It's wedding season

And things have been rather crazy here. As well as me doing many brides hair and makeup for their big days, attending lots of weddings myself, my belly has also started growing at an alarming rate. I am now just over 4 months and by gum is my oven expanding fast. I am however feeling like a human being again and not a sleepy spotty mess, which is just grand.

Most of my outfits I've been wearing to weddings I had especially made to fit me when I went to Pakistan to get my own bridal outfits done, so it's quite funny to feel how tight everything now is around my stomach area. I can't wear any jeans and am living in leggings and maxi dresses. Funnily enough though, I have only put on 2 pounds during my pregnancy so far. Strange...

More weddings ahead throughout July, and the heat is really annoying me. I'm just feeling far too uncomfortably warm at the moment and I may be the only person in London right now reeeeally looking forward to winter coming.

I went into Windsor with mother and sister a few weeks ago and ordered my iCandy buggy, cot beds, mattresses, travel cot and changer, it was SO friggin' exciting! I've not bought anything else yet but i'm starting to get itchy fingers. I really can't wait to start on the clothes, but that won't be for a little while yet.

I've been eating relatively healthily; a lot of fresh fruit, veg, nuts, salads, pasta, grilled meats (bar the odd 1 or 7 bags of crisps here and there. But that's nothing to do with me, it's what the babies want). Apart from still eating like a horse, things are great and i'm finally starting to 'enjoy' being pregnant.

The other night I was at home watching Michael Jacksons 'This Is It' for the first time (yes, can you believe how long I waited to watch it?! I was just so worried i'd bawl my eyes out throughout the whole thing; I did a tiny bit). Whilst singing along to 'The Way You Make Me Feel' as loudly as possible (and in Imrans face), I felt my first little flutter in my stomach. It was one of the bubs making itself known and informing me that they are an MJ fan! (Either that or bub just wanted me to stop singing.)

The other day we had a doctors appointment for a routine check up (double the bubbys = double the check-ups) and the doctor let me hear the babies heartbeats. She didn't even have to try very hard to find them, I was over the moon! Hubs and I just looked each other in a dopey eyed 'Ahhhhhhh listennnnn' way. It was quite amazing :-)

So that's me in a (very large sized) nutshell right now. I know it's been far too long since i've written, I won't leave it so long next time. And I promise I'll be writing up some of my favourite food recipes very soon (and will be sure to put up a picture of 'the belly' too!) xx

I'm crossing over

Into my second trimester! I'm so excited I could scream! (I did scream a bit, not a lot, don't want to frighten the kids). Had a nuchal translucency combined scan yesterday and all looks a'ok. My blood results will be back in about a week which will confirm the results. The sonographer was having a giggle at the bubs; both were somersaulting all over the place and when she began trying to measure them one lay back cross-legged, patiently waiting. The other carried on floating around in circles. I suppose the one that doesn't listen will take after it's father, however he will definitely refute that.

For those of you not in the know, this is a nuchal scan (copied from Wikipedia):
A nuchal scan is a sonographic prenatal screening scan (ultrasound) to help identify higher risks of Down syndrome in a fetus, particularly for older women who have higher risks of such pregnancies. High thickness measurements are also associated with congenital heart defect. The scan is carried out at 11–13.6 weeks pregnancy and assesses the amount of fluid behind the neck of the fetus - also known as the nuchal fold or 'the nuchal translucency'. Fetuses at risk of Down tend to have a higher amount of fluid around the neck. The scan may also help confirm both the accuracy of the pregnancy dates and the fetal viability. Its high definition imaging may also detect other less common chromosomal abnormalities.

I am so relieved and happy, and looking forward to starting to feel like a human being again. No more shuffling along the floor in exhaustion and falling asleep at dinner for me (I hope!)

I heart eating...

There's not much in the world that makes me happier. By the time I finish breakfast I'm looking forward to lunch and whilst eating lunch I'm thinking about dinner. Ok, it's a slight obsession (or a hobby, however you want to see it.)

Since being pregnant I've been starving every 2 hours, which is excessive even for me. It's hard to always find something quick and easy to eat, that's tasty and also healthy. Protein, fresh fruit and veg (especially green leafy veg) are important for women who are 'with child'.

