Our perfect babymoon in Reading

Our perfect babymoon in Reading

Baby boy’s arrival is getting closer and closer.  There are only 12 weeks to go before he comes into the world and turns our lives upside down and the chance of Oli and I getting any time alone is going to be slim. When my lovely sister told me she was going to have Leo for the weekend and she had lined up a surprise for us, I was so excited. A whole weekend child free and a chance for Oli and I to remember what it’s like to just be husband and wife, who knew when we would get this opportunity again. My sister had planned the perfect weekend for us and also she had lots of fun lined up for Leo too so I didn’t feel guilty about leaving him at all. Here is what we got up to on our babymoon last weekend…

Our perfect babymoon in Reading.

Saturday

On Friday night we all went and stayed at my sister’s so Leo would feel settled before we left the next day. In the morning Oli was eager to start our child free weekend and at half11 we headed off for our first treat courtesy of my sister. We had been booked in for a 4 course Thai lunch at The Crazy Bear in Stadhampton, I have never had Thai food before and I have to say that I am now a big fan and can’t wait to eat some more! The Crazy Bear is an extremely quirky hotel/restaurant and sitting on the terrace with Oli with the sun shining and palm trees all around us, I could have quite easily convinced myself we were abroad on holiday. The service was a little slow but there was a wedding on in the hotel so I can’t complain too much and I didn’t mind as the food was so good.

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Some of our yummy food. Those were the best prawn crackers ever!

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Spain or Oxfordshire? It’s hard to tell.

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Me and my alcohol free Mojito

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Oli with his very much alcoholic mojito!

It was so nice to sit and chat with Oli with no distractions and just reconnect with each other a bit. Mealtimes are often a nightmare with Leo and often in the evenings both of us are too exhausted to have a proper conversation. Just being able to chat about anything and everything with no distractions was amazing.

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Happy and relaxed after lunch and shopping.

After lunch we jumped in the car and headed over to Reading to check into the hotel my sister had booked for us. Oli and I are so lucky, we had been booked in to The Forbury Hotel which is pretty much in the centre of the city and is 5 star! Oli and I spent some time admiring our bedroom and getting unpacked, the hotel is very stylish and is much posher than anywhere I have stayed before, my sister had really spoilt us.

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Our lovely hotel.

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best bed ever!

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That coffee machine made amazing coffee and they had decaf too!

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More of our room.

We headed into town to do some shopping and have a wander around. Oli bought me a lovely black maternity dress from H&M and some pretty flats for me to wear that evening. We didn’t roam around Reading for long as it’s not an overly pretty place and there wasn’t much too see. Once we got back to the hotel room I had a soak in the amazing bath. I painted my nails, put a face mask on and read my book, I never get the time to that at home and I loved having a bit of me time. Once Oli had dragged me away for my bubbly bliss it was time to get ready to go and eat again! For our evening meal we headed to Carluccio’s , the Italian restaurant right next to our hotel, I had yummy raviolis stuffed with spinach and ricotta cheese and Oli had an amazing looking lobster and crab spaghetti.

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Heaven!

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Me at dinner.

Now full to burst we walked back to the hotel and went downstairs to the boutique cocktail bar. I wish I had taken a picture of the menu, there were soo many to choose from. Oli had a Manhattan  and I had a mocktail. I really enjoyed mine but cocktails just aren’t the same when there’s no alcohol mixed in there too. Oli and I carried on chatting and enjoying our luxurious surroundings before tiredness beat me and we had to go bed.

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Oli and his cocktail, chilling my the grand piano.

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Cocktails!

Sunday.

After an amazing night sleep in the most comfortable bed ever, Oli and I woke up at 7. So typical we get the chance for a lie in and wake up as early as when we have Leo. It was nice to just laze around in bed though, drinking tea and not having to answer to the usual morning demands from our toddler. I tried out the amazing rain shower (I now need one of these!) and then Oli and I sat and drank coffee made in the fancy mini bar coffee machine and played Monopoly, we are a bit addicted to it lately. Oli totally whooped me, he had hotels everywhere, I wasn’t grumpy though as after check out we were off for some afternoon tea.

