July 2016 #2

[Bluebell20]

A new thread as we (hopefully) move towards longer sleeps and lovely little smiles!

So I'm off out for the first night out since Ben was born tomorrow night. Karaoke with some work friends then in into town for drinks and dancing!!! (I think I may just do the karaoke!!) DH is already asking what he'll need to do!!! I'm leaving him to do DD's bedtime with Benny as well! I just need to find something to wear! May need new as in still about 2 stone over pre pregnancy weight!!

Oh indians congrats!! When are you getting married? I love looking at wedding dresses so feel free to share ones you like !! You're doing great on weight loss. I've been feeling down about my body. Then my friend reminded me I had two babies in 19 months and one is 7 weeks old! I guess I just want it off to get back into some clothes!!! I'm on it now!

becks that sounds fun! I'm very jealous. Have you got your outfit sorted? Ha to DH! I'm sure he'll be just fine and if not then it's good for him lol

Grace has been a diamond today whilst I've spent the days with friends. Trade off is she's no really unsettled

Primary - the wedding and the cake sound awesome! Enjoy!
Congratulations on the weight loss - that's awesome!

Tams - thanks for the swimwear advice. What's a happy nappy? Can I get them from Boots? And did you go for a wetsuit on top of the nappies?

Bluebs - Congrats on the prologue! Do we get a sneak preview st some point?
Chortle indeed re your DH getting some reading done! They have no idea! My DH did about 15 mins of bedtime on his own today and then (when it didn't work) said to me "it's tiring, isn't it?" Ha! Try doing it for 24 hours a day! Bless him though, he's been trying hard and doing really well the last couple of weeks. I wouldn't worry about your DH finding it boring - as Anna says, lots of people don't find it all that much fun until the toddler phase when they "do" more. As long as he coped for those three hours, that's a Good Thing.

Anna - glad you enjoyed your wine. I enjoyed a couple of cheeky ones in the sun this afternoon too 😄 Hope Grace settles for you soon.

Indians - back at work - gosh! Not sure I'd be up to that yet. Impressive! That's great that you were able to feed during a meeting. I'm chuckling to myself imagining me doing that in my (middle-aged male-dominated) workplace. I think there would be heart attacks!
When's the wedding?
Ow wow ouchy ow re the toe! Can we see pictures of it bent back the wrong way please? 😄

Becks - that's fab re your night out. I hope you get smashed have a lovely time!

becks sounds fun! I'm sure your dh will be fine. He'll be learning on the job the same way we did a couple of months ago.

anna so glad you managed to have a good time with your friends. Sometimes it's worth an unsettled evening. Hope Grace went down ok for you though.

julfin a happy nappy is a really tight neoprene nappy/swimsuit. www.splashabout.com/baby-swimwear/happy-nappy-products/happy-nappy/ I have seen them in the bigger boots here so they should do them in a fairly big one in London. We didn't need a wetsuit in the hydrotherapy pool because it was warm but we bought this wrap for the public pool. www.splashabout.com/baby-swimwear/baby-wetsuits/babywrap/ They do all sorts of swimming costumes with happy nappies built in/wetsuits on the website though.

Sounds like a productive afternoon bluebell is DH prepared to make it a regular thing?

Enjoy your night out tomorrow becks. Me and DH had a meal out one evening last week ( babysitting courtesy of the in-laws,) it was lovely but we spent most of the time yawning at each other!

Am off to Google happy nappy for swimming so thanks for all the tips too.

Here's my weigh- in
Pre pregnancy 10st 4
End pregnancy 11st 12
Currently 10st 12

Am fairly happy with how my normal clothes fit at the moment but aiming for pre pregnancy weight at least. Just trying to avoid putting any back and although we go for a walk every day I'm still less active than before.

Thanks for the swim nappy links tams, crossed posts!

Still here too! And not on the FB page, have stayed off it as I tend to ignore it most of the time, and I like our chats on the thread.

