-*- AUGUST 2010 -*- scans, kicks and other 2nd trimester bits.

[CherryPie3]

Part 4

elusive I know what you mean about the september babies- both the dds are september and dd1 already talks about her school and knows it's name and she's only 2.5. She is desperate to go to to school..

All being well this dc will be at school the year after dd2 even though they will be nearly 2 years apart. I figure s/he will have two big sisters there to look after him/her so no worries

We will be buying some new bottles - avent ones and teats. The ones we have have gone through both dds and are still ok but the markings are rubbing off a bit. Also dd2 is on hypoallergenic formula which is really thick so takes its toll..

Having said that the paediatrician has said they will be prescribing same formula for dc3 and weaning on to regular formula so things don't get as bad as they did with dd2.

Also will be buying a moses basket mattress and potentially a buggy board but I don't think it works when the back of the phil and teds is lying flat..

Went into Gap yesterday bought two maternity dresses from the sale rail- one for 5 quid one for 14- bargain

off to aerobics and body balance in a bit have a good day everyone

Morning! I just made fresh chocolate brioche and there's enough spare for you lovely ladies [hands them round], and MIL got up with DD and changed her horrific nappy so DH and I got snuggle time. It's going to be a lovely day

Morning, cazzybabes, I'm a teacher too (work in special needs now, but I'm early years trained). The only thing that concerns me a little about an August baby is that he/she will be the youngest in his/her school year, and in infant schools this could make them appear a lot further behind developmentally than children in their school year born the September before. An almost year age gap makes a big difference when children are small I suppose.

But on the other hand his/her teacher should be aware of his/her birthdate in relation to expected outcomes and early years education in Wales now goes up to the end of year 2 (age 7) with the foundation phase, so formal schooling doesn't officially start till much later and that should help with the appearance of a developmental gap. And if there are significant gaps at least I should be able to identify where they are in relation to the curriculum and put whatever extra support and teaching in myself....

I always wanted a summer baby though - think of the positives. Can show off tiny baby in lovely summery outfits instead of covering them up in snowsuits straight away, far more options for birthday parties, I will always be on holiday on his/her birthday and they will always be on holiday so I can always do something special on the actual day. I just can't wait to meet this little one!

Hope everyone has a nice day planned. Shopping in Cardiff here I come!

hi everyone

yum chulita, choc brioche

i agree cazEm, be lovely having a summer baby, be great having birthday parties in the garden & I'm sure they will love having their birthday in the summer hols!

Hope you feel better now starshaker.

have a good day all xx

I found primary school really boring as I was above average despite being a May baby so I'm quite glad I'm having an August baby cos I can't imagine him/her struggling at school (maybe that's a bit optimistic!). Although apparently being a spring/summer baby reduces your chances of becoming an international footballer I'm not going to lose sleep over it though!
Chulita I'm very impressed with your baking. i might make meringues today as I have some leftover egg whites from last night's carbonara

My dd1 is May (mind you I am about to murder her because she is procrastinating over music practise) and she is quite able, dh is may and is a cambridge graduate - however I am August and always blamed by birth month for my failings in life ....

I found my scan sheets from my other scans - no mention of ovaries...it must be a new thing...not that I will be needing mine after this..

It is true that Oxbridge graduates are disproportionately likely to have Sept-Dec birthdays, but that's only the case at a statistical level - at the individual level there are so many other factors involved as well. When DS was born I was really keen for him to be September rather than August, but now, having seen how different children are in their development, I'm really not fussed about BabyMoose (my niece started school this year aged 4 years and 4 days and she absolutely thrived from Day 1).

Knackered today. Just come back from a trip to London. Took DS to the Aquarium, which was really good fun, but very tiring. DS has collapsed into bed for a nap - I guess I should be doing the same, really, but here I am!

marzipan, I have a breadmaker so that does the hard part, all I have to do is make rolls and stuff them with chocolate. The house smells so lovely while they're baking though
I'd rather have an August baby simply because otherwise birthday parties can be a problem. I'm an early September baby and because it was a new school year, people didn't have parties on the brain. When I started a new school I didn't know anyone so couldn't invite anyone to my birthday anyway...

Well guys, I was an August baby and I never felt it held me back - possibly made me a bit smug when despite being the youngest I tended to be top of my year at school. Not much to brag about though given the rather rough comp in question . As mentioned allowances are made for the age difference for quite anumber of years (I know it still impacted exam marking at 12) and possible the additional challenge is good for you. Australia runs on calendar years anyway so wont be an issue for us but if I had any concerns I would homeschool for a year or so anyway. I think children start formal schooling too early in England (and Australia too albeit to a slightly lesser extent). Just my personal opinion.

