November 05 Babies, they're on a roll......

[Busyalexsmummy]

Here, thats better!

[Diege]

GOLDEN: I'm in sociology/social policy too, currently doing stuff on risk and pregnancy, though published mainly in area of theory and methods. Was LSE as great as everyone says? Would have loved to have gone there; was Giddens a lecturer there when you were a student? BTW, agree you do look very glam, and very young too!
Well, Libby's jumper is soaked with dribble, and she's v. crochety too, so perhaps a tooth soon? Anyone else's baby hate lying flat on playgym at the mo? She's straining her head up, and getting really cross, can't wait for bumbo thong to arrive
Diege.

[Diege]

LOL, meant 'thing', not 'thong'...sounds very rude and makes me seem a bit of a perv !!!- esp. not being able to wait!

[goldenoldie]

Diege - LSE was great, but a bit scary. Used to young, bright people, who were non-plussed about studies, but did well anyway, but the LSE was full of young, bright people, who worked hard too.

The DTs hate tummy time and laying flat on back to play too. Much prefer sitting upright.

My (old) publications are all on identity, but don't want to persue that area any more. What did you do on the EU?

[babyonboard]

hi all

chacha - i really love the mandarin little me, especially the lotion, but they only do it in travel size at our boots so I have to buy several at once.
Re - bbyshower gift, I'd say £20 -£30, more for closer friens, and i would personlly get somthing for the mum aswll as the baby.
Beksmum - aw, hope he's feling better for his birthday
Nova - thats really sad about DH's friends!

I wish this weather would improve, I really want to get out and do something but can't think of nything worth getting cold and wt for..lol

We are going to get this \link{http://www.schottsalmanac.com/'schott's almanac}for 2005 to go in O's memory box.
Also considering getting a case of good 2005 wine for his 21st party..lol..it'll probably be us that appreciate it more..must get advice on that on though so we don't just end up with a glut of vinegar..hehehee.

O has started pulling everything and anything over his face and laughing at it..not good! he now is in his sleeping bag for all naps as he can't be trusted with blankets, and i have to watch him all the time when he's on his playmat.

My birthdy gift from DP is in an envelope on our dresser..can't wait to see what it is! arghhhh

[Diege]

GOLDEN: my stuff was on perceptions of national identity, ('Britishness') represented in the media when GB was joining the EU. Have since done stuff on 'otherness', and also on women's perceptions of body image. Like stuff on risk best though . Would love to hear more about your work. What area do you fancy moving into?
Libby hates tummy time too, really flaps about like a seal and goes bright red! Finding it hard to get motivated today, too much coffee and heat (from radiators!)!! Must get something done!!!
Diege

[Diege]

Oh BOB,you must open the envelope!!!How have you resisted uop to now!!

[babyonboard]

dige- i know..but I like surprises!
i'm meeting DP in a restaurant tomorrow night so have to take it with me and open then..it's too long to wait..argh
gave it a good shake and tried to see through the envelope..lol..but of course, no clues!
He has said we need to be out of the house by 1pm on saturday, as i had to let my mum know (she's coming down to babysit) argh..argh...

[babyonboard]

good god..these lyrics are a song 'richrd thompson' wrote to commemorate his son's birth..hope his wife slpped him.lol..

''I feel for you, you little horror
Safe at your mother's breast
No lucky break for you around the corner
'Cause your father is a bully
And he thinks that you're a pest
And your sister she's no better than a whore.

Life seems so rosy in the cradle,
But I'll be a friend I'll tell you what's in store
There's nothing at the end of the rainbow.
There's nothing to grow up for anymore

Tycoons and barrow boys will rob you
And throw you on the side
And all because they love themselves sincerely
And the man holds a bread knife
Up to you throat is four feet wide
And he's anxious just to show you what it's for.

Your mother works so hard to make you happy
But take a look outside the nursery door
There's nothing at the end of the rainbow.
There's nothing to grow up for anymore

And all the sad and empty faces
That pass you on the street
All running in their sleep, all in a dream
Every loving handshake
Is just another man to beat
How your heart aches just to cut him to the core

Life seems so rosy in the cradle,
But I'll be a friend I'll tell you what's in store
There's nothing at the end of the rainbow.
There's nothing to grow up for anymore''

[Diege]

BOB , thought it was going to be a soppy one!! gulp...poor baby ; d'you think it was supposed to be (in some way?) wry and amusing??!! LOL at you trying to see through envelope! That's more like it! Oooh, this is so exciting, you are sooo lucky

[yorkshirepuddling]

Hi guys,

Not been on for a few days do trying to catch up.

I've finally found the disc with the photos so may try and find the time later to add our photos to the yahoo site. Would def like to join you guys in losing weight, currently doing weightwatchers too but finding that I am gaining rather than losing weight.

Holly definately has got a tooth coming through as I can feel it under the gums, and I think we may be having a growth spurt as well as she has drained ALL her bottles over the last few days. Think that accounts for the fact that she is so grumpy and no longer sleeping through the night. We even had to leave baby massage early today as I couldn't calm her down. As soon as she was in the car, big smiles

Gotta go, will try to catch up later.

