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?!

Have sex during mucous time - it is there to nourish the sperm and make it easier for them to swim up. You'll probably ovulate tomorrow then. It comes just before you ovulate so sperm are there waiting when the egg comes.

Sounds so romantic, Amber - 'have sex during mucous time'.

Thanks, though! I was hoping that the mucous didn't mean ovulating right now.

Ready for lesson 2 basic biology now!

Dewin - I'm not planning on discussing on your mucus with you, but lots on internet to explain it all. If you have an iphone there are apps you can download to chart your cycles etc...Good luck

I don't know what bit me. I had a maxi dress on and something obviously got trapped under my skirt and freaked out when it got to my inner thigh . It happened during drinks following the wedding ceremony in some private communal gardens, so there were no loos to dash to after the first bite. I couldn't bring myself to throw my skirt round my ears in front of everyone. It must have escaped after the second bite though.

Oh no, you felt it bite? That's annoying. And I guess hand-up-skirt not really an option either... Gardens - horsefly or midge would be my (non-expert) guess. Probably the former. Especially in an up-the-dress scenario. Midges aren't that intrepid.
Btw you must have looked fab all pregnant in a maxidress! Photos...? I'm hugely jealous of the whole maxidress thing. Just not an option for me. It's a trend for the tall(er) women.

Someone my mum knows was bitten years ago by a ladybird. But it was because she line dried her washing, and a ladybird had got into her knickers, and when she put them on she got bitten. Self defence, I guess!

No more mucus talk, I promise. I was just curious. Curious with intent, obviously. Today is day 14, but my cycle isn't always 28 days. No iphone here - I can't decide whether I really want one or really don't. DH has one and he's really annoying with it. That's a reason not to.

And for the record, I am so not googling cervical mucus.

I looked very large indeed, like the prow of a ship. We didn't take any photos (rubbish or what)! Yes I was trying to sustain a semi intelligent conversation with a former colleague of James's whilst experiencing strong pains on my thigh then bum and feeling desperate to scratch my groin in full public view. Happy days...

Well if your DH has an iPhone I would download the "free menstrual calendar" onto his phone and then he will know when he needs to be in Wales. Hee hee, I would love to hear a bloke explaining that app away to his mates over a pint.

Pmsl at dewin's dh having a free menstrual calendar on his iPhone!! You could set an alarm and everything!

Dewin - I would never think of procreation as romantic anyway but now you come to mention it 'have sex during mucous time' sounds particularly hideous! Personally I think those wee machines are the best. If you come to London you can borrow mine - I guess I don't need it any more! Completely takes the guesswork out especially if you have an irreguar cycle.

The designer Phillipe Stark refers to TTC as photocopying, ie: trying to reproduce, a phrase I liked. And def prefer over the mucus chat!

How are you feeling Amber?

I am in total sympathy Spider as I have 4 bites behind one of my knees. Clearly that's a particularly yummy spot....[hmmm] I'd guess that in total I have about 15 bites. And they are horrid bites too, the kind that you have to itch until you scratch the top off and then they still itch. Means I'm getting up nice and early though, cos once I'm awake I can't get back to sleep for the itching.

Speaking of sleeping, I had an erotic dream about President Obama the other night. Which was a bit of a shock as he is not remotely my type.

20 week scan today and all very good. Right size, everything where it should be and working well.

Oh and I am growing another willy!!!

Great news Penguin (about the scan), less so on the bites. Putting a few frozen peas into a freezer bag does help and has enabled me to get to sleep over the last few days. You can refreeze them once they have done their job (not for eating obviously).

Congrats penguin, and lol at growing another willy .

Oh, another boy! Now I'm !

Thanks for all the mucus advice! Also, amber thanks on the offer of the wee machine (I thought you were being all Scottish and talking about some tiny device, then I realised that wee is actually wee. Got to hope you've cleaned it well! ). I will take you up on that gratefully - well, unless I get pg on the first attempt.

