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

[Ineedmorechocolatenow]

Here it is!

LittleSarah lots of those celeb endorsements, footballers reading to kids etc. were used as posters and in leaflets by booktrust - who do the Books for Babies giveaway - and as part of the National Year of Reading last year. Surestart have a programme to encourage parents whose own literacy isn't strong to read to their kids which might have interesting stuff too.

June are you in a very birth centre-rich area?! Make sure you don't decide the best one is 10 miles away or you'll give birth in the car .
Hope you manage to squeeze in a night away somewhere.

Insy, they will be in tents at night, they have those big industrial strength ones, although I think there is the option of a dorm if it's really bad!

tee, 1 advantage of having spd, support belt also keeps trousers up Good excuse for eating chocolate though for consolation!

june, glad your appointment went well, hope you feel better soon.

littlesarah, an eventful bus ride! Imagine the slebs reading their own biogs to their kids Are you aware of bookstart and the work they do? Sounds a good project to be working on

Thanks guys, I've been looking at the book trust stuff so I can compare and contrast, will need to study in more detail. Found another campaign with James Patterson about encouraging dads to read to kids which is interesting too.

Oh ho ho, just looking at booktrust website and they are doing bedtime reading campaign at the mo!! Lol, well that is fine, you're supposed to compare to similar/other campaigns and say why yours is better and so on so it is all material for me.

Also I know celeb endorsements are often done but they are a huge part of most campaigns now, I'm trying to think of using them in different ways, ie, not just a footballer reading to a kid.

Hello ladies!

First of all, Looouise I'm so so sorry about your friend passing away. As choccie said, cancer is a terrible disease, and when it hits someone so young with a whole life ahead of them, it breaks your heart even more. I'm glad you have a support network near you, as June said, tell your MW/GP about it.

Looooooooooooooong day for me. I left at 7.55 as I had an interpreting assignment at Manchester Justice Centre and just came back home at 5pm!! Naat is tired

I did some catch up just now and I'm very about the new car Insy! We went to a car auction yesterday and actually got a 5-door one, but it's not new at all haha, it's a 98 ford escort, but well, it was 175 pounds, ladies, not bad for our first "big" car.

Bigcar fingers crossed for good weather for your DS's camping trip! It's always better if there's a bit of sun

Laura I'm glad the cot is OK in the end. I keep thinking they should give you at least some money back for the car seat you couldn't use, though

littleS your project sounds great! Good bus ride you had there, huh? DH works in marketing and when reading your post it was like listening to him hahaha

tee totally agree on the venting session! Although the trousers in my case are my fault and mine only as I bought them too big (I really thought I was going to put on more weight) and they're still big so they keep dropping Hope you found the right easter egg!!

Ineed yay on your maternity pay!!! That's such a relief, I imagine

MrsMc thinking of you now! Good luck with the packing/moving. When are you moving exaclty?

if I'm forgetting something...

Waves!!!!

cannot keep up with you all we moved house last friday and ds1 is up at 6 every morning...dh is working 6/7, leaving at 7.45am returning midnight, really miss him.
and its getting hotter and hotter here- a few degrees everyday, will be 50 degrees by june apparently. oh joy

have read in horror the hospital bag packing and did think blimey that hadn;t even crossed my mind. still, i like lists so will start some! have no idea what to wear after the birth, except pyjamas were terrible as had cs and couldn;t bend. nighties wasn;tbig enough and i wanted to be naked to bf ended up in dh rugby shirt. what do you plan to wear???/

the hospital here gulped a bit at my birth plan REV 1 and agreed in the end to put an incubator in the recovery room and not whisk baby off to nursery. have also arranged to borrow dog lead and collar to attach cot to my bed should i fall asleep and some interfering meaning well nurse moves baby to nursery.

still would like to try normal labour but ds1 was 4.76kg (10lb11oz) so "not advised" did have cs last time, but not for baby size.

have not yet had diabetes test thing, think they have forgotten tbh. will check with doc aat weekend when we go.

Hey Blue Is that 50 degrees Celcius? Blimey, where are you?

