TTC graduates!! "It's like party poppers in here, first PinkB, then Bodkin, now Chooster, who will be next?!!"

[BabyMadandBIGbump]

PREDICTIONS

BabyMadwithBump on Thu 24-May-07 14:57:52
I've been dreaming of a baby girl, 9lb 2oz, on the 27 July with dark black hair, but I predict a baby boy, 8lb 1oz, also 27 July, with very light hair! We'll see!

Chooster on Thu 24-May-07 15:08:03
Oh, predictions!!!!
For me, I reckon boy (guess that's in the bag), 23rd July, 8lbs 2oz

MrsMcJnr on Thu 24-May-07 15:22:29
I'll be brave and have faith and predict for me:
Boy, 6lbs 10oz, 13/1 (11/07/07 I?ve changed my mind about my bean ? think it?s a she)

KitKat30 on Thu 24-May-07 15:26:29
Ooooh predictions... I reckon for me:
Boy (err that was an easy one)
2nd September
7lbs 12oz

firststar on Thu 24-May-07 15:47:32
Hi ladies
first of all let me get business out of the way....predictions...for me a boy 7lb 2oz (going against all my big baby comments) 22nd July (early I think) , upping the weight prediction of mine to 8lb 6oz.

seaside72 on Thu 24-May-07 16:18:25
predictions - arghh - I have no idea - if we get there I am sure I will be late - 24 January is my prediction
weight ??
sex - would be lying if I did not say girl - but thats more about preconceptions and imagining rather than what I actually feel - Chinese cal says girl but realstically I think prob boy - my DH is convinced it's a boy already!

honeyapple on Fri 25-May-07 08:29:20
I predict to be late... as was VERRY late with DD... also predict baby to be a bit bigger... 7 lb 10 maybe?
How about 31/10/07 7.10 girl (changed to BOY 12/07/07)
(halloween baby!)

fettleandminifettle on 11/07/07 25th September, 8lbs exactly!

greedy - my prediction for my little one is
girl, 1st Oct, 7lbs 14oz (can i change it? i reckon i will be early now! sept 20th!!!)

Due Date's

June
Pink Butterfly, born by C-section on 18/06/07 little girl 8lb 12oz!

July
Bodkin, born at home on 09/07/07 little girl 7lb 6oz!

Chooster Due 22/07/07 (BOY)
Firststar Due 26/07/07

Aug
Conkertree Due 01/08/07
Babymad Due 03/08/07
KitKat Due 29/08/07 (BOY)

Sept
Fettle due 29/09/07 (BOY)
Greedy due 30/09/07

Oct
Honeyapple Due 27/10/07

Jan
Mum2Sam Due 16/01/08
MrsMcJnr Due 15/01/08
Seaside Due 20/01/08
iwillbe Due 27/01/08

Feb
Beansprout Due 01/02/08

How you doing Greeds? Must be about 4-5 cm dilated by now!!!. Joking aside, don't be too disheartened if nothing happens today, you aren't really due for another 5 days or so. I'm just lucky (if you think of it as lucky) that I was induced early! Thinking about you lots! xxx

Honey, other people have told me about the breast milk and infections, and it seems a great idea, but I don't seem to have the ability (currently) to squirt milk anywhere - think Toby is sucking it all out too quickly. It certainly pours out of his mouth, if he falls asleep mid-suck!!My poor nipples are quite red and sore as he is a strong sucker. The initial pain only lasts a couple of secs and then it calms down, so don't think it is a latching problem, just an initial nipples getting used to it pain, but was getting close to giving up and expressing for bottles. but then I've just had two good feeds this morning on both sides, with only a little bit of pain. Think I've a problem with big nipples, small baby mouth!! I want little boobs! Anyway, I will perservere for a bit longer, as I so loved breast-feeding DD.

Mrs - don't you worry about the price of your pram. This little one deserves the best and you will have loads of DC that will all use the same pram so you'll get your money's worth! Not like me, who bought sensibly the first time around, so have bought a new pram that I really didn't need!! Looking forward to your holiday - I'm jealous. could do with a holiday, but not sure I've the energy to go anywhere at the moment. How are the kicks coming along? Any pattern to them yet?

Firsty - hope move goes well - so glad I moved before having Toby - so wouldn't have the energy at the moment for any of that malarky!!

Bodders and Chooster - how are your little ones getting on? Had our first priceless DD comment last night at midnight - Toby was crying for food, I was crying in pain on the intial suckling of boob, as he kept pulling his head back at the last minute and just sucking on nipple and DD wakes up. "it's too noisy, Daddy! Toby, is too loud!!". We shut her door and she went straight back to sleep, but did make me smile!! So far, she's been lucky, and so have we, he doesn't really cry very much unless there is a reason, just whimpers to let you know he is not happy! Long may it last - was up for 2 hours with him last night, as he couldn't get comfortable - suppose it may be the start of colic, must start on the infacol!

Hope everyone else is doing well.

