Due November 2009 - we just can't stop chatting!

[BeckyBendyLegs]

A new thread!

sleepless my friends are at big chill - one is working there, although may be called home anytime soon as his dp is about to have their first baby any time now. She was due either today or monday, can't remember if 8th or 10th! She thinks she will be very overdue though for some reason! And two other friends and their son are there, in the family area which our other friend has secured them space for (allegedly!) I am glad the sun is shining for them as the weather looked horrendous at the beginning of the week, I was concerned it would not work out well!

That is a lot of thefts though isn't it? Is your OH in security/police?

the 6th of Nov, giving myself plenty of time as im already struggling.

had decided to go back after 26 weeks leave as cant afford not to, but im not liking the thought that i will have to leave my very young baby with with either nana's. not that they would mistreat her or anything, just would prefer her to be with her mummy or daddy so will maybe ask dh to take sat as his day off so he can have her, sont know how feasible this is tho.

I will stop working end of August. As I should have three weeks of holiday/overtime left, I'll start maternity leave mid/end september. (I could leave today). It's a bit early but as it will be the end of the season for us anyway and business will be a lot calmer, it's nicer not to steal precious hours from my younger work colleagues. And I'm so fed up with certain admin problems that I can not wait to leave anyway. Just don't know what to do for 8 weeks at home...
I'm not planning to really go back after work. Maybe a couple of hours, again rather admin or something that I could do from home. As the grandparents live to far away to babysit it wouldn't really make sense to go back full time. I would hardly earn enough money to pay for a good childcare I suppose. And also, I don't really want to leave a 6month old in a nursery as we can luckily afford being without my salary. But I would like to do something at least for a couple of hours.

Thanks everyone for all your nice words! After a good night's sleep it all seems like it's in the past now and hopefully won't come back...
Sleepless - poor you for your accident. Must have really shaken you up but sounds like it could definitely have been worse.
Erika - you sound like a demon with a crochet hook. Can you show us a photo of your shawl?
I am going on maternity on 2nd October, when I'll be 35 weeks. I don't know how much leave I'm going to take but definitely six months because I get full pay for that amount, then statutory after that, so there's no reason not to take as much as poss on full pay. Then I'll see how I feel and what sort of childcare options I can find and sort things out as they come.

pavlov at thought of DH as security! he is on a stag weekend and living it large..thankfully the sun is shining. DH likes his creature comforts and nights in a tent are not really his thing, but thankfully he's not in the wet..he heard about the thefts whilst there..that is a lot you're right! I hope your friend is right and delivers late..I remember eating a goats cheese salad at Pizza Express on my due date and loving it..DD was 10 days late.

What a lazy day I'm having.. DD playing up as granny has spoiled her rotten....also she has guessed that DH is away and is mad about that too..won't let me out of her sight, its quite tedious.

pavlov your friend must be very chilled out to let her DP off to a festival on her due date! I wouldn't have let mine on a night out by then. I went into labour 13 days late, by the way, DD finally born 2 weeks late on the day I was booked in to be induced. Hope this baby is not so slow.

Hope everyone's feeling better today after a nightmare few days. I've been back to bed since 11am and just got up, so I'm feeling energised for once. Off to meet DD, DH and FIL at a museum. Oh, FIL has been here since 5pm yesterday and still has not once asked anything about this baby, how I am feeling, even acknowledged the fact that I am pregnant! (this is the first time we've seen him since we found out). I am now willing him not to say anything so that my rage may continue! Moody cow? Me?

weston I got your address and will send the book on Monday as our post office is always mad on a Saturday.

erika I am jealous of your crocheting prowess! I am so unpractical. I always have these ideas and then forget I don't actually know how to do anything. eg, we got DD's moses basket second hand and it had a bit of a naff frilly cover, so I decided to make one out of this nice red and white spotty material - except I can't sew. The poor mite spent her first 4 months in a basket held very carefully together with safety pins! It did look fab though...

Laugs she has no choice, he works there as stage crew, it is contract based, got to be in it to win it, so to speak and if he is not there, it goes to another crew. So, he has blagged 2-3 days off when the baby is born/friend is in labour, but then, back to work til the end of september. It sucks, but if he does not get the contract for next work, he will then struggle to get back on, and he is trying to work his way upwards and get better contracts/positions for himself, so he cannot just leave for 2 weeks in festival season , his dp is very sad but resigned about it. If it is after 20th Aug I think, he will not be there at all for the birth, so if she is more than say 8-10 days late, he will miss it and not see baby until end of september.

