We will have a calm and worry-free pregnancy with lots of jumping beans and bouncing babies and will BROOK NO ARGUMENT on that (Part 7)

[TooImmatureTurtleDoves]

I have bought her a top with it on, more for mine and inlaws benefit as she won't really get it... The last time I had the cervical pain was when I was in labour with Dd and when I had my later mc. So hoping it is doing something...

Jen could be ligament pain?

Dream or anyone looking for a massive bag I have spotted this one might not be everyones colour but I have this in different print and it is huge!

Jen, how many weeks are you now? Strong period pains just might be signs of premature labour. When I went into labour with DD1 it felt just like period pain. I don't want to freak you out, but if they carry on then I do think you should give your MW/labour ward a call. Better safe than sorry. In the meantime, try a warm bath and see if they ease off.

I'm 27 weeks today.

I have had intermittent period pain all along, just keep an eye on it, make sure it isn't in a pattern, you are prime ligament stretching time now though!

I've been kicked in the cervix too - not nice!!

Gosh Too 2 weeks and 5 days sounds sooooooo close! And slightly panicking for me - I know your CS is booked in fairly early doors but nonetheless you're still due very close to me! Eeeek!

We're going to have an absolute influx of brooking babies in the next few weeks - its so exciting!!!!!! In fact, hopefully Pomme's could be here this time next week!!!!

Jen I agree that you should keep an eye on those period pains - if in doubt call your mw and get checked over

Dream you poor thing - pain on top of poorly dd (again!) and carrying those two boys! Too is right though, not long until they're here

Purple bump and boobs deffo looking bigger this week. And Dream as Too says your bump looks a great shape

Dh is convinced sweep won't work and well have a long induction again and dm is convinced sweep will work and baby will be born that day. Both driving me slightly mad tbh!

purple - dd2 has got dd1 some magic invisible gel colouring pens and some character memory card things and a little thing of duplo. I was thinking things for her to do mainly!! Dd1 chose a striped teddy for dd2 in tesco the other day.

On the present front, DC2 has got DS a little medical kit thing with a stethoscope etc, and I'm going to take DS to pick a teddy for DC2 I think in the next few weeks.

The thing I always think when I'm buying a present for an older sibling when there's a new baby is that it needs to be a 'self contained' thing they can open and play with without parental involvement, so duplo is always a great one that I get for others.

My mum once gave some paint roller things to her friend's elder dd when the baby came. Before she gave them I said I didn't think it was a great idea when they'd just had a baby because as soon as she opened them she'd want to do painting which is a lot of effort with a new baby, especially if this is all at the same time as my mum is visiting! Needless to say that was exactly what happened and my mum seemed surprised that they were a bit 'oh good, painting! '

Anyway, needless to say I will be applying this criteria in buying things for DS!

I might get one or two little duplo sets to pull out in emergencies. My mother thinks this will lead to him being spoiled if he gets lots of presents, especially if I get them out in 'emergencies' (ie if he's being a bit of a pain and I'm out of options!)

Now here's a question. If I take DS to buy something for DC2, and we don't know whether it's a boy or a girl, how do I get him to pick something neutral? I know he'll pick something pink. And I don't want to tell him he can't and reinforce gender stereotypes etc. and I guess it doesn't matter if the baby is a boy and has something pink. I just worry a wee bit that other people might laugh that DS has bought a pink thing if it's a boy? He loves pink but I often find that people are reluctant to give him pink things - you know say if they're giving out balloons or something.

Anyway, has anyone else with with an older dc bought anything for an UBB? Maybe I should steer him towards something brightly coloured rather than the blue and pink things and avoid the whole situation?

I know that all sounds a bit daft - sorry

Oh my goodness, this week DS has suddenly started saying 'ya' instead of 'you' and 'ere' instead of 'here'.

It's driving me nuts! He used to say both words properly and I don't know where he's got them from.

I don't want to keep correcting him but it is just......... Well, I don't know! I mean it's not that DH and I speak the Queen's English or anything, but dropping H's really grates on me (although it is a local habit especially where the in-laws live so I think I will either blame them, or the people at nursery, or DH maybe just for good measure!)

I wouldn't worry about pink myself and it will be something that he has chosen which will always be special. He might want to buy something random anyway and surprise you?

