March 2013 VI: cooking, crocheting and chit-chat

[theTramp]

Old thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/1558560-March-2013-Mk-V-Lumpy-bumpy-witty-knitters-patiently-await-the-bloom?msgid=34370452#34370452

And on with the conversation

Preggo brain moment : Not noticing my phone autocorrecting my diary entry for today to read "Prep for Swindle". My resourcing manager just phoned me to suggest I change it as it is a public-ish diary and could be misconstrued :)

Morning all. Hope those who weren't so tip-top yesterday are feeling a bit brighter today.

Any better today Zoey chuck? I was 13 when my bro was born :-)

Good luck with Mac and MW, Emus. I hate it when technology fails! I get so cross?

Ethel interesting what you say about young B/G twins going for gender-specific toys...

Sheldon if by overwhelmed you mean OMFG what on earth are we going to do with babies, then YES! Feeling that a lot recently, but also mildly hysterical excitement too :-) Sometimes I just go crazy cuddling my ridiculously sized belly. And then within seconds I'm in tears about something or other - I am not quite right in the head at the mo! Blaming it on the hormones! Glad you're more positive today - yay!

Sarah glad you feel better with your purchase.

Yippee for heartbeats, Ood, Hermione* and others!

JoJo hurray for flumping and glad to hear you're feeling a bit better today! Take it easy.

Stormy maybe it's swish underfloor heating!

Our decorator just asked me whether I wanted radiator same colour as woodwork or walls. 'Eh?', I said. Apparently it's the thing to do them same colour as walls so they are less noticeable! Who knew?!

How's the rash, Dame? Hope the north is good to you this week!

Em message me your RL FB name and description of profile pic. Or you can do this with anyone else who is in the FB group (we all have adding privileges).

Pink us too on the kitchen! DH has already made a start on regrouting the floor tiles - a thanklessly slow task. We'll get the painting done in the rest of the house first but definitely new kitchen before xmas! As lovely as wooden surfaces look I've had one or two bad reports from friends about warping etc so think we'll go for something else ? anything but the horrid laminate things we've got at the mo! What is a side return? I meant to ask before when you mentioned it!

I am 18 weeks today! Wow. And I think I felt baby 2 move this morning! I'm not sure. I was lay on my side with my hand on the side of my belly (because of anterior placentas) and the top of my leg pressing it in a bit. In the space of about five minutes I felt something, almost like a little kitten rearranging itself, a few times. Very light pressure, but sustained for about 4-5 seconds each time. No kicks, no flumps, but still quite spectacular. I really hope it was baby 2 not wind! Anyway, we'll see how everything's going, I hope, during the cervix scan on Thursday. Can't wait.

Sundae ahhhh, your plans have been thwarted!

Yes manda that is the exact feeling - hysterical excitement but sometimes "arrrghh!! what am I going to do?". It is all totally lovely though. I think my overwhelmed-ness might be to do with my first baby being due this week. I was feeling sad a bit earlier but then felt a little kick which made everything ok again :) Your decorating sounds fab and you are making me think kitchens again! Is anterior placentas at the front? If so then that's what I have and exactly where I'm feeling the flutters.

Exciting about all these heartbeats and movements :)
Am having my turn with the emotional day today - feeling very disillusioned with work and genuinely concerned about how I will feel doing the 1hr15 commute each way with a tiny one. Sundae I also want to change my working pattern to 4 days a week but not sure if it will be OK'd. Struggling to motivate myself for long term planning cycle when I know I will be going off at the end of Jan. Not sure what to do once Bean arrives!
On the plus side DH's business sent out its first invoice yesterday - so hopefully we can start taking a little money rather than just paying it in all the time now!
Hope you all have a good day ladies - I'd better get to work.

Sheldon ohhh it sounds like this being the week when your first baby was due may well be impacting on your emotions, and really understandably. Really very glad that your little bean gave you a kick to say 'Hey, Mummy, I'm looking forward to cuddling you!'

Yes, anterior placentas are at the front :-) I didn't know a uterus could be big enough to have two of them at the front but clearly so! Apparently then can move around as your grow so I'm keen to know what's going on in there at the scan on Thurs!

Lexi, bet it's hard being back after a glorious holiday too. That is a big old commute. Are there any similar companies closer to home that you could think of moving to in a year or two's time? Any chance of working 1-2 days at home (not sure if your line of work permits this?) Woohoo for DH's business! A friend of ours has just set up a business this year and is making it look sooo easy. Within a month he had orders of three-four figures coming in! Obvs. there were a lot of set-up costs, but he can't keep up with demand at the mo. Amazing. Not sure if I'd have the balls, initiative and imagination!

Right, to work. The sound of sanding and Radio 2 downstairs is not helping with concentration ;-)

manda good luck with the concentration - you are on the home straight now! :)
I think my plan at the moment is to come back for at least twelve months and then look for something closer to home, but we will see. Sadly I can't work from home on a regular basis; our company is great in many ways but remote working is frowned on here.
That's fantastic about your friend's business; I think it will be some time before DH can bring in that kind of money but I'm so encouraged that there is demand even at the moment.

