Due in June - Creme eggs are long gone and our own eggs have started to hatch. Who will be next?

[Upsidedowncake]

We are two down and have another 30-40 to go. Makecakes and Gemma have probably popped by now, then G43! It's all happening!!!!!

Hi Greenfairy - Thank you for the advice. I will check that tomorrow. I have my 38 week appointment with my GP tomorrow morning and she is absolutely wonderful, so I'd feel comfortable checking the positioning with her or asking her to refer me for a scan.

Re: breastfeeding

Hello! Am just dropping in to say that I've written an article on "Ten Things I'd Tell Myself" if I could go back in time to when I was a new mum struggling with breastfeeding.

It's here if any of you want to take a look.

Hope you do not mind me posting on your thread but maybe it might help someone.

Best wishes, Sally (from Feb '08 thread)

Just learnt a lesson in why I should have stuck to watching TV today.

Decided to clean 6 month old oven on its built in cleaning function. Pressed the relevant buttons and left it to do its thing. Mid afternoon called my parents for a chat and was staggered that my father questioned why I hadn't cleaned the oven since we got it in December. My reasons being: it wasn't that dirty; I have been working full time; I have been pregnant; I haven't seen DH take the initiative; I have never seen my father do a major oven clean in his life (always my Mum's job when she was on school holidays). Apparently now that they are retired my parents clean the over every time they have used it.

Oven finally finished doing its thing. Opened it up to discover that it has managed to melt its own plastic mounting around the door. The melted plastic has run inside the layers of the glass door and it looks totally shit. I am mega pissed off as I followed the instructions to the letter. Can't believe I have such an imcompetent machine. It ought to be under warrantee, but am sure we wont have a valid receipt as DH bought it new via ebay.

At the exact point that I discover the melt down, DH calls me, at 6.30 to say he has just finished work and they are going for a pint, his commute back from work is about an 1h20, so wont make it home until nearly 9 I expect, and he is going out tomorrow night for drinks with a mate too. I have been trying very hard to be cool with him having his nights out before LO arrives, but ffs this baby is due on Sunday, and I have been rattling around the house melting the oven all day and I need some company.

The combination of absent DH; sanctimonious Father and melted oven do not make for a happy Alipalli.

Ok rant over. Please ignore all of the above no need to reply with sympathy as I know this is very trivial really, just wanted to get it off my chest. Phew. Feel a bit better now.

alipalli I dont blame you for having a rant. That absolutely sucks re: oven and DH. Oh, and your dad too. My oven is filthy despite DH's efforts to clean it, but pregnant women are advised not to use oven cleaner and I dont have the energy for the elbow grease required for some natural type cleaning products. Fingers crossed you will have receipt/warranty.

I've had a lovely day today; me and DH went to an exhibition then went to see SATC. I could get used to this not working business!

I think my brain has packed in though, as I'm finding it really hard to keep track of everyone's news/dilemma's/issues etc on the thread... Good luck to paro though, and makecakes , I'm glad the breastfeeding is going a bit better. Hope you get some good advice neenz - my SIL had different health visitors and mw's bullying terrorising showing concern about their DC's weight gain last year nd she really felt bullied into giving up bf, so I hope that you get the right supportive advice that you need to make the best decision for you and Esther (whatever that may be).

Ooh, someone told me I had a neat bump today. I was delighted .

Would also be interested to hear suggestions for labour bag snacks - I have some dried almonds and, well, that's it!

Rant away Alipalli - I certainly would after a day like that! I cleaned our oven with bicarb of soda last week....it prompted DH to do it properly at the weekend (altho he said the bicarb had done a pretty good job).

Don't think it's your brain Dramaqueen, I think our posting has become even more active than ever! That'll be those of us on ML. Re: labour snacks, I went mad in Holland and Barratt, dried apricots, mixed nuts & raisins and yog covered raisins for me. I'm sure that some choc might sneak it's way in as well...

Definitely rant away Allipali - have told DH that next week is the last time he is allowed to go out unless he doesn't drink, so he will be staying at home. Bad luck on the oven.

Hello!

Sorry about the oven Alipali if it makes it any better I've been having a nightmare over the past couple of days... house is a building site, we had the loft converted, and we decided to sort out the bathroom, new tiles etc.. Well the bloody tiler ripped out all the old tiles & had only tiled 1 wall and decided only on Monday evening that he was going away and won't be back to finish the bathroom until the weekend I'm due (due on 9th June). I was in floods of tears on Monday night, what happens if the baby arrives before then. Think DH was mortified as I'm totally holding him responsible as it was his idea to do all the work. I spent the whole of Monday evening crying - right through until Tuesday (was up pretty much all night) then had to go and see the MW, luckily everything was fine!

House is still an absolute mess but DH has manage to sort out another tiler, coming next Tuesday... just wish everything was sorted before my due date at the moment we are hoping for LO to be late!

