DueJan 06 - third trimester and we're on a roll

[iris66]

Here we go then girls - a nice shiny new thread!!I was going to call it "backs, bumps & boobs" but that sounded like all we do is whinge about them! lol

Hello everybody, finally back and starting to settle into life in NZ. Soooo much to do, car hunting, renovations, staying with parents in law at moment so 5 adults in the house with a 19mth and pray that we get the renovations done on our place before the baby is born.
AGHHHHH so much to do...dh is also job hunting as well.
Bit of jet lag and wierd sleeping patterns this week, have done really long days woke up twice at 4.30am and went to bed at 10pm to try to settle it down, woke up at 6.30 last two mornings so that is a little better.
Well better sign off and kick off the day - all the best to everybody.

Welcome back Chuffed! God, you deserve a rest - sleep for a week at least!

Sweetkitty - if you can, try and push a couple of doubles with kids in - it makes all the difference!

Have a great weekend all Our city centre Mothercare was closing down so got some 50% off bargains - mainly bras, knickers, tights, but also a deluxe mattress. Went to the out of town one as well with dp's mum and got some with baby giraffes on... I am going soo soft, it's great!

Glad you are back safe and sound chuffed at you being in NZ always wanted to visit.

Met sis-in-law and nieces in Glasgow today, was only there for about half the day but am so so tired, feel like my pelvis has spilt in two.

Had a moment today - trying to get DD into highchair and entertain her and though "s* how am I ever going to cope with two?" feeling bit low as DP will be working every Saturday now as well so won't have his help with DDs for a while. Did buy DD1 some Christmas presents cheered me up!

Hi Chuffed,

Glad you made it back OK. How is the weather with you? Just starting to be summer I guess - lucky you! Whereabouts in NZ are you? I lived there for a while when I was young and fancy free, mainly in Auckland and Hawkes Bay, but I bought an old car an auction and travelled around a lot too. Trying to think of the name of the suburb of Auckland that I lived in, but it won't come to me just now. Want to say Greydawn, but I think that was the name of the road. So annoying, it's on the tip of my tongue...
Really loved Piha beach and a cafe where I worked called Ambrosia.

Woke up MUCH too early today - 4:30am! And couldn't get back to sleep. Junior was very active, rolling and kicking about, still is actually, and I felt really hungry. So I got up and made toast and hot milk in the hopes that would settle us down, but it hasn't. Got a busy day planned too, so I'll definitely have to fit in a nap somewhere.

Planning a swim then a-n yoya at 12, followed by a mega shopping trip with my mum and dd to Primark to get dd kitted out with some new clothes. Also to look at new prams in Daisy and Tom - still got my heart set on a big bouncy Silver Cross, one I was watching on ebay has just gone over my price limit, so that was disappointing. It was in Glasgow though, and I'd rather get one close to home if I can, so I can have a look at it before I buy.

dh is away this weekend visiting his mum in Spain, hope they're getting some sunshine - it seems to do nothing but rain here. I can hardly get out the door to take the dog for a walk some days.

Bought some fabulous and rather extravagant velvet yesterday (a sort of smoky pale purple, hope it's not too much when it's made up into a big dress!) and my friend Karen is going to make me a maternity dress which will open down the front so I can bf after lo is born. I hope he's a good feeder, it makes such a difference doesn't it? My first had very little idea what to do, and I kept getting mastitis, and stopped when he was about 5 months, but my second was a born bf-er and knew exactly what to do from the word go. She was a real joy to feed.

Rachey - r.e. probiotics - my friend has an 11 week old with colicky problems, and her cranial osteopath has advised the probiotic powder, but she finds it impossible to administer to him. As soon as it gets damp (e.g. on her nipples or dissolved in water) it cakes up and he chokes on it. Also her hv has advised her not to give anything like that till he's past 6 months because of the new weaning recommendations. What do you think? I advised her to take the probiotics herself (at the adult dose) and it would probably go through to Kyle in the breast milk.

Well that's it for now i think, see y'all later.

morning all and thanks for your kind wishes to DD.
She had a great day. I woke her up with a cup of tea & the flowers that her bf had sneaked over & apparently the day continued in a similarly luvved up vein with all her mates. I can't believe she is 17 now (awwww my baby all grown up!)

Has anyone else noticed that they've become decidedly chilled lately. I had a major wibble over my GD testing at the beginning of the week, and it didn't really get sorted out until yeasterday, but I've noticed that I've become all serene, smiley and accommodating now. When DH went to the pub "for an hour" last night & didn't get home until 11 I even made him some food & asked him if he'd had a nice time and told him he had deserved a good night out!!!!!!!!!!) I am clearly not myself

Lyra - unlike you I actually slept really well for a change (have just had breakfast & still in dressing gown) It had been really getting me down that I've been so unsettled & waking so early so today makes a lovely change for me. Your dress fabric sounds gorgeous - velvet drapes so beautifully and you could take it in afterwards too - bargain!

