October 2013 - insert witty, worn out, nearing the end thread name here

[PseudoBadger]

New thread :)

I have just been pondering the issue of some kind of snow suit for dd2 myself.

DD1 was born in the summer and it wasn't a pressing issue then as the Summer was very hot. DD2 will be born towards the end of October and when DH goes back after a couple of weeks paternity leave, I will be left to do the school run from November onwards.

Cannot decide what DD2 will need as pram will have raincover and cosy toe cover etc and don't want the baby to over heat but I suspect I will be going out in all weathers to do the school run. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm also thinking of buying 0-3 years. Anyone aware of any good sales involving snow suits at the moment? We are very outdoorsy and have bought the Mothercare Urban Detour pushchair - 3 wheeler with large tyre wheels.

Mothercare have buy one get one half price on all clothes at the moment monkeytree, I like the unisex £32 fluffy snow suit there. Sainsburies also had 25%off when I went yesterday though I was looking at big child clothes for my nephew so don't know if they have snow suits.

TKMaxx are always worth a look, too monkeytree

I decided to buy the maxi cosi footmuff rather than a snowsuit, though I will prob buy a snowsuit around Christmas. The footmuff is like a sleeping bag for them and easier to get them in and out of than a snowsuit. I wouldn't buy a newborn snowsuit as they would get no wear out of it. I'd say play it by ear with the weather! If you do buy one though TK Maxx do really lovely ones half price at £20..I have a few from there.

So told out CEO I was finishing next week and he just wished me well as he is off next week. I said I was concerned by my lack of cover and he half heartidly said he would need to look into it...oh well, it's their loss. I def want to look for a new job post mat leave so trying not to let it bother me but I really feel very undervalued at the minute

Also having a tearful day...cried on the phone to my mum about things that willl prob never happen. I'm having one of those I can't cope with anything days :( Just want to crawl into bed and sleep for a week.

Welcome Kd83 - as SeriousStuff said it's never too late to join.

It's probably not the most economical approach Monkeytree but I'm planning on buying all sorts of different outwear (pramsuits, jackets, pram blankets etc) and then mix and matching depending on the weather. Like you, I'll be doing the school run in all weathers and walking the dog every day.

DD was born in December and I'm sure I remember having her in a pramsuit with an additional blanket too at times. One product I got lots of use from was a morrck blanket thing...I could wrap her in it outside but easily throw it open inside hot stuffy shops.

Sorry meant to say welcome kd83 and congrats!

Also, anyone else having money worries. I think it's hit me today as I checked my balance online and was shocked . I am a bit apprehensive about finishing work and the reduced money that will bring when I still have mortgage, car loan etc to pay. I know we will be ok and I felt the same last time but it's scary when you are dropping salary and still have all the same direct debits...plus I can't resist buying baby things :(

Warlin - sorry you are feeling tearful

I've got the maxi-cosi footmuff too. Are you planning to use it in your pram/pushchair as well as carseat?

I'm glad I'm not the only one going mad with nesting orangeblossom, I just cleaned out and rearranged all kitchen cupboards. Originally just wanted to move all cleaning stuff out of reach if little fingers but then couldn't stop myself from sorting the whole lot! Saying that it did need it, found packets of stuff I think came with us during our last house move ( 2 years ago!), obviously not an area with high priority on cleaning list!

Not the only one with money worries warlin, we seem to have far to much going out of our accounts at the moment and I know in my head that we will cope but it is a bit scary. I've cancelled as many direct debits as I can and checked we're on cheapest elec tarrif etc, hoping that will help a bit......sorry you're having a day.

Thanks Bridget and Lu001.

Bridget I thought I might use the maxi cosi footmuff in the carry cot part of the pram too as they will be lying flat (assuming this baby will lie flat, unlike ds!), especially on the daily dog walks. Will it work ok? I haven't used it so don't really know how practical it is but it looks snug?

warlin hugs. Sorry you are feeling tearful today and money worries are normal. It's always scary to cut down on income even if you know you are going to be OK. I also know we are going to be OK but I got our mortgage statement this morning and looked at the outstanding amount... and panicked a bit. It's stupid and no need for it but it reminded me that I won't be able to be a SAHM forever... plus, life is really unpredictable. So it's natural to feel like this but think of all the lovely cuddles and moments with your baby over the next months. Priceless. And sorry they make you feel like this at work - so insensitive... I know how it feels but it will be over next week X

welcome kd83

orange you are on fire!!

I also bought a couple of lovely snowsuits at TKMaxx - you need to be lucky as their stock is unpredictable and they have crap as well as great stuff but some finds are amazing... I almost bought a third one but managed to stop myself. It was a gorgeous cream Tommy Hilfiger snowsuit for 29 quid. So beautiful but so impractical... A second time practical mum in me won that battle but I still keep thinking about it

by the way, hope tarlia is OK... she's been unusually quiet the last couple of days and she was worried about her BP and other problems...

Not done much nesting here but I have made a spreadsheet for my Christmas shopping list.
I have to start earlier every year and I'm guessing I won't get much done with a new baby around.