Chulita I am coming to the sad realisation that I will never ever become the kind of person who has home-made brioche coming out of the over before 9 am on a Saturday morning (or anything else for that matter).

Hmmmm. I'm an October baby and went to oxbridge whereas my brother who is an April baby didn't get in . How early do you think the baby can start having private tutoring? . Seriously, my only misgiving about having an August baby is that he/she won't have any friends around for a birthday party - all our friends are non-Belgiian, the baby will go to an international school so everyone he/she knows will be away during the sunmmer.

On another matter, I was having a chat with my mum who said I (her first) was one week early and my brother two weeks early. Do you think it's hereditary, so that genetics is a factor on whether you go into labour before or after your EDD

I think there is some tendency for birth dates to run in the family, but there are so many other factors that I don't think you should rely on it . Same with birthweight of babies. A friend of mine strongly suspected she would have big babies because both she and her husband had very big babies in the family (both her babies turned out to be over 10lb).

Oh, and my sister and I were both Oxbridge - she's October and I'm May. So should I regard mine as the greater achievement ?

Hello ladies - How has your Saturday been?

I dragged dh to the Mamas and Papas factory outlet today in Huddersfield!! Feeling very happy with myself as I got some great bargains on maternity clothes!!

I just have to share them with you!!
Heres what I got:-
1 pair smart trousers
1 pair casual cargo trousers
1 stripey cardigan
1 stripey t-shirt
1 long sleeved smart top
1 vest/tank top

should have cost £158 in total

ACTUALLY COST £17!!!

All baby clothes were under £10 too, didn't buy any tho - not this time, we're going back again in a few months time to see if they have anymore summer maternity/baby clothes

I love the shop - can't rave about it enough!!!

I'm sorry this isn't a more personal post but I've promised dh I'll bake him a chocolate cake So I'd better get started...

Love to all, hope you have peaceful weekends

Wow, Cherrypie, I can't believe those prices!! I wish I were just a tad closer to Huddersfield .

And I'm well impressed with you starting to bake a cake at quarter to eight at night.

Right, I'm off to bed - can hardly keep my eyes open tonight. Not looking forward to tomorrow - they're forecasting 40cm of rain and gale force winds for Kent. Still, at least I won't be competing in the half marathon going on here tomorrow, which I think is still going ahead - poor things .

Erm....the cake didn't happen!! Dh decided it was too late and sent me to the shop for galaxy instead, will be making it tomorrow tho. I didn't mind baking it tonight but the washing up afterwards...just couldn't be bothered!

Elusive Theres more than one factory shop I think, apparently theres one in Stoke on Trent - I only heard about the one in Huddersfield cos a friend told me yesterday Otherwise I would not have considered buying M+P maternity clothes!! at their retail prices!!

Hey! Anyone in South Wales - there is a M+P factory outlet at McCarther Glen in Bridgend. I went there last week and bought a beautiful dress and summery top for £15.

Cherrypie you got an amazing amount for your money! I thought I did well with what I got for £15!! I wouldn't buy at their retail prices either.

Anyway so glad I found this shop because I will be going down there again after my next scan to see what goodies I can pick up for baby!! (and maybe a few more for me!)

I've had a super day shopping in Cardiff today with my Mum! (Birthday next weekend, so our annual buy me presents trip - I wonder if I'll have to grow out of that now I'm going to be a Mummy myself?!) I'm shattered now though!

Hope everyone else has had a fab day too!

I only ever got positive comments when I BF'd in public (and lots of praise for BFing two - people used to say 'are you BFing' 'yes' 'what, both of them?' ) I never turned to face a wall either!

Starshaker, I found that my twins were too big for just one cot quite quickly, within a couple of months. They used to flail their arms around and hit each other. We bought both our cots for under £50 on ebay.

I wouldn't go private to have a baby, because often there are no emergency facilities so if you need a section or anything like that they only take you to the local NHS hospital anyway. I suppose it is no more dangerous than a homebirth but you would be a bit naffed off if you spent £2k on private and then had to go to NHS. But I suppose it depends which hospital cos all the celebs have sections at the Portland don't they! The NHS is top class and they have the best midwives in the world so why go anywhere else

I second the advice to get babygros only for a few months (we used them for 9m but I was a bit lazy), they are much easier. And yes don't get those silly ones with only poppers at the bottom or down the back. Just get the ones from Next or Tesco .

