Nov 2011 - Mat B forms are in and time is flying not long now

[PamSco]

Sorry just went for a new thread as I couldn't see another.

Hope you are all well this morning

voodoo - Is this a regular trick? You may want to put your hormone addled foot down...
I'm quite a straight-talking, high emotional maintenance girl, and I couldn't live with it - my ex would do this, too, and it's so hurtful. He'd spend all night in his "man room" drinking, playing online poker/World of Warcraft while I sat in the lounge with the dogs knitting. Next day he'd be too hung over/tired to spend time with me. I blew a fuse all the time, and in the end left him because I felt overall neglected (there were other factors, too, quite a few, actually).
I guess we all have different tolerance thresholds, and I bet your OH is wonderful on all other levels!
I'm just a moody cow ;)

Speaking of bad relationships - yesterday I had to call the police as our neighbours were arguing (again... It's a daily feature) and I kept hearing "Please don't hurt me" from the woman - they have two kids, one of which is 18 months, and all I kept seeing in my head was the little girl watching her mum being beaten up by her partner :( I know they're also smoking weed around the kids, which irks me no end - and there are regular piles of used nappies on the back steps (not even bagged!).
I felt like the biggest curtain twitcher of all times, but I had to do something. I was really impressed by the police - it took 10 minutes for them to come out to a non-999 call (I just called the non-urgent line), and even if she kept screaming "Leave me alone" at them, they at least came out!

Caz I'm really impressed with your shower! Also hear you on the church thing - we haven't been for weeks and really need to get there...

Thanks Cep and Bump feeling lots better today mainly because I now officially have a nasty chesty cough and I always feel much happier when I know why I'm feeling rough. Coughing is giving me bump ache though but at least it keeps waking junior up so he is having quite a fidgetty day.

Managed to cook a roast lunch but felt pretty exhausted by the effort - enjoyed it though even if I could only stomach one roast potato. My DS also ate a piece of broccoli which is cause for major celebration as he just doesn't do fruit or veg that's recognisable as such.

Bump how long would it take for meds to take effect? Sounds like you've given managing without your best shot.

Caz shower sounds lovely

Voodoo I thought mine and DH's marriage wouldn't survive my 1st pg, we just seemed so far away from each other but it turned out ok - though I think the main prob was my being an unrecognisable emotional wreck throughout which disappeared with the bump

hi all, hope you are having good sundays.
sounds like a great baby shower, caz - how touching.

I'm total fartypants too, its a horrible side effect from the prunes and apricots that I force myself to eat daily.

Today I have been catatonic with tiredness after a middle of the night waking from DD, then me wired and sleepless for an hour and a half. Then she was up at 8, and DP has some kind of bug so I let him sleep in.

But sense of achievement today comes from making a jamie oliver beef stew for the slow cooker by 9am, then recovering my pinboard with fabric (I am crap at crafty stuff but it must be this weird nesting instinct).
Then I went to a neighbourhood flea market - and bought a brilliant universal buggy board (bumprider) and a retro chair for 5 quid! So that was one item crossed off the excel sheet ;)

I feel like the least organised on this thread - I still have to get two rooms painted (couldn't this month after huge tax bill - that's the downside of scandinavia), need to sort out many drawers and cupboards and throw stuff out, need to buy a steriliser, couple bottles, breast pump, belly bandit ;), bouncer chair, playmat (where the hell are the old ones?), borrow a carrycot for the mountain buggy, reclaim my bumbo, move cot to our bedroom, make a mobile from a branch (my interior design friend did one and it was so beautiful), sort out first few months of baby clothes, take my DD for vaccinations (we missed some - horrible parents), go to the dentist and optician myself, buy rugs, lamps and other small bits and bobs for the flat and pack hospital bag. All of it really needs money first and time second and this month I have neither.

cali - that's really disturbing. good that you called though.

Loads of posts since I last checked in yesterday morning!

I'm another one awaiting a new kitchen, although it has been delayed somewhat and I'm now looking at last week of Sept or first week of Oct. I have the kitchen maker well warned that there will be war if it drags on any longer than that, because I am not coming home from hospital with a new baby to no kitchen! Ours is a total rip everything out and start again situation, so we need to rip up slate tiles, rip all the tiles off the walls and replaster and re-wire as well, so its going to be a bit of a nightmare. But the kitchen is ancient and falling apart, the floor is disintegrating under our feet, and the wiring is very dodgy (house only built about 15 years ago, but very shoddy builders), so it will be such a relief to get it done. Also urgently need to replace the boiler, which is horrible, as its not something 'visible'. But its on its last legs, and our oil bill is eye watering, but because there is no gas supply in our area, its oil or freeze, so we have no choice. Grrrr

We had our new kitchen done in December, but have only just painted it this week! As well as painting and sorting the lounge. But it's not just painting it's sanding and filling and painting and more sanding and more filling! Every wall in our house is a mess so takes so long! Have also ordered the floor tiles now too, so they should be in in a few weeks and will be getting new carpet throughout at the beginning of October (DH bonus permitting!)

