Getting Ready For Baby Challenge - Part 6

Hope you had a lovely day with your nephews seven, I had a great day with my nieces :)

buzz that quilt is absolutely gorgeous! The colours are so lovely. Really like the idea of making a play mat, let me know if you find any good patterns.

orange I will let you know if I find any hints and tips about cats and babies. Luckily out cat goes outside to do her business so no litter tray to worry about but worth planning ahead for. Our cat is quite skittish so would be more likely to run away from a baby than sit on its face (or whatever other nonsense people spout about cats and babies..) As for the OPKs, are you testing multiple times a day? Do you have any other physical signs of ovulation? We just DTD every other day last month which seemed to work. And as for the holiday… honestly I would go relaxed and easy. Iceland is quite hardcore (but amazing) and don’t think I could do it at 6 weeks let alone several months (which you could easily be by then.) Maybe you could do Iceland later on when your son/daughter is older and can enjoy with you? Such a difficult decision and you just don’t really know how you might be feeling.

buzz and grumpy so exciting to think about maternity leave. All being well with my pregnancy would like to finish work at beginning of November for my end of November due date. Would then return 10-11 months later on three days a week. That would be the ideal.

orange it's a hard call, you may well be perfectly fine and able for anything, could you do south of France and then do a little exploring if you are up for it but also having lazy beach option if you need it. I'm going in July to Majorca for a week and plan to lounge a lot!

Well Orange i don't normally do beach holidays as a rule because i get bored and i like walking a lot and doing things all the time but i dream of a babymoon on the beach or by the pool at the moment!... the thought of being all inclusive and not having to do anything is perfect! Lol

Hmm orange personally I'd do the beach holiday just in case you do get nauseous... I'm not feeling sick (yet?!) but feeling quite tired and anxious. I wouldn't want to be driving around Iceland right now. But it affects everyone differently x

Pregnant people, I could do with some advice! We are thinking about holiday for June, and are torn between two very different types. Either adventurous and exciting - Iceland, or sunny and a bit more relaxed - S. France or Corsica. I am hoping I will be pregnant by then (but who knows). Am I going to be able to cope with an active holiday with quite a bit of driving? You all sound quite tired and nauseous! I don't want to put my life on hold waiting to get pregnant, but I'm wondering if I'll curse myself come the summer if I could have been gently lazing in the pool or with a book and I've shelled out for a 'dream' holiday I'm not enjoying (Iceland would be more expensive, we want to do the ring road around the country) and would be on the go every day.

Yeah I think that's probably the hardest part is just travelling, hopefully I can just work from home for as long as possible!

Well with DD I went into labour at work (I had a temp job in an office at 18) because she was early! So I've never carried a pregnancy beyond 35+5... I hope I'll still be ok up to 39 weeks if I make it that far but anyway I can work from home towards the end if travelling is uncomfortable

Goodness grumpy that's so bloody exciting!! I was wondering about when to go off, do you think you'll be alright up to 1 week before? That sounds ideal! Just before Christmas eek!
What's everyone thinking?

Enjoying hearing about everyone's cats! Ours are a bit mental. Boy cat sits on my face chest at 6am in the morning demanding food. Girl cat miaows incessantly until you cuddle her. They will not be impressed with a baby!

Planned out my mat leave! If all goes well, Dec 4 2017 (1 week before due, fx baby not early!) to return June 4 2018, when DH will take over! Feels pretty exciting!

I've also checked out harmony test, I can get one in Wimbledon so don't have to go to central for it. But you need a scan to prove you are over 10 weeks so I might wait for NHS 12 week scan so I don't also have to pay for a private scan. Seeing GP on Wednesday, and will find out about booking in etc.

Hope everyone is enjoying this sunny Sunday.

Thinking of you dancing - we'll be here when you feel like coming back

Ahh buzz that looks lovely

Feeling for you penguin - knicker watch is the worst!

jupiter and seven spoilt cat over here too! She doesn't sleep with us at night thankfully (too much ear batting at 4am) but I do worry about her getting jealous of having less cuddles than the baby. Will have to keep an eye on her! Would love to know any ideas you have about managing it. A long way off, but I also wonder about crawling/toddling stage and litter tray.

The OPKs are giving me the run around again this month - exactly the same as last month: gradual darkening but no definitive positive CDs11-14 then almost paperwhite again. Last month I got a sudden positive after two days of the paperwhites so I am keeping an eye out. Suppose I should just keep humping and hope for the best. It does make me worry if my hormones are supposed to be doing what they are doing though

Take all the time you need dancing ❤️

Love all the sewing and crotchet ideas! I've recently started knitting - trying to anyway! I'm not very good and get frustrated so easily, so I haven't got very far with it.

