March 2013 VIII: feeling kicks, comparing knits and halfway there

[theTramp]

Old thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/1588951-March-2013-VII-Our-little-pumpkins-are-getting-fatter?msgid=35174657#thread

Lexi my ancient macbook also gave up the ghost recently and I just ordered a Medion Akoya E6221 Intel Core i3 2350M 4GB/320GB 15.6" Blu-ray Notebook from Sainsburys for around £280. Couldn't justify spending so much on a new laptop this time round!

Lexi I dropped my first Macbook and broke it so bought a Dell laptop to replace it which was a lot cheaper. It was rubbish... sooooo slow and heavy and I really missed everything about the Mac. Last year I bought a Macbook Pro & it's amazing so I feel it's worth the expense if you can afford it.

tramp glad your baby shower went well. The food sounded superb! Hope you are enjoying the leftovers.

Manda glad you had a good tutorial and lots of delicious cake! Which college at OU do you tutor in? One of my brothers is at Worcester & the other left St Hugh's in the summer.

Emus Kicking from the outside is such a fab feeling isn't it?

Sheldon sorry to hear you have been il, I hope you feel better now.

DS1 went to the Good food exhibition at Olympia this morning with my Mum & brother which was nice. Ate lots of delicious food! Boys have been so well behaved this weekend which has been fab especially with dh away. Now having a lie down on the sofa and hoping this baby decides to do some moving. The evenings are the only time I can really concentrate on feeling kicks!

Lexi go with the Mac. I replaced my older MacBook a few months ago with a MacBook pro. It's stunningly good. I had a Dell before my Macbook that lasted just over a year. The Macbook lasted 5 years or so and still works, I just wanted a newer one. The Dell was about £500, the MacBook a lot more, but lasted a lot lot longer. Think long term

Rainbow thanks for the tip, I will take a look. I figure my computer is pretty old so anything will probably seem like a step up in terms of performance etc.

I love my macbook pro too. Funny how many of us have them!

Think I have found a new love, mediterranean roasted veg with balsamic vinegar, noms!

Just wondering about stretch marks... Do they start off as small white silvery lines or is that what they fade too? Thought I caught glimpse of some feint lines yesterday but can't see them at all today... I'm hoping its not stretch marks but I have rounded out quite rapidly in the past 10 days!

Evening ladies. RElaxed weekend here, appart from briefl working Sat evening, but wasn't too bad. Emptied my wardrobe of non maternity cothes tpday (so it's now about empty) and packed them for the move. STILL not exchanged though. DS has been really good playing all day, barely any cbeebies even though we've not been our cos I was tired and it's freeezing!

Stormy My DH thinks sex is weird once there is a baby in there. And he won't seem to do ahem, anything else either (least not with me, don't know what he might be up to on his own and shan't wonder about it either ).

Shell adn Sundae hope you're feeling better.

JoJo bloomin heck what a week!

Well, one day at work tomorrow then I'm on a course in London on Tuesday and the first of my Wednesdays off on Wed. Was thinking I'd find a toddler group adn start taking DS on Wedenesdays since I'm not working on Weds any more, but huge pile of exam marking arrived this weekend so this week will send him off to the childminder as usual and try to break the back of it. Haven't touched any this weekend with working Sat evening adn being to tired today.

Stormy realise that did not include any help or advice as your requested. Sorry, I don't have any, DH just refuses point blank! But you're not alone!

JoJo, nothing you can do about stretchmarks, you either get them or you don't. I have expanded and retracted so many times I have quite a few, they end up silver and fine and normally start quite pink. Try not to worry.

Flowery, better day until I pooped my pants! Very random upset tummy that lasted an hour, like my sickness last night. I am exhausted as I haven't slept properly in three weeks, but less ill today. Thanks for asking and Shell I hope you are better too!!

Definitely not a hint of pink/red over here (apart from healing scar) might just have been the light!!
Not too worried if I get them, I already have a 7 inch scar, I doubt I'll be walking around in a bikini any time soon!!

flowery there's every chance it's going to get busier, the chap who was interested in my room is trying to get a contract arranged so I need to think about moving out too. Ah well, lots to look forward to and my pram is just awesome, I can't stop playing with it!!!

