June 08 - 118 (and counting) sleeps till Chistmas, but don't tell Deb!

[EddieIzzardismyhero]

Welcome to our new, cosy thread. Log fires, big jumpers and Christmas shopping .

What do you mean it's still August?!

Oh, and can someone please remind me what I need to have in the house for a new baby - I'm 31+4 tomorrow and suddenly the reality of this baby is hitting in!

Biscuits, you'll need biscuits (obviously), tea, digibox full of crap tv, and visitors who know where the kettle is.

The shops will be open for everything else you need

Biscuits - hope you have great night away.As for getting ready for baby, don't suppose you need any more baby stuff apart from tiny napppies. So my thoughts are chocolate, easy meals in the freezer, nice cosy dressing gown for you, pain relief for after pains, nipple cream if you're bfeeding and a nice new toy for C as a present from the baby. Maybe some new books or dvd's for C for whilst you're feeding new baby.

Goddess - get it finished?

Spider - hope your holiday is going well and you're getting down that list to do. Pregnant Mary Quant sounds intriguing

Dewin - lol at Iestyn weeing on his toy box, doesn't sound ready!!The novelty of the toilet seat has worn off with Ethan.

Neenz - wow, one feed inthe night, that's great. sorry to hear about your stressful day. Well fone Theo for knowing the wee was coming!

I had a day of it yesterday with Stefan phoning to say he was stranded at school with no bus for an hour so I had to get him, and Ethan was in the wars, he fell down half the stairs (marble) amazingly no injuries, got stung by a bee and got splinters in his hand.Tristan has finally caught mine and dh's cold which we're still suffering with and he was up in the night wheezing.

Enough moaning from me, anyone doing anything good this weekend?

Lol at sinister!! Just knackered - job full on and boys not sleeping as usual. Nothing sensible to say .

at Ethan, Deb! Really unfortunate!

Doing nothing thrilling this weekend - going to a full day tutorial tomorrow for this exam. (It's really cramping my style )

Otherwise wondering whether to attend a conference. It's relevant to me (medieval Wales) and I've attended in the past, but this time I'm bitter and twisted. It's held at Bangor but I've not been asked to contribute or help out so I'm peeved, seeing as I'm a well-known academic in the field of the conference, at Bangor, and invisible. It's also organised by the girl who got the job I applied for (and I'm still fuming about the feedback which is not satisfactory).

But then I don't want to cut off my nose to spite my face. Conversely, I am actually hurting in a human way from this and turning up might rub salt in the wound.

Also...still feeling sick. Getting quite suspicious.

Think I'm going to have to get on the phone to my SIL as they've got all our newborn stuff - not a tiny vest in the house at the moment! Will definitely need to stock up on chocolate, probably several times though as it will mysteriously vanish if I buy it too soon!

Poor ethan Deb, hope he's OK.

Well done on the revision Dewin, and the assignment DGIT I would Bouycott the conference dewin but only because it's all still a bit raw isn't it?

spider am v intrigued by the pregnant Mary Quant, but good on her for joining classes and things - I'm sure she's aware that everyone is double taking at her, must be added anxiety I suppose...

Biscuits you're really kind on Spider's Mary Quant - I should follow your lead and not be so sensational. It must be additional anxiety.

Deb gave good advice on what to get for the baby. I was thinking about this - I had this gigantic list when I was pg with Iestyn (all bought around the 20 wk scan natch) and most of it was entirely irrelevant. I guess clothes are ok because you have C's baby clothes (unless you get a boy! But even then you won't need outfits until he's a bit older anyway!) so basically a cot/moses basket, lots of sheets, and nappies.
Agree on the chocolate- DH bought me a giant bar as a snack for when I'm studying. I ate it all yesterday. In two goes. - or maybe I should be proud I managed to break it in two!

I'm in such a turmoil about the conference - last date to register is today - because really I don't want to go, but I think maybe if I turn up I will be Making A Point (because I'm well-known and respected in the field). On the other hand, I might lose a lot of respect if I'm making snide comments/being bitchy/slapping the other girl/tampering with food/crying bitter tears.
It's hard - academia is mean, and unfair, and I should rise above it. And I do, mostly; but it is raw.

And this is all wasting time instead of studying!

It has been a wee bit quiet on here hasn't it?

Assignment is all done - hurrah! I'll have the weekend off before making a start on the revision for the November exams. We did have all sorts of nice plans, but thanks to the pox we'll have to curtail those. I think we'll visit my parents on Sunday so we at least get out of the house for a bit! I really, really need to catch up on some housework though - our house is in an embarrasing state at the moment.

