Due November 2009 - second trimester thread part 2

[skorpion]

Hope this works

Oooh so you are an expert on the Toy Shop Katster! I so loved that book. Picked it up by chance because it was in some promotion in Waterstones and couldn't put it down.

Isabella Oliver have a great sale on the moment - check it out you lot! My 'wedding' dress is in the sale too. I've just bought a top that is usually £70 for £30. DS1 and I have been to town today and spent too much money: I bought a dress in Monsoon that is stretchy so fine to wear I think and some new flat comfy shoes from Next. DS1 bought 'Little Miss Summersault' in Waterstones. He was really food shopping company and it was nice to have some just me and him time (DS2 went food shopping with DH).

Hope everyone is well today. DH has bought some bottles of becks and I'm tempted to have one this evening. Surely one won't hurt, will it? DH is such a saint he didn't seem so sure that I should have one and suggestd I have a 'taste' of his! Pah!

That sounds like I stood in Waterstones and read 'The Toy Shop' until I got to the end. Not true. I went home first!

Brown girl in the rain, tra la la la la, there's a brown girl in the rain, traaaa la la la la la and she looks like a sugar in the plum, plum, plum! I remember walking around Wales singing that with my mum when I was about five.

katster I think that Carol Shields book is Unless. I love her! In a similar kind of vein, have you read Anne Tyler? I also loved History of love by Nicole Krauss (apparently some people think it's rubbish though), American Wife - Curtis Sittenfeld... will try and think of some more. Have you read Wise Children by Angela Carter? Great book.
After years of reading books by men (English degree and MA) I am only just discovering women writers

Russell Howard has floppy blond hair and looks about 16. I think he's from Bristol/ West Country. It's ages since I've seen any comedy - really need to get out a bit more while we still can

Laugs thanks for the suggestions - yes, I LOVED WIse Children - that's the twins one, isn't it? And also love Anne Tyler. Do you remember the one about the man who lives on his own, then his mum dies? I think he has a phobia of women, can't remember what it was called. Anyway, loads of good ones but she's read so many, I'm sure I can find one I"ve not read! Will check our Nicole Krauss - not heard of her. Thanks!
BBL one def won't hurt don't think Becks is v strong anyway, and if you have it with a meal, your liver absorbs the alcohol before it gets anywhere near the baby. At least that's what I read and I am going with it!
I am stuffed... Eaten waaaay too much.
Sleepless your day sounds lovely! Wish we had neighbours with a pool!

Evening ladies

Just thought I'd pop my head in to say hello before we head off on hols.
Happy reading to all

Unless! That is it! I love how all the chapters are called 'If', 'However', 'Therefore', etc. Oooh Anne Tyler is another good writer - I've read a few of hers - they are nice and quirky reads. How about John Irving? I was in the mood for a really good John Irving book today and Waterstones only had one copy of one of the ones I've read.

I haven't read Wise Children just The Magic Toyshop and the circus one, can't rememebr exact title. I think Wise Children is on my amazon wish list. I've read a couple of books by Curtis Sittenfeld - both good, 'Prep' and another one.

Can I recommend the book I am reading now? It is a great book.

A pool does sound nice Our neighbour has a paddling pool out at the moment - not quite the same but still tempting!

Hello Scarlotti have a good holiday!

of you lot having time to keep up with reading! I love books in the summer holidays but really am at a loss as to where to start. Must go to the library before we head off on Thursday...

Had a gorgeous day today in the sunshine (not too hot up here and paddling pool. Got 5 loads of washing done and dried so feeling sunkissed and satisfied. Fajitas for tea outside tonight so all in all a pretty perfect day.

Wee bub is a right little martial artist these days. Seems to have a thing for walloping me in the cervix and bladder Lovely though.

