Due March 2010 - we're halfway there!

[annamama]

... this is a new thread following on from the last one, welcome oldies & newbies ...

Very child-centred weekend here - DD had two birthday parties to go to, one each day, so I spent much of the weekend eating sausage rolls and mini sandwiches that she had rejected in favour of the crisps and cake. Obviously I then ate some crisps and cake too.

DH spent the whole of Sunday travelling to see his sister who is in hospital only to be greeted with 'what are you doing here?' when he saw her. Nice. Still, he's done his duty now and hopefully she did appreciate the visit underneath the bravado. Somewhere. Very deep down.

shroomer I agree with BPM about nursery carpet / hard floor in that it depends how you think you're going to use the space.

DD's nursery has carpet as personally I prefer carpet in sleeping areas as you're more likely to have bare feet. It just feels cosier - particularly when you have to go in during the night which does happen a fair bit even if you've got a good sleeper. DD is not bad, but anytime she's got a cold, is teething, has a bad dream etc she may well need to be resettled which means me and my bare feet heading in at night. It's painful enough without a cold floor! Although you could always use slippers, but I can never find them in the middle of the night. Also she doesn't eat in there or do any kind of messy play.

annamamma i was interested to hear that your DD doesn't like sitting on the potty without her trousers on either. Mine's just the same and she's 2. I am also hoping to get her using it before no.2 arrives. I have no idea what the answer is, but I'm going to have another go soon...gulp. If you have a breakthrough let me know how you did it.

Shroomer this will be our PFB. At the moment the room has carpet in it, going to leave it there as it is hard wearing and a brown colour. Will change it once baby is a bit older, or when it gets stinking from poo/ vomit/ milk etc.

Going to decorate this weekend! In-laws coming up on Saturday to help.... which should be interesting.....

So far they have done bollocks all to help and shown little interest, so DH and I begged them to come up to help us paint. They agreed, and that will prob be the last time they are in our house until well after baby is born

Anyway, no use getting annoyed in advance of something that might not happen. They might surprise us with being friendly once baby is here.

Definitely leave the carpet. Ours was stinking after child 1 has shat on it, vomited milk, Calpol (dreadfult o get off).

We just replaced it to sell the house so had cream carpets fitted throughout updatairs. In less than 3 months they're stained again!

Still finally had an offer ont he house at the weekend and put an offer in on a house we like today.

Now on tenderhooks to see if the sums can add up!

TakeLovingChances I know how you feel about the MIL (BTW isn't that a bit to close to MILF?). Hey look at me getting the hang of these acronyms.
My situation is reversed, the mother-in-law is enthusiastic, but my mother isn't. She has actually booked up to go caravanning from April to July (baby due mid-March). this being my first, I don't know what to think - but initial thoughts are that this is strange grandma behaviour. She has told me twice in the last month that she 'has never been maternal' (something I noticed as a child). I told her the second time she said it that I didn't want to hear that. Oh dear, I've started ranting.

Agree leaving the carpet is the way to go, they are a bit wobbly and run in to everything in the first 2 years so good to have a soft landing area!!

We are nearly in third trimester territory! Things are moving quickly indeed.

That is odd behaviour from your mum shroomer, take all the help from your MIL if she's interested. Perhaps things will change when the baby arrives? She could be having an 'I'm too young to be a granny' crisis?

swings at your cake filled weekend

xx

Shroomer
cf MILF

now there's an image I could have done without

Mumbot - my mam's not too young to be a grannie - I'm 38, she is 60. So that can't be the issue. She prefers dogs and other animals to children. That's the heart of the matter.

BPM yay on the house offers! Hoping the sums work out so you can start to think about moving (and maybe some of your offer luck will rub off on other sellers like annamamma)

Interesting to read about the nursery plans.

We're in a rented flat, and are planning on turning the spare room into a nursery but in a very low-intensity way - buying a big rug to cover the carpet (to add colour and try and limit muckiness on someone else's carpet!), some nice art for the (already cream) walls, an ikea chest of drawers/wardrobe, wicker baskets etc for storage of nappies/babygros etc, and, er, that's about it for now.

