It's my party...

And I didn't cry and I didn't want too!

This week baby D is just over 15 inches long and weighs in at around 3lb.  Now I'm not going to lie I am at a loss as to a baked good comparison this week so please comment away with any suggestions (I love comments ;o) ).

However I will share my EPIC birthday cake, made by my friend Sarah, aka Manton on occasion, for my surprise 30th birthday party that Pip (worryingly sneaky) had been planning for a fair old while.

Now the event has passed all the fun parts have come out in the wash and the story goes that Sarah offered her excellent baking skills and asked for ideas, to which Pip sent over a couple of "maybe something a bit like this" thinking: smaller and not quite so shop worthy and ended up with: exact copy and could sell for a fortune!
Not only does it look amazing but it tastes superb too, we still have 1/3 tier left despite one party, one round of tea and cake on Monday with family and taking the top tier into work today!

This last week or so baby D seems to have become an expert in finding inappropriate positions, on several occasions we have been able to prod at a bottom or a head - no idea which is which - laying prostrate across my tum and I shall go into no further details when I say that it is clear when baby D is bum down and legs a'kicking...  

So, I am now 30.  Fully launched into my next decade...  

To celebrate the not so eagerly awaited occasion Pip started off this weekend by hiring me a vintage MG Roadster (yes he is indeed a legend), sadly as Pip has only had his driving license 9 months it meant he couldn't drive it - darn!

 

So we headed off to the New Forest for the afternoon, roof down, picnic packed and head scarf on, for me at least!  

Saturday ended with a trip to the cinema (we are the Millers - Fun-ny) and a request to be ready on Sunday for half 2...

Sunday I took out Ali, then Rob (he was the decoy so this trip was after half 2) for a spin in the wheels then at an alloted time headed off with mum to the Uni...

On arrival I was sung to and presented with the cake above and some truly embarrassing "life of Jill" photos.  Over the years, and much to everyone's amusement, I have had many hair styles and attended many fancy dress events!  Pip had become BBQ king, TB had made a pavlova special, although sadly it was eaten before I could get a snap and Hels had made a smashing batch of cupcakes.  The afternoon passed with lots of chit-chat, food and laughter.  It was lovely to have friends and family all together and humbling to know they had all come for me.

Siblings - that have the same nose...

Yesterday was the event itself and involved card and gift opening (I am a very lucky lady!), breakfast in bed, more cake eating and having to take the car back.

My fabulous gift from Pip.

All in all I'd say I had a superb birthday and that being 30 isn't the end of the world as I know it.  Bizarrely now the day has passed the time between now and baby D arriving seems even shorter (approx 9 weeks away).  And when I think I have 6 weeks of work left that really puts the hoolies up me!

Bring on impending parenthood!!

Dear Pip...



Dear Pip.

This week our baby weighs about 2.5lb pounds and is apparently 38 cm or so in length.  Now I have found the most amazing looking cake that is approx. 38 cm long, according to the recipe.  If anyone chooses to make this I will be in awe of you forever!! 

http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/31915/red+velvet+choc+cherry+bombe

Quite how all this is bundled up in my tum I am not quite sure but its movements, wriggles, shifts and kicks have kept us amused for many a period of time.  Generally these moments involve me grabbing your hand early morning or mid-evening and strategically placing it where the baby is moving around.

The movements have also had me grumbling, particularly recently as they have woken me up a few times during the night, then once I’m awake – as with most pregnant ladies I would imagine – there’s the “do I? don’t I?” thought and of course once the thought’s there it’s a case of  I’m not going to get back to sleep until I’ve been, so off to the loo I go…  This regular occurrence has accounted for you having to put up with a fairly grumpy wife recently and for this I apologise – I also warn you (and make a mental note myself) that it’ll only get worse for the pair of us when baby D makes an appearance!

You and me on my birthday celebrations back in 2009!

This weekend just gone has seen us celebrate your 33^rd birthday, as I said to you at some point over the weekend, birthdays always make me reflect on times past and I am not sure that when we celebrated your 29^th birthday – the first year we met – you would have expected us to be hitched and preggo four years later!!

