Due in May 07 - w/c 23-10-06

[aprilmeadow]

Following on from last weeks thread.

Here is the list of ladies having scans this week:
redbullbloodandbump - 24th Oct
glitterkitty - 25th Oct
intheseshoes - 26th Oct
twelveyeargap - 1st Nov
mummymelling - 1st Nov

Pebblemum - lol at at the hidden crisps. Good for you munching on them!

Welcome to the chatty and madest/loveliest bunch of may07ers Katybumps. Hope you can keep up with all the chat!

SOBASH congrats on the house!! I think we must be about the same age. 25...... We're just waiting to move, and have been for 6.5mths! Hopefully in by end of Nov.

Took my ds to a Halloween party yesterday and dressed him as a pumpkin - he looked sooo cute

Hope all the ms is being kept at bay. Mine still hasnt totally gone, but i am starting to feel more human!

im bored but to knackered to do anything!Supposed to be finishing off my course work but it looks like its written in russian

Anybody have any idea if you are still entitled to tax credits while on maternity leave?I cant find any information anywhere!

Hi and welcome Katybumps. I think you are still entitled to tax credit and depending on the circumstances you may get more.

No word from LG&T on scan yet. Hope its good news for her and that she is just busy.

I have done a few jobs this morning, just about to get lunch and then take up my position on sofa with quilt for the afternoon. My mum has given me the trilogy of Thornbirds so I may start that or just see what else is on tv. Think there is a film on disney channel that I would have liked to watch with the DDs but they are at their dads this weekend - might just have to watch it on my own - thinks its called Twin Witches or Twitches!

Afternoon May07ers! Welcome to katybumps, afraid I know nothing about tax credits and maternity leave, but I'm sure someone will!

We've been for a second and longer viewing on our house today. DH's step-Grandad came with us. He owns a building firm and really knows his stuff (turned up with ladders and wires and squiggly things and electronic beepers and er whatsits- technical me!). We're instructing a full survey, but wanted somebody we know and trust to give it a good going-over first. He said there was no damp, no dry rot, no obvious structural problems, it's properly wired, damp proof course is perfect, only concern is that he thinks the attic conversion might have been done without permission as the head height's too big apparently (meaning there isn't enough reinforcement in the floor I presume). Of course my parents and the ILs, plus DH's Grandma turned up as well, having heard our good news. Poor estate agent just stood in the corner while eight of us tramped round. They've all got their own plans about what we should do and how many walls we should knock down. It's amusing, but I'm relieved that they're so excited and will be willing to help out with the renovations!

I am currently petrified that although our offer has been accepted and they are accepting no further viewings, a developer could just wade in and offer a higher price. And I've got my eye on those Laura Ashley furnishings (they are lovely aren't they scootermum, always used to wander round the shop with plans of "one day"!).

aprilmeadow, I am 25 too, 26 on New Year's Eve! I'm dreading it taking six months, I'll be giving birth in a bloody removal lorry. I keep telling myself that we are first time buyers, the vendor has no chain and we're in the best position we could be. I've heard too many nightmares that other people have had buying houses. And living in a big university city it's been impossible to find anything that isn't snapped up for cash by developers as soon as it hits the market. I just hope that it all goes to plan.

LG&T where are you? How was the scan? Anybody seen her elsewhere on the boards?

Pebblemum- congrats on the house reforming! Got all that to come. No idea what Scampi Fry crisps are, they sound bizarre, but shame on DH! It's risky business, hiding food from a pg person!

