Due in Dec 07 - Feel them kick!!

[buzzybee]

Hi, thought I'd start a new thread. Hope ou find this OK!

Just been shopping downtown and bought a fab paid of maternity pants for work.

Also bought "The Baby Name Wizard" as Borders were having 20% off everything. Feel free anyone to ask me a question about names now!! The book categorises them into the following "style families" (chances are if you like one name in the family, you'll like a number of others - e.g. I tend to go for "Antique Charm" names for girls which include Abigail, Adeline, AMelia, Anna. Annabel, Annalise, Ava, Bella, Clara, Daisy, Eleanor, Emma, Eva, Georgia, Grace, Hannah and Isabel):
African, Androgynous, Antique Charm, Bell tones, Biblical, Brisk and Breezy, Celtic, Charms and Graces, Country and Western, English, The -ens, Exotic Traditionals, Fanciful, French, German, Greek, Guys and Dolls, Italian, Jewish, Lacy and Lissome, Ladies and Gentlemen, Last Names First, Latino, Little Darlings, Long Gone, Mid-Century, Modern Meanings, Muslim, Mythological, Namesakes, New Classics, Nickname-Proof, Place-Names, Porch-Sitters, Saints, Scandanavian, '70s and '80s, Shakespearean, Slavic, Solid Citizens, Surfer Sixties, Timeless and Why Not?

oh you lot you're always bragging about your huge breasts think mine are officially a b-cup now, whoopdedoo, but like the 'arty tits' description neuro, suppose I could put myself in that category too (well pre-breastfeeding at least)

Agree it was all madness re Diana's death, although fortunately I wasn't in the country to witness it all first hand. My neighbour said to me tonight, do you know it's ten years since pricess Diana died, I can't believe it, I remember it like it was yesterday and started filling up... really really didn't know what to say so I admired her hanging basket!

Hey everbody, thanks for all the kind words. Nbg I see the CPN every fortnight, just for a chat and some CBT, and I will continue til after baby is born.

Is it just me or have anyone elses nipples started leaking?

My nips have been leaking since about 19 weeks! Not a lot, yet, but most disconcerting for a 1st-timer....

I don't want to use breast pads yet, as I get hot/sticky enough without adding bits of plastic to my bra

My mum got me out of bed telling me "Diana is dead". I thought she meant my cousin....
kind of relieved when she said it was Princess Di!!
Can't help but feel somewhat about the whole thing, but feel sorry for Harry and William, must be really tough on them.
Thelady - 19 weeks! Mine haven't started yet.
Puppydogtails - hope you are feeling more positive with the extra support!
Skedaddle - i think us big boobie ladies will envy your pert rack we always want what we don't have!

Not sure my boobs are a whole heap bigger but they are definitely firmer and am loving that after 5 years of feeling rather floppy so to speak

Think I might have secured a cleaner for about 6 weeks which will be really nice. Gotta make the most of being able to afford such luxuries while I can!

Put in my maternity leave application at work today - have said I'm going to work up as close as possible, but in any event won't start official mat leave until 7 Jan - will use annual leave up to that date. Still seems a long way off but feels nice regardless

Skidaddle, lol re hanging basket.

I was assertive/rude on the tube this morning for the first time. One seat free and I was waddling up to it, fat bloke races me to it and sits down. I just found myself saying a pointed 'thankyou' to him which made him give it up for me. Did feel a bit guilty though as he looked like he was due a heart attack, fat and red faced. Still, I've got bad pelvic aches today. Had rotten sleep last night, just couldn't get my cushions to support my legs properly.

Mrswizz sorry to hear about pelvic pains. My worst is stretching ligaments if I go to stand up the wrong way or cough while lying down.

Good on you for the tube! I was never brave enough to do that when I was in London last time.

Morning ladies!
Hope you all are well on the semi-glourious day!

Good for you on the tube Mrs Wizz - used to have the same problem on the bus - nobody used to care if you were pregnant or not. Thank goodness I can drive to work now.

Not been sleeping well too- but that's because DH has started to snore at night! Tried poking him to get him to stop - but he's such in a deep sleep he doesn't notice. Throwing the duvet over my head to block out the noise.