Chuffed - congrats on completing your epic journey!! Bet you're pleased to be finally home now - good timing too as you can take full advantage of nesting urges now!!

My Boots vouchers arrived yesterday - blimey there's loads isn't there!! I got some of that lovely mediterranean bump cream, a new mascara and some of the shimmery self tan (fab idea sweetkitty!!) I used a bit on my face last night (mixed with some moisturiser just in case it was a bit dark) to get rid of my winter pastiness and I look all glowing today. May get DH to help do the rest of me tonight whilst DD is out babysitting. I got such a buz getting it all for free (how sad am I!!)

Going to the huge Boots & Mothercare stores the other side of town later for a mooch so will continue cashing in the rest of my vouchers there. Rachey am v at your timely Mothercare sale - Hope you get some good bargains.

Hope you all have great weekends

Quiet day today on the thread! - just been on the Yahoo site. Love the "week old baby" piccies Eshay & Sweetkitty, they are gorgeous!
BTW Eshay - don't so much like the look of the food on the M&S advert but just love the voice. DD & I lapse into the "it's not just any.... with appalling regularity (closely followed by fits of the giggles) if were describing anything nice

New photo of Bella looking very chilled on the yahoo site, for any of you dog lovers out there.

Had a crazy pm clothes shping with dd and my ma. I don't know WHAT I was thinking. Town was mobbed, you'd think it was Christmas next week not next month! We ended up not getting anything, as we'd have had to wait about 40 mins to pay, and we didn't see anything anyway.

Planning a chilled out evening tonight with an early night to make up for last night. Reading "The Road to Nab End," and enjoying it so that will be my entertainment in the bath and before sleep.

sleep well all xxx

P.S. Sweetkitty, was just looking at your photos (and others!) on the yahoo site, and your bump baby looks so like Abigail as a new baby don't you think?

Rachey could it have been GreyLynn in Auckland. We are in Takapuna on the shore.
Busy day planned again as per usual but we bought a car yesterday so that is a huge relief and one thing off our huge list of to do's.
Better get back to some quality time with dd, she has been fobbed off on grandma's very often this week. Also the weather has been remarkably lovely and I now need to go and get a sun hat for dd this morning as she grew out of one while travelling and we won't get our boxes until at least next week and she is off to the beach with my m&d this afternoon.
Take care all

Happy weekend, all! Another week closer to D-day!

Chuffed, it's good to hear you've made it back to NZ safely. What an exciting pg you're having. It must be great being back home now and being able to get your life organised and ready for the arrival of the baby.

Sweetkitty, I often have a panicky moment and wonder how I am ever going to cope with two little ones. I am still at work and only have to care for T on my own on Fridays but I usually find that very draining. On Sat and Sun DH is at home so we take care of T together but we're always happy when it's Monday and we can go back to work and chill. And he is such a great little chap!

Lyra, I was glad to read your post about your 2nd one being a goor BFeeder. My T never did really get the hang of it and I ended up expressing quite a lot. I have plans of becoming an exclusive pump mum for this one as I really hated BFing last time. So it's good to read that it can be different the second time around.

Chuffed

YES! It was GreyLynn, thank you for that! The weather sounds fab , although we did have a bit of sun yesterday and I managed to get my poor hound out for a run round the park. I would SO like to get back to NZ some day. My dh isn't really a traveller, but I'm hoping to either convert him when the kids are off our hands, or maybe go with one of the kids when they're older. I guess having no. 3 as we are now with a 10 year gap and a possiblity of no. 4 on the horizon puts off that day a little further into the future....Oh well, life is long!

Eshay

I know what you mean about finding it hard being at home with a little one, I found that a lot more with my first. Somehow it all got easier after dd was born, not quite sure why - I think I relaxed more, are had more friends around with kids. What kind of work do you do Eshay?

Another very early awakening for me today as you can see, but not as bad as yesterday. I'll nap this afternoon I think, whilst dd is at horseriding with my mum.

Lyra - sorry you're waking up so early. It's a right PITA isn't it. Hopefully it'll just be a phase.
Bella looks like such a darling. PMSL at her "sticky out tongue" photo (in a nice way!) She looks like she should have a think bubble saying "oh, not the camera again...bugger off!" lol! I'm always taking photos of Millie and in half of them she just looks sooo bored with it all (Bella doesn't btw!!) How was Bella with the fireworks btw? Millie still hides behind the sofa every night and has only just stopped having shaking fits when it gets dark (she seems to have made a connection with the scary noises & it being nighttime) - awww sensitive soul - or as DH says "FGS what a wimp!"

