February 2014 - all our bags are packed, we're ready to go...

[sunflowered]

Well... we're getting there at least, and definitely ready to meet the first thread baby!

Well all ingredients bought for a big batch cooking session, or to be put in ziplock bags ready to be dumped into slow cooker... But now can't be bothered to do it because walking around supermarket with people who will just not move out of the way, has made me want to cry with pain!

Julietee I'd go anyway too, I wouldn't have resented it if another woman turned up with a cold, as long as you have some hand sanitiser and use it before touching stuff and have tissues rather than sitting there snotting away!

Gnitting really not sure what to advise as I don't know what the implications are of giving birth with said haemorrhoid. Are you seeing mw/consultant anytime soon? You could mention it without going to see GP specifically for it...

Littleen I guess everyone is totally different but in my experience the funeral planning is the easy bit, because it's all organised and you have to think logically and tell everyone and prepare and you don't really get a chance to grieve. For me the grief came after the funeral - when all the guests have left and the house is full of leftover food and it is suddenly very lonely. So, I don't know, maybe just be prepared for that. But I guess it hits everyone at a different moment. And when it comes it is very hard but quite normal. I'm sure there is lots more advice on the bereavement page here.

Batch cooking is the only nesting I've really been doing, am loving seeing the freezer fill up. I think I will be annoyed when we come to defrost the food and actually eat it. Though the arrival of new cot mattress and sheets yesterday (that baby mattress online website really is brill) means the nursery is all done, hurrah.

I had terrible piles when I was in labour with DS. There's no implications as such, esp as it's only 1 minor one. It just makes things a but more sore but so many women have them during pregnancy and a lot who don't will end up with them after a natural birth. Don't worry about it, just get some anusol and lactulose and you'll be just fine

Hugs littleen hope you can get things sorted to give her a good send off.

I'd probably go as well julietee but just be aware.of it and stay a bit away from people. But it does depend quite how bad you are...

Mmm I just discovered creme eggs in the shops winner. Forgotten quite how sickly they are though. After a couple of quite energy-y days am TIRED now.

Happy showers for those having them today!

I've emailed the course leader as fair warning, but will almost certainly go. Thinking of bringing proper kosher bagels for people. Too forward too soon?

Ooh I could murder a creme egg or three right now

Well I did buy the threepack as a precaution. ..

I had my first creme egg of the year earlier too and possibly my second

I've had the sharing bag of mini eggs. And didn't share. I told DD they were eggs and not chocolate eggs and she wasn't interested! [mean mummy emoticon]

I have decided Creme Eggs are my official craving and therefore I can eat my weight in them!

Yum to the creme egg eating and LittlePanda excellent work putting your DD off the scent so you didn't have to share! I find I get quite hungry on days I'm at home with DS because he's such a hungry boy that I feel I shouldn't eat in front of him without offering him some, and basically that rules out my unhealthy/sugary cravings. The other day I hit a new low and bought a massive bar of Dairy Milk en route to the swings with him and wolfed it while pushing his buggy so he couldn't see what I was up to!

This evening I made two apple crumbles and me and DH have already devoured half of one with vanilla ice cream. Bliss. Baby LovesToBake is kicking the hell out of my bump today and people keep commenting on high the bump is which makes me nervous that she isn't planning her exit any time soon. Only 35+2 today so don't want her out just yet, but as DS exited at 37+4, I'm basically pinning all of my hopes on a similar date for this one. I'm impatient to get to the finish line now!

My occasional vice is to disappear I to the bathroom and scoff chocolate so DS doesn't know!!!

I also tell him that my occasional naughty treat of a coca cola is coffee.

Ha ha LastNight I can so imagine doing this! Sometimes I've scoffed something in the kitchen thinking he was busy playing and then had to bury my face in a cupboard/magazine or similar when he's unexpectedly wandered in and wants to chat. DS still thinks all adult hot drinks are a 'cup of tea' which is lucky seeing as hot chocolate has been my drink of choice through this pregnancy and I'm sure he would love it, if only he knew!

Had such an amazing afternoon at my baby shower today. GD had to go totally out the window as it was a full on afternoon tea with the most amazing cakes and scones. I'm sure one afternoon can't hurt.. Got some really thoughtful gifts which were totally unexpected as i had specifically said no gifts what with it being so close to Christmas. Was lovely to spend time nattering away with girlfriends and was quite sad when I had to come home!

Feeling mentally prepared and ready to have this baby now. Am 36wks tomorrow but feel like I have a bowling ball between my legs. Hoping this is a sign it's turned the right way (and doesn't just have a heavy bum in my pelvis!)

