February 2014. The cake mix is in the mug, the microwave is on, it's slowly rising and we'll be pinging in three more months!

[Shropshiremummy2B]

Sadly my cake mix is rising too much and resulting in a serious muffin top.

Littlest I would only think of Nicky Dicky if you used both together - if one was a middle name it would be much harder to put those two together! Both are great classic names - at least you're both being pulled in the same direction. Our LO will have an ancestral name and my surname as middle names, poor duck, so unless we really go for an extended name we're only choosing the one!

Julietee I wouldn't have thought colostrum came in this early, but am prepared to be wrong on that. - looks up hypoplastic boobs...-

julietee yes I have milk already started about 2 weeks ago. It is actually the first time I have had it before giving birth so thought it was weird. But completely normal after hearing how many other people have the same. It's not loads just a bit, more will come if I squeeze (TMI)

Littlest that made me laugh but I would not of thought of it like that so I am sure others won't. And like gnitting said most people will not know the middle name.

Middle name has got to be Richard after DH's much missed dad. Helps that we both like it. If my brother wasn't also called Richard we would use it as a first name! Thanks for the reassurance on Nicky Dicky!
For a girl I like Imogen Ruth. DH may need more convincing!

Littlest I think if the name means something to you that's the important thing. Could you add a second middle name to break up nicky and dicky? We've had to rule out a couple of combinations because the initials would either spell out LAID or LARD - both of us have had to use our full initials at work/college so am a bit paranoid.

No sign of any milk yet but there's definitely something going on in there - a roadmap of veins and other unidentified patterns seems to have appeared in the last week or so. And they're so sore! Cold bathroom to hot shower had me yelping this morning.

Mum and sis both said bump looks 'much less than 5 months' yesterday. I think I might have to do a comparison with your neat little 6 month bumps to explain to them why I'm paranoid!

In other news, have just had a really depressing meeting to start my week. A full on rant for an hour and all I asked was "how do you think things are going". (I'm doing some work with somene else's team but didn't expect the 'honest' feedback to be so brutal).

littlest I think that's a great, solid, strong name. Also love your girls name.

I'm struggling to get DH to come up with serious name suggestions, it's all me so far with him just saying 'hmm' or 'no way' to anything I come up with. So have set him a challenge - I printed out the top 100 baby names and asked him to strike out ones he definitely doesn't want and leave the ones which are a maybe or love. Extra marks for marking which ones are his fave. I'm doing the same and hopefully we will have some similarities!

Had some snuggles with an 11 day old little girl yesterday - actually stunned me so much to think that I'll hopefully be holding one of my own in a few months time. The mother, a friend of mine, saw the shock and worry on my face and said that she felt exactly the same when holding her nephew whilst she was pg, but that so far, 11 days in, she's finding motherhood an absolute dream. She also had a very quick labour with only 1 paracetamol as pain relief. Fingers crossed for us!

Gnitting My book says it's anytime from now onwards (I'm 23 weeks)!

Somany Interesting! What does it feel like - is it weird?

Let me see if I can find that link about breast hypoplasia again - it was interesting.

Littleen I really hope your tics are bugging you less - it's hell on toast when they get bad.
I seem to go through phases where they fade away, thank goodness I'm in one now because it was pretty horrible for a couple of weeks.

had 25 week check today... all good apart from havubg to have my wee sent off for further testing... might be mt fault though because i didnt have anything to drink before appointment.

finally got my matb1 form so work will be pleased!

Names are so hard... we have a first name but no middle name yet, plenty of time though.
xx

also visiting my friend with a new born tomorrow... need present ideas!!!

barebranches I was always very grateful to people who brought me frozen meals (either home-cooked or shop bought) and cake as well as lovely new baby presents of course!

Bare, buy them bodysuits or clothing for bigger age group, we got loads of 0-3 and 3-6 but nothing further. Or a pram toy, the most popular toy DS got was one nicknamed "thwacky lion" which he loves and is still attached to bike trailer for him. I saw them recently in mothercare.

www.amazon.co.uk/Bright-Starts-Friend-attachment-Stroller/dp/B00F965DFW/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1383051077&sr=8-5&keywords=bright+starts+lion+toy

Books are also always a good one, DS has a fab little library.

Definitely agree with those suggestions Camwombat - one really thoughtful gift we received for DS was a lovely little package of clothes that went right up to 12m. Books and bath toys are great gifts as they can 'grow into' them and get so much more enjoyment from them than a newborn or 0-3 sleepsuit which will only be used for a matter of weeks or so.

Don't forget to consider the season if you are buying bigger baby clothes. My babies were born in summer amd loads of people bought them summer outfits in 3-6 or 6-9 months. They fitted them by winter but obviously couldn't wear them by then.

I spent ages knitting a lovely wooly cardi and hat for a friend's baby - even knitted it size 6-12 months so she'd have something nice to grow into. I overlooked the fact that said friend was moving to Australia and 6-12 months would fall over aussie summer so woollens were definitely not required.