We've bought a co-sleeper cot, so baby will be sleeping right next to our bed (or right next me) for the first months so not feeling too bothered about having a perfect nursery in place, especially as the nursery will still be a spare room for when PILs and my mum visit after the birth. This may well change if and when the legendary nesting kicks in! My big concern has been sorting out space in the rest of the flat and have done some good organising (things like packing about 20 boxes of books away in the cellar so we don't need so many bookshelves in our narrow hall).

IWCAS bloody well done you on the bus incident. Totally ridiculous for a bunch of students to not give up a seat to a pregnant lady! I've been very lucky, even being in London, as I get seats offered nearly every time I'm on the tube or bus. But I have perfected my peel off coat, stick out already big bump and adopt a "tired face" routine to help things along . It's been working so far...

Also interesting to read about MILs and Mums. My MIL is pretty uninterested, but then she's in the States and is a bit of a vague person in general, so I'm secretly hoping she doesn't bother flying across to visit once the baby is born (I find her "trying" at times and the prospect of her and a newborn is most definitely Not Appealing). My own mother in Ireland is interested - this is grandchild number 10 for her and she's a big fan of all things baby and child related, she even looks after 5 of them most days - but she has her own definite views about how things should be done and isn't afraid to express those views .

For instance, she thinks I'm a lunatic to be even considering a home birth and when I went back to Ireland last week the first thing she showed me (literally after I'd walked in the door) was an article she'd saved about a baby who died after being born at home...er, thanks Mum! Just what I need to read . But I'm just not bringing up certain subjects (eg she'd probably think the co-sleeper cot is a ridiculous idea) as this is how I let it wash over me. Different generations and all that and I do respect her wisdom and humour about child-bearing and rearing, even if some of her ideas aren't the fashion anymore.

In other news, a colleague very kindly gave me a pair of black Blooming Marvellous trousers from when she had her last child 4 years ago and they're great. The most comfy and well engineered trousers I've come across (seriously, the waist has side zips and little belts that allow you to adjust the waistband in a far more secure way than those internal elastic thingies on my maternity jeans). I'm going to check out the BM site properly now.

We also start our NCT classes this Thurs and I'm quite excited - booked them when I was about five minutes pregnant (was so at the time as it seemed like I might jinx things by booking so early!) and it's great that so much time has now passed (I'm 25 weeks tomorrow).

God, sorry for the massive ramble! Hadn't quite realised how long that would be as I was typing away

IWCAS Don't know what you mean. Look there you are, on the 8th just like always....

Becky7000 15 February #4
Smac 25 February #2
DrSkid 22nd February #3
pureeandpearls 26 February #2
Donttrythisathome 1 March #2
Potpourri 1 March #4
onlyanauntie 1 March #1
369thegoosedrankwine 1 March #2
MissieMoosMummy 1 March #2
Tigresswoods 2 March #1
cyphercat 2 March #2
Caitni 2 March #1
Horsiemummy 2 March #2
Oscarsmumm 2 March #2
Pipsonhisway 2 March #1
angfirsttimer 2 March #1
Scarysarah&co 3 March #3
BlueyDragon 3 March #2
TakeLovingChances 5 March #1
hecklephone 5 March #2
KarenAdie 5 March #1
EmLouT 5 March boy #?
BYM 5 March #2
Dalrymps 6 March #2
Scooby26 6 March #1
Iwonka 6 March #1
Evitas 6 March #1
Twofalls 7 March #2
Carrie2010 7 March #1
MandaHugNKiss 7 March #3
Lauralai 7 March #?
AHedgehogisDueinMarch 7 March #2
itwascertainlyasurprise 8 March #1
Ilovegreenbeans 9 March #2
Sariska 9 March #2
rebeccacad 9 March #1
therubyslippers 9 March #1
Summer2010 10 March #1
Anya4 11 March #4
wilkos 11 March #2
Lemonadegirl 11 March #2
PacificDogwood 11 March #4
BulletProofMum 11 March #3
Minicooper 11 March #2
Josie22 12 March #1
Swingsofglory 12 March #2
Vixie123 13 March #1
Walnut8 13 March #1
slackrunner 14 March #2
Poppyjen 15 March #1
Annamama 15 March #2
Retromum 15 March #2
OhWow 15 March #2
Shroomer 15 March #1
Childofthe80s 16 March #1
mmtwgr 16 March #2
SaraWoo 16 March #1
Scootergrrrl 17 March #3
Mumof2point5 17 March #2
SleepWhenImDead 18 March #2
PixieOnaLeaf 18 March #4&#5
Kay1980 18 March #2
MummyElk 18 March #2
designerbaby 19 March #2
PennyScotia 20 March #?
Luckysalem 22 March #2
Veryworriedme 22 March #1
Betterbitofbutter 23 March #2
Mummyscrummy 23 March #2
Dana4nyc 23 March #?
Easydoesit 24 march #2
Rindercella 24 March #2
Arcadie 26 March #3
Gangle 26 March #2
Leolo 28 March #2
Fleximum 2 April #3
La Tristesse fill in your details!!

