16 Weeks Pregnant - Baby Number 2

Due Date:

28 October 

Symptoms:

None! Hoorah! I seem to have finally have come out the other end of the sickness now. I didn't do a 15 week update as I forgot to take a picture and to be honest, nothing much happened. I've got more energy, I'm eating normally again and I've not had my head down a toilet for a good couple of weeks! I'm still sleeping relatively ok (for now) and I'm not finding it too hard to get comfy yet and the insomnia hasn't started - I remember being much further along when I started suffering insomnia during my pregnancy with Alfie. Things are pretty good.

How is baby?

The baby is now approximately the size of an avocado which is about 11.5cm.  As the baby's backbone has now become stronger, it will be learning to stretch and straighten out the head and neck more. Whilst the baby can make different facial expressions, it doesn't have any control over this just yet. As it's grip gets stronger, it's even possible that they would be grabbing the umbilical cord  - which is pretty crazy when you think how tiny it still is!

How I'm feeling:

GREAT! This was the week that I'd been anxious about for quite a while because we had a weekend away booked for my birthday and I was so worried that I wasn't going to be up to it... Thankfully though I felt absolutely fine and we had a great weekend (which you can read about here) I'm showing quite a lot now and I'm much bigger than I was the first time round. This worries me a little as by the end with Alfie, I was huge! I'm trying not to worry too much though because a lot of people have told me that you do show earlier with your second. I hope they're right!

One thing I've not really talked about is cravings - I've not really had many, but I can't get enough of diet coke, which I know is terrible. I am limiting myself, but if I didn't then I could easily drink a few pints a day! In terms of food, I tend to change from week to week - I've gone through stages of eating just potato waffles, toast (with lashings of butter), sweets such as fruitella or chewits and my biggest food craving would probably be cheese or anything cheese flavoured - mugshots, crisps, sticks of cheese...I cannot get enough of it! It could also be playing a part in the really vivid dreams I've been having ;)

I also had my 16 week midwife appointment this week, but I was literally only in there about 7 minutes - she checked my sample to make sure it was ok, updated my notes, reconfirmed my scan date and that was pretty much it. As everything is going ok with this pregnancy and I didn't have any issues last time with Alfie, I don't need to see the midwife again now until August, when I'll be 28 weeks!

One thing I haven't mentioned yet with not doing a 15 week update, is that I received a letter in the post informing me that I'd picked up a bacterial infection. When I'd given my sample at my scan, it was picked up from that, so I needed a course of antibiotics to clear it. Apparently, it can be quite harmful to the baby if left untreated. I had to take three antibiotics for five days, which meant I was still taking them when we arrived in Bridlington. Not only that but because of taking them, I developed thrush. I've never had it before but it was a pretty miserable few days and it left me feeling really uncomfortable. I had a bit of a wobble thinking it was one thing after another as I'd had a few issues down there last year, when my smear came back abnormal (the posts are here  and here  if you wanted to read about my experience). However, it didn't last long and I got a cream off my doctor and it went relatively quickly. I'm glad that it all cleared up enough not to spoil our weekend away!

14 Weeks Pregnant - Baby Number 2

Due Date:

28 October

Symptoms:

This week I have been pretty symptom free until Thursday. I was up earlier than usual as Michael had to be on the road earlier than normal, so couldn't take me to work, or Alfie to nursery, so my FIL was picking us up (the joys of only having one car). All of a sudden, I was really sick as I was getting ready. It came from nowhere but made me feel dreadful! It's the first time in a week that I'd been sick, so it is finally easing. Other than that I've been pretty ok.

How is baby:

The baby is now approx 8cm or around half the size of a banana. Whilst the arms are now in proportion to the rest of the body, the legs are not and still have quite a bit of growing to do. Another exciting thing is that the baby can now make facial expressions, such as frowning and squinting and will be learning to suck it's thumb!


