Due in June 2009: The final quarter - packing our bags and remembering to squuueeeeeeezzeeeee!..

[Ineedmorechocolatenow]

Here it is!

Hi everyone.
Had the budget in Ireland today. Its all doom and gloom, especially hard hitting for those with 2 or 3 small children and thats us!!!!!AAAARRRRRRHHH.
It's been quiet on here today. Hope everyone is ok.
Hi June. My skin has been up and down this prgy. Was quite spotty at the beginning but seems ok now. My hair was full and well conditioned at the beginning as well, but now it's gone dry and horrible. Think I need to pay a visit to the hairdresser.
Is everyone organised for Easter?
I am really looking forward to getting away on Saturday for the week. Also think DH may have Good Friday off which will be nice.

I was at the physios this morning. My muscles are not quite so bad which is good and she has said that I can start to take some gentle 30 minute walks . I didn't enjoy seeing my big whale like body in the mirror when I was getting undressed for the treatment. Seem to be growing very fast and daren't get on the scales anymore.

Congratulations on the house move Bunnymother.

I would like a pat on the back, please. Why? Because I actually managed to reach my toes to cut the nails!! YAYAY me!!

Ladies just a very quick post to say hello and to let you know that my 32 week scan went well today B2 is weighing about 2kgs (same as DS at this stage) and her dimensions are similar to his although her legs are shorter, her tummy is fatter and her head is a little bigger (trying not to think about that bit much!) Another odd Spanish thing today, they showed me the baby?s face and then gave me a picture of her genitals to take home with me one for the 18th birthday party DH says I may not be around much for the next few days as the move is in full swing but I?ll be back around the middle of next week and I hope you all stay well and enjoy Easter

Oh meant to say, my buggy arived with SIL today haven't had a chance to even look at it yet but I'll try and treat myself to a proper look over the weekend

bunny - sure - will put photos up, although still got a way to go before soil all ready and plants in. I have a bunch of seeds (my babies!) in the kitchen, gradually popping up. It's all taking a wee while.

insy - respect for having '3 under 3'. Being pregnant while looking after my 'just' 3 yr old has been challenging enough - I can't imagine having my hands full with two!

choccie - sympathise with the skin problems. I have eczema over my hands and arms and am so sick of it. I am hesitant to put much Hydrocortisone on it and it doesn't seem to want to go away anyway.

mrsmcjnr - so pleased to hear your move is underway.

Awake at 4am this morning and so a grizzle is needed:
If I don't get 8 hours sleep I have a thumping headache the next day.
I move at half the speed I used to, so everything taking twice as long - which reminds me: must organise that cleaner for 3 hours a week after baby born.
My hands and arms are covered in eczema.
I hardly fit any clothes any more, and the few that do fit are starting to develop holes with constant use! Half of them are winter clothes anyway. But who wants to buy pregnancy clothes with 2 months to go.
My other half has still not properly recovered and is being the grumpiest, most difficult git in the world.
Neither of us seem to be able to sleep well in the same bed anymore.

Hello all. I?m feeling a little better today. My tolerance for DS?s toddler tantrums was at an all time low yesterday, so DH took over and I painted the nursery furniture on my own. Bliss! So by the end of today, the nursery should be finished! Hooray!

choccie - sorry to hear about you feeling faint . I get the odd faint feeling, where I have to hold onto something while the world sorts itself out! I hate getting undressed at the physio too. I always feel like a beached whale. I?m down to one bra that fits now (must get down to M&S) so it?s looking a little tired. I have to make apologies for it every time I go!

Laura - Glad you managed to get the crib up! It?s all starting to feel very real now, isn?t it? Sorry to hear that you are also suffering from a cold. I also have really dry skin. I?ve had to go and buy different products as I usually have combination skin. I found the vitamin E facial wash from Body Shop and the facial oil from the same range really helped. Also Bio Oil is good for dry skin.

Tee - Hope you managed to get more sleep. Sorry to hear about your DH snoring, I find a good, hard, kick in the legs makes my DH roll over.... I have had a few stabbing pains ?down there? I?ve put it down to ligaments. It takes my breath away, and I have to stop what I?m doing. People always look at me like I?m about to give birth any minute!

June - Glad you found a dress to wear to the wedding. I am finding that there are fewer and fewer things I can fit into / feel comfortable in. I?m down to one pair of jeans now...

LittleSarah - hope you enjoy your DD?s birthday party!

bunny mother - Glad the move went well. Good luck with the unpacking. Hope you manage to do all the touristy things you want to

MrsMcJnr - I hope the move goes okay. Glad that you got to see your little DD again, and that all is well.

