We're now halfway and it's PMA all the way - Nov 2011

[cep]

Halfway there now ladies. on the countdown.

bump was there much difference between the napier and alpora? or is it just the handle? (can't persuade dh to look at a £70 bag never mind a £110 one. )

Has anyone seen the Morph baby carrier on Mamas and papas website? It looks good and not too expensive as it's reduced from £90 to £60 ATM. Plus you get two harness' so you can exchange baby with Dad or grandparents easily.

www.mamasandpapas.com/cat/morph/

I quite like that idea.

cep I found the napier to be more romier than the almora; the pockets were positioned differently; I felt the layout of the napier provided more storage. The other difference is the handles - the almora only has the shoulder strap whereas the napier has 2-handles & a detatchable shoulder strap (both have seperate pram straps). From what I could see there was space for small toys around the pods as well as the additional pockets which would easily fit all mummy/daddy & DS's bits as well :)

If I had seen them when I had DS then I wouldn't have even considered them due to cost alone but after 4 failed "cheaper (£10-£30 each) nappy bags with DS I felt it was worth paying more for one that lasts this time (1 too small for reeusable nappies; 2 completely broke within short period of time; and last one lasted til DS no longer needed change bag but wasn't worth keeping).

I had brought a mamas&papas bag I was happy with for £40 (will be returned shortly) but was willing to spend the extra for the pacapod considering its versatility. It is 3 bags- change bag, insulated food bag and large bag: my thoughts are that it is high quality and the large bag seperately can be used for years (I'd happily take it as a work bag, or on a family day out or as a hand-luggage bag.....) and the insulated bag could always become lunch bag once LO is at nursery/childminder/school.

Okay....just realised that I now sound like salesperson for the pacapod....but I love it (as you may have realised) and would willing spend the money again!!

Oh and those of you who use "bio oil" it is currently half price at Lloyds pharmacy

Bump I love my pacapod! Have used it for the first time today and it is brilliant. So glad you like it too oh, thanks for the heads up on bio oil!

cep Here It's on the third bullet point down. I'm pretty sure all of their sleepsuits have this on the description.

thanks bump and moosey

i have to admit i have fallen in love with it on the website, it's just trying to persuade dh, he even objected to me spending my own birthday money on it.

moosey ah i was looking at baby grows. [hgrin]

Oh Mrs Arch that's a lovely idea about sleeping with the baby stuff so they smell of you. I'm going to do that with DD's first outfit and her swaddle/sleep stuff. By the time I'm on the 9 pillows and no sleep stage of pregnancy I doubt I'll notice half of her wardrobe in my bed

We went to John Lewis Wed, and DP decided on a Wilkinet carrier over a Closer carrier. This was because he's tall and wide, and it was the one that sat best on him. It was also the one he could figure out!
But I've got some really good jersey material and a recommended pattern, so I'll probably make that for me, that way he can have that as his carrier (I also felt it was a bit too oversized for my 5'4") and I can have a big mei tei type sling.

We have a wilkinet from DD. The only issue i have with that is it is not a stretchy wrap, so less flexible (but maybe not an issue for DP) and you have to put it on whilst holding baby - ie you can't pop baby in and out during the day. I was looking at Close or Moby cos you can wear them throughout the day over clothes and pop baby in and out. With DD turning 3 in Sept I think that will be needed.
I also found the Wilkinet took ages to get on but if DP using it shouldnt be a problem.

As a large person, thought the Moby looked better than the Close for us 'unusual' people!

We bought our first 'big' thing for Xander yesterday.

When we were expecting Belle we were borrowing moses, carrier/sling and bath stuff, so this time I want to buy those things so we've chosen 'bigger' stuff for Xander too.

Got the moses from Mamas and Papas yesterday. It seems really padded and comfortable but I would like a better mattress for it if I can find one to fit from elsewhere. M&P only did the one mattress, but I know mothercare do a range, but their moses are smaller... going to investigate today. www.mamasandpapas.com/product-bedtime-hugs-moses-basket/770003800/type-i/

How is everyone doing?

Gosh you are all getting organised! I feel tres guilty as yesterday I had a facial, manicure and pedicure then snoozed. Decided to treat myself big-style. I'll make up for it today by starting the nursery clearout.

caz we have the old moses basket and rocking stand we bought for DD from Mothercare and we'll use again with a new mattress.

Tbh, as most babies are only in moses baskets for a few months, I wouldn't worry too much about the mattress as they only need a thin one cos they are so small. When DD went to her cot we replaced the supplied mattress with the most expensive one we could find - £160 and it included a zipped washable top, invaluable! Its so good that we won't replace it for this baby when it moves into the cot.

And I'm a bit worried I'm not organised enough! We bought loads of stuff for DD so am hoping we have enough for this one! Just intending to get a couple of newborn outfits and of course, new clothes once we get to about 6m if this one is a boy! All my 0-6m clothes for dd were neutral.

