Due in October part 8- still plodding along, this time with copious amounts of raspberry leaf tea

[Londonmrss]

Surely this'll be the last one before moving to the postnatal section?

Due Dates:

Sept. 24: Lisbethsopposite DS2 by planned induction
Sept. 25: Squidkid DC1
Sept. 26: Elpis DC2 by ELCS
Sept. 27: Planktonette DC1
Oct. 1: FjordMor DD1 by planned induction, Gigglewhizz DC1(?)
Oct. 2: Firstbubba DC1, Milk DC2
Oct. 5: Yomping DC1
Oct. 7: Crazypaving DC2
Oct. 10: WantAnOrange DC2, MrsConfusion DC1, MidgetM if induced
Oct. 11: Smileyhappymummy DC2 by ELCS
Oct. 14: Hufflepuffle DC1.
Oct. 17: Smorgs, DC1
Oct. 18: Bella2012 DC2, Beccus DC1
Oct. 19: Shellwedance DC1
Oct. 20: Beeblebear DC1, MidgetM if ELCS DC2
Oct. 21: Dosomethingmutley DC1
Oct. 26: Londonmrss, DC1, Zara1984 DS1, Liege07 DS1
Oct. 28: Kyyria DC1, Loopyla, DC1
Oct. 30: Cherrychopsticks, DC1
Nov. 1: Londonlivvy DC1
Nov. 8: Mickey DC1

Actual babies:

Sept. 20: Velo - Max 2.35kg
Sept. 25: Angelico - Mini Angelico, CWest30 - Naomi Louise, 4lb 10oz

squid Jess is sooooo cute and you look fabulous!!! Is that a Moby wrap?? Need to figure out how to use mine.

Ok I am now officially on maternity leave... Is it time to start freaking out yet?! Feels all very surreal. My boobs decided to celebrate by leaking colostrum all day

37+6, quietly shitting myself....

Hey ladies, just sending you all a wave and a hug - am checking in on PN thread whenever I get a chance and looking forward to seeing you all over there :o Yomping and peeps who can't sleep - sending sympathy strokes because it really is the shittest thing. If it's any consolation you may well find that you sleep better when the beans arrive instead of feeling desperately sleep deprived.

Bean has been an angel all day - feeding and sleeping. No doubt she is hoarding her strength for the mother of all meltdowns this evening... Thank God MIL is going to take her overnight and just wake me for feeds...! :o

Squid photos are gorgeous :) What is the sling? It looks a bit like the Kari Me one we have - but haven't used it yet. Looks nice and comfy!

Just to let you all know...

William Andrew Wilk was born on was born on Thursday 4th October, at 02:01am weighing 7lb 8oz :) born 40+2

I had to be induced on Wednesday 3rd October at 6pm, due to having symptoms of pre-eclampsia.

Congrats milk!!! Really lovely name! hope you're recovering well!

Another lovely baby

Well done Milk- congratulations!
Angelico, love that you are still referring to your 'bean'.

Congrats milk

yomping you have my heartfelt sympathies. I am beyond tired now. My sleeping (as I have delighted in telling everyone on here over the last 9 months...sorry all) has suffered horrendously. Have had the crappest sleep this week. Managed a one hour snooze at lunchtime, which was lovely but just made me feel horrendously groggy and even more knackered! Have been struggling to keep my eyes open for the last 45mins. Am going to try and stay awake as long as possible just on the offchance that I can completely pass out when I do go to bed.

I'm managing blocks of about 2 hours max inbetween waking (usually caused by hip discomfort and pain on turning over) but then can be awake for 3 hours inbetween.

I've not found anything successful so fae but do agree that the more you focus on not being able to sleep, the harder or gets.

Huge hugs and if I find the magic cure I'll let you know. I'm falling asleep typing this so if I don't get a.decent nights sleep tonight I will be.frustrated!

Liege cherry and huffle Glad it?s not just me re the small bump and thanks for the support. And you?re absolutely right liege and Bella, that there are quite a few groups locally and I need to just get being brave and thrust myself forward into these groups of people I don?t know. It?ll be fine! (I say, clearly trying to reassure myself). I also have my NCT girls too, as a starting point and

Bella bit belatedly, I did love your story of your romantic getaway (I remember the rugby trip and thinking you were being v.graceful about it) ? I do feel like we need an enormous bed at the moment. Poor DF is balancing on the edge! Do share a pic of the pirate ship when you?re done! I?ve spent the evening baking brownies and muffins for my last day at work tomorrow.

