SAY CHEESE...

Hello beautiful people!

I am grateful and pleased with the overall response my blog has been given, it has been so well received. So thank you all for reading, commenting and sharing. Before I end my pregnancy journey blogs and move on to my motherhood blogs, I wanted to share some photos from my pregnancy shoot.

I was around 34 weeks pregnant and I felt heavy and completely uncomfortable. My mood was not always great. I think this was because I was constantly feeling tired from getting up super early for work and doing long days. I really did not want to do a photo shoot as I just was not feeling it and felt quite insecure in my skin and body. But we thank God for one of my best friends Shaniel. She was not taking no for an answer and insisted I do my pregnancy shoot.

Eventually the day of my photo shoot came and I was actually excited but nervous at the same time. I am not photogenic at all and very camera shy, so didn't really know what to expect. I wanted an out door (sort of natural looking style) rather than indoor staged photos. So we went to a park called the Italian water gardens, it was close to Lancaster Station. 

During the week it was raining, however on the day of my photo shoot I was quiet lucky as the sun came out, the sky was clear and it was a truly magical experience. Looking back, I am so glad I did the shoot as I really enjoyed myself. I did not feel ugly and I had an amazing photographer Joshua Roberts who made the whole experience enjoyable. He made me laugh, smile and still managed to capture it all. 

Here is my list of the top 10 locations in London of where you could have your outdoor pregnancy photo shoot. I have also included some features that make these places the perfect location for a pregnancy shoot:

1. Itailian water garden - Lake, swans and outdoor gazebos.

2. Valentines park- Lake, green areas and flower bed.

3. Hyde park- Meadows, boats, princess Diana's memory fountain, flower gardens.

4. St James park -Surround by 3 royal palaces, lake, pelicans birds, green area. 

5. Queen Elizabeth park- Sand, flower garden.

6. Battersea park- Zoo, peace pagoda, lake, boats, flower garden.

7. Victoria park- Historic artifacts, Fragment of the old London bridge and festivals.

8. Regent park- Dazzling rose garden. 

9. Queen Victoria park- Outdoor pool, river themes view.

10. West ham park- Large fields, beautiful trees and flower bed areas.

Below are photos from my shoot.
Thank you for reading see you next Thursday .X

            

Strength

This week has been quiet challenging for me and so I really did not feel like typing and editing on Thursday. Instead I felt the need to continue to focus on feeding my soul and reflecting on my life.
Something that has really helped me get through the week has been journaling my prayers and music meditation. Here is one of my journaled prayer , Hope this will help someone too.

Dear lord it has been such a hectic week for me but I thank you for getting me through the week. Thank you for your endless love, grace and protection. I thank you for providing food,water and shelter for me, I am truly grateful. 

Your word says; 

 " But those who hope in the lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Isaiah 40:31 NIV

So I come to you to ask for strength and wisdom to get through life's challenges. Help me to chose my battles carefully. Help me to be the best mother I can be, teach me to discipline not with frustration but with love. Help me to have the patience I need but to also have a joyful heart. Enjoying each day I spend with my son. Create a bond that may never be broken.

I pray that he will grow up to be a respectable, kind, loving and considerate young man.

Thank you again for blessing me with my precious gift.

Amen.

Joyous occasion

My Baby Shower

This was such an amazing day for me because not only was I expecting and nearly due, it also provided me with the opportunity to spend time and catch up with my friends and family. My social life was practically non-existent up to this point due to the pattern I adopted; Work, Home, Sleep and repeat.

However, this day, this day guys, I'm telling you, will be remembered FOREVER! The love was real yall! It was a day filled with fun, laughter and my (unborn) little bundle of joy was showered with gifts and there was FOOD (obviously) because of the cravings tho !

Seeing all my primary school and secondary school friends at my shower, most of whom I had not seen in a while made the day extra unforgettable and special. I was so emosh! dam near brought tears to my eyes.Yep it did. Apart from the hormones ( from being preggers),

I was also feeling quiet down about life due to being stressed and tired, and did I say stressed ? the stress mayn! So seeing all my family and friends come together, celebrate and have an amazing time lifted my mood.

The theme of my shower was quite simple as I and everyone else knew I was having a boy, most of my decorations were blue and white (society rules), the decorations and displays were just gorgeous and totally adorable!

We used my sisters back garden and my friends old marquee because the weather was pretty unpredictable (London weather). Praise Jesus! The rain was held back, the wind was bearable and the sun was shining.

We played loads of games, for the majority of the games everyone got into two teams or pairs. Here are a few of the games we played and I would recommend;

*Making a diaper out of tissue- Guests got to get creative... Racing against the timer to create a well made, comfy and strong but unique diaper. The pair or group with the most votes wins.

*Guess the size of mummy's bump- Guests guess how big my bump was using some string which they cut. The string closest to the size of mums bump wins.

*Heads up- Everyone picks a subject e.g baby items...One person places the phone on their forehead they cannot look at whats on the screen. They have to guess whats on the screen whilst your other team mates are shouting out clues. The person holding the phone can then tilt the phone down if guessed right and tilt up to pass...but there is a catch your being timed. Most points wins. (kinder like sharades)

*Drinking out of a baby bottle-  Depending on how many bottles you have the guest had to drink either juice/milk, its your choice! but out of baby bottles and who ever finished their bottle first wins.

*POP- Two people have to work together to pop the balloon in between their stomachs.

My favourite game was pop even though I couldn't participate, watching everyone was so hilarious. The winners were given some great prizes, the food was yummy, it was an all round blessed day and a real reminder that I'm to blessed to be stressed.

My advise to expectant mothers would be to not go over board with baby shopping, especially buying a lot of baby clothes. As this tends to be what most people get you for your shower. You may not have planned one for yourself but you may have a surprise baby shower so still don't go over board. Unknown to me I had two surprise baby showers. One at work and one with a few of my fellow church friends, so three in total. I'm blessed.

A special thank you to everyone that helped organise, plan and surprise me with each baby shower. Thank you to all my amazing friends and family that joined me to celebrate and enjoy the day & for your very generous gifts.

Here is a short video showing my planned baby shower xxx