Discussion amongst Mums with babies born in December 2008

[Veggiemummy]

Hope you all can find it, Moms title was perfect I thought.

Oh and most importantly hooray for sleep Kiwi. Long may it continue.

I was sleeping on a floor like a proper wastrel and it wasn't too comfortable! A very good time was had beforehand though .

That's so sweet about your DSs and the farm, I'm thinking of taking T to one tomorrow if the weather's ok.

spot amused by your night out! I do that from time to time and then feel completely chastened (and well behaved for ages). I hope you enjoyed yourself!! It's good to remind yourself of drunken fun.

kiwi so glad you had a better night. Here is hoping for another good one.

indith great to "see" you!

*Veg"/"Kayz" your beloved gunners delayed me for AGES getting home from Bermondsey this evening. Grrrr. My friend owns an indie cinema down there (please visit anyone in SE - its called Shortwave and is fab and has mum and baby showings and lovely cafe and bar...) and they had a party there today to celebrate their new baby. Drinks all day and kids movies on to keep them happy. Fab . Time for bed

Oh Spot, thanks for the giggle I haven't had a night like that in years - a little bit !!Next day never fun though - I'm never drinking again and all that!

Hmm Veggie, you make a good point... I shall ponder this. Guess I could go over a few names then....

Daisy, have we tested? (Impatient emoticon]
I'm knackered. After work I sat up until 230am (totally chucked a kayz) looking at the baby names thread And of course ds decided he would get up at 615 today [tired] Why on earth doesn't MN have a tired emoticon!!!

oh and no before any "advanced searches" are done - I didn't post on any baby names threads!

Oooo, I love a good baby name thread, go on Rubes, test some names on us.

I'll start you off. Assuming it's a boy (which for some reason I do) I think you should go for Bede . why nobody uses this v cute name is beyond me. Seriously. However, I can be more traditional too if that wld be more helpful.

Hello all, dd having an unseasonably early nap today so time to catch up while DH goes and works on the lawn poor nipper woke up at 4.45 with her cough, kept going intermittently for about an hour then started to cry so brought her in to us, and is now utterly knackered so having her nap before lunch for once. The inhaler she was given doesn?t seem to be making a blind bit of difference.

Spot great news about your book, when does it come out and can we all get signed copies?

Turnip am rather aghast at your dd?s teacher, surely not finding fault isn?t exactly a good report on her progress ? maybe a bit more useful information would help?

Katie great news about the house! Must be a big relief that it?s worked out in the end. Hope the awful nights have got better by now. There are lots of coughing babies at the moment, is it just winter or is there something more sinister? Oh btw ? how many people did get the swine flu jab in the end? We never got round to it and the whole thing seems to have died down a bit now so I?m not sure if it?s worth bothering this late on.

Veggie you said you used to go the Mudchute farm, did you live near there? For the massive 7 months I lived in London I was next to Island Gardens, really handy for the beauties of Greenwich though not exactly the loveliest part of town itself... we took dd to our local NT place that has lambs at the moment, she loved it (well maybe not as much as me and DH!) and they have tame sheep to stroke, she was doing that ?reaching out, nearly touching, looking round to see if it was ok, changing her mind? think for about 5 minutes, bless the sheep for its patience

SL [hollow laugh] to your dream, we?d need to be having any kind of action for that and it?s been about 2 months. Sigh. We?re both just knackered for some reason and I end up going to bed at about 10 and am asleep before DH gets upstairs. Pathetic really.

Trace lovely hope you?re feeling ok, the whole titles argument thing is so silly as it?s people we?ve never met and probably never will meet but it?s very easy to take it all to heart.

Daisy so sorry to hear dh has been over-reacting, he?s had a tough old time of it lately but given that this is one of your refuges and places to be open it?s pretty unfair not to let you here. I hope you?re lurking, will keep you all in my prayers and hope you can come back soon and keep us updated.

Kiwi oh blimey, hope by now that you?ve managed to get some sleep. Oh catching up ? you?ve finally had a decent night. Long may it continue!

