Introducing...

Ché Phoenix!

Our beautiful son was born weighing 9lb 13oz on Friday morning at 10.37 :) 

Words cannot begin to explain our joy and overwhelming love for him. 

He is just perfect in every way and I can't keep my eyes off him. 

He's taken to the 'outside world' amazingly, he feeds and sleeps and just looks 

around taking everything in, he is such a content yet alert baby. 

He has such a cool personality already and his facial expressions crack me up! 

The first 3 days of being a mummy has been even more incredible than I ever imagined,
happiness overload in this house :)

Happy Valentines Day!

Soulmate, best friend, husband, father of our unborn son, most amazing man I know - you 

make me so happy and I love you today more than ever ♥

Our wee family update!

and the update is, there's still only 3 of us!!!

I love this photo - I look HUGE!!!

So what have I been doing this last week?

• Taking the 21st century by storm with my new iphone! I now have an instagram account if you're interested :) and have been using the free picture and text messaging app 'what's app' to keep in contact with my sisters - its brilliant and I feel more in touch with them than ever :) Technology really does have its place and I am really glad we made the upgrade to iphones, it may seem extravagant but they ended up not being much more than we were paying on pay as you go and I think we'll especially appreciate them when the wee man arrives :)
• Visiting my friends and their new babies, getting some practice in lol
• Playing around with my Etsy shop and making pretty treasury collections, as well as posting books to the UK and USA this week!!! :) *If you'd like to win a positivity book don't forget to 'like' my facebook page before the Valentines Day draw*
• Going to have reflexology at my local midwife led unit, for free!!! They offer it to full term women to help promote relaxation and perhaps stimulate labour. I just LOVE it, I've had 2 sessions and never felt so relaxed, I actually fell asleep last time lol
• I've been pinteresting too, making up a special board of inspirational family and baby photos from around the world, I'm using them as a screensaver atm to remind me of how natural birth is and how so many people raise beautiful, happy families with so much less than what we have. It gives me extra confidence and makes be feel so blessed to be joining the world of parenting :)

I'm sure next week will be very different! AAAHHHHH just so exciting!!!!!!! :) :) :)

The waiting game :)

No space left! Good job most babies stop growing at 39 weeks lol

Well no real signs that our wee man wants to come into the world yet, he's happy and so I am too. Perhaps the end part of pregnancy is actually designed to increase your patience in preparation for parenthood? I'm normally quite an impatient person but I think I'm just so happy these days it's easy to be content and knowing that he knows best when the right time is takes it out of my hands.

I've really enjoyed being at home, nesting :) Baking (see below mmmm), pottering around organising little areas of the house and reading. Although the most luxurious treat has to be my (nearly daily!) long candlelit baths with essential oils and soft music - during the day! It's just pure bliss, when will I have time for that kind of pampering again? Who knows so I'm enjoying every minute :) 

Raisins, hazelnuts and almonds 

Home made fruit & nut chocolate!

Yum yum yummmm!

And healthier than plain choc!

For those of you who know me quite well by now, you might be thinking 'that all sounds good but a little too relaxed for Astra...' and your right! But don't get mad I promise I am resting enough! I've also been working loads on my new Itty Bitty Book Company :) It's going really well and I'm so excited as to where it could lead this year. I've sent books to New Zealand, UK and America so far! It feels so good to be spreading positivity around the world and setting up something for my future too, I just love it :)

One of my colourful positivity books :)

I'm sure you all know Bee Girl from Sky Minded and Ever Growing? Well she started a brilliant series a while back on her blog where she highlights and shares the love for small businesses who are making a positive change in the world. Its called 'Expanding Ripples'. She does an in-depth interview and really shares the essence of the company, very inspiring I urge you to have a read of all the posts.

I was over the moon when she asked to feature me and my new business, I hope you'll read and enjoy the post. I talk about what inspired me to start The Itty Bitty Book Company, how I think positivity can change the world and a bit of my personal background and views too. 

There is also a positivity book giveaway and you don't want to miss that!

Heres the link :)