January 2015 #7: Glowing & growing? Rock on 2nd trimester!

[rumisyum]

Onwards into the 2nd trimester, where hopefully the bumps will overtake the poo factories!

Stats here.

We did the name chat a few weeks ago, there is one girl and one boy of his I could stand do they went on the list, most of mine stayed - yay! And I'm pretty sure I'll get my way on the day after pushing this little one out!

My bum and hips are getting fat - my knickers don't fit! Farewell size 8 bottom, I hope you return to me one day....

17 weeks today!

Kate I feel your pain! We've not talked about names at all yet as it's a tricky subject. His family are Greek and tradition is to use grandparent names for baby - but I'm not Greek so we've agreed not to do that. But probably are still limited to Greek names (many of which are beautiful, especially for girls) which does mean the names I loved when I was younger are already off the table... Are you not keen on the two names you've already agreed on then?

Well I've wanted a daughter called Lily ever since I can remember. I'm just annoyed as now it seems so popular! And we've decided we both like the name Dylan but once again it seems popular. I don't really want my kid to be in a class of kids with the same name. I had it at school. She had my first and last name! So annoying! But as I was looking for middle names I found Annabelle and now I've kinda fallen in love with Annabelle but haven't told hubby that as I'm sure he'll hate the name. Oh and i now love the idea of Monty as a middle name if we have a boy (nothing to do with seeing Monty Python honest hee) but I'm sure he'll hate that too. But still on the lookout for a boys name. I don't really like boys names haha.

I love Annabelle! It's one of my favourites. DH didn't mind it, fx yours won't either.
I don't think Dylan is that popular, think you would be fine.

Aww yay! It's gorgeous isn't it! Maybe I should just bite the bullet and ask him hee. Then at least if he says no I can move on. We may stick with Dylan then. Dylan Monty! Haha.

I agree Dylan doesn't seem overly popular to me - I always liked it, but wouldn't say it's as common as Lily is at the moment. I do think Lily is lovely though! So is Annabelle - I especially like that spelling. And you have a choice of nicknames too. Annie is the name I have loved since I was a child, there are some Greek names we could go for that could be shortened to Annie so maybe I will get my name after all if it's a girl!

The only Greek names I know are ancient greek names. That'd be great though if you could get Annie! Are you finding out pink or blue?

Probably, yes - only if dh promises not to tell everyone though! Anastasia and Andrianna are two possibles I think, although haven't discussed it with him at all yet!

Kate Are you going to find out flavour? Or will it be a surprise so you do need a boy and a girl option?

Oh I'm gonna be team yellow so need both names :) I love Anastasia!

On a slightly different note... I was wondering about finances. Both me & DH currently work ft and on about £30k each pa. When I go on Maternity leave I am on basic (statutory) pay - no perks for me! I think that based on DH income we don't qualify for any tax credits etc but what about the new childcare credits? Surely working families are going to get help with that?

I think everyone gets about £20 per week for the first child.

When i go on maternity leave we've basically got £13k income plus the standard maternity pay so we're scrimping :)

It's crazy isn't it?! I think my political views are quite right wing and I am dead set against scroungers but surely working families should get more help than £20 a week on top of mat pay? I should so be a politician!

Haha me too! i don't know what they expect £20 to cover exactly!!

We have more chat than anyone else. WINNING.

Ah! I love that website, Pru!

Dylan's a gorgeous name Kate, and I don't know any little boys called it. And I love your choices SK28! I've got a huge fondness for musical names and those are lovely.

Lulu I'm sure I've gained weight, but mostly I feel like my hips and bum have changed shape. My knickers still fit but suddenly give me wedgies all the time. So I've got to buy some new ones pronto, so I'm not constantly hitching them out my backside. So classy.

Ugh cheshire, that's such a good question but reminds me how much in denial I've been about the financial side of this. I need to investigate that tax credit stuff. Where do you even find out what you might be eligible for? All I know about is paying taxes, not claiming anything back.

I nominate you both for the next election, cheshire and kate. I'd vote for you.

rum go to the gov.uk website and there is an eligibility calculator you complete to see if you qualify... good luck!

Also, 15 weeks today!

I'm trying so hard to not wish away the days of this pregnancy & savour it for the indulgent first pregnancy it is, but my word after years of trying I am jolly impatient to meet this little one who kept us waiting so long! Is anyone else feeling like that? Tho I guess I might change my tune when the prospect of labour is imminent.

Thanks, cheshire! I doubt we do due to our salaries, but it'll be nice to know!

Oh that's good Rum. I keep seeing it on popular name lists so I worry. :)

And I just feel fat! No weight gain but knickers now rub between my thighs so hips must be bigger. My tummy just feels huge but not bump huge just fat huge. I just feel heavier. Rum I'm just wishing the days away til the 20 week scan and until i have a proper bump and feel bub moving. At the moment I don't feel pregnant just whale-ified.

Is there somewhere you can actually go to talk to an expert about tax credits etc? I hate those benefits calculators as it works from tax year to tax year which just confuses me working out incomes haha.

wishing the days away til the 20 week scan and until i have a proper bump and feel bub moving. At the moment I don't feel pregnant just whale-ified.

EXACTLY this.

Ooo I like Dylan to but my Nephew 5 is in a class with two of them. I Like Gylan as an alternative. Also like Ted or Ned for a boy so would be Edward but a couple of people have commented that because DS is a Jacob it will look like some Twilight fan obsessed thing.

Feeling slightly better today far less bleeding but still feeling very uncomfortable but already fed up of doing nothing. I'm starting to feel a little more confident about buying baby things now the op went well although I'm not 100% out of the woods. Just fell in love with this Nappy Bag www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261463080192.

re tax credits - the calculator is not perfect. I got all excited the other year when DP was at risk of redundancy that we may qualify. When I rang for the form, they do ask a couple of questions and as it turns out, we were not entitled to anything. This was a couple of years back - but wish I had just called up.

If anyone wants the contact pages: how to claim

Definitely worth checking though.