Due May 2009 - Bring on the Creme Eggs, mooing and choo chooing

[Jennster]

Thought I'd better start this soon.

Isn't it terrible to be a grown-up and think 'hooray for mum'. My mum always washes my DD's coats when they go to hers and she polishes their shoes. Saves me a job......

My mum and I have swapped roles in some ways though - I take food to her and make sure she eats properly now.

She always was an absolute slattern

alapala it isn't massive, but I have this one so it is slightly different to the one you listed. I'm very happy with it. With DS I never really bothered with a changing bag, but ironically now he is older there is probably more I can lug around with me than the newborn days when I used to sling a pack of wipes and a nappy in the bottom of the buggy! I feel very organised with my new changing bag, even if it is stuffed with toys and snacks.

I had a lovely snooze this afternoon. The weekly shop nearly killed me so I'll be switching to online from now on. Thankfully DS napped for ages, so I had time for my snooze and time to prepare dinner.

Is anyone else really tired at the moment?

I like all the names mentioned so far, particularly the R name mentioned by Rek . I think we are down to two names, George or Henry with George probably the favourite as DS can actually say it!

My mum was always a pant-(but not sock)-ironing, bread-making, curtain-sewing superwoman, but more out of necessity than temperament I think. I suspect she thought she had put those days behind her! I honestly feel I've regressed about 20 years these days as I can't imagine how we would manage without her. Hooray for mums! A suitable note to head to bed on I think

Night night!

Rek,

Your email made me laugh. Our laundry routine is very similar really - and most of our clothing can be found:

1. on the bedroom/bathroom floor (dirty)
2. in one of 6 laundry baskets around the house (could be dirty, could be clean- sniff test required)
3. in the washing machine (again, might have been washed, or the remnants from the kitchen floor waiting to be washed)
4. on the drying racks in the kitchen or bedroom (clean thankfully but probably wet)
5. on radiators (when emergency high speed drying is required)
6. shoved in the linen cupboard

Hence the need to become more like Anthea...

Morning... was happily reading through everyone's news only to find when i tried to post mn was down for maintenance!!! arrghh

alapala I love the 2 changing bags you posted! Very snazzy in comparison to the changing bag I used when DS was born (the free huggies one from joining the boots parenting club!) I agree the most important thing is to have separate pockets for your things... in case of bottle/beaker/bum cream leaks and stop your things getting buried at the bottom when you're trying to find them

The insulated pocket is a good idea... saves the purchase of an insulated bottle bag. If anyone does end up using formula for one reason or another (i didn't produce enough milk last time due to anaemia). That pocket will be handy to keep a sterilised bottle (filled with boiled & cooled water only) ready to add formula & warm when you're out at a time you normally do a feed. You can't add the formula or warm up your breast milk before you head out as it's recommended you don't use warmed milk after an hour due to bacteria growing very quick in it. So keeping things cool is great...

everyone's laundry routines are making me lol. I don't feel so bad now about not previously knowing how to fold my fitted sheets and not always keeping up with our sometimes mountainous washing basket...

forgot to say it was last night...

Gosh this new MN certainly looks nice, but it took a minute to realise that yes I was on the right website.

I was so curious about all these changing that you all are talking about that I had a look at them myself. I've already got one (£7 from TK Max), but after looking at the Oi Oi ones and the ones from alapala's links I think I might have to buy another one. Just a shame they're so expensive. Maybe I'll keep an eye out on eBay for one.

