Getting Ready For Baby Challenge - Part 9

otters sorry to hear about DHs back! Hope he's alright to just lie there later, that might not be too strenuous? You're already doing ALL the work round the house so doing ALL the work to dtd won't be too bad, then when he's feeling better he can do it all :)

jupiter isn't the acne horrendous! My holiday really cleared up my skin but 2 days back in the uk and already look like shit again!

mrs thanks! When will you tell your new boss? Sofa is easy to do, we got ours 0% from Sofaworks and only pay like £30 per month :)

orange enjoy the lido! You brave thing! What car did you get?? Exciting! Glad your mum has a date, keeping everything crossed for you ❤️

Glad you had a nice night out grumpy I think date night is so important, you forget to take time for each other sometimes :)

Orange glad that they have fixed an op date and that they seem to have caught it early. for your mum. Enjoy your swim - which lido? X

Think 2 beers last night was a mistake, feeling even more knackered today even though I slept 10 hours! Date night was nice though. We have done a tip run this morning with loads of crap from the garden and building works, I've now collapsed on the lovely new sofa with one of the cats.

Charl kitchen paint looks fab! So impressed with your DIY skills. Our kitchen is so shabby, unfortunately it's got to be the last room on our list.

Lovely dream buzz hope the headache eases and that telling work goes ok x

Jupiter glad the nausea has eased! In a way I want to get pregnant again asap but in another way - two first trimesters back to back is not appealing to me right now!!

Otters how about he just lies back and thinks of England?

MrsC enjoy brunch! I hope first day in new job goes well tomorrow x

Hi everyone, happy Sunday!

Congrats confused - a boy! Must be so exciting planning and buying everything you are going to get to get ready for his arrival.

MrsC good luck for tomorrow. Enjoy brunch!

Hello biker and springer. Wishing you luck for the scan biker - not surprised you are nervous but sure it will be okay.

Jupiter glad you had a good trip. And thanks for your kind words and telling me about your mum - it does help to hear about people who have come out the other side.

Thanks to everyone for all the well wishes. My mum now has a date for her op - 2 June. Consultant said they seem to have caught it early, so hoping that after the op and radiotherapy it will be gone.

It's been a crazy busy weekend here. I have bought a car (long time Londoner, haven't had one for years) - I'm definitely going to need it while my mum is ill as they live in the sticks. Off to have a swim in the lido now.

Happy Sunday! Meeting some friends for brunch in an hour, then home to nervously bite my nails for the evening! Trying not to think about tomorrow until it's tomorrow but can't help it!
otters sorry to hear your OH has hurt himself! Hopefully with a few painkillers he'll be better later!
charl kitchen looks great, nothing like fresh paint to brighten things up!
seven there is so many cheese rules, I avoided brie but had port salut and the wendsleydale with cranberry and a garlic and herb hard cheese, no idea what it was! But it was good! I may have more later! Weighed myself this morning and I'm actually down two pounds despite ovia telling me I should be up 5 five and despite the cheeseboard, bump is definitely prominent now though! Hoping I can still hide it for a week or so in work before I tell them!
buzz enjoy the car shopping, I'm thinking I'll have to go soon too but I also want a new sofa and other things so will have to compromise somewhere! Good luck with telling your boss, I'll hand hold as will be doing the same soon, except I have never met my boss! 🙈🙈🙈 hope your headache feels better!

Oh cross post buzz, sorry to hear about your car, what a nightmare! Also that you have to start telling work people. It's really difficult, I totally understand but also I think it starts making it feel more real and exciting. At the end of the day we need to feel we can shout from the roof tops our wonderful news! It shouldn't be a secret that we're scared is going to annoy people/change career paths etc. It's a wonderful and miraculous thing :) Also what a gorgeous dream, I really hope it comes true too. Can't wait for the glowing stage - right now I'm a bit pasty and acne-ridden. Sorry you're feeling tired and headachey. Ovia told me yesterday that headaches are a really normal part of the second trimester. I hope they pass soon for you lovely 💜

