*Due in Jan 2008* - Get those bags packed!!!!

[Amani]

Sorry can't think of a better title and my PC is so slow.........

Hey everyone, thanks for the messages.

Does anyone know whether I can legally ask for my mat leave now?

Hope youre all well. Keep smiling its not far now.

Actually good point mixedmama - you want to go out Beller because it may be a while until you are going out again.

MrsBiscuit - i have no energy today either. We must be nearing the end!

oh we need PBirdy for this one jenswish.

I believe you can legally go on maternity leave once you are 29 weeks pregnant.

I'm too scared to clarify this with the hr lady here cos she may fall off her seat thinking i'm going now.

Jenwish - I change my mat leave quite late on as I had a falling out with my manager last time so I think you are prefectly within your rights. Have a quick read of your mat policy.

Re: Money - yep, I will only get the £112 or whatever it is and clearly that is going to mean DH having to work extra hard, but hopefully we will just be stringent and get through it.

Afternoon all. Had a terrible night too but not because of me because of my one year old Poor little love was off colour all day yesterday. Not his usual happy self. Went to bed as normal at 7. Woke at 11.15(just as I was going to bed after wayching that excelent programme on itv1). Took his temp which was 101! Gave him some Nurofen and took him out of his sleepy bag. Settled him. 3am he woke again. Gave him more medicine and lots of cuddles. Finaly settled back down at 4.25
So needless to say Im shattered today.
Re next meet up. I know of a briliant eat all you like chinese place near me. If I ask dh what date would be good for him(hell be recovering from his snip and cant lift anything heavy re our children) for a few days but it will be in the first two weeks of November. Happens to be my birthday on the 6th so well see what we can arrange.
Well Im off to give ds3 his lunch now.
Ill try to pop back later. xxx

Jenswish - in my notes, I've written that the earliest that you can be paid SMP is 11 weeks before EDD, so as Battymama says it looks like you've got to be 29 weeks.

Hi sorry to hear so many of you have been poorly/under the weather. Hope you are all feeling better today.

Meet up sounds like it was lovely. I am right down south in Hampshire, but noticed Mrs Bicuit was on Hampshire borders, where are you PInk Elephant? Perhaps we can arrange a meet, also Barristermum travels this way for work.

We have had a busy weekend here, built the cotbed, realised we had 4 legs the same rather than 2 of each so have had to call supplier who will send us the other legs! Bought the main bulk of ds's xmas presents and also my hospital bag set. That was a real bargain from Argos, sptty flight bag, shoulder bag and toilery bag all together under £20 and means I have a labour bag, overnight bag and toiletry bag. Perfect.

DP and i also enjoyed alone time this weekend but meant that i bled tmi. Anyway, ended up in the labour ward last night as I had more spotting late last night and they wanted to check. Bumped into a midwife who remembers me from when i had ds nearly 8 years ago! DIdnt remember her at all, must have been completely out of it. Everything was fine and baby doing well. Felt very embarrassed about the whole thing and it has put me off 'having relations' (my mums terminology) till after baby born.

Also dp mentioned more babies in passing yesterday we were talking about future pets etc, and i suggested when this baby was 7 he might want a hamster like ds has now. DP said probably best to wait till youngest was 7 .. lol.

Hoping to get house on market this week so lots of housework to do. Dont crap job of it today as went back to bed after school run and only got up an hour ago. Ah well, bath is now run so will go and soak for a bit before tackling some ironing.

Hi gingeme - sorry to hear about LO - hope he's ok. It so tiring when they are ill.

Where do you live near and which chinese? God I'm hungry!

(ps - my birthday is nov 12th so any outing around then will be very exciting!)

I live North London. The resteraunt is called Aroma, The place its in is Wood Green. Its very very yummy. Dh and I used to go loads before we had to start budgeting. Gets pretty busy but you can reserve a table. You can help yourself to the hot stuff or they cook it fresh while you wait. Loads of choices and they do banana fritters to and fruit and gateauxs. Its yummy. Oh did I already say that?
So your a scorpio like me Battymamma?

Hi all

Blimey I have only been away for a week and there is no way of catching up. I have read all the posts, but can't write anything sensible about them. Hello to newbies, continuing admiration for fruitful keeping so sane, hope the London curry night was fab.

Back at work for my last 5 weeks. Met with my replacement today, he is starting 3 weeks before I leave so I can have a nice proper handover.

Been to see the parents in Holland, who all insisted on baby shopping, so came home laden. Bought the cutest Miffy growbag (white with lime green accents - different from all the blue).

Found it quite hard to be away, different rhythm, baby behaves differently, tiring, but good to see the family. Tried to get lo to kick grandma but he stopped just as I put her hand on my bump - typical does it with his dad too...

Catch up later. Take care of seleves and bumps.

Mine too madmouse though he likes kicking hi big brother when he lays with his head on my lap. Glad you had a good week away. Bet you were thoroughly spoilt. Great isnt it?