Manda we live in a Victorian house and they tend to have a side bit which isn't much use to anyone. Most people extend their kitchens into the side bit to have a lovely wide kitchen and it is called the side return! I want a Coriander work top but I don't think it comes under the budget price tag we are willing to pay!!

Sorry obviously not a coriander worktop (thanks iPhone) but Corian!

For those of you who need cheering up.
In my pregnancy notes, my entire stay In hospital has been documented. 3 days post op some wonderful woman has written the following "no flactulus but is belching regularly" who writes that?!?! If I could laugh without hurting I would, it makes me chuckle every time I see it :)

Jojo that's hilarious!
pink was going to ask what a coriander work top was!

Having a thrilling day at work. Have spent the morning reading about mapping road traffic noise..... Need I say more....

Have had an email from occupational health with an appt for a Tuesday which is usually my day off. It turns out its the one Tuesday I'm working but it clashes with a meeting I'm not prepared to move. Have emailed back and explained. Also concerned its not for 4 weeks but not sure if that's me being over anxious?

Thanks, Lexi! I've written a good page this morning ? which is something at least!! Yes, re friend's business I was amazed that there was so much money sloshing around in people's pockets at the moment! It's a really specialised product and his market is international. Did a lot of work in the area himself first so he knew how to target the market precisely, but I think the demand surprised even him! He thinks he is singlehandedly keeping his tiny local post office in business since sometimes often he goes in and spends £600 on postage and it's had a complete refurb since he started up the business! So, good luck to DH on similarly striking lucky!

Ooh Pink they look good surfaces. Have no idea what we'll go for, but as long as it's clean and new I'll be happy! Thanks for explaining side return!

JoJo you burpy lady!

Ood, 4 weeks seems too long to wait during pregnancy, I think, esp if you have current concerns! Push for earlier!

Looking like 6 weeks now as they only come to my work town twice a month. I'm on leave in November so might time it wrong again. Have told them that in the email.

JoJo That made me giggle :)

Jojo that is funny , it says on my pregnancy app to drink and cold drink and you might fel baby moving away from the change in temp.

Manda when everyone was asking about feeling movements, I said lie on tummies but I actually really meant lie how you have just described only I couldn't think how to describe: lie with thigh on tummy abit, the first time ifelt dd1 was lying like that.

well since we had dd first we had a kitchen and prams etc, I really don't remember ds being interested in them at all, he has always loved action heroes, I think we have 2/3 years of his life that he just dressed up as an action figure (mostly spiderman). dd2 shares a room with him and she will play with his figures and dress up in the costumes but this christmas she wants more babies, new prams etc and the IKEA kitchen (think that is more me as the disney princess one is getting on my nerves)

Oh and dd1 & ds shared a room, now ds & dd2 share a room so it not like they didn't have access to the toys.

The little git at my work has emailed my head of hr to ask what my maternity rights are to clarify just how much he can sideline me I assume. Not gone down well with senior mgmt! I guess he is just digging his own grave there,

Waiting for 16 wk appt - will be nice yo focus on something nice!

On gender and toys I have 3 ds and they are just car and train mad. However also love the colour pink and playing cooking etc. no interest in dolls though. I think they just love playing with any toys really. Dh won't let me get them a proper play kitchen so I got them the mini kitchen from elc which has been lots of fun - it's like a little box with 2 hobs and a microwave, though I had to get it in blue! Dh is really funny about blue is for boys etc!

It is nice to hear about all your DCs toy preferences. I never really liked anything "girly" - I didn't play with dolls and I loved playing in mud with the boys next door. My female cousin who was very girly visited regularly though and we got on very well and always managed to play nicely. My room was pink though and I'm certainly not repeating that with my DD (DD! It is so lovely to be able to say this) :) If she wants pink when she is older she can have it but while it is my choice it will be cream with animals.
Stealth That sounds annoying, I hope it backfires on him. I have no idea what to expect with my work at all but they have been nice so far.
I burst into tears when I showed my scan pic on Sunday and someone commented that their (adult) DD is prettier. I thought it was a really odd thing to say. Gender stereotyping beginning already :(

Sheldon that is a very odd thing to say!! Ignore them, very strange indeed & incredibly insensitive. Of course everyone thinks that their child is beautiful but to make a comparison with a scan photo is bizarre!

My boys love cars, dinosaurs, Lego & trains. We have a cute wooden kitchen and play food which gets played with a lot & ds1 went through a phase of loving cleaning so we have a mini Hoover and other cleaning things!!! Mine also love drawing & making things too which I enjoy.

Stealth my dh is funny about blue for boys and boys only having traditionally boy toys. It's v annoying and I have ignored him on several occasions. We also have a toy buggy but it is the blue one and has a dinosaur in it instead of a doll!