I am also tempted by a Pacapod - I was thinking of asking my work colleagues to get me JL vouchers so I wouldn't feel the cost too much but we are going on hols on Sat so it might be nice to buy and use then..

Big items for DS2 will just be new mattresses for carrycot and cot, cocoon for Phil & Ted, new baby monitor as both we have have died.

Did some more sorting out yesterday - we are such hoarders and have SO MUCH STUFF and both of hate to get rid of anything so I have been packing some books to go away in the loft to free up some space in the nursery. We need to re-arrange both DS1 & DD's room and the nursery as DD wantes to go into a big bed and it is currently a top bunk so we need to rearrange to make the room into a twin. Also spent the whole afternoon on bed after going out Thur and Fri nights.

After I woke yesterday and today I am feeling decidedly not myself - I am drinking like its going out of fashion so must be v dehydrated - junior is very quiet - not enough to justify a visit to the Day Assessment Unit but enough to send me slightly nuts.

Alicat10 I also have so much decluttering and reorganizing to do. I'm currently putting off getting the out-of-size clothes out from under the beds so I can get out the baby clothes and put away the now out of size clothes. Children's stuff just seems to multiply.

For organization, I've found it helpful to break it down into what baby needs then break it down from there. So what do I need for baby to sleep? eat? travel? nappy changes? wear? safety/health? Then I add my needs, birth needs, and storage needs on top and just take it on one chunk at a time.

The items I'm currently looking at for DC4 is a new carrier as ours is worn this after three (looking at baby hawks), a wrap around pillow, hats, and things for swaddling/sleeping bags. Our hoarding habits mean I have most of everything else .

Ali don't worry too much - there are quiet days sometimes especially before 28 weeks. Bubba was quiet all day yesterday and only odd kicks today. I'm guessing he wore himself out on Friday when he kicked and punched for about 5 hours!

Afternoon all! We are borrowing a travel system from a friend, but other than that we need everything, I am buying things as I see them on offer (but missed out on the BT baby monitor sale on Amazon!! Doh!) Got a breast pump and steriliser this week half price (at Tesco and Amazon). Don't have my 20 week scan till Tuesday so waiting till after that for most things. The nursery is currently a dumping ground so need to get cracking on clearing that soon!

I have been such a complete idiot today! I am fair skinned and usually very anal about sun screen to the butt of many jokes, however did some light gardening today and burnt my face! Can't believe I have been such a complete and utter fool! I usually wear a Factor 15 daily moisturiser and cover up from head to toe when out in the garden but I have run out of moisturiser and completely forgot the sunscreen! Just my face, but worried about getting that pregnancy pigmentation mask you hear about.....already have a dark patch appearing on my jaw! aaaargh!

Is there a word for being the opposite of a hoarder? If so, then that's us. We have nothing, we are pretty much starting from scratch all over again. DD is nearly 5, and we knew there was zero chance of having a second baby within a couple of years of having her (v. v. traumatic first pg, I wasn't in a hurry to repeat it, and DH wasn't keen on the idea of having a second one at all) so we got rid of most things as soon as she grew out of them. We still have our high chair, as I passed this on to my sister, who then gave it back, but that's all really!

hmmm...another day feeling really low, wish this would stop as really want to enjoy pregnancy (though feeling baby & buying baby/kid bits for LOs is about all I do enjoy ATM). Been at work today...normal weekend of working from the car with pretty much no support...and come home in agony :( Have been getting pain in groin/hip region on and off for a couple of weeks but past 2days it has been constant and just getting worse as day goes on, have just given in and taking some paracetamol :( think I may have to see/speak to MW this week.

PMA - baby has just started moving as I type, first time I've felt it today :)

Yay for people starting to organise and buy bits - exciting times :o

Snoozle, I'm the same as you, I have nothing at all yet. I was talking to my mum earlier and asked if she thought I ought to be a bit more organised, and she reminded me that the only thing a new baby really needs is a pair of tits! My grandad is giving us a cot, all we need is a new mattress. I want a moses basket, and we'll need some sort of pushchair and car seat. Thats as far as I've got! I think most things we'll buy after the baby is born, but we'll buy the basics in the summer holidays (I'm a teacher), so we're prepared in time. I honestly don't see us getting much though, I just don't know what we need, and the shops aren't going to close just because I've had the baby. Fortunately we have plenty friends and family who all want to buy us stuff, so they can fill in the blanks for us!

Its nice to hear about all the nesting going on, and most people seem more cheerful than we all were a couple of weeks ago when I last posted! Hope things improve for you soon Bump, is there any way you can change the nature of your work to avoid sitting in the car so much? I know that probably sounds a stupid thing to say, but my cousin used to be a carer and travelled around between different patients, and she just couldn't cope, so they swapped her with someone who worked with just one patient in one place, which made it a lot easier for her. What is that you do (I know you've probably already said, but I'm useless at remembering stuff!)

