Due April 2008 - the one where Mollyfloss does not have a rat!!

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Hope this works - and someone finds it

Oh Sal they are my two favs at the moment hard to choose!

Regarding the PJ thing I would say unless DH will bring in new I would take 6 sets for 4 nights to be safe! also go for Nighties rather than PJs that way no preasure on your belly

Ah, thanks a lot TLSM. Hmm, I need to buy some more then - don't own 6 sets that still fit! Guess can ask DH to bring some, but he might just pitch up with something completely different (control freak here )

We're picking up the cot tomorrow and I'm all excited - will be the first "proper" furniture thing we get.

Maybe we should go to John Lewis again while we're in town anyway tomorrow and "play around" with those two.

After not feeling baby moving for AGES AND AGES at the beginning of my pregnancy, it's lovely to now feel the time is almost here, can't wait for his arrival. Guess everyone feels that way. (That and I'm fed-up with my belly, I sound like my dad when bending down and sighing...)

There's some really good advice here. I'll get myself some cheap non white nighties and some more pads. Kotex one's work, right?

I've started washing all the baby clothes and sheets etc. It's a few loads. Hopefully I'll have all that in order in the next few days, all tidied away in the right place.

I also have nearly everything bought. The only major things left to get is a sling, monitor and I'm still debating whether to get a changing table or not. Not absolutely necessary but would be better for my back but at the same time would clutter the room as there is not that much space left. I'm still waiting on my friend to hand over that bugaboo too

Molly I would go for the proper Maternity pads and as scorpio said wear two for the first few days!

What exactly are proper maternity pads? more padding than kotex?

Agree on the good advice - I've now decided to ditch all my pregnancy books (panicked a bit about not knowing anything at the start) and just read this thread every day! So thanks for letting me listen in most of the time

I have to go to bed now but am too lazy to get up... Good night to all.

In a word Molly yes! You can get them from tescos and Sainsburys they are a lot longer than normal pads and are built to deal with the flow we are talking blood clots on the first few days sometime longer sorry TMI but wouldnt want you going into hospital and thinking oh god why didnt anyone tell me

Mollyfloss, I got our changing table for £17 from Ikea. I was debating whether to get one too, then saw that one and decided for that price I could just use it for as long as the baby isn't rolling, then put it away without feeling guilty about only using it for a few months or whatever.

oh no- all you lot talking hospital plans makes me feel sick! I wore a short nightie (to the knees) both times and that was fine.

I would definitely advise paper knickers- they are awful but you will be so grateful afterwards that you can just bin them. The first time I thought I would never wear or use them but I did. AND proper maternity pads are a must, any other ones would be useless- also you will probably be glad of such thick padding as it makes it slightly less painful to sit down afterwards.

My advice to any 1st timers is don't be afraid to ask for help in the hospital after you have had the baby. Both of mine were born in the evening and it was late by the time I got up to the ward after delivering- I felt like I couldn't call the midwives- as a result ds slept whole first night in the same nappy and had meconium stuck to him like glue the next morning! He was fine though and if something like that happens don't blame yourself!

I have bought a maxi cosa Mura 4 buggy and it's totally fab- I love it!
If you want something compact I would definitely go for the bugaboo or Quinny Buzz.

My plan for today is to do the ironing and pack my hospital bags as far as I can, I was going to go to the Trafford centre to get some wool from John Lewis. But DH's car died yesterday and he'd already arranged to go flying today, so I have no car. Humph. I'd have gone yesterday but we were out all afternoon looking at cars (taking the car seat with us to try it in them all!), and think we've decided on a renault scenic. My uncle has one and sings its praises highly. The plan had been that we were going to wait til DH's car had been run into the ground then get a bigger one, but that plan has been brought forward slightly! Just what we needed really with the baby being induced in less than 6 weeks and moving house maybe a month after that. Ah well, at least the car died now rather than on the way to hospital or while I was out with just me & the baby...

knitter - my friend has an X reg one and its been nothing but a PITA - new engine and everything.

Today; just for a change; i am doing nothing. may take DC's out for a walk/park later.

Hey all!

SO excited knitter! Have found other cheque book so will send you off one tomorrow. Thank you soooo much

You lot are becoming scarily organised all of a sudden. Having said that, I started packing my hospital bag yesterday though need some nighties and a few other bits n bobs. Will get tomorrow and then will be all done. Still got to get some stuff for baby - cot sheets and mattress, but need to wait for DP to get his arse into gear and sort out the bedroom a bit. Could be waiting a long time....

Good morning all. Thanks for the advice on the prams - even though I started off saying Bugaboos are all overpriced blah blah blah I can't help liking the Bee - a lot! So def via John Lewis on the way back (hope they're used to crazy people coming in again and again to look at the same thing...)

Anyway, guess I better get ready - we have to go into town to pick up the cot now, am excited.

O yes, just to butt in on Ellie's cool blanket that you made, Knitter, I just found out my grandmother (who's 85) have knitted baby one and is sending it with my mom when she comes just after the birth (from South Africa). I've gone all soppy lately and now think all things handmade are just SOOO lovely (a shame I'm so utterly useless, better at painting walls than, well, most other things!)

