Due in June thread 6

[charleypops]

All I can say right now is AAAARRRGGGHHHH!!!!!

CObweb, poor you, you do sound down in the dumps Not surprising as you have all been so ill. I'm afraid I can't remember much about maternity pay, I wasn't entitled to much/anything as I hadn't worked where I was long enough either. Lots of other people on this thread are well versed on maternity pay, hopefully someone can help.

I know Tea, I am SOOOOO tempted to find out next Wednesday. You never know, we may find out at the last minute

The changing face of Feminism would have been a fascinating subjuct Pink, what a shame it couldn't run. What kinds of novels are you reading for the English Lit?

Emma - Jane austen, King Lear, A bit of Seamus Heaney and Death of a salesman - Arthur Miller. Its quite intensive just doing the books over 3 short terms. We don't get time to cover it as completely as I would like. However saying that I am glad I don't have to drive back to Cardiff anymore than I am doing now.

God, I missed a whole load of posts between my last and Cobwebs - doh!

Pink, I think my feelings about having another girl are because I would not mind either, given a choice I guess I would choose a boy this time. Maybe that's why I'm convincing myself it's a girl, so that I can prepare myself to look forward to another girl, when maybe it could be a boy. That's also part of the reason I don't want to find out, if it is a girl, I would hate to feel disappointment, whereas if I find out at the birth, I'm hoping those overwhelming birth feelings will over-ride all that...???

Sometimes I look at dd when she is doing something really cute and I genuinely don't care.

Anyway night night ladies. I am off, gonna get some Chinese food and then go to bed early. This big fat baby hurts my back

I did Death of a Salesman at A level, it was pretty grim and we all found it pretty hard to relate to this washed-up, American salesman at 18, we weren't very worldly-wise girls, it has to be said!! Saw it at the Old Vic too, that was excellent I remember.

[GRIN]CONGRATULATIONS[GRIN] ON YOUR BOY CHARLEY!!!
cant believe theres soooooo many boys due.
know exactly what you mean pink.
im convinced that im having a boy but i think thats partly because like you i'd secretly like a girl
i know that probably sounds awful but i dont know anyone with boys and i love the colour pink-even my hair is bright pink
oh well...i'll find out hopefully on tuesday so not long to wait and as long as its healthy then i suppose it doesnt really matter what sex the baby is-i'll just have to dye my hair blue!!!

how annoying-bet that didnt work because the caps lock was on!!!

Oh Lippy you must have posted at the same time. I hope too the birth has some kinda surge of amazing love and contented feelings for the gender of the baby. Though I haven't a clue if I will or not. I just don't know. I just seem to mind more and more. Every time I say little boy it feels all wrong. Perhaps I shouldn't have found out. I dunno, I just can't picture myself being very comfortable with a little boy. I think I'm going to go get a new therapist, I need to work out why I feel so iffy. I had such a horrible dream last night about the baby, infact I have had a few of them Perhaps I'm just nervous about the whole childbirth thing. On the whole boys just seem to scare me. Oh I'm just tired - ignore me
Right I'm really off now sooo tired.

I think that if you secretly prefer one sex over the other, then that is a reason to find out the sex before it's born. It gives you a chance to say, oh well and think about the good things about the one you are having. Then, when they day comes, there are no disappointments and you can just enjoy your lovely baby. And, fi you find out you are having the one you are secretly hoping for, then that makes the rest of the pregnancy all that much more exicitng.

I was hoping for a boy, and it make all that much more fun now that I can refer to my bump as Alex, who incidently is definitely signing up for the football team. DD wants to know if the position of team manager is open to girls?

Well, we have 4 and a half days to make up our minds. I guess what I was trying to say was that if I find out at the birth I'll be so happy to have the baby, disappointment wont come into it.

ARRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!

Hi everyone! Back from curry now about 2 stone heavier - had 8 after dinner chocolates too AND bought a Lindt bar on the way home!

Poor you Cobby! sounds like you're really going through it at the moment ((((hugs))))

Bubbaloo - Have you really got pink hair!? Is is really bright pink? How fab! Are you a punk? I really want some punk baby outfits for my boy and can't find any - just the odd teeshirt here and there.

Pleeeeeeaaasseee find out what you're having Lippy!

Yes Uwila - a pretty big head - a big tummy and long legs thanks for the text - it's so lovely having you guys there xxxx of course dd must be manager

Aw Pink - Whatchya course you gonna do instead? I certainly feel scared about having a teenage boy (as I would if it was a teenage girl, a baby, a toddler, a kid etc of either sex) Seriously, please don't freak about having a boy - they're lovely - remember Tea's little one? I could've eaten him he was so scrummy

Can you believe, another boy?! It was so weird this morning, both dp and I had really strong feelings it was going to be a girl...