Sorry everyone else for not name checking, I'm too tired to go back, but I was pleased to see plenty PMA [hgrin]

I too feeling rubbish again today. Had a nice day yesterday with some friends and their toddlers, and I dont know if I got a bit dehydrated or tired or something by my head hurts a lot today and I feel sick and I DONT feel like coping.
We are in the hoarding camp, which means we dont need to buy too much stuff. A few clothes for a girl insteady of a boy, but she can reuse most of her brother's stuff really, we wont need the two hundred clean vests he pooed through every day in girl styles, just one or two. A double buggy. I think a sling would be sensible to try this time for around the house with a two year old. Need to work out what we will do about the cot situation, cause DS could stay in his, converted to a toddler bed, or we could buy him a fresh bed. Also going to need to move him into what is now the spare bedroom, but not sure whether to do that before or after the new one gets here, given she'll be in our room for the first six months. Or longer if past experience is anythign to go by. BUt when we move him thats going to be a fair amount of trouble and reorganising. May need some new back up bottles I guess, given DS has made a toy of the ones we had for him. Does one need two high chairs? WHen do they stop needing a high chair? My nappy bag was just the standard one from Mothercare and has lasted and worked fine to be honest. May not be the most stylish, but I nearly had a heartattack at the thought of paying £30 or whatever it was for a bag, so think I am going to keep using it till it dies!

Hi all,
Hope everyones well. While I (still!) havent bought anything I did have a very productive week/weekend on the baby front. Have researched and got a fairly comprehensive list of what I need to get and where its cheapest etc, so now can finally start getting a little bit every week. So feel a bit more organised about the minefield of 'what do i need?' being a first timer! Definitely going to go for the Pacapod Portland as think it looks great, and yes its expensive but im thinking its one thing thats going to get a lot of use right through. Also decided on moby sling (have looked at all others discussed) and think it will work best for me, plus have a friend who has one and she says its great, so going to go have a play with it and see how i get on. Also got the nursery cleared out this yesterday (3 suitcase loads of old clothes to charity shop) 2 trips to the tip and the room is totally empty, ready for decorating, hurray! Having rubbish ligament pain this evening so just got pjs on and going to vegitate on the sofa for the forseeable (DH doing bangers and mash for tea...yum!)

bumpand sorry to hear you are having such a bad day, hope you can now get some rest and the pain subsides. Great about the movement, I got a real boot yesterday nearly jumped out of my seat!
juststarting hope your headache subsides too and you are feeling better after getting re-hydrated.

Great to see lots of PMA and shopping stories, such great advice for first timers like myself.

I have now calmed down about my sunburn worries and feel a bit silly now , (ooh I look a little like the smiley!) it appears I may have withdrawn from the sun just in time and I am not the lobster I thought I might be, plus no more dark patches so far. Fingers crossed! Hey its a roller coaster of emotions at the mo!
p.s. DH is doing roast pork for tea and 'Marley and Me' to look forward to on the telly at 8pm, haven't seen it yet!

I saw the adverts for Marley and me and fancied it, then decided not to - don't think my emotions could take it!

Sunshine, dont watch that film. i dont know what I thought I was doing watching that film. Especially dont watch that film while an emotional wreck. I am a bit soppy in that area, I confess, but I actually started crying again some hours later in the middle of the bloody night. Softarse.
Been looking at double buggies to try and distract myself from feeling awful. Hmm. Perhaps not the best thing to do. I dont understand why its so hard to design the right product! Ok, to be fair, some people have come close, but then they really charge for it!
Lord I thought I was over these headaches. Thank god DS is being really good for DP today, by and large. Ah, I love my boys, they are fantastic boys. There's my pma, call me smug, but I know I am so lucky to have my wonderful boys, and I never, never forget it. I hope I stay this lucky. Although be nice to get a little bit luckier on the health front to be fair! I'll trade a lot of my other good fortune for that. Go live in a caravan and never have another headache and stop feeling rubbish all the time. I'd take it in a heartbeat. THough god knows where we'd put the double buggy then.

Well bought a massive object yesterday and whilst not directly related to Bean I'm sure she'll get plenty of use out of the brand new two piece sofa we bought :) soooo excited never bought anything like that before! I can see after just "popping" into DFS that the next few months are gonna be VERY expensive. Off to Ikea in the week to see if there is anything decent in their 75% off sale.

Also had a good weekend as I have started to feel bean move, felt her twice now. Have an anterior placenta however I think if she's lying right I can feel her low down on my left. It literally feels like someone poking me from the inside so I don't think it could be anything else :)