JB we never had any luck getting dd to take a comforter either, tried several different cuddly toys, old t-shirts etc, she?s never really gone for any of them. On the one hand it?s tough as there?s not the guaranteed soothing response, but on the other hand it means no crises if it gets lost...

SL the house thing sounds complicated to say the least... No advice on that front but am excited about you having found somewhere so soon!

MoM any more baby news?!

Great news about all the scans and fabby healthy looking new babies.

Spot am v of your night out, I thought I?d done quite well.... It was my reunion dinner on Fri and I?m afraid in the end I went for the cleavage glam dress rather than the elegant mummy dress and am v glad. At college I was always skinny as a rake and had rather bad hair, and like to think i?m a bit more ?womanly? now. My greatest moment of (horribly shallow) pride came when one of the guys I?d had a bit of a crush on but nothing came of it, was chatting to one of his pals then glanced across, spotted me and I saw him do a double take and say to his mate ?Is that jj?!? [preen] The dinner was a big p*ss-up, flowed by cheapo student price drinks in the college bar, and come 1am a gang of us left to go to a club, but as we got there I thought hang on, I?m with blokes in black tie, and we?re about 10 years older than everyone else in the queue, so I wimped out and got a cab home. But v good fun, lots of catching up and getting all the news. But not until 5am!

Hey all! DD gone down without a squeak - yeehah!

Have finally got her to eat some chicken thing I've made. No Annabel Karmel for me - ha! Purely improvised and rather tasty. I'm having a less chopped up version for my lunch - is it ok for babies to have bacon yet? She didn't, but I'm thinking it's probably ok by now.

DH has gone skiing for a week today. I am SO jealous of him. But I'm really quite big now, so I really can't go. Gutted. They waited til the last minute and got an amazing deal on an amazing chalet in St Anton. And I'm so so jealous. I guess I could have gone too, but they'd have all been talking about their day's skiing etc and I would have been left out! Plus I can't booze, which is part of the fun of skiing. But for an extra £150 for the week, we'd have had a nanny too. BUGGER! Never mind. Next year hopefully!

spot - your night sounds amazing. Wow! How did you stay up til 5??! I'm lucky if I make it to 11!!! How cool. Have to be honest, I'm having about 4 units of alcohol a week in this pregnancy, but I am GAGGING to have about 8 in one night! Last pregnancy I didn't touch a drop as I didn't fancy it. This time, I want it a lot!!! EEK. Is 4 units too much? I'm happy to cut back if it is, but just keen to know your opinions. My GP said a few drinks in a week is ok, so have gone for 4 a week...

PS JJ - well done you in your sexy dress! I bet you looked stunning - can you put any pics up? I feel like no one has fancied me in years. I know DH still does, luckily (quick roll in the hay this morning proved it!), but I wonder if that's because he's on such tight rations these days in the sack that when I offer it, he can hardly contain himself!!!!

But I have to admit, if someone else ever did find me attractive, I'd be so chuffed and flattered, as I haven't felt attractive since I got pregnant first time round!!

Oh my gosh - where is everyone? V quiet on here today! DD got paper and crayons out, but seems more interested in putting them back in the box than doing any scribbling. Fine by me! Missing DH as he does bathtimes usually and am feeling tired now. bugger!

Feeling a chinese take away coming on. Yum! Dribbling again. Must get a bib on to soak it up.

x

Hello Beans, I'm back...! dd in bed, DH out at choir so just me, MN, glass of wine (sorry!) and some crisps. Hurrah! Re booze, I did probably have a couple of glasses most weeks and it was usually DH who offered and since he's medical and figured it was ok, I took his word for it. Some people say 2 units, others say none. When you say a drink, what do you mean? Is it measured out at 1 unit? just that a lot of glasses of wine are more than 1 unit these days especially as wine strengths are so high now.

Probably a good idea not to go skiing, dh went a few years back with a friend who was about 24 weeks (!) and she had an accident invoilving an out of control skiier, everything was absolutely fine but they were all massively shaken up by it.

