'Married To A Geek' Turns Two

~ Happy Saturday Everyone ~

It's been a fair while since I was organised enough to have time (or the will) to put a post together on a weekend, but, well this is going to be very short and very sweet and will probably only take me five minutes to write.

But I had to mention something because guess what I've just realised today is?

! It's my blog's second birthday !

! "Married To A Geek" is a huge two years old today !

I can't actually believe how fast the past two years have gone - it's crazy to think I've kept something going for so long, and that something I now love more than the day I started it.

It's been absolutely amazing and I'm so happy and fortunate to have discovered a hobby that I enjoy so much.

One which has allowed me to meet, interact with and form lovely friendships with so many fabulous people.

From the amazing "blogging friends" I now have to the amazing brands I have discovered and been lucky enough to work with, this has 100% been an amazing journey - a journey I really do hope I'm still on in another two years time.

~ It's fabulous ~

So a massive thank you goes to all of you lovelies out there for making everything possible and for making the last two years so brilliant.

Please do me a favour though - make sure you all have an amazing day and raise a glass for me (because obviously I can't at the moment) - anything gin or bubble infused will suffice - and have a whole lot of fantastic fun.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY "MARRIED TO A GEEK"

Now, where's the cake...

Baby Baker Friday - Why My Birth Plan Is The Plan That It Is

So as you know, I decided that Friday's on the blog would be dedicated to my now end-nearing pregnancy status.

I know it's not something everyone wants to read about but it is something I really wanted to do - so I'm doing it - after all, being pregnant and having a new baby is a huge thing to be happening in my life and I really wanted to share bits and pieces of what is going on amongst these pages.

So here we go

~ Baby Baker Friday ~

Thirty Three Weeks Pregnant...

33 weeks pregnant...

No matter how I say it or see it written down I still don't think it's really, truly actually hit home fully yet.

I. Am. Having. A. Baby.

I mean, OK I have the mahoosive, ever-growing tummy, I'm feeling all of the amazing movements and I've got some brilliant scan pictures to prove that this is actually happening but I still don't think it's really going to sink in until the day I have that little (or maybe not so little) bundle in my arms.

Three years of trying and wanting something so much will do that to you though I suppose...

I'm officially due to have Baby Baker on 18th October which is only seven weeks away now but I've been told that I will potentially be going into hospital anytime from week 39, and that is just a mere six weeks away...

~ Eeek ~

But why early?

Well it's because for this pregnancy I've chosen to have an Elective Cesarean.

A lot of people, even some of my family members, have questioned my reasons and joked about me being  "too posh to push" so I wanted to write down and explain, just a little bit, my reasons for choosing this option this time around.

Now everyone will know that I already have an amazing son who is very nearly ten years old - in fact I was pregnant with him at this time all those years ago too and he was due to be born around the same time that Baby Baker is due - which is slightly crazy I know.

Anyway, with him, it was very clear that he wasn't even close to being engaged or preparing to be born as close to two weeks to his due date, but doctors said that it would all happen as it should and off home I went to wait it out.

Four weeks later and two weeks overdue I was admitted into hospital to be induced, and then after waiting for another two and a half days with two lots of treatments, things finally started to happen.

I remember calling the midwife at 2am, terrified, to say that I thought my waters had broken and felt really, well, really isolated...

I was on a ward with three other ladies and tried desperately all night to breathe as quietly as possible through each contraction - on pain relief of two paracetamol - so that I didn't wake anyone up.

I was constantly looking at the clock too, waiting for 7am to arrive so that the Hubby - my then fiance - could come and help me out.

It was a long, painful, lonely five hours - especially for a twenty one year old first time mum.

But I got there and was later whisked down to the delivery suite at around 9am.

But then - well to cut a long (a very long) - story short, everything seemed to stop and by mid afternoon I was given an epidural and was hooked up to a drip giving me medicine to help strengthen and speed up the contractions again.

But still, nothing major happened.

Looking back now I do think the medical staff became a little worried about my son and the fact that he wasn't happy at all...

So, after nineteen hours of labour - on a slice of toast I'd been forced to eat at 8am - I was told an Emergency Cesarean was the only way to go.

We were scrubbed, prepped and I was wheeled down to theatre in no time.