Had a really productive week off though so v pleased!

Tjuice I love my slow cooker, but never cook anything first, just through it all in, for example chilli, raw meat, onions, mushrooms, kidney beans, peppers, spices etc all go in give it a good stir with a little water (though you don't need much as with the lid on it doesn't run dry) 6 hours later it's gorgeous!

Love hearing Williow and sylvia-rose's progress! Cuddles sound lovely!

Caz what a lovely dh you have! I would have loved a surprise like that!

Pam and voodoo the heartburn sounds rubbish, Ive not had any and attribute that entirely to the pint of milk my DH makes me drink everynight before bed! ( His mum's teath rotted when she was pg with him and i think he worries the same may happen to me!)

Cali well done for ringing the police, there are so many people who turn a blind eye and it's not fair on the children. And like the idea about shopping, but have yuo though abpout doing it online? You can save your shopping list and order the same thing everytime if you like, so once you've done it once it oinly takes 5 mins. And if you get it delivered midweek in the day time it's only about £3 delivery.

I've also done lots of shopping this week! Have car seat and bambino mio premium nappy set being delivered tomorrow.

Also had a tip off from a yoga buddy about a tommee tippee electric steam steriliser kit in home bargains for £22!! (£40 on kiddicare!) So went to get that and found they also had the breat pump kit for £34!! (£80-£100 anywhere else!) So we were super happy with those!

Well dinner won't make itself so must go! x

Thanks Staceroo - I just got the steriliser online. Wish they had the pump too. Unfortunately, my parents don't live anywhere near a Home Bargains (I had never heard of it, its brilliant).

Another item checked off. Feeling almost a little smug ;)

I am also fascinated by the non-cooking of stuff and then slinging it into a slow cooker - I am so used to browning meat, I find it hard to think the taste will be so good without that caramelization at the beginning. But I am going to try a chili just as you suggest, sounds damn easy and convenient. And surely it all cooks down in the end.

The Jamie Oliver stew was good...especially with the chopped lemon zest, garlic and fresh rosemary stirred in before serving - it kind of defrumpified it a bit. We also crumbled some blue cheese on top (my mum's trick) and then had thickly buttered crusty bread with it. Lush.

I've only used mine after browning stuff so far but mainly because I haven't allowed enough time so needed to start it hot. Jamie Oliver def says in 1 of his books not to bother browning as it makes little difference to the taste - and I have tried his stew in the oven where you just soften veg and then chuck in meat and liquid and I can't say I noticed any diff.

I still brown stuff for the slow cooker. It is probably a habit and I cant get out of it!

I made toad in the hole for tea with a load of veg and 2 diff types of sausages as my dd doesnt like meat ones.... Then lucky me I got to wash, dry and put away the dishes all by myself! All the washing is on the settee so nowhere to sit after the 3 of them have taken up residence on the available seats whilst I have been doing the solitary task of washing up. That's after I have nearly took the dog to be rehomed after destroying my front window voiles, chewing a full pot of model paint belonging to my ds (no I have no idea why either) which she then spread over the carpet and newly painted woodwork and cream throws and cushion cover... (bright orange btw) and OH and I having to go and collect the dc's from their fortnightly visit to their dads as he had gone off to do a car and they had magically appeared at my parents house and understandably wanted to come home.... To say that I have had one of the most rubbish days possible in a while would be an understatement! OH wonders why am a bit peeved?!

oh voodoo i'm sorry you had such a bad day. There's only so many times you can say something without a) being accused of nagging and b) starting to hate the sound of the same words over and again when you know they don't get heard. i hope your days get better.

I need some opinions ladies firstly do you think that this would be ok instead of a snow suit/pram suit?? or that a proper suit would be better?

secondly, i didn't go for the pocapod bags and am umming and ahhing between skip hop via messenger or the skip hop bento

Am just worried that with baby's stuff, my stuff and toddler stuff the messenger is going to be too small.

Voodoo Big hugs - hang in there! Bark a bit if you have to. Completely understand the dog thing - I lived with two collies who ate all my knitting - which of course was tastiest when I'd just finished a project...

