Due Sept '08: We're halfway there part 2....

[LittleConnie]

Come on over!

i have a huge bump. HUGE. i look like i could be full term by now.

Hi all!
Congrats on all the news of boys and girls!
Becaroo good luck with the scan today - I have mine on weds. Can't wait to find out what flavour mine is!
Someone was asking about sciatica.... I have it really bad at the moment. It is a sharp shooting pain which comes down one leg or the other. It is my left at the moment. It sometimes makes my legs go from underneath me. Last pregnancy I had physio for it but to be honest it didn't make much difference.

i do not think that i have ever had braxton hicks in any of my pregnancies or if i have i haven;t noticed

right i'm off back to the docs again with my bloody back, have actually managed to time my call exactly with the opening time and have actually got a real docs appt!! am going to tell him that i think i may have sciatica and that work is just so painful for me i can't really cope with going in and could he possibly sign me off for two or three weeks as then when i have to go back if i still feel unable to cope with work i can take my hols and then start my maternity leave

do think he will go for this he is foreign from spain i think and i have seen him before he nice a sympathetic more likely to give out a sick note whereas the other docs are more on a grin and bear it kinda vibe (which i am obv not)

omg how many of us are having boys after such a girly start

Becaroo - I went to see Spamalot last year, it was really funny, your partner should enjoy it if he likes Monty Python.

I had a really strenuous weekend in the garden and now feel really stiff after using the hedge trimmer and lawn mower for far too long, first bit of exercise I've done in months!

Morning everyone! I had a lovely weekend down in Plymouth, went out on my friends little sailing boat (sat there, not doing anything, it's great being the pregant lady!) and am now a bit sunburned, but feeling a bit healthier for some time in the sun.

I don't know if I've had braxton hicks, but I definitely get times when my tummy seems really hard, then it goes again a short while later. no sensation though, so not really sure.

Mustsleep just go and say exactly what you just said to your doc, and explain the problems with getting lighter shifts at work and I'm sure he'll sign you off indefinitely if necessary!

Am getting lots Braxton Hicks now, far earlier this time than with DD.
Was in Monsoon yesterday and girl serving me said "oh doesn't look like you have long to go!!" and I had to tell her still have 17 weeks to go. Everyone keeps asking when i due and being totally shocked when I say Sept so think i must be totally huge

Hi all - what a glorious weekend. We had a paddling pool in the garden and DS's friend came up. They were so funny jumping, splshing, running and hiding round the garden in the rudy nudies (as we called it).

I got a bit hot and bothered yesterday and am all phlegmy again, which isn't pleasant. Seeing midwife on Thursday so going to ask if my culture results have come back from Pharmacology yet.

LouiseAnn I was on Methyldopa for the last month of my last pregnancy and I found it absolutely shattered me. I sympathise.

Barnpot the way you're feeling is totally normal. I got very freaked by the whole penis thing last time round. I actually felt like I was taking part in a miracle - it's such a strange thing.

I noticed I wasn't on the sex list so have updated it below:

Crabby - boy?? - GIRL!!!!
Kiskidee - GIRL
WombFor1More- boy? BOY
Debithescot- boy ??
lollyheart- boy? BOY
Starlight- girl?
Barnpot- boy? confirmed BOY
jearund- boy? - BOY
Potxola- boy- GIRL
Sassafrass- girl- GIRL
biglips- girl?
becaroo- boy??
Talia1- boy - GIRL
izzybiz- Girl??- BOY!!
slinkiemalinki- boy? - BOY
Carrieon- girl?
MelT76- Girl?
LittleConnie- boy?
Micromum- Girl??
mustsleep- Girl?? - confirmed as a BOY!!!
Lollipopmother- Boy? - Confirmed as a girl
kel78- Boy??
expatmom2be- boy? - GIRL(?)
charitygirl- boy ?
ellideb- girl?- BOY
feelingpositive- girl? - Confirmed as GIRL!!
Gracie14 - boy? BOY
Bogie - girl? GIRL
eandz - boy - definitely a boy!
Worthog - boy?
Luboo - boy?
KashaSarrasin - boy??
LouiseAnn - boy?
Inquisitive - BOY
Blimey - big boy
Sunshinemummy - girl

Hi girls,

Congrats on all the scans, we're all getting there now

eandz - I know how your feeling re; weight issue. I'm struggling with the comments I am getting at the moment, can't believe the cheek some people have. So far I have been refered to as 'wide-load', and 'hey fatty' by so called family and friends, yet although I do look pregnant have been told by lots of people that they can't believe I'm as far gone as I am. I don't know whether I am being extra sensitive having struggled with weight issues throughout my teens but I'm shocked how rude people are

Don't think I am getting braxton hicks I presume I would know about it if I did

Any advice for me please. We want to get a new car (when I say new I mean new to us not brand new) has anybody got any preferences on good family cars, at the moment I have a pegeout 206 and its far too small, and only has 3 doors which I know will be a pain when taking baby in and out? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

Becaroo, dh and I had a wonderful weekend in london a few years ago. We went on lastminute.com and got a hotel deal in kensington, then dressed up nice, went 'shopping' in harrods (I don't think we could even afford a coffee in there!), out for dinner and then to see Mary Poppins in the West End. Dh hates theatre, esp musicals, but agreed to go and said afterwards that it 'wasn't a negative experience' which is high praise from him! We walked back to the hotel and it was fabulous, and breakfast in the hotel the next morning was amazing!! Hope you have a wonderful time
We're thinking of going to a spa hotel in Harrogate for a weekend in early September, so we're not too far from home but can have a relaxing weekend to ourselves...if I can persuade someone to have dd for the weekend . Oh the hassle of not having any family for miles around!

