Pretty Pink Preparations!

I've never really needed an excuse to go shopping before but my goodness, when you start shopping for little baby clothes the urge for retail therapy grows even stronger!

Before knowing that we are expecting a little girl I found it quite difficult to know what I should be shopping for, not that I disliked any of the neutral clothing but baby stuff in general just wasn't grasping my attention, if anything it added confusion because I would have the gender battle in my head whist looking at the items only to walk away empty handed and bursting with curiosity!

I guess for me it felt like trying to buy a gift for a person I'd never met before. I quite admire the people who like to wait for the surprise but for us it was just as delightful having the surprise part way through the pregnancy! If you haven't already read about when we found out our baby is a girl then maybe you'd like to read 'another peek into mummys tummy' in my archive.

So I skipped out of the hospital and on my way back to work I made a pit stop at Mothercare! Knowing we are having a girl makes me feel that bit closer to getting to know our new addition, I thought what better than buying a pair of pretty pink shoes to mark the moment - all girls love shoes and they symbolise her stepping into our lives, her shoes have been placed with mine and Grahams at the front door, just ready and waiting for her to join us.

On the last May bank holiday monday I was supposed to be working as it was the last day of the financial year - crunch time for ensuring targets had been met but I spoke to my manager on the Sunday and she said that everything seemed under control therefore I may as well have the Monday off. Well, that's fab, everyone likes an unexpected day off but I hadn't really planned to do anything - what better use of time than turning the music room into Freya's nursery!

Once we had relocated Grahams beloved computer and music equipment to the downstairs spare room we had a completely blank canvass to work with, a perfect sized room with a view over looking the park. Off to B&Q we went, as I stood by the colour swatches deliberating over whether to have two contrasting walls or a feature wall Graham came back with a trolley full of paint brushes, masking tape, floor coverings oh and paint! So Dulux Pretty Pink it is then! After quite a few hours of hard work (well, its not easy running up and down two flights of stairs to get water and snacks frequently) the nursery walls were painted and the furniture assembled - I love my Graham so much for all of his hard work and effort that day!

And since then the preparations have continued, all the finishing touches and practical purchases are being ticked off the list as the weeks go by.

One day was made particularly special when my wonderful friends threw us a baby shower - Sunday 20th June. Organised by Karen and Ellie it was the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon, Ellie made up a lovely spread of nibbles and the event as held at Karen's new house - or shall I say penthouse apartment! Feeling the need to get into the domesticated demeanour I baked red velvet cupcakes the night before! It was a lovely afternoon and the girls were so generous I was absolutely made up with all of the lovely gifts they had bought Freya. So, a big massive thank you to you girls - I came away from there feeling showered in love (and pink accessories!!)

Our Friend's Kelly and Shaun are also expecting a baby in September, just a week after Freya is due, they have a daughter already called Amelie who at the time was 10 months old. Kellie and Amelie came to my baby shower which was just brilliant - great to swap pregnancy experiences and fab to get some practice in with the coolest little baby going! Amelie's such a happy and beautiful little girl I just kept thinking wow - a few months from now I'll have a gorgeous little girl to call my own too!

Since the dynamics of my social life will change it was reassuring to have the girls under one roof and talking about what life will be like when Freya's here and the different types of activities we will do when we meet up - its just going to be the most fun, challenging and exciting time of my life and I will cherish every moment of it!