First family holiday successfully achieved
We've had a lovely three nights away in a little log cabin in Wales, no tv, no internet, lots of countryside to show H and some peace & quiet for me and DH - cosy evenings in front of a log burner with wine from our honeymoon which was exactly a year ago. The boy slept well in the evenings, so it was almost like the old days, bliss.

I'd be up for a West Country meet up if it's going to happen.

Meant to weigh myself yesterday and join in, but obviously forgot... I know that pre-pregnancy I was at all time record low of 8st 10, no idea what I was at the end of pregnancy/immediately after due to losing the bathroom scales, however dats returned them a few weeks ago and I was 9st 10 then, so am aiming to lose about 3/4 stone. Too many clothes that I'd like to wear, plus had to buy some size 12 jeans, which was a bit depressing.

sock how awful for your friend, as others have said, just making yourself available for whatever she wants is the best thing you can do at this horrible time - and then for the months/years to come. A friend lost her mum quite young and one of the things that she still really appreciates is a message on the anniversary, so I try to remember even now it's over 20 years ago.

anna sending you a virtual hug for those daily tears xx

bluebell am also looking forward to a sneak preview! Maybe you could use our MN names as inspiration for background characters - we're always lurking around in the background too!

indians please, please can we join in the wedding dress search?! I wish I could try some on again actual reason to lose weight is to wear mine around the house

In two weeks am off out for a friend's birthday drinks, and am getting my hair cut & dyed during the same day, so lots of time that day/evening for DH to look after H before I go to London OVERNIGHT in November. On. My. Own. Eeek!

primary I do need photos of that cake... ...indians I do not need more photos of that toe!!!

Thanks for the swimwear links Tams! I might go for the matching whale set 😊

Ha, thanks for the foot pic, Indians. I didn't think you'd oblige!

Ruby - glad you had a nice holiday. Sounds blissful! Honeymoon 12 months ago? Wow, someone's fertile! inappropriate comment
#doesitmakeitanylessinappropriateifiacknowledgethatitsinappropriate?
Out of curiosity, how does one lose one's bathroom scales? 🤔

Ooh ooh yes Bluebell me please me please - what Ruby said - I'd like a character named after me please! 😄

I've been wearing jasper in the sling for the last couple of hours while we've been enjoying a nice relaxing brunch at home. Turns out it's by far the quietest / most relaxing way to eat a meal and I only dropped a little bit of scrambled egg on his head. It's bliss! However now he's slept through his feed and my boobs are aching... Swings and roundabouts!

DH is off to twickenham for the rugby this pm so I'm going to put my sports kit on and head to the outdoor gym in the park. Am taking my skipping rope too - haven't skipped for years but I figured it's a great alternative to a run, and can be done while J is stationary in the pram. This is of course all dependent on J sleeping... Will let you know how I get on! Otherwise I'll just be enjoying a brisk walk!

Happy Saturday, everyone!

10w & 2d

Ha, julfin, straight to the point there Yes, at the grand old ages of 35 & 37, we were a little bit surprised, but I do like to be efficient

I also thought you'd all the like the latest from my DM:
She rang my dad and told him that she "didn't think I liked the baby much". Based on seeing me with him once, for three hours, in the last 11 weeks. Loopy. (There's your villain for your next novel bluebell)

Whatruby??? She said you don't like the baby that much???

sunday and Ruby wow you're doing really well!

Mine is bad as I still had a stone to lose after dd1!
Pre pregnancy 11.4
End of pregnancy 13.12
Current 12.1
Goal weight : 10.4

juf enjoy the park! They're building an outdoor gym near me so I'll have to get involved when it opens.

We spent the morning out and just got home. Dd1 has just thrown up over me meant to be out for dinner at a mates tonight! Kids have a radar!!!

This is Grace yesterday when I had my pedicure

Very efficient indeed, Ruby! We were much less so!
Wow, re your mum... I can understand someone worrying that a new mummy is struggling to bond with her baby (not that I'm saying that's the case for you), but "doesn't like the baby" is just a bizarre thing to say!