Otters, Ovia reckoned I was due on Friday. Still no AF... I'm just assuming I haven't ovulated and drinking all the wine so waiting impatiently for AF to arrive!

I'm going shopping today in the local town centre... no money, but it's nice to browse! My little nephew kept us all up for hours last night screaming his little head off 😴

seven and jupiter I made a quilt for my niece last year when I was learning to sew, was so good to practice doing straight lines etc! I deffo want to make one this summer, but looking for cute fabric. I was thinking of making like a play mat type thing!

dancing big love to you these next few days, be kind to yourself, will be thinking of you xxx

seven I'm just about to get up and bring DS to his football match, not my number one choice for a Sunday morning but hey ho! Enjoy the time with your nephews!

Dancing sending lots of love over the next few days xxx

Have a nice shift Jb

Jupiter I haven't made a quilt yet but have tried making little quilted coasters and a pencil case and various baskets. I will get around to it eventually! Sounds lovely though there's so many ideas on pinterest!

I'm off to see my nephews today at my mums for lunch. They are 4 and 7 and very cheeky! What's everyone up to today? X

Hope your shift goes well JB!

Sending lots of love dancing ❤️

seven your new sewing projects sound amazing, Im so impressed. Have you ever done any quilting? Thinking of making a baby quilt as well as crocheting a blanket.

Our cat is very spoilt but not very bright (love her!) and we (especially DH) are totally in love with her. Might actually have to look up ways to manage cats and babies so no one gets put out. Think one major change will be not having her in the bedroom at night (when the baby is in there) which she will struggle with as normally sleeps in between us. Your cat might be less intimidated by a baby so less nasty.. maybe even protective which would be cute.

Totally understandable dancing but we will be here if you need us.

Just getting ready for my second 12 hour shift of the weekend . . . Sigh! Hope everyone else has been having a nicer weekend.

penguin if the doctor says you didn't ovulate this cycle maybe that's why your AF hasn't made an appearance? I had a random 40 day cycle last month after usually being around 31 days. No idea why I was late but maybe it was something like an anovulatory cycle.

Dancing, don't be sorry for anything, we totally understand. We'll be thinking of you (tomorrow particularly) I hope that however you decide to manage the situation it resolves smoothly - sounds like you've got some wonderful NHS staff to help. Then you can give yourself some time to heal together. Sending lots of love xx

Thanks all for the thoughts. Survived the day, in spite of having to sit very close to a teeny newborn. I'm sorry in advance if I don't post so much over the next few days, I'm sure you'll understand. Hope you all have lovely Sundays. ❤

Haha Jupiter I think we'll need that too. Our cat is like our baby but also worryingly likes snuggling warm and things and can open doors....she can also be a bit nasty with people other than us. she may be a problem when we have a little one!

Keep practicing the crochet. I found it took me two weeks of solid practice on the stitches then I was away. I used normal wool and size 4 hook to begin with but Deffo find the bigger hooks and chunky wool easier to keep the right tension.

I have decided to start with a new ipad case as old one falling apart and then I'm going to attempt to upcycle an old jacket into a bag.

Hb love how suspicious your sis was. My SIL is the same and always on the prowl!

Late AF might be a good sign Penguin, have everything crossed for you!

Hb - I love that your sister noticed that. Mine gave me a funny look during the week when I asked for a decaffeinated tea. She doesn't miss a thing! Nothing banging about this saturday night. Just watched an episode of American Horror Story, now I'm going to bed to read Mel Giedroyc's maternity book Found this online which looks hilarious (don't think it's meant to be) but might get it to prepare our beloved cat for impending baby:

www.amazon.co.uk/Tell-Your-Cat-Youre-Pregnant-ebook/dp/B01BHF6KA0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491078026&sr=8-1&keywords=tell+your+cat+your+pregnant&tag=mumsnetforum-21

Hb have a great time in Bologna.I went many years ago and it was brilliant. We are going to Sicily in May, can't wait!

buzz the tipis look incredible. When's the wedding?

penguin were you due today? I had one weird cycle where I was about 2 weeks late in the end but BFN (tested every few days) eventually had some light spotting and barely any bleeding then started another cycle. Then had the worst bleed I ever had, had to stay off work as I had to change myself every hour! Never worked out what it was as there was no BFP at any stage. Hope you either get a BFP or AF so you can start a new cycle.

Penguin, I didn't get my bfp till 9 days after af was due!! Hang in there! ❤️

You deserve all the yummy food you can get your hands on grumpy! Make the most of it now, just in case nausea kicks in!

Those tipis look incredible buzz, what an amazing place to get married!

Still no sign of AF for me bit confused!