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Cup of tea in bed on a Sunday..perfect.

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Look at all those hotels!

I have been nagging at Oli to take me for afternoon tea for years and I was like a kid at Christmas when he told me he had booked for us to go and finally have it. After checking out we strolled up to Patisserie Valerie for my treat and, as well as Thai food, I am now a massive fan of afternoon tea. There was quite a lot of food for the two of us to get through but all that was left at the end was one little sandwich, one scone and an eclair – I think we did pretty well.

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I want this tea pot, it makes proper tea..there were no tea bags involved!

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These cakes were amazing.

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Yum..

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How amazing is afternoon tea?

Once we had adequately stuffed our faces with cake we did a bit more shopping and then headed to the cinema. Nights out at the pictures are what Oli and I miss the most now we are parents so it was nice to have the opportunity to go. We watched the new Ghostbusters film and it was actually really good, I laughed a lot. The film ended and it was time to head back to my sister’s to pick Leo up, we were really missing him by this point and I couldn’t wait to find out about his weekend of fun.

Oli and I really had a perfect weekend, a little babymoon is just what we needed before all hell breaks loose in October. It was lovely to just be in each others company, have freedom to do whatever we wanted and to be treated to a bit of luxury for once. Once things were back to normal on Monday I felt so refreshed and ready to take on the world with my little man.

And finally..to my lovely sister Gina, you are amazing! Thank you so much for organising and paying for Oli and I to have a night away and a break from Leo. Thank you from Leo too for giving him a weekend full of treats and fun too. We love you loads!

How often do you get to spend quality time with your partner? Are you expecting a baby too and considering taking a break before your little one arrives? I highly recommend a babymoon, even if it’s just for one night :).

 

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14 Comments

  1. August 3, 2016 / 9:32 am

    Looks like you had an amazing time! We went to Newquay for our babymoon – can’t say wandering around the Eden Project was exactly a relaxing way to spend time before the baby arrived though! All the best with your little one! #bestandworst
    Amy @ Mum’s The Law recently posted…HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHORT RIBMy Profile

  2. August 5, 2016 / 3:10 pm

    looks and sounds absolutely fab! what a great baby moon – enjoy!!! and you are right, there isn’t an awful lot in Reading hehe. although there is a bit along the river that me and friends went for drinks along – many years ago pre baby! #abloggingoodtime

  3. Claire
    August 6, 2016 / 8:27 am

    What a lovely sister you have! Glad you had a great time! X #fortheloveofBLOG

  4. August 7, 2016 / 7:57 pm

    This looks like you has a wonderful baby moon, it is so nice to have a little time away from being a parent sometimes! Thanks for linking up to the #bestandworst hope you’ll stop by again!
    helen gandy recently posted…Summer Dresses with House of FraserMy Profile

  5. Kay Brown - Cheery Little Thing
    August 7, 2016 / 8:39 pm

    What a lovely gesture from your sister 🙂 We stayed in a French roulotte in a meadow in the Scottish Borders for my partners birthday the month our little one was born. It was very tranquil & was perfectly timed.

  6. August 10, 2016 / 10:10 pm

    Oh wow, what an amazing sister you have, that was so lovely of her! Glad you had such a great time 🙂 Thanks for linking up to #Picknmix

    Stevie x
    A Cornish Mum recently posted…Bodmin Jail RevisitedMy Profile

  7. August 11, 2016 / 7:55 pm

    Ah this is a lovely post Wendy, I’m so happy that you and Oli got to have such a nice weekend away. It looks like you were thoroughly spoilt, it all looks amazing. The Crazy Bear is excellent, I’ve been to the one in London. I can’t believe you’ve not had Thai food before, I hope you have a new love for the cuisine. It’s always lovely being able to have a long soak in the bath, with a book, I certainly don’t do that enough, I might just do that tonight. Thanks so much for linking up at #fortheloveofBLOG. Claire x
    The Pramshed recently posted…That used to be me……My Profile