Rat smackers extraordinaire enjoying a festive mince pies and brooking no argument that there will be the occasional sneeze birth before the end of 2013

[SweetieTime]

Ladies I think we need a new festive thread to take us through to the end of the year. And as it will be me to sneeze next –how did it get around to my turn so quickly???-- I thought I would do the honours.

Solars I wouldn't bother with a baby bath, we never used ours. Just took dd in the shower with us, much easier.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Quick post to say Merry Christmas to all.

Also, Solars, everyone told us not to bother with a baby bath too - however we use ours every day and DS is 1. Depends on what routine you'll want and things. DS loves a bath, has one every night before bed. When he was little he'd sometimes share the big bath with me, but when it's just him it's quicker and better to just run a mini bath.

Merry Christmas everyone! Sorry I've not been around. We moved house at the weekend and have no internet for a while!

Merry Christmas all!

How did the house move go Fox?

We also liked our baby bath Solars, until DD was old enough/big enough to go in on her own. I think baby baths are very much a what suits you type of thing! I have friends who always showered with their babies a la Rubber, but DD liked having a bath last thing before bed, and a baby bath was perfect for that. Also, I like my showers to be skin-scauldingly hot, so not baby friendly! Can't remember what we got, but it was cheap from Amazon..

Merry Christmas! Hope you've all had a lovely day. Fab time was had here!
On the baby bath subject we didn't have one but I highly recommend one of the bath supports either in the baby bath or normal bath. The one we had was just a bit of towelling on a metal frame (looked a bit like an old fashioned sun lounger!) It stops you having to wrestle with a slippery baby and leaves both hands free for washing!

merry Christmas brookers. sorry I haven't been around but I was readmitted to hospital & only released Christmas eve. my sight is still bad so I struggle to see my phone or laptop and have to rest my eyes. I wasn't prepared for how hard post birth would be. I thought babies would be born and that would be that. Anyway hopefully I am on the mend now and am getting loads of support in rl. Dh has been awesome and I have daily visits from community midwife plus my gp is really looking after me. It is a cast of thousands getting me well. fortunately the twins are doing amazingly well so nothing to worry about there. They are so cute and lovely in how they interact together.

I will keep popping in as my sight improves.

Oh Sweetie so sorry to hear you're having a hard time post delivery :( Brooking that you'll be all recovered very soon and back to your Brooking best. The pics of the DTs are too cute!! Can't wait for more pics and snuggles when you're up to it

Hi brookers, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.

Sweetie really sorry to hear that you've been back in hospital, great that you're getting so much support though. And of course really pleased to hear the twins are doing well. I'm loving the fb pics, they are beyond cute!

Solars we had a m.johnlewis.com/mt/www.johnlewis.com/tummy-tub-bath/p230223627<a class="break-all" href="//tummy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">tub for our dc's bath which they loved. It's supposed to feel very secure for them, like being in the womb. J used to go into a trance in his!

Sorry for the awful link. The product is a tummy tub, I'll try the link again

m.johnlewis.com/mt/www.johnlewis.com/tummy-tub-bath/p230223627

Sweetie Sorry to hear that you've been back in hospital but glad that everyone is taking good care of you. I had lots of problems with my vision after DS1 but it settled after 3 months or so. Brooking that yours settles asap! I loved the pic of the twins with your dad - just gorgeous!

I hope everyone has had a great Christmas.

sweetie glad things are getting better. Hopefully no more trips to the hospital.

I've had a great few days, with lots of people to help me out, so I'm finally feeling a bit better. Just need to shift the cough and I'm good.

Went to the next sale on Boxing Day, spent all my money but got some fantastic things. Left my house at 11, left ds down to grannies house and was on my way home at 12.05. So was very quick.

Has anyone else been out shopping?

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas!

Sorry to hear about your vision sweetie but glad things are getting better and it's great that you have so much support. That's brilliant the twins are doing so well!

The house move went well thanks musical. We moved last weekend, then spent 3 days with DHs family for Xmas, then back home to carry on sorting things out. We're just about done apart from 3 or 4 boxes in the spare room. My parents were an amazing help with the move, and my mum kept telling me off for lifting the slightest thing!