Re snoring: I have a box of earplugs (packed in pairs, I hasten to add) which were recommended to me by motorbiking friends.

Anyone needs a set - let me know and I'll pop some in the post. I wear one, and lie on the other side so I can still hear what's happening, but DH's chainsaw snoring doesn't drive me demented. How that man can snore while lying on his front I do not know!

I had a total 'grumpy cow' day yesterday. No rhyme or reason to it other than being tired I suspect, but even I could tell I was being completely ridiculous .

Hey everyone

Anyone going to aquanatal classes? I'm going to go today but am a bit nervous! Not sure why, just never been before.

Lizzer, we get a bank holiday at the end of September instead of the August one so not all bad

I had some swelling in my hands and feet last week, thankfully it's calmed down now but I had a bit of a panic over it. Thanks Skidaddle for your reply to my other thread on it.

Buzzybee - here in the UK our mat leave automatically starts when you give birth, I'd love it if we could as then I could use all my holidays from 2008 before mat leave to keep my salary for longer but spose it just means I'll get my holiday pay at the end of additional mat leave (really unsure whether I'm going back to work).

Talking of work, what are everyone's plans - will you be returning and if so, to same hours and days? I'm 3 days a wk at the moment but ideally want 2 days a wk after this baby but don't think my work will accommodate it.

Thelady - I do that too with earplugs!! Can only have one in and my other ear is against the pillow. I found this really good when DD was a newborn and I'd jump up and over to her cot with every snuffle and girgle! The one earplug just helped me to ignore those wee noises but didn't block out when she was crying or if the noise didn't sound right.

Loucee - I thought that would be the case here too but you seem to be able to just specify a date to start maternity leave. When you think about it there's no reason the Govt should force you to start on a certain date. After all these days its called "parental leave" (at least here) so could be the Dad claiming payments from a certain date.

Good tip on the earplugs after baby born! Have used in past just the way you describe for snoring noise dulling - works really well.

I'm planning to start back early April but only 18 hours a week (3x6 hour days) and see how that goes. Have put our name down for a day nursery from July school hours only to fit in with DD.

I'm with you on the earplugs Thelady. I've been using them for years.

Not sure if I'll go back to work, it depends on DH pulling off a miracle. We really need my money, DH earns half what I do but he's doing a course that his employer is paying for and then we want to set up a landscaping business together. His job is better for our future, so it looks like I'll have to go back for a little while until he's sorted. Can't bear the thought of childcare but don't know how we can afford to live without me working.

Morning all
I really need to sign up for ante natal classses sharpish. AND start yoga. Need to get skates on.
Loucee - I do 24 hours but going to go down to 16. Well, i say that, haven't actually checked with boss, but i went to the jobcentre and saw a wonderfully helpful lady and when we worked out all the WTC and CTCs, if do the extra 8 hours then i'll effectively be working for £1 an hour! AND be away from my baby for an extra day, so obv i want neither of that!
I think employers have to let you do more part time hours by law now dont' they? Otherwise they're discriminating against motherhood or something. If you can't do your job for less hours i believe they have to find you something else without docking your pay.
Check it though.
I have to go for a meal tonight where there will be three people i instensely dislike: an ex bf (feel like punching him everytime i see his stupid face) his gf who barely manages to hide her dislike for me (my crime? going out with him before her, and when i left him, she befriended him while he poured his heart out to her about how much he loved me and how he'd never love anyone as much as me) and finally, a woman, the only friend i have ever fallen out with in my whole life, who basically bullied me over something that wasn't my fault and then went about destroying my character in our group of friens so much so that 3 years down the line i still am not invited to some barbies and parties. SO really looking forward to sitting down that motley lot, but at same time my fav friends will be there too. As a single person though dreading just getting to the restaurant and ending up sitting next to one of the evil ones.
I'm rambling sorry.

I would LOVE to not go back to work after maternity leave, but it would make me homeless!
Literally...even if my boss made me redundant, I wouldn't be able to pay my mortgage cos as we all know from my previous rants, homeowners dont' get help!

