October 2013 - Are we neary *there* yet?!

[MrsHoratioNelson]

Welcome, welcome, sit down, put your feet up.

Spreadsheet here

My 3 year old DS wants to call the baby Pirate if its a boy. Umm, no.
We haven't got much further with names. Both like Eloise and Annalise, Laura or Emily for a girl, boys names are harder, I like Laurence and Lucas but he doesn't, he is willing to entertain the idea of Toby (not sure whether to have just Toby or Tobias) and Oliver. I did really like Oscar, but the Pistorius thing has put me off a bit.

Haha at pirate! love it! It's just my opinion Bridget but I am not sure I would let a year one/two child, or any child, name my baby... You and the baby have to live with the choice forever. You are in charge and she will get over it! perhaps she could name the baby's teddy. Or get her a pet fish to name. Or a plant. Or present her with two options to choose from if you really didn't mind either, perhaps middle name choices. Or make her feel like an important big sister in another way, perhaps making something for the baby's room - a photo frame? Perhaps she could buy the baby's coming home outfit? Something not quite as important as the name! All the children in my class last year (there was a bit of a baby boom) were very excited and happy about being big brothers and sisters. Knowing the gender helped them know what to expect but none of them tried naming their siblings.

I like Ralph and have never heard of any of those odd meanings. And by the time the baby is at school there will be new slang anyway.

I think we are pretty set on Thomas or Sophie now. Not quite decided about middle names and not telling anyone in real life our thoughts, especially mil who keeps asking (trying to think up something like umlauf's lucifer now!) because we don't want negative feedback or suggestions to ruin it for us. They will like it and not question it when attached to a baby.

I got a bit of sleep after 5 o clock when DH woke up cuddled me and the baby to sleep but only a grand total of about 3-4 inturrupted hours. Please tell me I am not deluding myself when I think oh well night time breast feeding won't be much worse than this... Like shire I am not particularly worrying or in agony, usual hip pain and discomfort, lots of weeing,but mainly I am just awake. The baby is very active at night too and getting bigger and stronger I suppose.

Thanks for reminder hot

Morning ladies, so sorry to hear quite a few having a rough night. Mine are hit and miss and fortunately last night was ok.

Yay for those breaking up today!

Well, my birthday.... Hmmmm. Was shit tbh. Like you bridget my dd (4.7) seems to have reverted back to the terrible twos only worse. I wanted to go out for breakfast so from 9:30-11:30 I tried to get her dresses/washed etc. she wouldn't. Her behavior has been getting worse over the last couple weeks. We all got so worked up I ended up texting my mum asking her to come and pick her up I pretty much cried on and off all day. Picked her back up at 3:30 to take her kickboxing then came home for a couple hours before popping off to the pub for some tea with my sister, nan and parents. Surprisingly she was really well behaved there got back to my mums for tea and cake where she hit dh in the face with a sword and when asked to apologies told him she hated him. (This is a frequent thing lately, to me too) she's become so challenging and I know its partly down to tiredness with no routine and probably changes with baby arriving but her behavior is overwhelmingly challenging and to be completely honest I'm struggling to cope with her. Hoping it all settles down once she's back at school. She's had a long time to get used to baby coming as she's known since about 9 weeks and she has been involved in the name, a little, hence why we call him Isaac shark (don't worry it'll be David on his BC!) she asks questions about it and we discuss it. Sorry for the moany me me me post. I'm hoping for a better day as she woke around 9:10 meaning she's had almost 12 hours.

But hey I went to asda, got loads ticked off, Moses basket sheets were 2 for £3! And other bits. I feel almost in a position for baby to arrive now which is nice :-).

That sounds like a rough day, Hayle.
Fx a return to school and routine helps x

We've kept our names a total secret, but I am so tempted to share here to get your honest opinions, but that feels like I'm being unfair on DH somehow.

