28 Weeks Today

Claire is 28 weeks pregnant today. We normally take a couple of photos on the 20th of each month (I can't remember why we started on the 20th, but we did). This morning we were back at the Princess Royal for Claire blood tests to be taken.

She had the morning off but was back in work this afternoon. Craig was working late tonight so, when we remembered we hadn't taken proper photos on Friday, we decided to take a few this evening :o)

Claire says there is no way any of you can say she hasn't got a bump now ;o). It's certainly getting bigger and growing week by week. Less than 3 months now till baby is due!

xx

Recap and a Recipe

I can't believe it's a week since the Baby Shower - I think it's taken me about that long to get over it ;o). Emily and I have had a fairly quiet week, we've been in to town a few times, met up with friends and also had a chance to stay at home and read our books.

On Friday, Claire had an appointment at The Princess Royal at 9am and they warned that they are doing some building work so to leave plenty of time to find parking etc. We left home at 8am, got to the hospital by 8.30am and found parking without any problem. We didn't see any building work in progress either so I don't know what that was about. Long story short, Claire needed to have some blood tests done that have to be sent down to Brighton (not anything serious) but they didn't have anyone that could do that on Friday so we're going back again tomorrow morning. At least we didn't have to hang around too long and we shouldn't have to tomorrow either. We did a little bit of shopping on the way home and Claire had time to have lunch before going in to work for 1pm.

I had bought the ingredients to make a Key Lime Pie for last week but couldn't find Claire's recipe book with the recipe in and couldn't ask her for it otherwise she'd have known something was going on. Yesterday, however, Craig got the book out of the loft for me and I was able to use the ingredients before I had to throw them out ;o) This recipe from Mary Berry's Foolproof Cakes is one of the nicest I've tasted and in case any of you feel like trying it out, here it is:

Key Lime Pie

4 large	Limes
400g (14oz) tin	Condensed Milk
450ml (15 fl oz)	Double Cream
For the Base
150g (5oz)	Digestive Biscuits
65g (2 ½ oz)	Butter
25g (1 oz)	Demerara Sugar

· For the base, put the digestive biscuits into a polythene bag and crush them to crumbs with a rolling pin. (Or put in a food processor and pulse till like breadcrumbs)

· Melt the butter in a small pan, and add to crushed biscuits and the Demerara sugar. Mix well, and then spread the mixture over the base and sides of a 20cm (8 in) loose bottomed sandwich tin, pressing it with the back of a metal spoon to make it firm.

· Remove the rind from 1 of the limes with a zester and set aside to decorate the top of the pie. Squeeze the juice from all the limes

· Put the lime juice, condensed milk and 300 ml (10 fl oz) of the double cream into a mixing bowl and whish until well blended.

· Pour into the prepared crumb crust and gently level the surface. Chill for several hours until set, push up the tin from the base to remove the ring.

To decorate, whip the remaining double cream until it just holds its shape, then either spread over the surface of the pie or spoon it in blobs around the edge. Decorate with the reserved lime zest. Serve well chilled.

I also made some Chocolate Brownies (recipe here) which turned out beautifully (even if I say so myself ;o) ) I took a slice of each to the lady I help on the weekends.

I hope you're having a great weekend too.

xx

PS Apologies for the way the recipe has posted, I don't seem to be able to get it to look the way I wanted in Blogger :(

Anyone interested?

Rachel of The Adventures of an American Mum is thinking of possibly holding a photography course, here in the UK, next summer and is wondering how many people might be interested (I know I certainly would be!). Anyone else interested? Pop over to her blog and let her know :)

xx

Claire's Surprise Baby Shower

We held a Surprise Baby Shower for Claire :o). After a bit of thought Jon suggested holding it at the Cafe at the Church. It's a lovely light area, tables already set out and a kitchen we could use; as well as having a car park so no one had to worry about parking. It was the ideal venue. I made some bunting to hang and we ordered balloon "bouquets" for the tables. Having seen a few "Diaper cakes" on the web I decided to make my own "Nappy cake" to go on the present table.

People waiting for Claire to arrive

I had help with the baking from Claire's friend Rachele; Craig's Aunt, Tracey and my niece, Theresa. My contribution (sausage rolls, savoury pinwheels, pumpkin cake and chocolate cake) all had to be made (or in the case of the chocolate cake - bought) while Claire was at work.

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Craig was in on everything from the word go - from helping me with names of who to invite to working out how we were going to get Claire there without her suspecting anything. He did a great job and I was so impressed he didn't let anything slip out - well done Craig :o)

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As a result, Claire thought she and Craig were going to visit Craig's Nan yesterday afternoon. Jon had been going to offer them a lift but when he arrived home (after helping to set things up) he was just in time to see Claire and Craig walking up the road and wasn't sure what was going on. Claire had decided they were running late and told Craig they had to go - it put our plans in a spin for a short while but fortunately Craig used his head and when we phoned him to find out what was going on (using his Nan's phone, of course) he told Claire his Nan had gone to the Church cafe for a coffee and they were to meet her there. Quick thinking Craig!

Claire wasn't sure what was happening when she walked in the door and everyone shouted SURPRISE! She got a bit emotional when it hit her but it didn't take too long before she pulled herself together and started to enjoy her party.

The present table :o)

We played a couple of little games

and had something to eat and drink

then Claire opened presents

Theresa and Alyssa watch

as one present after another was opened.

Hugh's girlfriend, Sarah found these really cute shoes ;o)

I couldn't resist this little snowsuit

and Tracey, Craig's aunt, gave her a beautiful baby quilt.

All in all it was a huge success, I think everyone enjoyed themselves and Claire was totally spoilt! Now we can't wait to see Alice Rose in the beautiful clothes she's been given :o) but until then Claire's having to find room to put everything away lol! Imagine what it'll be like when baby is here ;o)

xx