June 2008: birthdays, bunting and bumps make mummy a little bit tired!

[pureeandpearls]

Bring it on!!!

Ali - well done on the hair cut, I really should get round to J's. If you've seen my pics on FB you will have seen his crazy curly locks! Judging by how tricky it is to do his finger nails I'm not looking forward to it.

We are going to try and go to baby gymnastics again today, we went last week and it wasn't on as it was the Nottingham Masters Tennis tournament, ended up spending the afternoon sitting in the sun trying out all of the food stalls, didn't actually watch any tennis!

Ktpie- I have just sent you a FB friends request. Didn't know you were in Nottingham. We used to live in the Lace Market. We only left because work dragged us to the South East. Hope that gymnastics is good today. If P had curls I would have avoided cutting it for much longer.

Neenz - sounds like you have cracked stopping BF! Well done.

Ali - yes I got it. I think I thought I had already added you, I get easily confused these days (pregnancy brain!) We are just over the motorway, near Ikea. We used to live in Sneinton, which was handy for the city centre but it's a bit quieter out here.

X-posted before Neenz - sounds like you are doing well on stopping BF, I'm thinking about stopping the last feed, recently he messes about a lot and won't concentrate on it. Looking forward to seeing the vids!

Ktpie - yes I used to work just the other side of the M1 near the Ikea junction. I could just about visit it during my lunch hour if I had the inclination

Hi All. Five - how exciting about the new kitchen. Our is the only thing in the flat that has not been done and I hate hate hate it. Do love the idea of the hose thingy and I have seen essie's magic cupboard and I must say I do want one myself. You must show us some pics when it's finished.

Puree - oh love, I can imagine how you felt about your NCT friend. You know Mark and I have been trying with no luck and it does seem that there are pregnant women everywhere you look.

Ali - impressed with the hairdressing skills!

Neenz - well done on the B/f absence and the walking. Very of you going to see Britney. Mark said they were offering free tix at his office in a box and I was very annoyed that he didn't get them for me!

Talking of concerts, I am off to see Pet Shop Boys tonight - really excited. Now I have finally got my period and there is no chance of me being up the duff, I am going to get ratarsed. One whole week late for me being as regular as clockwork. Horrid and now like Niagara Falls.

I have had a horrid experience in the last few days. I have never really made any effort to slim down after the baby was born and I know I am over weight. The only thing is that everything has collected around my tummy. I still have the shape of a pregnancy although now it's made of fat and out of shape tummy muscles. In the last week, for every single journey to and from work on the tube, someone has offered my their seat thinking I was pregnant. At first I ws just embrarrased but towards the end of the week I just wanted to cry. I have now put myself on a strict diet (other than my piss up tonight!). I am off to the gym to ask for some advice on getting my tummy to look normal. Has anyone else still got major preggobelly? I have a horrible feeling the only thing that will restore my tummy to a semblence of normality is surgery.

Luke had his jabs today and was very brave.

Well done Luke! Brave boy. Have fun tonight Amber, enjoy your piss-up. Sorry about your period, and your tummy. Not sure what to suggest, only healthy eating and exercise [boring]. How many pounds have you got to lose? Because I think if you lose weight it will have to come off from somewhere and probably your tummy. I used to go for 20-30 min walks every lunchtime when I was working, I found it really made a difference to my weight, even thought it didn't even feel like exercising. Now I try to get out with the pram every day and with all the running round I do round the house as well I don't really have to watch what I eat like I used to. It also helps not to have any 'naughty' food in the house, and it also helps when I don't think about dieting iyswim. As soon as I start to think 'oh I won't eat that cos I am trying to lose weight' I get to the weekend and stuff my face cos I think 'I have been good all week!' It has taken me about 10 years to realise that is a bit stupid .

Well I think I need to lose about 2 stones. Remembre I had none of the benefit of breast feeding either so that hasn't helped - nature's weight loss system didn't get the chance I'm afraid.

Puree so sorry you were upset about your friend's news. And Amber sorry you're not up the duff. My friend told me today that she is pregnant. We were pregnant together when I was expecting Thea. Im very pleased for her but do feel a bit jealous, and I'm not even ttc, so I really do feel for you.

I agree with Neenz that if you lose weight some will come off your tummy. I'm finding pilates is helping my tummy. It doesn't really look any better but it feels stronger. I've also found that I get very bloated when I eat crappy food and there's a noticeable difference to the appearance of my tum when I eat well. If it's fat-looking then I think that can be dealt with with diet and exercise. If it's dangly and looks like Austrian blinds then that's loose skin that won't go with exercise.

I want a new kitchen! And I've seen Essie's magic corner cupboard and it is fantastic. (Feel very middle aged to be so excited by it though).

Puree - Don't beat yourself up about getting upset about your NCT friend being pregnant. I have become so clucky again now we're coming up to the first birthday, I actually read the Feb 2010 antenatal thread the other day (waves at KTPie). Can't afford to TTC and I'm still on meds and off work so timing really would be disasterous but that doesn't stop the yearnings.

Opps gotta go, British Gas man here - no hot water for some reason since last night.

Ali - we are in Awsworth now, where did you used to work?