Anna - did you have someone come to your house to do your pedicure? I think I'd be too stressed about the (likely) risk of jasper crying to be able to relax and enjoy!
Hope you have a fun evening with your mate. All glammed up!
The outdoor gym was awesome. Will definitely go back. I rowed and used the cross-trainer while jasper was asleep. Then he needed a nappy change and started crying so after that I went to another part of the park and did some weightlifting with jasper as my weight! He seemed to enjoy that, as he stopped crying. Didn't manage to do any skipping - will do that another time if he's asleep. I did about an hour's exercise though, and am feeling pretty good now - not least as it's the first exercise I've done in about 4 months 😳 I just haven't managed to get off my backside find the time until now.
Now I'm feeding jasper whilst eating fruitcake - my favourite type of multitasking 😉

I'm very impressed by people's weight loss efforts! I don't own a pair of scales, which is another way of solving the problem 😉

Cookies from Cookies

Being a mama of 3 has knocked me off the thread again :( sorry ladies . Agree that FB is not the same at all so will endeavour to keep up!!

bluebell the writing sounds fantastic and it must also be so therapeutic for you. Agree there should be some MN mentions in there! I promise to buy a copy!!

primary recipe as promised! Apologies for the fact some of the ingredients are quite expensive, especially if you don't already have them . It was the £12 for Brewers yeast that pissed me off- you only need a tiny bit. I'm hoping to make some for a mummy Pilates and cake Macmillon coffee morning this week. I wish I had time to spend 92% of my life on mumsnet

indians you already look fab! That toe however, does not. Wedding dresses- how exciting!! When is the wedding? Wedding dress shopping is my favourite shopping. Lols to the BFing meeting. It's mostly mums in my job but I'm not sure I could feed whilst teaching Legs Bums & Tums?! I go back on the 19th. No way am I fit enough

Yey elliz you're alive!!

julfin we drag the the Moses basket to the hallway bad parents for the deed-doing. You've had a wax!!? Good muff efforts julf! Makes mine seem even more out of control. I used to be so 'maintained' with nails done etc .. Now I'm a scruff.. have no one to watch any of mine during the day anymore so appointments just don't happen. Sigh! How was baby fest?! Or is it next weekend?

mrsrolly the 3-6 month talk scares me massively. We've had to transition to 3-6 vests which is a pain as I have no short sleeve ones. Great weight Raff! We are off to weigh in on Tuesday. Christmas shopping?! You are organised!! Well done you!

becks hope you had a great night out. How was the karaoke?!

I went out with some friends to watch
Bridget Jones Baby the other day. I was out for nearly 4 hours (!!!) in total and George slept the entire time so just fed him when I got back. Brownie points to DH there. Film was really good by the way!

I had never heard of a happy nappy

Re weight loss- I haven't lost any for 2 weeks and I'm majorly fucked off. Despite not believing in weight too much, I would quite like to not be 13 odd stone anymore !! I've been exercising 5 days a week. Telling myself it's muscle My waist has gone down but my hips have not. Meh. I'm aiming for 11 stone (I don't look like I weigh that much when I'm that weight)
Right off to get changed and ready for the gym... (I sadly love a Sunday workout!)

Tried D in a grobag last night as the nights are getting cooler and felt guilty for just having him sleep in a vest and babygro and its safe to say it wasn't successful. Don't think he liked being enclosed but he also wouldn't settle. Feeding, rocking, singing and finally into cot at 2am minus the grobag. I zipped him in it bout 5 (oops fell asleep) and then daughter woke us at 6. Not a happy family this morning as Hubble and me tired ( he got more sleep than me!!!). Aaaaarrrgghhh will persevere.
Think I've got mastitis too. Any advise anyone? Putting off going to Dr' s but think I'll have to book appointment. Boob sore but still able to feed but more shooting pains in it this morning. Flu like symptoms Fri/Sat morning so do feel bit better and had temp then too. Will see how I go. Trying to feed frequently and fully on each side.
Wish I could put photos on but can't assess mumsnet on phone (bit incompetent) but D so big now. Xx

Wow how much hair has Hallie got. Gorgeous. Xx

Indians 9 months on and off seems fair! And OMG that toe!!!!

becks how was your night out? How did your husband do?!