Happy Sunday all. So glad the sun is shining. Had lots planned today but DH has done his back in gardening yesterday so change of plans. Am more upset that I got a flashing smiley yesterday and today but DH is laid up with his bad back! Have been thinking of creative ways but none will work apart from turkey baster maybe 😂 suggestions welcome! Now I have to mow the lawn and clear the garden, do the laundry, the dishes and food shopping.

seven well done on decluttering. It feels so satisfying!

jupiter love the sound of your cheese and spinach lasagna. Hmmm maybe lasagna tonight!

grumpy did you have a nice date night? Glad you're feeling more positive

dancing id be running a mile if I saw a mouse. Eek! Funny that baby jupes is the size of a house mouse! Lol

confused glad you got what you need at the baby show. Is it worth attending?

mrsc yay to retail therapy

tigger how was your party?

charl love your kitchen colour. Mine is similar - it's so relaxing and refreshing

Dancing we had a mouse problem when we lived in London. Used to catch them with humane traps (with a little bit of chocolate in) and then deposit them in the park opposite. To be honest it only really partially worked so totally get that you might need to get an expert in. Sad but not great when you end up having a kitchen covered in droppings :(

Charl I love the colour of your kitchen - mainly because it’s identical to ours It looks great and really fresh. I’m feeling much better in myself now thank you. My nausea is massively better even in just the last fortnight but does still rear it’s head if I’ve gone too long without eating something. I think it’s the exhaustion I’ve struggled with most but being on holiday for a week has helped. We’ll see how long that lasts as I’m back at work tomorrow hmmm. At least work knows now so I feel more inclined to take breaks etc where I can. Hope you have a lovely restful Sunday!

Morning everyone! Hope you've all got lovely Sundays planned? Sun is shining here so hope it is where you are! My car has broken down so me and mum are off to look at new cars, a bit sooner than planned and not ideal with the wedding imminent but there we go! DP on his stag do this weekend, and his BIL blabbed to his work colleagues, who are also my work colleagues which means I'm going to have to tell my boss this week before the rumours start flowing 😔 jupiter I'm really nervous about it being out in the open, don't know why but hope I feel the same as you soon! Also jupes, I had a dream that me and grumpy bumped into you in the street and you somehow recognised us and you were so gorgeous and glowing with this beaut bump and lovely dress and you were so lovely! Hope it happens in real life!

Welcome newbies, so sorry for what you have been through, this is a fab thread with really lovely people ❤️

seven love a bit of decluttering!
dancing did you transport the mouse in the box of crunchy nut?? Like a lil cereal bus 😂
confused so bloody exciting you've got all your bits at the baby show! Do you get lots of discounts?
Thanks mrs felt rubbish again yesterday and slept in today but got a constant headache. Are you excited about the new job?! Bet you look lovely in your new clothes!
grumpy living room looks absolutely beaut! Bet you're so happy it's done!
jupiter sibling rivalry is so funny. I spent all of last night watching home videos as my mums having a clear out. My brother is literally the biggest shit ever and such a nightmare when I'm around! I'm like 6 months and he's 3 and he just sits on my head till I cry 😂 and takes all my toys so funny!
charl kitchen looks lovely! Really fresh :)

Wow busy weekend for you all!!

Welcome to the two new ladies, this thread is defo so supportive it's just nice to have somewhere you can come and spill your guts for a rant if you need it. So much experience and sharing of stories, it's lovely.

Grumpy am glad to see you're feeling a bit better, hope you enjoyed date night!!

Jupiter 14 weeks, wow! How you feeling in yourself now, when did you stop feeling nauseous? Is it after 12 where it becomes the second trimester?

Can't wait to be able to go to a baby show!! Are they more than one a yes?

Hope you all have lovely days, currently chilling in bed and DH has brought me up some breakfast in bed bless him. He's off to football now. I did spend 6 hours painting our kitchen yesterday to try and make it look a bit fresher, it's the only thing we can afford to try and make t look a bit better at the moment! Quite pleased how it turned out but the colour might not be for everyone!

