Baby names I love

When it comes to choosing a name for your little baby it is not an easy task. Growing up with lots of pets I've been through a lot of weird and wonderful names. My dogs are called Bacon and Spider (Spider was Dan's idea, but I loved it)....as far as naming animals go, I like to be original and a bit wacky.

Naming a baby is very different. My dog doesn't care that his name is Bacon, his friends don't make fun of him or judge him for having a ridiculous name. I said from day one that I don't want my child going to school and having 5 other kids with the same name. I'd want their name to represent who they are and that they are an individual. Im a strong believer in names playing a role in the kind of person your child will be. I wanted something that was easy to spell and pronounce, wasn't extremely popular (in the top 100 baby names) and was unique but not bizarre. 

The names I am going to share are names I absolutely love but won't be using. I have a variety of names from unique to more common. When naming our first baby I wanted to bare in mind the possiblitiy of having more children and I didn't want the names to not sound good together. These are names that I couldn't think of sibling names or they didn't match the middle name we had picked.

Top 5 Boy names

1. Carter - This name sounds super American to me and reminds me of a cowboy or a country boy that plays guitar. It's a name that is creeping up in the top 100.

2. Arlo - This is a name that when I first heard it I instantly loved it for a baby boy but I struggle to see a man called Arlo. With naming a baby I often forget that this is gonna be there name their whole life and they are and adult a lot longer than they are a baby.

3. Curtis - My friend is having a little baby boy and this was a name on her list and oh my god, I love this name. It's a name that most people have heard of but very few know someone with this name. This is obviously my friends potential baby names so I couldn't steal it but I do adore this name.

4. James - My grandad's name and my dad's middle name which obviously gives this name a lot of meaning. Two of the most influencial men in my life, this would be a definite option for a middle name if Dan and I were to have another child and of course if said child was a boy. 

5. Grayson - This name as it is super unique but is becoming more popular. Dan's dad is called Raymond and I love that this name has Ray in it, We liked the idea of incorporating a family name into our choice without straight out naming the baby after a family member.

Top 5 Girl names

1. Prim - Prim without the rose part, I really liked this name from the very beginning of my pregnancy but every time I said it the response was always "aww yeah like primrose" which put me off of it. The name primrose although very beautiful, Im not a fan.

2. Nellie - I think this is such a cute name and suits all ages throughout life. My only concern was that she would get called "smelly nellie" or constantly be asked what it was short for.

3. Quinn - I feel this name has a super nature vibe, boho princess rocking a flower headband. A very different look from what most people think of which is Harley Quinn who I can't imagine anyone would want there baby girl growing up like.

4. Lily - A very pretty and simple name. I am a big fan of flower names and I think this name is gorgeous. The classic example of a really nice name that you don't like because you know someone with this name and you don't want your child to turn out like them.

5. Nova - This name is very different and I'm unsure if you'd suit it when you're 40 but non the less I really like it, so much so that last summer we named one of our little brown cocker spaniel Nova.

I hope you have enjoyed having a read of some of my favourite names and maybe even found the name that you want to call your baby. 

Over and out,

Night night,

Amber Elizzy.

Getting to know Pregnancy

It doesn't matter how many people you speak to during your 9 months and even after everyone has something different to say about being pregnant. No ones experience is exactly the same, I've constantly been reminding myself of this every time someone tells me about a bad experience because it can be terrifying but some people do sail through pregnancy and labour is a breeze for them so really you just have to sit back and wait till its your turn.

For me the first 4 months were spent in shock and constantly nipping myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. Before you feel little kicks and start showing it can be quite hard to get your head round. Even after my 12 week scan, seeing our little baby on the screen right in front of us, I was still in disbelief.

I have spent a lot of my pregnancy smiling and laughing more than I have ever done before but at the same time I have also cried and felt so lost in a body that doesn't look or feel like mine, a body I have spent so long learning how to accept and love.

There are a lot of people out there who tell you how you should feel about your pregnancy, they also tell you that it is going to be one of the most magical and memorable times of your life, and to some extent that is true but it's not all sunshine and rainbows like some people like to make out it is.

I also deal continually with the fear of not offering our baby the best life we can offer or the fear of not being the perfect "mum". These feelings change day to day, our child is going to be so fortunate to grow up amongst lots of animals and have the freedom to wander around in the countryside. She may not get all the latest gadgets and tech but I can't really claim that to be a negative. I'd much rather have a daughter that can hold a conversation than unlock a smart phone at the age of 3.

I took a long time while growing up to accept and love the body I was in and even though I now look in the mirror and see a very different figure, I’m proud of my body and how amazing it is for creating this new life but that doesn't take away from the fact that it doesn't look like my body and I don't know if i'll ever get my old body back which some people may say doesn't matter and that looks are irrelevant but it's almost laughable that I spent so many years not being comfortable in my skin and now that I’m not the skinny mini I once was I want it back.

I’m not going to sugar coat it and say that I’m not tired and that my body doesn't ache, because it does. Growing a little person is no walk in the park and it definitely takes it's toll, you're constantly reminded that you'll be even more tired when the baby arrives, being told that pregnancy is the easy part. I’ve found that you're almost looked down on for not having the energy or even the willpower to be doing all things you'd do before.

Im full of love and joy for our future and I cannot wait to meet our little person.

Im now sitting between 6 and 7 months so the kicking has become a lot more apparent and the heart burn is like nothing I've ever felt before. However the fears and worries have started to take a back seat and the excitement and anticipation is shining bright. Feeling our baby moving and wriggling about is one of the best feelings but seeing Daniel's face light up every time he takes a hit from a tiny foot on the palm of his hand is something that cannot be replaced.

We are definitely getting a sense of our babies personality. Already she is letting us know that once she is here we will well and truly be kept busy.

We are happy and from what I can tell from all the dancing so is our little baby girl.

Night night,

sleep tight.

Amber Elizzy