Anna yeah give yourself a break, that is a quick turnaround on the babies!

julf really glad your DH is gaining confidence with Jasper. I truly hadn't realised until the other afternoon how much I had been doing the lion's share of responsibility - which is of course inevitable with breastfeeding, but it hadn't dawned on me that I was getting so much more experience of looking after a baby! We were both tired and ratty last night and DH got cross with me because I redid Ruben's blanket as he hadn't tucked it in properly - and then I realised I have probably put Ruben down in his basket more than 150 times already, whereas DH has probably done it about 20! So I need to be more understanding.

Also, your outdoor gym efforts sound brilliant! DH and I are going to attempt gym plus Ruben today, and take it in turns in the cafe (eating the calories we have burned off no doubt).

tams thanks a lot for the swimming info. We wanted to get Ruben started on lessons quite soon, but given the way he screams through his twice-weekly bath, his toes gripping the sides of the baby bath for dear life to try and prevent himself from being lowered in, I think maybe we shouldn't be in too much of a hurry!

sunday yep, we are planning for DH to care for Ruben two days a week so that we can both work part time (I will probably need to go back to editing as well as writing in November). He will bring him to me for some feeds, and others I will express and he will bottle feed so that he has the option of taking Ruben out for adventures. I really hope it works!

Ruby sounds like a lovely break. I'm up for a West Country meet up too! Who else is from these parts? Jemima on the ante natal thread was from Yeovil I think, but I don't know if she went to the Facebook group. Regarding jeans, I've just stuck to my maternity jeans as there is no way I'm buying any more! It's nearly boots and leggings season anyway! And I can't believe your DM's comment. Villain indeed!

Today is all about furniture Tetris to try and get that cot in our room. Eek! I don't want Ruben to come out of his basket - it's all going too fast!

Yikes indians! That toe!

ruby the break sounds lovely! Saw pics yesterday of someone's holiday snaps in India with a five month old in tow. Made me yearn to travel more. Difficult with pets too though.

bluebell I have to admit that I laughed at your bathtime tale. I've now got an image of a baby starfished over the bath, gripping the edges and refusing to go in!

I'm up for a West Country meet up. I mentioned it on Facebook and thought that Bristol or Bath might be the easiest to get to. I don't really know the areas though so will bow to somebody else's superior knowledge.

Cookies it may take a long time for your hips to slim down because they open up when pregnant so baby can get through they then take a long time to get back. That's my excuse anyway!!!

Karaoke was great fun and it was great to see my friends and have a glass of wine or 2!! We went on into town but I lasted about 20mins and then couldn't stand any more. Too loud, lots of wasted people!! I'm getting old!!! Ben was good for DH but then was really unsettled from about 4am, I ended getting up at 5.30. Bloody knackered today!!!

Ooo I missed a load of posts!

Cookies hooray for the outing, boo to the weight loss - but it genuinely could be muscle gain if you've been exercising that much! Wow.

birchy i have some second hand gro bags but haven't tried them yet. Now I'm worried!

Indians Hallie's hair is the best!

tams that is pretty much exactly what he looks like! I feel bad for laughing at him but it is comical! I can do Bristol or bath. I prefer bath but I'm easy!

anyone had any issues with baby vom staining their clothes? Ruben puked on my friend's peach coloured dress - quite a thin fabric - and she can't get it out! Any cleaning tips?!

Cot is in our room and Ruben has already had a little nap in it. It's at the foot of our bed because I just couldn't face the furniture juggling required to get it to the side of the bed!

Also, we've finally been trying out out smartipants washable nappies and it's not going too well. Three times out of four, Ruben has peed right through the nappy onto his clothing. The nappies have two washable liners in but the pee just seems to soak through - though the third time I think it leaked out the leg holes rather than soaking through. Has anyone got any tips? I'm back to pampers for now because I was sick of changing his outfits!

No idea about nappies bluebell but we soak things in Napisan if they're pooy or vommy. No real issues with staining here. I think only one thing stayed stained but that was from horrible newborn mucousy vom.