@Springersprung fingers crossed for Thursday that everything is out, then hopefully things will settle down. I feel so lucky (relatively speaking...) that uterus was completely clear as early as Wednesday evening given I passed the embryo/sac on Tuesday. Now apparently it should be like a 2 week period as the womb lining is shed. However I'm happy to report much less bleeding the last 24h, just brown and light now. Tentatively hoping it will stop much earlier than 2 weeks!

Another day of decluttering here I hope - gonna tackle some of DH's crap - wish me luck!!

Listeria risk is from cheese made with unpasteurised milk (raw milk) so even some harder cheeses like some manchegos have to be avoided (basically read the packet). Mound ripened cheese like Brie or blue cheese like Stilton - I think the advice to avoid this is for a different reason but I'm not sure how accurate / risky it is.

Jupiter how cute. If I make it that far I'll have to change tracks. My husband is less than happy about the cute little mouse. (It ran away soooo quickly after its first car journey!) Sadly it's not the first. :( Think we might need to get professionals in, which means they definitely won't be alive.

Seven yes, a church choir. Though the church is pretty far from me so I don't go every week (otherwise I should be there now, instead of tucked up in bed!) I love it, and wish it was possible to go every week. Also helps I have some amazing friends there.

Re the cheese... Brie I think is no, unless it's baked. I read so much conflicting advice about hard blue cheese. Some things said hard cheeses were fine, even if blue. Some said not. Sigh. I swear I read both on different NHS things too. (Or maybe it all just blurs into one!) is it listeria risk in soft cheeses?

Sainsbury's doesn't sell frers, so I'm going to have to buy on my work lunch break and then hide really well!! Not that I'm wishing away the entire week so I can test!

Oh Dancing, I just had a little laugh this morning after reading you post about the cornflakes.. then Ovia reliably informed me that BabyJupes is 14 weeks today and the size of a "house mouse" ha :)
Sounds like you've got a fab few weeks ahead. My sister and little niece are doing wonderfully, she is completely scrumptious (although her two year old sister did ask "when can baby can go back inside mummy?" - sibling rivalry begins)

confused I had a little mental image of you taking on the baby show with military precision - no messing around, baby stuff to buy! Yay. So glad it went well.

Good luck for tomorrow MrsC, you will be fabulous! Will be thinking of you 💜

springer mmmm Camembert..

A cheese board literally sounds like the best thing ever! Is brie allowed?!?! Wensleydale with Cranberries is sooooo good...or that Stilton with cranberries from m & s is gorgeous (I bet that's not allowed either) All well good job there are plenty of options.

Cleared out a bin bag of stuff just from under the bed and from my office desk... I love throwing things away.

Oh my days Dancing I'd of literally shit myself! Although mice are cute that's not what you want to find chowing down on your crunchy nut! We had one in the cupboard under the stairs when we first moved in. Luckily the cat was well onto it and it soon buggered off!!
Do you sing in a church choir? I joined a choir in January and it's literally been the best thing ever!! My mum and one of my best friends come with me and it's brilliant.

Sounds like everyone is having a really busy weekend! Tigger, I hope the weather held out for your bbq. Confused my BIL is working on a stall at the baby shoe tomorrow. Was going to go, but will have to wait for another one now.
Dancing the mouse sounds cute, though I'm sure it wasn't quite what you hoped to find in your crunchy nut!
Seven I got the cleaning/nesting instinct early on too - make the most of it while you have energy
Grumpy your living room sounds lovely. I'm trying to encourage my other half towards minimalism with limited success!
I haven't had another scan yet. I have another one booked for Thursday, so I'm just watching symptoms/bleeding for the moment in case I need to go earlier. We had my PIL over for dinner tonight and I've had my first alcohol since we started dtd before. Took a while to shake off the guilty feeling. Also bought some Camembert cheese when I was shopping today. Figured I might as well make the most of it while I could!

I think they're really cute too grumpy. But I absolutely do not want them in my cereal!!

Seven decluttering is so therapeutic! I love it. Aiming to do much more now i have a lovely minimalist living room.

Confused the baby show sounds so fun! Enjoy getting things ready. I can't wait to be at that stage. Yes I'm using cheapy OPK till first AF, the CBFM isn't reliable post MC, I think it will get confused by the remaining hormones. You have to set up a new cycle on an actual AF so don't want to waste sticks.

