30 before 30 update

OK it has been 16 months since I started my 30 before 30 challenge, and it has been quite challenging so far!

To date I have completed 11 of my tasks I have (in no particular order):

Knitted Jamie a jumper

Made a Croquembuche

Entered a photography competition that I didn't win

Experienced a different culture in Cambodia

I went to see Wicked in the West end with all the ladies in my family

I finished reading the whole Bible again. 

I followed the Bible in one year plan, it took me two and a half years but I finished in the end! The problem is deciding what bit to read each day now that I am not following a plan, I'm sure I will work it out soon.

I got to see the Northern Lights in Iceland (I don't have a photo of them, this the whole story) 

I got my wedding dress cleaned and boxed

Jamie and I have got our finances in order (probably a good thing considering we are going to have a baby) for over a year now we have been giving to charities and our church 10% of our income and saving at least 10% again every month - we have spent some of it as we have gone along too! i will get round to writing a post soon about why we do this and why we think it is important.

I wore a dress or a skirt every day for a month (look how thin I was!)

I have also watched the sunrise and sunset on the same day, whilst in Cambodia.

I'm beginning to think that some of my plans are / were over ambitious. 

For example saving to go to New York, Paris, and Italy when we have a baby may be difficult, let alone saving a deposit for a house! Oh well I'm sure I will work it out and maybe make some substitutions to my list soon :)

Pregnancy update

24 Weeks Pregnant.

My belly feels pretty huge some days, although I am aware that I still have some belly growing to do!

I realise the above photo is not very flattering but it does show the belly in its full glory! :)

I bought this skirt soon after I found out I was pregnant it is not maternity, i'm still not wearing many pregnancy clothes. I complained loudly on facebook about the terrible choice of maternity clothes and people gave many opinions and suggestions, in the end I decided I had to work it out my own way.

So far I have bought

   - one dress (which i haven't worn) 

   - one top which I like but is a little baggy

   - a belly band to hide my undone trousers
   - a pair of awesome leggings
   - two maternity / nursing bras
   - some bigger knickers (yes it seems my butt is bigger too! :( )

   - some long strap tops to cover my belly when wearing normal t-shirts

and lots of second hand non maternity clothes at a clothing swap some ladies hosted at church. It was a great evening and I came home with a huge bag of swag!

If you see me around looking inappropriate due to my reluctance to invest in maternity clothes, please do tell me! 

Fathers Day

My Dad loves fox gloves.

I'm not good at remembering to buy and post, cards and presents or saying soppy things. 

But I remember his favourite flower and take photos for him to see just because he likes them.

Happy Fathers day Dad.

A walk in the sun in Delamere

Last Saturday Jamie and I met my brother Robert in Delamere forest, 

we started with a picnic and ice cream  

 then we took a stroll up the hill

 The hill isn't very big but I had to keep stopping on most of the benches

Because Cheshire is so flat you can see along way from the top

There are stone monoliths at the top made of local material from the counties surrounding Cheshire

I convinced Robert to climb one..

It turns out getting down was more difficult them getting up. It was pretty funny to watch.

I really enjoy the warmer weather, shame it is raining so much this weekend. 

Oh well Bring on the summer!

Fun things and more pics from my phone

In no particular order...

My new glasses

A Heron catching fish on the canal

 Reading in the sunshine with bare legs and Birkenstocks

Finding a posh pregnancy dress shop called the pudding club- hilarious!

(we didn't go in)

Getting dressed in one go 

(it hasn't happened very often in the last few weeks)

yummy sweet treats to eat with some awesome ladies

Awkward and awesome things about pregnancy

Awkward - Finding out the many things "they" didn't tell me would happen. Including growing hair on my belly, not a huge amount but I know it is there! 

              - feeling like I need to pee ALL THE TIME

              - The Baby seems to move more at night - as soon as I lie down

             - My belly button is unrecognisable, and can almost be described as an "outy"        

               - Feeling REALLY full after I eat

               - getting tired pretty quickly even when walking

               - not a great choice of maternity clothes
               - forgetting the names of people I see every week
               - groaning like an old lady when I bend down

               - Trying to get photos of my changing form and not knowing how to stand...

Awesome - Feeling the baby move loads now :0)

              - Jamie singing little songs to my belly

              - Clearing out all the rubbish we have accumulated in our spare rooms ( I Love a good clear out)

              - Some amazing baby hand me downs

              - Still being able to wear most of my normal clothes
              - groaning like an old lady when I bend down ( it is pretty funny)

              - Enjoying all the crazy new things and getting so excited about meeting our Baby.