Biscuits, I thought that Deb's ideas of some dvd's etc for C was a good one. Toy story 3 is out in November!

Not much else to report on here. I'd tell you I've booked my Christmas shopping slot with Waitrose, but Deb's moving back to the UK so she'll be a bit nearer to throw stuff at me .

Dewin, I probably wouldn't go to the conference either while it's so raw. Do you share your calendar with colleagues? I'd probably have something else on that day that would make it impossible for me to attend without looking like it was sour grapes (which it's not, I know).

Knitting - sorry the boys sleeping isn't any better. How's the new job going? Have you arrange to get your coil removed?

S is faring fairly well with the pox - he's pretty lively and full of beans! He's getting a bit bored stuck indoors I think though. Last night he said to DH 'no nursery tomorrow Daddy, go to soft play!' Poor boy. He's waking up and coming into our bed around 1am at the moment, but we're just living with it while he's ill. SPider - did I say thank you for the book? Now my assignment is out of the way I can have a good read at it for some tips.

Big wave to everyone else - I keep meaning to post things and forget so apologies to anyone I haven't said hello to in a while!

Oh, would anyone particularly recommend the toilet seat that they have (for toddlers, not full size!)? I've been meaning to get one for ages. They seem to come in a range of styles and prices.

DG, we have one like this. It has monsters on, but Esther thinks they are crabs. For ages we thought she was saying craps . But it didn't fit on our ensuite toilet (not that it is a very big toilet seat, just a normal one AFAIK) so we got one of these that goes under the seat. The DTs prefer the one that goes over the seat.

Dewin, I wouldn't go to the conference, don't put yourself through more hurt. I can understand how bitter you feel, I would too! You're welcome wrt the cash for the nappies - they were a bargain. I am still loving them, even more than the Totsbots.

Biscuits, for a new baby there wasn't much really: vests, babygros (though we got bought 6 of these and that's all he wears), cot sheets, blankets, nappies, bath support, bath wash, olive oil for dry skin, cotton wool buds for manky eyes/nappy changes, playmat, bouncy chair, playpen to keep baby safe from toddlers , car seat. If I remember anything else I'll let you know!

I am trying to get Daniel into more of a routine cos he is very settled in the morning and is sleeping well at night but he gets overtired in the afternoons and struggles to nap. It gets bad at 5pm-ish when I am making twins tea/preparing a meal for me and DH/tidying up etc and D is crying. I carry him round in the baby bjorn and he likes that but I find it quite immobilising and everything takes twice as long.

I've got one that goes under the main seat like the Mothercare one except mine was from Tesco.
Not that it makes any difference around here!

DGT well done on the assignment . How does one book a Waitrose slot for Christmas? I've looked at Ocado and they only go up to October.

Dewin I wouldn't go either but I like the suggestion of making sure your diary is busy that day. DH would go (no, he's not here looking over my shoulder, but I know that in your position he would go. But he does a great poker face whereas I wear my heart on my sleeve and get hormonal!).

Biscuits great list from Deb. Plenty of changes of bed linen for you when your sheets get covered in sick/wee/sweat? Don't know about you but I feel more rested if my sheets are nice. Lovely post about pregnant Mary Quant, btw

I've just booked theatre and concert tickets for us for the next few months. We had vouchers to use up and I've been hoarding them. We're seeing Kim Cattrall in Antony and Cleopatra and lots of things at the Philharmonic. We've taken the boys to a few concerts in the past, and they'll be fine, but we've not taken the girls. DD1 has been to the theatre with the school a couple of times and been fine, but she saves her most horrible moments for me so I'm a bit nervous. And no idea how T will be, but I'm very encouraged by all the toddlers going to see ITNG and The Gruffalo. We're taking them to Christmas children's concerts, not Stravinsky

We're still getting letters about schools so I have to keep my head out of the sand. The meeting the other night was good, and I was impressed with the school (I brought my Dad as I was scared ) but it's so difficult to know what's the right thing to do.

Rolf - are the majority of his friends going to one particular school?Theatre visits sound great , I'm very jealous.

Goddess - Christmas food shopping aargh!!!!! You do know that we're moving back to Teesdale don't you, I should get worried if I were you!!!!we have a seat similar to thistoilet seat

Dewin - don't go to the conference. Have you still got the other symptoms or just the sickness?

Neenz - I had that stage with Ethan when tea needed making etc... I'm trying to remember if there was anything I did but I can't, afraid it was just a phase that passed.

ethan's fine today thanks, Tristan;s poorly though and very wheezy poor thing.Dh and I still struggling with this awful cold. Stefan's fine, maybe he should make the tea for us all.