Things didn't go quite to plan on the operating table either to be honest - I was trying to be all calm but the surgeon wasn't happy - I couldn't relax and then I felt some really strange pains - the next thing I knew a mask was over my face and I was fully knocked out.

~ Crazy Times ~

But my beautiful son was worth everything.

And so, because of all of that I have now been given an option - opt for a "normal" birth or a section.

I really don't want to have to face even the remote chance of going through everything I did before and whilst I know every labour is different I'm really not prepared to chance it and put myself, my baby, my Hubby and even my son through all of that stress and unease when I really don't have to.

So a cesarean it is

Which is why Baby Baker is pritty likely to be born in six weeks rather than in seven weeks time.

Obviously I know many people won't agree with my choice, and that's fine, but I know what's best for me.

I'm more than aware that recovering from major surgery takes time and is lengthy and there are lots of possible risks and complications to factor in - but isn't there the possibility of those with everything...?

I've done my homework on this and whilst I'm not saying this is the perfect way to bring Baby Baker into the world, it's the best option at this time.

So...do I dare ask if you agree?

thinkmoney's Summer BBQ - #TMSummerBBQ

So today, I seem to have a little bit of time to myself - no game playing, no Lego Jurassic Park explanations and no trying to make the day "child fun" - it's just been me, myself and I.

But with free time there comes thinking time and I've sat today and really realised just how lucky I am to have met so many fantastic people throughout my two year blogging journey.

It really has been brilliant and it still amazes me how many friendly, kind, like-minded people there are out there, and on Sunday, I was fortunate enough to be able to spend time meeting another group of fabulous people.

I spent the majority of the day with the people seated nearest to me - Georgina, Alfie, Jemma, Anoushka, Caitlin and Carl - some of which I was meeting for the first time and some of which - I'll admit - I did fan-girl a little over spending time with...

We had so much fun - I don't think I can actually remember the last time I laughed so much.

And if that wasn't enough of a day-maker, the actual event itself was blooming amazing, all organised by the very lovely (and very thoughtful) Bryony at thinkmoney Basic Bank Accounts.

In fact, I'd say that this is how all events should be run...

~ amazingly well-organised (yay for Bryony!)

~ amazing location (Hotel Football in Manchester!)

~ fun activities

...and...

~ gorgeous food

~ A very winning combination in my book ~

We kick-started the day by lounging around on the top floor of the hotel which was decked out beautifully - perfect for a Summer BBQ.

The roof-top windows were open, the (not so) gentle breeze was billowing through, the views were just beautiful and the drinks were certainly flowing from the free (yes the free!) bar.

I mean could it get much better?

Errrm...well yes it actually could because we were then presented with, not just one, but a box of four delicious cupcakes and were given instruction on how to make them all pretty by the lovely Michelle from The Princess And The Cupcake before being let loose and encouraged to design our own...

It was so much fun, especially when my first attempt at buttercream piping resulted in me picking up the "poo nozzle" - seriously - it produced icing which resembled a poo shape!!

That kind of thing is never going to appeal to anyone over the age of ten now is it!!

But not to worry, I set about rescuing my "poo bun" with a few "flowery-blobs" and some gold decorative bits.

And whilst I knew I was never going to be able to make the pretty rose Michelle demonstrated I was still rather impressed with my four finished attempts...

I even managed to snaffle a spare cake so I could eat one there and then - delicious.

So feeling a little sugared out I naturally (obviously!) decided to turn my attention to yet more food - well the BBQ had opened - it would have been rude not to.

And the food we were presented with was just fabulous...

I even think most people went back for seconds...

...before, in true summer-days-style, yummy ice cream was served...

(photo courtesy of thinkmoney - do you see that look of pure glee on my face!)

With full-tummies, we then headed for the photo-booth props and no-one could resist a quick selfie or two...

...before we sat down to a few games of Blogger Bingo...

...which was made even more hilarious by Jemma's pure determination to win (and she did) and the fact that the lovely Thornton's winners trophies had completely melted in the heat...

~ Fun times with fabulous people ~

We had such a great time in fact that it seemed no-one really wanted to head home so we hung around, taking in our lovely surroundings for as long as we could before inevitably having to say our goodbyes.