Mine started off pink then go silvery

Oops Sundae hope you are Better soon

Lexi I only seen the shower oil the other day in chemist, love Aveeno I started with handcream when dd2 was born, she has eczema and was prescribed the lotion going to make a trip to Boots tomorrow and stock up

Possom good luck for promotion

I'm wearing a maternity shirt I bought in San Francisco when I was pg with ds, dh loved it although he has been sick and working late today but apart from that me being pg has never affected that dept.

Oh sundae not you too, my sympathies. I was wondering if it was a bug but now think maybe it is just another pregnancy symptom. Hope it's all gone now, mine seems to have.

Well I got lots of tidying and clearing done today. I had an old bathroom rack which I have cleaned up and stacked all the nappies on in the nursery. It looks lovely in there now.

I've just ordered the asos dress as I want something pretty to wear.

Night all!

Hey all

Just a quick post whilst between packing jobs and watching Homeland...

Hope all ok. Have read quickly, but struggling to remember names.

Sorry for tummy bugs. Hope they are soon a distant nightmare.

On stretch marks, had none til about 38 weeks then suddenly developed underneath and then spread over belly after birth! happened exactly same for me as for my mum. Started off red and now silvery, but still definitely there.

On the sex issue, not much happening here in that dept. Like some of you, last time DH wasn't interested once I had obv bump. Not sure this time, just generally too knackered now!

Tramp,baby shower catering sound delicious, do you fancy a trip up north in a few weeks to sort out DDs 3rd birthday party?!!

Definitely feeling lots of movements now, v reassuring!

Hope you're all ok otherwise and taking it easy when you get the chance!

Will try to catch up this week if I get chance.

Tramp party food sounds lovely! I'm sure everyone appreciated it

Ethel have fun at Centerparcs!

Stormy, well, you did ask for suggestions ? so here goes! What about he just pretends you're not pregnant and you do it spooning (i.e. lying down) from behind? We managed a bit of loving this morning but first time in a week or two as my hips hurt quite a bit! That said, I'm ? ahem ? performing my wifely duties in other ways in between times as that always keeps a smile on his face

Emus feeling kicks from the outside is freaky!

Sheldon boo re food poisoning but glad yesterday with cousin and little boy was fun Thanks for rosehip oil tip!

JoJo 26 weeks!! Sounds like you're having a fun few days - enjoy!

Em I interchange between tea (which is what we called it when I was growing up in NW), dinner (which is what we called it when I was at uni) and supper (which is very Oxford and what a houseshare I was in for a long time called it!) I revert back to tea a lot because DH is also from NW and we're quite northern at home! Hurray for pram purchase!

Possom sooo sorry you're feeling a bit miserable but I'm sure once something shifts - either the cough, or getting the job application in - you'll start to feel better. Poor you! Hope you get a good sleep tonight.

Pink, when I say OU I mean Open University! I'm a tutor for a bunch of adult distance-learners taking a second-year ugrad classical studies course. I did work at Oxford Univ for a v. long time, on a project in the Classics Faculty, but it was a research post so I only taught a bit, when I fancied it. I've kept on the OU work (which I took on when I returned from my US postdoc without a follow-on job) because it's the best pay for teaching you can get, it's superbly flexible and my regional centre are keen on keeping me on long term - so if all else fails and I don't get another research gig after this three-year (+9 months maternity) contract, then at least I can bring some easy money in teaching this and another couple of courses OU. A friend of mine is a tutor at Worcester Coll. - your brother there isn't a classicist is he?

Lexi I have a MacBook Air (albeit from work) and I loooove it. It's so bloody thin and light I often lose it under piles of papers! And this coming from a hitherto dedicated PC user. I now find my PC laptop so cumbersome so hardly use it. Also, the Mac doesn't get its knickers in a twist half as much as all the PCs I've had do after a year or so, so I'd definitely recommend sticking with Apple, if you can stretch to it. Like others have said - it'll be a great investment.