How I'm feeling:

Now that the sickness is easing off, I'm starting to feel good. I've noticed that I've got more energy and I'm able to eat normal food again (hoorah)! I think that's one thing I really struggled with - eating such boring bland food for nearly 14 weeks is no fun, so it's been nice to have some flavour again. My cousin came for tea on Friday and it was lovely to catch up with her, but talking about it all and the birth made me feel quite scared again. I just don't know what it is. I'm not worrying as much now as I was in the early weeks, but every so often I will get this feeling and I get so scared of what's to come. Silly really when I've done it all before and I had an absolutely amazing birth last time! I'm trying to snap myself out of it whenever I feel like that! I keep meaning to look into hypnobirthing as I've heard wonderful things about it. I've noticed pregnancy insomnia is creeping in and if I wake in the night, then it takes me a while to go back to sleep now. That said, I'm still not really getting up for all the toilet trips I've been expecting, so every cloud!

12 & 13 Week Pregnancy Update - Baby Number 2!

Due Date:

28 October 2016

Symptoms:

I've only had two morning's this week where I was heaving before work, but on Friday night, I was so, so sick! The worst I've been yet I think! I'm starting to get a little bit more energy, but I'm still very tired and taking myself off to bed much earlier than I usually would. Apart from that, it's been a relatively uneventful week.

How is baby? 

The baby is now approximately 6cm and is fully formed. The eyes have moved to the front of  the head, rather than the side and s/he can move it's arms and legs. They're actually moving around quite a lot now, but it will be a while before I will feel anything. S/he will also begin practicing their reflexes this week, like sucking, curling fingers and toes and clenching their eyes.

How I'm feeling?

As you may have noticed, my due date has now changed. I had my 12 week scan on the 21st April and they gave me a date of 28 October, which is four days before my estimated date. Whereas before my scan, my change over day would be on a Tuesday, by the midwives dates, I now change over on a Friday. So, on the day I had my scan, by my dates I was 12 + 2 but they had me down as 12 + 6.  In all honesty, this time around, I'm taking the date with a pinch of salt. I know the first date of my last period and the date of conception. I also know that this baby will come when s/he feels like it.

I was really lucky with Alfie as he arrived at exactly 39 weeks and boy was I so ready to meet him. I'm not sure I could've coped another week by the end, and I dread to think what it would've been like had I have gone over.

I'm going to do a separate post about my scan, so I don't want to say too much about it here, but despite it being the second time I've done this now, I was still incredibly nervous and anxious on the morning. It was just such a huge relief when they were able to tell me that the baby and everything was ok and as it should be.

Now that we've had the scan, it meant that we were FINALLY able to announce our news to the world!

A few people already knew but we put it on facebook and were totally overwhelmed by the congratulatory messages we got. I felt very loved indeed. It was lovely to be able to bask in the excitement for an evening, rather than feeling sorry for myself curled up on the couch. It felt like such a relief to finally be able to announce it and I felt like people, especially at work, were a lot more understanding of why I'd not been myself.

I know I've not really enjoyed this pregnancy so far, but I feel so incredibly lucky to be experiencing this for a second time. One of the things I'm most excited about, is my babies meeting for the first time. I literally cannot wait!

Our Dating Scan - Baby Number 2

It was Thursday 21 April.

Michael and I had taken the day off work as today was the day that we would have our dating scan. It was at a new health centre in town and my letter said that the appointment could take up to three hours. With this in mind, we decided that we wouldn't take Alfie and he would go to nursery as normal. I was gutted as I'd really wanted to take him but it wasn't realistic to take him if it could be three hours. So, off he went to nursery for the day.

Even though this is my second time, I was so incredibly nervous. Ever since I'd got the letter with my date, I'd had this nervous feeling whenever I thought about it. I don't know why but I felt so anxious in the build up to it. I'd been focusing on this day for so long - it had been something to work towards but now the day was finally here, I couldn't believe just how nervous I was.

I was glad we'd taken the day off as it meant I didn't have to rush around in the morning and I could try to get myself together as my appointment wasn't until 12.00. It was a glorious sunny day and as we made the short journey there, I did feel the excitement start to build on the way there. Michael was the totally opposite of me - he was like a kid at Christmas and seeing him so excited did actually help me get excited too.

