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

[MrsHoratioNelson]

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

Spreadsheet here

You need to get yourself a copy of the Bero cookbook Clapham . All the recipes are fail safe.

I don't know wether to bother with a birth plan either. I would love to be able to have some skin to skin time after the birth but so much depends on her condition when she is born. I'll speak to the midwife about it at my appointment on friday. I have an appointment with the fetal medicine unit on the 12th too so hopefully theycan give me a clearer idea of what to expect.

Hello Ladies,
Feet up after a very long weekend (and it's not over yet!) DS had lovely day yesterday- Captain Flinn & Pirate Dinos at the South Bank was brilliant, as was Dinosaur Zoo in Regents Park. Def recommend for anyone in London with DCs.
Foolishly chose to go school shoe shopping at John Lewis, Ox St at lunchtime today with very tired DS. His feet have grown....half a size He had a lovely birthday in the end and is pleased with his pile of toys that I hope will keep him busy for a few weeks...

I can't believe some of you will be having babies in the next couple of weeks- soooooo exciting

Our Baby Bjorn bouncer arrived yesterday along with my 'treat' of fresh slippers and pjs for hospital. There's nothing like a good bit of retail therapy!
Is/has anyone got their DC a present from nb? What kind of thing is appropriate??

DH and my 7th anniversary tomorrow. I have a feeling he's forgotten. He's so stressed about work at the mo and doing a good job of shielding me from the serious worries, but it leaves little room for other stuff. DS wouldn't have had anything yesterday if I hadn't sorted it- but that's probably the same with a lot of Dads.

Sorry for long post. I need some adult company!

Clapham easiest cake I can recommend is based on a Vic Sponge: weigh your eggs (2 or 3 for an 8-9inch cake tin) then just mix them together with same weight of: butter, caster sugar, s-r flour plus a pinch salt, splash of vanilla essence and tablespn milk (You can do it all together and it'll be fine, or do the flour last). Bake around 160C for around 20-30mins (until a knife comes out clean) It's great with butter icing/jam etc. If you don't like icing then make it fruity by adding chopped apple (2 small eating apples) or a chopped peach or raspberries or blueberries etc to the mix. Dust with caster sugar when it's cooled a little. (Oh and it helps to butter the cake tin and dust with flour before pouring in the batter to prevent sticking)
(I like baking...!)

I love this recipe orange! I love a good challenge too so will avoid cheating as much as I can.

Blondies I'm also hoping this maternity leave will turn me into a great baker... I reckon an essential part of being a domestic goddess.

You see... I have this amazing image of myself once I stop working - cooking and baking most sophisticated and delicious things for my family while looking perfectly rested and sexy, super fit after my daily yoga sessions while the baby naps, and a long walk in the park nicely interrupted by a cup of coffee at the cafe when I enjoy one hour of reading Balzac or Proust, before I go to pick up DS to take him home and teach him foreign languages and possibly learning another language myself. On days when this fantasy gets out of hand I also imagine I will be growing herbs in the garden and possibly might start learning some crafts.

OMG - I hear all SAHMs laughing hysterically as they read it and I should know much better having already had one baby... most worryingly though, I think I've just described one of those mums at Clapham school gates I literally can't stand...

I think I will settle on learning to bake a couple of cakes, trying to wash my hair and making sure I have no puke anywhere on my clothes

Do domestic goddesses actually exist???

pinkforboys, I've heard a big pack of colouring pens/toy trucks, or anything that will keep the other siblings occupied by themselves is a safe bet, along with the strict injunction that it is from the baby! E.g. Anything that requires parents supervising or reading out etc is a bad idea as the parents will be busy and the poor sibling will feel even more left out. My bro received a present from me when I was born and apparently it engendered much good feeling!

I've also got friends who kept a stash of little cheap openers (colouring activity packs from the pound shop, for example) to give to the sibling in the event that a visitor arrives who very obviously gives a present to the baby and leaves the sibling out.

Btw, I have to remind my DP about our anniversary too!

Had awful leg cramp last night - it actually woke me up and then I unintentionally but obviously woke DP up as I couldn't help shrieking until it had gone... (Hmmm...not sure how I would/will handle birth - hopefully better as it won't be so sudden!)