We didn't leave empty handed though and were each presented with a crammed-full goody bag of amazing treats from Manuka Doctor, NSPA, Metcalfes, Vita Coco, Ohh Deer, Fancy Witch, Anne Semonin, Crabtree & Evelyn, Milton Lloyds, Aroma Works, Halo, Urban Fruit, Derma V10 and Weleda...

...many of which I'll be sure to tell you about in up-coming posts, once I've had a delve through them all myself that is.

Thank you so much thinkmoney (& Georgina) for including me in such a brilliant day.

Foodies Festival, Harrogate

There's not many offers of spending a day surrounded by fabulous food that I will pass over - I mean why-oh-why on this earth would I willingly miss out on anything associated with good grub?

Trust me - I wouldn't

So when I was very kindly invited over to Ripley Castle to attend Foodies Festival I actually couldn't wait to get myself there.

And last Friday, with our food-loving kiddies in tow (who I have to say, were so overly excited at the thought of any kind of a free food sample) myself and one half of A Blogs Life popped on over to Harrogate to tantalise our taste buds in some very lovely and very unexpected warm, sunny weather.

Our first stop was the VIP tent - of course...

We were treated to a complementary glass of fizz each - mine naturally went to a lovely couple seated next to us though...

...and then we had the opportunity to pop back into the marquee as and when we liked to enjoy the VIP refreshments, the biscuits and the welcoming nature of the friendly staff all throughout the day.

It proved to be a very welcome facility to have, especially with three children to keep happy.

But then - unfortunately - disaster struck.

~ My son was stung by a wasp ~

And within the first five minutes of us arriving too...

...which meant that obviously he was upset about it for the next ten hours (I kid you not!)

But Foodies Festival had everything covered - they had a well stocked first aid tent on site, complete with very sympathetic first aiders and coupled with staff who really did try everything they could to make him feel better I was so pleased with all of the help and attention he received.

However I don't think anything would have worked fully, not until we found a sample of yummy goats-cheese pizza on offer - now that definitely started the "healing ball" rolling that's for sure...

Especially with it being made in this amazing, eye-catching van, one complete with a real clay pizza oven too...

It was brilliant and really did help us get on with the day properly.

There were lots of scheduled live events available to sit through during the day and although we didn't actually watch any of them fully (kiddies!), I did have a little peek into a few and they did prove to be quite popular and really rather informative...

We wandered around the stalls, discovering lots of different, local food establishments, ones that otherwise I would never have known existed.

I think my favourite find had to be Richmond based Kacao Chocolaterie...

Kelsey was really friendly and even put together an amazing selection of sweet treats for me to take home.
(but more on those beauties later)

I was also amazed by the cuteness of the stall of Tarte And Berry - a very vintage looking, sisterly run, baked treats business which provided us with an array of sweet-tasting, beautiful looking choices to pick from...

Naturally we walked away with our bags filled - six slices of calorific goodness between the two families in fact - well, it would have been rude not to now wouldn't it...

And once we had overloaded on all of that sweetness we decided that lunch just had to be meat, so chicken it was - we headed over to the Flamin' Rooster stand where there were a range of BBQ delights on offer...

Between us all, we sampled a lamb burger, a chicken wrap and a box filled with chicken wings, and trust me, nothing went uneaten....which totally speaks for itself really doesn't it.

But even after all of that I just couldn't help myself when I spotted cheese - I just had to take a closer look.

And off I went to the Snowdonia Cheese Company van where I found something I'm actually still kicking myself for not buying in bulk - some cheese flavoured with pickled onions!

Oh yes - pickled onions!

It was amazing - and now I'm just hoping (hoping, hoping, hoping!) I will be able to find some on-line because it was fantastic and I totally need some more in my life.

I really enjoyed our day out with Foodies Festival and personally was really pleased that we had decided to go over on the Friday.

The day suited us perfectly.

With it being the first day that the festival was open and still being a weekday I found that it wasn't overly crowded with people which meant that we didn't have to keep the kiddies glued to our sides all of the time and the pram wasn't getting stuck between hordes of people.

A nice bonus which just added to the overall loveliness of the day.

I'm very much looking forward to the Christmas event now...

*Tickets gifted to me. thought, opinions & pictures of the day all my own

Baby Baker Friday - A Brief, Unplanned Update

So as you know, I decided that Friday's on the blog would be dedicated to my now end-nearing pregnancy status.

