A Shopping Haul...Not For Me!

Elijah and I all ready for a shopping trip!

So yesterday, Darren and I took our little man out for the first time...to go shopping! We've been given so many amazing presents for Elijah from friends and family, including a whole load of gift vouchers for places such as John Lewis, Mamas and Papas, Baby Gap and M&S, so we decided it was time to treat Titch to some gorgeous new clothes...and toys...and other fun (yes, yes and essential) things.

I never thought I would have so much fun buying things for someone else, but I am now definitely a baby shopaholic! Baby boy clothes are so amazing...they are like mini man clothes, and those are the kind of things we went for. I don't like clothes that are too babyish...just because he's not big enough to fill a newborn babygrow yet does not mean that my little man shouldn't look super stylish. 

We started at Jojo Maman Bebe in Temple Fortune, which is actually a sale shop...swoon!! We picked him up a couple of cute baby grows and swimming shorts for the summer, plus a breton feeding dress for mama!

Here's what I wore for our trip...this was also my first proper outing after giving birth, and it was quite overwhelming. The C section has really taken it out of me, and I've had a stinking cold all week, so I wasn't feeling my best...that and trying to adjust to a post preggo figure...bring on Zumba in 6 weeks time!

The perfect accessory!

Posing with my boy

The ultimate must-have - a Yummy Mummy bag

I went for a black maxi dress and layered over a grey marl top and checked shirt, plus my essential "Claire Belle" name necklace and peace sign necklace, topped up with the ultimate changing bag - the Yummy Mummy bag by Pink Lining. I'm obsessed with it!

After Jojo, we headed to Brent Cross and all the shops we had vouchers for. I wanted to get him outfits he could wear now, as all we have at the moment is babygrows. We got some absolutely amazing things for him, including a pair of gorgeous denim dungarees and yellow cords from Baby Gap, a fabulous hoodie and trackie bottoms outfit from Mamas and Papas, jeans and jumpers from John Lewis and my favourite - as chosen by Darren, a chambray jumpsuit from Baby Gap! Swoon!

We also picked up some toys and other bits and bobs, but, let's be honest, it's all about the clothes.

I've popped a couple of pics of the haul below, and if you look closely, you'll see Titch in the background lording it over all of his new goodies.

So there you go...a haul post, just not for me! As soon as I am back in the shopping mode for myself, I will do a haul post of my own, but for now, I am loving buying clothes for my gorgeous little man. Enjoy x

Not bad for Eli's first haul

My favourite purchase of the day - a chambray jumpsuit from Baby Gap

Beatrix Potter Collection For Baby Gap

This is kind of a weird post for me to do, as I have never done a post on baby related products. I kind of thought that when I became pregnant that I would not post about maternity fashion or baby clothes, as Belle of the Ball is an outlet for me to talk about my love of fashion and beauty, and I didn't want to make it a pregnancy related blog.

HOWEVER, occasionally, I have thought it would be appropriate to discuss preggo fashion and maternity collections, so I have done the odd one or two. Thus far I haven't done a baby fashion post, but I have just become obsessed with a collection and I had to tell you guys about it, as it is so cute.

I am a huge fan of Beatrix Potter - I've been in love with her books and characters ever since I was a baby girl myself - particular favourites being Mrs. Tiggwinkle (that cute hedgehog in an apron and cap), Jemima Puddleduck and of course Peter Rabbit. I've spotted lots of adorable Beatrix Potter goodies to put in Titch's room, so when I was informed that Baby Gap were doing a Beatrix Potter limited edition collection, I started jumping around in excitement.

My lovely friend Jo quickly got me this adorable grey knitted baby-grow, complete with a little Peter Rabbit face on the front, before I had even seen the full collection.

Thank you Jo

Yesterday, Darren and I went to meet some friends in Hampstead and I was determined to go to the Baby Gap on the high street and see the full collection...and maybe buy one or two bits (with two weeks to go, I think I'm entitled to finally start buying some clothes for Titch!).

Me (and Titch) at 38 weeks

We went into the shop and spotted the collection immediately. Laid out with gorgeous cut outs of Peter Rabbit, Squirrel Nutkin, Jemima Puddleduck and more, the collection was split into baby girl's, baby boy's and unisex newborn pieces. Darren was so taken aback by the baby boy stuff, that he wished they did it in grown up sizes. From sweet baby-grows with character faces, to rabbit motifs on dresses and adorable pieces of knitwear to packs of bodysuits and knitted Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddleduck hats.

I really love this collection, and whether we have a girl or boy, I will definitely be investing in a few more pieces (or a lot more!). In the meantime, we picked up this cute sleepsuit and the Peter Rabbit knitted hat, as we thought it would work for a girl or boy.

Titch's new bits :)

Here are a few pics of the collection and the layout - what do you think? Enjoy x