Aubi - what makes you keen on Bede? The historian in me loves it but it's v unusual for modern times [you have to imagine the last two words said in crusty old giffer voice!]

bacon - dd's had pretty much everything tbh, the way I see it is if she's not eating absolutely loads of any given food it can't do her any harm. The amount of bacon they would have in one go is presumably pretty minimal so the salt is unlikely to do any harm. Someone said think of their food intake over a week rather than a day as that makes it easier to deal with the days when they refuse everything.

chinese... mmm that sounds good. Alas we have a curry house halfway down our road and the smell always drifts this way so I'm pretty much always in the mood for a cuzza!

Come on team! Where are you all? I'#m here for once and really fancy a chat

I basically take one small glass of wine as 1 unit, or a beer as 2. Is that about right?

I think the name Bede is great too - although think DH wouldn't go for it!

Yes, think you're right re bacon - DD has so much mince - it's a meal she's guaranteed to finish every time, so she has it for supper about 4 evenings a week - with pasta or potato and peas - and cheese sometimes too. I pack in mushrooms, carrots and courgette into the mince too, so figure she's getting some veg in with it as well. So I guess it's loads of mince! Oh well, never mind"""

Chinese was delicious, but am feeling a bit sick now - ate far too fast. Yummers.

x

Right, I'm off shortly - keen to go to bed really early and get some serious kip in. Why is telly always so disappointing these days? I am turning into my grandmother.

Sob.

Morning girls. Hope you had a good weekend. I wish I could regale you with tales of transsexual spouses, 3 week old babies and celebrity pals but I am too ill. Kids had upset tummies al day yesterday and today it's me. Good for the diet I suppose but feel rubbish. Also I hate taking time off work but I didn't really have a choice.

Back later in a better mood and, I hope, a better state.

Sorry you're ill sybs. Hope you get plenty of rest and are up and about soon.

We've had a busy weekend - visitors both days - but really nce. Plus we had lunch in the garden yesterday for the first time this year. Lovely sun.

Am heading to Leeds today for a meeting so it'll be a long day. Happy Monday to you all and hope the sun sticks around!

Hi everyone.

Flying post from work with an update on my oops situation...

So far the tests are inconclusive. I wee-ed on one stick and thought I saw a faint line, so I ripped the stick apart and left it on the sink. When I picked it up 10 mins later there was a definite line. But then I tried a second stick and there was nothing - well, I think I saw a faint line but DH could't see it. Arghh!! So maybe the first stick just picked up something on the sink that made the line appear? Could just be too early to test - AF is due anywhere from Tue-Fri this week as my cycles have been a bit variable. So still stay tuned! I might test tomorrow morning, even though I probably should wait a bit longer since the tests are like 6 quid a pop.

Sorry not to do personals...crazy day at work today.

Sybs - Sorry you're ill. DS had major poonami this weekend but so far I have dodged it.

Oh my GOSH! Mom, I was so out of the loop! What happens if you are? Would you be pleased? Or worried? Or are you keen for another one? Oh my word! I'm so sorry I hadn't picked up on that!

Sybs - hope you feel better soon. Poor you. Rotten being ill.

Hello, quiet on ere!
yay MOM that sounds like it possibly could be......! Doubt you would have any of that pregnancy hormone laying around on the sink? Should have told me earlier as I think I have some pregnancy tests laying around which I would have sent you!Or maybe they are ovulation one's - can't remember

Sybs hope you are feeling better soon

re: the alcohol / pregnancy. I hardly had much first time around except the odd glass here and there but I remember going to this b'day bash and most of the guests were medical. One of the Obstetrician [sp] consulatants was trying to buy me a drink, so can't be too bad!
This time around I've had the odd glass. Nothing really in first tri except for a glass at Xmas but since then maybe a 175ml glass one a weel or once every two weeks. Sometimes I have those piss weak 4-5% things too but I think in moderation it isn't a problem. dh hasn't really battered an eyelid when I have.
Can't wait for a lovely BBQ and chilled bottle of chardonnay in the Summer. Better still be hot when this lillun pops out!

battered an eyelid lol!! batted

Hello all,
MoM how exciting. Keep us updated!! Maybe tomorrow you might get a result.
I would have sent you my spare tests too, apart from that they are cheapo ASDA ones that didn't work first time!! So exciting.

