Due in September 2009: we are now officially blooming!

[StealthPolarBear]

Even if it doesn't seem like it most of the time

Hello Weddingtigger

I've got a maternity bra that came from Figleaves, which seems fine, but I had to figure out the size myself. If I could be bothered with the wait I'd go to Bravissimo to get fitted.

Thusnelda I agree entirely about children's clothes. I can't bear pink or baby blue tbh (apologies to those that do go for it) - each to their own), but I do have my eye on a very cute dress pattern that really wouldn't be right on a boy.

Ah go on, you know the Victorians didn't mind dressing boys in dresses!

Afternoon all, and welcome to the newbies.

Great info on buggies - thank you everyone.

I am now eating like a horse - yesterday had a pain au chocolat and a banana for breakfast, lamb, dauphinoise potoatos, and tons of veg for lunch, couple of biscuits and a banana muffin as afternoon snacks, some carrots with dip and a box of raspberries as pre dinner snacks, and then a large portion of stew with a huge jacket potato and brocolli for supper. First day the hunger has really hit - been ok up until now. If it continues like this I will be the size of a house in 22 weeks times.

oo - 22 weeks - that's not long! 2 weeks tomorrow is my 20 week scan. Can't wait.

Also - is anyone else an emotional mess. I am crying at anything. I was watching that "All the small things" on BBC1 last night, and blubbed my way through the whole thing. A charity flyer for disabled kids arrived at work, and that set me off - the office think I'm mad!

LizLemon - my best friend and I went shopping last weekend, and she couldn't resist buying the cutest little dress for the baby - we thought if it's a boy it will just be it's first cross dressing experience!

Almost time for the easter weekend

Wow Snowfalls, thats brilliant, am so ! still feel oddly queasy and find a bowl of cereal fills me up really hope bubs is still getting all it needs otherwise it will be the worlds youngest dieter!

Oh maybe I will then

I cry pretty much every day, at something or other. I cried at 'The Day After Tomorrow' the other night, when the father decides he has to trek through the snow to get to his son. DH thinks I'm hilarious.

Forgot to say - the only thing that really makes me well up is an advert, I think its for Lloyds TSB, where the man is given two sets of boy twins, then the MW puts his little girl in his arms and she holds his nose and smiles....sniff...

I've just broken down in tears in the fracture clinic cos dp has had to have another cast put on his arm. He's had one on for the past 4 weeks, needs this new one on for another 4 weeks, with the risk of needing an operation if the bone doesn't heal. Working 30 hrs a week, looking after 2 children, coming home to housework, dinner, washing dishes and then having to bath dp is taking its toll on my emotions.
Sorry for moaning, but dp couldn't understand why I got so upset

ah Blue thats tough, moan as much as you like you must be so tired x x

that's really tough blue, hope you can get some help somehow or other. xx

hi ladies - do you still remember me?!

feels like i havnt posted for so long!! things have been manic here and i justseem to be getting deeper and deeper into housework, washing and paperwork - is there a light at the end of the tunnel?!

how is everyone? well i hope - ds has had this vomiting bug for the past 5 days but i seem to be the only one he has not passed it onto at the moment.

9 days til sexing scan

love to all x

Aw Blue - that's a proper reason to be upset. You poor love.

Aw blue - bless you!!! I would have cried too! You've really got your hands full
sod the housework - get fish & chips for tea, no dishes to wash and tell dh go without for one night - then put your feet up with and glass of wine!!

bigbang - train is for boy and galloping horses is a girl!! Listen closely!!

TPT update - still only 7 3/4 but I think its just getting higher cos I've got a very definate bump now!! Which is lush but when people say "oooo when you due" and I say "erm, end of sept", they're like - "oh, not twins is it!!!??" - thanks!!!!

Also a big hello to WeddingTigger

and just to let you know I too will cry at ANYTHING!! I'm pretty emotional normally anyway but when pregnant I'll cry at adverts, sad stories, the RSPCA and WWF adverts on the telly - woah- I've got to change channel!!

Oh dear blue Hope you're not offended but I did have a little chuckle at the end of your post when I realised that you weren't in tears cos of worry about your dp but because of the extra workload I do totally understand how you must be feeling though

Thusnelda - agree with you about the blue/pink thing. Even when I knew I was having a boy I still went for neutral colours (lemon, green, orange etc.)and his room was aqua and lemon. Ds had lots of striped or animal outfits, not one tractor I also dislike a lot of the Next stuff because they have their logo emblazoned across the front or strange looking dogs that are not in the least bit cute

Am in awe of those of you who are good at making stuff. It is something I'd like to learn. I can't even knit or crochet. It's a shame we've stopped teaching young people these skills.

I am getting inpatient now to find out the sex of this lo. I'm a bit sceptical of this train/horses theory (was that an april fool joke?). I'm much more emotional than I was in my pg with ds and spotty. Also have bad heartburn. No food cravings as yet. My scan isn't til I'm 22 weeks (5 more weeks to go).