I don't think I will be getting a present from Dd to Ds although I was really tempted by a sailor cloth doll I like nice dolls though and I am happy spend money on them mostly, because run of the mill dolls are hideous and give me the creeps!

I might get something for the sylvanian house, Dd was pretending one of them was in a pushchair so I could buy her a sylvanians pushchair? Her Bday is in May so I am a bit worried about her being spoilt and sometimes feel conflicted that maybe I should be emphasising her Brother is a gift in himself, perhaps I am over thinking?

Oh Dd has a couple of these Wow toys, she has a boat and a car and they are chunky, hardwearing and she really enjoys them so would recommend them :)

biscuits - over the last few months I've been buying lots of little things like sticker books and chunky little books and film DVDs when I've seen them on offer. I've got an mands bag for life thing and intend to create little kits for dd1 for when I'm feeding dd2. Hadn't really thought about spoiling her tbh and don't think it will, just helping her to get through the boredom of the first few weeks!

Bless your ds loving pink - id let him choose what he wants as he should then feel more attached to giving it to dc2? Maybe you could narrow selection down to an animal range of cuddly toys??

Biscuits Dd has starting saying yeh and going mm rather than talking recently... She also keeps calling me Mumma and Mama sometimes mummy and no idea where she got that from... I find it a bit annoying but don't feel like I should force the I am Mummy issue

You see Pomme I agree - I don't think it will spoil them at all. You're exactly right - it'll be boring for them suddenly having so much time spent on dc2 and it's only fair to proactively manage that boredom. Otherwise you're just making a problem for yourself aren't you!

And you're both right Pomme and Purple - I'll just let him pick what he wants and sod everyone else. He's old enough to 'get' giving something to the baby so I'd really like it to be something he's 100% behind iyswim. Obviously the baby won't care but I'd really like DS to have some ownership of it all.

I'm sure it's just a phase with the ya / you thing etc and I'm sure he'll grow out of it as most people round 'ere don't speak too much like it. Just have to bite my tongue as I don't want to make an issue of it.

The thing is, if I say 'yep' in answer to a question the little hypocrite he corrects me and says 'you should say Yes not yep'. And I have never corrected him on it so I don't know where he's got that from either!

my DS has gone the other way and started saying yes very precisely, although with a slight lisp! he sounds so funny!

we got his present from the baby this week. it's something he'll really love with lots of bits to play with so should be good for distraction.

i feel like I'll be a bit spoiled this time with DH not working, will hopefully make it easier to give DS a bit of attention than if i was on my own after 2 weeks like last time.

i think DH is totally dreading the birth. :( he seems to just remember it as a bit of a nightmare, because i had a long labour and then cs anyway in the end. he reckons i don't remember how long it was because i got lots of drugs towards the end I'd kind of like him to have a bit more confidence that it doesn't have to be like that again. I'm not expecting miracles by listening to nice relaxing natal hypnotherapy stuff, but am feeling reasonably calm about it myself.

Now, why did y'all have to go chit chatting about period type pains. Since DS went to bed I've fad really period like pains across my bump, and it all feels tight too like a BH. Which makes it a bit like a painful BH which is of course NOT a contraction . But it has been fairly consistent for say half an hour or so, so I'm thinking not a contraction. Uncomfortable though.....

I really do think bump has changed shape purple . I'd go for Hugo over Eric. That's just because I knew an annoying Eric and I've never met a Hugo I didn't like!

too, that bump pic was a week and a half ago- just done one today in the spirit of joining in with all these bump pics. Not sure about Tesco for the ice cream- I think ours was from sainsbury. Getting worried people will hate it and think I'm wierd now :-)

pomme, I'm going for you going into labour within 48 hours of your sweep.

biscuits, I really don't see a problem with a boy having something pink. My friend bought her little boy a pink pushchair when he wanted one, and another got a princess outfit for her 2 yr old boy. Down with gender stereotyping!!

Out of date Rennies rationing is now in place to conserve last lot for in the night. And I've already had a cry over rib pain to poor dh. I am SUCH a whinger!

Agree Jen, get checked, just in case it could be a sign of prem labour if not calmed down soon
On phone, forgotten rest...

Hmm, wierd pains are a nuisance and a worry biscuits, hope its just a wierd pain. If its been fairly constantly there for 30 min can't be a contraction at least!