Allipalli, sorry about the oven. A friend of mine (an obstetrician!) had a doula to help her after the birth. Doulas are like mother's helps, but this one basically said she normally cleans mothers' ovens, but my friend's was a step too far!

and re your DH, I know what you mean. My DH is normally wonderful but he is packing in as many nights out as he can get his sticky paws on at the moment. He's at England v USA tonight and at Lord's on Friday. Then away Sat and Sun night in Austria, and out on Monday night as well! After that, I've told him he's never going out again.

Dramaqueen, how was SATC? was it fabulous? very did your DH like it?

Lorettah, your tiler. Why do people leave jobs half finished?

Greenfairy, gorgeous Moses basket.

Just looked on our blog and discovered that DH has posted this SHall I make him take it down?

SATC was good UDC. It is very long, but had some good laughs. I'll say no more till everyone has seen it - I dont want to give away any spoilers raise/decrease expectations . DH said it was better than he was expecting, but he did not-so-secretly like the series.

LOL at your DH putting pic on your blog! Your bump looks great - no reason to take it down unless you dont like it?

Feeling v pleased with my DH - he's now officially alcohol free 'just in case' until the baby is born. Although I have given him a free pass this weekend as it's his birthday!

Lorettah - hope all goes well with the work at home!

Alipalli - really bad news about the oven.
My own incident also involved melting plastic. I had a load of secondhand toys from some friends, and my mum said I needed to wash/sterilize them. I decided to try out my new sterilizer, and managed to melt eight plastic blocks...
Luckily the sterilizer is ok!

hi all - allipalli not surprised you're hacked off re oven. got home today after weekend away to find freezer had defrosted itself so carefully inventoried food stocks all gone.

lorretah re your tiler - not surprised you were so upset.. am seeing our builder re renovation works but they are all definitely happening in autumn.. some mention of new window in bathroom before then but that ain't happening til this lo is out.

neenz hope you get some help with b/f -you really do sound like you're doing a fab job.

poppy - what a major PITA!

Right, its way past my bedtime. Have still been in insurance hell as I endeavour to find better home insurance and also review all of our other insurance policies to make sure we've got adequate cover for all eventualities. Seems a lot more important with impending new arrival!

Night all!

Thanks everyone. You have cheered me up with all your tales of domestic woe. Tomorrow I will look into our filing (such as it is) and see if I can find some proof of purchase for the oven.

DH wasn't back late - about 8.30, and has been lovely all evening. He's okay really (my Dad is too!). He even spontaneously remembered to put the bins out although because of the bank holiday he is a day early, but it proves he is trying his best.

Didn't realise there was a thing about pg women not using oven cleaner . Luckily the oven has its own cleaning cycle, so didn't get too up close to the gel I used on the racks. Sure LO will be fine at this stage.

Going to see SATC on Tuesday with NCT girls. Looking forward to it although think it might not live up to expectations. Could be my last cinema trip for a little while.

Bed time I think. Hopefully tomorrow will be more fun.

Morning everyone, from a hot and sunny Austria.

I can breathe a sigh of relief now as Mil is here - PHEW. So now I can go into labour knowing I don't have to call on Plan A or B.

Nothing exciting to report baby wise, wonder if Paro has had her baby yet?

Who's next do you think?

Morning,

What a day for domestic crises- just when you don't need the additional worry. Really feel for you Alipalli, Lorattah (shame on your tiler!) and Poppy.

Adivce (sympathy) needed from 2nd+ timers...
I'm really struggling to keep up with DD1 right now and can only really post when she's asleep. She's so full of beans and I'm finding it difficult to crawl around and chase around with her as much as I used to. She is 19 months and has a lunchtime sleep (2 hours), but for the last week has fought going to bed at her usual 7.30-8pm.
She was up until 9 last night after which I crawled into bed exhausted. I think she's getting bored and I think I might need to wake her up sooner from her lunchtime sleep.
I'm so tired!

UDC- I love your belly picture- DH is obviously proud!

Morning all. Devb, Glad your mil there.

All, hope you get your oven sorted. that would be a major pita at the best of times, but the last thing you need right now. Fingers firmly in ears re oven cleaner. I must've used every cleaning product known to man when we left our house in Switzerland.

Have discovered nasty bug things in this house, so did at least make dh spray some (totally ineffecctive) poiuson down. After I did the 1st lot and thought with hindsight maybe I shouldn't. Said beasties whistle and flick us the V's on their way past now.

I had a better night last night - still itching like crazy, but just had very disturbed rather than no slepp, so just feel knackered rather than suicidal

My mum ( ) is coming in 9 day, and in 11 days, so is my lo!!!!!!!

I am praying extra hard for a boy, as we have settled on 2 names, both of which I really like, and I really dislike most girls names, and so far we haven't found one.