hi Ladies
Caitni you start your NCT classes this month? I booked mine at 12 weeks and cant get in till feb 2010 which is making me nervous..

Arcadie I am BE on facebook - I changed my profile pic to cats to give you a clue

Shroomer We're not decorating or moving any of DH's computer crap out of the dusty shithole 'nursery' until xmas but this isnt for lack of me trying to get him to do something - but as he works away mon to fri every weekend min is taken up with football and cleaning and dull dull dull etc so we wont have time till xmas.. normally Id be more than happy to do it myself but it seems Ive even been banned from crossing the road without him (sweet really, but mon to fri Im fine to commute 1 1/2 hours??)

ICWAS well done on sticking up for yourself

Had my first midwife app since booking today at 23 weeks, and forgot all my questions. but everything seems good, and heartbeat was so cool!

Just a quickie as my dad is here keeping us company, it's wonderful!

Pixie - names?! Do tell... we are demanding to know! Somehow it seems more interesting when it's twins.

Swings - Yes I'll let you know if there's a potty breakthrough...

Will catch up properly some other time.

Shroomer sorry to hear about your mum, I'm sure that upset you to hear that.

pixie I agree with anna, we are demanding to know what names you have picked!!!

IWSAS I applaud your courage/cheekiness to say that! Have a

Everyone else, hello and good evening.

T

Hello, hello

apologies for lack of posts of late, but we had our biggest annual event at work last week, which is totally my responsibility so have been chained to work for 16 hours a day and then spent the weekend entertaining DH's family (cue much grumpiness).

Anyway, am back now and will try and catch up on all the posts.

BPM - yay on house offers!

Pixie am super impressed at your organisation and the nursery sounds lovely. Ours is currently the room for all the crap essential items we haven't unpacked yet and needs a new carpet (thanks for helping me decide on a flooring type), painting and various bits and bobs. Hopefully will make a start while on leave over christmas.

Had my second ante-natal yoga class today - it's totally brilliant and really enjoying it.

more soon...

Morning ladies

Pixie your nursery sounds gorgeous! I too would love to hear the names (though understand if you want to keep it private too ).

Anna have fun with your dad!

Rebecca your work load sounds mad - glad it's easing. I'm also a fan of the pregnancy yoga - it's been really helpful with my sciatica flare ups too.

Siamese are you doing an intensive NCT course in Feb? Our only option was 8 nights spread from Nov to Jan, but I think I would have liked an intensive course more as the 8 night option is a big time commitment. Still, am hoping we get a lot out of it (not least meeting other people in the same boat as us). I have yoga on Thursdays too, so I'll been cramming in a sandwich between yoga and NCT classes (luckily, the NCT class is a 2 min walk from the yoga class).

Hope everyone is having a good morning.

I'm going to go and get my swine flu jab tonight at a walk in clinic. Have decided enough is enough with the head in the sand routine . Also I found Shroomer's links to the BBC journalist's blog site very interesting and his posts tipped the balance in my book (especially as I am pro vaccines for babies/children).

Pipisonhisway the crazy grinning lady who just facebook friended you - that's me!

Hi everyone else. Of for my H1N1 jab in an hour ooOooooooOooooooooh... (along with half of the population of York it would seem.) Pregnant?- come along! Got asthma? - Come along! Elderly? Come along! Appointment? You don't need an appointment. Just come and stand in line for an hour!