Once there, we were called for after only a couple of minutes. We went in the room and there was two midwives and a trainee - I'd given my consent to have the trainee assess me as I think they do an amazing job. I answered a few questions with the first midwife, then it was time to hop on to the bed. I remember nervously glancing at Michael and I could see the excitement etched across his face. I lay down and the first midwife put the gel on my tummy and started to look around. I couldn't see anything at first as the screen was turned away from me, but Michael could see everything. I lay there for a few minutes taking it all in and seeing the excitement in Michael's eyes. He leant across and held my hand and I instantly felt like everything was ok. When it was finally time for me to see, I felt an overwhelming feeling of relief. To see your baby there in front of you and watch the heart beating, seeing it move. It's like something you just can't describe. At the time of the midwife trying to get all the measurements, the baby was actually doing a headstand, so was upside down. I honestly could've sat there all day just watching him or her and I wished more than anything that Alfie could have been there with us.

 Once the midwife had taken all the measurements and got our scan pictures, it was the turn of the trainee midwife to repeat everything which the other midwife had just done. At that point, I remember being in such awe of the amazing job they are doing and what an incredible job they have. The trainee midwife was great - she seemed to really know what she was doing and had I not been told she was a trainee, then I'd never have known. I didn't want it to be over. I wanted to lay there all day watching this little baby inside me, but the time had come and the scan was over.

We got 2 photo's to take with us and went back outside to wait as I had to see someone else. The wait this time was around 20 mins and by this point, I was really regretting not having brought any snacks as I was really starting to feel unwell and rather sick.

The next appointment was very short and sweet as she only took my sample from me, made a couple of notes in my book and I was sent back to the waiting room again to wait for the next midwife to see me.

Once called, we went down the long corridor, past the room where we'd just seen our baby for the first time and into another room at the back of the building. I was taken in on my own at first as they needed to ask me a few questions about Michael. For those who have been asked those questions you'll know what I mean - of course I wanted this baby with my husband, there wasn't any domestic violence in relationship and I've definitely not been forced into anything. I get why they need to ask them, but I just felt so protective over Michael. He's honestly the most incredible Daddy to Alfie and I know he will be to this one too. He's such a lovely, kind man and the best husband! Once he was brought back into the room, the midwife went through some of the pages in my notes and explained things to me, which was all pretty much the same as last time.

Then we got to the important part - My due date!

By my estimations, I was due on the 01 November, so I was surprised when the midwife brought me forward a few a days to the 28 October!

Leaving there, I felt like I was on cloud 9. It finally felt real - I had finally seen this little baby that I'd been so desperate to look after and protect more than ever in those early weeks. I felt much calmer after I knew everything was ok and as we were finished just after lunch, we decided to treat ourselves to lunch out as we rarely get any time off together in the week.

The day itself couldn't have been better and I'm so over the moon that I get to go through this journey again - sickness, nausea, tiredness and all.

11 Weeks Pregnant - Baby Number 2!

Due Date: 

Still 01 November, but by next week, I'll have my official due date.

Symptoms:

After getting away with very little sickness last week, this week it's been back with a vengeance! Tuesday, the day I turned 11 weeks, was a particularly bad day as I'd felt off all day and I was really sick at night time which lasted way in to the next day, resulting in me having to go home early from work. I hated having to leave, but I had spent more time in the toilets than I had at my desk. My boss was brilliant though and was so understanding. I'm so glad I've told her that I'm pregnant and I'm not keeping it from her.

Other than the sickness, I've still got next to no energy to do anything and I'm going to bed as soon as I can at night, or falling asleep on the couch, then having to drag myself to bed.

How is baby?

The baby is approx 4cm and has all its fingernails in place and very soon, will start opening and closing it's hands. The head is also very formed, with all the facial bones present. The body is now becoming more proportionate but the head does still take up a third of the overall length.

How I'm feeling? 

Despite feeling so rubbish, I think my mindset has changed this week. I'm sick and tired of feeling sick and tired, so I've tried to remain as positive as I can this week and on the odd occasion where I've had a burst of energy, I've tried to do something round the house, so it's not all left to Michael. I keep telling myself that these early weeks are so nearly over and with that the sickness and tiredness should go too. I've also reminded myself that my feeling and being so sick is a sign that the baby is growing strong and I keep reminding myself that is the most important thing and once s/he is here it will have been worth every single second.

