Due November 2009 - Remember, remember we're due in November, but not yet quite ready to pop!

[Fruitpastels]

Hope everyone can find us!

I am 35 weeks exactly today. So I added a day to all of you. Hope thats alright.

Koumak dd: 28th Oct, 35
Ursigurke dd: 31st Oct, 34+3
Wook dd: 31st Oct, 34+3
Broodzilla dd: 2nd Nov, 34+1
Fruitpastels dd: 4th Nov, 33+6
Lemontop dd: 5th Nov 33+5
Tamlin dd: 5th Nov, 33+5
Scarlotti dd: 6th Nov, 33+4
Hobnob dd: 6th Nov, 33+4
Trikken dd: 6th Nov, 33+4
Eeyore2 dd: 8th Nov, 33+2
Wizzywoo dd: 8th Nov, 33+2
Helips dd: 9th Nov, 33+1
Maman2tom dd: 11th Nov 34+1
Weston dd: 13th Nov, 32+5
Becky dd: 14th Nov, 32+3
Tigger dd: 14th Nov 32+3
Southernbelle77 dd: 14th Nov 32+3
Kyte dd: 16th Nov, 32+1
ErikaMaye dd: 16th Nov, 32+2
Easyeggs dd: 17th Nov, 32
PavlovtheForgetfulCat dd: 18 Nov, 32
Belgianbun dd: 20th Nov, 31+5
LissyGlitter dd: 22nd Nov, 31+2
Ninjacat dd: End Nov
MumsieBumsie dd: 26th Nov, 30+5
Laugs dd: 26th Nov, 30+5
skorpion dd: 29th Nov, 30+2
claired21 dd: 29th Nov, 30+2
raggie dd: 30th Nov, 30+1

Good morning ladies. I'm off to consultant now but just wanted to play you and bumps a song before I go (I've put it on here before but that was ages ago)
Hope you enjoy
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UBmLYs2UIU"

Oh ninja you made me cry with this one last time! ... go on then

Morning all.

maman what a silly thing to say: don't go on the internet! Does the doctor know nothing of human nature? I hope the mw can give you some reassurance.

I've been feeling a bit peculiar in the last couple of days... Really tired in the afternoons, but also really down, like PMT teenage downer, can't seem to muster any enthusiasm for anything... My appetite is gone, too, back to the early pregnancy eating of bread only. Just feel really bleh about everything. Is this just normal third trimester blues? It's so different to my mood from even last week.

Skorpion that's how I feel too. Yesterday was awful - I didn't want to do anything except lie down.

I had an awful night's sleep last night. Woke up with a bile going up my throat and it went down the wrong way and I had a coughing fit for about an hour! It was horrible. I couldn't stop coughing at all. Consequently I overslept this morning and had a huge rush getting everyone off to school and nursery.

Ah well. The good thing is that for the first time in about a year I don't have any work to do this morning! It feels so weird. I might even wander into town if I can muster up the energy.

Morning all

So much to catch up on and I was only away a day! I'll apologise now as there's no way I'll remember everyone's news.

skorpion I've had those blues on and off for a few weeks. Are you sleeping ok? I find it worse if I'm tired. It is normal (well I hope so anyway!) and it will pass. Try and take some time to rest, or if you're still at work try and find some time for something nice - maybe a nice social lunch with a friend or something.

Koumak I'm a day out on the list so I suspect everyone else is too Think the initial thought was to update on a Monday ... have I remembered that right?

usi and maman you're right with the weeks. Over here I am 33+5 today but in the 34th week in terms of any books/websites for development. Hospitals etc. go on the earlier date - confusing as it's hard enough to remember the number of weeks I am anyway!

erika feel free to email and we can arrange a date to meet for coffee/cake. I have DS on a Friday so probably easier if we avoid that day for a bit, otherwise I'll have no chance to actually speak to you enough to get to know you! I'll bring the spare gym with me - no need for any money.

To all you ladies working in London still - how do you manage?! I was up for a meeting yesterday and had to head home around 6:30. Got on the train at London Bridge and I was lucky to get into the carriage let alone a seat - cue lots of people refusing to meet my eye. Had to stand, luckily only for 20 mins until we got to East Croydon and half the train got off. My legs and pelvis were killing me so I don't know how you manage if you have to stand for longer.