I am dying to get started on the nursery, (this is my first), I too have to persuade DH to move his crap belongings out of the crappy back room nursery. I have colour samples on the walls to pacify me for a bit, but I am dying to nest.
We dont need to move, but I am becoming obsessed with property websites, keep imagining a huge back garden with swings and stuff....
Caitni I have loads of evening classes too, which is great cos it means I can do them and go to work but I will end up either starving or showelling food between commute home and NCT/yoga/Aquanatal

Do not come near me, I have black death a cough - again! Sore throat Thursday night, cough since Friday, antibiotics since Sunday, no better, gah!!
That's 2 months of constant illness bar a few days gap from bout to bout.

Hope you all enjoy your antenatal classes, be they NHS or NCT . I did both when expecting DS1 and am still in contact with some of the NCT mums, so it was very good to pick up some local mummy contacts and as I have no family to give support this was really important to me. The NHS class I found was mainly useful to get a tour of the hospital and talk more about the options that they offered in labour.

Nursery: our babies always went into fairly grown-up kid's rooms decorwise, I suppose mainly because I am not very much into white/baby blue/pink. I like my primary colours and with boys you get aways with cars and diggers from the very start...
I would also go with carpet in the nursery, 'tis much cosier - for mum! Also nicer for early crawling and toddling attempts, and hard flooring can be frustatingly slippery for recently mobile babies .

Hope you all have a nice week.

Hi all,

long time no speak - been quiet for a while because have been having a few pregnancy worries and keeping myself to myself.

My OB keeps telling me that the baby is too small and that this could be a problem resulting in an early delivery if the placenta fails. My son was small but perfectly healthy but they seem worried about this one as the arteries in my uterus appear to be under a lot of pressure. Anyway - baby is on 5th percentile and I am having scans every four weeks - it's a really worrying time. Anyone else been told their baby may have IUGR (inter-uterine growth restriction)?

EmLouT - you must be very worried. Keep posting here, you'll get a lot of support from everyone. I'm sorry that I can't do more than say that.

Antenatal classes - I'm 23 weeks, and haven't been told about NHS ones yet, perhaps I will at my 25 week visit with the midwife. I've just booked an intensive 2 day weekend course for early January. I'm also booked onto an early days course after the baby's been born - Thursday morning get togethers by the look of things. This will be important for me because my friends don't live near me. That's one of the reasons I'm in this forum - I work from home, have no few friends nearby, so can at least 'talk' to people this way.

Carpeted nursery it is then.

Hi all - do check in from time to time, but by the time I've read everything there's no time to actually post anything myself...

EmLou - I've no direct experience of IUGR (my first, unfortunately for my lady parts, was the size of a small elephant...) other than a close friend of mine's brother, who was an IUGR baby, and is now a strapping 6ft 4" hulk who rigs sound and lighting at stadium rock concerts for a living... Funnily enough, I found out about this when they said that my baby was measuring 'small for dates' at my 20 week scan and I freaked out all over the place, as we mums-to-be are wont to do... She ended up being 9lbs 8oz, so clearly they don;t always get things 100% right...

I think it's worth keeping in mind that there is actually nothing wrong with your baby, per se, other than that, for a variety of reasons he/she may not be getting quite enough stuff through your placenta. Worst case, he/she may have a bit of a harder time of things early on, because of either being born early, or small, but they'll make up the ground really fast, from what I've heard (and as my friend's brother more than confirms...).

It appears that no-one is pressing alarm bells yet, which is good... and while you baby is on the lower end of the chart, he/she is still ON the chart... and like you said, your first was small, so it might just be the way you make 'em...

What I'm saying is, please try not to worry... I know from experience how almost impossible that is, but keep telling yourself that there is nothing wrong with your baby - he/she is small, but perfectly formed, and they're keeping a good eye on you - which is good.

Meanwhile, take extra special care of yourself, all the worry takes it out of a person, eat well, rest plenty, get as much sleep as you can.

And keep in touch here - it's a very good place just to vent/let rip or give voice to your darkest anxieties without fear of being made to feel foolish...

Having blathered on, I'm sure there are lots of people with more useful things to say, but I wanted to just respond having been through some similar things (not the smallness, but suspected genetic anomaly which turned out not to be...) and, well, just feeling your pain, a bit.

HUGS

db
xx

EmLouT Sorry to hear you're going through the mill - what a scary thing to be told. Hurray that they're being super cautious and looking after you. Keep posting and telling us what's going on.

had piggy flu jab - in and out nice and quickly despite previous whinging to the contrary. Will report back if any crazy oinking side effects happen...