[tessasmum]

What happened this w/e, its normally really quiet on here? Its taken me AGES to catch up

Love all the additions to the Yahoo group too. It is nice to put faces to names and too see so many gorgeous babies.

Londoner - thanks for info about your weaning experiences. We have continued with it but are just giving 'tasters' for a few more weeks though I think someone would like more than that. Ash is VERY interested in food at the moment and opens his mouth whenever something comes his way, even if it is supposed to be heading in my direction. We also seem to be coming out of the waking at night thing again, he has only woken once for the past 3 nights (rather than at least twice!) If it was a growth spurt it lasted all the way from 3 to 4 months
I have also have nicked the opening 2 windows idea so hopefully I will be able to reply to a few people now rather than fail to do it from memory!

No more now though as I am being summoned from downstairs, think the video must have finished!

[novadandypowder]

There was no need for changing names . The being on the second page was just an excuse for my anal-ness. Don't mind being on second page really, it was just bugging me that it was getting a bit messy with lots of little bitty albums springing up, and it was harder to see who was who. I'm going to stop now before I get myself into more trouble .

The school we saw today was wonderful, and I really really want to get into it.

[Diege]

Pheww, have just had e-mail from personnel at work asking me if I would like to meet up 'over a coffee' (VERY David Brent ) to discuss my flexible options in light of 'restructuring' of the dept (we are merging with another dept) Hmmm, I may be being cynical, but think they may be thinking here's a chance to save a bit of money, while appearing all 'pc'...hmm, naybe I'm being cynical. On the plus side, it's a chance for me to state what I really want (ie, flexibility, but still full-time, or (better still), flexible in terms of working from home 1 or 2 days a week, even losing a bit of dosh (as we'd save on nursery fees). Not sure how to play this one .
Have just realised this is a bit self-absorbed, and of no interest to anyone other than myself! .
BTW NOVA!!!DD2 had major-league tantrum over your Snow White dress!!. 'I wanna wear the snow white dress for nursery!!!!' She was totally captivated with it .
Right, DND!!! - anyone actually won the jack-pot yet?

[Rodeo]

Children having tea at Aunty Cass's tonight :)Jess finaly had 2nd set of jabs this morning and has been really grumpy despite a dose of calpol, even a bath and massage didn't cheer her up.

Good luck at your 'meet up over coffee' Diege! Sounds positive to me! Fingers crossed anyway :) How was your 'strike day'?! Love your baby names - daughter no 4???

BOB, I'm excited for you!! Only about 27 hours to wait Hope you have a lovely day (and weekend?) if I don't remember to say tomorrow! I got the Schotts Almanac for dp for christmas (it's a good toilet read ), may pinch you idea!

Not the lurgy again Beks :( Poor little Thomas

Good luck with your venture BAM, I like The Body Shop stuff for me, esp the Body Butters, they don't do their baby range anymore but I like the little me stuff, the Simple range, and anything hippy and organic :)

Does anyone else love that bouncy ball advert (the one for a telly)??

[Busyalexsmummy]

Ooooooh, Nearly got all the things I need to start putting together my product, have got basic brands at the mo, ie.J+J etc, and think i will just see how this product sells, if it sells well then Ill expand to neals yard etc etc
Cant beleive it, am doing 3 at the moment, blue/pink/neutral and per "thing"(!) its already cost £30 and thats without wrapping and p+p!! really want to make this work and have stayed away till 2/3am the last 4 days thinking about it!(it'll probably turn out to be a nutty idea that fails misrably and i'll probably lose alot of time/money in the process, but im so confident with the gap in the market I think it could work!?)
Had anougher driving lesson today,feel like its all coming together slowly now and its starting to click "upstairs"! was miserable weather though!

[novadandypowder]

Rodeo - Sugababes and Push the Button was number 1. Must confess the top ten singles were a gift from Frank Skinner (ohh get me!!). The newspaper was also a gift and it was The Telegraph

[JenJam]

BAM - my views:-

If you were buying toiletries for yourself whilst pg, which brands were you most likely to buy?

errr... anything boutiquey or alternative that says baby or mommy to be - im such a sucker despite 10yrs researching mkting and advertising gubbins - and knowing vaseline and baby lotion do the job just as well. ive got two half/unused nipple creams in my bathroom

hinted heavily and dp bought me two items fron this range

www.activebirthcentre.com/shopping/skincareMAIN.shtml

Which baby brands stand to attention to you when buying on ebay? which are you most likely to buy?

none - dont associate ebay with toiletries

Which brands of toiletries are you likely to buy for your baby?

first off i bought organic hypo allergenic stuff e.g. green baby own brand, neals yard, organic babies.com, now will buy johnson and johnson exra sensitive stuff, maybe simple although havent yet, poosibly neutrogena too

If you want products/toiletries that are more "upmarket" than say avent/johnsons etc, what are they, how much would you be willing to spend?

will spend 10-15 for individual items!!!! depending on mood - impulse buying in shops - on ebay think i would be more careful - a bit tight esp if i was buying a kit/set of toiletries

If you were buying for a baby shower, for a close friend, how much would you be willing to spend on a gift for that person, for their new baby?

