*Due in June 2005*

[PinkArjuna]

The thread was getting far too long and taking ages to load.

London meet is a week away. I don't have to get the train until 10.30 this time Could someone tell me which tube line to get from Paddington?

I thought the cloth slings looked pretty comfy, like a hammock for baby with the added benefits of rocking and being able to hear mummy (or daddy's) heartbeat. I agree that at night you'd want the baby to be on a more rigid surface (not to mention able to stretch out a bit more) but the sling must remind them quite a lot of the womb at the beginning.

Phew, just been on the elliptical trainer, completely exhausted now! I am not sure this is the best time for a 'get fit' programme but I thought some gentle exercise each day would be beneficial.

I'm not sure my bro and SIL know what's hit them. Apart from anything else, they've only had dd for 14 months, so not a lot of time really to get used to having one little monster in the house, never mind two. And of course ds is somewhat livelier than a newborn as well! I'm not expecting much sympathy from them this summer when dh and I are completely destroyed by the presence of one small baby

Hello everybody!

Ahh.. a nice day for a change! It has been frigid here the past few days and that was definetely adding to my blues! But got lots of sun today and spent lots of time in the yard, so life is good now!

Coop - you can count on the sling. Sorry is taking me so long to post! I just need to find a suitable box! I'll try hard to get around it this week!

Katz - the nursery looks fabulous! Good Job!

Trib- I don't envy your brother... I newborn is hard, an one year old is hard , but a year old with whatever habits your DB and SIL don't know and hadn't been able to shape it is just a nightmare!!!

I had driving lessons this morning and got so frustrated! There are so many little silly things to remember when doing a test!! I can't believe I have been driving for 18 years and can get this flustered! I think it will be just impossible to do it with a pregnant brain!!

Hi all
Trib - Yor poor brother. I really feel for them and I think you are right to expect no sympathy in June..I am sure you will get lots of support though. I have found that I have grown as a parent in experience as dd has grown. I had no real experience with children and so was able to cope with a baby when that is what she was but would have been completely lost if someone had given me a one year old. She is 2 now and so I know what 2 year olds are like but give me a four year old and I am lost again IYSWIM. I am getting better though, I think. I did so much reading about child development etc as DH and I really had no idea about what they could do when etc. I am more relaxed now though and we are with other children about her age every day so that is always interesting too.
I agree about the cloth slings too as although babies should lie flat I think for real diddy newborns they have been curled up for 9 months and will like the fact the sling mimics this. I don't think it is that dissimilar to holding a baby in your arms to feed etc, although I wait to be corrected on that one.
Kat - What a fantastic nursery! Our poor baby doesn't even have a room of its own. I need to do some thinking on this one. I am hoping clothes etc will go in with dd and it will sleep with us as the spare room is used alot for visitors so I don't want to have it settled in there. We will be moving when baby is 7 months old too. So much changed after dd was born I think that is why i am planning so little this time round. There must be some reason for my complete lack of nesting/organisation mustn't there??? Please???
Lippy, I have a Quest too, fab for keeping in the car. Am considering a double Maclaren for the car but will wait til we are back in the summer to decide. Trying not to waste money this time. We don't really go shopping when we are here anyway but we do like to go out for the day and always use the Mac then. The silver cross will go in the car but I can't see us bothering....
I am visiting my Mum in the summer. We are hoping to be back for three and a half weeks. She lives in Suffolk. It would be great to meet up but I think the babes might be too small for people to undertake unnecessary trips IYSWIM. We are demanding all family and friends visit us at my mums if they want to. We are hoping to get back for a wedding on the 9th July so I am kinda hopeful that this baby will arrive early just to make things a little easier.
I have been exhausted today. My two nights in a row partying have taken their toll and I slept for two hours this pm and still feel shattered. I have had a good two nights out though despite coming home with 'cankles' having been on my feet dancing etc. I have nine weeks to go tomorrow so must get organised. Please keep nagging me this week until I tell you all I have done something (at least made a list!)

Hi Lua,
I missed your post as I typed it off line! Please don't rush over the sling. I am very grateful to have it as I think it is just going to be ideal for us, thank you.
Driving lessons were the worst thing I have EVER done. I hated them and felt so useless. The prob with having been driving for so long too is all the bad habits we all have that you then need to break! Can you not transfer your licence to here then? That is a shame. So expensive for lessons etc too. Glad the weather is better too.

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Oh Lynny - You poor thing.
I am glad that everything seems to be OK though and I am sure there is no way they would have let you home if they were at all concerned. All this extra stress can't be helping things either. I hope that the appt on Tues resolves the outstanding issues. You are really going through it. Don't you dare think we are sick of you posting!!! I would certainly worry if you didn't post for us and miss you loads. Look after yourself.