Tee, lol @ your venting I miraculously found 1 pair of jeans that hold, a little bit too long though but nevermind.
I bought another pair which is just completely rubbish, they keep dropping so much I simply can't wear them.

naat I keep meaning to say that I'm very at you being an interpreter, I did a degree in English and various other languages in the hope I would do some kind of translation/interpretation, hopefully with politicians or humanitarians or something like that. Took a year out after 2 years to come to England and met DH, started our own company and never went back to translating (other than helping my cousins with their english homework )

Hey June!

Where are you from? I thought Bunny and I were the only aliens here With what languages did you work?

Let me know if you want to "re-enter" the world of translation and interpreting and I'll help! It's an interesting market, and the job can be really rewarding, esp. when you work with humanitarian causes, refugee centres, etc. I was at the UN last year in a two-month internship, which was absolutely brilliant, and I hope in a couple of years I can sit the test and get in! I have two friends from Uni already working for them, one in Geneva and one in NY.

Anyway, just let me know if you are interested in going back! (Let's hope our June LOs allow us to go back to work quickly, huh? )

Wait, I'm from the US, doesn't that make me an alien?

Naat - Oooh the UN! Fab!

Good trip to Ikea, cot and sleeping bag and some other bits purchased! Also got loads of food for dd's birthday party... plus I'll be making two cakes this weekend, one tomorrow (princess dress) and another on Sunday morning, Easter cake for lunch at my ma's, I shall be all baked out.

oh, Tee! You're right!!!

LittleS yay on your shopping trip to IKEA. Good luck with the baking Yummy!!! (note to self, start baking again )

blueberrysorbet lol @ the dog-collar! Good thought! My sis was remembering her awful experiences in Lewisham hospital - blood (not hers) all over the bathroom floor, DH sent away as soon as he'd brought her case up to the ward, mean midwife being horrible to her etc etc) and the worse thing for her was not feeling able to leave the babe for a moment, even to have a wee or get some breakfast, in case somebody swiped it. Nobody was keeping an eye on the babies. She had her 2nd LO at home, but in case she has another in hosp I'll mention the dog lead idea...

I gave birth to DD naked in a pool and wore an old tee-shirt for DS home birth. Changed into loose cotton nightie my mum had bought me which looked a bit Victorian but had handy buttons - can you find something like that? If you haven't had a C/S pjs are fine for breastfeeding, you just lift up the top. BTW, anyone worried about lobbing them out in public - pop a muslin square over your shoulder and protect your modesty. Muslin squares are brilliant for protecting clothing from baby sick, wiping stuff up, as comfort blankets for babies and as a breastfeeding accessory - I've got loads!

Tee the only jeans that stay up for me are ones which go over the bump and are fixed above it - not just a stretchy band. I've some old Blooming Marvellous ones and some H&M ones my sis lent me and they're the only ones which stay up. The elastic does leave a mark around the top of my bump but it's a price worth paying.

Naat and June are your LOs going to be bilingual from the beginning then? Lucky babies.

naat - I'm an alien too. From the colonies . Thought of you on Wed when I went to a Parentcraft class. Wasn't sure I needed to go as went to NCT last time, but actually rather enjoyed it. They talked about juggling relatives' visits and being firm and I thought of you and looouise. When a friend of mine had two young ones, she was very clear from the outset when people come to stay about expectations and what hospitality is being offered (in a nice way) and although it sometimes seems a little blunt at least everyones knows what is going on. Crucial cleaning, ironing and occasional cooking go such a long way to making it easier in the beginning.

laura - I am horrified by your SIL. She is clearly assertive so I would reciprocate with equal assertiveness. You don't seem that keen on the cot even though it is now up. Why not take it back looking upset and say 'it isn't really quite what I was hoping for. Actually, if I use the £50 I spent on it and just add another £50 I could get something I really like. I'm sure someone else will find it really useful'.

littlesarah - how did the princess cake turn out totally with you on the 'in over my head' feeling. How I am going to manage a toddler and a baby I have no idea. Am praying for lots of sunshine so we can spend time outside.

mrsmcjnr - be careful with moving things. I did my back in gardening and it took 10 days before I could go back out again. Look after yourself, although it is so frustrating when you just want to do stuff and not feel like an invalid.

looouise - I'm so sorry to hear about your friend. She sounds a lovely person and it must be heartbreaking for you all. This planet needs all the angels it can get.

tee - with you on the venting.