He he - Podrick - that's who he is at the moment (probably always will be to me)

We did do a bit of shopping after the scan - I actually bought my first pair of maternity trousers - they're really nice black stretchy from Formes and will last the duration

Pram next......

Hi All,

Cobweb, sorry you?re feeling down in the dumps. Feeling ill cant help.

Pink, I read most of those for A levels. King Lear is fab. So?s Arthur Miller and Jane Austen. I?m quite envious .

It is funny about the sexes. Secretly I suppose a little girl would be nice, but i'm convinced its a boy. I think part of my reasoning is that if its a girl, DH and I wont have any arguments about circumcision, which will be a blessed relief. Oh, and there are so many pretty little girls clothes out there...Still, as long as its healthy, got 10 fingers and toes and doesn't have my lack of sight or height (ha ha) I'll be happy.

morning all,
cobweb,hope your feeling a bit better today
charley,cant believe your only just starting on maternity clothes-my ordinary stuff hasnt fitted for weeks!
oh and yes my hair IS really pink-fuchia(sp)would be a good way to describe it and no i am most definately NOT a punk-LOL!!!
we bought the most adorable snow suit for the baby yesterday(as it was half price!).quite funny really as they had it in pink,blue or cream and i was very tempted to get the blue one but then thought my "hunch" might not be right so we went for the cream colour instead
we're also going out in a mo to hopefully get the wallpaper for the nursery which im really excited about,then next week its off to ikea to look for a small white wardrobe
anyway...nice weekend everyone.xx

Charley you say the nicest things...I can hire my ds out to anybody who wants to practice with a little boy at very good rates, he he he

Cobweb, my home computer freezes when I try to access any links, grrr, so I'm sure the one Pink gave you is fab...basically so long as you've had (self employed/agency) earnings for 26 weeks in the last 66 weeks you're entitled to MA (maternity allowance) which as Katz listed is £102.80 (or 90% if the average is less than that) for 26 weeks and you may also be entitled to tax credits...you can find out more at the maternity alliance web site (appologies again if this is the same as Pink has already posted). HTH

Lippy I agree with Uwila - if you really would like one sex over another IMO it's better to find out...I had always seen myself with a girl if I'd seen myself with any child, we found out with ds that he was a boy at the scan and although there was a fleeting disappointment we were able to give him a name and develop a little personality before he came along, and I can very honestly say that by the time he was born I was just sooo excited to finally meet my baby there was absolutely no disappointment. I have a friend who desperately wanted a girl, she chose not to find out, and her first child was a boy and she was fleetingly disappointed at the birth, but knew she wanted more so thought 'next time...' Again she chose not to find out for the 2nd pg and had another boy...she says the disappointment was more than fleeting and then she felt so guilty at her feelings when she had a healthy beautiful baby that it really tainted her memories of his birth. Being absolutely honest I know I'd probably have felt the same if I hadn't found out with ds or this one...I guess what I'm trying to say in an extremely long winded way is that you know best deep down how you really feel, so if you think you'd be disappointed I'd say try and find out, you wouldn't want to taint such a wonderful moment...bit long, sorry, hth

Hi everyone!

Tea - can you hire your kids out? Great! an income and childcare double bubble!

Hi Bubbaloo! Do you mind if I continue to imagine you as a punk for the time being? I've got a fabulous and very detailed image of you in my head from yesterday, it involves a huge mohican, all the old Westwood bondage gear, loads of piercings and really elaborate make up and it colours my somewhat empty days

Unfortunately, much as I'd like to, I cannot claim to have only just become in need of maternity trousers - I grew out of my final pair of jeans a couple of weeks ago and have been "making do" with 2 or 3 drawstring jogging bottoms. I was just in denial that I was actually grown-up enough to have a baby so avoided maternity shops

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Congratulations Charley on your boy!!!!!
It looks like i am about the last to have my 20 weeks scan (On valentines day!) I have been convinced until now that it will probably be a boy. Now i am thinking that the law of averages on this thread must surely make it a girl!!!!
Have a good weekend all!
Cobbers ((((((((Hugs))))))))) - sorry you are having a crap time of it at the moment! Thanks for your reassurance on the school issue! I have now stopped welling up with tears every time i think of one little thing that will be different for the boys etc etc. Am now focused on the positives