LondonMrs 10 times in 24 hours????? Crikey. And beeble 10 times seems mighty optimistic, regardless of the method of application!!!

huffle and yomping I shall look out for the brushes stuck around ikea and think of you!

yomping on the sleep front?
-Pain when turning over ? if my hips are bad I find a paracetemol before bed and another in the middle of the night can really help.
-I don?t have bump discomfort (I have a v.small bump) but others swear by wedge pillows?
-wriggly baby ? I find mine jumps around more when I?ve just eaten so maybe try not to eat just before going to bed?
And general sleep advice (which possibly is patronising / stating the bleeding obvious)

• try and get some fresh air and exercise every day
• only go to bed when you?re yawning and only nookie or sleep in bed (no tv, no books, no ipad etc).
• get up if you can?t sleep.

Go cherry on the organisational front. I am also on fire, sorting out paying my tax before baby comes (though not due til Jan) and xmas pressies etc. Hoping for continued mojo next week to finish all the other stuff.

squid I wasn?t put off by your birth story at all. I thought it was encouraging and empowering, to be honest. So I wouldn?t worry about having shared it. I appreciate the honesty.
I also really appreciate your honesty about your journey through motherhood, with its inevitable ups and downs. I think it?s normal to feel like you should feel in love all the time, but realistically this couldn?t happen, surely! I love DF all the time, but some days I look at him, full of love and I feel like the luckiest girl in the world, and other days, when I?m tired and ratty and he?s done something that I?ve found irritating, I don?t feel that overflow of love. It?s still there, of course, just not OH WOW. Surely all relationships are a bit like that? And with an extreme sleep deprivation regime, I think you?re an absolute trooper. Go squid. Really. And Jess is absolutely GORGEOUS by the way.

Zara I?m on maternity leave tomorrow and think that once I?ve done the ?OH YAY? bit there will be a part of me mildly freaking out!

milk congratulations! That?s lovely news.

Angelico hurrah for MIL! Hope all keeps going well.

kyyria sorry to hear the sleeping is still so crappy. Poor you.

Just a quickie as I am shattered. All movement stopped here, contractions brought no more dilation but knackered! Sweep number 2 tomorrow.

Will try and catch up properly later or tomorrow but wanted to say to Fjord I had a nightmare breast feeding at first with DD. I was not encouraged as she was LBW, tube fed, and needed extra calories food. My milk didn't come in because I had a PPH. The only thing I can say is hang in there and it will come good. That bloody pumping really can get to you. Just trust your body like you have done all along and it will work out. It took ages - I hope you have some encouraging advice and support - with this you can crack it (no bad cracked nipple Gag intended) but equally if you don't, don't be disheartened. You have done so much already for baby Fjord that you must also know when to take care of yourself. Must pass out now, hugs to all, arch up properly tomorrow if not in labour.

I am FED UP of being pregnant.
There, I have said it. I find it hard to get excited about the arrival of the baby, purely because I know I have a maximum of 6 weeks left.
I cannot cope with another 6 weeks. I just can't.

Squid Jess is absolutely gorgeous. I LOVE the multicoloured sleepsuit :o
Sympathies to everyone on the no sleep front. I am also finding it hard. But my epic shift work is making it slightly easier- yet again, my manager left me to run an entire shop on my own for the entire day today. 36 weeks pregnant, advisable?
I'm wondering if I can cope with work much longer. But now I am under the 4 week notice period... I don't know if I can leave early.

