30 weeks pregnant and oh my goodness am I feeling it! I feel as if this is another little milestone of pregnancy too. Less than 10 weeks to go (or maybe even less if this little girl arrives early like her big brother). There's still so much to do, and just not enough time...

HOW FAR ALONG?

30 weeks & 3 days

DUE DATE?
14th January 2018

GENDER?
Girl!

HOW’S BABY DOING?
I use the Baby Centre App to check on baby's progress - baby girl weighs around 1.3kg and is just over 39.9cm from head to heel (the size of a cabbage apparently). She's almost at the length she'll be at birth now, but there's still pleeeenty of weight left for her to gain.

I saw my midwife again on Monday (a week early as she's away next week), and it was a brief but lovely appointment. I got the results from my 28 week bloods and unsurprisingly my iron levels are a little low. Thankfully I don't need tablets, but I do need to hunt down some Spatone and alllll the leafy veg! All my other checks were perfect though, and baby girl is now head down too. Fingers crossed she stays there from now on!

WEIGHT CHANGE?
I have absolutely no idea! 

SYMPTOMS?
Constant braxton hicks, lightning crotch, rib pain... all the glorious symptoms of the third trimester! I'm basically exhausted constantly too, so I think that's a clear sign that I reaaaally need to slow down (not that that's possible when you have two young children already).

SLEEP?
I seem to go between sleeping through wonderfully, and then waking up loads feeling thirsty or needing the loo. I'm still loving my Theraline maternity pillow though.

CRAVINGS?
I don't think I've necessarily craved anything, but I've been baking loads recently.. so maybe that's my body telling me I want all the sugar?

HOW I’M FEELING?

Really bloody pregnant now. Walking is also becoming increasingly difficult, as I end up feeling as if I've been kicked in the foof afterwards! I lovee being pregnant, but I'm almost near the 'get this baby out NOW' stage.

MISS ANYTHING?
Being able to get up and pick anything from my wardrobe to wear. Once again I have nothing to wear!

FAVOURITE RECENT OUTFIT?
I won't lie... probably my pjs. Nothing fits anymore!!

BEST MOMENT THIS FORTNIGHT?
I'm absolutely loving watching Indie and Parker bond with bump. Parker asks to 'see baby' constantly throughout the day, and loves giving it snuggles and kisses. Indie has decided to name her AnnaElsa (yes.. that's one word), and I just know they're going to be the best big brother and sister when she's born.

LOOKING FORWARD TO?

Getting more prepared for this baby girl. We have a small list of things we need to buy, and then it's just a case of washing clothes and setting everything up. I'm oh so excited to build our co-sleeper and have it ready for her arrival!

You can see how this pregnancy compares to Parker's (my second) here.

Linking to the Bumps & Babies Linky with Let's Talk Mummy

Keeping Warm During Winter Days Out

If you're a regular reader of my blog, then you'll know how much we enjoy getting out and about as a family. Not much stops us, especially the weather! Even if it's a chilly Winter's day or raining outside, you will still find us enjoying the outdoors - even our Me and Mine photos in September were taken on the beach in the rain! Over the years, we have just learnt how to wrap up warm, so that we can still get out and enjoy ourselves.

Dress Everyone in Layers
If you're unsure what the weather will do, dressing everyone layers is the best approach. If it is cold in the morning, just wear extra clothes and then remove them as the day warms up. Retailers such as Simply Be sell a wide range of jumpers, coats and even thermal underwear, which are great for this type of dressing. I've found I now naturally leave thick and heavier items on the shelf, and instead opt for lightweight jumpers or cardigans that are I can pop over a t-shirt or shirt.

Keep Wellies and Spare Clothes in the Car
If you're planing on going out when the weather is wet, definitely go out prepared! During the winter months, we usually keep wellies and spare clothes in the car. It is also worth keeping an old towel in the boot (this is also handy for if you've taken your dog for a walk too). This way you will be able to dry everyone off a bit, and then the towel can be used to protect the inside of your car from the worst of the dirt too.

Remember Hats and Gloves
Make sure everyone has a pair of gloves as well as hats (and scarves if it's extra chilly). Studies have shown that keeping your hands and head warm will make a huge difference to how comfortable you will feel. If you're like me and need regular access to your phone or camera, it might even be worth buying touchscreen enabled gloves. They are far more convenient as you don't have to constantly take them on and off!

Wear Suitable Footwear
I have already mentioned that we keep our wellies in the car, but we also make sure that everyone´s regular footwear is at least showerproof (especially Parker's who as you can see, always manages to find a puddle wherever we go)! Boots or closed shoes are much more comfortable to wear too. It's worth keeping in mind that winter footwear usually needs to be a little bit bigger too, so that you can wear thicker socks / wellies socks with them. This boot buying guide explains what you need to look for when choosing winter footwear.

How do you keep warm on Winter days out?

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