Only 48 hours til next scan

Where can I buy a maternity skirt? I've looked in Dorothy Perkins, New Look, H&M, and the only skirts at all are denim miniskirts which isn't exactly what I'm after... All I want is something cotton/linen knee length, practical to wear all summer. I would spend £15-£25 from new. I've been bidding on lots on ebay but they're going for £20-£30 for a second hand item you've never seen. I've easily picked up summer trousers for around £8-£10 on ebay, so why not skirts? And why are there no maternity skirts in the shops?!!!

i think i saw a maternity linen-esque skirt at gap last week. it looks like the dress they had. It's navy blue with a white flowery print.

ooh, i think my baby is gonna be huge too...i'm betting on the 10-12lb category.

carrieon I saw alovely white linen skirt in Blooming marvelous this morning, like a flared knee length, didn't check price though!

Had Dds birthday party yesterday afternoon, she is 4 on Weds. We had a bouncy castle and a BBQ, by the end I was exhausted!
All afternoon everyone kept asking "are you ok?"
In the end that was tiring!!

We are off to Mallorca on Thursday, so I have lots of packing to do for the 4 of us!
I cant wait, we haven't been abroad since Dd was 8 weeks old, so she is really excited about flying!

Carrieon I'd try Gap too - they have lots of lovely linen things.

Gracie we have a Volvo XC90 and we love it. Really comfy, loads of room in boot and DP loves driving it.

20 weeks today, at looong last lol!!!

Re skirts - have you tried just a normal one but in a size bigger maybe? I've found this perfect, sits just below bump as most of the maternity ones I looked at last summer were all over bump ones and made me so umcomfy and hot, especially with the weather as it is. Hope you find a good one soon.

yay!! your 20 weeks today!!!

Hi guys just catching up with all your news.
Gracie I have a zafira and love it. Me thinks its perfect for a gowing family.
Mustsleep good luck with the docs I am sure he will sign u off. x

carrieon I've been looking for a skirt too and couldn't find any that weren't either horrid or too expensive. I was quite shocked at how short some of the demin ones were, surely noone wants to show off that much leg at 9 months pg?! Also demin won't be very cool in the summer. I think I remember the one eandz saw in Gap, I saw that but it wasn't really me. The Blooming Marvelous ones were about £35!

I might look at bigger sizes too but don't know if I'd be able to find one that would fit from now till Sept.

Other places worth looking, not maternity but possibly adaptable, are French Connection (my friend lived in their stuff last time as although not specifically maternity it is v. bump friendly) and American Apparel.

i love american apparel. i am currently living in their summer shin length tube dresses. if only i could get someone to help me shave my legs....my husband only helps me once a week with the de-foresting. and since pregnancy hit i've become a hairy monster. i think i might be part wolf.

is anyone else having problems with bending over? it's very uncomfortable

Eandz not having a problems with legs but lady garden is getting a bit overgrown. DP helped last time round so might have to get his help this time too!

I have an American Apparel towelling tube dress that I love and wore all through my last pregnancy!

I can second (or third!) the vote for American Apparel - I have a couple of their deep v-neck t-shirts which I'm ruining through this pregnancy, but they're really comfy, and show off my only remaining asset (my boobs), to prevent me feeling like a total heffalump!

In other news, just did a quick tot up of the confirmed boys/girls from the list (sorry if I've missed anyone who hasn't put their confirmed gender on the predictions list!), and we currently stand at:

Boys: 12
Girls: 9

If anyone wants to add their confirmed result (I've only used the list below), add to either total, go ahead!

Crabby - boy?? - GIRL!!!!
Kiskidee - GIRL
WombFor1More- boy? BOY
Debithescot- boy ??
lollyheart- boy? BOY
Starlight- girl?
Barnpot- boy? confirmed BOY
jearund- boy? - BOY
Potxola- boy- GIRL
Sassafrass- girl- GIRL
biglips- girl?
becaroo- boy??
Talia1- boy - GIRL
izzybiz- Girl??- BOY!!
slinkiemalinki- boy? - BOY
Carrieon- girl?
MelT76- Girl?
LittleConnie- boy?
Micromum- Girl??
mustsleep- Girl?? - confirmed as a BOY!!!
Lollipopmother- Boy? - Confirmed as a girl
kel78- Boy??
expatmom2be- boy? - GIRL(?)
charitygirl- boy ?
ellideb- girl?- BOY
feelingpositive- girl? - Confirmed as GIRL!!
Gracie14 - boy? BOY
Bogie - girl? GIRL
eandz - boy - definitely a boy!
Worthog - boy?
Luboo - boy?
KashaSarrasin - boy??
LouiseAnn - boy?
Inquisitive - BOY
Blimey - big boy
Sunshinemummy - girl

Lets see how many of you have guessed right so far. See if there's enough evidence to persuade my husband that we can 'just know' what it is.

Right- 10
Wrong- 8

Mmmm, maybe we have no idea!

Debi I didn't guess as genuinely had no idea (unlike with DS who I knew was a boy) and I knew my guess would be tainted because I was (secretly) hoping for a girl!

Don't count me as a correct guess - I cheated. My doctor told me at 12 weeks it was a boy! I was totally wrong first time round - was convinced it was a boy and she isn't! So you'll have to knock me off.
Have been dashing through posts trying to keep up but trying to do some work today!
Can't remember who was posting about cars (gracie?) but I like my Focus, very dependable, easy to drive, good boot and won't break the bank! Also was not too scary a leap coming from a huge car. However now we are expecting #2 we will probably upgrade sometime next year once we have the bridging situation on our house sorted out. sunshinemummy my husband is keen on the XC90 but I am slightly daunted by the size of it! How do you get on with it round the double-parked streets of SW London?! I was thinking of a Lexus RH but apparently they aren't actually that big inside - just outside.