I thought I'd share my diet, this is especially for those pregnant who are struggling with healthy ideas on what to eat and what to buy in the supermarket:

SNACKS

- Ryvita crackers with hummous/cottage cheese

- Carrots/cucumber/celery sticks with any dips (tzatziki yoghurt is great)

- Nuts, especially almonds, pistachios, hazelnuts, walnuts, pecans

- Fruit, or fresh fruit juices/smoothies (Just throw any fruit into a blender! I sieve all the pulp. My favourite smoothie is milk, banana, walnuts, ground cinnamon and honey)

- Dried fruit (with NO added sugar, check the ingredients)

- Boiled edemame with salt/garlic salt/soy sauce

- Yoghurts/Rice puddings

- Soreen loaf

- Lindt 70% cocoa chocolate (better for you than milk chocolate I suppose, but I'm not going to lie, I'm still eating a load of Fruit and Nut, Flakes, Maltesers, Crunchies etc etc!)

- Pretzels or Snack a Jacks (healthier substitutes for those crisp cravings, although again, I've been eating A LOT of normal crisps too, they are my ultimate weakness)

- Frozen grapes

- Low sugar cereal/Porridge

MEALS

- Salad (throw in interesting things like cherry tomatoes, feta cubes, beans, sweetcorn, olives, beetroot, sweet peppers etc)

- Soup (Chicken and veg is fantastic and you can keep it in the fridge for days. Throw in things like carrots, courgettes, turnips, peas, brocolli, potatoes... You could even throw in a handful of macaroni. I'll be adding some of my favourite soup recipes soon.)

- Pitta/wraps (you can even freeze the bread and take them out of the freezer as needed, just defrost them in the toaster. Fill with grilled chicken/tuna [if pregnant keep an eye on how much tuna you're eating]/steak/grilled courgettes or aubergines/salad bits.)

- Pasta, pasta, pasta! (I ADORE pasta. Quick and easy to make and I am eating a lot of it at the moment, even though I suppose I shouldn't be, boooo. I will add some of my favourite pasta recipes)

- Oriental style dishes (I have 'Chinese Food Made Easy' by Ching-He Huang which is fantastic. A lot of her dishes are low fat, very tasty and extremely easy to make. I'll write up a few of my favourite recipes from her book.)

That's all I can think of for now, but keep your eyes peeled for recipes and pictures.

I am now 12 weeks and have been feeling such tiredness during my first trimester that I haven't really been my usual Nigella-esque self in the kitchen, I really enjoy cooking and experimenting with others recipes and with my own ideas. However very soon my energy will return and i'll be sharing all my yummy, quick and easy recipes :-)

Facts, research and cute stuff!

Did you know that Fraternal twins (Dizygotic twins - hmm, possible names? Dizy and Gotic... Or maybe not) share about 50% of their genetic traits, the same as any other siblings born at different times?

And did you know that it is possible that fraternal twins can have different fathers?? Apparently the two eggs are released at different times and can be fertilized by different sperm. Amazing aye (no cheeky comments please)!

And did you also know that the reason for pregnant women being SO exhausted during the first trimester is because their bodies are increasing their blood supply, blood sugar levels and metabolism are adjusting and the body is working overtime to produce the placenta? And just so you know, i'm creating 2 placentas (a fact that I am FOREVER reminding the husband of - 'Nat, can you get me the ketchup from the fridge?' 'IMRAN, I am creating TWO PLACENTAS HERE!! I don't see you creating anything except a bloomin' mess!' Poor guy). So if you see me wandering the streets like a zombie, please just smile and nod.

So anyway, I scrapped my previous research for single buggies, cots, car seats etc, and started my spreadsheet for all things double. (To all friends and family, I do apologise for you having to buy us 2 of everything but just to help you out I am currently creating my gift list and will be sending to you all in the next few months, chaars). I know i'm completely getting ahead of myself and I should just wait, but I don't want to. So there!

Hubs found a great website (www.twins-store.co.uk) which caters for multiple births. Speaking to parents of twins, i've been told that cotbeds are a good idea as they last for many years from birth through to around 5 years. Also, sometimes twins are unable to sleep without being right next to each other, and cotbeds are also big enough to fit 2 of them for a short while (I am however adamant thet they will not get into bad habits early so won't let them sleep together for long.) One woman told me that she would creep into her babies room to check up on them and they would be sleeping whilst holding hands. HOW RIDICULOUSLY CUTE IS THAT?! Mine I suppose may not want to hold hands and I can't really force them, but I probably will.



Regarding buggies, so far the iCandy buggy Peach Blossom Twin is way out in front, it's just adorable.


My list is pages and pages long so I won't bother going into it all now. I've also already made my list for what needs to be taken to the hospital on the day of birth (can anyone say 'unbelievably anally retentive'? Well if you can, don't, because you might get a slap from a very hormonal and extremely tired woman who is currently creating two placentas.)