Cwest Glad to hear you and baby are home safe and sound. I have been thinking of you.
Fjord I am not qualified to give any advice on the woes of bottle vs. breast- but at the end of the day, if your girl's hungry, she's gotta eat.
If you think about it, its like the giving-birth part. So many women feel a failure for having a caesarean, but as it has been said many times in this thread, it doesn't matter how your baby comes out, as long as it is the safest, healthiest way possible. For you and baby. In my opinion , stress is the worst thing a baby can be subjected too. So being stressed out and trying to breast feed and it not working, rather than being a bit easier on yourself and formula-feeding could be worse. If you catch my drift.
I think all this stuff about there being an even specialeris that even a word? bond between breast fed babies and mothers is absolute bollocks. I know so many children that are bottle-fed and they absolutely adore their Mums, and won't go to anyone else. What matters is that you spend time with them, play with them and make them feel as loved as possible. A bottle is not that different from a breast, it is just plastic- you can still feed your baby in the same position, and they can still see you and you can still talk to them. Like I said, this is my personal opinion, but I really hate to see people beat themselves up about it- whats important is that your baby is having milk, no matter where it comes from. You are not a failure. It is not your fault.
I don't mean to be condesending(sp?) and I obviously don't know much as a measly first timer, but thats just my personal view- feel free to ignore it. Lots of strokes and cuddles xxxx
Midget I hope your sweep goes well and gets things started- I may go to the doctors soon and throttle their tiny necks beg on my hands and knees for an induction!!!
Yomping As you can probably tell by now, I am also having a very fuck-you-pregnancy day. To be honest, I've had it all week. I'm walking like I've shit my pants, I look like a whale, I can't understand how DP is even living with a neurotic bitch me, I can't do sex, I can't do more than a trip upstairs without being tired, and UGHHHH.
I LOVE the bump paintings though- agreeing that the james bond one is BRILLIANT.

It may also be a bit late now for those with insomnia, but have you tried laying on a yantra mat? I can vouch for the fact that they are absolutely fantastic. My mum lent me hers when I had 4 nights and days of continuous awakeness, laid on it for half hour, out like a light for nearly 14 hours. I still haven't given it back. It is also very good for aches and pains and relaxation.. It takes a few goes to get used to the sensation it causes when you first lie on it but after that you've cracked it.
Like I said, it may be a little late in the day/pregnancy/etc but if you suffer with anything like that normally they are wonderful. And fairly reasonably priced. and different colours :o

Was it Kyyria that was asking about people having their babies early? I am also in the same boat. Literally everyone I know that was due at the same time as me, or just before, have all gone and had their babies. I am gutted. I don't want to go overdue :(
Having said that, my uterus has finally learnt to contract! Yes ladies. I am now the proud sufferer owner of Braxton Hicks. I know this not much to get excited over, but I was wondering wether my uterus would bother .
I have to see the crap doctor again tomorrow. And tell him that I am not suffering dizzy spells anymore. I cannot have got over a virus that quickly, so I know, as will he, that he was talking absolute bollocks. Big hairy ones at that.

Right, I am off to take my loathing, whinging self off to take my own advice and lay on the yantra mat. The baby is sat on my sciatic nerve. Not impressed child.

So sorry these posts have been so me me me. It took me so long to catch up with you all I forgot what half of you said!!

Fat and fed up, looking like the michelin man. 36 weeks today.

mickey your post has cheered me up no end

Yes, it was me talking about early babies. My friend who went into labour yesterday (due 18th) has given birth to a baby girl (Sophie Anna) this afternoon.

I'm thinking 2 and a.bit weeks til due date is just about doable, but if I end up going over the though of having to get through another 4 and a bit weeks fills me with dread. I am totally fed up with this malarkey now.

Only thing wanting him to stay in is that i've just started the final year of my BA and I have coursework due in on 3rd Nov...want to get it done and out of the way before LO arrives.

32, 37+4, #1, equally as fat and fed up as mickey

Hi all...could I join in? I'm due on Oct 16, but been hanging out in Pregnancy for nine months. Y'all all seem so close and supportive, I don't want to barge in :)

I ummm....have been excited for nine months, and now just mostly feel very anxious. Been hypnobirthing, taking RLT, just started on the Evening Primrose Oil - tried it as a pessary which was an experience! - and was on the thread Squid started in Pregnancy - Last Week or Two - but all the lovely ladies have given birth now and I'm alone and anxious. Wibble.

mickeytheshortone are you due in november?

Well, went to bed at 10pm and managed to sleep through to 2:15am, with waking every hour or so to turn over and with suffering crampy period type pains - which I presume are BH. Got up to loo at 2:15am and have been wide awake since.Get to the point where i'm just about dropping off and DH starts snoring

Now sitting at dining table with and (jaffa cakes to be precise) trying to be productive and get ideas for coursework down on paper.

Feel like a zombie, absolutely shattered but can't sleep. Looking after a new born baby has to be easier than this!

Didn't think my struggles were down to cogs whirring but if I'm being honest I think some of it might be - although I'm damned if I can work out what they're whirring about!