Tempted to spend 40 quid on a bamboo birthing shirt. On one hand it is so ridiculously priced, OTT, and I'd be fine with the cheaper button front ones from Tesco/Matalan. On the other hand, I can't find any that I like and am feeling irrationally panicky about it.

P.s. domestic goddess pressure also got me wondering the other day about how to freeze cakes/biscuits, so I can heat them up for visitors and everyone think I'm amazing mother-goddess-superwoman! This thought lasted about 10 min then I decided that a better plan would be for DP/visitors to stop by a supermarket for doughnuts etc!

Hotsoup have you looked at Gap? somewhere in between the two prices + 15% off at the mo...this one

oh pink you can be my mentor then! your recipe looks so dead easy... even I'm not scared!

and glad your DS had a lovely birthday - read about your conversation with him a couple of days ago and it almost made me cry... god knows what goes on in their little heads...

and my DP is the same when he has problems at work - forgets everything and goes into his cave... I think men struggle to deal with too many things at the same time. Don't worry if he forgets if you know he is very stressed. x

hotsoup a night and day full of leg cramps here too... so tired now, I worry I will fall asleep during DP's birthday dinner tonight... I've done nothing, literally nothing today (as a good domestic goddess in training...)

I would love to do all of that too Clapham, sounds like my ideal little life, but I don't imagine it is going to be at all realistic. I been making DH nice packed lunches and baking while I am on summer holidays but have already warned him that all my time will be taken up with the baby so not to expect any housewifely duties at all to be done at all for months at least. If I manage to do a bit then it will be a pleasant surprise.

Hot soup, if it stops you worrying and you have the money then go for it, but I plan to throw mine straight in the bin in hospital so wanted something I won't feel bad about bleeding all over. Also I may well want to strip off, i get really hot at the moment so goodness knows what it will be like in hospital and with all that physical exertion. I panicked that the size 12-14 one I bought wont fit me by 40 weeks so bought another nighty in 18-20 from primark the other day so now I have a spare for afterwards too. Only £6navy so nice and dark, and have buttons on the front to feed.

I love the idea of having a stash of presents so that visitors each give dc1 a present when they arrive. I will store that good idea away for baby number 2!

Hotsoup my sister had baked several tins of little ginger bread men including dairy free ones for me in between her contractions for when visitors arrived after her home birth. We all thought she was loopy! Although they were yummy! I don't think it will be at all expected and isn't necessary unless you fancy doing it.

As i haven't been drinking for a year we have a huge stash of Prosecco and champagne for visitors that we have got as wedding presents/from friends coming round for dinner/ a bottle free today from waitrose today for being over 2 hours late so hopefully that should keep them entertained while I disappear off to feed too!

I just closed a cupboard door on my bump. Ow. Sorry baby! I am still not used to my new size!

Bad idea I think hotsoup I made 40 freezeable muffins on Monday for that very purpose, they defrost in about 15 secs and there are about 5 left. Oops!

(Domestic goddesses don't actually eat their own cake, you know!)

Today we painted the nursery it looks nice, still got some bits and bobs to do but it is feeling much more real now he has a room!

HotSoup - think I've been looking at the same birthing shirt and having the same dilemma! It is a lot of money (and rationally I know it isn't needed as I happily gave birth in an old baggy t-shirt last time) but part of me has got hooked on the idea of having one.....

I think I may just do a very brief birth plan (few key bullet points) I spent ages carefully crafting my last one and I'm not sure it was even looked at. MoN I hope your next appointment gives you some more information and helps you feel more prepared.

Pink - this is probably utterly over the top but we have promised DD a wii as a becoming a big sister present. We don't have any games consoles in the house and she has desperately wanted one since last Christmas (when her best friend got one) but we felt she was still too young then.

If people want to descend on me and my newborn in our house then they can be grateful if I bother to open the front door let alone be up to serving cakes!! haha!!

hopefully that will keep her occupied while you and dh are busy with the baby bridget

Clapham I love baking! What sort of cake does he want flavour wise? I'm sure I can send you an easy recipe. I have an especially easy and yummy lemon cake recipe..

Legally how exciting just over a week to go! Can't wait to hear which combination of gender is in that tummy.

feminist so glad all is well with you.

chickie 'grats to your sister! Won't your DS settle again if taken back to bed at that time? Perhaps we all need to invest in those night/day clocks for our almost 3's!?