Have another week to go before my physio appointment but am cheered by erika's post and hopefully I'll get some help. Not sure I fancy wearing the support belt over my clothes though!!

hobnob good news on your scan and mw appt - will be nice to see baby again. Hope you manage to get your VBAC.

Am very at all these extra scans. No chance here. Finally get to have more regular mw appointments though - as a previous mum I've only been going once in a blue moon but I go on to every 2 weeks from tomorrow which is a bit more reassuring.

Looks like that bit of work I was hoping for is going to come off too, which is great. All I need to do now is get out of the habit of spending the morning in front of daytime tv and mumsnet!! All rest and no work/children to care for is not good for scarlotti!

Oh, and a friend of mine had her baby yesterday Her 3rd DD, born at home and weighing in at 8lb1oz so looking forward to being able to visit in the near future.

skorpion thats how i feel too, really bleh about everything.

Just dropped ds off at playgroup, felt really bad as the lady who runs it physically had to take him, as he was screaming "I want a cuddle mummy!" in a tearful voice. dont know why he's started to do this, he was going fine before this week.

maman I remember my French colleague telling me that her dates were different depending on whether she was reading an English or French pregnancy book!

It's my last day at work today till I'm off on maternity leave till end of August 2010 . I feel strangely nervous. I'm only popping in for a couple of hours this afternoon as have GP appointment this morning. It's all starting to feel rather real now!

skorpion, I'm having these moments too. In fact I had not been too emotional in the first 6 or 7 months but that definitely changed. I'm sure the tiredness doesn't make it any better. I agree with scarlotti, try to get enough sleep if possible and to do something nice, maybe meeting friends or (as I will probably do) go to the hairdresser or to a spa?

Oh, I'm glad it's not just me. I can't really describe myself as a go-get'em-gal, but still, this is strange for me. Hats off to you ladies who have to look after children, too.

I sleep really well, scarlotti, it never seems enough admittedly, but I'm OK comparing to what I've read on here. I will take your advice and try and do something nice, ask dh out on a date or something. Oh, and very happy to hear that you'll get some work!

lemontop - enjoy the freedom.

Sorry ursi - x-posted. Hairdresser... that's a good'un. I'm well overdue for a visit.

lemontop How exciting. Enjoy your last day!

Not long to go now ladies! Let's all challenge ourselves to do one thing a week that is just something nice for us, whether meeting a friend for coffee or coercing DH/P into giving us a pedicure. Soon enough we won't even know who we are any more (well, for a little while) so we might as well make the most of the relative peace.

(There I go with my challenges again. I honestly am a 14 year old boy in disguise )

kyte of course. I am meeting a friend anyway and literally have no money until a few invoices get paid, so it'd be good to have a little project to concentrate on! (almost wrote 'challenge' again there )

Hmm. I do find days stuck in the house hard.

How old is DS?

My DD loves nothing more than sorting things ie. pairing up socks, sorting the laundry. Or you could try what I suggested to scarlotti, but haven't got round to doing myself yet: sort out all DS' toys so that all the component parts of toys are together. Weed out the ones that are too young for him to make a box of baby toys and then rearrange his into different boxes so that he has a different selection to play with each time he gets a box down (I'm just assuming your house is like ours and awash with those big plastic boxes, full of random toys which don't go together and which don't have all the parts in the same box!). DS would probably enjoy it if he is a Sorter, and he might feel happier if he's chosen to give toys that he's too old for to the baby, rather than the baby just come along and 'steal' them.

kyte how about craft? If your DS enjoys it and will do it, then you could do some Christmas cards maybe or pictures.
If he doesn't, and needs to run off some energy, how about a treasure hunt in the house. You can make it really simple for him as he's only 2 - write a list of things and then get him to go get each one ... a sock of daddy's, a bar of soap etc. Different rooms and floors in the house will get him some exercise whilst you sit on the sofa and coo over each item he finds.

laugs funnily enough, I just wandered past DS' toy boxes and thought we ought to sort them! We also have the ikea thing so perfect for sorting stuff out.

lemontop enjoy your last day at work

Ooh you are too organised for me!

If he likes cooking normally, how about making play dough together? I've never made it but I think it's really easy.

