I’ve been a bit quiet the past few months, as I prepare for the changes in the year ahead. I can’t believe its almost the end of 2019. This year has gone so much faster than the past few years for me. I’m not sure why, but it may be because I have been getting a lot more sleep with a 4 year old.
So the biggest change that I have been trying to get used to and also preparing for is a new baby. I am currently 15 weeks pregnant and due in late May. I only announced it recently to my friends and family, even though I have known since I was a few weeks pregnant. I had a bad cold early on and then a minor spout of food poisoning, which had me a little paranoid. However, everything seems to still be going well. I had a chance to hear the babies heartbeat and speak to my midwife and she wasn’t concerned. The photo below is the little bub at 7 weeks. I won’t be able to get another look in until I’m 18 weeks.
Since I had my initial scan I have also done a non-invasive blood test around 11 weeks. I found out I am having a boy! I wasn’t so surprise at this because my symptoms have been really different from the first time around.
First, there were crushing migraines that didn’t fade with pain relief. Next, I had constant morning sickness that was probably wasn’t as bad as last time, but is lasting much longer and doesn’t seem to get better with crackers and ginger tea. I have also had shortness of breath and exhaustion when standing for too long. I don’t know if this is because I am older then last time or just a different experience. Lastly, I have started showing really early. Last time around, my tummy was so small that they had to scan me at 35 weeks because they were worried the baby was too small. But this time around, my body knows what to do. So I have a huge tummy, which doesn’t leave much room for food. It’s not hard to overeat, which is quiet painful for hours after. On the bright side, I’m not disgusted by food too much. I can stand to eat greens and beans if they are put in front of me.
The next big thing is that my little O has graduated Kindy! That means she is starting school next year in grade Prep. She is so excited and although we had some reservations about holding her back another year, we ultimately decided it was best she starts straight away. I think she needs to be enrolled somewhere every day, with some old and new friends her age. She’s going to learn Japanese, taking dance classes, participate in sports, as well as learning the basics for reading, writing and maths. I’m so excited to see her thrive in her first year and hear about all the next things she learned and the new friendships she will forge. It will also be nice to have the house to myself for 6 hours a day, with a newborn.
So in preparation for the next year, I have already been planning a baby nursery. I am determined that this baby isn’t going to co-sleep like O did. As magical as it was, I’m hoping this one doesn’t need to comfort of a warm body and wake up every hour for the next 4 years. I only recently got O in her own bed for the entire night. So with this enthusiasm, I have been looking at the amazing range of Greenguard Gold certified nursery furniture at Pottery Barn Kids. Aren’t they gorgeous? Most of them also convert into toddler beds, which is really handy when they are in the awkward phase of climbing out of the cot, but can’t be put in a single bed yet.
So that’s the big change in my life that is coming in 2020. I am hoping that I will still be able to blog in the new year and this baby is a lot more manageable than my first. But I guess time will tell how things will go the second time around.
Have you got any new changes in the new year approaching?
Live Eat Colour 
Wow, congratulations – such exciting news – and best of luck with your pregnancy, hope all goes well!
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Thank you so much! So far so good 🙂
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Oh wow, where to start… congrats on the little one graduating kindergarten, she’ll have lots to look forward to and hopefully with old and new friends she’ll get on well and really enjoy it.
This is the first time you’re mentioning the pregnancy on your blog, right? I feel I didn’t know this until your current post so I hope I haven’t missed something, or maybe my brain is just mush today (I don’t need baby brain as an excuse, my brain is often mushy) So… CONGRATULATIONS!!!! ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ This is such wonderful news. Little O will have a baby brother! I’d love to see how the nursery comes along. Enjoy getting it all set up ready, but don’t overdo things. There’s Christmas coming up so hopefully you have enough time to relax and enjoy the process, don’t overwork yourself. And just when you were getting more sleep with a four year old… next year it’ll be back to catnaps for you 😂 But for the best of reasons. Congrats again lovely! ♥
Caz xxxxx
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Thanks so much Caz! Yes I’m hoping its going to be a smooth transition. She’s only 4, so its hard to imagine my baby being at school but she needs the stimulation.
Yes it is the first time I have mentioned the pregnancy. I held out mentioning it on here or even telling my friends in family until I was over 12 weeks. Its so hard because you feel the worst and it takes over your life but you can’t really say why. No, I don’t know that I will get too much. I didn’t get a crib last time, just a co-sleeper that barely got used. I’m hoping if I put the baby in the crib straight away he will sleep in it and we won’t end up in sleep school 16 months later. I’m not in such as a hurry to get all the baby cloths and equipment like last time. I think I had everything the baby could need for the 1st year by the time I was 20 weeks. I still have so long to go. But I do have to replace a few things because my partner sold everything. Yes I’m not looking forward to the lack of sleep. Last time around I just didn’t sleep, because I don’t nap and I was a bit scare I would’t wake up. I don’t know how I survived with 4 hours a day. I’m holding on to the hope that boys eat more and sleep longer. But its all easier when you have done it before, so they say…
xoxo
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Congratulations on your good news.
I am new here but came to your blog via a Google query whether Derwent Artist’s pencils blend with Polychromos? If I am correctly reading your review on October 8th 2017 the answer is yes but thought I’d try a direct question to be sure. I have a comprehensive set of Derwent Artist pencils purchased in the 1980’s and expanded in recent years as I’ve taken up colouring again. Now I feel a need for more greys and am drawn to Polychromos for these as the Derwent artist range seems a bit lacking on that score.
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Thanks you and welcome. Well yes you can definitely blend them pretty well. I actually did a few coloring tutorials by Peta Hewitt/La Artistino and she uses both sets together. Polychromos pencils are very vibrant, so its hard to get lighter shades and I don’t love using the white and ivory for this. The Derwent are also very hard, so I don’t use them by themselves. I just recommend always testing them, because even when my other sets of pencils sometimes the older of colour you layer can have different results. I also recommend getting a white Prismacolor for blending these pencils. I always have the best results using this pencil, rather then a blender pencil. I hope this helps. Stop by anytime to ask anything thing else 🙂
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Congratualtions and all my best wishes. This will be a big change for the family. Especially for your daughter… You know you have to prepare her and include her in the process. Our 3 year-old grandson just had a baby sister. He calls her “my baby”… 😉
Take care
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Thanks so much! Yes I know what you mean. I have been trying to talk very positively about the baby, even though I know its going to be hard for her not having my whole attention. I am hoping with prep starting she will have something else to focus on. That’s so sweet that your grandson is enjoying his new baby. I think its important for them to feel as included as possible. I am hoping the age gap will help, as I don’t think things would of gone so smoothly a couple of years ago. Take care!
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🙂 You too.
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