I know it's not something everyone wants to read about but it is something I really wanted to do - so I'm doing it - after all, being pregnant and having a new baby is a huge thing to be happening in my life and I really wanted to share bits and pieces of what is going on amongst these pages.

So here we go

~ Baby Baker Friday ~

Right - I have a little confession to make.

Rather than write up my planned post for today, I've been too busy surrounding myself with amazingly good food at Harrogate's Foodies Festival.

I know, I know - I'm rubbish aren't I, but when these fab opportunities - ones with yummy chocolate especially - present themselves there's just no saying no...

But I do send massive apologies your way for my lack of organisation.

So for today's post I decided to use my little blip of "me being rubbish" to just give you a really quick, brief overview of how things are going so far.

A few people will already know that a few weeks ago we were involved in a car accident on the motorway - thankfully we were all OK - bumped, bruised and sore - but we know it could have been a lot worse.

Needless to say the past few weeks have been a whole mish-mash mess of doctors visits, stress and tear filled phone calls trying to get things ship-shape and sorted out as soon as possible.

The fact that we are now car-less doesn't really help lessen stress levels but it is only a car at the end of the day...still, with Baby Baker's arrival in less than nine weeks it's an inconvenience we could have done without really...

In an attempt to try and counteract some of this stress (and to try and cheer myself up a little bit) I decided to be mega-baby organised and start to get my check-list as complete as possible.

So...

~ I ordered my first lot of nappies and wipes...

I chose these particular nappies as they were on a pritty good offer in Boots, and I'm all about the penny saving.

The wipes, well I'm not against using other brands at all and actually have a whole stash of others as well, but I've heard really good things about Water Wipes and decided to give them a try - I thought they would be the kindest for baby's bum in the very early days.

~ I bought a few bits for my hospital bag.

I'm having an elective cesarean (more on that one in a later post!) so could potentially be in hospital for a few days and I need to be prepared!

I've scoured the internet and You Tube and taken loads of advice to make sure I'm packing everything I could possible need without going too OTT.

(again, more on that soon)

~ Baby Baker's changing bag is now out of it's packaging and is all ready for me to start packing up her first days worth of essentials as it will be doubling up as her hospital bag too.

~ I've made a start on the baby clothes washing.

I was really apprehensive at making all of the lovely neat, cute, clothes I have look like raggy old dishcloths - my washing skills won't be winning me any prizes that's for sure - but actually (surprisingly!) everything seems to have come out very much OK so far.

...I guarantee I won't be ironing baby towels or scratch mitts when baby is actually here, but at the moment, I'm sure this act of madness can be forgiven.

~ I took a picture of my bump...

Not a massively alien thing for most mums-to-be to be doing I know, but it's not something I've done as of yet - don't get me wrong, I love my bump I just haven't made any real comparisons of my body before and after pregnancy up until now...

...and now I know exactly what 26 weeks worth of baby growing can achieve!

~ I'm making a few plans for my baby shower.

It's not going to be anything big or major, just a small gathering of friends and family to celebrate Baby Baker's upcoming arrival.

It's quite exciting really.

And to see everything all written down like this - well - no wonder I'm so tired at the moment, I've actually had a few really busy weeks haven't I.

But tired or not, I'll make sure I'm back on my scheduled track next week.

Have a brilliant week everyone

UK Staycations And Cornish Cream Teas

As much as I do love a little bit of sunbathing and the old relaxing by the pool scenarios, in recent years these kind of holidays are such a rarity for our household.

Not that I've ever really been much of a jet-setter or anything, but because of the growing cost of holidaying abroad and the fact that I now have a family, I have found that it is just so much easier to stay and holiday in the UK.

All it takes is to simply pack up the car, drive a little way down the motorway and voila, a convenient break away from everyday life that doesn't cost the earth.

As long as there is a beach nearby with access to a swimming pool my son is more than happy.

~ No overwhelming heat to worry about

~ No prickly heat to contend with

~ No un-liked foreign food to work around

Easy, chilled and calm

And if there are a few hot weather days thrown in, then that's a massive bonus for me.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not against going abroad or anything - granted, I'm not the best person on an aeroplane but I do manage - I just think a rough experience I had when my son was only eight months old has put me off going abroad a little bit.