What a day - I'm such a twat. I had my midwife appointment today, and I had it in my head it was at 12pm. My car is in to get MOT'd today so had to catch the bus. Buses only run through the village once an hour on the hour, so got DS out of nursery early to catch the 11am bus. £5.10 for an adult return to the next village, WTF?! It's 4 miles away at the most! Anyway, get to the doctor's to discover my appointment isn't until 1:30pm. Had lunch in a wee cafe, back for my appointment, back to bus stop by 2pm, bus isn't until half past... Not having the car sucks big time!

On a positive note though, appointment was fine and got to hear the heartbeat! I completely forgot to ask about flu jab etc. I might phone later. The heartbeat sounded much slower than DS's did! Next appointment is the 20 week scan (I'll be almost 22 weeks though) on the 31st of October. Feeling lots of movements now too, which is ace.

Me DS2 loves cleaning so he has a henry cleaning kit and they only had it in pink so thats what he got - DH tried to moan a bit but I stood firma and told him its small minded people that push stereo types and he was 18 months and if it made him happy he would have it - in fairness he spends more time using it as a weapon against DS1, lol!!! He also loves books, kissing teddies and cars and planes but if he picked up a doll and wanted to play with it I wouldnt bat an eye lid, I have got him a pay dyson for xmas! DS1's fav colour is neon pink :)

Stealth that bloke at work sounds a total douch page and karma is a bitch and will bot him in the back side at some point - until then just smile and let the loser dig his own grave :)

My work are not really taking the fact I am pregnant and baby WILL be early very seriously at all and it is really startng to worry me - I am pointing out now its October I could only have 2 clear months (Nov&Dec) before baby arrives if I am lucky as DS2 was due March ~(later than this baby) and arrived Jan and DS1 was due Feb and arrived Nov!!! When I mention this my boss just nods and i know he hasnt even attempted to get me cover or anything and has only mentioned I will have a laptop and remote access to my pc

Off to doctors in half hour and actually cant wait to start feeling better

Interesting gender talk. I can assure you I was the most right-on, colour avoiding, gender-sterotype dismissing mother you can imagine, and yet my son is all Lego and Spiderman. He does, however, enjoy dressing up i n my clothes too and wearing high heels, so there's hope for him yet!

The dodgiest moment, which really tested me, was when he was about three and needed a new bed. I told him to look through a catalogue we had and he immediately chose the bright pink girly princess bed. Now, if it had been a pair of shoes, maybe. But a bed - which he would have to have for the rest of his early childhood into teens - no. And sure enough it was only about another six months before all things pink were eschewed as 'er, that's for GIRLS'. Tried my best. He had a pink tea set instead

Anyway, just posting to say that in my yoga class just now I REALLY felt baby giving me a good series of whacks - suspect he didn't approve of the position I was in as it narrowed the space in his 'bedroom'. Ha ha.....

Hello everyone! How's tricks? Great to hear the teams are starting to become clear & that those who know are enjoying saying it - 'my son/daughter' does make it all seem very real doesn't it?!

How's the book coming on manda? My other MN friend expecting twins ('thereshegoes') has found out she is expecting two boys (her first was a girl) :) Will you be finding out? I would be very tempted if I was having two!

zoey it must be disconcerting knowing that you're likely to have an early birth by so many weeks, I hope work don't make it any more so for you.

It was DS's first birthday at the weekend and almost overnight we seem to have a toddler rather than a baby. He is walking really well holding a hand, and even took a couple of steps unaided on his birthday (trying to reach for a chocolate button!). I am so excited to think of two of them getting to know each other - and that lovely moment sneaking into their bedroom to watch them sleep. Eeeeeepp :)

We have our 20 week scan on Sunday - that has come about pretty quickly. Just starting to get the prickles of anxiety again. jojo how does it feel to be half way there?!

Right - got to go. Hope everyone feels a bit happier and that awful sickness abates before long. I really feel for you guys still suffering. Also hoping some of you have dry weather out there - it is pissing it down here and has been all day. TTFN

Interesting hearing all your experiences with gender and your DC - shows you just how impossible it is to negate society influence/ads/exposure to other kids etc on a child's experience leading to inevitable stereotyping and shaping of children's preferences - guess the only solution would be living in the middle of nowhere and homeschooling! Tbh I am not opposed to any particular colour preferences - its more the messages that come with it. I am always appalled by some of the things I see on girl's clothes, with references to 'cuteness', 'prettiness' and 'princesses' from an incredibly early age and even more irritated by toy selections - especially nurses uniforms for very little girls and the terrible stereotyping even in modern children's books. Ultimately sounds like its all about trying to find a balance in your home to counteract those societal pressures. I am very lucky that my DH shares these views - if we had a DS and he wanted to play with dolls, paint his entire room pink, play with a pink oven or whatever neither of us would blink, just like if our DD wants an action man, to play football or dress head to toe in blue!