Daisy - Sorry to hear about your shite sleep . I?ve just come through a bout of insomnia. It sucks doesn?t it? I hope you manage to get a better night?s sleep tonight. I also hate the fact that I don?t fit into any clothes any more.... This end of pregnancy is miserable sometimes isn?t it? Hope you feel better soon xx

Well enjoy your days everyone xx

Hello ladies,

Sorry to hear some of us Juners are still struggling with sleep... No skin issues on this front but my back has been acting up so not completely hassle-free...

Bunny, so glad for you! You're at your new home! Take your time with the unpacking, you've got some time in your hands still. I sent happy thoughts your way this wkend when I remembered Friday was moving day...

MrsMc, congrats on the buggy and on the moving being under way! I laughed really hard when you mentioned the pic of your LO's genitalia... My oh my... Glad to hear she's perfect and that the scan went well.

Choccie, glad to hear your pelvic pain is not that bad these days. Oh, and that the dizziness/fainting spells haven't come back (same with you, Laura).

June, your dress sounds lovely, I love that style (pg or not haha). Hope you find shoes you like and that are comfy as well.

Tee, I've felt those pains before... they made me jump... Pat on the back for you, lady!

Daisy, hope the eczema gets better... can you manage to take a small nap today? So as to offset the lack of sleep last night? Hope your DH feels better soon (and that his mood improves as well haha)

Ineed, yay on finishing the nursery today! You'll be so proud once you see it all done!

I'm sure I'm forgetting Juners but Monday was a very very bad day and yesterday I was feeling so sorry for myself I couldn't even post here.

Monday a bombshell fell at the Argie's home in the afternoon. My mum called asking me very very nicely and warmly to "let" her come and be with us in June. She said she wanted to be here, to help us, to see the LO. I was shocked, both at the warm attitude and at the fact that I didn't know what to do... So I told her how the situation would be (with the move, the birth, the trip to London to register the LO and get her passport and then process our visas all happening in just a few weeks) and that our house would not be as clean and tidy as she likes things to be. She said she didn't mind, that she didn't come to visit and relax, she was coming to help. God knows if I'm making a mistake or not but I of course welcomed her to our home.

A few hours later, DH comes home, we're about to make dinner together and his dad calls through skype... His sister (who was there) tells us she's going to be in Europe in June and that she'd like to come to see her niece. DH says "sure, of course!" and, ladies, I don't know if I was right or not, reasonable or unreasonable, but suddenly I felt invaded and that all my "plans" for the birth of our baby were disappearing.

She knows my mum will be here and she won't be coming for many days, but anyway, I just felt broken. The call ended and of course an argument arose, which then became a huge row... DH felt the problem was with me not wanting his sister to come and I was trying to explain it was just a question of timing... awful row, I can't remember when I last cried so much, as he said some pretty nasty things... I just stopped crying because I really started to think I was hurting LO.

I woke up with my eyes looking as if someone had punched me in both eyes... the sting, God! So, a very very blue day (and the longest ever) for me yesterday, but well, DH came home, we talked, he apologised and acknowledged what my worries were, that he had felt attacked (with no reason really) and at that moment he talked to his sis through skype and told her to plan her trip not with us in the "centre" of it, because we didn't know when or for how long we'd be able to see her, etc...

I'm just trying to focus now on other things and not think about anything at all re. this issue...

I'm so sorry for the "novela" I just wrote... have a lovely day, ladies! (waves to all!!)

Naat - SO sorry to hear about family pressures. It's so hard negotiating the minefield that a new baby brings, especially when it's the first one and you don't know what to expect.

You must make sure that you and the LO are the main priority, as you are doing. It's bloody stressful and knackering as it is, without the emotional pressures from your family.

I'm glad that you and DH have talked through your argument. It's so horrible arguing anyway, let alone when you are feeling emotional anyway.

I'd put off all visitors in June and get people to stay in hotels (or other family) if you can.

Hope you have a nicer day today. Go and pamper yourself or, failing that, eat chocolate. It always works for me......

Much love and hugs xx

naat I am so sorry your family is being difficult. I have not yet heard from my In Laws in terms of what they think they will be doing when baby comes, although they know my mum will be coming about 2 weeks after the birth. They also know my mum gets priority on our spare room, since she and Step Dad come from the US!

Glad you and your DH worked things out!

As for me, I'm tired, I ache everywhere and my tummy is upset. I am planning on doing very little actual work this morning and lots and lots of web surfing! So glad my desk is with my back to a wall, no one can see what I am up to!!

naat so sorry to hear about your family probalems at the moment, although it's nice to hear that your mum was offing support for you DH and LO in June but be a relief for you
Shame you and DH started arguing asd ineed said there's nothing worse than arguing when your already a mountain of emotions. Glad you and DH got everything sorted and I hope you have a better day today than you've had over the past couple

tee congrats and pat on the back for reaching your toes, must be a proud achievement