SkyTV I'm heading for the sofa and quilt too, but watching the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice. Got some yummy shortbread too... DH is at work till 9 so I've got the afternoon to myself. Bliss...

thanks for info good luck with the house! fingers crossed for you x enjoy your sofa time sky my youngest ds is at his dads so its really quiet here today.oldest ds watching brainiac so gonna get dressed and drag him round morrisons have a good day x

Im about to join the sofa brigade to but will be watching Dora and whatever else is on nick jr. Im so tired. Ds1 woke up at 2am (just as i was going to bed) doubled up in pain with a stomach ache, no idea what caused it but after some calpol and a lot of wriggling and moaning he managed to go to sleep (at 4am)then at 6am ds2 woke up asking for a drink and a biscuit, managed to convince him it was still night and he dozed on and off buti had trouble getting back to sleep after that. When ds1 woke this morning he was ok so the pain still remains a mystery. But as a result of a restless night i am now just about ready to drop. Dh is at work, ds1 has gone out and ds2 is currently going around doing his bob the builder impression and fixing things so im going to find a nice comfy spot on the sofa and stay there. Although knowing my luck i will just get comfy and someone will knock the door.

LG&T - hope all is well and you are just too busy to sit around on the pc chatting to us. Whatever you are doing though hurry up and finish so you can let us you are ok.{{hugs}}

P.s dh hasnt noticed the crisps yet but i did end up with awful heartburn last night perhaps that was my punishment for pinching them

Hope you all have a lovely weekend!!

As far as i know cus i had it,you end up getting slightly more tax credits whilst on mat leave as your income is reduced,just ring them and confirm in writing exactly what the changes are and they can tell you how much you will receive and the good bit is....they dont class mat benefit as earnings so you are let off that in your totals!!! hope this helps KATYBUMPS, and if you are getting tax credits you are entitled to the 500 surestsrt grant,that no one ever tells you about,just get the form from your job centre after 28wks pg xx

wow thanks mummymelling glad to hear some good news.Really wanted to take the new extended[39weeks?]maternity leave but wasnt sure if i could afford to

Evening all.

Been hectic last few days. Have been swiftly reading but no time to write.

Welcome to the lovely may07ers katybumbs.

Went to a holloween party yesterday. Ds was a vampire and looked fab, loved the facepaint bit. dd was a white cat, she looked very cute with white tail and ears on a headband, I was very supprised to find that she actually loved the ears and wouldn't take them off. Can't keep a pretty hair clip in though, she pulls that out the second it goes clip! grrrr!

Taken the two of them on a rare trip out with dh today to see a gymnastic show put on by the French fireman. Phowrrrr it was very worth watching I can tell you. Tempted to become an arsonist. lol

Hope lg&t is ok.(hugs)

SOBASH that is really great news on the house. Keep it real though. It is such fun but just becareful you are not too attached until you get those keys in your hand. (sorry i'm trying to be sensible, but it's not really me, I was buying vases and plates etc for our first flat before we even had the offer accepted!!)

I'm now going to take to the sofa for the first time in 3 days. maybe a while as may stay there til Monday. Have a good weekend all. xxx

sobash-you're having I think what should be known as house buyers fear.I had it to when buying our first flat.You are worried sick that it will fall through.Try not to be-it all sounds really uncomplicated and straight forward and should all be fine.Its sooo exciting isnt it!And dont worry about the move either-Like I mentioned we finally moved when I was 8.5 months gone last year and although it wouldve been nicer to be in sooner, at least I didnt have to help with the move itself a great deal.I jsut directed from atop a packing case.Much better than having to actually do stuff like lug boxes and clean and that...
Have you seen that wall paper in LA with the huge impressionistic chrysanthemums on it?That makes it sound vile I realise but I cant articulate better today-they have it in the background at times on 'what not to wear' only theirs is the one with the black background and silver flowers-I have it in blue in our bedroom-I think its very glam-I would have loved it in various colours throughout the house, but DH forbade me.Phylistine that he is where interiors are concerned.Plain walls, pah! thats what I say.Doesnt he know that lux is back?Well no, he doesnt and he has cancelled my subs to Living etc as well, on the grounds that it 'gives me too many ideas'.
BBC version of P and P.Superior to the film IMO.Thought film sucked in comparison..

congrats on your kitchen pebble and on the scampi fries.I used to have them on nights out when Id had a few.About 10 years ago that seems as I have been almost constantly pg for that long.Or thats how it feels anyway!This will be my 3rd birthday (coming up in December when I will be 27 which sounds a bit too old for me to be),and Christmas in a row that I have been pg.All I wanted this year was a few ales.Scuppered again.Still will all be worth it come May, touch wood.
Welcome katybumps by the way.I wonder if we are the biggest ante natal thread ever?

