Dec 08 Ladies welcome to the new Bean, next stop, Summer.

[Veggiemummy]

Sorry very boring had to think quickly, not my best feature

Trace that's fab. We had a late night here too and DCs didn't do such a good job of sleeping in.

I am feeling slightly better as far as kidneys go, and LadyT you're right it is a step to far to have let myself get this stressed by work. Have outlaws here today and MIL is driving me potty. Is like having a talking Daily Mail in the house. She is particularly good on the wasteful public sector and how over-paid everyone is. Am going around muttering 'free childcare/weekend with DH' under my breath to try to keep calm.

Avo have been thinking of you at latitude. And Njan that sounds lovely. So glad you're finding some time.

Right, back into the fray.

Urbane your doing very well to hold your Tongue but believe me it's not worth biiting back. I've had the health system arguement with those types like your MIL who think that healthcare begins and ends with hospitals and the way to fix it is to make people pay for their own care if they caused it! When I start explaining about public health policy, demographics research, and primary & secondary care for a start they kind of glaze over and/or wander off. They like hearing the sound of their own whining, you would make her happy if you showed it annoyed you, & she wouldn't understand any views you put forward anyway.

NJAN lovely to hear from you. I've been feeling a bit more normal lately too. I think I'm getting a little more sleep & generally doing more things for myself.

Oh night out was great. We decided against the casino as it's 15-20min ride away and with DS2 recent teething form I didn't fancy flying back on the bike in heels if he woke. So instead we went into the city centre which is under 10mins reasonable paced ride away. We stopped first at a tapas place as I wasn't really hungry and we just had a few tapas plates with each drinks order. I favoured Mojitos for the evening and they did a really nice one there, so I had 3! Then we went to a Japanese place as DH was a bit hungry and I had an Irish coffee. Then we went to a bar near our house that we like because as DH puts it, it's very Shorditch-y. I lived just off Columbia road when we were courting so we spent a lot of time in Shorditch. We had another drink there and then wandered home at 11.30pm! So late for us. I think we'd have stayed out later but we worried about the babysitter being tired. When we got home DS1 was asleep on the couch with her as he'd gotten up with a 'sore tummy'?? He is a bit under the weather today with what looks like ulcers in his mouth so maybe he is a bit unwell. DS2 slept hooray and after going to bed at 7.30 slept until 8.30!!! So Trace maybe their just having a Sunday lie in. DH & I didn't get to bed until 2.30 as we stayed up yabbering (& other things?!?) so we're a bit sleepy today.

Right I need another coffee.

Veggie other things eh? What could you possibly mean? An impassioned political debate, maybe? A spot of late night spring cleaning?

DD is asleep on my lap. Absolutely refused to sleep in her cot (always does, dunno why I even try..) and I am hungry! Bah! Can't move. Wheres my butler when I need him?

Oh dear Kiwi, hope you got some food. I have the older one on my lap at the moment. He's being alternately clingy and obnoxious, not sure what's up there. Anyway, I took a leaf out of Trace's book and got a reward chart. He's intrigued by the idea so we shall see if it works...

Glad you had a fun evening Veggie .

Rubes: how are you doing? Not long to go now!

Hello, I'm fine Effie albeit tired - again! ds up at 0530 today and since dh had to work again today (afternoon and over night) I quickly took ds out of our bedroom so dh slept until 900 - must be nice. Actually it was his first lay in for 6 weeks, and he's well up to speed that his paternity leave will be no vacation

Kiwi that so funny how opposite our dc's are. I've often wished ds would fall asleep on me, or the couch (not sure why though ) but he just won't - only in his room or the car or if really really tired he will in the buggy but rarely. I was so knackered today I couldn't face playing the game of putting him back in his bed for his nap so he could come running out giggling, so I put the travel gate up at his door (supernanny would cringe) but he only screamed out for about 30 seconds then hopped into bed for 2 hours - and you'd think I would have too. Nup I felt compelled to clean and tidy! [Idiot] but I intend to relax tonight after he's in bed on 1 hour and 51 minutes (not that I'm counting down )

Keep forgetting when it's Sunday and dossed around in Sainsbury's for some essentials then went to the farm shop at 4 - luckily they are kind and let me in as I wanted to get a big bunch of flowers - dh's Nan's biday tomorrow and they are coming over for a bbq - well they are coming over to look after ds while I go to my pre-op appointment and then we are having a bbq

One week people. I can't wait.