Went to the midwife and she said the head is in a great position and already low in the pelvis. So that's nice news. She showed me how to feel the head and so this evening when I went to bed I sang to my son and stroked his cheek . I hope he liked it. I worried about being too firm. I don't want to hurt him. Next time I go to the midwife I will be 35weeks. Now it's beginning to feel like I am getting somewhere!

Better go back to bed and see if I can get any more sleep.

Good morning!

GRRR I am so frustrated! So, as I said, my OB said I was anaemic. GP redid the test. No, I'm not. I feel fine. So maybe I was and then it corrected itself?!?

I see OB on 21st, I'll speak to her then about it.

I really wish the NHS would get is act together about testing and 'scripts and such when you have more than one doctor!

I have time to talk today and no one is around!! Whine Whinge Whine!!

Poor you Tee - what a PITA!

It's raining here and DS has cabin-fever. DH is pottering about finishing jobs that need doing before this one arrives.... I'm helping by sitting on my arse and browsing the net!!

Hope you are all well xx

Sorry Tee, we're doing horrible house cleaning and laundry before going on hols so have no time to play . I tell you, cleaning bathrooms makes my LO move about so much, I'll definitely be doing lots of it around due date. But not much before then; it's soooo boring.

Thank you for all your lovely messages, ladies, it really does help. I appreciate it enormously. I have a weekend of distractions planned as it's my baby brother's 18th and babyfather is coming to Yorks with me to hang out with my family.

I want to tell him that I've made my mind up on names (he's always said it was my call, though I have always consulted him and have given him the power of veto, which he used on Electra and erm, Cleopatra). He says he can live with my boy choice (Rueben Angelo) but that he finds it "a little bourgeois" (which is rich from somebody who works for the EU Commission ). For a girl I would like to honour my darling friend by giving her Ellie as a middle name. But my girl name is Alicia and I can't help thinking Ellie Alicia scans better than Alicia Ellie.
What do you think? It is too confusing to be known by one's middle name? I think it was quite common in the 60s, as my mum and her sister are, eg mum is Susanne Pamela, but always known as Pam.

Daisy, love the idea of you stroking your dear son's cheek, how gorgeous. My MW told me the baby was presented, let's hope it stays that way! I am going to heed your advice on visiting - my bf had baby boy 2 weeks ago, and she feeds for an hour every 3 hours, so I guess there's a clear enough demarcation for us. Naat, we will have to make a pact!!

June if you ever fancy translating any UN docs then let me know, the org I work for translates all our docs on the Treaty we're working on in French and Spanish. It probably wouldn't be a good rate, but could give you sth to put on your CV.

Lauraloo and for you re SIL crib. TAKE IT BACK and get your £50 back!!!

Hope it's not raining everywhere like it is here in East London...horrid.

Happy Easter everybody !

loooouise I like the name both ways. Or known by middle name is fine too!
Yeah, that was helpful tee!!

loooouise I like the name Alicia very pretty and Reuben is nice too

well today i took my two nephews to buy football boots and it was a nightmare. My oldest nephew deicded to kid on he was kicking a ball off flew the boot half way across the shop and the studs of the boot hit a man in the back
Also just finished packing my hospital bag so all i have to do when i finish work on tuesday is make sure the house is gleeming for baby arriving. Also stocked up on Raspberry Leaf Tea so only 2 weeks until i can start taking small amounts daily Can't believe we are now entering the "final countdown".

Currently sitting down and watching the best comedy duo Morcombe and Wise can't stop laughing and baby must be enjoying it she hasn't stopped kicking since i sat down

Actually Tee, you were helpful, Alicia Ellie sounds fine now I've written it out again. So maybe I'll just have it like that.

Still absolutely convinced it's a boy though...although I'd better learn to spell Reuben properly (bloody hell, how embarrassing, sorry son).

My sister has managed to totally piss me off (not a rare occurrence - we have a very complicated, strained relationship).

Bit of background needed here.....

I've had the same girl's name for both pregnancies, and I know the chances are that we are having a boy (from scan). My sister is 6 weeks behind me in her second pregnancy (a girl) and has announced to the world via her Facebook status that she is going to call her DD the same name as I had chosen .