But we are all there for her, she has a list of people to call, and her mum is coming down on/before her due date (not sure why not earlier, more likely my friend does not want to be crowded by her mother!). but still, not ideal.

Pavlov, hope your day is going better than yesterday, and that you enjoyed your cocktail And your poor friend That must be so difficult, even though the reasons are understandable. I don't think I could cope with even the idea of DP not being there for labour...

Laugs you're a bloody ledgend, woman I used to sew a lot for the costumes when I did all my theatre stuff, and got into crocheting when I got ME. I'll make you all some booties when I've worked out how!!!

Eeyore I'll see what I can do

UGH I'm going to strangle my mother today. I know she's trying to help but she's driving me bonkers. Bloody woman...

Got a letter this morning about the cervical cancer jab saying if I didn't get it done in the next two months, because this is the second time they've written to me, I won't be eligable to have it at all I've already TOLD them I'm pregnant, but want it afterwards. Going to have to call them AGAIN. Joys.

How are you all doing today? Is it so typical British of me that I'm totally and utteraly resenting the hot weather? Its just so muggy...

Afternoon all, hope everyone enjoying the weekend? Poor eeyore - you have my total sympathies. A few years ago when I used to commute on thee train to London, I had a massive coughing fit and threw up all over the passeneger next to me. Unfortunately (or maybe not) he was asleep. I was so shocked and mortified I just legged it into the loo, ignoring all the other passengers in the carriage. I was so horrified at this poor man waking up in London covered in puke and recognising who had done it that I had to get an earlier train for nearly a month before I felt brave enough to go back to my usual!

V jealous of those contemplating maternity leave already. As a CM, I'm self-employed and at the moment the plan is pretty much to work until the labour starts - am dreading the thought of waters going on the school-run! Hope you feeling better Southernbelle
Hope you had a fab holiday BBL - sounds like heaven. We're driving up to Scotland in a couple of weekes for a v quick break and I can't wait.

Happy weekend to all! x

tabbykat don't worry, you're not alone in the envious camp. Am self employed so only get paid for the days I work. Accountants have worked out I have to work up until October 9th in order for me to have enough money to then cover 6 months pay. I had hoped for longer this time but c'est la vie.
As long as I can wean this little one before he goes to nursery then I'll be a little happier about it.

Also hoping to reduce hours at some point in the future - we're thinking of moving up to be near DH's family as we have nobody local, which would also allow us to cut the mortgage down and my hours with it. Am praying we pull it off - will have to go back full time for 5 months first but hopefully then someone will smile on me from above!

Hello everyone!

Just checking in briefly as still in the good ol' US of A and having lots of adventures on our New England road trip. Missing you all and your goss though! Been trying to catch up but it's a mammoth task to say the least. lol though at tabbykat's story of the commuter passenger's lovely surprise upon awakening...oh dear!

Our BeeBee has been wriggling and jiggling around a lot too - but does same as yours erika - when DH puts hand on belly, she tends to freeze! Only last night was he able to feel the true force of kicking and think that was because I had had a (very yummy!) glass of prosecco - our anniversary dinner so figured a special allowance could be made I think she must have got a little tipsy too as it seemed like she was doing Saturday Night Fever in there

Starting to get to that point of the trip when missing home (and own bed/kitchen/washing machine etc) lots.Looking forward to being back for the end of the british summer (?!)

But for now, big waves to everyone from across the pond!

Hi everyone

Eeyore poor, poor you. I hope you are feeling better now.

I'm starting mat leave 1 November - but as I work from home this just means no sitting at my laptop from 1 Nov onwards.

We're back home now. Off to the 'in-laws for Sunday lunch.

Raggie come back soon we miss you and need updates

Enjoy your lunch Becky

UGH we have fmaily arriving in about an hour, and am totally not in the mood. My brother is driving me MAD, I might have to murder him in the night grumbles I know its his job, being a 12 year old boy, but AHHHH!!!

Has anyone else felt their little one kicking less? The past few days he doesn't seem as active. Trying not to panic, as MW is coming tomorrow anyway, but still... Am concerned. He's still moving occassionally, but a definate decrease in how often... Is he just starting to run out of space or something? I read something about them going through phases of having more energy than others, just like us, so trying to reassure myself but still... Very worried that somethings wrong - mainly that he's reacting badly to the medication

Don't stress too much erika just let the MW know and hopefully its just a phase..mine does the same, sometimes busy sometimes not. I think they are slowly running out of space. Hope this PM goes smoothly

Wish I was on a road trip raggie!! Happy Anniversary!

Hello!

Back from 'in-laws and done a mountain of ironing.

I have a reading recommendation for you book worms! The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters - I'm half way though and it is FAB!!!!! I love it!