Oh and FiKelly everyone knows that folding fitted sheets is impossible

Yawningmonster , due 1 May , (36 will be 37 when dc arrives DS age 4)
Sahbear , due 1 May , (DS age 14 mo)
farrahgillani , due 1 May , (1st Child)
Brightsideoflife , due 1 May ,
Reggiee , 27 due 1 May , (ahem 30 April but want to stay - DD age 22 months)
Aquababe, 27 due 1 May , (DD age 2.9) BOY!!
Evergrounded , 27 due 1 May ,
Momino , 27 due 1 May , (DD age 2.5 and DD age 1) SURPRISE!!
Loulabela , 27 due 1 May ,
AAL , 27 due 1 May , (DS age 4)
Olderbutnotwiser , 27 due 1 May , (DD age 21, DS age 19, DS age 16 DS age 4, DD age 2)
MissyK , 27 due 1 May (DS age 4) elective cs - BOY!!
bantam73 , 27 due 1 May (dd , age 3 + dd 16.11) from Leeds
JosieC , 27 due 1 May , (27, 1st child, North London) BOY!!
Tummum, 27 due 1 May, (DD age 4 and DD age 2), BOY!!
Heverhoney , 26+6, due 2 May ,
SpangleMaker , 26+5, due 3 May , (first child) BOY!!
LoobyLou36 , 26+5 due 3 May , (first child)
EmmalinaC , 26+5, due 3 May , (DD age 2.4) GIRL!!
Inni , 26+4, due 4 May , (DS age 2.9 and DD age 1)
Ceeceeanne , 26+4, due 4 May , (DD age 9)
Chicadee , 26+3, due 5 May , (DD age 6.5)
Overtiredmum , 26+3, due 5 May , (DS age 3)
Hopefullypregnant , 26+3, due 5 May , (DD age 10.5m)
Gibsongirl , 26+2, due 6 May , (DS1 age 5 and DS2 nearly 2)
BrownieBells , 26+2 , due 6 May , (DS age 2.9)
lauralou1 , 26+2 , due 6 May , (first)
Jael ,26+2 , due 6th may , (DD age nearly 3yrs at mo)
belgianchocolates, 26+2 due 6 May, (ds age 7, dd age 5), SURPRISE!!
Divedaisy , 26+1 , due 7 May (DS age 6; 3rd preg) SURPRISE!!!
leakyR,26+1, due 7 May (DS 21 months) SURPRISE!
Detsy , 26, due 8 May , (UK, Cheshire - DD 14 months) SURPRISE!
Flippineck , 26, due 8 May , (DD will be 2yr1m then) SURPRISE!!
Febes , 26 , due 8 May , (DD age 12 months). SURPRISE!!
Carol7 , 25+6 , due 9 May , (DS age 16 DD age 12)
Jennster , 25+6 , due 9 May , (DD age 2y7m, DS age 13m) GIRL!!
sebandelliotsmum , 25+6 , due May 9th , ds1 5 and ds2 20 months
Missblythe , 25+5 , due 10 May , (DD age?)
Superdenki , 25+5 , due 10 May , (DS age 2.5)
Pinkcandyfloss , 25+4 , due 11 May , (DS1 age 5 and DS2 age 1.7)
Mootie , 25+4 , due 11 May , (DD age 2.4)
llareggub , 25+3 , due 12 May , (DS age 2) BOY!!
Ses , 25+3, due 12 May , (first child)
Minimenace , 25+3, due 12 May , (DS age 13 months)
Millionsaway , 25+2, due 13 May , (DD 20 months)
Mammajamma , 25+2, due 13 May , (DS1 age 4, DS2 age 22m)
lilyjay09 , 25+2, due 13 May , (DC 3)
Wobblypig , 25+1 , due 14 May , (DS 1.11)
Looneywoman , 25+1 , due 14 May ,
Lazzer 25+2, due 14th May, SURPRISE!!
Zuka , 25+1, due 14 May , (first child)
1stMrsF , 25+1, due 14 May , with non-identical twins (first pregnancy, Surrey) TWO GIRLS!!
chocolatefrog , 25+1, due 14 May , (DD 19mnths)
FiKelly 38yrs, 25 due May 15 , (DS age just over 2yrs) GIRL!!
Nauseous, 25 due 15 May, first baby, SURPRISE!).
Bekkaboo , 24+6,due 16 May , (DS aged 2) GIRL!!
Frazzledoldbag , 24+6, due 16 May , (DD1 age 7, DD2 age 2) BOY!!
Daisydoo , 24+6, due 16 May , (DS age 19m)
Bluebell82 , 24+6, due 16 May , (dd age 7 months)
umamimama , 24+6, due 16 May , (dd age 16 months)
Bigtree , 24+5, due 17 May , (first child)
HtheH , 24+5, due 17 May (first child) BOY - they think!
cece, 24+4, due 18th May, (dd age 7 and DS aged 5) SURPRISE
Tigergem , 24+3, due 19 May , (DD 18m)
GreenFingeredMummy , 24+2, due 20 May , (DD age 15m)
Grumpyoldcaaaaaaaa , 24+2, due 20 May , (DD age 10, DD age 4) SURPRISE!!
Mags98 , 24+1, due 21 May , (first child)
2beautifulgals , 24, due 22 May , (2 dds?!)
Moonlit , 24 due 22 May , (DD age 2.8) SURPRISE!!
halfmumhalfbiscuit , 23+6, due 23 May , (DS age 2)
Agooboo , 23+6, due 23 May , (DS1 age 6 DS2 age 2)
Runningmonkey , 23+6, due 23 May , (first child), probably BOY!!
Swottybetty: , 23+5, Due 24/05/09. DD , 6mths
DandyLioness , 23+4, due 25 May , (DD nearly4) BOY!
Alapala , 23+4, due 25 May , (DS 1.5)
rubysmom, 23+4, due 25 May, (DD 1) GIRL!!
pulapula , 23+4, due 25 May , (DD 4, DS 1.6, Sheffield, elective cs) BOY!!
rosielady, 23+3, due 26 May (DS age 3)
citybranch , 23+2, due 27 May , (DS age 23m)
Sausagenmash, 23+2, due 27 May (first baby)
Imnotok , 23+2, due 27 May ,
SweetBROODY, 23, due 29th May (First Child) MAYBE A GIRL, MAYBE A BOY!!
MsG, 23 due 29th May (First child) SURPRISE!!
MrsExton, 22+6, due 30 May
MatthewAndBumpsMummy , 22+5, due 31 May , (DS age 3yrs 6mths), BOY!!
Rek, 22+5, due 31 May (DD 13 months)
milliemoocow 22+5, due 31st may,(DC?, DC?)
CoteDAzur 37, 22+5 due 31 May (DD 3) BOY!!