£20-30 - £40-50 for best friends!

hope this helps

btw - diege and golden like to talk more about what you do for a living - might be time for me to retrain

must go finn in pain - violent hiccups and straining shrieking

btw chacha anmd londoner thks for comments re piccies - am soo proud

bye

[JenJam]

shouldve said wldnt spend 45-50 on toileries tho wld be a nice blanket or something, unless i
clubbed together with an other person

finn still wriggling must go...

[Busyalexsmummy]

Cant really explain atm what im on about, but once ive done and listed i'll let you see what it is, thanks for that info jen, very helpful x

[ChaCha]

Our best friends are having their baby in a few weeks time and I have no idea what to buy. They bought us a fantastic Braun thermometer, baby books, toiletries for me and cooked dinners while I was in hossie...have a budget of around 50 pounds for them (any ideas while on subject?)Anyone else around 15-20pounds.

Z is still asleep after having his injections this afternoon.

Beksmum - How r u & the LOs?

BAM - Hope it all works out for you.

Goodnight all x

[Candiemom]

Ok gals, I will not have time to read everything just a couple of questions and answers if it's ok with you I'm a bit up to my ears in alligators trying to organise our trip home next week (when we are getting dd christened and also getting married ourselves, so just a few things to iron out). Today successfully went to have hair done (also resisted short) and feel much better. Don't know where I'll find the time to get a decent dress, ideas welcome!

Diege not that you were asking for advice but I'd let them to all the talking and then see what you have been offered! If your suspicions are correct they'll have to tread very carefully or very generously I'd go with your instincts. Good luck!

Would love to catch up this week barring dd having a bad time of it Tex, what time is the walk Thurs and where do you meet? Londoner, Friday sounds good what is the movie and how will I recognise you?

[Candiemom]

Busy: i would pay a lot for natural feeling and looking products that are gentle and can be used for both mommy and baby. I think Lush has some. The smell has to be innocent baby not mother trying to make baby wear perfume. The safety thing is a must -- would be more attracted if it was hypo-allergenic and/or proven to help with baby dry skin and/or exema (sp?). I would be drawn in by clean living images of mom and baby having bathtime together and smelling lovely and fresh and clean as we get into our pjs.

Right now I use Avent and Johnsons for both of us -- completely given up having my own toiletries. They're pretty good actually.

[Diege]

Wow Candie, wedding and christening!!! No wonder you're busy ; how exciting for you. Re: dress at short notice, thing Londoner put up link for Debenhams, and Monsoon is also really good; they have some gorgeous wedding dresses, and not too pricey either . Was the wedding a sudden decision, or have you been planning it for ages? (nosey I know ). Thanks for advice on job; you're right to say play it cool and listen first (you know me better than you think; I have trouble not interrupting, and always talk too much, esp. when nervous!).
DH watching boring, boring footie match, so trying to do some writing for work; you lot are a welcome distraction though!
Speak later,
Diege

[goldenoldie]

ChaCha - why don't you start a memory box for them? Buy a beautiful container and put a few bits in when the baby is born to start it off - newspaper, chart single, photo of mum just before baby arrived, and so on...........................

Candi - Selfridges is full of designer consessions - you are bound to find something nice there.

Just looked at the new pics. What an attractive lot you are, and the babies are pretty cute too!!!

[Candiemom]

Well, here's the story. My dh to be proposed a year ago last weekend and I of course said yes. Little did we know we had conceived that very same weekend! A little surprise to say the least i'd ttc with my late husband but thought I was past my sell by. Anyway, before we figured it all out we were planning this great wedding in a scotish castle. Once we figured it out, we just didn't want to do too much during the pregnancy. There were several abandoned plans and finally we just said 'later.' But of course I hadn't realised how few rights fathers have here in the UK AND how old fashioned people can still be. Combine that with our total devotion to each other now that we have dd and we thought, let's just do it. Paperwork was holding us back (her passport, provincial permission to marry at home) and all came through last week. Our minister was free as was my sister's club and bob's your uncle instant wedding.

Selfridges is a great tip but not sure if I can face with dd on my own... She's already shopped and hair saloned this week! Also I get overwhelmed there and tend to get feeling fat. Perhaps a personal shopper -- I will call tomorrow!

Diege I know the feeling and have learned the hard way to keep my mouth shut! It is just mind over matter and sitting on your hands. Being quiet does wonders you get loads of things you didn't ask for and loads of information you might not have gotten! Silence is often a tactic that an organisation will use because they KNOW you will be uncomfortable with silence and also that you're a nice person and will want to please them so there you will go yack yack yacking to try to fill up the silence with your pleasing comments. Here is my strategy: Just be quiet that one second longer and the other person will usually cave first. If you find yourself needing to speak, ask questions. 'Just to clarify, what you are saying is... ' etc. Even if you DO get it, to buy yourself some time tell them you aren't quite clear yet please can they re-explain? So there's a few long pauses and awkward silences? it will keep them wondering how tough you're going to be and will buy you some time to figure it all out. On the other hand, maybe they'll be super nice to you! That happens a lot too!!