Proudly bought to you by...

This post is proudly bought to you by pregnancy insomnia.

You know the feeling? The 'oh-my-gosh-I-am-so-tired-but-I-just-cannot-sleep' type? It has been visiting me a lot lately, especially between 2am and 4am. Tonight's coping mechanism for such insomnia has been the ever so faithful Pinterest and a bag of BBQ chips. The saddest part of it all? I don't even like BBQ chips, but more obviously so it appears that my body doesn't like sleep. I am certain that this is mother natures way of 'preparing' me both physically and mentally for the demands of a newborn for she is so active in these still hours of the morning.

3:30am, it looks like you and I are going to be well acquainted. But that's ok, I like the stillness. There's something about the hours between midnight and sunrise that is strangely relaxing and magical...it's the time I feel most centred, most connected and most creative. Just don't ask me to repeat that sentence before lunchtime the next day.

The two hours I did manage to sneak in some sleep tonight, I was stuck in a frustrating dream of sending and replying to e-mails. My fingers wouldn't type fast enough on my iPhone and my eyes couldn't focus on the words I was trying to send, I was stuck in a slow-motion whirl of technology and impatience. If that isn't a sign that a switch-off is needed, then I don't know what is!

Maybe that is the answer to channeling this 4am sense of calm and collectedness at all times of the day; to switch off the white noise, remove the notifications and timelines and just be; at least for a small part of the day.

Do you have regular switch-off times? Times when you just turn everything off so you are able to tune in?

Tomorrow if I am even slightly functional, I am going to schedule in some 'switch off' time in my life. Ironically, I will probably use my beloved modern technology to create a plan, but a plan there will be indeed!

Plenty of love, 

P is for...

P is for Pregnancy and Pinterest.

Pregnancy insomnia is in full force at the moment. I am unable to fall asleep before midnight, only to be awake again at 2am for a few hours. Considering there is no baby here yet needing to be fed at these hours, they are becoming unproductive and frustrating. I was lucky enough to sleep quite well during my pregnancy with Stella until the very last two months, I was also super lucky to be on maternity leave and be to able to spend my afternoons napping freely. I know this is my body's way of training me for the late night and early morning feeds that are to come, and I feel as though this time around I will be much better prepared. I can cope a little better with lack of sleep and interrupted sleep, I am just wishing the time along so that when my body calls to wake up, its to hold and feed a tiny newborn and sneak a kiss from a toddler, not to wander around the house like a lost puppy.

Which brings me to... What have I been doing at one and two in the morning? Exploring Pinterest mostly! It's a lovely, inspiring, mindless task that can be done no matter how tired I feel. And, it is becoming slightly addictive. I found myself in a slumpy, grumpy mood this afternoon and dreamt of hiding away in a room somewhere with Pinterest. It's a hormonal, pregnant, tired mamas best friend.

Did you experience any pregnancy insomnia? What did you do with all that sleepless time?
Do share all your pregnancy woes with me!

Plenty of love...

Jellybelly and Bellybean

Sleep and pregnancy don't get along very well, never have and probably never will. That is why the 'Bellybean' exists, to save mamas like myself from eating the house out of cheese at 3am due to insomnia! I ordered my Bellybean online four days ago, and today it arrived!

Unlike regular pillows, the Bellybean has a hollow middle and two round pillows at each end, meaning you can have a pillow under your bump on each side and roll without adjusting the seven million pillows surrounding you that we seem to need to sleep comfortably. It can also be used length ways, with one pillow between your knees and one under your bump.

I am so excited to sleep with this pillowy-goodness tonight and can't wait to report back to you on the comfort levels and effectiveness. And the best bit? Bellybean is Australian owned and made, designed by an Aussie mum, just like you and I.