Hi Lynny - aw, no need really What an awful night you must have had. I bet you hardly got any sleep. The things that must've been going through your head! So glad you've been reassured by the monitoring, and of course you'll have had to stay in if they were worried. Did they suspect those pains were growing/stretching things. I've always got a little tender spots over my abdomen and if I move at the wrong time in the wrong direction I get stitch like pains that make me gasp. Lol at you not realising what ward you were in! I've not visited my delivery ward yet - you have to call at 8am the same day (a Saturday or Sunday) to secure a place on the tour, of course, I've never yet been remotely conscious at that ridiculous time of the night, certainly not on a weekend!

Mountain Buggies come from New Zealand. The new 2005 Terrains are jolly hard to get hold of at retailers. There is a shop localish to me that reckon they can get hold of whatever I want and price match so I'll try them tomorrow. Bet they can't get hold of a MBTerrain though.... I really wanted to get them from the chariotsatp website though because they do really good package deals and customise the Terrains with really chunky thorn resistant wheels at no extra charge.

Trib - wow, after all that anxiety, it hasn't seemed long at all since you first told us your brother might be getting ds. I'm so pleased for them. I hope things have calmed down a bit by next weekend for your visit I've got the old treadmill out too - really need to strengthen my legs for labour.

Lippy - I'm a bit confused over the slings too. All this medical research goes on about how babies should be lying flat, then you read stuff about baby slings, and all of a sudden, it's "the thing" to have them curled into a fetal position. I worry about their heads not getting enough support and wobble about in the them.

Coop - my goodness - what an early post even though you are an hour ahead! You don't get up everyday at that time do you? No wonder you fell asleep this afternoon. Poor dd - mossie bites are ugly awful itchy things aren't they, hope she's not scratching it. I've had one on my arm since Venice. Don't like the sound of the Cypriot ones that can bit through Denim

Katz - what a fab nursery!! I love your creatures! Think the ladybird is my fave, or is it the worried looking beetle balancing on one leg on the yellow flower?

Off for a curry - see you all later or tomorrow! x

lynny - sorry to hear about your scare, thats not nice, but at leats you got a sneaky peak at where this little one would be born.

Thanks for the comments on the nursery - we are sooooo pleased it has turned out better than we could ever have imagined. I couldn't get it in the pictures but the worried looking beetle is actually looking at the bee peaking out from behind the flower. I lvoe all the creatures but think my fav is the bee but then i do like the butterflies. it doens't show on the photos but the butterflies wings are all glittery as are the flowers. Just waiting now for the furniture to arrive, i have a bookcase on order which is in the shape of an apple tree and then some regualar drawers and a wardrobe.

DD has been an angle this week, we finally stopped giving her a bottle at bed time and have started to put her down awake and apart from the first night when she screamed and had to be cuddled to sleep she now happily drinks her milk during her bedtime story adn then has a aquick cuddle and is put to bed awake!! yeah!! one more box ticked ready for this baby to arrive.

Have been sorting out all my old bits and bobs from when DD was born, am about to start washing the new born baby clothes, i have located my first sized nappies and just need to buy a couple more wraps and they will all be there.

DH has applied for a new job (so fingers crossed pleased) but it is less days than he is currently doing, but i have done a quick budget check and we will not be much worse off and the new baby wouldn't need to go the nursery as much. We have also decided if he doesn't get the job that he will drop down to 3 days in his current job. He's not enjoying it and it quite stressed. He really needs some time to unwind, especially after th eyear we had last year. His mum was diagnosed with breast cancer in Sept 2003 and died Aug 2004, so its been a bit of a rollercoaster time for us and with me getting PG right after and then getting the hyperermesis, he's not really had a chance to take stock and reavaluate life. So having done so we've decided that life too short to worry and money and he's going to stay home and enjoy DD and the baby.

Gosh thats a long one!!

Lynny, how dreadful for you and dh! I'm sure the hospital wouldn't have let you go if they were at all concerned, fingers crossed for your appointment and keep us posted

Katz, fab nursery, I shall be hiding the pictures from my baby who will be getting nothing like that - I do have a wall-hanging from my cousin, that'll have to do.

Lua - well done you on taking driving lessons at the mo. There's no way I could cope with that. The only thing I remember from my test is being surprised I could remember the sign for "with flow bus and cycle lane".

Coop - I think you're quite right to get people to come to you. When I lived abroad I would always have to rush around and see loads of people whenever I came back, that's far too much to contemplate once the babies arrive I reckon.

Katz - fingers crossed for Mr Katz. What an awful time you've had Sounds like some time away from the stress of work will do him the power of good.

haven't been on for days as I'm just too tired. I'm not really best pleased about the Bubba at the moment either. I have heard far too much about labour and now feel that women who have ceasareans may be extremely wise. I think you can know far too much about the birth and I haven't done any college work because I have been lying in bed petrified. My exams are a priority at the moment and I have done nothing whatsoever

I met the Doula on Friday she was nice and agreed to do the birth. I also went to my NHS antenatal class as it turned out my midwife had given me the wrong dates. It was ok. I'll have to phone up the delivery suite in the week because you have to arrange to visit southmead on a saturday and it isn't through the midwife.

