The Creme Egg Appreciation Society...memberships expire June 08

[debinaustria]

Good morning all you creme egg lovers ( and those weird ones amongst us who don't appreciate them)

Good luck for all the scans coming up this week, and next.

nettiehay - I had my 24 week midwife appt yesterday too. It's a low BP that makes us dizzy (I've been close to fainting but not done it yet!) and that's good, as it means we're less at risk for preclampsia. Mine was 90/50, did s/he tell you yours?

We're not doing anything special either. DH is really busy at work and we're not really into Valentine's Day. If we're going to be romantic we'd rather it's because we feel like it rather than because Mr Hallmark has timetabled it for us. But I know plenty of people for whom it's a very special day.

I used a 'woven wrap' to carry ds, after trying lots of different things, including structured carriers and ring slings, that didn't suit us so well. A wrap is basically just a v. long piece of fabric you tie on. It took me months to pluck up the courage to try one as they looked really complicated but as with everything, after a couple of goes at it it became second nature. For me this was the easiest, most comfortable carrier, by far the best for my back as the weight was evenly spread across the whole back. You can search 'babywearing' and explore all the options but be warned, there is a lot out there!! Here's an intro I found.

I've also heard Bjorn's aren't great for their hips - all weight going downwards - being carried with legs spread and weight distributed over thighs rather than straight down onto base of spine is supposed to be better for them. But they can't be so bad - there are so many Bjorn-carried babies out there and AFAIK no epidemic of damaged hips yet!

aberdeenhiker - I forgot to ask what my pressure was - I always have low BP anyway (as does my mum and grandma - seems to be a family thing) and it is even lower now - but she said it was in the 'normal for a pregnant person' range.

I don't normally go in for the whole V Day thing (I agree with many that it is too commercialised and doesn't have any meaning) but as this will be the last one with only two of us, I thought I'd make an effort - hence the Knickerbocker Glories! My DP is a pudding/dessert fiend so will love the surprise!

I am hoping to get a 'woven wrap' as well, simply becuase I like to look of them more and they are so versatile. I don't like carrying backpacks normally and I don't want to feel that my child hs turned into a backpack when I carry him/her around. I saw a really good one recently (although I can't remember the name) but I do recall it was Australian but availalbe over here...

Right I'm off for lunch - fish and chips I think!! With lots of salt and vinegar!

systemsaddict which wrap did you choose in the end? i had a ring sling and it was terrible. ds always looked like he was squashed when he was really little and as soon as he was older it killed my shoulders. it was such a relief when i got a structured carrier - but if i could make a fabric wrap work i'd be willing to give it a go!

has anyone ever tried a mei tai sling? it seems a bit more structured than a wrap but still soft...

mmmm fish and chips - stop teasing me!

I have bought a Tomy baby carrier on Ebay for a fiver....then read about the hips thing so am bdding on ring sling to cover all bases....so much to think about!

I have always hated V day but DH made such a big fuss of me the first one we spent together that have made an effort ever since...although because we have our wedding (2nd)anniversary on 18th, there is less of an effort these days...in fact this time I bought him a tax-deductible piece of luggage! Not very romantic.I spend a lot of time thinking about what to write n the card though.

God, I'm tired- must be reading about all the ironing the others have done ( I did all mine on Monday when DH was 'working from home' including all the baby bits I have bought and wanted to get clean and ready! ) That and the new lack of diet coke in my life!

Happy birthday katyjo and anniversary ernest.
Wow your mum is basically in the next village (or town) to me! Did you go to Corfe Hills?
Nothing much happening on the VD front here either. We buy each other a card and that's about it. I refuse to let DH buy flowers at such an inflated price. Have told him if he loves me then he can buy them for me at other times throughout the year. Needless to say, I think he's only bought them 2 or three times in the eleven years we have been together, although he makes up for it in other ways.
Have bought DS a card though. Well I do love him and it's the thought that counts isn't it.
Does anyone wish to do my ironing?
We're in the middle of decorating at the mo and it's piling up and I'm off on holiday on Saturday for a week with my Mum and Dad and DS for the half term. Don't know when I'm going to get around to doing it!

Wish I'd put Valentines Day instead of VD. It doesn't look right itswim

LL - when I read - "Nothing much happening on the VD front here either" I thought well I hope not

I had a Merry Carry wrap in tigereye (brown checks - which I loved because it was more versatile than the brighter ones), just because they were a bit cheaper than the well-known brands, but don't know if they're still available now. I do recommend a wrap of any sort - I never got a ring sling to work when ds was little, he looked too squashed (ring sling was great for in-and-out-to-nursery-on-hip in recent months though, till bump got in the way, I'd still be using it otherwise).

I have a mei tai too - was going to use for back carries but never quite got the hang, and now is not the time to start! It's a Kozy. IMHO the weight distribution over your back and over baby is better with a wrap than a mei tai because you can spread the fabric out more, but I did like the mei tai too, just didn't end up using it that much.

I also have an Ergo (bit of a baby carrier junkie...) but that hasn't had much use either - again would have had more if I wasn't pregnant, the wrap was great when he was up to about a year old but then I started trying other things mainly for back carries.

I've bought DH some cashew nuts for valentine's day, which he loves (and I don't). We don't really do much to celebrate it anymore.

I have just ordered a mei tai (babyhawk) for our holiday in April. Hopefully DH will be able to carry DS on his back, or if not, I will. I'll let you know how we get on with it! I liked the idea of the mei tai better than the wrap because it's less hippy, so DH is willing to wear it, and because looked simpler to put on when out and about.