Moomi-France sounds so cool.Gymnastic firemen?Sigh.
Is Halloween a big deal over there then?

Yeah ish.... They celebrate it but to be honest probably no more than in the UK. Few fancy dresses, trickle treat and a lot of sweets. It was some english friends that had the party we went to.

Its November the 5th thats the weird one for the French of course they don't celebrate Guy Forkes so can not understand the fireworks and bonfires the english have on the 5th. But then the French do the 14th of July celebrations which is a weird one for us.
There is a massive circle of english out here. We live in Rural west france miles from anything. Yet I have more english friends here than in the UK. Some of them live nearly an hour away though but it is just part and parcel of life here, you accept that if you want to see anyone or do anything you have to travel to get there. I think when we were in the UK we took for granted having shops, hospital, friends and family all very close.

Sorry rambling, you'll all be fed up with hearing about France by May, I'll stop now.

Hope everyone is begining to feel better. Happy Sundays!!

scootermum, it sounds like we have pretty similar tastes. I know the wallpaper you mean, unfortunately so does DH! I have to hide my Living etc, Period Living, 25 Beautiful Homes etc etc from him as he's worried I'm spending money before we've earned it. I am actually managing to bring him round though. As the house we're buying is Victorian, I've got plenty of ideas about decor. DH is just shuddering at the idea of 'flock wallpaper', but he can't see past the chintzy side of it. The dining room in particular is going to be stunning. The previous owner has taken up the carpets and treated the original floorboards, replaced the modern wood burning stove with a beautiful antique one and there's some stunning coving. I'm thinking a fairly bold patterned wallpaper on one wall at least, got my eye on a beautiful rug too. I've already re-upholstered my Granny's old chair (it's Victorian, high-backed, high arms and beautiful) and it's going in front of the log burner. Oh I can't wait. I know I should be a bit sensible about it, but I am so excited about owning my own home and decorating it the way I want (our landlord has our rented accommodation decorated in various shades of brown and orange. I can't even turn on the lights anymore, it's just nauseating). Oh and I wholeheartedly agree that Keira "knock me down with a feather" Knightley is no comparison to Jen Ehle in the BBC adaptation. I thought the film lacked characterisation, suspense (oh no Lydia's run off, oh it's okay she's back) and Ms Knightley spent far too much time giggling and looking in the mirror. And I don't recall Darcy being that sulky either. I did, however, like Mr and Mrs Bennett in the film version (although I don't remember them living on a farm at any point) and I thought Charlotte Lucas looked more the part. Minor rant there...

Moomimin, will never tire of hearing about France. DH has decided he wants to cycle some of the tour route next year (with the newborn strapped to my back presumably ). I'll just wait for him in Carcassonne, celebrate Bastille Day in style and meet him for the journey home.

Sorry sorry, just been flat out with in laws staying, feel a bit off dashing to pc while they are here.

excellent news, baby measuring perfect 12 weeks jumping around like it was on pro plus! So relieved, how can something so small scare us so much? Am hoping to settle down now and enjoy this prg, i feel ok most of the time. The sickness is going and the tiredness thank god. It was very emotional seeing Dh, he looked great. We had a lovely weekend i was so upset when he had to go back. He looked after me all weekend, like a princess, a very round princess.

I just did the loo roll thing and have gone up a sheet to 8! My MIL is here and laughing at me

There is way too much to read to catch up you will have to fill me in on any important developments! Just read the boob bit briefly, ive gone up a size and cant wait to go up another. Im normally a 32 c but am a 34d at the mo.

Hope you are all ok and thanx so much for all the baby glue.

LG&T,

We're glad to hear from. Dh must have kept you . . .ummm . . busy

LG&T - that's brilliant news. Really glad to hear from you that all is ok.

