The Eccentric American Mama in Cumbria

I've been in a bit of a panic over preparing meals in advance and freezing them because I know I will not feel like preparing food once Cyril arrives on our doorstep :) While expressing these concerns several people have suggested a food delivery service. I was sceptical for two main reasons, first, we live in the middle of nowhere, and when I say the middle of nowhere I mean Domino's doesn't even deliver to our postcode. Second, if we could get a food delivery to our house I didn't think it would be very healthy, and let's be honest I have some pounds to shed after this pregnancy so I wasn't about to succumb to fast food every night. Then Josh's sister told me that she was pretty sure the healthy ready meals I buy, when Josh is away for work, offer delivery service to new mums. I decided to search the Internet, and viola, after a mere 2 minutes I found 3 sources that have healthy food deliveries to our postcode for new mums! They also offer deliveri...

How far along?  35 weeks and 2 days Total weight gain/loss?  28 pounds but some days it feels like 50! Maternity clothes?  Yes, but I wish they made shoes specifically for pregnant women because my feet and legs have been aching from all the walking and standing I've done the past 4 days at the trade show in Paris. Stretch Marks?  No, I still put on Shea butter after showering but that's more to relieve the itchiness than anything else because I've heard that you can't really prevent stretch marks, some people get them and others don't, I've been fortunate thus far :) Sleep?  Surprisingly I've been sleeping really well in Paris, in fact, it's the best sleep I've had throughout my entire pregnancy. I think it's because I'm so exhausted when I get back to the flat that nothing could possibly interrupt my slumber, not even a full bladder and strengthening karate kicks! Josh keeps saying I'm overdoing it, which is why I'm work...

                                How far along?  34 weeks exactly in this photo, although I'm posting at 34 weeks 3 days :) Total weight gain/loss?  28 pounds, the baby is measuring in the 90th centile and weighs approximately 5.5 pounds, and I've been asked if I'm having twins, haha! Maternity clothes?  Yes and no, the pink dress is from asos maternity and is unbelievably comfortable, the tan sweater is from Anthropologie and because it's a cardigan it fits perfectly. It is also beyond comfortable, it's a sweatshirt on the sleeves and back with knitting on the front so it's super soft and warm. Stretch Marks?  Nope, although my belly has started to get itchy. Sleep?  Amazing until the last 2 nights when I woke up to excruciating pain when I was sleeping on my right side. I'm not sure if the pain is practice contractions or Cyril karate kicking me because I'm laying ...

How far along?   33 weeks and 3 days Total weight gain/loss?   26.6+ pounds, I really need to weight myself but I just had a massive breakfast so I'm not sure how accurate that would be. One thing is for sure, this bump is really growing! Maternity clothes?   Yes, the black dress is Isabella Oliver Stretch Marks?   Not yet, thank good ness :) Sleep?   It's been pretty good this past week but I'm still waking up in the night to use the bathroom which usually gets Cyril kicking. Best Moment this Week?   Morgan and Stefan coming to England! We had an amazing night out in Carlisle last night and despite the fact that I couldn't drink I had my fair share of mocktails. I even managed to stay up until 2 am, which was shocking. Unfortunately, despite only having non-alcoholic cocktails, I felt hungover this morning, not fair! Worst Moment this Week?   Going to the physiotherapist and having her re-create my hip pain, I thought I was going to ...

 SURPRISE, IT'S A BABY SHOWER! Afternoon Tea, yummy! The Farm Decorating Cyril's Onesie Cutting the Cake  On January 4th, Jessica, Marilyn, and Sally threw me an amazing surprise baby shower, well it would have been a complete surprise had my father not ruined it 2 days before the event ;) I phoned home to see how their Christmas was with my brother and during the conversation my father said how he received the invitations for my shower and they looked beautiful and hand painted. My response was, what shower, I'm not having a baby shower, we're just having a spa day? He carried on by saying, well I don't know we got an invitation for something and it says baby shower at the top. I responded with, well maybe they're throwing me a surprise baby shower next weekend, all the while Josh was biting his tongue and wanting to ring my father's neck for not getting the hint! Eventually he must have realised that he ju...

How far along?   32 weeks and 1 day Total weight gain/loss?   26.6 pounds, yikes! It looks like Christmas and the New Year really contributed to some weight gain. I did weigh myself in the evening and normally I do it in the morning but now I'm just making excuses. I was hoping to only put on 30 pounds but with 8 weeks left to go it looks like I'll be closer to the higher end of average. At my last appointment the midwife said the baby was just above average for weight at about 4 pounds, which means I'm not having a 6 pound baby! Maternity clothes?   Yes, there is no way I can wear regular clothes at this point. Stretch Marks?   Still none. I've switched from Mama Mio to an all natural organic shea butter that my brother Matty sent me from Olympia and it is glorious!  Sleep?   I'm back to being an insomniac. It really is difficult to get comfortable when you have a watermelon attached to your abdomen, I also wake up nightly between 3 and 4 am...