We told DHs family about the pregnancy on Xmas Eve and they were so happy it was lovely. A few watery eyes! Everyone kept talking about it which was strange as we've not spoken lots about it we're a bit in denial. DHs niece is 5 and was excited about the news too! She kept asking to feel the baby, and when I said it's not quite big enough yet, would proceed to feel my boobs

Congratulations on the big move Fox! How lively your family know now

Sweetie you poor thing, I hope you are feeling much better very soon. Also loving the Facebook photos

Well done on the sales Pen! Glad you picked up some bargains!

How is everyone else? Lovely Christmas had here, hope everyone else had an amazing time x

hello lovelies
sweetie poor you, but I'm glad you made it home for Xmas. were dib and dab in with you? hope it's all going OK, good that you have lots of people with you.

trix eek, it's so soon now! how are you feeling about everything?

fox what a lovely time to tell everyone

kitty how did your big reveal go?

Solars how are you feeling?

and maybe? no sickness now? are you feeling good yet? can we have bump pictures please everyone?

all good here, am loving having dh off and my mum taking s in the early hours. we had one night of a 4.5 hour chunk of sleep, herxmas pressie to me, but last night we were back to 1.5 hours dh always says it's a growth spurt and carries on sleeping grr

Oh Keep I'm so pleased you're doing so well!! And great news about that chunk of sleep!

I have good days and bad days with the sickness. It's always lingering in the background, but is way better than before! Ill try and get another bump photo on at some point!

Trix I can't believe how soon Treats will be here!!

did everyone have a nice Xmas? I have eaten far too much the heart burn is killing me .
I'm constantly going between excitement and wanting to stay pregnant because I'm sooo nervous about everything. in some ways though I'm dying to get this baby out because I'm uncomfortable and feel as if I've been pregnant for an age. but in the past 2 years I probably have had about 8 months when I haven't been pregnant, I think my body needs a rest.
I have some dumb questions about my induction, they've given me a leaflet but it doesn't say much. it seem s its different if its your first baby or not. I guess I'm staying in the hospital until I have a baby to leave with. will I get changed straight into my night dress or PJs. I mean do I actually need to pack a going home outfit surely I can just throw the clothes I turned up in back on, clean undies though of course. do I need to adjust the amount/type of stuff I've packed or just add a book in case it takes a while? any previous experiences and advice would be much appreciated.. eek!

Hi Trix we had a lovely Christmas thanks you, how was yours?

With regards to hospital bags, I packed 2, a labour bag full of the essentials and a ward bag for DH to bring later. Pretty soon after you arrive the midwife will be wanting access to your bits so I would say a nighty would be best. As for going home clothes, I had stretchy jogging bottoms, as a guide, a post natal tummy after a couple of days is about the size at about 5/6 months pregnant (I think I have remembered that right). The time it will take for your induction depends entirely on your body. I was told my cervix was still too high and closed to break my waters and I had the pessary to soften it, as I have said before that worked really well, but they did prepare me to have 3 of those pessaries 6-8 hours apart so take something just in case it does take a while.

If you want to post a bag list we cantake a look for you?

also boo it wasn't your first labour, so may have been faster. trix yes I'd think to change quite soon, and agree re two bags. it will be lovely for your body not to be pregnant having a baby is much harder

yes had a lovely Xmas thanks. I posted my bag list a few weeks ago, you all seemed quite pleased with it just a few additions. it sounds like I don't need anything different so am pretty much good to go.
have persuaded dh to come with me, although we would both love him to spend more time when I'm home with the baby. I think we will both cope better if he's with me. fingers crossed I'm quick too!

Hi all! Hope you all had a lovely Christmas.

Trix, I think you are incredibly brave to even consider starting induction without DH! It wouldn't even have crossed my mind not to have him there throughout. Glad he'll be there for you. Can't he book some annual leave immediately after his paternity leave?

Fox, at your niece feeling boobs instead of bump! And yay for a lovely new house!

Pen, hope you're feeling better now and the cough has gone.

Sweetie, Brooking really hard that your eyes improve quickly.

Kitty, yay for Team Pink!