Sundae sorry you've been ill today Hope it's one of those 24-hour things and nothing more longer-lasting.

Oh my goodness, whilst writing this I had my hand on my belly and I got the biggest kick ever - it startled me and I jumped a mile! Yikes!

Been a bit worried as have been painting the living room for twelve hours solid (knackered!) and although the Farrow and Ball paint isn't that smelly, the cumulative effect probably isn't great for the babies. They've been quiet all day, so nice to know everything's still okay in there! Nearly done now, apart from a tiny bit of edging and the skirting board under the window. We'll do that when we get the windows replaced (hopefully not too long now...)

Sorry for epic post but nice to catch up with you all before bed

night all!

Morning all, just a quick post. Am interested in the MacBook discussions as our laptop (acer) is knackered and we were contemplating getting an iPad, but think actually a MacBook would be a good option for us as we need to put all our iTunes on it and we also have masses of photos on our new camera which we can't currently do anything with.... I know they are pricey, but have only heard good things about them. My bro and SIL are all appled up and love it. We will probs get something in new year as we said we'd put our xmas and DHs birthday money towards it...

Manda, sure the paint won't be a problem, just make sure you get plenty of air today!

Very funny moment this morning, my kicks are normally only felt on the right side so my oh had his hands on my tummy and his head was resting on the left. After a few minutes of no movement oh started poking my tummy and baby responded by booting daddy in the ear. A full on high energy super kick!

Just checking in... hope everyone is well - swirls pot of decaff earl grey and slices imaginary chocolate cake for all to share ...

I've been all over the place for the last 5 days so haven't caught up with everyone's news yet - I have been given all sorts of amazing baby accoutrements by pals and family with young ones: from designer cotbeds to sterilizers and White Company cellular blankets so feeling rather spoiled (and delighted not to have to splash out on new ones).

I'm going to be the one anti Apple person on here by the sounds of things.. I find that you pay twice the price for the same functionality as you get with a decent PC (and yes they look lovely of course!). I also find compatability issues a problem - probably best not to get me started on itunes hee hee, however I know loads of people adore Apple's intuitiveness. I just wanted to stick up fo PCs really and suggest that with a limited budget you can still get something that has the same 'power' as a macbook pro. I can also say that new windows OS 8 is pretty darn decent and intuitive itself... as well as being like £30 at the moment!

What's occuring? y'all well this morning?

I tried hard for many years to like my macbook but I just find apple systems so totally illogical and frustrating! Also hate how difficult it is to move between systems from apple because they have such a specific way of doing things. So that coupled with the over inflated apple prices have driven me back to normal pc.

I am very lucky that my DH thinks I look beautiful pregnant and certainly does not find it off putting at all!

manda really interested to hear your OU teaching experiences. Have been thinking about doing this myself. At the moment I do freelance distance learning tutoring simply for fun alongside my fulltime day job but tends to be one off lessons with students rather than seeing them through a course. I think it would be nice to develop a bit of a relationship with students and see the results at the end. Although have to remind myself that my teaching is just for fun and not take too much on! Envious of you being in Oxford too - I went to university there and I have missed the city so much ever since I left!

Morning all. Ooh thanks dameflamingo I really fancied tea and cake :) I'll stick up for PCs too as I'm a computer geek that has to be able to tinker with things. Not so possible on a mac although I do like my ipad.
Your teaching sounds interesting rainbow how did you get into that?
Ugh, back at work today and not ready for it at all!

