He is here!

A very quick update...

Lucian Grant Francis was born on the 24th April at 11.26pm, weighing a very healthy 8lb 14oz (4.020kg)

He was born at home in the birthing pool after 'officially' 3 1/2 hours of labour without intervention. He was caught by his Dad and his big sister slept through all the excitement, meeting her brother about an hour later.

His birth was perfect.

I will write Lucian's birth story in the next few weeks and hope to find some time to blog...

Current musing...

I feel like I need to update. I haven't blogged in a couple of weeks and there has been so much going on that I can't put it all to the blogisphere right now. It has been such a transitional time as I entered the last few weeks of pregnancy but also a huge change in dynamics for some personal areas of my life. 

More on that later. Maybe.

So here I am at (officially) 39 weeks and 4 days pregnant. I have had a few moments of thinking 'This is it'; once on Avalon's birthday and again last Thursday which led to some interesting moments and frantic phone calls. It probably sounds strange that I even mention a word like 'frantic' but I find myself much more anxious this time than I did leading up to Avalon's birth. I have no idea why? To me, it defies rational. I have worked through my feelings with my wonderful doula, Rhiannon and keep trying to remember to TRUST BIRTH. Avalon's birth was so straight forward I guess I worry about how this experience might be. I also had little 'sign' of labour with Avalon and have several friends whom have had very short labours the second time around so each twinge can take my breath away. Grant is also 2 hours away during the day so I am hoping that things get moving during the twilight hours.

'Spiritual Midwifery' has been read, as has 'Ina May's Guide to Childbirth.' I have re-watched 'The Business of Being Born' and reading beautiful, positive homebirth stories from friends. My emotional and mental preparation is so important to me.

In practicality I am ready for this baby; we have the pool, towels, sheets, TENS machine, music, clothes and the list goes on but I am still trying to get my head around labour and even more so, having a second child. Crazy isn't it? I have only had 9 months to get used to the idea. 

The last few weeks I feel my husband and I have become even closer together. We have had some amazingly open moments of communication and his support during a tough emotional time has been a blessing, he truly is 'my rock.' I am so excited at the thought of having another child with him and Avalon becoming a big sister. I know our family will be 'complete' as we want it and we can embrace this new beginning for us all.

I am pretty sure the next time you will be hearing from me our baby will be here. It may not be for several weeks as we bask in the glow of babymoon but I will be back to share the story of our babies birth.

I hope this blog hasn't seemed too disjointed, I only have a few minutes to check in and just wanted to update. So apologies for spelling and grammatical errors. I might also blame baby brain!

I'll be back soon....

200 Blog Posts...

~ Joy ~ 

Last day of 1 year old

Happy Birthday My Love...

Birthday party with Den Mamas @ lovely Rhiannon's // Opening presents // Marwell Zoo

TWO.

WARNING: *This is going to be one of those blogs that is really of no interested to anyone but family*

My baby is now two years old. As the cliche goes, 'where has the time gone?'

I want to capture some of what she is doing and who she is. I love her more and more each day and think that 2 years old is my favourite age~ Terrible Twos? Shmerrible Twos!

~ She loves her Dr. Seuss, Peppa Pig, Spongebob Square Pants & Charlie & Lola. Ok. The girls loves TV. But there is nothing sweeter than hearing her sing the theme tune to Spongebob and play her nose like it's a flute!

~She is an avid reader. She now wants to read to herself when she goes to bed as opposed to having the story read to her. At this moment she is still all about Dr. Seuss' 'Time To Read' and also 'Hello Baby' which we gave to her in preparation of her sibling's homebirth.

~ She counts to 14 with ease! She says, 'Oh my Goodness Me!'
She knows her own mind and is very confident. Strangely she has only just started saying 'Yeah' as she had always only nodded her head in agreement. Her latest word? 'Congratulations'... She let's you know what she wants, when she wants it.

~ She sings along to Nirvana in the car and announces 'We are home!' whenever we pull down our driveway.

~ She is obsessed with brushing her teeth, wiping her hands and face, cuddling the cat, seeing her friends and going to the PAAAAARRK! If there is a slide, she is ON IT! She loves animals. Especially ducks.

~ She is very excited for the arrival of baby. I love the way she kisses and hugs my growing belly, pressing her cheek against it and saying 'awwww I love you.' These are the sweetest moments.

~ She loves to eat bananas, yoghurt, cake, satsumas, 'dip dips', Monkey Juice, 'mato Sauce, cake, cake AND cake. Oh, and ice-cream.

~ Her favourite toys are Soft Teddy, Winston, Gary, Tinga Tinga and Baby. She lives for colouring and painting and wants us to draw with her too.

~ She is yet to learn that the laptop is not a toy and will type away as long as you will let her.

~ She excitedly runs to the door as soon as she hears the key in the lock at 7.30pm announcing 'DADDDDY!'

~ I love the mornings with her, hearing her say my name as she wakes or smiles as she opens her eyes.

~ She loves wearing hats. Any hat... And painting smocks.

~ She is very soft in nature. I love that she is so gentle with her peers. She is caring and thoughtful to others feelings.

~ She (sadly) has an obsession with her Dad's android phone. Hmmm.

~ Bath-time is always a hit- playing 'mermaids'; lying on her stomach and swinging her legs back and forth. She loves her frog bath towel and calls herself 'The Green Queen' when she wears it after her bath.

She is a joy every day. Welcome to your 3rd year, baby!

Spring is here...

~Gostrey Meadows // SLIDE // Waverley Abbey~

~35 + 5 weeks // LOVE // Climbing Trees // Spring lambing at Newlyns Farm~

If you go down to the woods today...

This morning the girl and I headed out into the Spring sunshine to Forest School, an outdoor session run through a local pre-school in Frogmore.

The Forest School is on a Wednesday morning as a drop in two hour session for toddlers, babies and of course their parents/carers. The kiddies are given all weather gear (we rock up in our own Wellington boots) and then are free to set off and have some muddy, forest-y fun! Today we certainly had the weather on our side.

I took along hubby's camera (mine has sadly gone to camera heaven) and took a few snaps of the girl and her bestie having a blast in the great outdoors.

The kids dug in the dirt, climbed over logs, rambled through the trees, roasted marshmallows, went on the hunt for Easter eggs and chicks, as well as sang songs around the camp fire.

We will be going back for sure!

Wordless-ish Wednesday

34 weeks and 5 days

...Sporting a make-up free face, jogging bottoms and my Mother's Day T-shirt.

Not long now...

Current Reading # 3

You've Got Mail.

**Why did I not publish this? This post is from early February**

Nothing beats getting a parcel from 'home.' Every couple of months my Mum will send us a box of goodies with gifts and bits and pieces for the three of us from Australia. Sometimes she has bought us something new, sometimes it is foods that I miss, trinkets from my childhood bedroom and like today, lovelies I have purchased in Australia and got delivered to my parents house to forward on.

I finally got my Precious Moments Pendant that  have had my eye on for so long. The above photo does not do it justice, it is absolutely beautiful. Included in the package were belated Christmas gifts from my brother and his partner, as well as a 'mix' CD they made for Grant and I.

My parents bought the sweetest swimming costume for Avalon with matching sun hat and flip flops, a floral 1950's inspired 2 piece. Grant is going to start taking her swimming on the weekends which will be great when Baby arrives (so very soon!)

Girlie Giggles

Avalon & Izellah

Photography by Nina