Amber - have fun at the Pet Shop Boys.
I have terrible stretch marks and saggy bits all over my tum and I don't think the skin will ever be the same again.
The best way I've used to lose weight is the Paul McKenna system, all you really do is eat less, I lost a stone in 6 weeks first time I did it.

Penguin - the Feb thread is getting busier and busier!

We have been to baby gym thing and Jonathan got some more 'well done' stamps for forward rolling from a height, running along a bench then jumping off a trampoline and just plain old forward rolls. He may have had a little help with some of it. He is now worn out and having a nap, think I might join him!

I've been enjoying looking at all the lovely baby photos on facebook. Neenz I need some camping with baby tips from you as you are obviously the expert!

Just marking my spot x

puree, I would have done the same thing hun x

Amber - I was in Next when the woman beside me asked me to reach up to something up high for her, I laughed and said "sorry, I don't think I can help" (as I am 5'2"). She looked straight at my tummy, laughed and apologised. She clearly thought I was pregnant.

Also I can count on one hand the number of seats I was offered when I really was pregnant so the irony is too much.

Got hot water again.

Sorry only had time to lurk whilst Mum was here, she went back this morning and I got quite tearful at the airport.

Puree - I can see why you were so upset after what you've been through recently, how are you today? ((( hugs)))

Amber - sorry to hear about the jellybelly, I too have one of those.

Rolf - sounds like you're talking from experience about the Austrian blind tummy

VERY jealous of all the new kitchen talk, mine has been 1/3 finished for nearly 2 years now.

Five - how was the salmon?

Poppy - when's the big trip?

Ali - Have showed the boys photos of Peter on your blog so that they know who's coming on Sunday!!Good haircut.

Neenz - love the FB video

Ktpie - how are you feeling?

Sponge - if you're reading this , hope you're having a lovely holiday.

PP - glad you've got hot water again

Aw, Debs, sorry you got so teary at the airport, I can understand though. My mum lives 1hr 10mins drive away and that is too far.

PP, good to hear from you! How you doing?

Amber, I was also thinking how much better my tummy is when I eat less crappy food and when my digestion is good ie lots of fibre. I find if I have no crap in the house I have to eat fruit and stuff or when I feel really naughty I have some wholemeal toast with Vegemite on . Agree with ktpie the Paul McKenna system is excellent: eat when you're hungry, eat whatever you want, eat slowly and stop when you are full. It is easy because you know as soon as you feel hungry again you can eat again (and whatever you want). It still works better if what you want is not chocolate biscuits tho! I kind of do that - always eat if I am hungry but try to choose healthy stuff.

Ktpie, ask away about camping (I only go five star tho... have you got a microwave? )

I managed to get the vid of Esther up on FB [proud]

Deb haven't done salmon, doing it tomorrow morning for DS birthday party, well our party with a birthday cake for him, will take photos and let you know how successful it is, but we do have back up food, and the butchers doesn't close til 5 tomorrow Sorry you got tearful, how are you getting on with the housesale?

Neenz that video is gorgeous . They are so lovely, and isn't Esther good at walking? And your bathroom is very clean

Deb sorry you were weepy. How are you feeling now?

5 look forward to hearing about the salmon.

PP from your FB picture I imagine you to be petite and elfin, not pregnant-looking at all. Yes, I cal tell all that from the top 1/3 of your head! I bet the woman in Next either didn't think that at all, or had hall of mirrors contact lenses in . Someone in the newsagents recently said "oh, you're expecting again" which was so horrible, and I couldn't even be furious as she was selling me a big bag of sweets!

deb sorry to hear you were upset re your mum - how are you now? big trip is next thursday so need to get things sorted for then - I'll try and post some birthday photos.

5 and neenz (and all others with clever babies who walk) am very impressed with your los antics -we just have ferocious crawling here.

amber -not much to add to jelly belly debate but think pilates exercises are great for tummy tone. Also you don't have an underlying history of fertilitly issues its nothing out of ordinary to be trying for a while - I was told that anywhere up to a year at our age would not be that surprising for no 2.

pp yay re hot water - Ali have a fab trip on sunday.

off to check out neenz fb video (dh is giggling at your comment neenz re kids winding you up by saying dada) .

5 have you done the salmon yet?

hugs for Sponge and anyone else i missed (ktpie rolf)

am done in and really looking forwaard to indulgent morning sneaking off for a facial - gives me a break from chasing crawling kamikaze (I am waiting for dh to put the stair gate in - the waiting is beginning to rival the wait for rolf's maternity wear out of storage - did it ever arrive)

No walking, here Poppy just seriously fast crawling. Have youbeen away?

Poppy no, the maternity clothes never arrived! As a Little Issue between DH and me, it's been taken over by my quest for a car that we can all fit into. DH has trouble prioritising it when it doesn't have much impact on his life, and lack of a family car gets him out of wholesome family bonding activities . So far 4 years and counting...

Rolf I think there's far too many of the hall of mirrors contact lenses around!