I know how lucky I am to be pregnant and I know there are women who would take feeling this bad and worse just to have a little baby growing inside of them. With that in mind, I've tried to focus more on the positives and not be so hard on myself for not being able to cook tea for my husband or play a game with my son. It won't last forever and in the grand scheme of things, it's only a few weeks that I'll feel like this.

I'm excited for my scan next week. I just can't wait until I can see our little bub on screen and hopefully know that everything is ok. It's getting quite hard to hide now because as you can see from the picture above, I've already got a bump! At work, I'm wearing lots of loose tops of hoodies to try and hide my belly! I'll be so glad when it's not a secret anymore :)

10 Weeks Pregnant - Baby Number 2.

Due Date: 

Still 01 November 2016

Symptoms:

To be honest, this week hasn't been too bad. On Monday, I was sick before work and I felt pretty rubbish all day, well in to the evening. Alfie had been poorly with a cough and cold and had been up quite a lot in the night and ended up in our bed, so I was extremely tired, which I think made the sickness worse.

I'm still feeling really tired and I'm totally off food still, but I'm just relieved not to have suffered too badly with sickness this week and having a few days with no sickness has been a welcome break.

How is baby?

The baby's heart is now fully formed and it's heart will be beating two or three times faster than mine. The jaw is also starting to form, with all the milk teeth, which we won't start to see until around 6 months old. Fingers and toes are no longer webbed and the baby can move it's arms from the wrist and will be able to make little jerky movements. Amazing.


How I'm feeling?

Honestly? Not great. I remember reading a post by my lovely blogging friend Charlotte, before I was pregnant, where she talks about how grateful she is to be pregnant, but how hard she's finding it (you can read the post here) and I can totally relate to how she was feeling.

Pregnancy is the most wonderful thing in the world. To grow your baby inside of you for nine months and have this unbreakable bond with someone you haven't even met, well, it's just incredible. That's not to say it's not hard though. I've found this time round so much more difficult. I don't know if it's because I'm older, because I have a three year old to look after whilst I'm not feeling my best, or if it's just been a more difficult pregnancy, but I'm finding it hard. So much harder than I thought I would. I'm consumed by guilt at the moment. I'm not spending enough quality time with Alfie, I'm not able to pick him up when he asks. I'm very aware of lifting heavy things in these early weeks and sadly that also means Alfie too. On the whole, he's understood in his own little way, but it's also meant that Michael has also been picking up a lot of the slack whilst I've not felt up to it.

I feel like I'm failing at being a wife as well as a Mummy. I see the pressure Michael is under - he's working all week, sometimes driving four hours a day if he's working at the other site, he's then coming home and taking over with Alfie straight away, which includes making tea for them both and sometimes me too, he's also doing the bed time routine, which he's always done, but after getting in and having to make tea, it's meant he's not been sitting down till 9pm some nights, from 7am in the morning. I feel like I've neglected him and it has caused tears on occasions  (mine not his, I might add).

I'm incredibly lucky that he's been so understanding and has never once moaned or complained about having to do so much around the house and with Alfie, or the fact that his tea isn't on the table when he gets in after a long day. I'm so blessed to have him by my side supporting me through this journey.

Hopefully it won't be long until I'm over the sickness / tiredness and I can start to enjoy this pregnancy.

I also had my second midwife appointment this week, but there's nothing really to report as I was only in there about five minutes whilst she did a quick blood test. I get the results back at my scan in a couple of weeks.

9 Weeks Pregnant - Baby Number 2

Due Date: 

01 November 2016

Symptoms?