UH OH...NEURO SOAPBOX NOT FAR AWAY....

Neuro: employers have to consider any request for flexible working, but they don't have to grant it. That would simply be impossible both to enforce and to administer on the part of many employers.

Imagine if I, as a hotelier and bar owner, had to accept a request from all of my staff to work only Mon - Thurs 12 - 4! We'd close.... We do our best, and I have one lady who works 11.45 - 15.15 Mon - Fri, and the rest who work evenings/weekends to fit in with childcare, but it has to go both ways.

I'm expecting to be off work for 3 months after the sproglet arrives simply because it's such a physical, running-around sort of job. Neither of us has made any money at all in the past 3 years, and paying a barmaid is cheaper than childcare....

OMG MoZ my Dh is driving me insane with the snoring was going to post today. i have been awakke since 5.20 am cos of him, and this morning he called me a violent cow as I resoorted to kicking him.

Neuro - I am waiting anxiously to join your soapbox.

Not going back to work FT either. Decided to do 30 hrs over 4 days, leave DD1 and bean with in-laws for 2 days then the rest of the time put them in nursery, so at least I will be making a bit of money that way.

Am going to hand my request for flexible hours with my MATB1 form which I should get in a few weeks.

Enjoy your meal Neuro - going anywhere nice? Why don't you meet up with your mates before going into the resturant, that way you can all walk in together and hopefully be seated together, to avoid the 'evil' ones.

kicking??? maybe I should try that

I am planning to be off for nine months until September, with the whole month of august at least in turkey.... woo hoo.

Then I suppose i need to look for a job as otherwise we will never move again or anything. i am thinking school admin, i am a PA normally so hopefully maybe Hreadteahcer PA or something. The company I am temping for have mentioned contacting them when i go back, but this is a switchboard role and i only took it as it was san ongoing booking and being pregnant it made more sense to be in one place. Definitely dont want to go backwards. Hopefully that will be local to home as well and term time only.

Snoring - one reason it's good being single. But no one to cuddle once the snoring's subsided!

Hmmmm, i dunno what to get on soapbox about, but i've got to do the banking now, so off out in the sunshine in my new purple t shirt.

My boss has just arrived late to the office as he's been playing tennis. He lost hahahahahahahahahahahha.

Might not be a soapbox day.

it diddnt really work though.... eventually hee turned over the other way so it wasnt so loud, but noot before giving me a few choice words... to which i responded

"i am preg you ass"

very silly.

Speaking of snoring reminds me of the evil tricks we used to play on folks when away as a group of teenagers.

1. Put blob of shaving foam on palm of hand of person snoring. Gently tickle face with feather/shoelace/similar. Person wakes up just enough to smack annoying 'insect' and gets a faceful of shaving foam....

2. Only for recurrent offenders. Get small cup/mug of blood-heat water and slowly pour over groin area - sometimes the effect is just embarrassment, but at others it actually stimulates leakage. V. good for awful teenage boys who had been teasing all day.

Yes, we were terrible - but so were the boys!

Thelady have been joining you tonight working late. Its 11.15pm here so packing it in for the night. Was supposed to get a memo out to a client today and for one reason or another just hasn't happened. Oh well tomorrow's another day and the weekend's not far away to provide even more opportunity to work extra hours! Don't know how you manage to work 50 hour weeks and on your feet a lot of the time, t'would kill me.

Neuro - I certainly don't miss the lack of a snorer beside me at night-time!! Am actually still sleeping really well all alone in my nice big bed

Can you believe the last guy I slept with (i.e. the father of baby) actually told me on the first date that he snored really badly. I should have known then that the relationship was doomed...

Me too Buzzy! So much so i'm dreading when the baby comes...

As for telling you on first date that he snores, isn't that a little presumptuous?

The father of my baby snores really badly. I had to spend the night with him when I was trying to get up the duff. If i'd had my way i'd have shagged him then left!!

I sort of understand men that just want to have sex and then leave...but i did have a mission...

Off to look at maternity jeans as dont' think i can last much longer in normal ones...