Hello all had my scan a couple of weeks ago now, and it's a girl! I was convinced I was having another boy and tbh a bit worried about the thought of a daughter, but so many people said that they thought I would have a girl (based on how sick I was, my bump position etc etc) I thought I had better get used to the idea- in the end I had so persuaded myself that if I had been told I was having another boy I would have been quite disappointed! I think I was just worried about pink/barbies etc- having been a real tomboy myself I am not sure I really understand the world of girls even now!
On books, it is brilliant to get some recommendations. I've just finished 'One Day' by David Nicholls and thought it was brilliant. It's a really easy read, but very effective- funny, sweet and sad. I can echo that Wise Children is a must read, and I'm about to start The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters/Walters? - The Night Watch by her is really good too. A wonderful read if you like social history type things is 'Can Any Mother Help Me?' It's a series of letters that a group of women wrote for a correspondence magazine from the 30s to the 90s about their lives as women and mothers and it is incredibly moving and absorbing reading.
I've got some maternity clothes made from bamboo- it's stretchy etc but not made of yukky viscose/elastene like all the other matrenity clothes seem to be, plus it's cheap- last pregnancy I had a pair of trousers from Isabella Oliver that cost a fortune but this time I've got these bamboo ones that are twice as nice and cost about a quarter of the price! Recommended!
PS I had SPD last pregnancy at the end but in this one I have it already and can't get physio till 28 weeks at earliest. Has anyone else got it? How are you coping with it? I am already walking like John Wayne!

My amazon wish list is growing!

Congrats Wook on the scan. I'm a bit like you, I can't imagine having a girl as I just don't do pink and fluffy but I don't know what I am having.

Yum fajitas! We had spag bol last night. DH is at work today and I've now got to clean the house and keep an eye on the DSs at the same time!

Hi all
Congrats on all great scan results, just thought I'd add mine. We are having a little girl. Can't quite belive it - I have 2 ds, dh is one of 4 boys, his dad one of 2 boys, his grandfather one of 7 boys!! Actually paid to have second private scan to double-check!! Also, have worked in a boys school for 12yrs so am another one who is not sure what to do with girls! That said am already thinking girly shopping trips and wedding planning! Dh is over the moon too. Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

good morning.
I really like the idea of having a girl. But I'm not thinking of it as a pink barbie adventure. I'm not very girly either (well, sometimes a little bit). So I suppose my daughter will not be too girly anyway. (And probably she has to start playing football at the age of 6 month anyway )

Congrats Rooac!

Girls are great!!! Congratulations Roomac and Wook! and PLEASE you don't have to go pink or fluffy mad...My DD has very little pink as DH is not too keen..This will prob change as she starts demanding fairy stuff..but we def dress her in all colours...DH buys most of her cloths. I covet her wardrobe..Will post some photos so you can see..

wook have SPD and am doing John Wayne too..its so boring..I wear a belt when walking which helps..TBH I hear that Physio is not much help but I would do it anyway...Went swimming yest and it hurts a lot now..

I like mysteries, anyone recommend any? lots of blood and gore and forensics please...

hi, everyone, hope you are all ok. can anyone else see bubba kicking and making your tummy move when in the bath and such-like?

Trikken - yes, me!! It's mad isn't it!! DH has seen it, we spent ages watching it the other night. It's always low down though - all the movements seem to be. All over the bottom half of my stomach, but generally near my knicker line. Is that normal?

Great book suggestions - thanks ladies. Also read 'Prep' by Curtis Sittenfield, didn't realise he'd written other stuff.

Sooooo hot, i want a lolly.

katster yes, bottom half for me too, and by the knicker-line. altho she did suprise me by kicking my higher up by the belly button earlier.

Congrats Roomac and wook

I've just got back from my "in-laws" and I must confess to having a much better time than I expected to. Had a bit of a meltdown last night, that little anorexic voice screaming at me, but my DP was so lovely about it, said just the right things. Having spent some time with his mother I can confirm that while she is mad as a hatter, its in the nicest possible way I was also quite touched to see that she was as nervous as I was when we first got there! She'd redecorated the guest suite - bought a new bed and everything! She spent the most of her time nagging at DP to do everything while insisting I took it easy. Her husband seemed to rally in winding me up for being so on edge, but I felt brave enough to stick my tounge out at him by this afternoon I also met all of DP's old friends, including his bestest-best-BEST friend who he wants to be Godmother. That was terrifying, but they were all lovely, and I ended up having a fantastic time. Phew. What a load off my mind!!!

I bumped into my old tutor on the train home though, and it kind of put a downer on the weekend. The last my secondary school teachers knew, I'd won a scholorship to this posh, brilliant sixth form, and they were expecting such brilliant things from me! I messed up on my GCSEs (I only got 1 A* and 4 As in the end ), had to drop out of college twice, and am now pregnant. I don't normally feel ashamed of my situation, but when I see these people, I feel like I've let them and myself down. Because I'm not working or studying at the moment I guess it feels like I'm doing nothing, although when I step back and think about it, its not true - I've done so much with the mental health system to change perceptives, its worth me being ill, knowing I've helped other people out. And as I keep being told, just because I'm not off to uni this September it doesn't mean I ca never go... Right?