Glad your scan went well theticklistqueen . Sorry about the GD though

TPT - 8 and a quarter. Was 8 two weeks ago - didn't check last week.

Hi ladylush - it was me who mentioned the whole trains/horses thing originally but its not an april fool - just an old wives tale but my midwife say's it mostly turns out true from her experience - she says it's the only 'old wives tale' she believes! (she's an old pro too)
......and it was true for my dd but then it is 50/50 at the end of the day!

i can't wait to find out at my next scan in 2 weeks time! i reckon the heartbeat sounded like horses (if anything), but i still have this vague hint that i might get another boy. we'll see!

DP doesn't want to find out officially - he wants a surprise again! I'm happy either way but I did quite fancy finding out with this one - nevermind, all the guess work is fun I suppose!! - have to see if I can spot a little winky at the 20weeks scan hee hee

Fairy - lol at looking for the winky Yeah that's what I was thinking of doing. Think dh wants a surprise this time. Personally I've had loads of surprises over the past year and the novelty has worn off (bad surprises) I don't think this baby's hb sounds like a train or a horse. Maybe my sound detectors are off-key though

A few of us have gone missing from the thread. Hope all is ok.

Re maternity leave - what are people planning to do? I don't know if we can afford for me to take a year off, but I defo want to go back part-time - 3 or 4 days. Anyone giving up work?

Hi Ladylush,

ah maternity leave. So complicated.
I'm taking 4 months off, and then going to do 2 days a week flexi time based at home, with the aim of when DC is 9 - 10 months old I'll then do one day a week in the office.
Do people reckon that sounds workable?

DH put a spanner in the works the other day (after all was agreed) by saying that he's not sure he wants DC going into childcare so young. But I think we'll stick with plan for now and see how it goes.

Snowfalls - that arrangement sounds perfect, though I guess you will be tired working from home when lo is 4 months old. As far as nursery/childcare is concerned 9-10 months doesn't sound too young. Ds went to nursery 3 days a week at 7 and a half months and he adjusted really well (I heard it can be harder for babies aged 1yr + to adjust-not sure how reliable that info is). Of course, it depends on your child. Ds has always been very sociable so that helped a lot.

I will be taking at least 6 months off, but the logistics of going back then and having to organise childcare for a six yr old and a nine month old in the summer holidays fills me with dread. I'd rather be looking after them myself. I suppose if I'm doing a 3 day week it is not quite so bad, but I then get less annual leave. Aaaagggghhhh - why am I doing this to myself

My dd started nursery when she was 1 i was too much of a wimp to send her earlier as she seemed so small and dependant, she did settle fine however i have also heard that they settle better the younger they start.

Im quite lucky as because i only work 2 days a week now and not in a highly paid job my maternity pay will be almost equivilant to my salary for the full 9 months and any shortfall should hopefully be made up by child benefit and tax credits.

I also get paid 4 weekly rather than monthly so i get two wages in july, so the plan is to get my 9 months paid leave then use the extra wage to take another month off then a months worth of holiday partly accrued from this year and partly next so ill have 11 months paid and possibly take a month unpaid or just go back see how i feel about our bubble going to nursery and ill be going back 2 days as i work now or possibly an extra day

Hi all! Welcome to WT

Congrats Ticklist on the pink bean

I really have no idea this time as to whether its a boy or girl. I had feeling that dc1 was a boy and was convinced that dc2 was a girl only because i felt so rough. This time has been a complete mixture.... only 19days to wait

When i had ds i took the full 6mths off (4wks off before he was born) and he was in nursery at 5.5mths. With dd i took the full 9mths and she went to nursery at 9mths ( she was early). They are both very sociable children, happy to be left with pretty much anyone and slightly more advanced than some of their friends who stay at home. I think its only the parents who suffer to be honest. What kid wouldnt want to be surrounded by others of their own age, constant entertainment and attention etc etc etc

Hello - I'm new to all this and have been lurking for a while, but am getting a lumpy tum, so it must be real enough for me to join you now. It's great reading the experiences of other people going through the same stages.

Got my 16 week appointment tomorrow and my second scan at the end of the month - can't wait to see the little thing again! Hoping for movement soon, too.

No idea why, but I think I'm having a boy. And, just about everyone who has expressed their totally uneducated opinion (from DP's 5 year old niece to friends with 100% records) say the same. No preference either way - just a feeling.

Thinking of taking a full year mat leave, but not fully decided.

Ah blue I'm sorry things are so tough at the moment I hope the next few weeks pass as quick as poss for you. Come and moan on here whenever you like, its a great outlet.

Mw appointment was great, she seemed to recognise me from having ds but I'm sure I have never met her before! Hb was deff more train-like so maybe its a boy. I think its a girl though, but then again I thought that with ds too lol. We shall see!