Here's an odd one. I had to go to the hosp yesterday to get some more blood test sticks & the MW asked how many weeks I was. I told her 30 and she said "ooh, only 8 to go then!" Have I missed something 'cos I've thought it was 40 weeks!!(?)

Clear and crisp here today - going to give my new polar fleece insoles in my wellies (1/2 price in Boots yesterday) a test run (well, test amble!) over the fields with Millie. Hope you all stay toasty too!

Lyra, I am a translator/subtitler. It can be quite difficult sometimes but it's so much easier than caring for a young child. You just show up at work, sit at your desk and do some typing. Yes, there is thinking involved and the odd bit of stress when there is an urgent deadline to be made but it's much easier physically speaking.
Speaking of work, my maternity replacement will be starting in a week so that seems like a real milestone! There will be about a month of overlap and then I'm off. Yippee! We are keeping Thomas at nursery even though I am off because he loves it so much and it will be easier for me that way. Hopefully labour will start on a Monday morning so we can just drop him off at nursery and drive on to hospital. Ha, as if...

Lyra, I am still going by 40 weeks. I know they count a bit differently in some other countries but you'd expect your MW to know what the custom is here in the UK. Maybe she was just kidding and being positive about a nice and early birth. I would love to have baby at 38 weeks but last time I went to 42+ so I'm not expecting anything to happen too early this time either. I'm actually booked in for a C-section at 41 weeks so it's nice to know it won't be dragging on forever like it did last time. I found that the worst, reaching my EDD and then the wait every day and night that followed, with absolutely nothing happening.

Did anybody see Bodies last night? I'd never watched it before and really only just caught the last bit and now I'm not sure I should watch it next week as it was a bit frightening. But I did like watching it...

Hi all - nice to catch up with the thread!

Went for a lovely walk here yesterday - bit windy wet & wild, but back home to the fire & the danish equivalent of doughnuts

Feeling better this weekend, and dh & I took the morning off on Friday to go for a walk & do some birdwatching at a part of the island I have never been to - it was lovely. We have decided to try & take time off together when the children are in school/nursery - this was the first try, and it worked really well! Weekends are always too hectic with the 3 smalls around for both of us to relax at the same time

Made an experimental choc cake this a.m. from a River Cafe booklet I dug out. Flourless, so more like a mousse - just 'tested' it - ooh so good it should be illegal

Beatific vibes to all xx

Hi ladies just catching up, is bitterly cold here today had to scrap the car this morning. Went to look at prams think we have settled on a Twin Aria. Have a craving for a large more traditional pram think because I can't have one. Had a sneaky look at SilverCrosses as well, thinking of you Lyra

Lyra - yes I do think DD2 looks very scarily similar to DD1 as a newborn especially when DD1 was a few hours old. Will have to post a newborn pic of her now all runched up just born. They both have their daddies nose!

Eshay - know what you mean about looking after your DS been harder than working, this is the hardest job I have ever done in my life. I do enjoy being a SAHM though for the time being but it can be so draining.

Tickle - your cake sounds lovely send some over I made some homemade soup yesterday, DP warmed some up and left the hob on so burnt it all

Chuffed - stop telling us how lovely your weather is had to buy DD a winter hat this morning, it is so cold here.

Hi lovely ladies. Just a quickie tonight, but will write more tomorrow.

This thread is toooo funny for words!

Feel as if I know you all really well. We should really try to meet up. Maybe a one year anniversary? We can eat, drink and be merry then without worrying about the nippers!

Am still feeling rather blluuuegghh. Stitch hurting like a b@stard. Want them to take it out, but will have to try abd live with it for another 4 weeks. Painful and rather when you have to grip your hoo-hoo whilst walking along the street as baby has kicked you in the crotch!

I LOVE Bodies. Make DH watch it religiously so if anytihng goes tits up with my delivery he knows what to do!

Am going to love you and leave you as in middle of cooking risotto (cheats way as shown to me by my lovely Mummy!).

Hope everyone snug and warm.

G xx

Hi all

Back again, feeling better for 2 hrs sleep at my ma's this pm.

DD and I have just finished a cosy baking session toghether, very relaxing and bonding. She made fairy cakes and is icing them with messages as we speak, and I made a steak pie for tea and some jam tarts with the left over pastry.