Erika I agree with sleepless you are right to raise lack of movement with your MW but try not to worry. I find that my little bean will have a really active few days and then hardly anything for a few days and then active again. I wonder if they go through phases of growth and activity and then days of lots of sleep perhaps? Try not to get too stressed about your brother. I remember what it is like. My brother is now 43 and when we were on holiday recently - me, my mum, brother and sister - he wound me up just as he had done when we were all growing up and I had to take deep breaths and leave the room! Brothers, eh?

Hi all

Had a lovely day here, kids gone to mum's for the week so we are footloose and fancy free! Got out of bed at 11am this morning! Had a lovely day then wandering around town and by the beach, had lunch out and just generally enjoyed a child free day.

Erika the babies are only awake now for about 2 hours in total during the day/night so have much longer periods of quiet, plus there's less space. I find my lo now has set times that he wakes during the day. He tends to have about 15 mins of sporadic activity and then goes back to sleep for a good few hours or more. Do speak to your mw if you're concerned though.

Hello all, I am back.

Had a lovely sunny w/e in Devon. Does any one know Clovely? Well I walked all the way back up and also swam in the sea.

Tabby He, he, he. I'm still giggling like a school girl at that one.

Self employed here also. Maternity leave? When I drop I stop I think.

Hope all are well. DS and I are sleepy, sandy and well sunned. I feel I have had some summer, bliss.

DP home tomorrow (Big Chill Widow here also) then home for three whole days. Think I might accompany him to The Green Man in a couple of weeks if I'm feeling up to it.

Hope all are well, BBL glad your hols ended on such a high.

Just curiosity but who is it on this thread that owns a shop in Cornwall? (or Devon?)

Hello Ninjacat swimming in the sea sounds lovely I wasn't quite brave enough on our hols.

I wish I did own a shop in Devon or Cornwall - if I did it would be an arty bookshop with a cafe and DH would bake the cakes. Ahhh I can but dream.

I'm watching Wife Swap - I don't know why I like this programme. DH hates it. He's disappeared upstairs.

anyone tried the M&S redcurrent puffs biscuits...can highly recommend.......

was soo nice today to get some proper sunshine, went to one of those free outdoor pools felt like south of france!

back to work tom..sigh but only 24 work days to go..finishing must earlier this time but want to spend more time with DD and get her settled into new nursery etc

i wouldnt worry about less movement hardly ever felt DD kick first time around

is it wrong to be loving BB and i am love wife swap too and in fact any reality crap...

have a good week

Hi all. Hope you're all ok!

Back off honeymoon in sunny Cyprus. It was so hot but lovely to float around in a swimming pool all day! The bloody airline have sent my bags to Cardiff instead of London. I'm so annoyed cos I took my pregnancy notes with me just in case and now they're lost with my bags. I've got a midwife appointment on Weds so really hope it's back before then.

I'm married! Wedding was really nice. It rained all afternoon unfortunately, so bbq was a bit of a shame but everyone was saying all day what a great time they had. Me and DH!! had a great day. All that worrying over nothing!

Got back to got a voicemail from labour ward saying I've got strep b, which I'm a bit worried about. Will have a chat with midwife on Weds.

Aw, lemontop, welcome back and many congratulations! Very happy to hear that the day went well and you had a nice time in Cyprus. Fingers crossed for the bags to turn up soon.

I think strep b can be treated with antibiotics during labour, read something about it once. It's just good news that they are aware, so know what to do to look after you and lo well. I'm sure your MW will reassure you.

pavlov, yes it suddenly dawned on me that I need to think when to take mat leave! I am hoping to be able to take lots of holiday - for the next year - before that. Our holiday counts from 1 Oct and we do get quite a lot including the bank hols. Does anybody know if the bank hols count towards holiday we're allowed to take while on mat leave?

lemontop hooray!! Congrats to you and Mr lemontop....and remember knots tied in water and stronger!

sorry,,,are stronger!

lemontop congrats to you and your dh! Glad you had a lovely holiday too, although bit of a pain re the bags. Hope they turn up before Wednesday.

Had a lovely weekend visiting friends in Bath, although was a nightmare getting there, 4 and a half hours it took! Anyway, ds was an angel and it was lovely seeing my friends new baby, has made me really excited!

Anyone stuck on baby names at all? I'm starting to go off the name we originally had if this one is a boy. I think I like the name Patrick, paddy for short but am worried that it sounds too Irish and that will be weird because me and dh aren't. Been looking at the name threads but can't seem to find any names I really love. Oh well, hopefully something will catch my eye in the next 3 months!