Have a lovely day.

im off to buy nighties and pads and [shudder] actual pants today.

Morning ladies!

Well, I'm 32 weeks today so still another 8 weeks left (in theory)
Thanks for the info TLSM & Soph 28. If you hadn't told me I would have gone to the hospital with a few Kotex!

Knitter, I'm going to check out Ikea for the changing table. Alternatively I could get one of those changing boards that you can attach onto the top of the cot when you need it.

Sal22: I've heard great things about the bugaoos. Even though they are very pricey most people seem to think they're worth it. We're getting ours for free from a friend so that makes it a pretty easy decision for me.

I'm going to place everything properly in the baby's room this week and hopefully buy the couple of thing si have left to get. Then I am going to pâck her little bag and my bag for the hospital too. I'd be really happy if I had all that done by the end of this week. I still have time but I am a bit of a freak and like to have everything organised in advance

Ooh Mollyfloss, lucky you! I think I'm going to go with the Bee, and even think I've persuaded DH now .

Bought some paint from B&Q today, want to paint the hallway in a second. I think it's official, I've now completely cracked up, but this "NEEDS" to be done today... I just want things ready, and my bumps growing by the second lately, so I'm afraid to leave it too late (or that's what my official excuse is - really I just can't help myself).

Hope you all had a lovely day.

Hee hee Sal22 I know what you mean by "it NEEDS to be done today" - I'm very like that at the moment! Still have another 10 weeks but I'm just so worried LO will come early and I will have noting ready!

BTW - are you from SA? Just asking as I read that your mom is coming out from SA and I'm from there too!

Hi Mum2b2BabyRoo - yep, I'm from Graaff-Reinet (Eastern Cape, small town). What's the odds of finding another SAn on this thread! We've been here just over 5 years now - love it, though miss the family, especially now. Where are you from?

We are from Durban - and have been here almost 10 years now!! Crazy how fast time has gone! We are going back in Dec to show of bubs to DH family (as mine all live here now!) and I can't wait! SUNSHINE!!!

I know exactly what you mean by wanting it all done! I'm exactly like that. I have to get through my list of stuff and I want it all done well in advance!

Sal 22: Be careful of the paint fumes though. You're supposed to keep away from them during pregnancy, just keep the place well aired.

I think everyone on this thread is really starting to nest now too. Apart from buying baby stuff, I am tidying and rearranging everything and I keep ordering storage bits and pieces from Argos so everything can be properly arranged. The trouble is I have to assemble them every time which is a bit of a pain.

i am washing her things this week - babygros, sheets and blankets, etc. Nesting it is!

MOAN ALERT!!! Feel free to skip this post but I have to vent!

I have had the worst day. DSD had a sleepover at her friend's house last night, and, as expected, came back tired, overstimulated and horribly grumpy. She was being horribly whingy and obnoxious and we had a bit of a run in - I didn't handle it too well but I wasn't awful or anything - and I went downstairs to moan at DP and he went all super-Dad on me and said 'Oh you really should have left it'. I wouldn't mind but he was SO BLOODY SMUG and I felt like I had done completely wrong and he didn't back me up at all. And that when he has a run in with her it's just one of those things but when I do it I get a load of 'constructive' criticism. So we then have a row and I storm off to have a bath. Meanwhile DSD has been moaning and crying in her room for about a million years because I told her to hang her coat up (yes, this was what it was about grrr) and he goes in all bloody reasonable and sorts it out and she apologises to me and I suppose is all OK.

Apart from it isn't. Cos am not made of stone and I am still fucking FUMING with her behaviour and right at that second I don't even like her let alone love her. But I do nothing, give cuddles, have bath, all calm.

However, she is tired and is just babyish and silly and irritating and whiny ALL day and by the end my nerves are in shreds from the effort of Ignoring the Attention-Seeking Behaviour and I want to throw her out the nearest window. And DP is all reasonable and super-Dad and she is cuddling up to him and being all baby-like which I hate anyway so I just sit and sit and get irritated but say nothing.

And now she's gone to bed and DP says to me 'She's really irritated you today hasn't she' and I say 'Yes, but I tried to not act on it' and he goes all sad-looking and says 'I wish she didn't irritate you'. And now I feel like the wicked witch of the west and Cinderella's step-mother combined while super-dad saves the day and protects his darling girl from the machinations of her evil step-mum.

I want to cry. Very sorry for long and moaning post, just needed to get it all off my chest.

God that was long wasn't it? Sorry

Knitter- we just got rid of our espace. I would never, ever ever buy another renault. What car website do car ratings and reliability checks- well worth at elast a look.

We just took delivery of a Mitsubushi Spacee Wagon, we are in love LOL!

Ellie tell yur DP to get real, I adore my kids and they irritate me often! Kids do sometimes, thats OK, why would it matter? Doesn't mean you love them any less.

DH and I planning on putting cot etc together next weekend- today I am 34 weeks - ie in 3 weeks I will be able to deliver at home! Yikes!

He can wish she didn't irritate you. I wish DS didn't irritate me so often, but he does. It's got diddly-squat to do with being a step-mum, I think, and a lot to do with being any sort of mum, especially one who's heavily pregnant and hormonal and very easily irritated.