Have forgotten my heartburn tablets today. At least 4 hours until I can get home/to a chemist I might have completely corroded by then.

i have a toy for baby... need to find sonething for her. Got her a locket last baby... dont think i can compare this time.

How about a little food/drink hamper of things she missed when pregnant? Pate/brie/champagne/blue cheese that sort of thing?

that would be an amazing pressie for me... but shes a fussy eater anyway! going to wander round the shops and try and get inpiration!

Thanks poppy954 for the sobering advice on BF. So it does hurt at the beginning, but we have to solider on. got it. I've always wondered if it hurt TBH. I'm actually looking forward to BF, is that odd? Neither DH nor I are from cultures where women often FF, so I'm looking forward to whipping out a baby from under my top to the amazement of others , but, that said, and I've never seen anyone at my church BF. They must leave the service and go elsewhere, or feed at the back of the hall.

Oh ladies, not long to go before we have a little cutie in our arms .

Liking the idea of giving a new mum a basket of things that she missed during the cake baking of 9months: Riesling or Gewürtztraminer if anyone knows me and is interested in sending a basket. I can't wait for Feb, i'll be knocking back bottles of these badboys in quick succession, and eating scallops and crab. Oh man!

littlest didn't think people used dick as a nickname for richard anymore! I wouldn't care about it, don't think it'll be used :)

Thanks, Julietee - they are much better today, hopefully once we finish making our new flat I won't be so stressed with everything! Glad to hear yours have calmed down a bit :)

Haven't got any colostrum at all, but oh my how little one is moving about today! Very active indeed!

Jazz try www.namedtogether.co.uk You each choose your favourites independently and it generates a list of those you both like

bare I gave my sister assume homemade cake, she was very pleased! personally, I'd like lots of bubbles and any other type of wine going!

so champs, I gave hr my worked example of my annual leave request, and they gave me the most fudged response can you show my hr how it's done please?! Anyway, I showed it to my boss and he took the most restricted view possible (he's like that) so I'm thinking I'll take leave from 20 Dec rather then lose it the bastards

my ribs are still really sore, I'm planning to see the gp about it when I'm working at home later this week. I'm not sure what he can do, if anything, but I need to try! has anyone else had such sore ribs? It feels like it's broken, I have to go to bed early now as the only comfortable position is lying totally flat on my left. If I lie on my right it sends shooting pains along my ribs.

Sorry, that was a really grumpy update! I'll try to be more cheerful next time. I really am happy to be pregnant

teaaddict I always breast fed in church right where I was sitting I never took baby out or went to back of church. I don't know if this bothered anyone, no one ever said anything. I would not have changed my ways if someone had said anything anyway. I always use a muslin or blanket to cover myself so it's not as if I am waving my boob about.

I breastfed everywhere and I mean everywhere. In shops, London buses, bus stops, park benches, cafes, trains and church you name it i was there with my udders feeding my child. I really couldn't care if people feel uncomfortable I think that's just weird. My baby needs fed and the most natural thing is to feed them with my breast. It's just because breast are for the majority these days seen as a sex symbol.

Oh I would love a hamper of Stilton and wine after birth. Some lovely ladies from church have said they will be making a rota and popping in with cooked meals for the first few weeks. How amazing is that? I hardly even know them yet as we have only been here a few months.

poop that website looks good. I will check it out later.

littleen and julietee sorry if this is too personal a question but I am really interested. Have you always had tics? How does it effect your life? My son was diagnosed with Tourretes a few years ago but he has had it since he was 3. It just seems to get worse the older he gets. He has vocal and physical tics. Thankfully he doesn't shout out words. Does yours only come with stress/anxiety? My son tics all day every day and he can be having the best day of his life and still tics. Sorry for the personal questions its just I don't actually know anyone who tics apart from my son. And he is a bit young to fully understand it and he gets very uncomfortable talking about it.

Eeyore, grump away thats what we are here for! it is possible for baby to break your ribs. DS broke mine in late pregnancy with a few sharp, well aimed kicks at a rib that had been broken several times before through violent sports once he was born it healed quite quickly. It is worth getting it checked out especially if its causing you pain and problems.

Several friends brought us home made meals which were a godsend when DS was "small" and they could all be eaten one handed or be fed to me easily. DS always wanted feeding just as my dinner was ready. one friend is visiting us in Jan and has already said she is making us meals again for the feezer. she is an ace cook

The names website looks really good, we have (I think) settled on a name, which we aren't telling people, because none of them know that we know what we are having. I have two decoy names in case they push it. I have a further GP dilemma)/situation to deal with first so it's possible that one set might not be talking to us by the birth anyway.

teaaddict yes that's it, you've got it!

eyeore you don't sound like you're complaining I
Hope your rib pain gets better soon. I remember having rub pain in one of my pregnancies but I can't remember what stage.

I'll have a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc in my basket please and maybe a nice bottle of red too - not as fussy when it comes to red, Shiraz, merlot, riocha will all be accepted!!

Just checked and I've got some colostrum when I squeeze. Not sure why I'm so amazed when it's my third baby. My body is actually preparing me to have a baby!!