But anyway, this morning I take ds3 to Spielgruppe, have fun in the tax office trying to get another copy of dh's tax card which he lost () This is a sceptical morning for me - the I will go to the baby shop and maybe even go mad and buy something for the baby!!!!!!

Re dry pailing - a new fangled invention they didn't have when I last used washable nappies, which I've very excited about - the nappy mesh bag liner thiingy for the nappy bucket. Marvelous! I must have one. But it doesn't appear to be on the product list of the shop I'm going to. Anyone know - could I just sew one using ordinary material, or even just use a pillow case, or does it HAVE to be mesh? ANd if so, can you get them easily in eg mothercare (running out of time if I have to send my dear mum out) God knows what she'd come up with too.

Upsidedown, it's a lovely picture - you look so happy and excited with your pg, but personally, yup, I'd def get him to take it down. But then no one would see me hoiking up my clothes (apart from half of Munich in the last couple of weeks as I've attempted to cool my rash )

Ernest - I had one but I think I chucked it away, I know this place in Dorchester does them and think they have a website. I will just check.

Thay didn't have one on their website but I can get one for you and send to you if your mum can't get one. The hops is called Hey Baby and is in Poundbury.

Glad the itching is getting alightly better.

Must go and cook breakfast.

upsidedowncake - I'm glad my DH can't figure out how to post pics to our website - I carefully edit them to make sure none of me go up (hence why my bump pictures are headless). It's a cute pic though (we measured my bump after we saw yours and I'm 107 cm).

PearTart my DS is a bit older, 23 months, but still a handful! I'm finding that he likes horsey rides around the room, which has the advantage of being a good position for the LO, but otherwise he's a bit annoyed with my lack of mobility. I have to admit that we're starting to turn the TV on to entertain him, which I never did before now... Thomas the Tank Engine works wonders..

My hip was acting up again this morning, without the contractions this time. It's not as bad as before but I think I need to see a physio. Does anyone here have one of those belts that go around your pelvis? Do you know what brand you have? I heard the NHS ones are not the best and I'd be willing to pay for a better one myself...

Hi Aberdeen,
just measured my bump: 120cm!!!

I have also put the TV on this week for DD for the first time ever. I bought a Night Garden DVD and she's seen 3 episodes so far. I feel a bit like I've sold my soul!

UDC, bump is lovely but not impressed at your dh's comments about left handers - both me and dh are left handed and there's nothing sinister about us at all!!!

Lorettah, you have my every sympathy on the house front. We are having new carpets laid in the spare room and our bedroom tomorrow morning and then we are finally starting on the nursery . LO is going to sleep with us initially but I would still like to be able to unpack his clothes, nappies and other bits and pieces. At the moment I can't see where I'm going to put it all. I'm trying not to think about it cos when I do I feel really stressed . I can't help with the decorating cos of the SPD and my dh's painting leaves something to be desired at times so I'm trying not to think about that either, cos he's working really hard to get it done, and I don't want to criticise.

Anyway, nothing we can do about it now - que sera sera!

AH, I have a belt for the SPD but I have to confess I hardly wear it cos I find it very uncomfortable and I worry all the time about squashing the baby. My physio has assured me I'm not, but it didn't help that baby went v still first time I wore it and then kicked for England when I took it off. It was probably a total co-incidence but I convinced myself it was connected. I can't remember the brand name but will find out when I go upstairs and post later. The NHS ones are awful!

Aberdeen, yes, it's the head (and chins) that bother me! Plus the charming fleece that no-one usually sees me wearing outside the house! I'll just make him post lots of other piccies tonight so it's not the first one that people see. How are you feeling today?

Peartart, we still have DS in nursery, which makes things a little easier. Thanks for kind comment re belly!

DQ, glad you enjoyed SATC. I can't wait! (Have any of you ever played that game when you have to say which SATC girl you are? I am a Miranda / Carrie cross. God I must be bored.)

Poppy, what a pain re freezer!

Debs, v glad your MIL is there. You can get on and have the baby now!

Re who's next, I bet you that both Josey and Paro have had theirs.

Ernest, LOL re hoiking up belly! Are German tax offices monstrous?

Hi,
Thanks for all the positive vibes, last night we employed another tiler to finish the work that the other tiler has left! Feeling slightly better but need LO to be late - only by a couple of days but still need it to hold on in - or else I risk having to stay in hospital longer than I'd really want!

Was really mean to my DH last night, he woke me from a cat nap and I was really moody (couldn't shake it)and then for the rest of the evening we barely spoke - all the stress of the house is really taking its toll on our relationship - pls tell any pregnant friends if they are thinking of doing major work on their houses NOT to!!!

Will have to try very hard tonight when DH gets home!

Spongebrain, I find the linguistic bias towards right-handers away from left-handers really interesting. It's true in lots of Romance languages as well as in English. What about in Welsh, essie? There are lots of superstitions about left-handedness, but all the ones I know have been very intelligent and charming . DH was my first non Southpaw boyfriend!