Chinese sounds nice (as long as they do some veggie stuff then I'm happy!), and Wood Green is good for me, as I'm in East Finchley, so shouldn't be too far to drive.

I'm (tentatively) in Glasgow again from 13-15th Nov (although hopefully it will just be 14-15th, still trying to get everyone to commit to meetings!), so I'd prefer the previous week if at all possible...or the week after (w/c 19th) when I'm definitely around. If its the first week in Nov then I should be alright, but I have no childcare that week (nanny in hospital) so it might all go a bit pear shaped at the last minute!!

[sighs] This is why I've given up on a social life...

Wood Green is good for me as I am in Walthamstow, so easy.

Most dates are fine for me.... altho would prefer towards the end, altho with batty and ging having bday might be better near beginning, but that isnt very far off. Wont be able to do 14 or 27.

Hey ladies feeling much better today and at work ? aren?t I a good girl?!

Sabinar ? thanks yup, definitely have my heart set on a nature?s nest the Moffii however looks fab a real cut above so go for it that sounds like a plan for how to win on EBay but it also sounds like a sure way to sure addiction! not much weekend for you then sorry to hear that you are not feeling good

TooManyShoes ? all fours for a few mins in the evening apparently helps with the baby?s position mine moves its legs from left to right daily but so far s/he?s head down.

Angechica how exciting to have the nursery done! it looks fab! Your baby has so many toys already I feel like a bad mother! LOL about the Pink Floyd so far we?ve had the best reaction to the Star Wars theme ? DH is over the moon ? a Jedi we are having! sorry about the dog!

Thanks Amani I keep waking up about 4am, wide awake and not a bit tired (co-incides with Beanie doing a jig) last night I was lying there calculating Beanie?s birth weight based on 3 pounds last Thurs and then an oz a day until birth! no wonder I was shattered when my alarm went off at 6! Hope you feel better soon hon.

Beller glad you had a good night wish I could have been there my friend had a baby girl on Sat am, called her Amelie Grace, lovely name I?m not allowed to watch Heroes at night in case I have more dreams last night I dreamt that Penny Lancaster-Stewart sold me a breast pump on eBay! very of you having every Weds off from next week!! Re the dinner dance, is it far from home? If not, I?d go but make sure you can get home easily if you want too/have too chances are if you did go into labour, you?d have time to get home and as that is where you are hoping to give birth, I?d leave the notes there, safe and sound. it?s just hard to know how we?ll be feeling in the later stages isn?t it?

Hey Fluffymummy

Mixedmama hello.

Pinkelephant glad you are feeling better. I am plagued with money worries yes, I try not to be but suddenly it?s just around the corner and our family income will be dropping considerably, it is scary. I?m in Scotland

Hello Battymamma ? glad to hear DD is on the mend

Hi PinkElephant - hope you ok. Am so concerned about money on mat leave that have started bringing own lunch into work to save. It's surprising how little you'll spend whilst on leave - and surprising how little you can live on!

MrsBiscuit ? glad you are feeling better we sound like we are in a similar position financially, I only get the 6 weeks at 90% and then the basic too ? its so hard to even begin budgeting when we currently spend every penny every month on debt mostly!

Jenswish ? if you are over 29 weeks I think you can go on mat leave now ? is that right ladies?

Gingeme ? poor you and DS. I hope DH?s snip goes well

Frankawen hello
How annoying about the cot bed ? at least you have it in good time to get replacement legs!! Your luggage sounds good sorry to hear about the bleed, always a worry even when you know why sorry you ended up in the labour ward though my last spotting incident put DH right off! I?m hoping that this is the first of many babies for us hope the house sale is quick and painless

Madmouse ? glad you had a good time my Lo wouldn?t kick for my parents either

Only 7 more Monday mornings at work for me

Hey MrsMcSpooky.... yep money worries over here too. Our house sale delaying put us behind with so many other things and everytime i think i have everything sorted something comes to bite me on the bum. Just need to get everything up to date and then hopefully altho tight will be able to froward plan which is difficult at the moment. Fingers crossed that it all hurries along for all of us.

mrsmcspooky - did you watch Penny on saturday on strictly! I have met her a few times...the screaming essex girls that came on and gave her flowers are my friends...very funny! I would be going to the dinner dance in the limo with the others, its about 50 mins from home.....hmmm what to do!

Re the next meet, I would be out of the plans i think...dont even know where Wood Green is! hahaha

Beller... worse case scenario get a cab home if you really cant take it that would be my plan. Shame about the meet up, I know very little about Chinese rest to suggest anywhere else I am afraid, but would be a shame if you werent there.

[mixedmama wonders off to think of routes for Beller or alternative arrangements]

at Strictly Come Dancing by the way... Kelly and Brendan make me sick... ugggh

Gingeme and Battymama - my birthday's on the 9th November, right in between the two of yours! Yay for Scorpios

About the next meet-up - I will be in London for a conference on 29th Nov, and would love it if we can meet up then.

Seems there's lots of us who aren't sleeping very well at the moment - I was so restless last night, and just couldn't get comfortable with the bump.