As baby bits have rather taken over our world and my gifts to you this year were a slight disaster (wrong size for one thing and didn’t actually arrive for another...) I was determined to try and have a birthday weekend, despite above mentioned grumpiness!  Friday we headed to Sprinkles – which granted, is generally more of a treat for me than you - but it cheered me up after a rather dodgy week at work which I like to think made me better company over the weekend…!

Us at fantastic Halloween celebrations last year in the US

Saturday involved a bit of shopping and a trip to the cinema (2 Guns, quite good for those debating whether to see it but not going to win any awards!) then Sunday I “made” brekkie in bed and started making a cake for you before we headed over to Winchester for a browse round the art and craft market – and spotted more baby bits! – then on returning home I popped in a roast and finished off said cake (another birthday disaster – anyone for crumbs held together by icing?!) and had a game of newly purchased Scrabble.  Which I won, not very sporting but a surprise to both of us I think :o)



One failed stout and chocolate cake/pile of crumbs held together by the grace of God and icing...

Yesterday was another trip to the midwife for us.  It has been a real comfort having you there for each appointment, generally serving the purpose as my memory as I am still forgetting a lot of things like, what to ask the midwife…   It’s great to come out and discuss the friendliness of that day’s midwife or whether the heartbeat (now down from 143 to 135 which is perfectly normal is the due date gets closer) means it’s a boy or a girl etc.

In fact the whole baby thing has generally been made better and easier because of you.  I share everything with you, possibly too much sometimes, about how I have been feeling, what affects  growing this baby is having on me, hopes and plans for our future as a family…

Our wedding, 15 mins after saying I DO!!

To say I couldn’t imagine doing this with anyone else is a bit daft as you are my husband and so it kind of goes without saying but however corny it is true.  I feel proud to be your wife and excited that we have made this little JilliPip together.  I know you are going to be an excellent dad and I look forward to our relationship growing and changing as we journey into parenthood; who’s turn is it to deal with this nappy or debating the pros and cons of sport lessons vs music lessons (btw oboe is also off the list until this one, and any others, are of a sensible age, very painful apparently) or who will be head meanie when it comes to discipline!

So here is to our last few weeks as parents-to-be!

Love You xx

Rhino's, the bump and Sprinkles!

  This week we are at week 27, we have about the same length of time left until we meet our little one as we had had when we told everyone we were expecting.  A slightly bemusing thought when I think of the weeks that have gone by in between and how quickly they seem to have flown.  

More and more now I am getting impatient to meet our little one, to see how scrunched up they are, will they have chubby legs like me or blond hair like Pip did when he was born?  Will they have a happy nature and sleep through most things or will they be interested in everything new and want to stay awake?  So many thoughts and questions about what our little person will be like and what sort of identity they will have.

Baby D is now approx the weight of a large box of icing sugar and as we have had a few requests from folk (they shall remain nameless but for ease we shall refer to them as the US contingent!) for bump pics, here we have said bump with said icing sugar.  And yes this did take a fair few photos and even a "Really, you think that's a flattering photo of me? (eyebrow)" for poor Pip, so I hope y'all like it ;o)

As you can see I was in fact mid baking session...

As well as baking up a batch of banana & peanut butter cupcakes, which included a disastrous butter cream incident Sat eve that had me up on Sunday am with a second attempt after waking up with an idea of how to solve it. (Yes welcome to my mind..) I also whipped up a batch of peanut butter balls after a convo with the lovely CC.  And am sad to say they have all now gone :o(

Although this week at work was a short 3 day-er it certainly felt like I had hauled in a full week come Friday afternoon.  By which time fellow colleagues and I had all but given up hope and the usual tea round turned into tea? Wine? Vodka?  This then led to an entire conversation about Sprinkles (gelato/waffle/crepe, basically pudding, establishment) or Spronkles as Pip calls it due to a typo on my part in a text message some months ago. A trip to Sprinkles has basically turned into my "glass of wine on a Friday".  