Morning kyyria. Hope you are ok. Please look into getting a yantra mat- i woke up.once last night rather than my usual 4 or 5 times. Went straight back to sleep too- only reason i am up so early now is because im being a pushover going to work early.
jaylee yes im due nov 8th- at first we thought i was due on 19th oct (i wish ) which is why im camped out in this thread with these lovely ladies!! X

And kyyria i am holding you responsible for the packet of jaffa cakes that i will inhale in the next 10mins!!

Morning Kyyria, Mickey and any other early birds

Kyyria not only do I join you with restless legs (why now, for chrissakes, pregnancy is almost finished!) but also snoring DH

Got our hospital appointment at 10am to see if baby Loopy is breech or not?massively dreading it to be honest

Pass the jaffa cakes, feel the need to scoff my way to my happy place...

loopy, mickey I would gladly pass the jaffa.cakes but...ahem...they seem to have all disappeared been scoffed!

DH is grumpy again this morning as I "kept him awake"...not that you'd know by the way the house was shaking every time he inhaled! I could hear him in the kitchen with the radio on at 3:30am this morning!

mickey at least when you finish work you can have snoozes during the day - they don't always help but at least you have the option. How long til you start mat leave?

loopy hope all goes well at the hosp. I'm sure all will be fine but it doesn't stop you worrying.

Well, I came back up to bed at 5:15am, snoozed until alarm went off at 6:15am (i'm not at work but DH is shocking at getting up unless I'm up to prod him!). Going to grab a shower when DH heads out in about 15mins and then will split my day between coursework, tidying the house and snoozing.

Will pop in again later - morning to all and hope everyone has a decent day

32, 37+5, #1

Hi Orenishii! Welcome!
Squid once again, you look a bit too gorgeous. Are you sure you've just had a baby?!
Hugs to Fjord- I don't have anything productive to say other than you're doing brilliantly
Mickey, well done on the BH! Mine isn't bothering.
Kyyria, good luck with your coursework. I struggled enough with my Masters a couple of years ago without being upduffed, so massive respect.
I have joined the crap sleepers club. Baby was stretching out and it was so painful I actually spent an hour thinking I was in labour. Then she got the hiccups. Three times. Which, as she is fairly low now, I now feel right in my arse.
Still, on the upside, I just had a really nice poo.

Squid, to be completely honest, I was a bit scared when I read your birth story as from what I had gleaned about you, I expected yours to be an easy "breathe the baby out" birth and was hoping for the same for me. But do you know what? Knowing that you did all that preparation (as I have/am) and we are similarly outdoorsy and gung-ho about things, and that you still found it really hard, has in some very strange way freed me up to feel that my birth doesn't have to be perfect and it's OK for me to find it hard too, and given me a more realistic perspective about the birth. For a dyed-in-the-wool perfectionist, this is a very liberating thing! Maybe it will be straightforward, maybe it won't, maybe I will get my homebirth in the water with zen-like music, maybe I won't. But knowing how it can go and the ways in which it can be hard has given me the opportunity to think "how would I handle that - what can I and DH do if that starts to happen" - and all that helps me to feel more prepared and more accepting of what will be. So thank you, don't feel bad about it, it was actually a really positive thing to post!

That goes for anyone else posting their birth story - please don't feel like you have to censor it for those of us who have not yet gone through it (Fjord, this means you in particular). One of the most amazing things about this thread is that we can all be totally honest because no-one is judging us. We all benefit from each others' experience and because of that we can all help and support each other through the shit times. Things go wrong, things don't go to plan, things have to be endured. Not talking about it doesn't change it but talking about it helps.

Here endeth the sermon, lol.

Mickey so nice to hear from you!!! You hav made me giggle......!
I saw those Yantra mats in holland barrat, wondered what the feck they were......
R u still gonna work to 39+??? As someone who finally is, I encourage u to really really think about it!! I was still working til last wk and was a feckin mess. Glad this bubs has stayed putt as didn't realise how much I hav needed rest, be it only 1 wk.

Kyyria my sympathies and hugs to you are unending...... This will end tho. Feel so humungously sorry for u.....

Congratulations milk and lovely name!! Hope u all settling in well!! Xx

Good luck today Loopy hope u get positive news!

