April 2011 - nearly there, all set for dropping Mofo C bombs in the delivery room

[SnapFrakkleAndPop]

Executive decision that at 987 posts we're moving over!

New challenge - can we fill up 1000 posts before the first babies arrive, given that we managed to keep our legs crossed all through the last one?!

First babies are due, officially, next month but are there any in such a hurry to see the world that they can beat our chatting?

I dunno if I could read Handmaid's Tale while pg and my copy is falling apart because I've read it so many times! Just too close to the bone for me.

Have calmed down a bit now, have out a few things away in the new cupboards, which means they're no longer on the changing table

The study/soon to be nursery is still an office with practically no baby friendly features but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Besides, baby won't care if he's changed on a mat on the floor for a while. Plus I finished knitting his cardi, now I just need to sew it up and finish the pram blanket!

Muffin - I had a scan at 36 weeks to check stomach growth (apparently). I could see not very much - just big round things that could either have been head or tummy. The face was a bit of a washout too as the baby is facing the placenta so it was all a bit obscured. The sonographer did a 3D image for me and it basically showed the lips and half a nose with lots of swirly, strange stuff around it. My husband didn't come as he couldn't take the time off work. I think it really depends how the baby is lying how much you'll see. And also how badly your husband wants to see the baby - explain that it might not be as exciting as earlier scans as it's much harder to get a decent image.

Anyone read 'The American Wife' by Curtis Sittenfield? I've just seen it on my bookshop and remembered that I actually really enjoyed it. Loosely based on Laura Bush (George W Bush's wife) life and very well written. Sittenfield wrote 'Prep' and has swerved the 'second book curse' quite nicely as this one is better I think. Also, if you want something amusing and quick-witted then Laurie Graham's 'The Unfortunates' and 'The Future HOmemakers of America' are very good. Classic-wise I constantly go back to Vanity Fair. Becky Sharp is a girl for all time! Final, final recommendation (that made me cry with laughter at one point) was 'The Observations' by Jane Harris. Might take it to hospital with me for a re-read unless I can find something new to divert myself with.

Cycle wish I could knit. We were taught at school, along with wifely skills of apron and shirt making and canapes for a cocktail party (I kid you not - it was all about making us fit to marry a diplomat, which of course none of us did...) which I have obviously totally forgotten. I like the idea of knitting a matinee jacket or two for the bambino, but fear it would be a greying, twisted mess with a billion dropped stitches. Some things however I have never forgotten. I can do a mean victoria sponge and could coddle an egg if I was ever deranged enough to want to!

I taught myself to knit out of a book a couple of years ago. I've knitted dozens of pairs of booties for people and a fair few cardis and things for others, but I've totally lost my knitting mojo for my own

I started his blanket in September and it's not done! Nearly, but not quite.

kits where did you go to school? That sounds suspiciously like the school I didn't last very long at!

I read, and loved, 'prep' but not tried 'The American Wife'. I shall give it a go. Don't think I could cope with Handmaid's Tale right now either. My guilty read is 'Elegance' by Kathleen Tessaro, or 'Glamour' by Louise Bagshawe. Neither require any brain cells whatsover.

On the Kindle front, yes, it's not for use in the bath! And it's not a book. But it's cheaper than buying lots of books and it stores them more efficiently!

cycle calm....breathe.... Nothing's ready for us either - I figure baby's going to be in our room for the first few months and we're moving in July anyway. I probably should tidy the study/nursery at least but meh!

muffin I had a 32 week scan. It wasn't very exciting, DH couldn't be there and I don't think he missed anything tbh. Although I did see baby's face in a not very clear way (but we got a still of that) which we hadn't seen before.

I should probably get on with a) marking, b) MEd project proposal or c) knitting the remaining front bit of the crossover cardigan for baby but MN is so much more enticing...

Snap I went to school in West Sussex. Thankfully it has closed down now. It was all white gloves on Sunday and matron telling us "nice girls didn't use tampax". Honestly, it was like living in 1952. I couldn't wait to escape. That I came out sane is an astonishment. That I came out raring to go and a complete loose canon is no suprise at all!

Not sure I have the time now to learn to knit as only three weeks to go before the baby is due and I'm not sure I'd muster up much of a cardigan by then. But it's an appealing thought. I like the idea of a book showing me what to do.

I recommend knitting for dummies, even as someone who's always been able to at least do plain and purl! It has nice simple explanations even of more scary complicated things.

Hey! I thought for a minute I'd logged on to the worng thread all this talk of books! Feel slightly that all I have the attention span to read right now are chick lit novels! And I've already read most of them, but not realising this until I'm half way through means I'm saving myself £££££ at Waterstones!