THERE!! Gosh there are so many names on there now! I hope everyones dates for today are correct - if not please ammend and blame my baby brain!

hi all.
fiKelly, I did the same last night: was catching up on MN news then the system went down so forced me to go to bed.

today, I'm officially worried about money. my job is sales related and pay hasn't been good for the past 3 mos. basically amounting to 15 hour/week job at min wage when I expected it to bring in about £500/month (that's what job description said last jun).

today i read that SMP is usually calculated on pay from 8 weeks leading to Mat leave. If so, my SMP is going to be based on my reduced salary (been going down since Oct). That's not fair, is it? I work for a charity so they'll be sure to try to get the lower amount.

anyway, I know a lot of you are worried too and I've said before 'things somehow work out' so now have to heed my own advice but I just don't see how we're going to do it. On top of it, we were finally going to put in a new (if cheap IKea) kitchen to replace our current one which was installed in the late 80s... don't know if that's smart now.

sorry for going on about this but I need to spill my worries if you don't mind. thanks.

Thanks for updating the list... & it's right for me... 25wks today

Does anyone else think this site is very white and bright!!?? It's like someone smiling at you with cosmetically whitenend teeth!!! Lovely! Thought I was on the wrong site for a mo! (or should that be Moo??!)

welcome leakyR - good to have a birthday partner at last!!! I was feeling kinda lonely for a while!

EmmalinaC - thanks for giving me your views on the OIOI baby bags - it's hard to tell what it like in a practical way from a photo. Frazzled - thanks too for the bag recommendations too - when I get a chance I'll have a look!

Dandy - hope your uterine artery problem isn't too severe - good they're keeping an eye on you both.

Pulapula - I don't think your names sound at all like Rainbow characters. Just as well you haven't considered Zippy, George and Bungle!!! What about Mary, Mongo and Midge!!! Now I really am showing my age!

I cannot believe there is a You Tube demo on how to fold laundry!!! Whatever next??? I have my own way of folding, and god help anyone who does it differently - I just have to redo it!! I hate doing fitted sheets, but have my method and it does OK. As for ironing - I try to get the clothes folded up as soon as I take them out of the tumble dryer. I try to avoid/limit the amount I need to do.

Regarding work - I'm kind of envious of all you employed ladies out there who can arrange their maternity leave and be free! I am a part owner of our own company so I can't really take mat leave as such. The books still need doing etc, but I am reducing the amount of involvement I have from beginning March - moving the office to back home in the study should help! Also getting staff in to 'be there' for customers!

Well must go now and help DH clear out his parents house so he needs a bit of support.

momino of course we don't mind.

For us the reality of still living in our 1st floor apartment with 1 toddler, newborn & old dog is a depressing thought (got emotional again this week after the new estate agents came round to value this week). We were on the market for over a year 07/08 and came off just before xmas for a break. Going back on in next few weeks and property has dropped in value again... hoping 2009 brings better luck with the change in estate agents etc. Would love to be settled in a house before baby comes but will just have to keep my fingers & everything crossed...

I am finding this all shiny and bright... very nice too

With my dd I had the maternity allowance. I was supposed to get 90% of whatever I was earning, because I earned less than £90 a week (was a childminder at the time). They ended up giving me the full maternity allowance and I was better off on it than working! Just to show that maybe things might work out better than you fear in terms of finances. Working for the NHS now, I know I'll get enough, but of course the SMP will be based on my basic wage, not taking into account nights and weekends, so it will be a lot less than I'm used to. Luckily though, I've got a dh who earns enough for us to get round.

We're going to have to move closer to my dh's work and will have to move from the Midlands to Kent, so I totally understand all the housing market worries. We live in a nice spaciouse semi now, but the midlands is one of the areas with the biggest drop in the market + we'll be moving to an area that's notoriously much more expensive than where we live now. I'm afraid we'll have to downgrade, with a bigger family in tow AND a mortgage that's no smaller, which is something I really don't want to do.