I had a hotslings pouch with DS and loved it, it worked really really well and I've got a ton of use out of it. Unfortunately, like systemsaddict, my bump's big enough now that it gets in the way of the hip carry, hence the mei tai. I could easily get addicted to baby slings and such - but must control myself!!!

Oh, I have a wilkinet though that we didn't get along with (DS would cook in it and we just never figured it out - one time we looked down and saw his feet were turning purple). Does anyone want it for the cost of postage?

happy anniversary ernest!

Who had the noisy neighbours (sorry have forgotten by the time I read all the posts)? That's soooooo annoying and inconsiderate.

I see that slings/carriers is the chat of the day. My DH has said that under no circumstances are we to get one of those faffy complicated fabric wrap thngy's (his words not mine) as he would be too terrified to use it .

So I think that we're going to go for a carrier. Was a bit concerned about the hips thing, but like someone said there doesn't appear to have been a hip problem epidemic since the emergence of the baby bjorn generation. (for the record, I do understand and appreciate why other people would prefer to avoid them altogether though). I dont really envisage having LO in one for very long periods of time anyway (but who knows). Its a bit like car seats as well - arent they supposed to be not too great if used for long periods of time?

Sorry for long post but can I just have a quick moan because I'm in pain . Its only girly pathetic pain but while racing around for a VD card for DH I seem to have pulled a muscle in my side and it really hurts. Am feeling a bit crap and sorry for myself.

Afternoon all. Another lie in to try to get better. Got a slight temp and am now fretting - can this harm baba? It's very slight and am prone to getting a temp when am ill so it feels mild, but still, arg paranoia.
As for VD I accidentally found a mini bottle of champagne (enough for 2 glasses) and card at the bottom of the stairs to our flat this morning where DH had hidden them.
He insisted I open the card today, despite my protests.
It said: "This card is being given early, not on the standard day, as you're far from standard." And then other sweet stuff.
Cue me blubbing. Sometimes he is just the best.
Totally caught him grinning at the bump when I was putting my top on this morning too. Awww.
Remind me of all this next time I'm whinging!

PS. Happy anniversary ernest and happy birthday katyjo! What a nice day!

did someone mention fish 'n chips

today I am mostly obsessing about baby slings/wraps too.
Am considering getting a didymos, but they're so £££, especially when you don't want a lairy hippy rainbow stripe thing. (no offense to any rainbow hippies out there). I've got a wilkinet too, really hated it. I could tie it ok, but found that gradually the know loosened and baby would gradually inch his way floor-wrds. total pain in bum. borrowing a baby bjorn off sil but fancy a complicated wrap for a laugh.

valentines day ceased to exist for me 10 years ago when I got married on Friday 13th February. Since then, the 14th seems to have fallen off the calendar.

Dh did ring me this am to wish me happy ann, but timed it just as I was trying to get the boys out to school ( a bit late, cos the thoughtfully thought they shoudn't wake me up on my anniversary, so I crawl out of bed at 7.20 panicking cos only got 15 minutes to get them fed, dressed and out) so the 'romantic' call was lost amongst screams and tears

China - what a sweetie.

I am also in the cynic camp but secretly would love cards / flowers etc. If I am lucky, I'll get last year's card recycled! However, my DH has volunteered to dance round the kitchen naked with his pants on his head if that helps stoke the romance, but am concerned that he'll catch cold!

mellymell, you're not somehow married to my dh are you?

I was about to tell a funny anecdote about how I once put a whole creme egg in my mouth in the office and nearly choked to death. But then I saw the ante-natal topic.

So good job I decided not to post eh?

thanks rubes for your ce anecdote

my step dad gave me a cream egg once (aged about 5) and the chocolate was so thick I couldn't bite it, so ended up shoving the whole thing in out of desperation. I got such a bollocking for that. oh happy memories..

any more ce incidents to fess up to?

On the subject of wraps I like the look of the hug a bub style ones but struggling to justify spending £30 - £50 on what is essentially just a single long piece of material. There are directions on how to make them yourself on the internet (basically just the dimensions to cut the material to) so maybe I will try that (I am so stingy/skint!). Anyone else had a go? or any tips on best sort of material to use? Was thinking it would be a good excuse for a browse round a fabric shop!

Ernest - if he is a bonkers frenchman with a very english accent, then there is a possibility that my dh is a bigamist. We have a standing joke that he has another family out there - at last I've discovered the truth

BTW on the ce line, not sure if this is true or not, but in case anyone is passing woolworths:

news.woolworths.co.uk/newsletter/2008/cadbury/voucher/

ktpie, I was considering making my own, I did a thread t'other day, asking of didymos really worth the expense and everyone seemed to think they were. Loads of praise for them, and no one pointing out, what to me was the obvious neg - the outrageous price. Still undecided. I know the length for an average sized woman (under 5'6" & size 12 or under) is 4,60, forgot to measure width. The fabric should be cotton, and most seem to have a bit of stretch in them.

Aparently the didymos is made of some super duper special weave that streched in just the right places, gives the bst support and is so wonderful the hippy god of babywearers himself made it. Or something like that.

AM still considering making my own. will go into fabric shop maybe one time and work out how much the fabric itself would cost, am a bit out of touch.

Thank you for the birthday wishes everyone! Having a lovely day, I'm working and evryone has been so kind, I've even had cake, having a bit of a go slow day!

I am so glad evryone else is thinking about a sling. I'm hoping I can manage with a sling and single buggy as ds will be 2 in march and I can't be bothered getting a double buggy. I liked the look of the tricotti as it is so easy to put on but I don't know how good it would be for an older baby as its stretch fabric. I had a wilkinet my sister gave me but I never managed to use it as the ties freaked me out and when I did put ds in he was about a year and way too heavy!