Having a quietish weekend - lunch with my mother yesterday for her birthday, and I'm doing a roast now for us for dinner, I'm very domestic goddess like today, my sickness/tiredness seems to be abating a little. This might be because I have been off for a week; we'll see when I get back tomorrow.

MKG i was um..busy, unfortunately Dh was only home till sunday night.

Have just spoken to him and he may be able to get home next week for a few nights as he has part of his training in portsmouth! Hooray, i miss him so much. I think i underestimated how hard it would be stuck in a new place with 5 little monsters and now prg I just keep telling myself its only till xmas then he is home for 3 weeks then only 7 weeks away and he will be shore based here! It will be heaven having him home every night and at the weekend.

Id quite like half term to last a bit longer, not ready to send them all back to school. The days are too short, when will they get to play outside? I bloody hate this country for 6 months of the year, its too dark and cold. Whats it like in France and The States ladies who live in exotic locations?
Must go to bed, head too busy though.

I wouldn't New Jersey exotic. We have beaches, but they're really polluted from New York's garbage being dumped in the water.

Thats really good news LG&T.

Lincolnshire have an extra two days holiday. Last October we had two weeks but "they" decided that was too long and have shortened it to a week and two days. Know what you mean lg&t. I'm happy they are off today, it helps with the clocks going back etc and I am nowhere near ready for Halloween. DD1 needs a devil outfit, we haven't got a pumpkin nor any sweets yet.

Have to wait in for the gas man this morning as have a leaky radiator so hope to get a few jobs done.

A very good morning to one and all, im feeling a lot better today ,well anything is an improvement on yesterday,i was on a real downer and very tired and queasy.I took the bull by the horns and went to work 2-8.30pm and i felt so much better having a valid contribution to things ,sorta restored my faith in myself.Anyway mini rant over ,looking foward to our scan on weds evening at 6.30pm, its so late cus its private and it dosent tie up the nhs slots !!! lol xxx

Morning all,
SOBASH-I want to move into your nw house when you've done it.It'll be lovely I think!
Glad to hear your news large g and t.Hopefully he will get back next week as well then eh?And you can put your feet up.I dont know how you do it-what a hero you are.I will remember you next time im feeling a bit wimpy, 'im pg and I have a little baby and a job blah, blah'.I will just need to be made of sterner stuff like you!
I feel ok today, just a bit tired.See, there i go again.Weedy.

Have got to be in south London, then West London, then back to North London today for meetings and things so wont be on much as will be on the circle line all day pretty much.Not fond of the tube either since July 7th experiences.
DH has day off toay and I was very jealous when I left, leaving him and DD toasty warm in bed!

LG&T-welcome back, glad you had a good time with Dh and that the scan went well.

Scootermum, it is horrible being pg at christmas, this is only my 2nd time, the last was 9yrs ago but i remember watching everyone drinking and thinking 'its not fair'. And it always seems that when i cant drink our house is full of my favourite drinks. At the moment we have 2 bottles of bacardi, 1x vodka,1x archers, and lots of wine. And apart from the wine the rest will hardly get touched until after i give birth (and even then i wont be able to drink if im breastfeeding). Its as though it is sat there taunting me. Yet when im not pg we have hardly any alcohol in the house.

Everyone around me seems to be giving birth lately. First my cousin had a little boy, then his brother had twins -a boy and a girl 7lb 1oz & 7lb 3oz (ouch) and then my neighbour had her baby on Saturday night. A little girl called Lola 6lb 1oz. I saw her yesterday and she is sooo cute, i want one NOW!! 29wks seems too far away Im so impatient.

Yesterday we went shopping for a new microwave and plate set, we came home with £56's worth of crap we didnt need and no microwave or plates It was all dh's doing too, he kept filling the trolley up with things we didnt want. Even then we were shocked at the amount we spent, we thought it was only going to be about £30. Oh well next time i will know not to leave dh with the trolley while i look around

Hope you are all well today!

Morning Ladies. Shall we start a new thread for this week? This Week