I thought I was on the wrong site there! I'm resistant to change...ha! What is it going to be like having a baby?!

pulapula, hadn't thought of that option - thanks for that - I will discuss that with DH. I think we just need to get organised and budget, plan etc a bit better.

I'm a bit overwhelmed by all this laundry talk. I'm a bare minimum person when it comes to all housework. I hope I become more domesticated. I do intend to do lots of baking when our new oven arrives! Oh, and I can knit and crochet a bit. It's just cleaning and washing and ironing I'm not very good at/interested in!

xx

I do a lot more housework these days... especially when we're trying to sell our flat. Keeping DS's toys contained can be a challenge some days when we're expecting people to view It's all a bit of a juggling act between DS's toddler groups/ helping my mum & dad with their errands (i'm mums carer)/cleaning/endless washing/etc. My designing of crocheted toys has had to be put to one side for the moment. Just too tired by the end of the day to do any hard brain activities so enjoying MN/facebook/ebay instead My DS is an obsessively tidy person... everything has a place and if it goes back slightly out of position he has to move it back. I'm a bit more relaxed... but I suppose that's due to DS and his moving toys around the place. Before DH comes home we grab as many toys as we can and tidy them back into his room... leaving just a few out to play with before DS's bed time. Weekends we're often out as a family so DH copes with the toy strewn flat admirably...

Momino spill away, it's what we're here for No-one seems to be buying kitchens these days, which is why we have the worries we do.

Am liking the new site, mainly because it looks just like our work intranet (esp as the adverts don't display) so I can MN covertly in the office.

Well, with all this glamorous talk of posh changing bags, I thought I should update you on my lunchtime purchases for my hospital bag:

• very cheap, massive, button-down nighties/pyjamas (dark colour in case of mess/leaks )
• very cheap, massive knickers
• horrible £1 flip-flops in case of scummy hospital showers

All from Primark for about £15

bargains at those prices if they get trashed at least you can throw it away without feeling guilty. We don't have a primark in weston so i'm looking for same kinda stuff cheap in the shops we do have...

thanks all.
fiKelly, fingers crossed on the house.
Spangle, I've got to go to Primark for my essentials, what bargains! There's a Primark about 40 min away in Leeds, should go.

last preganancy, I think I bought the cheapest knickers from Tesco or Matalan (can't remember which) and just binned them.

On another note, Zara had some £9.99 (sale) basic roll neck jumpers that are really long and covers my bump but are non-maternity.

Fi maybe the market would be a good place - or Tescos etc? I've bought myself some nice pregnancy/nursing pyjamas but I'd like those to come home to rather than messing everything up in hospital. I did struggle to find button-down ones.... TBH I would be happy enough wearing large vest type tops/nighties, whipping boobs out as necessary, but I feel I need something more comprehensive in case of visitors.

I got a nice pair of breast feeding pj's for xmas and a few from last time but I was thinking tescos and asda (we don't have a market.. too small place) for some cheap bits for the birth/soon after bit. Def not going to buy paper knickers this time... so uncomfy! Going to go for cheap real ones and have some comfort instead

DH thinks my breast feeding pj's are amusing since I've shown him how the clips work, he says they have 'boob dispensers'

I wondered if anyone could help me on something. As soon as I've had baby, I've got to go back on medication for my panic attacks, which have got worse through pregnancy, I'm not planning on breastfeeding this baby (don't shout at me) I'd rather not risk meds getting through to baby etc I breastfed our DD for a few weeks, but had to stop, for reasons I won't go into (don't want to frighten first time mums)So from around 2 months our DD was bottle fed on Aptimil, which we found to be a really good milk, and the milk most reccomended my health visitors/midwives at the time. I'd like to use Aptimil again this time, but I'm really unsure of what happens in the hospital etc. I'm going to be in for at least 2 days as I'm having a c-section, have I got to bring bottles/milk/steriliser in with me?

Jael X

Jael, I think the hospital will provide the first milk for baby but I'm not sure... maybe someone else (Belgian?) can say.

have your panic attacks got worse then? does your med work? I was put on beta blockers last summer for anxiety but they didn't work. i haven't had the anxiety as much but do feel deeply depressed though not sure if it's pregnancy hormones affecting my mood.

Unsurprisingly, we DO have a Primark here in Middlesbrough, but I haven't been in for a while, as it terrifies me. It's always HEAVING with women intent on getting a bargain outfit for the night out tonight. They trample you.

Moomino - I love Zara for stuff like that - I always raid it when I go to York to see my mum. Just bought DD1 an outfit there for her Valentine's Disco, actually. She had a lovely time choosing.....

Spangle - 'boob dispensers' - I LOVE IT!!!!