Now I know that I don't have ownership of the damn name, but she knew that was the name I loved, and that it was the only name we were going to have for a girl. I've waffled on and on about it.

The fact is that there has been no phone call or anything. I know she probably doesn't think it's a big deal as the chances are from the scan that this is another boy. It's just another example of her being insensitive and thoughtless. The fact that she announced it in her status rather than have a face-to-face or phone conversation with me about it is typical of her. 'I know, I'll just do it through Facebook and at least she'll know then and I can avoid an awkward conversation.' The thing that makes it more awkward is that loads of mutual friends know that it was / is the name I'd chosen, and they're all on Facebook too.

DH has banned me from phoning her or my mum, so I rang my brother instead. He's managed to calm me down and now I'm venting on here. Sorry ladies....

It does feel a bit petty now I've written it all down especially as some of you are dealing with much bigger / traumatic things at the moment.

Feel free to ignore this post.....

june2009, i live in the middle east, so yes its getting hotter day by day. am hoping to get the baby's birth cert and passport sorted out within 2 months and then we can fly back to the uk- dh will have to stay though. depends if i feel keen yto fly and manage a bf baby and a 2.4 yr old possibly not!
little sarah, i also have no idea how i am to manage a bf baby and a toddler. dh will have 1 week off and i will be in hospital for 4 days of that (hopefully not more) with the cs. will have to wait for him to get home at night so he can carry baby and moses basket upstairs for a start! or just get another basket. vision of climbing stairs with ds1 clutching wound with baby over shoulder etc etc.

feel very as you all seem so organised and i just feel v overwhelemed. went to party during day today and was surrounded by glam women who all ignored me. slunk off after 10 mins tbh - there was also no drink available 'cept champagne and i don;t drink during prgncy/ driving/ responsible for toddler.

blueberry I am not organized at all! There are various bits of baby goods all over the flat. Piled on the kitchen table, shoved into bags in the baby's room. I think there's even some under my bed!! And as for a hospital bag? Haven't even thought about it yet!

Knowing me I will wait until I am off on leave in 5 weeks, when I have lots of time.

Ineed I would be furious! That's just cheek is what that is. And what did we say about not apologizing, ? You are entitled to your feelings no matter what anyone else in the world is going through!

Hello ladies!

Tee, at what you're getting from the NHS these days... why don't they have all the information in a single place for all of them to see??? Aren't they supposed to have that anyway??? Grrrr

Ineed, I agree with Tee, there's no apologising here for venting, expressing feelings... I'm so sorry your sister has done this to you, and in this way... It really sounds quite immature (to be publishing on FB instead of at least talking to you) and not at all OK, esp. as she knew that was the name you had chosen. (((hugs)))

Blueberry, wow, that's hot!! I've not organised everything either... I seem to have everything here, but the bags still need doing Sorry about that party, the ladies don't sound nice at all!!

Loouise, I'm with you on the pact! And I think the names you've chosen sound lovely. It's also sweet of you to allow the babyfather to have some imput there. I hope you have a great wkend with your family up here (The weather is as awful as over there, unfortunately)

Ermin, ohhh cleaning... DH does most of it these days, as my back acts up as soon as I do a little... I haven't cleaned the bathroom since getting pg He's been in charge hahaha. Have great hols!!! Enjoy!!!

Daisy, so that makes us four aliens!!! Glad your parentcraft class was good, they seem to give you good advice Your comment about stroking your baby's face was super sweet

Over here, bank holiday just in theory! We started our day quite early by going to Mamas and Papas to pick up a car seat I had paid yesterday. It was a reduced one so I saved 35 pounds on it . Off to Tesco afterwards and then back home to show our old car to a girl who had called in the morning. She came and bought the car! We were so surprised as we only published it last night!!! Anyway, DH called the insurance company arrange everything... ufff it was 3pm by then! We tried the car seat in the new car and DH was so tired by the time he managed to do it all that we decided to buy a base for it so as not to have to do so much every time we use it once the baby arrives... off to M&P again to get one, and there was a reduced one as well instead of 70 we paid 25!!

Good bargains but long day here. Anyway, I hope all the Juners that went away for Easter are having a wonderful time! And those of us who stayed, well, let's rest, nest, and of course, squeeeeeeze