Money concerns are stressful - SMP of £112 or whatever it is doesn't seem like very much, does it?! I guess I better not buy any more maternity clothes seeing as I'll only be wearing them for 10 more weeks!

DH and I are starting to panic about names - there don't seem to be any we both like.

No updates yet on my 'interesting' SIL and her pregnancy (which may / may not be fictional!), but will pass on the dramatic updates as and when.

Awen - sorry about the website monitoring, I would really hate it if my boss got a report of all the websites I'd been on! (not that I don't do any work, but it seems a bit over controlling )

Jenswish - hope your work situation is getting resolved. Sounds awful, and the last thing you need when pregnant.

Oh lulu that would be so good, also Neuro is down at some point in November or was it december.

In fact i wonder how she is, she has been signed off for three weeks hasnt she.

im going to see take that on 29th!!!! cant wait....also going on the 17th in Birmingham as well....maybe i should be admitting to this! hahaha

Mixedmama ? sorry to hear that I know what you mean, DH tells me that if when I am mat leave we can?t afford to pay something, then we just can?t but I can?t live like that!!! I need to find a way to get it all covered. Re SCD my DH reckons Billy Zane has forbidden Brendan from kissing Kelly did you notice his air kisses this week?!

Beller ? yes watched Sat and Sun night I thought that was funny with the screaming girls too 50mins away hey, well if the worst came to the worst and you felt you couldn?t stay, you could order a cab, would be expensive but at least you know you could leave if you want to. That?s how I feel about most things at the mo, happy to go as long as I can get home when I start getting over tired. LOL at you going to Take That twice I?d love to go ? what do you think of Gary?s new look? I can?t believe how much weight he?s lost! He looks almost attractive!

Lulubump hello!

Ladies, just reading a godparent thread and I wondered what you are all thinking ? are you planning to christen your babies and have you thought about godparents? Are you worried about causing offence to those you don?t plan to choose?

Frankawenstein - I am in maidenhead (berks) where are you?

MrsBiscuit - Aha Basingstoke is not all that far. Where about in Hampshire do you live. I only moved down here 2yrs ago so am not only lacking in knowledge of the area but also local friends....Yes I only get SMP with work for 4wks and them I'm down to SMP with car tax taken off that too as I get to keep the company car. Thought we'd be ok until we worked out the mortgage has shot up this last 6months, you don't really notice it with two salaries but with one.....yikes!!

MrsMcSpook- yes good idea with the home made sarnies...

How long is everyone taking off work? Will any of you be going back after 6 months or perhaps 12 months.....or you lucky ladies who may not return at all? I'm actually wanting to go back to work for my own sanity even if it is for just 3days a week. has anyone find nurseries yet?

So glad I dont have the Godparent worry, must be difficult to chose. what are the criteria?

has anyone here made a will... i dont really have anything to leave but would like to leave instructions on who would be DC guardians etc, if you dont make one is it automatically the mothers family or does it not work that way??

I am hoping to take 9 months, so until September (fingers crossed) I know with money I am going to be under pressure to go back sooner... but went back at 4 months last time and it was the worst year ever, so really going to fight my corner. Do feel the need to go back tho, even just part time.

I guess the other Chinese option would be to meet somewhere obvious, like chinatown, altho I must say I'd much prefer not to travel into the West End afer work, esp in the run up to xmas. Maybe there's something good around Islington/Angel/Old Street area, so fairly central so that Beller stands more chance of getting there?

Lulubump: I'm going to be away again!!!(in Livingstone, this time) on 29th, so won't get to see you then...sorry! Hopefully that will be my last proper trip before my EDD...I'm digging my heels in and refusing to fly anywhere in December, but sods law I'll end up getting the train to Manchester for a few nights! (Actually, my grandparents live in M'er and I've got loads of friends there, so I don't really mind going there as much....)

We missed SCD, and now DH thinks he messed up recording it, so I won't even get to watch it during the week....sob!

I'm planning to take 9 months leave this time (took about 8 last time) but that's mainly cos my company has a really good maternity policy (sorry to those who don't have one...not boasting!) and will be paying me something (about 50% I think) until that point, so I might as well

MrsMcSpooky - I don't think my parents would talk to me ever again if I didn't get the LO christened, but at the same time... my family and most of my long time friends are on the other side of the world.... so I don't really know what to do... I think I know who I'd like to chose, but the chances of getting them in the same place at once is remote... unless you can do christening via webcast. I might have to look into that!

PinkElephant - I work freelance so I'm hoping to be able to take up bits and pieces of work after the first few months (maybe by the end of March?) and just do as much as I can manage and pick up more as time goes by. In theory, this should work really well, but I have no idea if it will work that smoothly in practice!

I haven't done anything about looking into nurseries or other child care, which is probably v naughty as I've heard the waiting lists in my area are pretty horrendous. I should probably look into something soon, as I'd quite like to get him into some kind of day care for half a day here and there, for the sake of both of our mental health!