Well DH decided to put up the crib (you know the second hand one off my brother) but there is a problem with it the support beam which goes between the two legs has been worn away so much that the screws wont tighten and it makes the crib very unsupportive, not one that I would put a baby in. So everything my bro and SIL gave me (second hand crib and silver cross ventura seat) cost me £50 but as car seat doesn't fit frame SIL asked for it back without giving me any of my money back and now the crib wont go up so I have now given them £50 for nothing so now I'll need to find another £65 and buy it brand new from mothercare just not fair! Anyhoo hopefully thats my moaning done for today apart from my skin around my face is still very bad and now very flaky nothing I use makes it better

Oh dear Naat, trapped in a pincer movement of female relatives! I'm sure they're well-meaning and DH's sis in particular will understand that there are no guarantees with babies so she can't count on being there x number of days on any particular date. Hope you get it sorted and don't feel so bad today xx

Bunnymother congrats on the move, hope you'll be v happy in your new family home!

MrsMcJr a pic of your LO's genitals, how lovely! . Is it a Spanish thing, do you think, or was it just that sonographer? Glad the scan went well and that you got a good look anyway...

Tee aargh, toenails, must sort them, and indeed my feet generally, before it's impossible. I already have to fasten shoes by bending my knees up to the sides - very elegant it looks. Well done for doing yours.

Daisy I have chronic eczema - actually it's a bit better during pregnancy - and every doc I've spoken to agrees that if it's bad and very uncomfortable it's important to blitz it before it gets more sore and infected. So I've always used strong topical steroid ointments whenever a patch comes up whether or not I'm pregnant - this 'blitzes' it in 2-3 days maximum. Docs say that the v strong stuff can possibly be absorbed into deep tissue and cross the placenta but steroids are not harmful to the baby anyway (they are sometimes administered pre-natally to help with foetal lung development) and if you're talking a small amount over a couple of days there is no problem. More important to deal swiftly with your discomfort than to hold off treatment 'just in case' - a case that's never been reported.
The rest of the time I do all the preventative moisturising etc but sometimes only the strong stuff will do...

Gorgeous day here. We're off to the park to play Wacky Races - forgot to take the football yesterday and invented all sorts of mad crawling, hopping, jumping and skipping races which had DC in fits and burnt off loads of energy. Have good days all

lauraloo, x-posted. Your bro and SIL didn't GIVE you anything, you paid money and they must give it back. This instant! Some people!

Choccie - Sorry to hear about the difficult budget, just what you need eh?

Ineed - Well done on getting your nursery sorted!

Daisy - Lack of sleep and exzema! What a nightmare. I was in the shopping centre yesterday and so wanted to get some summery bits but not in pregnancy size!

Hi girls and bumps! How fast things move!
Big waves from Sydney
Sorry about the very irregular postings, tis a little crazy - got married a few weeks ago on a glorious Sydney day and have been entertaining guests and family from the UK since! Tonight we have packed them off for a night so a chance to start MN catch up!

Feel very disorganised here, no nursery here- we have bought a babygro and that is it!. Move out of our flat 2 weeks post baby and then travel around Australia before moving back to the UK in July.

My DH has taken charge of pram shopping- probably a Phil and Ted's- any thoughts?

My preference is looking for baby slings- the hug-a-bub and ergo favourites -again any opinions?Would love something that is easy to don/doff and can breastfeed in.

Hope everyone is doing well. Happy easter. Eating lots of chocolate- my dad bought the bump eggs today, so of course i will have to eat them

snowwombat nice to hear from you again and congrats on your wedding I hope everything was lovely and went well!

Naat - Poor you! I hate arguing, I'm glad you've managed to sort things out, I'm sure everything will be lovely come June.

Laura - That is cheeky of SIL making you pay for something and then giving you nothing back! Sorry about the crib, at least you know sooner rather than later!

Newsflash!!!

Mamas and Papas is having a buy one Dreampod, get one half price sale!!!

I'm on my way there this weekend.

Hello Snowwombat You have been a busy bee.Sounds like you have been having a blast.You still have plenty of time to get organised for your new arrival so don't worry. Hope you are feeling well.

Daisy and ermintrude - I also have eczema on my hands. Never had it before. just during this pregy.

Naat - Hope you are feeling a bit better today. So sorry to hear about the family pressure you have been getting. It is so hard when a baby is involved as everyone wants to help, visit etc at a time when you need your rest and bonding time. Glad that you sorted out things with your DH and hope everything works out ok for you.

Laura - . Can't believe your ils took £50 from you in the 1st place.Normaly people are very happy to pass on baby things. It makes them feel good that it is being used and also gets it out of their way!
I would give the crib back and ask for the cash back. Go buy yourself a moses basket and sort out anything else you need. I was given a cot for DS2 that we had to tape together to make it secure. I was never 100% happy about it and was glad to see the back of it.Would never pass something like that onto someone else.It's just not safe.

Good Luck with the move Mrsmc.Exciting times.