MrsC enjoy your tv night and best of luck with the new job Monday - very exciting xx

Dancing I can't help thinking mice are cute.. when we were redecorating we found one and named him Maurice 🐭 I love singing too but I'm not very good!

Jupiter your nesting progress sounds amazing!! Enjoy!

Well I'm cosied up on our new sofa in our finally useable living room - so happy as it's been out of action for over a year! 🙈

Cross post Confused how exciting about the baby show!! Sounds like you're all set!

Evening ladies, hope everyone is relaxing this Saturday night! Had a lovely day, went shopping for my new job and bought so much so hoping it all works together now I'm useless at fashion!
Welcome biker and springer so sorry to hear your journeys have been tainted by sadness but you couldn't find a more supportive and kind bunch of ladies on here!
tigger hope you enjoyed your bbq today!
natur what a cute way to tell your mum!
parsnips beautiful sign in a beautiful place, I'm not religious but find churches and cathedrals so calming, they are special places!
otters I'm steering clear of any cheese now.... I literally ate my weight in it last night, it's all fun and games until this baby is 12 lbs!!
grumpy must think of my baby grow ideas! Your stoves sound fab and I hope they knock a few bob off them for you! That is quite the haul you got there too! Enjoy date night!
dancing sounds like you have a busy few weeks in a good way ahead of you.... And I would die a death if I found a mouse! You're braver than me!
jupiter how exciting that baby jupes is out in the open!! Makes it all so real!
seven enjoy the cleaning buzz I also did a bit of cleaning last night, makes me feel so productive!
buzz hope you're feeling better today xx
DH is hole from the stag... In bed since 6pm so telly to myself... Kind of.... Watching Britain's got talent with DS!
Can't believe I start Monday, feeling nervous now!

Welcome to the new ladies! Sorry to hear the hard times you have had during your TTC journey! We are all always here to listen to you!

Dancing how funny about the Mouse! I moved into a new build flat and DH called me at work to say he was watching TV and a tiny mouse was just running across the kitchen/livingroom... they are a nightmare!

Grumpy you are looking well prepared for your next use of the CBFM! Are you using cheapy OPKs until first AF?

Jupiter i hope your dinner was nice.. i am so fussy with food I could never come up with an idea for dinner like that!

Seven thats so cute your DH id chuffed with his new Graphics card!

I'm shattered after the trip to the Baby Show today... although London to Birmingham isn't a bad drive we got caught in the really bad storm on the way home and the average speed dropped to 40 so it was quite a long journey back. Between me and my mum we bought the whole show! So excited for the pram and cot and stuff to turn up! (I've ordered it all to turn up just before our first Growth Scan at 28 weeks) but at least I can chill out and relax until we get the last minute few bits.

Jupiter it must be such a relief to have other people know and good to share in your excitement! How is your sister's little one doing?! I've just got lots of dinners planned with friends. And then cathedral singing for three services Saturday and Sunday next weekend. Going to have to lighten up on the drinking, but think I'll probably just explain why...

Just had an unexpected job this evening. Had to go and take a mouse very far away from our flat. It was sitting in a box of crunchy nut. 🙈🐭 Tomorrow's plans are now a lot of scrubbing everything in my kitchen.

Thanks @HeyJupiter Little biker indeed

Sounds lovely @TheGrumpySquirrel Definitely enjoy

Have a good evening everyone xx

@dirtygrubbybikerchick well I've collected it over time / various Amazon orders! The CBFM (advanced clear blue digital fertility monitor) came with 20 dual hormone OPK and 4 preg test sticks. I ordered a refill of sticks for £30, so just over £1 per stick. I have 4 FRER and the rest are cheapy strip IC / OPK. Probably didn't need the refill as I fell pregnant my first cycle using the CBFM, so have lots of sticks left, but it's nice to feel like I'm doing something constructive towards conceiving again.

Currently out having a beer and dinner with DH, DD is at a sleepover, it's nice to have a date night of sorts. Feeling a lot more positive.