Sybil, sorry about the house of ill.

jj hurrah for cleavage dress and admiring attention from ex-crushes. Oooh that would be so nice. After I have this baby and I have effortlessly lost the baby weight , I am going to revamp my wardrobe and look gorgeous. I KNEW the cleavage dress was the way to go!

Oh, re booze, I do drink the odd drink too. Usually just a small glass of wine or half a beer. Occasionally a larger glass of wine. And if it's beer i choose the weakest one available. I did the same last time and from what I read about it online there's not really any evidence at all that a few units a week would cause a problem. I would LOVE to get pissed right now though, as I'm in that short phase where I don't feel sick and I don't have heartburn and just feel normal (but VERY hungry). Though I felt the start of heartburn last night. Bummer.

Oh yeah, re bacon, yes I give DS bacon, if we're having something that I think he will like that has bacon in it then he gets a chopped up version. But it's usually in a pasta dish or something, not a bacon sarnie or anything . OOOH bacon sarnie. Yum.

Oh beans, I am a snowboarding widow here too, DH has gone snowboarding but just for 4 days. I didn't want to go either, I don't ski, I board and I usually end up flat on my face at least once a holiday so I don't think it's worth the risk, I think skiing is a bit safer as less likely to fall on front, but still. I went at 12 weeks and I did slide on ice onto my stomach but I didn't really worry about it as I didn't have a sticky out tummy then. Also my boarding clothes wouldn't fit, which would piss me off. I am off work today and staying at my parents just chilling out, which is nice.

Oh and finally I am so impressed with spots night out. 5am, that is impressive.

OK, seeing as we'd had all these property threads on here a while back, thought I had to share this one with you - tasteful no??

Travelling job thing is starting to sound like a serious prospect (ulp1) will keep posted.

MoM - good luck with the retesting, that sounds suspiciously likely.

syb - sorry you are feeling rubbish, hope it passes soon.

JJ - glad the reunion went well - think the show stopping outfit was the best choice! I remember my 10 yr school reunion and all the envious looks at the former tomboy who showed up in a showstopping red dress and handsome DP in tow...

spot - def no hurry to grow up! Enjoy while you can I reckon.

Kiwi - hope that night's sleep is a sign of better nights to come.

Hi Girls, our nanny has a stomach bug so I am having a rare Monday at home with the girls. Feel guilty about work but have had lovely day so far. Dropped DD1 at nursery and met up with the mums of her two best friends there. Four of us then went back to one mum's house and the babies crawled around her patio while me had coffee in the sun. Then I took DD2 to her music group which I haven't seen for months and months and she was very engaged and sweetly singing (albeit showing about as much musical talent as her mother which means the poor child is tone deaf). Anyway, 'twas a lovely morning and made me wishbi was home more.

Sybs - sorry you have a tummy bug. Horrible thongs. Urgh. Must be especially hard with a three week old .

MoM - if there was any line at all I expect you are preggers. I had v v faint lines when I first tested with DD2 but didn't get a convincing line until the day AF
was due.

Summer and Beans - sorry you are missing out on the fun on the slopes. At least you are banking a weekend away for yourselves once you have two.

Jump - I saw you had a 4.45am start yesterday. Horrid. DD2 has been getting up earlier and earlier as the morning have got lighter. Yesterday morning she peaked at 5.30am and so I made DH spend the morning blacking out her room. She has black out curtains but light still was getting in so this time we went for the crack den look (papered windows). Not one ray can penetrate what he has created and amazingly it worked! We woke both kids at 7.20am this morning. Could you try similar?

LadyT - if you are lurking I just wanted to wish you luck for your scan tomorrow. Can't wait to hear the angle if the dangle but most importantly I hope the nuchal result is a good one.