The holiday in question was lovely in itself - the accommodation was clean, the weather was hot, but I think for such a small child it was just too much for my son, and you know what they say - unhappy baby, unhappy Mummy.

The weather was far too hot for him, he was so grouchy and then we had the whole not-being-able-to-drink-the-water situation to deal with...

...not ideal for trying to make up baby bottles every day...

 Sterilising and preparing bottles over a hob in a foreign country where the water is not drinkable is not how a holiday should be spent - especially when the baby then develops a very poorly tummy on top of everything else...and everything else that goes with one...

Yep - it really did put me off travel for a while.

And with a new baby soon to be entering the household I can't see me setting foot on a plane anytime soon.

But I have had some very lovely, UK "staycation" experiences with my family in the years since this mishap and I know that next year, if we can find a place with beautiful weather, we'll be onto a winner staying here in the UK.

My Auntie has actually just come back from a week-long visit to Devon and she said it was absolutely beautiful and the weather was simply amazing...

It's been many a year since my last trip down there actually - I must have been around twelve the last time I went and a whole load of the family descended upon Cornwall.

I remember it being a very lovely, very fun-packed, very happy holiday indeed.

I reckon my family of four could certainly have a ball down by the Cornish sea that's for sure.

I mean it certainly has that whole "Surf's Up" action-packed reputation that I know my Hubby and son would love.

And for me...well...what could be better than sampling a beautiful Cornish Cream Tea actually by the Cornish sea

~ Bliss ~

I think the boys could tackle the surf of the mega-popular Kynance Cove Beach whilst Mummy and baby settle in for afternoons of beach-related relaxation, delicately enjoying picnics filled with Cornish delights...

...and if this amazingly, sweet-packed hamper I was lucky enough to be sent to enjoy in the comfort of my own garden is anything to go by, having one in the Cornish sunshine would simply be beyond fantastic.

It certainly sounds like a holiday to me that's for sure.

In fact, Parkdean - an award winning UK holiday park establishment - have found Devon and Cornwall to be so popular, welcoming and beautiful that even residents who live there - a massive 41% of them in fact - would much prefer to stay and holiday on their own doorsteps than travel anywhere else.

Which speaks volumes really doesn't it...

And because they are so confident with their range of fabulous UK holiday deals, Parkdean are actually offering one person the chance to enjoy this UK Staycation phenomenon for themselves by giving away a 3/4 night family break in a choice of one of their 11 Devon or Cornwall based caravan parks worth £499 simply by taking their quirky holiday quiz which can be found...

http://www.parkdeanholidays.co.uk/cornwallordevonquiz/

Try your luck, and who knows, you could be enjoying the delights of a Cornish cream tea on a Cornwall beach very soon...

It looks as though Staycations are fast becoming the new Vacations

* A collaborative post. Hamper sent free of charge. Words, thoughts & pictures all my own - except the beach shot - credit goes to my cousin for that! 

Baby Baker Friday - Babybond's 4D Scanning Experience

So as you know, I decided that Friday's on the blog would be dedicated to my now end-nearing pregnancy status.

I know it's not something everyone wants to read about but it is something I really wanted to do - so I'm doing it - after all, being pregnant and having a new baby is a huge thing to be happening in my life and I really wanted to share bits and pieces of what is going on amongst these pages.

So here we go

~ Baby Baker Friday ~

Ever since I found out I was expecting Baby Baker - after over three long years of trying - I seem to have been totally overwhelmed on more than one occasion.

It's such a huge, fantastic thing to happen - especially when you've waited for it for so long.

One such "overwhelming occasion" came when I went to my twenty week scan and I was told we were expecting a little girl.

A GIRL??

*watch as mini meltdown of excitement occurs*

There is no way on earth that I expected to be having a girl - no way, no how, not ever.

I'd been told so many times that "Baker's don't have girls" - the last girl born in my Hubby's family was his younger sister and she turns 30 in October...

...so no girls in thirty years...is it any wonder I was adamant this was a boy...

But it was a very welcome surprise, one that took me a long time to get my head around though...even after weeks had passed and pink things had been bought, there was still a little niggling feeling that maybe it wasn't true after all...