No-one that I work with has come across the concept and after a lengthy discussion on how amazing it was etc. etc.etc. an executive decision was made to turn our next team lunch into team pudding and head to Portswood for some!  I am yet to share this nugget with Karina...

http://www.sprinklesgelato.co.uk/menu.htm

I'd like to report that come Friday evening I resisted the tempting trip to the above and settled for the peanut butter balls instead!  

Saturday Pip and I decided to wander round Southampton searching for Rhino's, as one does...

To explain, the local zoo has bought a mass art project to the streets which involves over 30 decorated rhinos being placed around the city.  http://gorhinos.co.uk 

Having left the map at home (my fault) we set off idly up the high street and then found a free map in Waterstones!  So out came the pen and we crossed them off as we went round.

Many of the rhinos have been decorated by companies in Southampton, this on being Balfour Beatty I believe.

From The Marlands...

...to the bandstand in Palmerston Park

The Bargate...

...to St Michaels church

Round past the De Vere

towards Mayflower Park

Towards the ferry terminal..

....and up the hill by the old maritime museum (I think this is my favourite one so far)

And the one in town quay, that we did drive too!

We did have every intention of continuing the search for the other half Saturday afternoon but after a hefty lunch at a newly discovered Hallidays Tearooms on Bedford Place (go there, its lovely) we caved and headed home, so we still have about 15 to go I think.  The discovery of the further unseen rhinos may well co-inside with another lunch at said tearooms...

In other news, the work on the chest of drawers continues...!

Some classic Winnie the Pooh makes an appearance!

The french stick and a bit more shopping

So we are now 26 weeks or so into this pregnancy, length wise baby D is going to plateau so baked goods may start to vary and be a touch tenuous from here on in! Currently baby D is approx. half the length of a traditional French stick or the length of the bottom layer of this rather amazing wedding cake (ta google).

Movements continue to get stronger from my little passenger and I can definitely feel he/she moving around and doing the odd somersault.  So far no hiccups, which various sources of online guidance advise can start around now but a definite pattern is emerging, after I wake up and before sleep are key movement times, elevenses and the 3pm cuppa are also good times for a wriggle!


This last week or so started with a trip to the midwife.  I had my blood pressure taken - all good, baby's heartbeat found and timed - also good and then my bump measured top to bottom.  The student midwife measured me at 27 cms.  Then told me that usually the expectation is a cm per week of pregnancy.  Meaning I am 2 cm over.  I am guessing that the look of "OMGawd I have a beast baby already" maybe then caused her to say that another midwife may indeed measure me differently...  That evening Pip was enlisted to measure said bump and shaved off a cm, so calm has resumed ;o)

On Tues Pip and I headed off, in the rain, to the New Forest Show to enjoy the delights of the cattle, sheep and poultry as well as the complimentary lunch provided by Ringwood brewery.  Where I did indeed have 2 puddings, the epic looking pavlova and some chocolate brownie :o)

We didn't see it this year but the Shetland Pony Grand National was epic last year!

This weekend we headed up to Granny D's to see how she was, run the relevant errands and just keep her company!  Along with re-arranging the lounge (more Pip than me) and re-arranging the many flowers she has received (more me than Pip) we did manage to head into Watford and guess what, did some more shopping for baby D!  We actually didn't go that crazy and picked up a sleeping bag, which I keep referring to as a sleep suit and Pip calls a grow bag, thankfully we both know what each-other mean, although to anyone who overhears us I am sure they wonder whether we are referring to a baby or some vegetables!  We also caved and picked up an Eeyore toy too!

One sleep bag, kindly modeled by a teddy

One Disney Eeyore rattle

We have now bought home the car seat that Sue has purchased for us, an epic zebra print group 0+ seat that should see us through to when baby D is around 4.  A slightly terrifying thought at the moment!

Our fab car seat also modeled by a handy teddy - please note a split my nail trying to undo the clip - not a good start!