I started off the week feeling pretty symptom free! I had very little sickness or heaving in a morning and didn't feel as tired. I told Michael that it was a relief not to be being sick / heaving every morning but that I didn't want to count my chickens just yet as I knew it may well return... and it did by the end of the week. On Friday, it was my day off and I had my 1st midwife appointment and I was so ill before it. It was the first time that I've been sick and had Alfie there and I felt so bad that he had to see me being sick... he kept popping his head in the bathroom asking if I was ok and telling me he would wait for me, bless him. It was quite a bad episode, but as soon as I was finished, I pretty much instantly felt better and I even managed to eat breakfast before we had to leave the house! I also started with a mild cold this week, so I feel that took it out of me a little bit, but thankfully it didn't develop into a full blown cold.


How's Baby?

The baby is approximately the size of an olive and this week will transform into the feotal period, from the embryonic period. The heart is already beating strong, but I won't feel this. The ears are starting to form and the eyelids are developed, but will remain closed until much later on.


How I'm feeling?

Excited  and exhausted! As mentioned above, I had my first midwife appointment this week and it was so lovely to have one this early. Last time, there was a mix up with my so I ended up on missing quite a few appointments, so I was relieved that this didn't happen this time. The midwife was lovely and she started all my notes, which in itself made me excited as I still have my notes from when I was pregnant with Alfie. Seeing the midwife made it feel much more real. There's nothing much to report from the midwife as that first appointment was basically just a form filling exercise. My in-laws very kindly took me to my appointment, then had Alfie for a few hours for me, so I could go home and rest. I must admit, as much as I missed him, I was really grateful that I was able to go home and rest after feeling so terrible this morning. I feel like the weeks are going quite fast but that's probably because I'm sleeping so, so much! Gone are the days where I would stay up till past midnight and beyond. I feel like I've spent the past few weeks with me head in a toilet or asleep!

One thing I haven't mentioned yet are the vivid dreams I've been having. More or less since finding out, I have been having the craziest dreams! I usually remember my dreams anyway, but my dreams lately seem all the more vivid.

I'm still not managing to eat much except boring bland food and it's getting me down a bit because I'm so desperate eat proper food, but I can't stomach it, nor have I got the energy to cook it!

8 Weeks Pregnant - Baby Number 2

Due Date: 

01 November 2016

Symptoms?

So the sickness has stopped and been replaced with heaving instead although I did have a couple of days at the end of the week where I had no sickness / heaving at all, which was really rather lovely! That said, I've never been so glad for having two toilets! Every morning I get up and go down as quietly as I can and use the down stairs loo as I'm up a good 20 minutes before the boys - I can't imagine it being nice for Michael to wake up to the sound of me being sick every morning. I'm feeling really rough when I get up and getting out of bed is really, really hard! From the moment I open my eyes I'm filled with dread - am I going to be sick? Do I feel sick? Am I going to be ok? I think it's the worry of not knowing if I'm actually going to be sick which makes getting up so much harder!

On saying that, I'm finding now that my sickness is starting to settle down and once I've either been sick / heaved that it's enough to get it out of my system and I'm ok, whereas a few weeks ago the nausea would linger till around mid morning and sometimes even lunch time.

I'm still incredibly tired and I'm so looking forward to Easter as we have no plans and I really need these four days off! Four days to have slow relaxing morning's without setting the alarm. Four days to hopefully enjoy the time off with my boys. Four days where Michael will be there to look after not only Alfie, but me too!

How is baby?

The baby is approximately two centimetres in size and is growing at around 1mm per day. When you think of that, it's pretty crazy. The fingers and toes have started to develop although they are still webbed and will remain this way for some time yet. The embryonic tail is now almost gone and all it's nerves and organs are starting to function.

How I'm feeling?

I feel like I'm starting to manage things better. I've been eating lots of bland foods and I've found I've really missed proper food - I've been craving spaghetti bolognaise  this week, but I've not had the energy to make it and I'm not sure how I'd cope with such a rich meal, so it'll have to wait a few more weeks yet I think. I started the week off feeling really anxious as I was worried about Easter being a write off - the last three weekends I've been fit for nothing and I really didn't want our four days off to be wasted or for me to miss out on anything because I was resting on the couch. Luckily, I got up on Good Friday and felt fine. I had no symptoms at all and I was able to enjoy the day. We went to my granparents and told them the news and it was the perfect Spring day and I was so lovely to sit out in the garden and feel some sun. It's made me desperately crave the warm summer months!