Cep I'd be worried that baby could wriggle out of it... With a snow suit they're kinda stuck!

Cep I agree with Cali and I would just go for the snow/pramsuits. I would snowsuit and then carry a blanket. Although judging by some of the topics/threads I read I am woefully out of date!

I am such a misery/ranty cow at the moment. Am annoying myself! I just feel a bit put upon and the dog thing has me round the twist. She now apparently cannot even manage to be on her own for 2 hours (which is the length of time I was out the house today!).

I wouldnt be a good judge of other bags as I have a black messenger type bag that is for the baby as OH refuses to use anything else and I will never actually declutter my life enough to be able to dispense without my lovely ebay bargain ted baker bag!

Thanks for letting me rant, much appreciated ladies! x

Voodoo after a day like that you would find me sobbing and rocking somewhere so you've done well to remain coherent!

Autumn baby I would def go for snowsuit - check out charity shops, car boots and eBay as there are some bargains to be had

It is tempting to sit and rock!

Can you believe it? My Chavtastic (!) neighbours (horrid) have lit a bonfire.... now. It was about 10pm when i was cleaning the cooker and OH came in and went 'erm big fire there then' It is metres from the houses and was licking over the 6 foot dividing fence while they stood around, can in hand. If I could have taken a picture without them seeing then I would. Sure their 3 status symbol dogs who live in the outhouse right next to the fire will be thrilled. Arrgghh! I want wine!!!

Oh and I got a snowsuit from ebay.

I'm really sorry voodoo but I have to be honest the picture I got in my head of a dog with orange paint all around it's chops and surrounded by orangeness with a little smile on it's face of achievement (which they always have when they have done something rotten) did make me smile a little... I know im a bad bad person :(

Went around the outlet centre an found a mamas an papas pilko pramette for £250 reduced from £499 just wondered if anyone had any thoughts on that pram? Or knew anyone who had it?

Back to work tomorrow for my last full week and when I say full I only mean 4 days as have antinatal on Tuesday :) so can't wait to finish!

voodoo I must sound like the worst, whiney neighbour ever - but that's dangerous - I'd call the fire services! Drunkenly starting a bonfire in a back garden - I'd love to have them as neighbours!
I guess I grew quite tough skin after living in a Middlesbrough council estate for a year - a crack house on the right and a brothel across the road - I learnt the hard way that unless you report them every time, all the time, to the police, fire services, RSPCA, social services, you create a massive rod for your back.

Lordy, I just realised what a moany old lady my hormones are making me!

Stace I'd do it online, but my mother has the IT skills of a Victorian dandy, and as we live a 3 minute drive from Tesco - I can't really justify the delivery costs...

Is anyone else stocking up on cleaning products and disinfectants? I bought polish and dust cloths today for the first time in -years-.

I'm sure I sound thick, but whats a snowsuit? I've never heard of one.......

snoozle this is a snowsuit

I've lived a sheltered life, I've never seen a baby in one of those. I think I've seen them online, but I thought they were for people who were going skiiing or something I didn't realise people used them here.....although I did wonder how a newborn was expected to ski..

Are they for wearing in the buggy? I never had a problem with DD being cold, I was always more worried about her being too warm. Out in the buggy, I just had her in her Buggysnuggle and wearing a coat, and it was always so awkward because as soon as we went into a shop or whatever, I was having to strip the layers off her because her wee face was bright red with the heat. I was terrified of overheating, it was stressed so much by the midwives as being dangerous that it left me obsessed with overheating - I almost had a massive falling out with my MIL when I discovered she had wrapped DD in about three blankets and put a hat and gloves on her when she put her down for a nap, I was convinced she was going to kill her. Perhaps a bit PFB of me......!

snoozle i think a coat and buggysnuggle would be fine. Those snuggles look really toasty. As we had ds in the May we didn't have anything in newborn/early months for when it's really cold.

Well no you only know what you know dont you! If you have never had call to know what a snowsuit is cos managed without then dont worry! Certainly go and investigate them though, I had some lovely ones for my 2 and I have a beautiful one for this little one when she comes. My OH is clueless about all these bits and pieces, just brings it home to me how much I know through doing it before. Not sure I would like to be a first timer again !!! (Sorry to all those that are :))

Cali, ah they are a nightmare these neighbours, I suppose they arent as bad as the ones that you had in 'Boro! (Just down the motorway from us in Newcastle). I know they partake of a bit of the old weed which is annoying but as long as they keep it quiet and not so kids are anywhere near it then what can you do? However they have a massive superiority complex! Makes me chuckle as they look down on everyone, last time we rowed they said to me that 'everyone hates me', I responded 'well if that is because I am nothing like you then that is fine with me!' smiled sweetly and shut the door! The girl squawking this at me stood kind of speechless on the other side, swore at me and stomped off. I was in the middle of my degree at the time, supporting the kids and I through my degree, working etc and everytime uni was a little hard I had that as an inspiration as to why I needed to achieve and achieve well! Very big boost of motivation! Sorry that was a long post!

