It's a Girl!!!!!! Introducing Madison Carolyne Billings

Madison Carolyne Billings

Well at 11:58am on Tuesday the 21st of August, James and I welcomed an angel face baby girl named Madison weighing in at 6lbs 6oz and 22inches of royal cuteness. She was 4 days early but was ready for her debut and 14hrs after my water broke we got to squeeze and kiss her. Just adjusting to no sleep being new parents and lots of feeding, changing nappies (diapers) and staring at her. We are in LOVE x

39 Weeks and a weekend at Sopwell Hotel and Spa

Me doing the "Mo" at 39 weeks!

James surprised me to a weekend at Sopwell Hotel and Spa where we had a swim, sunbath, had a gorgeous fine dining dinner and midnight cuddles....It was so great to get away for the weekend and got my mind off of when the little munchkin was coming. We didn't take any photos of me in my bathing suit (thank god) and little did I know what was coming in 3 days time!!!!!

Picnic in Henley and WAGS baby shower at 38 Weeks!

So here we are at 38 weeks and what a ride it has been. I can't believe I am so close to the finish line and meeting this little munchkin I have been carrying for so long,  yet time has gone by in a flash. Well expect now where time is standing still, I on the other hand am not. I have been cleaning and pacing and walking and overcome with tiredness and excitement. It was my last week of work on Thursday and now I have been resting and going to lunches and doing yoga and massages so it's been tough but I have managed ;) I have been having more Braxton Hicks false contractions and can definitely feel the baby is getting lower down in my pelvis which is exciting, it means things are moving along. I have put my due date back to the 8th of September instead of the 25th of August as a way to pysch myself out so I don't go crazy waiting, I mean this is worse then when James makes me wait till I get home to eat to go french fries!!!!! 

Yep that is a baby and you can see my ever so attractive leggings underneath over the bump, I'll be keeping those and a family heirloom hee hee!

38 weeks of cookin! The roll over at of bed is getting ridiculous!

Just chilaxing in Henley on Thames (where they had part of the rowing Olympics) for a picnic and day naps!

James with a big smile on his face while napping, must be thinking about baby or beer!!

My belly also doubles as a table for my scones with creme and jam which is the best thing EVER!!!!

All the lovely ladies at Bingham Hotel and High Tea Room at Richmond on Thames celebrating Steph Douglas gorgeous self and baby #2. Mark Douglas was one of James's best men at the wedding and I have had the honor of getting to know Steph the past 2 years, she has been an amazing friend and has given me so much advice on babies, pregnancy and everything! Buster and baby #2 are lucky to have her as a yummy mummy!  These girls are called the WAGS (wives and girlfriends ha ha)

Steph at 36 weeks and me at 38 weeks, crazy thing is we have no idea who's munchkin will come out first (Steph was 4 weeks early with Buster) So fun have babies close together can't wait for playdates!

Baby Billings cooking for 37 weeks and considered FULL TERM!!!!

Vivien Westwood Onesie, so appropriate :)

 I am officially 37 weeks now and Baby Billings is considered full term CRAZY town!!!! I have one more week left of work and then have some rest, yoga classes and massages to catch up on :) I have gone into serious nesting mode and have been cleaning and organizing and asking James for loads of cuddles. Emotions are high and I may or may not get caught crying at the Olympics Games everyday doesn't matter if it's rowing, women's boxing, track, field, tennis, badmitten, it's all so intense ha ha!!!! Let's hope all the excitement doesn't send me into an early labour...but I am half term so anything could happen!!!

Cleaning all the munchkin clothes getting ready for the arrival!

Spent the day with my gorgeous friend Harriet having a chin wag (English for girls chat), tea and almond cake yummy!!!

Had to put this one in, James and I went to Hyde Park to watch the Olympics, it was so fun, lots of big screen TVs and different games playing, live music, the works!!!

My Belly seems to have dropped a bit which means baby is getting into position the countdown begins!!!!

London 2012 and 4 more Weeks until I particpate in my own Olympics :) 36 weeks..

Our little Olympian growing so well at 36 weeks!!

I'm pretty sure I'm going to deserve a medal after I pop this one out yes?!?!? I am channeling my inner Bolt :)

Now that belly gets me a seat on the Tube like a dream now!!

So the Olympics have come to London 2012 and Team Billings have been training for our own games maybe not as long as Michael Phelps but 36 weeks in the making! London is vibrant right now and such a special time to be here! I can't wait to tell this little one all about the exciting times mama had while they were cookin :) Had a great time at the Opening Ceremony Village Party and going to the Olympic Park tomorrow. We are hoping to get some tickets maybe to volleyball but most likely to archery or table tennis or something like that (no offense I'm sure they are fine Olympic participates) Feeling a mixture of anxiousness, excitement, happiness, fatigue all at once. The midwife said the baby is still head down and bobbing between engaged and not so things are definitely moving along. I pee ALL the time and get tired quickly but still feeling pretty good. We have gotten all the necessary baby gear, Moses basket, Pram, Stroller, changing mat, nappies (diapers) ect. James wants to test drive the stroller around London and put a doll in instead hummm we shall see :) 

Baby Billings first trip to the English Coast at 35 weeks cookin!!!!

I have to say I have totally popped out at 35 weeks, it's amazing what a week will do. Well we celebrated me being THE TANK by driving to Bournemouth on the west coast of England. One of my favorite roommates and dear friend from San Francisco, Kelly Weatherington, came into town from her latest trip around the world (she goes on several lucky girl) and it was amazing to catch up with her. She came to the lovely village of Chalfont St. Peter, where we live, for a day and then we were off to Bournemouth www.bournemouth.co.uk/ to meet up with a friend of hers that lives in the New Forest National Park also a great area of England www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/ 

It just so happen to be an amazing weekend weather wise, sunny and perfect temperature and this coming from a Country that has had the WORST summer ever. I haven't seen the sun in weeks and was still wearing boots up until this week so I was one happy pregger and I'm sure baby Billings was happy to get some much needed Vitamin D. Strange week pregnancy wise, I have surrendered to never getting a good night's sleep again but have found I'm starting to get awkward and uncomfortable, like sitting up is real tricky but have mastered the roll out of bed (again endless giggles from James). I suddenly feel massive but I've been told I will grow quite a bit in the next week and then will slow down again. Baby Billings is quite an active baby and loves to roll around and stick his/her booty out at me! So cute can't wait to squeeze it ha ha. 

Me being silly and slightly giddy at being by the "seaside"

They have these great little seaside huts you can rent for the day! I thought they were so cute and oh so English

Me and Kelly clowning around, baby billings survived the fall :)

Auntie Kelly having a belly rub!!

Yea so I have mad skills on the board at 35 weeks, now step aside while I ride this bad boy in umkay!

James and I went for a glorious walk on the seaside at a place called Hengistbury Head less crowded then Bournemouth would sooo recommend!

Me and the proud papa, tried to get the man we asked to take our picture to get the belly but just can't get good help these days :)

Such a beautiful place and just what the doctor ordered some fun in the sun!!

The belly at 35 weeks! Look at that belly button, getting so excited to meet the munchkin!!!

Baby Billings at 34 weeks doing the splits in my belly!

This reminds me of a cheesy prego photoshoot but it had to be done!

 At 34 weeks I went to the mid-wife and apparently the baby has had one foot in my rib and one to the side doing the splits, representing gymnastics for London 2012, I see a medal winner in the future umkay :) 

Suddenly Feel huge!!!! Tank is coming through!!

That is a belly right dare!