Dear baby D...

Dear baby D,

I thought it was about time I wrote a note to you, so far we have covered Granny C and Aunty Ali with a few more birthday's this year for others I thought I should sneak you in somewhere!  Altho sneaky isn't really a good description right now, you have very firmly made your appearance known, I am now sporty one very solid "bump" and it now moves sometimes on the outside when you are awake.  You particularly seem to enjoy recent Pops rehearsals and concerts and I have been very aware you moving away.  It's quite distracting mid-piece when I am trying to count bars!

Right now you are just over 12 inches long, which is just more than a foot, when thinking about a comparison the first thing I thought of (sadly) was a foot long sub!  Now I have not had a subway in a looong time but for reference, as it will be even longer before you do, it's a foot long bread roll filled with a choice of fillings and salad.  Its a very tasty but slightly lazy lunch!

 

We have had a busy couple of weeks, the most important event being that your granny D-to-be has a new knee.  Her right one to be precise.  It was swapped over in Thurs morning, after a slight rain induced delay, in an operation that only took an hour and your granny D was awake for the entire time (a thought which actual makes my toes curl, that's a lot of sawing to hear...).  She has come home today after some heavy duty physio and we are going up next Sunday, after another concert Sat eve for you to enjoy, to stay and be on hand for a couple of days.

Other things that have been happening have been a lot around you, we have moved the "grown-up" bed out of what will be your room to make room for your cot.  You will be using my (Uncle Rob and Aunty Alis) old one, Granny C put it together this week so we could measure it for a mattress.  Thankfully we have found a company that do bespoke mattresses for a sensible price and make the sheets to go with them so we shall probably order that for you in the next few weeks. 

 

While Daddy was at cricket last weekend I may have taken Granny C to Kiddicare for some supervised baby shopping and purchased you a bath and A Lot of cotton wool along with some other bits and bobs.

Shopping has continued in earnest with the lampshade, a cushion and a pouffe for your room this weekend!  The cushion was more of a fluke as we passed it in a shop in Lymington this weekend and realised it was exactly the same material as said lampshade so we kind of had to have it!

 

I have eventually started work of the chest of drawers going into your room and despite a slight mishap involving overnight drying outside, a gust of wind and a split door, all is well.

This evening I have just finished a knitted jacket for you.  It did start life as a buttoned cardigan with rib edging however, it seems anything but hats is a bit beyond me skill wise! After a slight miscount on rows of rib and also possibly length on one side, then issues picking up a side seam to do the side edging topped off with a distinct lack of buttonholes on a purl row I think I am going to admit defeat (for a while) and leave the cardigans to Granny C and other more experienced knitters and maybe just do you enough hats to last from birth to Christmas instead!

 

 As you will soon realise when you join us in this world I enjoy a spot of gardening and baking and this year we have attempted some different veggies.  This morning we picked some broccoli for the first time and so for dinner this evening I have made a broccoli and cheese quiche!  It was very tasty and will probably be made again some time soon.  One day I plan to feed you with our homegrown crops and hope you enjoy them as much as we are.

Tomorrow, my love, we are off to see the midwife, who I think will probably give you a poke and a prod and see which way round you as well as making sure I am going along okay as well.  

I just have a small favour to ask you, please continue to grow and fill out over the next 15 weeks or so before we meet you and I will promise to play music to you so you can wiggle away and make sure your daddy talks to you so you recognise his voice too when you arrive in November.

Mumma D xx

The pound cake I made a week or so back, you weighed about the same that week!

The pound cake and a busy weekend!

 This week baby D is approx a pound in weight, so to honour this I have gone for a simple pound cake comparison, while I haven't made one yet I will endeavour to do so this week and post a pic next week.  

The link here is for a chocolate pound cake (no-one should be surprised by this now...)  http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/575644/chocolate-pound-cake and as always, I am always happy to taste test anyone's offerings :o) 

Baby D continues to grow and move around and is apparently getting quite acustomed to loud noises - that'll be that laugh of mine again!