If he's missing the music class, you could put on a cd and get out the pots and pans to play along?
Actually DD had a great time bouncing on my birthing ball yesterday (though might be a bit of a strain on you)

I know it's not as much activity as she'd get at nursery, but on days when we're in the house, I tend to think it's ok to play games, make things, read stories etc, but also have quite a bit of time where she entertains herself (ie start an activity with her and let her carry on alone), otherwise I'd probably go mad.

good idea about the treasure hunt scarlotti!

When we go shopping (only for a small shop though!) I make DD a shopping list which is pictures of the items we need. She loves it! She feels very important and in charge. I am not allowed to get anything not on her list

Skorpion know what you mean and Trikken, 'bleh' is the exact word!

At least I am reading a good book- 'An American Wife' by Curtis Sittenfield (?) think that's right spelling.

The film 'Control' (about Ian Curtis and Joy Division) has turned up from Lovefilm too, but it's possibly not going to make the best viewing at the moment!

Broodzilla thanks for your support- I have nothing to lose from exposing this bully, but I could definitely gain some of the self respect I have lost, and maybe help others too.

wook I loved An American Wife! Also really enjoyed Prep, by Sittenfeld too.
Control was not as depressing as it could have been, IYKWIM. And great soundtrack of course.

...right, really need to get on with some work, I have given myself every skiving opportunity imaginable.

Yes, books! I am really looking forward to some quality reading time once I'm off work.
I still haven't read 'The Time Traveller's Wife'. Or any of the Twilight series. So behind but I don't dare to make a wish list in case I haven't got time to go through it.

I like all your ideas for keeping kids entertained at home. laugs, I hope my lo will be a Sorter. And a Cleaner

Just a quick one you chatter boxes lol.

Still feeling like poop, now have really painful blocked sinus's too as well as the headache, hacking cough, sort throat etc, oh the joys, anyway how many paracetamol is ok to take? Anyone know please? It just says on box safe to take whilst BF'ing consult your gp if pregnant

Kids have inset day today too, already moaning they're bored, house is a tip and I am sooooooooooooooooo tired.

Sorry, me, me me again.

Oh and had solicitor appointment yesterday re kids, ex h and contact. Got so much to think about and the best way of going about things to get contact stopped before it starts iykwim, so got to ring people today to try chasing important things up.

Could do without this atm, well at all really

Going back to feeling sorry for myself now....

Kyte Wow - you're really the only one of us who really has a proper date now! How exciting!

Laugs Love the new challenge! Not only does it give us some pamper/me-time, but it also makes the time pass quicker when you've got something to look forward to.

Lemontop Enjoy your last day at work - must be weird and wonderful all at the same time!

Ursi Good point about the hairdresser, I'm guessing things like that will have to wait a while once the little ones are here!

I'm overdue on a deadline (so much for being ahead of myself it was nice while it lasted...) It's really strange, it's like I'm almost paralyzed by knowing how much I've got to get done in a very short space of time, so I just... go blank. I hate it.
Can't seem to help it. And I'm awake between 4.30AM - 7AM and then manage to get a couple of more hours (but feel lazy for having got up so late even though I've only had 7-8 hours of sleep...)

Anyway, thought I'd post my bag-packing list if it helps anyone:

ME

• Mat Notes
• 2 packs each of disposable undies and pads
• outfit for wearing in hospital / going home
• book with short stories
• snacks (instant porridge and fruit puree)
• lollipops
• toothbrush and paste for me and DH
• water and straws
• breas pads
• 2 button-down nighties
• crocs (can also be worn in the shower!)
• nursing bra
• lasinoh
• tissues
• facecloth and toiletries
• warm socks
• antiseptic wipes and handgel
• arnica

BABY

• nappies and nappy bags
• 2 "jumpsuits"
• 2 PJs
• cotton wool (and babywipes...)
• muslin squares
• bibs
• socks and booties
• hat
• fleece suit
• blanket

(+car seat)

Apparently we don't need to bring towels to the hospital even though they seem to be on every list I've ever seen!

Also, I've got a bag in DHs car with a maternity mat to cover the passanger seat with for the journey. The MW suggested making sure that there's a ready-written note in the car to say "Wife/Partner in labour" to stick in the windscreen as that way, you'll be let of for parking near the entrance while getting settled in, and then DH can go and move the car.