Rubs I realised today I'm going to be away for your DD's birth. Will be offline in a campsite in France. I also have to admit I will be quite relieved when you safely have your CS. No idea why but ever since you said you used that sexbomb bath bomb I've been nervous about you going into labour. Obviously normally I'd be hoping for my friends to go into labour naturally and have a smooth birth. However in your case I'm terrible nervous your going to post your waters have broken or your getting labour pains. Please take it easy this week. Tell DH I had a premonition or something so you have to do NOTHING to ensure no labour.

Kiwi are you there? You haven't dehydrated or passed out due to dangerously low caffeine level have you.

Heavens Vaggie! Actually after swimming the other day I thought I might! I was getting really kicked and pummeled by her during the lesson as ds was tired and trying it on so it was quite physical, and then when I got home I was feeling really tired and hungry so I had some (more) coffee then 2 x microwaved egg sandwiches , sat down, felt a bit odd, then literally sprinted to the kitchen sink and vomited at the same time I got a shooting weird pain in the very top inner thigh. DH was en-route home from work but I came good pretty quick. He reckons the baby kicked some nerve (can't remember what he said but it is in the area I was saying) and he thinks the vomit was heartburn related! I've been fine since but getting kicked SO much!! Vag - message me your mobile and I'll text you after bubs arrives.

Veggie it was a pretty close shave - two hours nearly without a cup of tea! - but I just about pulled through

Rubs I occasionally got a weird top-of-thigh pain with DD, that's just made me remember. Must have been a nerve too!

DD will sleep anywhere in the day except her cot. Car seat, pushchair, my lap (if i feed her that is, otherwise she'd never stay still long enough). Whereas at nursery a few little pats on the back and shes off. Typical..

yeah Kiwi I remember having it last time around too however not quite so bad. This one's a real kicker! It almost feels like her foot or fist is in the top of my thigh!

DS in bed at 7 and didn't try and escape! I think the little buggers asleep!

Microwaved egg sandwiches??? Rubs for some reason in the last few months I vomited any meal that was really high in protein, like loads of beans or quiche or anything eggy like omlete. High protein meals must mess around with the heartburn, maybe they take longer to digest. Either way I had bad heartburn both times and vomited a lot in the last trimesters.

That's nice of you to think of testing but I was kind of hoping I could get Lady or Sybs to text, I think you'll be a bit busy.

I'm glad you finally got some tea Kiwi.

evening all, just a quick one I'm afraid as am v tired but wanted to say hurarh for Katie's clackerdom, and Mom and WG's scans I've been awol owing to being absolutely exhausted the whole time, whenever dd has her lunchtime nap so do I (which is a real luxury I know, and sooo hard not to try and kip under the desk at work...)

just wanted to report that we finally have some words...! Not very reliably, and she has a weird thing for sometimes leaving off the first letter (eg I'm Ammy, DH is Atty) but she can point at the owl on her wall and say Owl, and at a bee in a book and say Bee, this is great progress

Will try to keep up a bit even if it's only lurking, my lovelies, I miss you and all our merry banter

Vag - I don't think it was too high protein. Well it was only 2 eggs and loads of bread (unfortunately) infact I've been having loads of pasta and rice in these latter stages.
On a good note, I've been massively pigging out on pure stodge(despite the heartburn) but the weight gain has sort of stalled a little so I'm hoping that's it [wishful] but they do say you gain pretty much what you're going to gain by about a month before the end.
It's quiet on here tonight.....

Hello JJ - I know the feeling - the 1st and 3rd tri are a killer for me - exhausted

'Ello 'ello, I don't know where the time goes...DP is on his way to my flat for a few days, I virtually had to push him out of the door. He has a rotten 3-4 day trial which he has been dreading, and staying in London is not his favourite. I have to go into London tomorrow myself for optician and consultant, but am not allowed to stay over as he will be sweating over his trial papers every evening and DD and I apparently put him off...