Hello. Visiting my parents for a couple of nights, so not able to post properly. "To do" list got smaller on Wednesday, but having a break from it whilst we are away. DH catching up on sleep so I am hopeful that he will be energised when we get home! However as you know he always gets "ill" on holiday so I am braced for a man flu announcement about now .

DGT - yes you did say thanks for the book, but I hadn't acknowledged you. Maybe you should post it on to Knitting when you are done as I was meaning to see if she wanted to borrow it a few months back

Better go. Mum has done the classic thing of inviting her friend round for tea. Apparently said friend wants to see me even though I hardly know her. This is what happens when parents witter to each other about their children I suppose. Not sure how that is different to what we do on the June 08 thread? Maybe I am just as bad?

Hope you get on well with your Mum's friend, Spider! I hate those situations - you sort of feel like you're being paraded, show bull type way, and it's always awkward knowing what to say (especially when one side knows 'absolutely everything' about you and you know nothing about them...)

Sorry about the ongoing cold, Deb. And I considered looking at Christmas organic veg box deliveries yesterday but then told myself to stop being silly! (To be honest, I think someone on here must have influenced me! I don't think about Christmas this early.)

Rolf the concerts sound great! (I struggle to sit still through Stravinsky though. And there was once a production of um some Debussy opera - Pelias and Melisande?? - which I struggled so much with I was almost kicking the seat of the person in front etc etc. )

OK, so, since Deb asked... Still symptoms! Feeling sick - mainly morning and evening; boobs not as bad as they were but still heavy; metallic (I guess - can't think how else to describe it) taste in the mouth. Also - sorry!! vaginal discharge which is different but not scary/illness different.

And...missed period.

But I tested yesterday afternoon, and it was negative. I don't dare test again! I can't believe I would get pg at the very first attempt like that, not really, but it would be nice.

Dewin!

Rolf, we don't have Ocado but Waitrose online have slots up to 23 December. I've seen threads on here about people being frantic about delivery slots so I got in there quick! I'm working right up till Christmas Eve so need an online delivery to avoid the stress!

Neenz, I remember S used to go in a meltdown at teatime (he was a terrible daytime napper till around his first birthday). I used to put on of those baby Einstein dvd's on and pop him in his bouncy chair. It worked like magic. I think it lasted about 20 minutes so not too long.

Ah, DH has tea ready so must dash!

Yeah, but the negative test?

how late are you Dewin?

Dewin, yeah cos it's not like you have ever got PG on the first go before

DG, I might try that with D cos I can put him in the lounge (me and DTs are in kitchen). I have one of those Baby Einstein DVDs somewhere...

We are going looking for beds tomorrow for the DTs. I think they are ready. I don;'t care if they don't stay in bed, it's becoming really physically demanding putting them in sleeping bags and putting them in their cots (when DH is not there). It will be easier if they can get themselves into bed. Igglepiggle duvet sets here we come!

What tog duvet do they need?

2 days late now - I'm not 100% regular but do tend to come on early rather than late. I'm such a knicker checker atm!
But you're right, neenz, done it before, but I just assumed it was unusual and wouldn't happen again. Could it...???

I will now text DH - he's in casualty which is right by Tesco's - and ask him to pick up a pg test. I'll do it in the morning - afternoon isn't as good, I suppose, esp if you're using the cheapest test possible! ( my thinking was - and always has been! - that I'm not spending any more than necessary on a pee stick esp if it's going to be negative. I'm not paying for disappointment! In fact, on that negative one, I thought 'oh, damn. ' And then 'thank goodness I didn't pay a tenner for the test'! )

Beds - getting Iestyn in the actual cot is fine, but the sleeping bag is becoming a real hassle.
Spider - and anyone else - the car seat issue is no better, he's still playing up, and I'm down to three options: set off 10 minutes early for everywhere; bribe him as Amber suggested (although he's cunning as a fox and he might use it to his advantage); or start shackling him with heavy weights or some such.

Need to clarify: DH is in casualty but I'm not talking profusive bleeding/major incapacitation or anything. In case you all think I'm really being demanding: oh, you're close to death but be a love and pick up a preg test from Tesco.
He's got a suspected dislocated finger (actually rather serious for an organist of his calibre) and I sent him there - he was going to see how it turned out.

Thinking about it, surely the NHS have free ones? Maybe I could persuade him to steal one.

Neenz - will you get a regular single duvet? I got 4.5 tog.

Thanks for all the toilet seat suggestions, will check those out.