Christmas was a bit muted here - we went to PIL and M, DH and I all came down with a horrible tummy bug, the kind where you go all sweaty and shaky, on the 23rd. Then we immediately segued into a nasty cold immediately afterwards - I felt worst on Christmas Eve and DH on Christmas Day. FIL got the sickness bug on Christmas morning and MIL on the 27th. Weren't we nice house guests to have? Just waiting to hear whether BIL/SIL and kids have got it yet. Too and family, bringing festive pestilence to all their kith and kin.

Sweetie I have replied to your message but it took ages to send and stupid phone app won't show me my sent box to check it sent properly. Let me know if you don't get it.

Waves to everyone else

Oh dear Too that does not sound like fun. Hope kith and kin are better soon!

Oh my goodness Trix not long to go at all now!!

Maybe I can't believe your sickness is still lingering! you poor thing. Looking forward to your bump pic.

Sweetie hope everything is settling down for you sight wise.

Keep I'm doing ok thanks! My carpal tunnel has returned though within the last week! But it's usually overnight and the pain in my fingers was waking me up. It's ok during the day probably because I'm moving my hand/arm around I guess. MrS has bought me a splint to wear overnight which is working like a treat at the moment!

Yay for telling everyone Fox

And how did the crackers go down Kitty?

Pen I haven't hit the shops at all! Have done a little online shopping though.

We had Xmas day with brother and family and the niece and nephew were being really sweet and hugging and saying goodnight to the bump! Boxing day was spent with in laws.

Thank you everyone for your comments on the baby bath, I spoke to my SIL too and she kindly gave me her little seat/prop thing you put in the bath, so I'll see how I get on with that, I quite like the idea of the little tub thing too Little

Really suffering with broken sleep at the moment too I guess I should get used to it right? I'm already in bed as I'm really tired now! But I'm not complaining as I remember the low place I was in this time last year after a failed ivf, a lap and the doom and gloom of having to face another round in the new year....

So pleased you've agreed to have MrT with you Treats. Brooking for a sneeze induction.

Too hope you can see in the new year feeling much better

Sounds like a lovely Christmas Solars! But rubbish about the carpel tunnel. I feel your pain on the broken sleep front. But it has introduced me to the world of the afternoon nap . I've borrowed a baby bath and a bath prop for when she is a bit bigger. I didn't have a clue what to get! I think it's time for a bump update from you too

Boo I bet your house is full to the brim with new Christmas presents for the mini boos!!!

My tuppence worth on baby baths: we didn't buy one because after bathing my little half-siblings in the big bath, I didn't feel we'd need one. M, however, was only 6 lb 5 and felt so tiny and fragile that Mum was sent out to buy a baby bath on our first day home! Had the advantage that we could bath her in front of the fire - our bathroom is cold and draughty so that was a big plus, and it was March and freezing. On the downside, the dog absolutely had a fit when he saw that we were getting the baby wet! He seemed to think it was tantamount to child abuse. We used the baby bath for the first few weeks and then graduated onto the big bath.

Thanks for all the get-well messages! We are much recovered, just still a bit coldy. M has decided to eat again, which is always nice.

Solars, ouch at the carpal tunnel! Glad the splint is helping. I've started to get uncomfortable at night because I normally sleep on my tummy and I don't precisely have a bump yet but I'm already needing to kind of wedge a pillow along one side so I'm not lying flat on my stomach. I think it's more psychosomatic than anything else - I'm scared I'm squashing the baby so I feel uncomfortable when I lie on my tummy, even though I'm probably not actually able to squash the baby just yet.

Maybe, the world of afternoon naps is your friend! Especially once MiniMaybe is here. I used to go back to bed when M napped totally ignoring the domestic chaos surrounding me. I'm sadly aware that that's not going to happen this time with a toddler in the mix as well, unless by some incredible coincidence they manage to synchronise naps. More likely M is going to decide that naps are for babies just as the new baby is born.

Gotta go, M is trying to communicate with me by stamping her feet, howling and pointing at me.

poor too Glad you're on the mend

I like our baby bath only as it's quicker and easier to make it deep. we have a towelling thing for when she's a bit bigger. but we've used the big bath too which is fine.