Right, off to make an Easter bonnet with DD1. This so beats being at work!

Aubs - I agree with days off beating work. I'm back at the office tomorrow after over a week off. Am gutted. Already dreading it! Love spending time with DD and strangely enough, since I've had this week off, she's had no sign of any illness at all!!!! Mr & Mrs Beryl are going to drive me potty again. Haven't spoken to them since "emailgate" where DH was firm but fair and then they rang him and told him off! Not looking forward to a remeet, but it's a necessary evil and only 2 months to go... Yay!

Blackout blinds sound quite wise... Although DD didn't wake til about 6.45 this morning, which isn't too bad. I ignored her while I had a shower etc. Just too difficult to have her up and about while I do it - can't concentrate at all!

Ooh, yes, good luck, LadyT!

xx

Aubi - hilarious! Crack Den style!!
I think we need that now. We just have wooden blinds and ds has been waking about 30 mins earlier although the clocks go forward soon don't they so that'll help a little. At our last place we put up a £5 Argos black out number - might get a couple more. One for ds's room and one for the next little one. I am going to be fully prepared for number 2 to be a terrible sleeper but hopefully a great eater!

Hello Beans, I finish [ahem] work at the end of May (just had to do 3 months total) as I have leave. I can't wait either although I must say 12 hours a week isn't killin me

Bugger you have to see the Emailgaters again - not for long so hang in there.

Hi all, glad you're back and chatting again

MoM! This is really exciting! I got a load of cheapo tests off ebay for when we were trying, about £1 each so I could test obsessively

our early morning wasn't to do with the light, but her horrid cough. Today was back to 6.30, thank goodness. We've got a blackout cloth that I just stick in the top of the sash window so we can shut her lightweight curtain at nap time without the room being totally dark, and then still be able to block out the early morning light with the cloth.

Sybs hope your bum's on the mend soon, it's so exhausting having an upset tum as you just have no energy. Will send you a hug from a safe distance!

Lady - hope you get a nice wave from TheHonT (or is that O, not sure how the titles really work, pleb that I am!)

Aubi your morning sounds just lovely.

Invis - not sure about the gold bath... and lordy that's expensive. I'd go for either of these two places at the moment Edwardian terrace or more modern stylee

In fact, here's our current dilemma (warning - long and boring). The nearest primary school to us is not terribly good, it's the only one in Cambridge to get a 3 on its Ofsted where all the others get a 2 or above. The kids that come out of it are pretty good at effing and blinding and being a bit bullying to the little kids in the park next to it where we often play, and there are higher than usual levels of SEN in the classroom which according to a neighbour means that children of average or above ability sometimes lose out on teacher time. It's very close, so dd would be guaranteed a place there.

The school we'd like her to go to is the one attached to our church (for a number of reasons) but having spoken to mums at the toddler group there, it's so over-subscribed, and especially with siblings, that you have to live really close by to get a place - there's no official catchment but if there are more applicants than places they go by distance, and people closer than us have been turned down in the past. This would mean moving closer into the centre of town - and looking at the prices houses are going for at the moment in this area, getting a 4 bedder closer into town is basically double the price of our house [eeek eeek eeek]. In the long run we'd like to move to a 4 bedder anyway when no. 2 happens, and that will probably be before dd goes to primary so the school thing is a real consideration now. We could just about afford one of those if we doubled or more our mortgage payments.

An alternative could be sending her to the junior branch of the secondary school we'd like her to go to (it's independent, the only entirely all girls one school left in Cambridge - not here to argue the cases of all girls schools so please don't flame me for that!). The fees at the junior school are slightly less than her current nursery fees at full time rate (!!!) so it wouldn't make a huge difference to the overall budget.

So, what would be better? Bite the bullet, move house and (nearly) guarantee a place at our preferred school, then also a place for sibling when they come along. Or cough up for school fees if we don't manage to get her into the preferred primary? I know bad schools can improve dramatically over a few years so we may well be worrying over nothing, of course.