Another sleepless night here too. Partly me, partly ds, partly my parents dogs barking in the middle of the night. orange I hate to break it to you but newborn breastfeeding can be a lot worse than 3/4 interrupted hours sleep! Only for the first two weeks or so though and then they start to go a bit longer, I remember ds would take an hour to feed at the beginning and then need feeding an hour or so later. They say milk production is highest at night too so it ups your supply if they feed at night which is probably why those first few weeks are so awful. You will be shattered beyond belief but at the same time, sublimely happy so you won't care how tired you are . Plus you can sleep in the day when baby sleeps so its not so bad really.

Well done on posting on the names thread legally its like having an art exhibition isn't it, submitting your soul to the masses for judgement! I can't believe the willy comments (never heard of judy Blume) but you couldn't choose Richard, John, Thomas, William, Albert etc if you were overly concerned about a tenuous link to willies. Also with the dogs name, calling dogs by human names is very en vogue now (my guinea pig is called nick) and so I don't think that's an issue either. More importantly Ralph and Hugo go together so brilliantly! Have you thought about which you'll use for a boy/girl combo?

hayle sorry to hear your birthday wasn't up to much, fwiw I always cry on my birthdays as I expect way too much from them and only end up feeling older! They are overrated IMHO! Is dd feeling a bit overwhelmed by the impending arrival? My friends son reverted quite a lot before his little sister was born, but is fine now she's here. It could just be a sudden realisation she's not going to be the baby anymore!

shire share them! (Ask DH first...)

moonblues Spain is ridiculous! We have ordered another marriage certificate so the issue date will be this month, but it still doesn't prove we are not divorced because you can order copies of your marriage certificate if you are divorced surely?! British citizenship is inherited for a generation so the baby will be British (thankfully!) and it shouldn't be too hard to get him a British passport, as long as he isn't late and we manage to get it returned before our flights back to the uk in December. Shall I start on the sex and curry now?!?!

sanji I love pirate! Go on... as a middle name?!?! hayle (again!) also loving Isaac Shark. It has a certain ring to it! Can your dd and ds come up with something awesome for my baby?!?!!! My neighbours dd (2.5) suggested Bertie Ballerina! (She's been watching the one with the dancing mouse in it and its one of her only english words!)

My brother is a simple thing, he genuinely thought Lucifer was a lovely name and sentiment, and told his girlfriend I was thinking of naming the baby half after him. She had to point it out! Bless him (he's 21 )

Batch cooking today! So far I have done chicken chasseur, chicken chorispzo & chickpea casserole, courgette and choc chip muffins, beef bourginnoune and came up with a genius way to pre prepare mash! I have made a massive batch of creamy mashed potato, put spoonfuls in a silicon cupcake tray, frozen them and popped them out like ice cubes to go in freezer bags! Chicken and cider casserole and saag daal are today's recipes. (Nesting is lovely!) anyone got any good recipes or ideas to share?!

And I'm sure it's going to be Bertie, this morning DH kissed the bump and said "bye bye Rory Daddy's off to work" and I got the rage! That is NOT my baby's name!! Poor DH..

umlauf she's never been the baby tbh and hates me saying it to her (always tell her she will always be mummy's baby!) I sometimes think, that even though she's 4, she comes across much older with the way she speaks but her control of her emotions is still that of a four yo iyswim? She tends to lose control very easily. I think I was very tired too yesterday so my patience was a lot shorter then normal as I don't usually let her get to me so easily!

Great cooking Umlauf!

Got a growth/doppler/fluid level scan at 2pm(rescheduled from last week)

DS was just running his toy cars up and down my legs, it's was very relaxing :o

no sleep here either... and for no apparent reason. Not too many wee trips, no pains or aches. Just no reason and no sleep! So frustrating and fed up with feeling tired all the time. Why did I manage to sleep so well in my first pregnancy...??

umlauf personally I think every day is a great day for curry and sex so I would definitely start on it now if I were you. I'm only 32+3 but may start on it myself And I prefer Bertie to Rory. Don't change it if you love this name so much

shire tell us your names! I also haven't told anyone in RL about Conrad - wanted to avoid stupid comments and wanted this one thing to be a surprise. But tell your DH it's OK to share it with a bunch of strangers who don't share the same family or friends and all live in completely different locations.

tarlia so sorry you had to stay in the hospital last night... how did it go and did they let you go home this morning? How is your DS?

