, seemingly overnight, you will not fit any of your clothes and your bump will be like a little football on your tummy. BUY maternity clothes. Even before you need them. Because you WILL need them. And when you wake up and none of your clothes fit and you have 20 minutes to leave the house - you will have wished you had maternity pants. Just Sayin. 

- Boobs. Oh my goodness. They will HURT. And they will just not fit in your bra anymore. And underwire? Oh my gosh... Underwire is like the infrastructure of hell right now. But actually, going back on what I just said (hormones, soz) you might not wanna run out and buy a maternity bra right away. Not just because those things are expensive, but also because these babies are just gonna get bigger so you might as well wait until you REALLY can't live without one. I am in love with a) a 'soft and comfy' bra that is made of super soft cotton and has no seems and b) a strapless bikini top that is 3 sizes bigger than my usual dress size. Hey, when you want comfort you will. not. care.

- Do you sleep on your back? I used to. However I started to get real bad pains in my kidney area and I was having trouble breathing. So I went to my midwife who was like ooooh yeahhhh you can't sleep on your back really because the weight of your bubba is crushing your organs and there's this super important vein thing that it leans on which restricts the blood flow which is probably why your chest feels tight. Wicked. Thanks mid wifey. So after a couple of weeks trying so hard to learn to sleep on my side, BNF brought me a pregnancy pillow. O.M.G. it is THE best present he has ever brought me. Some people will tell you it's not worth the money, don't listen to those people you can find loads of them on Amazon and they are WONDERFUL. 

- Memory loss. Like, for real. Sometime I start a sentence and then just, completely forget what I was going to say. I go to town and forget what I went for. Even right now I'm struggling to remember what else I was going to put on this list. And then you will forget words. And either make up new ones in their place or just use completely incorrect ones. I told my mum that the nurse inspected my mole with a telegraph... It's cool. Mums have been there they understand. But people at work? They might just think you're crazy.  

And as I said, I cannot remember anymore this evening. So I shall retire. But if I remember what else I was going to say - I'll get back to you! 

Here's a pic of bubba blowing bubbles for ya. 

Big kisses. 

Mx