32H, Sybs? Crikey! 34 or 36D here, depending on the shop, but when not pregnant, 34C. I used to be a 32C but I fear those days are long gone. What a lot of big titted, big footed ladies on here

Veg/Rubes, I was interested in the arnica talk. I took the 30 last time, but intermittently, so have no idea if it did anything. I think probably not, though that may be because I didn't take it properly - have certainly heard good things from all sorts of people. Will try again this time. I believe in that peppery stuff for colds - Echinacea. I keep the drops in.

Oh Veg, that reminds me, if you are still up for coming to Brussels for Sat lunch when I am there, and I totally understand if you aren't given that it's a 2hr train jounrney, let me know if there's any British stuff you need as we are driving over.

Rubes, I am so glad the boy's bum is better, and also that you are feeling a bit brighter (vomiting notwithstanding). Are you still watching BB? So many are annoying this time.

Effie, are Baby Bjorns hard on the back? I used mine a lot in the early days and my back did ache but then everything makes my back ache. I had another sling - a Babasling? - that I got from John Lewis but didn't get on with it at all. Maybe I need to revisit slings. I am still puzzling over the buggy stuff. I love my Bugaboo and don't really want another buggy but as DD is still so far from walking, I might buy a secondhand iCandy Pear, which is the double one and looks super.

KiwiP - I think a bigger gap between any potential siblings sounds like a good idea (it's what I would have gone for had the choice not been taken out of my hands ) Totally get the worries about affording two lots of childcare. We couldn't, even if I had gone back to work part time as was originally the plan...Rubes, are you going back? I can't remember.

Trace - I NEVER get fed up of "has O tried..." suggestions, so thank you I work on the basis that it just might throw something up. She used to eat small bits of malt loaf and I had forgotten about it so I must get some more in. What I do get fed up are people like my MIL who left a message on the answerphone saying we aren't being forceful enough about the nutritionist appt in October and reminding me DD hasn't had a square meal since January Like I don't KNOW. It really irks and upsets me. I know it's really because she is worried about DD but actually I don't think she is the world's most gifted parent and her 'advice' generally rankles.

So, Urbane, I am sorry about the earbashing you are getting. But still worried you need some proper time off and a REST.

Summer - swaddling - DD was swaddled for ages, she loved it. We used DP's shirts, which she seemed to really enjoy, as did he (soppy fellow).

NJAN, hope you enjoyed your impromptu 80s concert! Can't beat the 80s.

Right, I must toddle off to bed. I am tired and have to be up early to go into toon. Night...

Cross posted with some of you as my post was broken by a chat with DP. He now wants us to stay over tomorrow night He is missing us already.

JJ, that's lovely about your DD. It's so cute when they say little words and my fave thing about it with DD is that she gets a real kick out of saying stuff.

Rubes, I have got over two months of potential weight gain time ahead of me It's not a good thought, although I have been quite virtuous today (first time this week, though!) Anyway, not going to blather on about that, I know I am obsessed!

quick dash in...
placido was ace (technical opera buff term) although we got home to find our back door broken, not broken in, just it was a crap door and it's given up. So that's a bit of an arse.

LadyT - do you want our P&T? It's languishing in the cellar and we never use it any more. I found it really useful up until DD was about 6 months and by that point DS was ok on the buggy board. There's exactly the same gap between ours as there will be for yours. And you could completely have it as a long lend (I'm pretty sure we're not having any more, but not so sure that I'm getting rid of everything ). It's the sport model and we bought it new for DD - it's red if that makes any difference. and because I am a mug we have all kinds of gubbins to go with it (panniers, sleeping bag, any manner of covers)

Rubes am getting very excited for you

Veggie am of your night out. Sounds like an old fashioned one.

Right. should go to sleep. Poor DH is not very well and whimpering next to me. Night all

We still use our p&t - DS1 wd prob be fine with a buggy board but our old buggy is knackered and he still fits comfortably in the p&t at nearly 4 (he's tall too). I have the carrycot if it wd be useful to anyone.

Rubes: I reckon you're doing brilliantly considering the monster heartburn, trapped nerves and sleepless nights. Good luck for the pre-op appt. What do they actually do?