To all mums who worry about spending the night away from their DC - I had to start doing it when DS was less than a year because of business trips. I suffered much more than him and the first time was terrible! It's tough the first time but I think it's actually good for them and healthy to know that mummy is always there for them and always comes back, even if she needs to go away sometimes. It makes them more independent and stronger so don't worry . I always made sure I did something special with him together after being away.

pseudo good luck with your scan today!

legally I love both Hugo and Ralph and think they go beautifully together. Also, glad the twins behaved and stayed in when your DH was away!

hayle sorry you didn't have the day you hoped for yesterday... Perhaps you can have a lovely weekend instead? Children go through stages, sometimes for no apparent reasons, there are days when DS is a little devil and totally out of control and often I really don't know why. And then it go away also for no reason.

bridget I wouldn't let DD be too involved in the name choice... she is only little and may end up hating the name she chose in a year or so! DS really wants the baby to be called Oscar which ironically I love and would go really well with the surname but there are simply too many Oscars around us...

Sorry for the mega post and hope we all sleep better tonight!

and thanks (? ) shooting for reminding me how exhausting the first weeks of breastfeeding are. I've conveniently managed to forget over the last 5 years...

Oh dear I thought I was probably deluding myself shooting stars!

Sorry your birthday was disappointing Hayle. They are always a bit of an anticlimax for me too.

Just picked up the pushchair from John Lewis, yay! Got a friend coming round for lunch in an hour so need to tidy and cook but looking forward to opening it up later.

Shire DH isn't allowed to tell anyone the names either and is a bit upset he has to keep it from his mum so I have been a bit naughty sharing I suppose but I haven't told real life people our choices.

Umlauf that cooking sounds lovely! I am on the look out for some non tomato based freezable recipes next.

So many lovely names mentioned on here. I really like the names Hugo and Ralph, Sophie and Thomas and Bertie. Think we will be sticking to Arabella (Belle) as it is one both me and DH agree on.

With DD1 (7) we have said that she can choose a middle name for DD2. DD1 has two middle names and they are so rarely used. I have asked her to come up with a few names and we can chose one. When she comes up with a random name, I say lets carry on thinking. Her latest idea is to give the baby her first name as DD2's middle name. It doesn't go with DD2's first name but at least its a name that we like! For DD1 I used family names as middle names so this would sort of fit.

DD1 has been pushing the boundaries a little lately with a bit of an attitude. I am expecting things to settle next week when she goes back to school and have put it down to a phase she is going through. I think the DC's are bound to be affected by the arrival of a sibling, I'm not sure how to handle the change myself! Luckily DD is at the age where I can talk things through with her about the baby.

Hayle sorry to hear about your birthday, I'm never a huge fan of this occasion due to some bad experiences as a child. DD1 is a fan of birthdays however (having had some lovely parties etc) and doesn't let the occasion go unnoticed. I have a big birthday next year but plan to go away for a few days with the two dds and dh.

Oh god, so very tired, so little sleep and so very busy at work

DH said this morning at least it's the weekend. Not going to make any difference to how I'm sleeping, is it?

I have waded through several hours of the most boring paperwork.
I am now contemplating a nap - or is that a bad idea? Will I sleep better tonight if I power on through... ?

Just wondering has anyone felt ill after whooping cough jab? I had it yesterday and I don't normally have any reaction to jabs apart from a sore arm. Today, as well as a sore arm I feel sort of sicky and spaced out and can't decide if it's the jab or I'm coming down with some dreaded lurgy!

Nap! Definitely.