1. Not having to leave the house until ten to 9 in the morning instead of 8 o'clock
2. Being BACK from the school run by 9.10 (instead of it being a good hour round trip)
3. Being home by 3.30 instead of nearly 5!
4. No more school fees
5. No more school fees
6. No more school fees
7. THe boys having local friends
8. The boys not moaning about school dinners as they can take school lunch

sorry - i mean they can take PACKED LUNCH

Oh Charley I am the same - I finally realised last week after my fat trousus were cutting me in half that I had to properly graduate. I have had a pair of maternity dungaree's I've been wearing sporadically and I like those cos they are like Bob the builder. However after waddling around Cardiff and having to undo my flies I have picked up the maternity trousus off the floor and vowed I'll have to wear them. I just don't like maternity clothes. Not to mention a bloody waste of money if you are only starting to wear them now. I have been surviving on my playboy jogging pants which are quite nice. I was thinking perhaps I'll buy some more of those cos I'll wear them afterwards and they'll be a good wardrobe investment. I don't mind spending a bit on something that'll last.

Well I finally caught up on loads of sleep today and I am back to adoring my little boy. I have such rapid cycling of moods specially when I am tired. I think I am a bit far ahead myself wondering if I'll like my little boy as a teenager - thats over 13 years away perhaps I am being a touch premature

I was never really that bothered. I'd have really liked a girl but I was pretty sure he was a boy and I could quite picture myself with either. You know how you do those positive life images in your head 5 years from now to try and motivate yourself towards making your future what you want it to be. I seemed to always think he was a boy and a little boy would slip into the life images. Not to mention I had dreams he was a boy. So I think I was just scared poopless that I'll never be able to lie in on a Saturday morning again and various other baby trepidations.

Yeah wow you know I know someone else who did those books for a level they must have done a full circle now. The last time I did A level all the books were different. However it was in 1999 so the the curriculum changed and I was in Hospital and never got to finish school. I was upset about it - 2 years work for nothing. Though I am enjoying it now. I probably have enough on with my language classes I have a huge assignment to finish there. Not to mention my reading group. I'd have just liked to pop into Bristol on Friday afternoons to use my slowly decaying brain. I don't think I'll do anything else though. Cos I don't take my subjects in the as full time classes you don't get the teaching hours and I really have enough to get on with revising what we have already done. We only had 2 weeks class time on Death of a salesman so I need to revise that. The exams are before I have the baby and the baby is coming way too soon.

Tessie I am glad you are happier about the move Going to school down the road is far preferable specially when they are young. You'll make some good friends from the other parents too I can't wait to walk down the road to the local nursery and school.

Pink - i could never imagine myself with a boy either ..... 2 DS's down the line ... i wouldnt change a single thing Boys just adore their mums

Tessie yeah I think I'll like him - I hope he's cheeky. How old are your boys now?

Oh no I am getting a conscience about nappies I have to get onto the Landlord to have the washing machine changed again.

Mcmudda - how long do you take washing nappies? Also do they dry easily?

I have found that there are more biodegradable nappies online for the same price as pampers. I think I'll look into it. I can't quite see myself washing nappies endlessley I'll be already tired. Sort of a compromise I think.
sample biodegradable nappies I might send for the samples and see how they are Anyway I am bored of talking to myself so I'm off now.

Evening all!

Back from Amsterdam, can't claim to have remained entirely sober - and I assume eating those funny little cakes is okay, yes?! (Just kidding to the latter part, no coffee shops for me other than the kind that just sell coffee. I have no objections to them generally although I don't 'partake' whether in Amsterdam or not but at the mo the smoke would just make me feel ill, same as cigarette smoke.)

Baby didn't seem to enjoy the flight too much, or at least is now big enough to make its feelings on such things known (it has already been to Amsterdam, Paris and Sweden, what a well-travelled foetus!). I think it must have liked Amsterdam as it was doing acrobatics yesterday and now seems to have calmed down again, how weird!

Anyway, Lippy I guess you and I are both having our scans next week, I'm on Tuesday.

Charley - congrats on yet another little boy, almost hope I am having a girl now to balance the numbers up, even though that will make MIL right in her 'intuition'.

Have a good weekend all.

thoses nappies seem quite good pink.ive also just sent for some samples to try
dont think i'd have the time or patience for re-usables so these i suppose are the next best thing seeing they dont damage the enviroment like normal disposables do and they're also surprisingly reasonable which cant be a bad thing
anyway...off to the cinema shortly to see "meet the fockers" which should be good so i'll probably be back on here tomorrow after i've styled my mohican-ha ha ha!!

hi tribpot,
posts must have crossed!
glad amsterdam went well.good luck for tuesday-mines also the same day as you