With prams, if you are thinking of having another baby within a couple of years think about getting a pram that converts into a double, like the ABC adventure buggy or the Mutsy (I think). It is a pain to have to get a new pram (I am having this problem at the moment - I am going to have to get one of these ).

Bargain clothes Cherrypie! We have been out looking at new buses, sorry, cars today . We have looked at the Grand Voyager, the Toyota Previa and the Kia Sedona, but not sure whether the pram will fit in with all the kids (esp if we have a fourth DC). Will have to buy the pram first to check!

Has anyone used a buggypod on their buggy? I am thinking Jane powertwin with buggypod but have heard they are not so good?

morning all.
feeling a bit bleary today as went out last night then came home to find dd2 had pooed in her sleep (yes they really can do that )then didn't get to sleep till 11.30 woken by dh coming in at 1 then dd2 woke at 530..

neenz also looked at cars yesterday and am pretty set on the Voyager or Grand Voyager. Totally fell in love with one yesterday.

The back row can slide forward and give you more boot space and I liked the fact that you can walk through the aisle bit to strap the kids in. Also DH likes it and as he has been less than keen on buying a new car I'd appreciate his support on buying that one.

The dealer I went to said I could bring my pushchair to try it in the car- we have a phil and teds so doesn't fold up very neatly. It was 2nd hand though so may get a side by side mclaren with a buggy board for dd1 though after all the prams we have bought I doubt I'll get the go ahead on that one..

Do you know the difference between the Grand voyager and the Voyager? one parked next to the other at the gym the other day and I couldn't tell- maybe bigger boot in the GV?

Also I accosted a woman down my road yesterday who has a voyager she says she loves it and would recommend it.

They got theirs off e bay

The only thing that put me off the GV was it was an automatic and apparently they all are . It only does 28mpg which is terrible. I would expect at least 40mpg+ from a Previa or Sedona. The GV I saw was the new shape and the rearmost seats don't slide forward, but the boot space was very big anyway. I may look at the older shape but the salesman said they are not as big (he would say that tho as he was trying to sell me the new one ) but only if I can find a manual. Not sure about voyager v GV, I didn't know there was a difference. Are you still looking at something £5-6k? I would totally recommend a Previa - I loked at one yesterday, they are fab cars, such good build quality and reliability, big boot. Even if you got one that had done 100,000+ miles you would expect it to do double that in its lifetime. Voyagers don't have such a good reputation in terms of build quality. But I do think the space in the boot is a big consideration so you'd have to look at them to see which had the biggest boot. It's so hard with all the different versions of each model!

We recently moved up to a bigger car to fit DD and impending arrival into - DDs car seat is so big that it was always a squeeze to get more than one extra passenger in the back. Should be able to fit two car seats in now and one not too generously sized person with them . I take my hat off to you ladies about to start the the three-car-seats-at-a-time shuffle.

I recommend before buying cars, you try to investigate how many car seats fit in them. Our Renault Scenic has quite contoured seats and under floor storage so, despite having Isofix fitted, only a limited range of car seats fit and mostly with belts only. Belt lengths vary from car to car (cars of the exact same model and age have different lengths) and this can affect whether seats fit by the belt method.

Britax and Maxi-Cosi have online "fit finders" -
Britax and Maxi-Cosi

We took both our car seats along to our testdrive to make sure they fitted - not so easy for everyone I know - but handy to do if you can.

We have to find a car that fits two 9mth-4yr cars seats and an infant carrier - plus a pram that's big enough for 3 . There are not many. We are definitely going to take all the car seats and the pram (once we buy it) and check they can all fit in before we buy!

Girlsyearapart, in the Previa you can take the middle-row seats out so you can either have the middle one out or even one by the doors so you have easy access into the rear-most seats. I sound like a Toyota salesperson don't I but they are such good cars (recent hiccup excepted), you will not be disappointed! ( I am getting one if the sodding pram will fit and we can get one with lower mileage!)

To all of you joining the new car bonanza, I was reading a piece in the Guardian the other day about these multi-car-seat benches that fit into standard cars (invented by a dad who had 3 or 4 kids but didn't want to change his car). Apparently, they allow you to fit 4 kids into a Ford Fiesta . They're still bloody expensive (like, £1,000+), but still a damn sight cheaper than a new car. Anyway, thought I'd mention it. The website is here. HTH.