Having a weird day here. I've got the day off to spend with Iestyn, but he's been quite difficult and I'm having a bit of a panic that it's because I'm a crap mother. The car seat thing - him insisting on climbing up himself then fannying about and not getting in - really gets to me, and today I managed to shout in a chavvy manner at him - I'm so ashamed. (Mind you, he did get in the seat double-quick-sharp after that.) We then went to Bangor for a psychology test and he behaved really well and co-operated (surprising, given that he had electrodes all over his head!) and then went for lunch in Debenhams. Not so good - he threw food, spilt juice all down himself and I went 'oh no!' and the people at the next table laughed at me (I nearly told them to f* off) and he spat food on the floor, climbed on the chair and tried to jump. All behaviour he doesn't do at home, but I felt quite judged. Then he refused to lie down for a nappy change etc etc. I had planned a lovely little lunch, me and him. Maybe expectations too high for a 2yo?

I've started a thread on the car seat problem - god, I hope I'm not slated.

Dewin I just find that brute force is the only way when they won't get in their car seats. They complain, but once they are strapped in there's not much they can do about it! No you are not a crap mother, 2yos push the boundaries all the time. We can just about take T and E out for lunch, with lots of books to keep them occupied, but I wouldn't expect it to be very enjoyable. Their frustrating behaviour atm includes running around the front garden after they get out of the car ie refusing to come in the house. I usually have to grab one, shove him in the front door, close the door then go grab the other. They are same when it is nappy change/bedtime - they think it is fun to run away from me so I have to chase them, catch them then carry them. It is exhausting! On the plus side I have lost half a stone on 2wks . Good luck with TTC.

Penguin, another boy, how lovely! Glad the scan went well. I am at you finding out the sex. We didn't find out with D and the 'surprise' at the end was just not worth it at all! I much preferred knowing, it was so lovely to imagine my little boy and little girl, get all the clothes ready and decide on names. It felt much more real. Kind of nice to have experienced it both ways and fair do's to anyone who prefers the surprise, each to their own!

All still going well here, got D to take some daytime naps in his cot which is good, altho he is still in bed with me most nights. At least it means lots of sleep for me. He is awake more in the day today so hopefully we will be able to get some sort of nap routine going soon. He has just slept whenever he wants up to now.

Dewin - put my two pennorth in (is that how you spell it?). Offer is there on the week machine if attempt one doesn't succeed! They are £99 new! £20 for week sticks I think but they last 2 cycles. There is even a TTC thread on here just based on the clearblue fertility monitor!

Penguin - hurrah on the scan and another boy. Mine's not for another week and a bit so i'll be 21+3 when I get it. Have you broached the subject with Ryder? I am feeling much better today thanks hence my more coherent post! I didn't sleep well last night though and got back in bed at 9.30 this morning. When I opened my eyes it was 2.15!!! I must have needed it. Not been sleeping well this week due to the dsinus pain but that has almost gone thankfully.

Neenz - I am with you on finding out the sex. I think it really helped me to bond with my Luke prior to him being born and so lovely to be able to choose stuff for him knowing he was a boy. Funny though, the fact I am having two girls has scared the bejesus out of me so in a way I wish I was ignorant!

Dewin - posted on your thread.

Why are you scared? Of having girls, or twins? Lol at neenz - the surprise not worth it! I suppose it's 50/50 so not really a major surprise!
I really wanted to know with Iestyn, and I also agree it helped me bond with him. I'd had such a hideous pregnancy I really hated the unknown item making me so ill and depressed. So knowing it was a boy made a huge difference: immediately after that scan I wanted to have a baby. Previously I didn't. But then I felt I could start thinking in real terms.

Thanks for the responses on the thread - the only ones really, apart from one other poster. Clearly it's a phase, and will try Spider's recommendations. I've also tried leaving him in the car, closing the door - but again, that was the biggest fun ever clearly.
Funnily enough, he played up majorly this afternoon when I was leaving my friend R's house. She was sympathetic - she has a 2.10yo who had been through this phase too - and she tried helping - 'show R how you get into the car all by yourself, oh you can't do it' etc. It worked, but on his way to the car seat, he fell and split his lip. Oops. (R, incidentally, went 'ah well' - she's been there! ) Let's hope he remembers that tomorrow...

DH home now and putting Iestyn to bed! He just got in, and Iestyn's going to bed a smidge later than usual.

If Spider's method fails chocolate will work!