Well according to my original date I am due tmrw- that was using online calculators, not Yompings fantastic maths........! But booking apt added on a day for leap year (?) So due on Sunday. But I no more feel like labour imminent than last week! Hav upped the raspberry tea, had a bath last night with clary sage oil and hav been bouncing on ball like a child. Mum telling me to go walking but as my pelvic pain has mostly settled don't want to risk making it return with vengeance. And theres no way DH is marinating me with prostaglandins..... Poor chap traumatised at thought. Got sweep on Monday to look forward to. Nice.

Hav a nice day all! Xx

Morning all! I slept! Amazing. Feel a billion % more human today. Really appreciated everyone's supportive comments yesterday, thank you, and Mickey, going to look into that mat for future bad nights.

Saw MW yesterday, nearly cried on her about not sleeping at night. She gave me a stern talking to about sleeping during the day, as in, if I can't at night, do get some in the day - it's what I'll have to do when baby is here. I felt very chastised! Had been avoiding sleeping during day on premise that I would then not be tired enough to fall asleep at night but what she said makes sense. She also said it's nature's way of preparing you, which I was a bit about as it's the thing everyone (inc non-preggers people and annoying blokes) say but I guess there must be truth in it.

As per local policy, she booked me a trace and induction chat with consultant in a week's time when I will officially (by stupid incorrect scan date) be 40+12 but she is being extremely supportive of us and the fact that we think our dates are wildly wrong and is going to email the consultant about it before we see him, and she is supporting us with declining induction too. Feel very grateful that we have lucked out with our midwife and so hoping she is on call when labour finally starts!

So the sleeping - I spent the day researching, asking for advice, drawing up a list of rules for the evening - then I realised I was totally overthinking it and putting so much pressure on myself that it was never going to work. (Yomping has a rare moment of self-awareness ). So I had plum crumble and cream for dessert (breaking the no sugar rule), had a glass of red wine (breakin ghte no alcohol, it is a stimulant and a massive pregnancy no-no rule), read till I was tired (breaking the DH is working so we have a 10pm lights off curfew rule), threw my wedge pillow on the floor (breaking the must support bump and legs rule) and allowed myself to lie calmly for a couple of hours on the understanding that if I couldn't sleep I would get up and go downstairs to read (not to throw the book across the room and punch the kitchen wall this time hand is still a bit ow-y )). And I slept. Not all night, plenty of loo-breaks, but I got back to sleep.

But the biggest revelation - this is so embarrassing and I should be immediately sent on a parenting course as I am going to be such a shit mother... I discovered that if the baby is wriggling around a lot (which it does, all evening and all night), then rubbing a hand gently and continuously over the bump actually soothes it and stops it wriggling . This was a total revelation to me. FFS, how am I going to cope with my lack of maternal instinct once the baby is actually out in the real world and EVERYBODY can see how rubbish I am?

Which could be quite soon, as today is Official Due Date Number 2! (40 weeks from LMP minus 2 days for a 25 day cycle).

Right, now to catch up with everyone else...

squid - lovely photos, can't believe how tiny she looks next to your boyfriend! So sweet! Also love multicoloured sleepsuit!

Zara, welcome to the dark side! Congrats on finishing work. I found I started to shit myself more as I had less to distract me, but I think this is entirely normal and all part of coming to terms with imminent labour and parenthood so let yourself panic, you will come out the other side and we are all here to stroke, hug and offer practical advice until then!

Kyyria, glad you got a bit of sleep last night was better. At least we can hold on to what Angelico and others have said, that we will get better sleep once the baby is actually here. Good work with the Jaffa cakes!

LondonLivvy, thank you for advice. I do need to exercise more, have been slacking off as so tired. Will go for walk today. And I fully agree about no TV, iPad etc but I do read in bed most nights (if nooky not on menu) as it really relaxes me and I am middle aged. Totally hear you about feeling shy and intimidated about joining local groups - and very impressed at your and Cherry's organisation!

Midget, nooooo! fingers crossed that today's sweep gets thing going again.

Mickey, you can leave earlier if you have a pregnancy-related illness - not sure how you would feel about the ethics of this but if you got your doc to sign you off for stress due to overwork in your "current condition", that could count as pregnancy related and would kick-start your maternity leave now. It also depends on your employer, some are happy for you to go off earlier than planned if you ask them, but by the sounds of it your boss is a nobber so not sure this would be an option. Welcome to the "fuck you, pregnancy" club! . And yay for your uterus - mine was similarly lazy and I was cross with it, but it seems to be making up for lost time - interestingly, BH happen mostly when I stop and sit down/lie down. Some days I get loads loads, others none but, like you, I am glad it is finally practising

Loopy, fingers crossed for you that baby was just being awkward but if not, glad you are feeling calmer about options. Let us know what happened at your apptmt.