I am also not fitting into many clothes anymore and don;t want to be spending money on anything this close to the end.30 weeks today .

Hello to everyone that I have missed. Have a great day.

Thanks for the sweet messages, Juners, you're all a great support.

Laura, I'm with Choccie on this one, shocked at the fact that they gave you something that was not 100% safe and on top of that, they charged you. You had to give the car seat back and they didn't offer to give back the money... you should talk to them now telling them about the crib and get DH to stand up for you both and ask for the money back

Snow, congratulations on your wedding! Sounds like a dream day in sunny Sydney.

Ermin, enjoy your day with DC under the sun!

Right, back to dissertation work...

laura, I agree with choccie and others that it's just not on for relatives to charge cash for baby stuff unless, possibly, they're very badly-off and it's in really mint condition and therefore a bargain for you (and assuming they'll never want it again unless they buy it back off you!). The cot, sling, highchair and carseat plus loads of toys and clothes that we bought for our DC 10 yrs ago has already done for 3 nieces and is now coming back our way along with my sisters' mat clothes, additional baby clothes, thermamed pillow, crib and moses basket etc. It's really nice to be able to share all this stuff and see it well-used and no way would any of us dream of charging for it; we all benefit from sharing. Your bro's kit was not even in saleable condition. Am completely and rather for you. Grrrr.

snowwombat congrats on the wedding. Don't know those slings so can't advise but am sure someone else will be able to. You've plenty of time to add to that babygro

thanks everyone for your views on the situation with brother and SIL. DH is going to have another look at the crib tonight but looks like i'm going to be out another £65 for a new one!

mrsmcj hope moving goes well, friend of mine had picky of her lo?s genitalia, she really wanted a girl and when found out it was a boy asked for a picture of his will just so she could get her head round having a boy

naat sorry to hear bout family pressures, we?re on number 3 and I?m finding it hard to plan anything as you really don?t know what to expect and how you will feel. It is lovely that you were able to tell your mum how you thought everything would be and how she is willing to help, I?m glad you and dh got things sorted, it really is a turbulent and emotional time, we?ve had same issues with my not wanting ds?s to go and stay with my in-laws when I?m in labour, dh has taken it as a personal criticism of his parents ability to look after the boys but I just know they are more settled at my parents and I?ll be able to relax and I know really he isn?t fussed either way really but now has his knickers in twist and refuses to talk about it ? I just hope the IL?s understand?

bunnymother congrats on the move perfect time to start nesting

laura glad you put cot together sooner rather than later! and agree v cheeky of bro and SIL to not give you money back, I?d return cot to them and hope they see sense and give you money back ? I feel v awkward having those type of conversations, do you think they?ll offer? Or are you close enough to your bro to ask? also what about local as new sale or paper for a cot? I guess you'd budgeted for a matress anyway?

choccie I also have nothing to wear! Trying to see if I can borrow stuff from other mums, I spoke to photographer the other day and he said bring a selection of clothes and underwear with you I don?t think my one greying bra and granny pants is what he had in mind! Not sure how forgiving black and white photography can be so might have to just get something a little more respectable!

snowwombat we have a phil and teds and its great, I?d really recommend it, very easy to push and ds?s like it, I love the cocoon to when they are tiny, so snug (although ds2 was a winter baby) main probs are it is heavy (steel frame) and doesn?t fold very small (you can take wheels off but it is a pain) we have buggy board and mcclaren now the boys are older for day trips away. Congrats on wedding

tee those sleep bags look lovely but v expensive, well done on doing your toes, I?ve been getting dh to do mine and must get my bikini done, although I keep forgetting as I can?t see it anymore out of sight out of mind

afternoon all

Congrats on the move bunny! Good luck with yours MrsMcJnr! Naat hope you find somewhere nice soon!

Snowwmbat, good to hear the wedding went well, hope the relocation is all going to plan! A friend of mine has the P&Ts, it's lovely to push, just remember to keep the wheels well pumped up, you'd be surprised what a difference it makes!

Naat, bet you had to pick yourself of the floor after the call from your mum I hope she sticks to her word and proves more of a help than a hindrance! Glad you sorted things with your dh, it's such an emotional time for us all.

MrsMcJnr, I think there are limitless possiblities for that scan pic, not just her 18th Just think of the bribery potential

laura, hope you get things sorted with your family and get the crib fixed!

Tee, congrats on reaching those toes

Ikea have started doing the baby sleeping bags now, they look quite nice!

Well I finally got to see the gd midwife yesterday [shock horror!] albeit at the wrong clinic [totally given up on antenatal clinic now] so I have to keep a diary of my blood glucose for 2 weeks and then go back to the right clinic! At least I'm ok with needles, just finding it hard to remember when I've eaten, I don't always look at the clock!

Meant to add, sweetbroody, haven't heard from you for a while, hope all's well and your bp is behaving