Thank you all for the BP concern, I've not called in as today it's around 125/87, it's so bouncy and annoying. Still, the main thing is bubs is only slightly affected growth wise - not big like all other family babies, but still a healthy average weight.

Clapham I'd happily swap you a cake for one of your savoury dishes. Great example this evening- been planning on making lasagne for the freezer, but only got half a packet of lasagne sheets so it'll have a layer of fusili in the middle, can't be faffed to make a béchamel so will try pre-made 4 cheese sauce instead.

Umlauf is your freezable muffin recipe online??

Wow seems my refresh buggered up and I missed seeing a ton of posts :O runs off to catch up

I'm here everyone, not gone into early labour.

Had a wedding yesterday (just evening do) had Nct in the morning. Left my phone at NCT so only just got it back and caught up on the thread.

Wedding in a village called Branston in Lincolnshire, dp put Branston into the sat nav and we headed off, arrived and couldn't find our b&b...finally dp asked for directions only to be told he put the wrong Branston into sat nav, we were in a totally different place and had another hours drive of course it wasn't his fault...didn't arrive at evening do until 10pm.

Totally knackered here, was lying next to a walrus last night (dp) so had nay sleep.

Just off for a carvery and to pick up my little dog. We've missed her so much and it's only been 1 night, so I can't imagine how much I'd miss a baby.

Thanks for thinking of me, you're all too kind

ps- thanks for the Big Brother ideas. DS would love a Wii, but I think a few DVDs & lego might be our solution (and will keep him quiet!)

Is anyone planning on a 'Congratulations to me!' present?
I really want to justify get a mini-sound system for DS's room (a tape recorder would have sufficed if they still existed!) something that plays the radio and iPod as I'm likely to end up bf-ing in there a fair bit. I'm also hoping it will double-up as a DS soother at bedtime as he still likes to be sung to sleep (I can give you new mums a lot of tips on habits not to get your DC into...)

I hear you loud and clear on the habits not to fall into Pink - I've only recently stopped having to sit with DD until she falls asleep! Fine when she nods off in 5 minutes...not so great when it takes an hour or more

Big brother present, we've got DS a woodland animal Duvet cover set as he was obsessed with the babies when I was washing it (baby also has change mat, blanket and muslins with same material). Also have some of Schleitch farm animals, baby ones to ones we already have, which I'm going to place 1 in the baby bassinet each day DS visits - as ill have to stay in for several nights. Also, sounds like lots but all small things - I bought Mog and the baby and Dogger books for my first night home as story time is going to be our special baby free time.

Lots of lovely easy cake recipes. Yum! Love baking and will use that as my baby time out for visitors only IF I have energy at the time. Cake does freeze well.

Tarlia I love your idea of baby animals for DD. I wish there was a baby Ironman or equivalent...

Flyer good to have you & your gsh back. We were a little worried there...!

Tarlia brilliant present ideas - really lovely and thoughtful x

A baby ironman, pink??

flyer glad all is well. Hope you had fun at the wedding reception.

Blimey u chatty bunch lol

tarlia hope your taking care of yourself. Xx

legally how exciting that your countdown is really days now rather than weeks!!!

roofio so pleased u had a lovely baby shower my 'surprise' one is next Saturday lol xx

I'm not much of a cook or baker I can do basics like chilli shepards pie lasagne spag bowl nothing exotic and can russle up a tray of fairy cakes and that is as far as my cullinary expertise go, as for visitors they have tea or coffee and nothing else they should eat b4 they come round I'm not a cafe lol

I went to the race day...I didn't win anything but every single horse dd chose on every single race (judged purely by the picture of the jockeys t shirt colours in the guide) she won every time. The luck of a 2 year old hey! Home now and dh is buying me a Chinese which means we went out for Indian last night now having Chinese at home tonight.... That 1 stone weight gain will be a thing of the past at this rate lol.

I can't remember what else ive read now?

Presents for the baby's birth, dd birthday is 2 weeks after my edd so I think I'm gunna play it by ear, if baby is a 37 weeker ill get her something bigger as its a bit gap before her birthday if he is on time or late then something smaller as it will be right on top of her birthday. Ill probly let her choose something and let her get excited about going to buy it with daddy when I go to hospital to 'get the baby out my tummy' as she so delicately puts it lol.

So... September 1st and hopefully gunna kick start the arrivals this month, with the exception of little josie of course