One exciting this which happened this week was on Easter Saturday, I received my letter from the hospital with my scan date which is the 21st April. At last I feel like I've finally something to work towards. I'm being quite silly in that I'm trying to convince myself that once I get to that magical 12 weeks and I've had my scan, that I'll suddenly start to feel better and this sickness and nausea will go and I'll start to feel great! However, I know that just because I've had a scan that I'll suddenly start to feel ok again and back to my old self. With Alfie, the sickness / nausea lasted until around 13 weeks.

Here's hoping it goes sooner rather than later!

7 Weeks Pregnant - Baby Number 2

Due Date:

01 November 2016

Symptoms?

The usual sickness and tiredness. I honestly feel so tired. I just have no energy. I'm still falling asleep on the couch at night as soon as Michael takes Alfie up for a bath and on the two days in the week that I'm at home in the afternoon's, I'm getting Alfie to have some quiet time just so I can lay on the couch and rest. The sickness has been back this week, mainly in the morning's before work which I'm really struggling with and I had a really bad episode on Saturday afternoon. I'd had a glass of fresh orange whilst Michael and Alfie had gone to the pie shop for dinner. I managed three mouthful's before having to run upstairs - it's the worst sickness I'd had yet and I do think it's down to the orange as the last time I had it I'd also had a bad sickness episode. This which resulted in me spending all day and night on the couch and phoning in sick to work on the Sunday. I felt so rough and it was made worse by the fact I'd barely eaten or drank anything. I felt so bad for phoning in sick, but I hadn't moved for a day and I had zero energy and could barely open my eyes - it had really knocked me for six!

How's baby?

This little pickle is now about the size of a blueberry, which is still so small! It's fingers and toes are webbed and it will be jumping about all over the place. Interestingly, by week 7, the embryo has already gone through three sets of kidney's, but they'll start to grow their final set this week.

How I'm feeling?

Honestly? I feel rubbish! I'm feeling sick most of the time, I'm being sick or heaving most morning's, I've no energy to do anything but mostly I feel guilt. Guilt that I can't be the Mummy Alfie deserves because I'm so rough all the time, guilty that he has to come down to give me a kiss night night because I've no energy to crawl the stairs, guilt that I'm relying so heavily on Michael to do everything including all the cooking when he's been at work all day. I know how precious this time is and I'm really trying to remind myself that the sickness means that the baby is growing as it should, but I feel helpless. I'm worried about the strain I'm putting on Michael with all the added pressure and upset that I've no energy to do anything with Alfie and all I want to do is sleep.

I'm finding it really hard. Especially on my long days at work (I work three full days 8-5 and two half days 8-12). I don't want to wish the time away as this well could be the last time I'm pregnant, but I just want this feeling to go and for me to have some energy so I can start to enjoy it more.

This is hard.

5 Weeks Pregnant - Baby Number 2

Due Date:

01 November 2016

How is baby?

The baby is currently the size of a sesame seed and when I think of that, it's just crazy. It's so incredibly tiny! His / Her heart is developing and this week will split into chambers and the buds which will go on to form it's arms and legs, will start to sprout. Right now, it looks more like a tadpole than a baby!

Symptoms?

I had no symptoms all week until the Saturday afternoon when I was sick for the first time and I felt dreadful, to the point where I was curled on the couch in tears cos I felt so rough. I think the sickness was actually caused due to tiredness though because Michael had been on a night out the night before with work, and I couldn't settle until I knew he was home. As I'd only gone to sleep so late (or rather early - the birds were tweeting), I only got up about 11 and I think because I'd not eaten, my blood sugar was really low, which caused the sickness. Once I'd been sick and I'd eaten some toast, I did start to feel better.

I've still been testing every day - it's just such a comfort to me right now and it's the only way I know that I'm pregnant. I don't like that you don't get to see a midwife until much later on and they kind of just take your word for it when you contact them. Testing daily or every couple of days is just my way of feeling in control. We found out so early on and testing gives me reassurance.

How I'm feeling?