Orenishii, welcome (but it's really welcome back, isn't it, you were on the very first Due in October threads from what you said in the other thread?). Be warned, we whinge a lot! (or that may just be me, to be fair)

Right, that's me caught up. Have to go and prepare a slow-cooker meal then do all the things I meant to do yesterday but was too zombified to get round to, including listen to hypnobollocks, do peri massage, pelvic floors, eat dates etc.

Happy Friday girls &

I MISS YOU GUYS AND MUST GET BETTER AT ONE-HANDED TYPING

Loopy it is very hard to equate bump to baby isn't it? By the end of my labour I had genuinely forgotten I was having a baby and it was a great surprise when they chucked her at me
You must be just about to go in for your appointment (well probably not they are probably running 3 hours late) - thinking of you and hoping for good outcome. I wouldn't have wanted an ELCS either but I have to say my mates who have had them have raved about them - stressfree and they all had quick recoveries - they also got to have them at 39w so you would be SPARED the worst week or two ever, 39-42... man that bit of pregnancy sucks. But I hope for good news for you. keep us updated.

hufflepuffle I had half a bottle of ale last night, a proper good local IPA! It was bliss but I was woozy after half of it, haha. I had champagne after labour - went straight to my head - perhaps a G&T for you!!

thanks smileyhappy and I hope things are going ok for you with your little Melissa

Zara & Angelico yes a moby! It is a lot of material and I am not totally convinced by it, it's a bit of a faff to get on and off though maybe I am just learning (and I think it makes me look frumpy - terrible vain thing to admit) BUT Jess falls asleep the second you put her in it and doesn't wake up till you take her out so on that front it is a massive success! It is also very very comfortable and cosy and when back to normal strength I'm sure I could walk miles with it, less effort than a pushchair. I may buy a pushchair as well.
Zara enjoy maternity leave!

Congratulations milk!!!Hope you're feeling ok and enjoy your baby.

thanks for lovely comments londonlivvy, and londonmrss I wish I could take you around with me everywhere I go you do wonders for my self-esteem :)

mickey cannot believe you're still working so hard poor love :(
Glad you are finding some help sleeping with your magic mat!
I absolutely hated everyone who came early / had ever come early when I went overdue (only by a few days!) Not very gracious at all, haha.

Yomping thanks for that, that makes me feel a lot better, and I'm glad any initial negativity I gave you has been tempered with some more positive aspects. I mean, as I keep saying, it was on paper a pretty textbook "normal" labour! A little on the long side, but nothing that unusual. I found the pool helped massively with the pain but I had to get out because it slowed my contractions down, SOB! Next time I think I would like to try and deliver in the pool and spend lots more time in it - omg , I just said "next time"! So I am still hopeful you will be the posterchild for hypnotherapy and being all zen though obviously I will childishly hate you as well if that happens
Glad you slept. Sometimes the things we do to help us relax/sleep become chores in themselves, eh!? And you have to just say, fuck it.

Massive sympathies for everyone struggling with sleep, I absolutely hated it in late pregnancy... no tips really as not much worked for me except delivering baby!! I can sleep well again now (though don't get more than an hour or two to try!) I think sex and pregnancy massages were the only things that helped a little... though massages ain't cheap and sex got pretty uncomfortable (not to mention slightly humiliating)

Another VERY disturbed night but all in love with Jess and boyfriend again today so don't care. I had sex-time with boyfriend yesterday that really cheered me up. I didn't take my pants off - I'm not THAT much of a hero, still a bit sore where my graze is which I haven't dared look at - but I wriggled around and got stroked and kissed and did teenagestylehandjobsblowjobs etc and felt lovely and attractive again afterwards. He says I look fab. I am little-ish again, but a bit squishy.

My brother and family are coming over in half an hour, they've driven all the way up from down south, they are my favourite people in the whole world. My 8 year old niece is the best girl ever, and my 5 year old nephew is my favourite person to cheer me up ever, and last time I saw him he said "when you have your baby, I'm going to LOVE IT!"