 

This weekend has been quite a busy weekend all round.  What with that and the heat I've gone back to work today for a rest!

To be fair we did have a slow start to Saturday which involved bump cuddles from Oscar.  Not quite sure what he would have done if my tummy had moved...  I'm guessing that will be a funny story in a few weeks time...

Oscar, Roo or Fatboy

We started with a cream tea at church Saturday afternoon.  It wasn't its usual success but there's nothing like a bit of church gossip in the kitchen before folks arrive...

The stunning Trafalgar Park

After a swift turnaround we headed out to the beautiful Trafalgar Park, nr Salisbury, for my friend Tommo's wedding.  Now Tommo is actually employed by Pip too so we came as a 2 for 1 really, friend and colleague!

Now Tom and I go waaay back, we met when I first started dancing and he was the slightly scary DJ on a Thurs evening.  Several years later in 2007 he became my lodger, although housemate would be a more accurate description, and to be honest he was more like a lifeline as he helped me through, in his own "cooking garlic mushrooms at midnight" and "leaving a piece of chicken cooking in the oven for 12 hours" special way, probably the toughest 18 months or so I have been through.  

At a Rocky Horror Themed Roller Disco

Roomies at the White Ball in Bournemouth.

Both our lives revolved around jive and the club and we enjoyed many a night out with jive friends and hosted a fair few house parties of our own, some more memorable than others...  We have shared a lot of tea and I was known to cook the odd Sunday brekkie and would text him from the kitchen to see if he would emerge for food, as he is not known for his early rising!

It was great to share in his and Ali's day on Saturday and amazing to see him so happy and in love with his bride.  I wish him and Ali every happiness in the world.

Sunday involved a lot of music with a Pops rehearsal and a Pops concert in the evening too!  We did manage to squeeze in an avo down at "the van", mums holiday home down on the coast in Highcliffe.  The below is a slightly hazy view of the IoW.

Shopping and the Pillsbury dough boy...

So this week sees baby D weighing at around 500 grams.  Now this is about the weight of a panettone - one of my favourite Christmas foods particularly lightly toasted with butter or in a bread and butter pud, yum! 

Or as per a google search the weight of a box of Pillsbury Snickerdoodle Cookie mix, now I have no idea what that is but it sounds like it has far too much sugar in it, if any of my state-side chums fancy purchasing (can be found in the fabulous Target) and baking on my behalf then please let me know what they taste like! 

This week we have been enjoying a lot of welcome sunshine and a lot of not so welcome heat!  

Thankfully in the office I have a lovely desk fan that is certainly doing the job!  The car has air con but at home the boys (Oscar and Toby) are flaked out in any available cool space.  Apparently becoming an extra stair seems to help Oscar keep cool, not so helpful when carrying the ironing upstairs...

Work has continued in baby D's room, as have continuing movements from baby D which is becoming quite distracting!

We have this weekend purchased and hung our fantastic "glow in the dark" star curtains.  I am a little too excited about these but having charged them up with the electric light Saturday night and them actually impressing Pip I am super glad we bought them!

We did have the usual Jilli incident when hanging them.  Having disregarded the notice that said to tie both ends we promptly didn't and managed to pull the threads back through half of one of the curtains, loosening what we had just tightened.  Cue me sat there with a needle re-threading said thread in order to tighten them up...  Having a mum who has previously made curtains for me and helpfully stitched one end to stop this from happening, this was a new one on me...

Our fabby curtains :o)

We may also have been to mothercare and spent some money in the baby clothing sale....  Definately an occasion where knowing whether baby D is a boy or girl would have been mighty handy...

I have also, finally, started work on the chest of drawers/unit I have had in the house for years that, as you can see, needs some TLC.  It is now sanded down, pending primer and then a coat of "flame red" gloss!  The unit itself came from my grandparents old house and I think my mum used it when she was a girl so its been around a while and I am quite excited and pleased to be giving it a new lease of life. So watch this space for the finished item...