Hope everyone is well, am quite chirpy today (as you all may be able to tell!) even though I have woken up with back to work dread and some work that I really cannot put off so will end up doing on my last days holiday! Oh I so want to be on Mat leave!

I've bought a buggy snuggle for newborn and DD and will dress newborn in body suit, sleep suit, caddie and hat when going out. Am going to ask for a fleece sleep suit to put newborn in when in a sling (I've got a baby Bjorn, didn't get on with other slings/wraps).

Been having dizzy spells which are horrible. I just have to sit down and put legs up and feel better after 10mins. Not good when they coincide with feeding DD.

31 weeks yesterday. Getting v excited, but also realising that I've got to give birth again! I'm more worried about after the birth as I had horrible baby blues. Crying at everything inc my bro who phoned to ask how I was doing. Had to pass phone to DH hmm.

Morning everyone!

:( about all the annoying neighbours.

Well had an overwhelming feeling yesterday afternoon that I need to see Xander properly. I know this is a reaction to us approaching 31 weeks (when I threatened prem-labour with Belle) and then the descent into 32 weeks.

I's been feeling emotional and weepy all day, thinking a lot about Belle and getting very upset that I never saw her move, or open her eyes and really wanting to see him alive now incase we never get the chance to after he is born. Actually see his little face, and him moving his face, head, arms, legs etc instead of just the fuzzy black and white pics at the hospital.

So after taking a bit of persuading DH we've booked a 4D scan for Saturday. (although took less persuading than the gender scan we had at 18 weeks at babybond with a sneaky 3d look!) He doesn't like them and say they look like playdough babies, but I'm sure he'll feel differently about his own baby on the screen.

I know it is cosmetic and unneeded really. but I need this, for me and my crazy head on, so we always have a DVD of Xander 'being alive'.

I'm also obsessing how much he is going to look like Anabelle, so I think this will really tell us, and if they are as identical as it looked at 18 weeks and profiles in the 2D scans, then I can prepare myself for how I might react to that when he is here.

I'm more relieved than excited about the scan though... just to stop the latest crazy thoughts.

Does all of that make sense? So roll on Saturday!

Its my day off today, but as there are still no kids in my school (building works not finished so school wasn't ready to open to them today) I'm going to pop in to catch up with my jobshare.

Oh and as for a coat pram suit thing I'm planning to buy one of These for Xander.

Caz I think I get you but as I haven't been through what you have been through, i don't feel qualified to comment. I can empathise with what you must be feeling and I don't think there's anything wrong with a 4D scan. We had one and it was fab.

Sorry for those having troubles with neighbours etc. We don't but are having a 138 house estate built behind us atm, after 4 yrs of flighting the planners :( We had a lovely field behind us too. Ah well. c'est la vie.

I feel better today. Have written a very strong letter to my HOM stating I refuse any further GTT unless I spill sugar in my urine. I've also found out that if i lived in Lincoln, I wouldn't have high levels of sugar at all!! Just shows you. Now i just have to hide from the phone to avoid the 2nd call from the diabetic nurse........

I too was more concerned with DD being over heated - you can go too far in making babies snug IMO.
We do have some lovely pram suits that will be just great for this winter. They are in pink and purple but I don't care - at newborn stage, he won't mind being dressed as a girl and I'm not forking out when these are just fine!

Those using reusable nappies - any recommendations? Just about decided they are for us but now, where to start?!

Caz, I cant see anything wrong with having a 4d scan to keep mind at rest! I think I would be near on demanding it from the hosptials etc, even though I know it isnt up to them but such would be my mindset!

MrsA you have just reminded me that I needed to ring around and see who had hold of my bloods from the other week. Just rang doctors and fasting bloods came back as 5.1, I am hopefully classing them as 'normal' as they are under 7. Now crossing fingers and praying! Oh and if anyone knows different then feel free to tell me before I get the phone call from the MW on Weds morning!

Am actually feeling rather efficient today so I may take advantage and attempt to sort out potentially starting my MA in Jan. Wasn't sure I was going to feel up to it but feel like I have to give it a shot :)