Muji Christmas again.

A year on and Muji are again doing some fab gifts which get better every year: My top picks.

Endangered species in a bag. Balancing Penguins

Japanese Garden in a bag. Wooden forest play set

And last year's dog now comes in ...PIG!

On a less exciting note I am reluctantly dragging myself to the hairdressers tomorrow. I don't why hate it so much, but I do. I hate having to make conversation, I hate people touching me. Am going to go for the haircut I had when I was 5.

A Pageboy!

Nearly november and nearly time for another baby!

How crazy is that? It's almost November and only 5 weeks to go until little Hux arrives! I have had precious little time and space to relish the magic of pregnancy this time round and suddenly I've not read all the books, done all the preparation I wanted to. I'm now sitting up after midnight with my birth plan and thinking...what??? Silly really because I know just what I want! Splish splash, splish splash!

This time last year we were so organised and so baby focused but this time it's all about making sure that Wilbur is ready and that he is going to be happy once Hux arrives.

Birthing from within

Birthing from Within is an alternative antenatal book, based around the concept of Birth Art, the central belief is that the key to childbirth education is self-discovery. With the arrival of BabyBoy 2 just 13 and a half weeks away, I have begun the Birthing from Within process, hopefully to clear my mind of the less enjoyable parts of my last experience and to find more strength.

Exercise 1: A representation of a Pregnant Woman.

The pregnant woman in my picture is proud of her life giving body. She cradles her stomach to connect with her baby. Her and her baby are also protected by centuries of women who have safely birthed their babies, who bestow upon the woman a primordial knowledge or instinct . Her position as bearer of life places her firmly in a central role in the Earth's history.

Exercise 2: A representation of being pregnant.

Being pregnant is being a beautiful part of the Earth's promise. A place that will change and bring joy. It needs protection and yet is a part of a greater thing. The roots are firmly in the Earth.

3. A fantasy of labour and birth

I am inn a room filled with pillows, cushions, blankets and beanbags. A breeze comes through the window, candles glow. I am humming and relaxed.. My baby is in the optimum position aand relaxed. I can move easily. The room smells good. My husband ans son are relaxed in the doorway. Music plays. Across the hall a warm, scented baths awaits.

Planning a Blessingway

I've never really "got" baby showers, to me they're a bit like wedding lists, an excuse to get presents and a way to make people feel that they should get you something. An American import that we really didn't have a need for. I've always wandered if they really play those weird games of "Guess the Baby Food" and stuff like that? Anyway, this time around, even though he will only be one when little Boo arrives, I really want to do something to connect Wilbur to his little brother and something that will celebrate the growth of our family.

I really like the idea of creating a birthing necklace, which I will wear on the day and also would like a henna design created on my tummy. I would like to maybe have people write messages to little Boo and to Wilbur in their "life books" (need to buy one for little Boo) but most of all would just like to have people here to share some lovely homemade food and to have a lovely enchanted evening / day. Traditionally a blessingway should take place on the last full moon before the due date, which will be Sunday 21st November.

Sweet sweeties

One of my lovely birthday books was this:

So this week with some mummies coming round for a bit of river garden relaxation I am hoping to give it a go and try out:

Rose creams, Peanut Butter Fudge, Pecan Pie Chunks and (from a different source) Turkish Delight Fudge. Hhhhhmmmm.