I am scared of having girls and twins.Having girls makes it more scary as I know what I'm doing with a boy. I am going through a petrified phase where I am wondering how the hell I'm going to cope at the moment with absolutely no family whatsoever to give me a hand. I am getting stressed about thinking of what childcare I will need to help me and how much it will all cost. Luke is being so lovely at the moment though and again it worries me how my relationship will change with him when I have no time to devote to him. I think not feeling well has left me feeling a bit vulnerable which is exacerbating any negative feelings/anxiety I might have.

Dewin, I love Spider's suggestion of getting a menstrual calendar on your dh's phone, and no I wasn't suggesting I video your brother, that would be a bit weird. Good luck with the ttc.

Penguin, great news about the scan and a little brother for Ry. My boys are such good friends.

Amber , I'm sure you'll cope, and Luke will adapt. I bet he will be very protective of his little sisters.

Neenz, no wonder you're losing weight so fast, sounds exhausting.I used to put Ethan down in his moses basket but from when we went to bed he was usually in with us and it worked out really well. It didn't last forever and I quite miss those days now sometimes!

Spider, sold some more stuff today and the boys raided their cupboard and earned 17 euros!!Not buying anything though as it's just more to bring back.

Had a lovely day out today at the zoo, chosen because we thought Ethan would love to see the animals....I think his favourite was a cat , a normal pet cat which was strolling through the zoo and he managed to stroke it!Tigers, lions, brown bears etc...weren't as interesting obviously. My favourite was the otter family, Dad was out fishing whilst Mum and baby were curled up asleep together! Finished the day with a Chinese on the way home, lovely!!

Evening all. Am currently sat on the sofa with a flaked out S - he's only just dropped off. How on earth did I get here

Sorry you're feeling a bit freaked out Amber - sounds perfectly natural though. Just think though, Luke's going to be a 'big brother' and that'll add a whole new dimension to his scrumptiousness!

Spider, that's very kind of you to offer to lend me your book. What's it called? I might have a look on Amazon and just buy it - could be handy longer term!

Neenz - I have a colleague who's expecting twins and all in a fluster over prams! What do you recommend (or think is awful). She wants something side by side, suitable from birth and with a bit of longevity.

Biscuits - I'm away this weekend but will give you a shout on Sun night to arrange to meet at ITNG

DGT it is called "Teach your child to sleep" and the authors are the Millpond Childrens Sleep Clinic. My copy was second hand from Amazon and it was a couple of quid, mint condition too. It has various flow charts to help diagnose different reasons for bedtime battles in the over 1s and other flow charts for night waking etc. From reading through it with S in mind I realised that only you have the knowledge to apply to the book rather than the anecdotal stuff that I can remember from what you have said.

I am still happy to post it though if amazon can't sort you out with a cheap copy.

Amber I'd be feeling way more than nervous about girls and twins and lack of help - I've been through the lack of help but not the girls (although I think they don't get difficult until later on :) ) and the twins... It always does work out though and Luke will benefit from his sisters company in so many ways.

Penguin yeah for boys! I've two as you know and I love it :)

Deb good for you on the sales!

Dewin there's a really good book called "taking charge of your fertility" which explains cycles etc. My cycle is disastrous (anywhere from 6-12 weeks long) so we used the book to understand when we should actually be trying. Mucous does last for a few days so hope you're having fun today...

Off to find a copy of Red magazine - I looked on thursday at work but it wasn't out yet! Oh and the nanny is lovely and it feels like it might just all work out!

Quick hello, haven't caught up at all, have been on holiday this week, to Hawes, it was lovely. Got to dash as I have boys who need lunch.
Will catch up soon.

Ktpie, spent a lot of time in Hawes as we used to live in Leyburn before Austria, were you camping?

got to go Ethan has woken up, he is so full of cold and very whingey

dewin DS is having the most awful tantrums at the moment so I really can feel your pain. Last week at the dr's he threw himself on the floor as we got in the room and ran out of the door three times! I had to leave the room and get his buggy - I then strapped him in and left him facing a wall! He did simlar when we went shoe shopping, managed to get them on him but he knelt on the florr screaming instead of walking - gave up, didn't want shoes with a negative vibe!

Amber I thought it would be very strange having a boy after girls - as soon as he was born I realised a baby is a baby and it makes no difference! I hope you do find some childcare solutions. An aupair would be cheapest and she could take the babies for a walk, do aome washing and other light housework too.

I didn't find out the sex with the girls as it wasn't policy but did with ds. If I ever did it again I don't think I would find out.