Njan: glad you had a good holiday. I'm off next week but as I suspected DH will have to work for a lot of it so I need to arrange some days out by myself. Anyone up for meeting in London? I was thinking that I ought to try tsking the boys on the train, though I'm def avoiding the rush hour - the poor commuters do not need DS1 at full volume and DS2 trying to escape. But I could do lunch.

Day 1 of the sticker chart and it seems to be helping. As I put DS 1 to bed last night he said, 'I've been a really good boy today'. Well, apart from the usual... but the simple adage of rewarding good behaviour actually helps. Who knew?

Quarter to bloody FIVE!!!! What on earth is going on? Oh yes not a bloody peep for protest from him after 7pm but quarter to bloody FIVE??? One week before his sister arrives? Lord give me strength.....

Hi Lady - I never ordered any of the 200 so I'm just going to be sure I take my 30c on time. I swear by it - even if it's just in my head
Re work - it's complicated but yes, part time maybe, only, just not sure in what capacity - not making sense but I'll explain it better when I see you.
Oh and I can't recommend the P&T enough. Although it's heavy, it's genius. Specially if you have the cocoon with it etc. Speaking of which, I know it folds up with the double seat on the back but can it also fold with it on the top? I just can't be arsed trying or looking for the instructions so thought I'd ask I'm assuming it can't though.

Oh and Lady, serious;y, my eating didn't taper off at all but the weight gain has slowed so don't worry. Pregnancy seems to make our bodies just gain the weight without our say in it and then stop when it needs to. I think it's just that simple and although we have some control, we don't have total, which I've finally accepted - nobody could be as obsessed as me

Hi Effie - Thanks you are kind yes my pre-op exciting huh. Last time it was the day before - not sure why a week here but hey ho. It's 3 hours. Meet with the anesthetist, midwife and consultant (or reg or sho if things are really busy )They just go over the procedure, incl the spinal etc and pain relief after, check you're well for it, give you instructions, get you to tell them about the VitK pref's, skin to skin, all that jargon then make you sign your life away
Glad the sticker chart doing well. I remember having one as a kiddie I think!

I'm gonna track down an Orthopod at the hospital today. Shoulder killing me, every morning, then it seems to improve throughout the day. As much as I hate needles I might even go for one if they offer tho by the time I get there today the pain will be mild so I bet I think twice. dh prob right though about having it during preg, but I'm willing to challenge him

crikey that was 3 in a row, now 4 - I'm out!

Quarter to five?? That is harsh. Will he drop off again if you bring him into bed? That's what we tend to do - lazy option but it works. Anything before 5 is def the middle of the night. I know your DH is busy, but can he take over for a few mornings?

Morning Ladies,

On my way into work after a fabulous weekend at Latitude. I can HIGHLY recommend it as a kid friendly festival. We lucked out with the weather as it stayed try other then one heavy downpoor on Sat morning. Other than that is was hot but not boiling which was perfect. The girls loved camping with their friends. DD2 did not cry, whine or moan once for three days. It's unheard of. She just toddled around with a huge grin on her face. I think she may be a party animal in the making as she loved the live music and kept pumping her wrist in the air and screaming with delight.

There was an amazing lids area with clowns, face painting, art and crafts, bouncy castles, hay bale forts etc etc. There was also a field of sheep all died different colours. DD1 had a little love affair with my friend's DS and they kept cuddling and nuzzling each other in the sweetest way. Both girls slept well too although bedtimes were v late. On the adult side I saw Florence and the Machine who I love and Guilt Pleasures which was a brilliant pop DJ. Quite odd to be in a tent full of too cool festival goers screaming with pleasure at "I Think We're Alone Now"! Toilets were as horrible as expected but I coped.

Will catch up properly later. Have nice days all.

Effie he's not even here! He's been on call at work for last night and Fri and in between working till past midnight at home - he's more shattered than me, and on work days he leaves quite early (up at 0530 himself) in better news he has been given his next post - his first choice which is only 20 mins away
I think I have discovered the early waking mystery. Because he has been tugging on his blind, he has dislodged the crack den look and therefore lots of light is penetrating again. ds is shattered so having a nap now in a fairly lit room. But I will be certainly having dh tend to the cracdenification before ds bedtime this evening. mil here in a bit to take over, thank GOD!