Other than lamenting the fact I am going to fail my exams I feel the birth is geting far too close. I also have an excruciating bad back.

Apprently they will be able to start painting in 3 weeks. which isn't too bad but it'll still annoy me having people in so late. I won't agree if they don't start by then as they'll mess up my whole flat. Oh and we are still arguing about the washing machine so my dad is coming down again next week to sort it out. I am getting fed up of the whole thing. I think I'm just going to buy the machine I want and force them to plum it in and pay the money back. I just can't actually buy a machine and have it delivered unless I know the plumbing is sorted out otherwise it'll just be another hazardous non working appliance blocking the way in and out of the flat. I am sick of crap estate agents

I hope everyone is well. I haven't caught up much.

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Hi All
Hi Lynny-Hope all is well now, terrible to hear about your scare, maybee your bub is keen to come and will be the first to be born.

KATZ love the nursery, I think it looks simple but fun and stylish. Well done!!!
Also love the big eyes but have - one little remark/suggestion to make. When I was studying educational psychology. I learnt about a test they once did -Of toys with small pupils and toys with large pupils, aparently the children wouldn't go near the toys with small pupils, but picked up and played with the large pupil toys. Just a thought that maybee you could have pupils a little larger to make them more friendly like.
Just one of those things that i have actually remembered from my years of study, but don't listen to me if you are don't want too.

For the ladies who would like to know the correct way to sit on toilet, (apparently especially important after birth, if you have stiches or had cesar) -You should sit forward with knees wide apart and elbows resting on kneesm with your heels up, i.e on tippy toes, much btter for opening bowles than just sitting up straight.

well that's all my advice for the day. Have a great one all
Uki

Well dd was up with the lark again this morning. I think I need to turn the heating up in her room.
Uki - Thanks for the tip on the toilet position. I will have to try it at some point to practice.
Kat - The butterflys are my fave bit esp now you have said they are glittery too. How cool. Good luck to DH with the job. I totally agree that life is too short to spend it all at work. What a year you have had. Sounds like you both deserve some time out. What nappies and wraps do you have for the newborn and how many nappies. I think I have enough nappies and need to get some wraps so I am after some advice as dd was only in cloth full time from about 4 months.
Pink - Great news about the doula, but frustrating news about everything else. Good luck with the revision. Hope you can get some motivation soon, but don't panic.
Charley - dd's mossie bite is bigger today but I don't think she has been scratching it yet. Poor thing.
Lynny - I should point out that any attention I have got over the weekend has been from VERY drunk men so nothing to be proud of . Hope all is well with you today. Thinking of you..
Lua - Hope you are well today too and that your blood sugar is behaving itself.
DD is back in creche for two hours this morning. She hasn't been for three weeks so I hope she will go in nicely. She usually runs in fine but it has been a while. I am hoping to use the time to get sorted for this new baby but will prob go to the shop and then end up on here .
Have good days all.

Uwila - Where are you??
KVG - How was the camping trip?
Hope the job seekers hear some news today too.

Morning all,
Lynny I hope you feel a bit calmer now - bit of a scare.
Katzguk - love the nursery - really cute, makes me feel a bit ashamed of the poor new babe's room. Will have to crack on and try to do something in there or will officially be bad mother.
UKi - thanks for the loo tip - I don't know why but that sort of info goes in my head and stays there!
Pink - I really feel for you re the washing machine - I would be so frustrated. Hope you get it sorted. Does swimming help the back at all? or a long, deep bath?
Charley if you like I could email the in-laws in NZ about your buggy - don't know how much it would cost for them to buy it and ship it over but might be worth it? let me know
We had a quietish weekend although we did get out to eat and see Melinda and Melinda on Saturday night. I went a bit mad last week and booked in 4 baby sitters so we can have a last fling before b-day. I also booked myself a ticket for Guys and Dolls with Ewan McGregor - hope I don't get over -excited and go into early labour
Had 3 little girls round all afternoon yesterday to play. I found them 'doing make up' in dd's play house - they were using coloured chalks! Very cute.

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Morning all!
Lynny LOL at your phone call! What did they think you wanted to talk with consultant for?!?!?!?!

KVG - Your camping experience did sounds really nice. Saturday was bloody cold here though! Was it okay for camping? We were cleaning the garage this weekend and found DHs camping gear, which I have never seen it open ! We are still keeping for the magic day when DHs back will be better! DD got all interested though, so we might have to do a camping in our garden this summer!

The reason why I need to do the test is because in England they don't recognize foreign drivers licenses... So they let you drive for a year, after that I have to pass a test. You'd think that the fact that I didn't have any accidents during that year would had been enough....

BAby had gone much subtler recently.... Anyone else have experienced a change? I know is normal to reduce a little bit as they get cramped, but I can't remember how much....

With you all on the mood swings - I nearly cry on the tube every morning. If someone gives me a seat it's because of how thoughtful they are, how they remind me of how kind strangers can be etc. If they don't give me a seat it's because the world has gone to the dogs etc