Does anyone have any small family car recommendations? We need to replace our three door yaris with something more roomy but still want a fairly small reliable car. Our 12 year old yaris has been incredible and never broken down so am very nervous with getting a new one as am sure that we can't repeat that good fortune! Just don't want to struggle with three doors and a car seat and also think it would be useful to have a bigger boot once LO comes along!

rainbow I have a Mercedes a class and it is fab for a baby. Still small enough to park and economical on fuel but a bit like a tardis inside! Can fit pretty much any pram in the boot. Also the flat floor is a bonus and you can even take the rear seats out and turn it into a little van for trips to ikea! Plus it's higher up so no bending to get little ones in and out of car seats. Ours is very old now and I'd love a newer one. I used to have a golf which I loved to bits but I prefer the merc for the seats being higher- much easier get in and out of with a bump too!

rainbow I have a 2004 Toyota Yaris which I have kept alongside other family/work cars because I couldn't bear to part with it so I feel your pain!! I have so far had various models but my vote for a sensible, value for money option (when did I get sensible?) has to be the peugoet 308 5 door 1.6 diesel (or the smaller 208) which there are good deals on new at the moment . They have decent fuel economy ( I could get to the border of Scotland/ Northumberland and back from Bristol and drive around family whilst there on a tank) -a decent sized boot, a spacious interior - five adults can fit in to the 308 comfortably, lowish servicing and wheel replacement costs.. easy to get second hand, in fact I'd suggets auction as they are often used as company cars so a three year old model with full dealer lead servicing can be picked up and also parts but its a peugeot so a bit bland - it had quirks with little things like electrics - engine and brakes absolutely fine and you can drive them on and on and on... still nowt beats my yaris for fun and character. The new 5 door yaris is much bigger and a bit blander ( and so much more expensive - as it the corsa which may be worth a look at too.) I do like the ford fiesta 1.4 eco which my mum has too - it drives more like my old yaris so you may wish to give one a test drive. Good luck!

Ethel, on your instruction I have the windows in my study open and the heating on too, as it's freezing, but don't my DH who would go spare!

JoJo hilarious!

Dame ta for cake - just what I need!

Rainbow the OU teaching is really great. I've taught all sorts of students at university level and I have to say this is the most rewarding experience, year on year. With your experience I'm sure they would look upon an application from you favourably - do you know where they list their courses online? I can dig out the URL if not. Not all opportunities are advertised, but once you have your foot in the door there's much more available. In an average cohort of 20 students I'd say you get about three students who you need to look out for or give a bit more support to, either in terms of keeping them on track, responding to their special needs, or managing their incredible enthusiasm for the course! I give one two-hour tutorial a month for six months over a ten-month course, plus a five-hour revision day at the end, and am available on email and the phone (within set 'office hours') throughout for support. The biggest part of the job is the marking, as you are expected to write a lot of feedback. But that for me, as you may have guessed from the length of my posts, is not a problem, hehe!

I've been in Oxford since 2001 and I seriously can't imagine living anywhere that has this perfect blend of things which we love - river, cycling culture, countryside and London close by, old stuff, cultural stuff (in the city and beyond), more normal east Oxford, and - importantly for my work - the most amazing research libraries! I can understand how you miss it. Do you come back for any reunions etc?

Very slow morning here. Think I may have overdone it on the decorating yesterday! Didn't even get up to make DH his butties which is usually the start of my day! Best get to it. Today our cleaner returns - I'm so excited! and of course have spent an hour tidying in prep!

Rainbow I feel your pain, having to sell my beloved 10 year old mini which is very sad! Looking at the good old Golf as a replacement at the moment. Will be interested to hear what you go for in the end.

Hi dudettes, have been keeping up with the thread, but not had much to add beyond tales of woe ref post viral vomiting! I got a cold, and house refurb traumas which frankly are boring me to tears!! December looming, and our return to the cottage is being pushed to the right.

Ref your car rainbow, OH is about to lease a Totota Auris as our second car: 4 door, about the capacity of a golf, 5 star NCAP rating, 1.33 petrol around 45-50 combined MPG, will take the pram, isofix, reversing camera/Bluetooth/USB/iPod jack thing, alloys blah blah blah, no road tax, no upkeep cost, only servicing, breakdown replacement car if required, mileage is 10,000 but could have taken option for 15k fir not much mire £££s. all for £135 incl VAT per month.

He needs a reliable car for work, and it means we will never be stuck if one of ours breaks or me left in country with no car/bus with the little one should he have needed to borrow mine. seems reasonable to me, and we could never afford to buy a new a or beastly new car under any sort of warranty.