Muffin Ive had extra scans at 28, 32 and one left at 36 weeks next week. These are through the too much cake clinic to check I'm not having a whopper!! He is a big 'un but just slightly above the "normal range". We've had a couple of good profile and face on pictures, but I seem to have had a sonographer with OCD about getting good pictures.

On the emotional side of things I'm currently watching Barry Manilow on This Morning! Blubbing at Made It Through The Rain!

I'm meant to be at my Spa day today, but we've had to cancel. FIL was rushed into hospital last night with a suspected heart attack. They are running tests and the consultant will be seeing him soon. I feel so sorry for him, he had a stroke back in October caused by his medication for bowel cancer, so they are really throwing it at him just now. We are waiting for a phone call to let us know whats happening and we are going to head up the road later. DH seems fine, but every time something happens he feels guilty for being away from home. SIL is his dads main carer and MIL isn't well either. So he feel like he's abandoned her. But we really wouldn't be able to do anything more than we do down here, it just takes us 2 hours to get there.

On top of all that, my Grandma has been diagnosed with dementia and is in hospital too after a nasty fall. This means she will need full time care, so they are waiting for a care home place for her to become available.

I'm not sure how much more I can take just now. Everything seems to be happening at once!

Positive thoughts and prayers for all your family at the moment.

Lis I'm so sorry to hear about your Grandma. I hope this helps a little to stay positive.

At Christmas our family went through similar with DH Grandpa, he was the main carer in their own home for his Grandma. He fell over in the snow and broke his shoulder, it was whilst in hospital he was diagnosed with dementia and they both went into a care home in late January, only for him to forget where he was in the night, trip over a chair and break his hip

At the time it felt like things were just going from bad to worse.

If you saw the pair of them now you wouldn't know. They have made so many friends, the care home is really nice, welcoming and friendly and my PIL don't have to go round every night to clean and prepare the next days food, now they go round and chat, play scrabble and laugh whilst talking about the good old days. It was be a blessing is disguise (PIL are both teachers and were until they found this home a few miles away, were discussing stopping work to care for them full time which would also require them to move to a larger house with ground floor accommodation, a huge change for everyone), I certainly hope you have a happy ending also xx

Muffin Shame about the C section, I would take DH along if he can be there, it's moments like these that are nice to share, I find I don't remember half the conversation and DH has to remind me days later when I panic as I forgot to ask something that I did ask lol

Lis So sorry to hear about your FIL and Grandma. It?s awful how these things all seem to happen at once.

I am glad to hear there are more chick lit fans on this thread I?m an English grad and former librarian, so I loved the classics but these days I would rather lose myself in a Marian Keyes etc. The novel I?ve just finished writing is pure chick lit.

I found I had lots of time to read after DD1 was born as she was a cluster feeder, i.e. once she was on the boob she stayed there for hours. Some women don?t like the way breastfeeding can be so time consuming, but I loved all those hours sitting on my arse eating cake reading and talking on the phone.

I feel like I am getting bigger by the minute and am now too embarrassed to leave the house I am hoping she's getting into postion, as a whole load of new stretch marks appeared yesterday and I felt a few twinges in my cervix. Although that may just be wishful thinking after reading about all your engaging. My mum?s just been round and she says I?ve definitely dropped a bit ? and you know how all mums/MILs are the authority on these things

Your babies engaging Although I know you are all very engaging too!

Lis Sorry to hear about FIL it must be really hard for all your family right now. I'm sending hugs and well wishes to you.

I skim read things when I'm rushed for time and I'm sorry I didn't read it all until I saw Frakk's comments

Fingers crossed for you and your family xx

Kits yep I have chickens (Named Marmite, Daisy and Clover) They are however not laying at the moment due to moult and the short days of winter so I am also buying eggs from the shops

As we are naming out puddy cats mine is called Mincemeat this was DHs doing...she narrowly avoided being called chunky vegetables as I felt it was just too masculine...yeah we are a little bit nuts lol. I also have a tortoise who has just woken up from hibernation who is named Kojack, she was named by my parents before they knew she wasn't a he .

Cycle I'm 37 weeks today aswell :)

The cleaning of the chicken run left me in agony for a couple of days, am back to being just a bit achy now but at least it's done and now I can just spot clean, they shouldn't need a big clean out for a while.