Quick post because I'm knackered - I think I might have some minor virus, but it might just be lack of sleep (but I don't feel very well). Iestyn has slept like - well, not slept really the past 3 nights. Tim has been away, of course, hence wanting to kill him, and it's been awful. The main problem is Iestyn wakes and cries, I go to him, pick him up and then put him back down but he has a massive strop about that. The past three nights I've had him in the bed with me, but I can't sleep, so when he's dropped off, I carry him through but he wakes when I put him in the cot and the whole thing is off again. I have no idea what has caused this (except my PIL of course ) but I can't be doing with a baby who won't sleep in his cot. Tim's on his way back tonight from glamorous Pontypridd, and he's going to take the baby monitor into the spare room (himself with it - tempting as it is to leave a baby monitor where nobody can hear it! ) and deal with anything. But I'm going to bed in a minute, and the past three nights the wakings have started 11.30 and 11.45.

Oh, that was miserable!

LOL at the fans my magic corner seems to have gathered! It is very cool though.

Amber many sympathies on the tummy. Is it related to the thyroid problem too? I can't remember how it works but one thyroid problem means you get skinny, the other gives the opposite, and it also means you're 'apple' shaped. (I know this because my friend Paula has an under/over active thyroid, and she was always jealous with the ones with the other problem - the skinnies!) But I also have a jelly belly - it also masquerades as a muffin top on a bad day, and does a very fine impression of an old man's beer gut too. It's all relative - yes I'm quite small, but my gut is much bigger than it should be. My sister has lent me her Davina video (I can't get to the gym) but I'm feeling too rough at the mo. My main problem was that I lost the weight beautifully with bfing, but then my boobs shrunk down a month or so ago and suddenly highlighted the fat gut which they were throwing a shadow over before.

Ooh, that suggests I need a boob job! (Actually, I cut a page out of a magazine a while back with details of a non-surgical tummy tuck. It's something to do with ultrasound or radio waves or some such snake oil, and although I know it's unlikely to work, I'd still be enough of a fool to spend loads of money on it.)

Off to bed now but it's still light until 10.30 ish here. Puree suggested blackout blinds, but I have a bit of a problem - I have velux windows, and they're conservation velux so I can't get fitted blinds. Anybody got any bright ideas?? I fancy shutters but none of the companies work up here.

Thanks everyone , I do feel better now, I think it was because I'd spent a long time just Mum and me, which doesn't normally happen. Also, in answer to Fives question , we're still in limbo with the house sale - still had only one viewing so a bit about that, any luck with yours Amber?

Essie - hope you get some decent sleep tonight

Hi everyone, sorry haven't been able to keep up over the last few days so had to skip a few pages ( so sorry if I've not replied to anything particular).

Amber I too have a terrible belly and regularly look pregnant. No bf here either. I just can't seem to fit in any exercise - between work, skeleton household chores and a fraction of the studying I should be doing I just can't fit anything in. We're so far behind some basic household errands it's not funny!

Essie, I really sympathize on the sleep front, S is very much the same. I think they 'pat' him to sleep at nursery and it's affected his ability to self-settle. Last night was particularly random - he woke before midnight and didn't go back to sleep till 4pm. He came into our bed and was laughing, bouncing around and giving me big gummy kisses, so it was hard to be cross.

Off to find ktpie on fb and then bed. Hope everyone doing ok, sorry to miss everyone's news.

Whinegums - how are things at home?

Ktpie - I worked in Nuthall, next to the Park & Ride tram stop.

Deb - thanks for calling the other night. Sorry to hear you were . It must be hard. I have also been showing Peter your FB pics and he beams at Ethan.

Essie - hope you have had a good sleep. What about these for your skylight? Ok, they are for kids, but they work on suckers I believe.

Essie - scrub that suggestion. The description says they do not support the weight of a blind on a velux.

Essie If Tim wasn't coming home I'd say you should put the baby monitor in the spare room! We've gotten rid of ours (it convienently broke and we've decided not to replace it) so we only hear Fraser if he really yells. It is so hard on your own - I know - and hopefully Tim will be around for a while to take the night shift. We have from exhaustion occasionally just put Fraser to bed, shut the doors, put earplugs in, and gone to sleep. I learned with DS1 that letting myself get so tired that I got sick just made it all ten times worse.

Essie cut out squares of cardboard to fit the window frame (cover with material so your neighbours don't think your too trashy) and tape in place. Depending on the angle thet might even stay in without tape. Oh wait - I just realized it's for your room not I's. (It's light well after 11 here - I came home from book club at 11 the other night and it was still light. I haven't seen the dark for ages).

Amber I've got the lovely tummy folds too - honestly it looks like wrinkles. If you just saw a slice of my belly, you'd age me at around 85. I know I'm lucky that my belly's not visible when clothed though so I'm not complaining. Also, I've lots of friends who didn't have any luck with losing weight while BFing. It burns calories but also makes you ravenously hungry. I'm gaining weight now since I'm back at work and I'm not walking with the double buggy everyday.

The kitchen talk is great, I'll keep it in mind as our kitchen is 25 years old (seriously, including appliances) and will need to be redone as soon as we find the money. (Or after we do the bathrooms - whichever breaks first. And the toilets aren't inspiring confidence).