Where's that bloomin' Carol Vorderman when you need her as the August '07 Countdown begins....

[tokentotty]

Whaddyathink ???

dp's mum is ginger and so's my brother so there's a chance we could have a little gingernut actually! I think they're cute... but if he takes after me and his dad he'll probably look like a cherub, we were both blonde and blue eyed, dp with natural curls.

Mind you if he takes after me he won't grow any real hair til he's about three, I was bald for yeeears! lol

Banana - my DS has only just started to get hair he is so fair...and he does have a touch of 'strawberry blonde' about him

We DID actually have a lime green buggy too btw that DH chose - I just prefer our little black maclaren one now that DS is bigger (as it is much much lighter)

In fact I did have a bit of hair at whatever age I was here, but it was a bit wispy and strawlike. Dp was a lot cuter (but by all accounts he was a little swine!)

Banana - hope you're having a nice rest! DH actually stopped drinking altogether a few weeks ago and couldn't be persuaded to have a drink "just in case the baby came early". He now seems to think that the baby will come on time (not before and not later) grrrrrr!! I don't think our ante-natal classes earlier this week helped - the m/w said that, on average, labour for a first baby could take 10 hours and it was very unlikely that anyone would be caught out... Once I reach 37 weeks, DH will be on permanent standby! Bless him, he has actually bought a second mobile phone for emergency calls, which only I have the number for!! (Someone from Orange phoned the number the other day and he went mental with them - told them on no uncertain terms, never to call that number again!! Think it gave him a bit of a panic )

Aaaah that is so sweet!

For straw like hair see pic of DS on my profile - his hair sticks out all over the place but I won't cut it as he doesn't have much (it is very fine hair)

Kite, I'm all for sitting at the dinner table instead of TV dinners too!! We got a new dining table & chairs a few weeks ago (late wedding present!!) and have made a point of sitting down to eat every night. We've actually learnt how to speak to each other again, no matter how tired we are after work. I think it's important to me for LO to grow up having dinner with us all as a family together

Oh Christ! Just re-read my earlier post and think I made DH sound like a big drinker!!! He's not btw. In fact he hardly ever goes out which is why he's making the most of the few nights he does go out... Sorry DH

Well my DH did go to the pub the night before I went into labour - my contractions started very early in the morning but I left him asleep until about 10.30am as I knew he wouldn't be of any use to me before then anyway.

My DH took himself off to bed so he'd be ok for work the night i went in to labour -because my waters had broken, but no contractions!!

He's laready said if I have the baby on a fridy, he'll be going into work on monday..... over my fecking dead body.!!

Oh bagpuss I bet he wouldn't dare leave you and his beautiful baby .

Speaking of which, is anyone elses DH/DP taking paternity leave?

If so, did they have to give their employer a copy of your MAT B1 form?

DH is, but he's self-employed so his paternity leave consists simply of not taking on any contracts during September...

Hmm DH was self-employed last time I was pregnant and it was much easier .. the good old days, how I miss them! I'm assuming my midwife didn't give me a MAT B1 form because I'm a SAHM and didn't need one, but now DH's new employers are asking to see it (and I've got better things to worry about TBH)

Is your DH working again now washersaurus? I remember you being a bit stressed about employment etc a while back there.

I love that BLM's other half is on permanent stand-by with emergency phone and everything. Can I quote you when i get home? Mine is also in deep denial about possibility of LO arriving early. Well actually so am I. I want my flat purchase to be done and my new bathroom!

BLM, I also am a big fan of talking over dinner no matter how tired. I just find coming home to dinner in front of TV really depressing and relationship-sapping. Every time we go on holiday we find each other again, and it isn't just spending time somewhere nice, it is talking to each other over a nice pasta and lambrusco (or tapas and sangria). Whenever I convince DP into a sit down meal he enjoys it, but his current idea of relaxing is sofa potato-ing as soon as he is home. You would never believe we used to climb mountains together.

I have just realised I make him sound like a lazy so and so, and he is totally not. He had the day off yesterday and came in to meet me at work so I would not have to do the commute home on my own (he normally picks me up on his way home so I only have to do tube/train once a day).

aaaw washer your ds is so cute, the hair just adds to the effect!

Well, just ordered a dressing gown, and that's me done, got absolutely everything I need and then some! If I go into labour before it arrives I'll be well annoyed.

dp is taking two weeks off but with him working for a small firm he may go in and do the odd half day if they're stuck (he's indispensable, they're buggered without him) and I'm thinking his phone will be non-stop. Still, at least he'll physically be here.

By the way, I found this entry on his website (and he'll kill me if I show you) but.... "The baby countdown is now at 24 days. It seems like only yesterday that six months sounded like an eternity. I think I'm going to be sick. It's scary stuff, exciting stuff. A bit like the very moment a roller coaster goes into a vertical drop. My stomach insists on doing odd things. Reality is mugging me with a baseball bat. Help!"

Bless!

Kite: DH is now working in a pretty good job but is having to do loads more hours and travelling which has really changed things at home, and we are still struggling to catch up with all the bills etc from when he was doing the temp contracts in between

He is truly in denial about the baby arriving - last night he said 'well it wont be here for months yet' . I think I have really got my work cut out with him this time around.

Aaah banana, bless his cotton socks . Its not often you get that sort of insight into how a man feels/thinks

oh bananabump, I am sure he would be that you have shared this with us but goodness it is great to hear that from a DH.

Mine seems to want to exude a sea of calm for my sake so I have no idea how he is feeling about fatherhood. Could be time for a sit down dinner methinks.

washersaurus, sounds like you are still going through the same only different - poor you. Sure it will all work out. MATB forms are easy to come by though whatever stage you are at. Ask your midwife.

My DH's response to paternity leave (he's manager, only the director above him in a small firm) was " If I take paternity leave, it sets a precedent, and everyone will want to take it"... - this is the man I married?

When I came home from hosp with DS, he went training at the rowing club, then to the pub, then he brought all our friends round for a glass of fizz... then he left one of the wives with me, and went back to the pub....

All I wanted to do was go to bed - and I coldn't coz I had this friend "babysitting" me.

He has been warned that behavious like that a 2nd time around would lead to immediate castration and a divorce

Bagpuss - I am at that behaviour. I'm not sure we would have made it to no.2 if DH had done that to me

Got so much done today cant believe it, ironing all done, shopping done, cleaning (what I had planned to do) done, oh and the best bit I even got my toe nails done oh and I've just downed half a pineapple in 20 mins, i'll have the other half after tea and just before , I think I might just be on a high today I was singing out loud (maybe why it started raining ) when I went for my hour long walk , I think I'll have a nap in a little while before DH comes home I dont want to over do it now.

God, babymad, you're really going for it, aren't you? I'm excited for you! Wonder who will get to meet their baby first? Hope it's not me, I have nighties to wash!

Just made (yes, made) a nursing bra using the kit and instructions from this website as I didn't want to go mad buying loads of expensive nursing bras before I see how I get on with breastfeeding. So my nursing bra cos me £2.50, yay! lol

Yeah it was cute to read what he was thinking, kiteflying. He doesn't TELL me these things...

Blimey, so much to catch up on.

Make me feel better. Who's still working? Am finding last two days really tough...

me Annie - but am flighting sleep impulses from 2pm onwards. Useless despite long to do lists. Plus mumsnet is so enticing...