DS left me feeling low this morning- he's joining your other DCs with guilt-inducing strange behaviour. Just before I dropped him off at sports camp for the day he chooses to let me know that he wants a bike for his birthday (tomorrow!). Something we discussed at the beginning of the summer and he adamantly said he didn't want, preferring a selection of smaller toys instead. I so want this b'day to be a good one for him what with baby on the way and now I think we're going to be in for lots of disappointed huffs even tho I've spelt it out to him numerous times. (party is in 2 weeks so we can invite school friends). I'm supposed to be attempting a rainbow cake for him whilst he's out but am not feeling the baking vibe. Even he was saying as I left him that he didn't deserve one

I think baby is preparing me for what's coming, today marks a week since I last had a full night's sleep! Booooo :(

I wouldn't mind but still have another week of work left and they're getting every penny out of me as I'm manic right up to my final day!

sorry to hear everyones sleep and older child woes this morning.
I Seem to be joining the trend with a 2 yr old that has just learnt to have amazing tantrums and is seriously over emotional. Starting to panic about having 2.
shire definitely nap if you can! but maybe set an alarm just incase.

Hi sorry not got much time to post but with everyone on the sleep front..I am sleeping but my dreams are unreal...last night I got held at gunpoint by a health visitor and then had to walk along a cliff edge whilst heavily pregnant...something tells me there is fear in my subconscious!!

Afternoon everyone! TGI Friday!

I love the names on this thread... I think you have 6 weeks to register the baby in NI and we might end up needing it!

Had a scare in the shops last night as I slipped on some wet floor and fell, though luckily I landed on my knee and bump was fine. Gave me a hell of a fright though, I didn't sleep really between worrying and dreaming even though baby was dancing away in there so looking forward to going home and getting into bed!

Oh, pinkforboys hugs... He wont be able to help being excited by a big pile of presents tomorrow, he'll come round when he sees them...

taking I didn't feel sick after the jab, but I have had some days where I've felt a bit woozy and almost nauseous with tiredness, could it be that?

shire hope you had a good nap if you took one, I'd say get any sleep when you can!

Haley hugs, sorry you didn't have a good day, I hope you'll have a nice weekend to make up for it!

Tarlia I hope they let you and your wee boy out today...

OrangeBlossom2 thanks for the tip about the raspberry leaf capsules. I went shopping at lunch and got them and clary sage oil and some hospital bag stuff so I'm feeling pleasantly organised today for a change

PseudoBadger lol, do you think you could get him to do it to your back too? Then you'd have your own personal masseuse

sorry for the massive post!

Arrgh, I knew I meant to ask something!

Umlauf those recipes sound fantastic! I love the sound of the chorizo & chickpea casserole and chicken and cider casserole, would you mind sharing them?

I've got a few of recipes I'm planning to make and freeze, lentil stew and Irish stew for lunches, then loads of meatballs and tomato sauce type meals and chickpea curry, cashew nut curry and um, probably more curries...

lol warlin! sorry you're not sleeping but that dream is so weird! I take it you didn't like your health visitor from last time?

Hi Sparkeleigh glad you are ok after your fall! That would be very scary...

You may be right and I am just linking the jab with 'normal' pregnancy nausea and wooziness! Just need to take things a bit easier, I guess

I'm feeling a lot better today thank God. Completely exhausted and so glad it's Friday and I don't need to get up early to take dd to school. The past couple of weeks she's only Bern in til 12.30 but is in all day from Monday so I'll have time to get some nesting done.

I suggested to Dp last week that maybe I should start cooking and filing the freezer but he said not to bother because he'll take over the cooking for a few weeks. I don't think he realises yet that it's not just me who'll be exhausted.

I really fancy some dahl and chapatti's now. I might have to go and buy some spinach and make some. I'm intolerant to lentils so shouldn't really so if I end up ill I'll blame you Umlauf.

I am having decreased movements today so far but really don't want to go to hospital if i can help it i'm so tired and have DS all day so hoping she starts moving soon I stopped getting kicks about a few weeks ago now i get big pushes and bum shuffles I will give her to 5 then i suppose if not movement i will have to go in