Warlin sorry to hear you are feeling a bit sad, blimin hormones! And another one here concerned about £££ dp and I did a spreadsheet the other day and after bills I have a grand total of £383 left out of my smp I will have never been so skint. Luckily I have no debts just mobile phone, car insurance, hair and gym membership. Dp pays everything now including food so nothing changes here, but I hate having hardly any money to myself.

Went into Bravissimo, lovely lady who measured me. I was wearing a 34E bra (I thought it was 36e) and how funny this is what she measured me as, she advised me to come back at 37 weeks for a more accurate fitting for nursing bras.

orange would you mind sending some of those nesting vibes over to me, could definitely do with some motivation!

warlin sorry you're having money worries. We've started cancelling some of our direct debits and I'm starting to think about Christmas too MoN to try to spread some of the cost out. Sorry about the bike. Do you think there's any chance you'll get it back?

Love all the reminiscing about underage drinking on the thread today. We used to drink White Lightning from the bottle topped up with cheap vodka in the park - totally classy I would say great memories, but after drinking that I can't remember much at all...

Got my revised section date today - 24th September (due to the pp). Fingers crossed for an uneventful and bleed-free month until then

Warlin you are not alone re: money worries. We have had a terrible month (summer holiday expenses, entire new school uniform to buy, baby stuff etc) and DP is really stressing.

Being a SAHM, and DP working long hours, means the task of actually physically buying stuff for the family always falls to me. That's fine, but the downside is it always makes it look like I'm the one draining the family coffers willy-nilly.

It's going to be challenging to keep the cost of the weekly shop down with the additional cost of nappies and wipes etc..

Textbook - is that only approx 5 weeks away? Eeeek! Fingers firmly crossed for you. How many weeks will you be then?

Yes Bridget - less than 5 weeks I'll be 38+4. I will be having steroid injections a few days before as its trust policy here to strengthen lungs of any baby delivered before 39 weeks. They really are looking after me very well.

Thanks to everyone for the lovely supportive messages about the pp - you are all helping me stay very positive

Ive been cleaning for the last two hours and just come for a break before making dinner as getting braxton hicks which are usually a sign i need to take it easy. Hopefully this sudden burst of nesting energy doesnt mean baby is on the way anytime soon and is just because I actually slept for once... Was getting into some good breech baby turning positions!

I have been trying to sort out Christmas too, I usually get the bulk of it done in the summer holidays as no time in term time to shop. The first parcel of things I ordered arrived today (giant felt advent calendars with pockets for my neice and Nephews from ebay) For parents and grandparents we will probably do the same framed photo of the baby which are easy to order online nearer the time and I have agreed with siblings not to do presents for each other this year as we all have children to buy for now and not much money!

We also have a lot of family birthdays in October to sort out - got some bargain clothes and toys in sainsburies yesterday for nephews and ordered DH some "new dad" cufflinks (another ebay bargain at £6.99). My sister is starting English lit a levels and so am going to be very cheap and bundle up some of my favourite books in pretty ribbon for her. Almost there! Just DHs siblings and my goddaughter to go plus a few new home/engagement gifts for fiends who are settling down in droves these days.

I am definitely more aware of all the money we are spending and being more frugal over gifts than we would usually. After freaking out a few weeks ago when we did a budget and found we have £76 a month after essential bills and food without my salary I am a bit happier after remortgaging onto a better deal as we will have an extra £400 a month which means we can afford for me to not go back to work if I don't want to.

Sorry rambly mammoth post about very boring things! Can you tell I have been at home with no company all day?!

I doubt it moon. A neighbour saw it being taken and alerted us and said it was a boy around 13. This was around 11pm so God knows why he was out at that time. There's a chance that it's been dumped somewhere if it was a young teenager that took it.

All my underage drinking happened in front of my mum. She was incredibly easy going and because we had nothing to rebel against we never went off the rails.

So exciting textbook but scarey too I imagine. I have a growth scan on Friday so though they've said they won't give me a section date until 34 weeks I might try and push them on it.

I attempted to write out a meal plan at the weekend to help is save money but Dp makes it so difficult. The vegetables he'll eat are carrots, peas, tomatoes and spinach if it's in a curry and occasionally peppers.
He won't eat beans or chickpeas in stews or anything and since I'm not a big meat eater that's a lathe part of my diet out the window. We live on chicken and veggie mince and I'm fed up. Too much of what I cook involves far too much cheese so I'm in desperate need of meal ideas that are a bit healthier but will satisfy Dp too.

orange will you come round to my house next? they sound delicious!

Hi kd83!

Warlin they'll definitely miss you when you're gone but you'll be enjoying the baby too much to care about them!

We did our monthly budget a while ago and it's going tobe tight if I take the 12 months, so I think we're going to look at reusable nappies to see if we can save a bit there. And hopefully breastfeeding will work and save money on formula...

Re. money - it's not the maternity leave that's the problem as I'll be getting full pay for the duration, it's childcare which concerns us!

To help prepare us, we'll be attempting to move the fees for childcare into savings for the next 8 months so not only will we be used to the new budget but then we'll (hopefully) have a decentish savings pot!

I too am worried about money. My DH is self employed so if his work goes quiet we are stuffed. My older 2 children have birthdays in October and November so I need to get those out of the way before I do Christmas shopping.

So I'll have a newborn, 2 birthdays and Christmas and not much money