What is BODIES btw?
Iris

40 weeks is considered the length of a pg, but your mw probably meant that any time from 38 wks the baby would be considered full term, as the 40wk day is only an approx, and 2 wks either side is completely normal. I'm seeing the acupuncture therapist tomorr for a bit of an MOT, and I think I'll sound her out about inducing me at 38wks, then baby boy would be born before xmas. I'm getting fed up with being pg. I think the acup would only work if I was ready to go anyway, so I don't think it'll do any harm. I'm just so massive, and the longer he's in there, the bigger he gets....

Oven is beeping, so back in a mo.

Just tried a jam tart - yum! The pastry is made with half buckwheat and half wholemeal flour and it's very good, tho I say so myself. Nice and light.

WE've been without our menfolk today - dh still in Spain visiting his ma and ds in Blackpool pleasure beach for the day for his friend's 14th birthday.

sweetkitty it took me a while to realise you actually meant scrape the windscreen... had pictures of you down the scrapyard!

Hi all,

So glad to see your all so well and Chuffed your expedition glad to hear you are well.

I haven't seen any pictures on the yahoo site yet at I have to sign up and haven't found the time. I'm going to bed in a minute as I have been up watching dead famous live.

Rachey, my friend regulary buys cars off ebay then 6 months later sells them on ebay and rebuys. She has a brand new merc now so can't be too bad. Mind you she's 37 weeks pregnant and reckons she's gonna keep her merc nice and clean!!! HA.

Well I dont have much to update really. Puppy is going mad. I brought an extendable lead for her and tonight DP came back all muddy to report that she had wrapped it round his legs and taken him right off his feet!!! HE HE. I would of paid money to see it..... I'm not the most sympathetic person but I did offer him a plaster........ In between giggles and praising the dog

So I have won a kitchen on ebay (cause the cabinet fell off the wall two weeks ago) and also a bathroom cabinet and now a dining table and 6 leather chairs. All brand new and all for £550 I'm estatic, DP isn't as I told him I want the kitchen installed before xmas.

What else. Oh yeah...remember I told you DP brought me a car for xmas.....well I cant drive but my test is now booked for dec 12th so I have been wizzing around as and when I can. Cant reverse to save my life so dont think I will pass.

And guess what run of bad luck still isn't running out. Every weekend something bad happens...here goes successive weekend reports.

1. Nephew swings car door open and passing car takes it clear off £3000 total spent to fix 2)Kitchen cabinet falls off the wall.
2. nan took turn for the worse so we all rushed down to see her (shes looking better now)

Then saturday morning, DP goes to pick up his car from work as he drank on friday and someone slashed the tyres.

Cant wait for next week......

OOOO OOOOO before I go I have to tell you....I got tickets for santaland at earls court. I am so excited!!!!

Hi all Oh Horseshoe - hope this week gets better! Poor dh with the extendable lead - would have looked good on video too

Trying to get organised in plenty of time for this Christmas fair we are having up at the farm in the last w/e of Nov. Just about to try & make mincemeat for mince pies for the first time (since school, anyway). Luckily the danes shouldn't be too critical, but they don't do suet over here, so I am trying a Nigella suet free recipe. If anyone has a tried & trusted recipe please let me know!!

Oh, and Georgie - could you pass on your Ma's risotto tips?? If I make one it always ends up a glutinous soggy mess

DH said to me the other day - "do you think the cafe should be open between Christmas & New Year?". He didn't get it at all when I said I might be a bit busy(EDD Jan 2)... he's a bit absentminded sometimes

gotta go - have a good day everyone

Morning

Lyra - you are absolutely not allowed to have your baby boy before Christmas and that goes for anyone else, if I have to spend Christmas huge, pregnant and teetotal then I want people to sympathise with!!

I'm a bit in two minds about when I would like this baby to be born. DD was 15 days early and that wouldn't be too bad this time but as I'm not allowed a homebirth until 39 weeks I kind of want to hold out for that too. I think part of me is so keen on a homebirth as I'm so sheer bloody minded about it now after practically everyone I say I'm planning on a homebirth to totally dismisses the idea. I so hate when people just say "oh it's dangerous" without having any knowledge or facts on a subject! Anyway rant over, I think I will have 2 birthplans though Home and Hospital. If I have to go to hospital though the minute the placenta's out I'll be home!

Horseshoe - I do hope your luck changes soon, cannot believe your kitchen cabinets fell off the wall best of luck with your test too. I passed mine 6 years ago but didn't drive that regularly since then in fact up until a few weeks ago I hadn't driven in over 3 years. I've recently started again and I'm worse than a learner, I am totally useless at parking and reversing have to ask DP which way to turn the wheel

tickle - all your cooking makes me am going to have to start baking again

Georgie - sorry to hear about your stitch hurting, sometimes I can't wait to get this baby out so I can climb the stairs painfree again too.