I hope the pains aren't too bad jen?

at Biscuits being horrified by your DS picking up the local accent. I actually laughed out loud because I know exactly what you mean. My in-laws have a very strong local accent (bizarrely DH doesn't). Myself and my family, like you, are not from this part of the country originally and I'm not altogether keen on the accent either. I know, I know, that sounds really snobby I was very careful to teach DS to say "hello", which was a complete waste of time as 10 minutes with MIL and going to playgroup he now only says "hiya". Hmmm, a bit better than "ay op me dock"

We will be buying DS a present from the baby, but haven't quite decided what yet. I don't think I'll take him to choose somethinng for the baby though, I think whatever he chooses he'll want to keep for himself. We're still trying to master the whole sharing thing.

I agree with the whole 'down with gender stereotyping' thing - I think it's nice that DS likes pink, but I feel bad sometimes for him that he gets a slightly negative reaction from other people about it iyswim? I think he's just getting to the age where he's starting to feel it if people laugh 'at' him?.

I think I'm overthinking it anyway, I'll just take him and see what he picks. Bet you're all on the edge of your seats.....

You're bang on Scarlet about the accent . I don't mind it too much and dh's is much less noticeable these days, but in its strongest incarnations, well......

I would like to hear him pronounce a 'h' though again before he leaves school

I should say as well that I really do not have a 'posh' accent myself. And in fact almost every local workman that comes here picks up that I'm 'not from round 'ere are ya duck'

I'm certainly not posh either. 20 years of living here has rubbed off and I cringe sometimes when I hear myself I only have to spend some time with my relatives though and my Estuary English accent returns.

When DH took ds1 to choose a present to give the new baby he found a selection of Brightly coloured animals with rattles in and asked ds1 to decide which animal the baby would like. So he felt like he had picked it but he wasn't given free reign of the whole shop IYSWIM. Ds2 bought ds1 a big tractor with a trailer!
The boys want to get the baby something this time but as they are older I will leave the choosing up to them!
I am off for my glucose load test in the morning so nothing but water can pass my lips from 9pm tonight until I have the test done tomorrow.:(

Good luck with the GTT, Wants!

Jen, how are you this morning? Did the pains subside?

Ditto Biscuits - sounds like a v odd pain, m'dear, so I hope it went away.

Dream, love the new bump pics! The bravery of doing a naked tummy one! I thought you said you had stretch marks - I can't see any. Might have to go to Sainsbury's instead for the ice cream, then. Still, have to rush home tonight to let the dog out, so it will be tomorrow before I can get any.

Jaggy, your poor DH. Mine is also dreading it - he's having nightmares now. I woke up the other night and he was saying 'no, no, no!' in his sleep.

I have to drive myself to work this morning because DH had the work car for the weekend, so he left at 8.10 and I am still un-made-up and my hair is only half-brushed and I'm MNing. Must get ready and leave the house!

Oh, that's so good if you can't see my stretch marks on that pic!!! There's loads... I thought it didmt look like it had grown much otherwise but it blooming has!

Gaviscon seems to have stoppef working entirely. I've had another bad night with dd. Yuck.

too, hope you make work on time
Jen hope youre ok
Bedt see.to the ill and cranky one now... poor little dd.

Dream - I can't see stretch marks either! It's a lovely shape bump and you still look so slim everywhere else. I get pg bum and thighs which I HATE.

Hope your poor dd gets better soon poor poppet.

Dream I think your bump looks great, but it is no fun dragging it around I know :( I also have more stretch marks than you if it is any consolation? I can't actually see yours! I feel a bit stalkerish because now I know your name!! I guess we all hang around baby name threads atm though!

I think I have seen creme egg ice cream in my local Tesco 'Superstore' so might be lucky too?

I am turning into an obsessive I have another pic up because my bump has changed again! I am now wondering if it is normal? I literally stood up this morning and was like where has my bump gone?! Sorry to be so self obsessed!

I am another with a DH traumatised by my previous birth :( he is keeping a brave face on it, but he has cracked and confessed he is really not looking forward to that part and is worried about it. I can't imagine what it must be like for you though Too :( I guess just a relief you are having an ELCS?
Jaggy are you having a VBAC?
Wants brooking for a perfect GTT and that you can eat soon.

Dd is being a right contrary little buggar this morning! Lots of lovely cuddles first thing and now been arguing about toast and ooh anything!