I still haven't started my assignment, I have until Friday and am supposed to be doing it now but MN is much better

Oh and have also been getting much more pressure low down lately, apparently baby is about half way towards being engaged so that seems to fit with what others are saying.

lol Notanother They are the authority lol. DH says baby has dropped a little but I can't see past the extra stretch marker either

I was up for a few hours last night with back ache and twinges in my secret garden, oh speaking of which, waxing will commence on Thursday yey!! Then maybe it can change name to Chelsea flower show or Kew gardens

Lis I'm so sorry about your Grandma and your FIL :( These things always happen all at once and when you are least able to deal with them IME!
Fingers crossed that they both get good care.

I overdid it earlier, had a nesting moment and rushed about hoovering and wiping the sofas, beating the cushions outside to get rid of the dust and a few others jobs. Came over really faint and had to lie on my bed - I think it was my blood pressure dropping. Still feel odd now

I'm getting loads of twinges etc, and I can feel that the baby is really low. I'm 38+2 today and torn between wanting the baby out, and being terrified of labour and hoping that the baby holds on until the 28th when I am booked in for an ELCS.

Salted MIL is great, my mum is home in Oz and shes a great replacement and have asked her to be with me for the birth with DP, will be nice to have a mum like person there ! Im lucky.

Lis Hope your family are all ok.

Muffin I had a 35 week scan on Thursday as measuring small, they took measurments of head, tummy and thigh. My DP came with MIL but DP comes to everything i have to go to, even to GP to pick up prescription for Iron tablets !!

We had a good scan lady who pointed out everything, like toes, fingers, bottom, heartbeat and also re-confirmed definitley a girl which had been playing on my mind that maybe the 20 weeks scan was wrong and id have lots of dresses for my little boy !

We had an ok view of her little face but we werent given any pictures :( but amazing how much they look like proper little babies and not just round bodies and heads with T-Rex arms !

Also an avid reader here, but no so much the clasics, more of a murder, sci-fi (Twillight, Harry Potter) or chick-lit kind of girl. Read all the Girl with a Dragon tattoo books which were amazing and reading another Swedish writers book called "The Ice Princess" its sooooo GOOD !

Washed all babies clothes last night and tonight washing Moses basket linens and packing labout bag, so I can tick off on my list !! Almost all ready now, but cant stop buying re-usable nappies !! Im crazy for them, have a stash of about 40 now, think I better stop !

Good Week All

I'm 36weeks and can also feel the baby down low.. Does anyone else feel 'sore' on the inside of the bump? Don't really know how to describe it?

Lis sorry to hear about your family, it's particularly tough when you should be gearing up for something lovely happening I think. Hugs to you.

I also overdid it at the weekend as took it upon myself to get EVERYTHING a person could possibly need for hospital bag - I walked freaking miles around and around the shops for about four hours, but eventually got the lot. then properly freaked myself out trying to pack it all.

The result was an aching lady so bad that I haven't really slept for past two nights - idiot.

lucie - yes I do, especially low down. I've put it down to pressure on my c-section scar and on any adhesions there might be from last time. It passes when I lie down for a while so I'm not too worried. If it becomes constant then I'm going to ring the hospital because I am the most paranoid person ever about scar rupture!

Aussie - I have already got about 40 nappies from DS, and I've just ordered another 25 in size 1 for this baby. Have managed to get some bargins though so I haven't broken the bank too badly.
Cloth is so addictive - have got any wool wraps? They are gorgeous

SJ - nightmare :( Are you all sorted now or have you got more to do?

Yep Ali I got the lot, but then worked out that sure as shit ain't all fitting in one holdall though, so shoved it all into a small case thinking that if it all started to happen I would at least have something. Mission for this week is to get two more bags - labour, afterwards and going home I'm informed is the only way. Also, top tip from SIL pack tea tree oil for few drops in bath afterwards to promote healing.

Also, not sure what I should be expecting from now on at mw appointments really, I had 34 week check today and was literally in and out after quick bloods check, prod about, babie's heartbeat and sample check. Reading some of your posts about excess fluid and heads being engaged and all sorts is making me wonder if I'm, either expecting too much to early, or if thats it?

SJ if it makes you feel any better, I had my bag(s) packed weeks ago but decided I really needed to re-organise over the weekend and spent hours unpacking and re-packing
I now have a small suitcase with stuff for hospital stay and going home, all in order so the stuff I need first is at the top lol. I have a seperate bag for labour plus a carrier bag full of snacks and drinks for labour mostly (me and DH to share) but if there is any left, which is likely , I shall keep them on the ward so I've got stuff to nibble on when I want.
The question is is this part of the whole nesting thing or was it just another thing to do rather than getting on with this essay?

My appointments are pretty much in and out so I wouldn't worry, I even have to take my own BP using the machine in the waiting room so as not to take up too much time