I'm feeling really good, apart from the blip on Saturday. I've still got an appetite and no symptoms at all really. I went out for a friends leaving meal this week and I was supposed to be having a drink as I was off the next day, but obviously I couldn't, so I had to lie about that. I think one of my friends may have suspected as he kept winding me up about being pregnant, but I played it down as much as I could. I'm still testing every day and I think it's just for that peace of mind really because other than those two lines on a stick, you don't get any other confirmation from anyone until 12 weeks, which right now seems forever away!

With feeling so rough on Saturday and having a bit of a meltdown, we decided to tell Alfie that I had a baby in my tummy. I don't think he quite understood but we had been talking about it lots anyway to prepare him. Hopefully as I grow, he'll understand it a lot more.

This week, we also had Mother's Day and this is the day we chose to tell our families. I bought Alfie a t-shirt which says 'I can't keep calm, I'm going to be a big brother' which he wore under his jacket. We were going to Michael's parents first and his sister, brother in law and kids were there, so we figured it would be the perfect time to tell them. The plan was for us to give my MIL her cards / presents and then we was going to say that Alfie had something to tell everyone...However, the reality was very different. We arrived and as we walked in, Michael went to put our coats in the kitchen and I sat down, just as Alfie said, to nobody in particular 'Mummy's got a baby in her tummy' I panicked and shouted Michael and my sister in law asked Alfie what he'd said, so he repeated it and Michael and I sat there nervously laughing until the penny dropped with people. I wish I'd have filmed the reactions! We were asked the usual questions of when I'm due, how far am I, have I had any sickness etc. It was nice to be able to tell them and it be out in the open.

Later on at my mum's, Alfie was the complete opposite and didn't say anything until prompted. We'd given Mum her cards and presents and then I asked Alfie if he had anything to tell Nana and he said 'Baby' so I had to ask him where and he said ' in mummy's tummy'. My Mum's reaction was priceless, she was thrilled and jumped up to me straight away and started welling up, then my Dad and sister both come over to give me hugs too and everyone was really excited. I had got Mum a card which said Happy Mothers Day from the Granchildren, which I gave her once she knew and she loved it. I loved telling her that I'd been keeping a secret from them as they all think I can't hold my own water, so it was nice to prove them wrong ;)

It was such a relief to be able to tell our family, but I had loved keeping it a secret for those 10 days for just Michael and I.

4 Weeks Pregnant - Baby Number 2!

We've got a little secret... I honestly cannot believe that I'm starting this who amazing journey again!

Due Date;

(By my estimation) 01 November 2016

Symptoms:

Sore boobs! This is actually what led me to test so early because it's just so unlike me and in my head there was only one possible explanation! I've also started to feel tired in the evening's - literally as soon as I found out, I just wanted to sleep!

How I'm feeling:

On top of the world! And still in complete and utter shock!

The night after we found out, we had a date night planned and it couldn't have come at a better time. It's actually the first time that Alfie has stayed out over night for at least 18 months, if not more. So we made the most of it and went to an Italian and I was so careful about what I had to eat. I had to forego a starter of dough sticks and blue cheese which is my absolute favourite, but I didn't care. Knowing I had to protect this little tiny pip inside me was so much more important. We had a wonderful night and it literally all we talked about all night. At some points I felt my eyes filling with tears as we discussed the future and how amazing it's going to be seeing Alfie become a big brother. He will always be our baby and the one who made us parents, but since we got married in 2014, we have both really wanted another baby to add to our family.

We chatted and thought about ways to tell Alfie and ways to tell the family. Michael's birthday is on the 14 March and we'd planned to have the family round, as we always do for birthday's. One of the idea's Michael had was to buy a little baby grow and wrap it up and for me to give it him to open on the day of the party and for him to say something like, Oh, this isn't for me, it's for our new baby which is due in November.  Initially, we loved that idea but over the next few days, I wondered if it was the right thing to do, telling our whole family together. The more I thought about it, the more I thought that our parents may want to find out on their own.  This meant we went back to our original idea of telling our families on Mothers' Day.

I couldn't wait.