Ohhhh - am 20 weeks tomorrow. Half way mark! Scary stuff!!!

Erikamaye don't worry about what these people think: you can go to Uni whenever you want. I went straight from school and as a result did, what I think now, totally the wrong subject (Economics and Politics). When these children I keep having are a bit bigger I'd love to go back and do an art degree, what I should have done in the first place! When you are a bit more mature you'll have a good idea about what you want to do and will probably do better at Uni with some life experience behind you and get more out of it.

DH is at work today and, get this, going to be home at 11.45pm! What a laugh! It's Sunday! He'll be up again at 5.45am to go to work so not sure when I'll see him again - Friday evening at this rate! I'm beyond mad, beyond sad, almost hysetrical about it now. I've effectively been a single parent for two weeks now! (Having said that of course I am really worried about his health and sanity but then I think if it were me I'd just say to my boss 'I can't do this'). He's going to make himself really ill at this rate.

Ohhh better go BB has just started.

Erica that's a lovely visit. It's so hard to not feel self-conscious when you buck social trends, but I believe that everything happens for a reason and you always come out of experiences a stronger and better-grounded person. AS BBL said, uni can be a much better experience when you know what you want to get out of it rather than just being a teenage passenger. A friend of mine delayed going after dealing with anorexia, and has done a totally different subject to the one she would otherwise have done and is really loving it.

BBL I'd be so worried about your DH! Poor bloke! What kind of company does he work for? Don't they adhere to the working time agreement? Are there unions or anything like that? It seems ridiculous, especially in IT that one person can be relied upon to do so much. Will he get credit in lieu for this past fortnight to recover? He has some serious bargaining to do - so hard to do though in the current climate.

Thanks guys What would I do without you?!

Becky - I really feel for your DH But more than that, I feel for you. Your poor thing, I can imagine it must be driving you mad. I hope things ease off soon, and the sooner the better, for both of you. hugs

DH works for a law firm. He works in IT and they are having an office move right now hence how busy he is. He has a team of staff but he'd rather they got home at a reasonable time and then he does the extra work. One girl has actually gone on holiday for two weeks so leaving more burden on the rest of them. He's always been a workaholic - he was worse before I lived with him sometimes doing all nighters. There is a word in Japanese for dying from overwork. I can't remember it but he's not as young as he used to be. I don't want to be a computer widow yet.

I feel so selfish for moaning about how it has affected me rather than doing everything I can to keep a happy atmsosphere when he is here but I need to moan or I'll go bonkers! I'm so tired of being the single parent from 7am-8pm every day and being pregnant too and by 7pm when it is bedtime I have to stop myself getting really snappy with the DSs because I've had another email saying 'will be late again tonight'. The DSs must miss seeing him. Thanks for the hug ErikaMaye and so sorry for going on. I'll stop now! And watch the last bit of BB by rewinding the freeview thingy whatsit.

Nooooo, rant away! Might not be able to relate entirely to what you're saying but will always listen. If it would make you giggle, I started a thread saying I was sick of hearing about Micheal Jackson and am now being told I am being totally unreasonable. Oops!

ErikaMaye I reckon there are a lot of people who are fed up of hearing about Michael Jackson but won't admit it. Whatever happened to freedom of speech, eh?

DH got in at 11.45am then worked at home until 1.30am. Went to bed. Got up at 5.30am and is at work. He really is bonkers. I hardly slept because I was waiting for him to go to bed!

I just think its totally and utterly out of proportion, but hey.

Bloody hell... Your poor DH Though surely he should refuse to do those hours?? And you must be absolutely knackered. Just try and take it easy today..?

Its too hot whines - I'm plodding around in a bikini and toweling skirt. I'm dreading the journey to London tomorrow if its this hot...

BBL massive hugs to you! you poor thing and your poor DH..How can they do this???I would be livid, but as you say its not out of choice, and you sort of have to sympathetic but I can see how hard it is for you. How long will this "move " last??

Erika as BBL says doing UNI later is a good thing and it will help you focus on doing something that is right for you..and its so cool you had a good time at the in-laws..sounds like they are very supportive and you should be very pleased about that..

Its too hot to go out today....Just took DD out for a bit and came straight back home.. She is being a nightmare today as she misses her father. as do I...the weekends are so short.