And then I attended an Expectant Parents Event at Mothercare and was introduced to Babybond where I discovered that apart of what they do is offer 3D and 4D scans to mums-to-be.

I knew immediately that I had to have one

As well as actually getting to see the little bundle growing inside my stomach I would be able to get pritty much a definite boy or girl decision.

A second opinion, but in 3D?

Yes please!

And I mean, who knows, this may be the last baby that we have - I want to make sure I do everything and try as much as I can whilst I can.

These options weren't around when I had my son a massive ten years ago, and if they were I certainly didn't know about them, so I really wanted to make sure I got myself booked in to have the experience this time around - just to be able to see the results at least once - and that's exactly what I did.

On the day of my appointment I headed inside to the back of the huge Mothercare store at Crown Point, Leeds where I was met by a really friendly member of staff who showed us to a small, comfortable waiting room where I signed the necessary paperwork and excitedly waited for my turn.

The scanning room itself was again very clean, comfortable and set out pritty much as I expected - a bed, scanning machinery, a wall mounted monitor and seats for partners and family members to watch too.

The lady carrying out the scan was really chatty and friendly and made me feel at ease straight away.

As the scan began - with warm gel (all important!) for the tummy - we were talked through everything step-by-step

The initial images showed up the same as I remember from my hospital scans - everything in 2D and black and white - which allowed estimations to be made about baby's growth and important checks to be made on the heart, diaphragm, bones and other organs.

And then came all of the crazy stuff - trying to see Baby Baker in 3D

Now, obviously, she - yep we got that all important confirmation of a little lady - decided to be a cheeky madam and wouldn't play ball at all.

Personally I think we got some really lovely, cute pictures, but because baby seemed to enjoy using my placenta as a pillow they were all missing half of her face which was squished up, all comfy

I even went for a walk around the store and ate some sugary food before heading back in to be scanned again, but nope, Baby Baker knows what she likes and obviously isn't going to do anything she doesn't want to do.

And today, she was not moving.

We were taken pity on and were very kindly invited back for a re-scan, to try our luck, but on a different day.

Babybond offer this re-scan as part of some of their packages and I think it's a great idea, especially as a few of the options available are quite expensive.

If baby isn't doing what is needed to get a good look during the first attempt then at least there is that option to try again another day.

We re-booked and then headed back to the store a week later.

This time we were seen by a different lady who was equally as nice as the first and she got started straight away...

...and was immediately confronted with this...

Well...

...needless to say no one actually knew what to say or do except laugh.

I mean, can you believe it!

Something is telling me that my little girl is going to be a teeny but stubborn

Off I went, for another walk around Mothercare - I even managed a little bit of jogging up and down the stairs, much to the amusement of the other shoppers - and then back in we went to try again...

It seemed that this time, Baby Baker was playing a little bit nicer for us.

We at least had the opportunity to see snippets of her full face, but those arms and hands kept slipping from either side of her head across her face time and time again...

But thankfully not before I managed to see her cute little button nose...

...and beautiful pouty lips...

~ I'm in love already ~

I actually can't believe how clear the pictures are, it's totally amazing and definitely an experience I'm so, so pleased that I had.

Babybond offer a range of different scan packages for different stages along in pregnancy, all with varying price tags

The package I had was option one from the 4D Bonding Scan range and it really was just that - a total bonding experience.

Being able to see little yawns and stretches and funny, quirky images like the one above gives everything a real "ah, so this is actually happening then" realisation.

For me, the whole scan experience made Baby Baker seem more real, almost as though she already has this funny, cheeky little personality developing - it really is very beautiful and something I would highly recommend to anyone.

Also by being able to include my son in the experience we've had lots of conversations since the scan regarding how naughty he thinks his little sister is going to be once she is born.

He loves nothing more than giggling over the antics he thinks they'll get up to and the pranks they can play on us.

He's even taken the lead when it comes to telling other family members about what he saw and this is something priceless to us - to have him happy, excited and openly accept the fact that, after 10 years as an only child, there is a new member of our family arriving.

And thanks to Babybond we certainly have a few more fabulous stories to help us along this track.

Pregnant? - I highly recommend you give Babybond a go!

* scan was discounted for an honest review. All thoughts, opinions & pictures are 100% my own