And so it begins...

'Imran, I feel weird, I'm telling you I feel like i'm growing a child'. My husband looked at me like I was a teeny bit mental. He knows though once I get something in my head I don't shut up about it (something i'm working on by the way). So off I skipped to the bathroom with my pregnancy test. Having been married for 3 amazing years to my darling hubby (yes, he's going to be reading this), it was the day after our wedding anniversary and I had a strong jittery feeling that my body was changing, life was beginning inside me, I was glowing, my heart a flutter and... Oh it's negative. Poo.

2 weeks later and now late for my period, I grabbed my last Clear Blue test and quietly locked the bathroom door not wanting to tell hubby because I wouldn't hear the end of 'Why must you waste another £10 test woman?!' I was quite sure it would come back negative, but I suppose I just wanted to rule it out. Instantly the little blue 'positive' line appeared, and I stared at it for about 4 minutes, knowing that i'd wee'd on the stick for 5 seconds too long and I MUST have broken it. I wandered out to the living room where hubby was sitting. 'Erm...I took a test and it says positive but I wee'd on it too long and I broke it and I need another test and you have to go and buy me one...'. He stared at me for a few seconds and said 'I didn't understand a word you said, are you ill?' So I pointed him in the direction of the bathroom and he went in to see what was going on. Then out he came holding the test, completely white (he's asian and naturally ahem, 'mocha' coloured; his words not mine, so it was rather funny to see him turn so pale). I calmly told him to please buy me another test, and he was just so in shock he (very surprisingly) said nothing and left the house in complete silence.

He brings home a shiny new Clear Blue Digital test whilst i've been at home glugging copious glasses of water and I leg it back into the toilet with my test. 'Have you finished yet?' I can hear him anxiously shouting from outside the door. 'I haven't even undone my jeans yet, hold on!!' So I take the test and it instantly says 'Positive 5-6 weeks'.

I open the door and start bawling my eyes out.

And right at that moment as I struggled to breathe, blew my snotty nose and dried my mascara cloaked eyes I knew everything was going to change... And get even better :-)

We go to the doctor, confirm the pregnancy, suss out my symptoms, buy a trolley full of organic food and Pregnacare and I begin doing my usual anal research on all things baby.

I begin to suffer extreme tiredness, breathlessness, nausea, heartburn, frequent urination, urges to eat every 1.5 hours and more tiredness. Pregnancy really is a beautiful thing(!) I am however so lucky to not vomit at all, GO ME!

In my usual worrisome demeanour I start freaking out at 9 weeks that everything is ok as my scan isn't until 12 weeks, so we decide to go for a private scan in Harley Street. Before I can take a deep breath i'm on the bed, belly full of clear gel and i'm staring at the monitor.

'OH' the sonographer says... 'Oh...??'

'TWINS!!'

'Riiiight... Well you're quite obviously doing something wrong so please check your monitor again thanks' I say as calmly as possible whilst trying to relax my eyebrows which have hit my hairline. 'No no, it's quite clear to see' she says, and she's right. I'm staring at the black and white screen, tears streaming down my face and I can clearly see 2 sacs filled with 2 baby shaped blobs. At that point I start shaking and turn to face hubs, waiting for him to laugh at me and tell me he had a joke going with the sonographer (something he would do). Once I notice his eyes are so wide open his eyeballs are about to fall out of his head and he's turned a bit pink and sweaty I realise that obviously it's no joke. We are given our pictures and are suddenly standing on the street in central London, looking around aimlessly, trying to understand what has just happened. Neither myself or hubby have twins in our families, hence being so freaked out about it! I remember when I was 16, always saying 'I don't want twins, I could never EVER handle them!' God obviously heard me; He either thinks I really can handle them and this will be my ultimate proof that I should have more faith in myself, or He just thought it would be hilarious to see my reaction when I was told it was twins. I think it's the latter.

It took me 2 days to get over the shock and now I am so excited I could burst. I feel blessed and so lucky to be carrying two little Sheikhys in my belly, not just one! At 10 weeks i'm already becoming increasingly impatient and just want them to come NOW NOW NOW!!

So here I sit, on the sofa, feeling sleepy with a touch of heartburn, belly starting to bloat, feeling breathless just walking from the living room to the kitchen to get my 15th meal of the day... Yet I feel like the happiest, most fortunate person in this world. Roll on the next 7 months! Good times :-)