Well thats enough from me off to watch teletubbies with DD then it's housework for me this morning, another cold and wet day here!

Hi all, you've really made me smile catching up! Whose idea was it to have a baby so soon after xmas?! It's suddenly really cold here today, of course it's not cool to wear a coat, even my dd (7) has hers casually slung over her ripcurl bag a la mode! I did get a pair of gloves on her though! The builders finally came round this morning to clear the last bits of rubble and show a couple round our conversion. Also had carpet man into measure - despite not all being painted, I have booked em in for next week - am feeling a little manic and just want it down! We'll have to put dustsheets down to paint the rest. Dp's parents and sister came over and painted about half of it yesterday - so nice of them. Once dd is up the loft we can sort out the baby stuff, did have a little stroke of the carseat

Lyra - thanks for the tip re probiotics, I still haven't rung the Uni.

Iris - hope your GD isn't getting you too down, saw your other thread.

Chuffed - I had a great meal in Takapuna once (opposite a BMW/mercedes garage...?) My sister used to live in Brown's Bay and my brother lives there now. She moved to Kerikeri in the Bay of Islands and my other sister (who lives in UK) has a house in Te Haumi (above Paihia in BOI)- you can see her view in the pic of me n dp on yahoo. Also v.jealous of the weather and wish I was going over this winter - I'd really like to cash in an ISA and go with baby next year to see the half of my family who live there - vv expensive for 6 of us now! Love Piha and Maurawai (sp?) beach too.

Horseshoe - a fellow ebay addict! We didn't see the car because he was having a part replaced (v long story but sounded too complicated to be untrue!). Will go next Sat. Lol at your pup! We've got Billy (now 35kg at 6 months!) a head halter to walk him and it works like a dream - fingertip control. It's not a muzzle and doesn't hurt him, he can open his mouth etc but if he pulls, it pulls on his nose rather than his neck and he stops straight away.

I also agree with Lyra re 2nd babies - Sweetkitty and Eshay - the hard work of a new baby is compensated by the experience of having done it all before, honestly it will be a doddle! You will be so much more laid back with the baby and it will make time for no.1. Also do get out as much as you can, especially to toddler groups for the older child, it really makes a difference to your day. Believe me, number 3 just slotted into our little routine. The only thing I would say is don't expect no.2 to be just like no.1, all of mine have been very different - ds1 was very happy (always smiling) but sicky, ds2 was grumpy! and dd was just such an easy baby - very content, happy to watch the other two.

Sorry, I think I should get on here more often! I'm only allowed an hour of browsing a day

Hi all,

What a lovely day it is here. There was frost on the car windows this morning and I almost missed my train because of it. But it's so lovely and sunny now, makes me want to go for a long walk but instead I'm at work, pretending to be very busy

Sweetkitty, if anyone else tries to discourage you from having a home birth you should tell them that in Holland home births are the norm and that the C-section rate is very low. Women in Holland don't all die in childbirth so it's not as dangerous as many people like to think.

Horseshoe, I passed my driving test in August and there wasn't too much reversing involved. It just depends on what manouvres your examiner decides to pick. I went quite wide during my reverse round the corner but that didn't count too heavily. Just practise taking it very slowly and you'll be able to correct yourself without it costing you too many points.

Rachey, Thanks for your comments on second babies. My Thomas was a very easy baby to take care of but I'm sure I stressed a lot more than absolutely necessary so I'm hoping not to do that this time around.

Hunkermunker, Yes I do subs for Dutch TV and for various international companies. We also do 'paper' translations. I quite like the job as it can be very varied. Sometimes it can be hugely boring too when there's too much work for one client.

Right, time to find myself some lunch. Yum!

Just got back from acupuncture and I'm feeling ill! Apparently if you're brewing something, it often brings symptoms to the surface, so now I'm achey and have a sore throat. So I've called in sick at work, I feel a bit guilty as they're having the inspection start tomorrow, but it can't be helped. The acupuncture therapist really emphasised how important it is to get enough rest right now and until the babe is born, and not to overdo it with exercise etc. Who am I to argue? She also said she's happy to induce me at 38wks, if the midwife agrees, so we'll see.

Iris

are you ok? we usually hear from you every day, so just checking!

Georgie

Hope the anti-biotics are doing / have done their job and that your stitch has stopped hurting.

hunkermunker

Hope your ds is feeling better by now, poor little love. Have you tried cool sponging him and taking off clothes etc to bring his temp down?

Horseshoe

Your run of bad luck is UN f BELIEVABLE! It has to stop soon. hope this week is better, it has to be!