Slight side point - Nick Knowles has just appeared on my tv whilst writing this and oh my god has he found Just For Men or what?! Scary stuff!

Anyhooo back to babies... Hoping all the new mummies are still doing well. Hope those with early labour indicators are pacing themselves, resting and eating well to conserve energy levels!

jazzcat Glad you had a good shower! I've also had a few "stuff it" moments with the GD, and haven't given it a moment's thought - a one-off can't hurt. It's sticking to the "one-off" that's the problem for me!

Aw, glad you had a good shower jazz! You'll have to post some pics of all your lovely goodies.

I love the stories of stealthily evading chocoholic toddlers :)

Julietee one couple brought a box of chocolates to our second day of NCT and they went down extremely well.

Just finished my last shift at work - hurrah! Well, I still have a staff meeting to attend on February 10th, which, my boss has just informed me, will be less of a staff meeting, more of a baby shower for me! This is at the suggestion of the 80-year-old mother of one of her other PAs. Am really touched as nobody did a baby shower for me when I was expecting either of the boys (not that I was expecting one mind you!) Hoping I haven't popped by then, it's pretty likely my ELCS will be later that week. Eeek.

As I knew I'd be on my feet most of the shift tonight, I popped one of my dihydrocodeine tablets (been saving them for when it's really bad) and my goodness they obliterate the pain of the SPD completely. There's still the weird uncomfortable feeling, but the grinding pain was gone. Only problem is that my chest felt slightly tight, like I was lying down with a toddler sitting on it! Not enough to stop me breathing, but noticeable. Don't know if coincidence or a side effect of the tablets. Will ask the consultant on Monday. Desperate to ask her loads of questions, so hope I get to see her and not a clueless registrar helping out at her clinic...

I have a big online shop order coming on Tuesday night and plan to spend Wed/ Thursday batch cooking and filling the freezer so we don't have to think about meals in those early sleep-deprived weeks. Just made a cake (yes, at 11pm) as we are having family all come over tomorrow for a little party for DS2, who was 6 on Thursday. Strangely not as tired as I ought to be but definitely need to get to bed now.

Marzi Thank you, and yes it will probably feel more real once the funeral is over and everything is supposed to go 'back to normal' which will be a very different normal. Not quite sure what to expect, just have to wait and see what happens.

Would love to do batch cooking and freeze things, but I can never get round to eating frozen food or leftovers -.- I literally will eat dry cereal rather than something that have been reheated, apart from a few things. I think it's the way it smells (?) or something. But batch cooking has always made a lot of wasted food for me :o

jazz glad to hear you had a good time! :)

We had some friends over, and they brought their baby bed (6 mhts + ) , a baby chair (similar to Tripp Trapp) and baby clothes too! They have two smallish kids, so got all the stuff, but not having any more kids! win win, they get house cleared, we get stuff for baby :)

Littleen so sorry to hear about your mum. Xx

Jazz enjoy the cakes! One day won't hurt I'm sure.

Glitter so sorry you've had SPD so bad in two pregnancies now. Hang in there.

I'm sitting on the sofa watching the tennis, DD off for her nap, DH out, air con on full blast to try and reduce the size of my feet and ankles. Wishing all my UK preggos a good Sunday.

Hello preggos,

Thought I'd do a little update on here rather than fb...

For those not on fb, my waters broke yesterday at 37+1 at 8.30am. Wasn't contracting, 1cm dilated (she could see lots of dark hair on baby's head!) so sent home to try and go into labour naturally, otherwise booked for an induction this morning (they will call me to come in around 10am)

So - managed to get a couple of hours sleep and now up trying to get things moving along a bit. Contracting quite painfully (but not too bad) but between 8 mins and 5 mins, so irregular and only lasting about 60 secs. Just desperate to get things going properly so I can avoid an induction.

Really really want to be on the lovely mlu in a birthing pool than hooked up to a drip on delivery suite. Maybe I will go in with contractions still fairly far apart but enough to convince them to let me progress naturally? What will be will be, but for now I'm going to spend a few hours bouncing on my ball and hoping. The Bear Cat is all over me - he know's somethings up!

Ooh notone, good luck!

Mmmm just made cheesecake... Quite upset that it needs an Hour in the fridge before I can have any!

I really want that cheesecake cubano . My other half is attempting to make chocolate cake today though, I am very excited!!

Mmm cake. Was just making some . salmon and spinach for lunch and now that seems really sad :(

champs I live in leggins and dresses now, really don't think that it's worth buying anythinf new at this point unless it'd be useful also for breastfeeding...