Seaside - how is your dog doing? I hope he is better?

take care
xxx

Hiya,

Mrs- definitely I meant proud of your LO and not your buggy! Good the hospital are talking to you about reusable nappies. I have got a selection of nappies to try out, so will let you know what I make of them all!
(I've just got a couple of really cute denim print newborn wraps... they look adorable).
That reminds me, still need to buy a bucket!
(I am officially 37 wks next friday.)

Greedy- at least 5 cms by now, surely! . What was the due date that you thought was the most accurate? How was the sex session?

Fettle- glad to hear BF is going well. It does hurt on the old nips to start off with doesnt it... but they'll soon toughen up! Squirting milk into a newborns eye does require some practice!

Had a look at the October AN thread... quite a few already had their babies I see...

Must go and finish the blanket I started to knit months ago! Bye xx

Aaaah, you're all too chatty!!! Will have to catch up another time as Theo is waking again. I just popped on to see if greedy was still around with bump... And she is!!! (Sorry Greeds). I've just emerged from a few days of sick and poo... We all got the bug in the end but everyone is fit again! Nothing like breastfeeding when you've got a tummy bug

I'll pop back later - oooh, he's nodded off again.... Will do some catching up. While I'm away give Theo a round of applause for sleeping from 8pm to 4.30am last night!!!! It wont be long fettle until Toby will be doing the same

at theo but also [congratulations! emoticon]!!

xxx

Friend of mine just sent me this link about nappies
www.whatreallyworks.co.uk/start/kidszone.asp?article_ID=1061

They said they are using the Bambo Natures Nappies - so may give them a go, once I'm more in a routine, as I don't feel very good using normal disposables, but also don't have the capacity for washing reusables or drying them, particularly in the coming winter months.

Come on Greedy- are you pushing yet?

Chooster- glad you are all well again.

Fettle- thanks for the link, I'll have a look. Moltox (sp?) are another brand of eco friendly nappies, I got a free sample from 'spirit of nature' website.

Am trying one hand typing as theo asleep on me... Aw, he's all lovely and warm

So according to Greedy's plan little Marcy (is it still going to be Marcy?) will be being hugged at this very moment . Love the image of you folding and re-folding clothes. They are all so cute aren't they . Yup, you are right, I did move every 2 years too!!! Sory, I'd forgotten you'd had a similar upbringing...

Mrs - Very glad you got the bugaboo. I agree with Fettle, you are better gettig the one you want now. I made a bargain basement choice with Max's buggy and ended up buying more buggies! Lovely image of your LO poking out of the fleece. Fingers crossed about the house. I must have missed a post about the church people ?? May have to go back and look. Good luck on getting 2 really good offers though. The trial packs for the real nappies are a good idea. Also on a lunch hour, if you can get to Broughton Street there is a shop there called seesaw and it sells FAB things. They've also got a lot of real nappies there so you can at least feel them and see what they all look like. The staff there are really helpful too. I got some lovely natural creams / ointments for Theo there too

I'm like you Bodders, my boobs are on the scrawny side now too - particularly by 8pm after a 2 hour suck-a-thon . Hope Nelly is better now.... Grrrr at having to do all that washing again.

Fettle - loving that picture of toby! Lexi looks very proud too! Sounds like its all going well for you all. Max is still a very devoted older brother so hopfully it will last as well. Having said that he did something really odd last night. He was in bed for 7pm as he was knackered but was up again at 8pm and in my bedroom (I was downstairs - DH out) screaming and really upset. I tried to comfort him but he started hitting me and wouldn't let me cuddle him for ages. I just had to wait until he calmed down then he just clung onto me until he went back to sleep. He's never done anything like that before... Maybe a bad dream - I did intially think he was sleep walking . I hope its nothing to do with Theo's arrival - who, by the way slept through the whole performnce in the same room . Anyway, hope the nips are feeling better. Stick with it! It'll be worth it as now I'm finding BF really easy and painless after a fairly dodgy start.

Lovely long post from you Seaside. Great news on your latest scan . Its great to see LO again . You go for the bugaboo if thats what you want - indulge yourself!!!!! So, whats your latest project then??

Hi Honeyapple!!! Sorry to hear about the pain - sounds nasty. Wow, 37 wks... Earlier in the year I remember looking at your due date and thinking that it was ages away, can't believe its here (ish) already!

Hey Firsty - good luck with the move. How is Ty?

Am off for another Theo swimming lesson later with all the skinny birds

Wow - everyone sounds great on here today! Really positive and upbeat - lovely to read! Chooster that is bloody fabulous about Theo sleeping all that time - you must feel like a million dollars today! Hope it is the start of him sleeping through and long may it last! Are you going swimming weekly with Theo? if so, blimey it can't be a week since you last went! where is the time going!

Firsty - really good luck with the move - hope it goes as smoothly and stressfree as poss. How's Ty doing?

Right,better hurry up, DD pestering me for a turn on the pooter....

Greedy - have you delivered the placenta yet

Fettel - sorry to hear about sore nips. Try massaging some milk into them at the end of the feed. Its supposed to help apparently - and let as much air to them as possible, so if you can bear wandering around topless for a bit it can help! Also I swear by Kamillosan ointment (Boots or Superdrug) which you can put on and not have to wipe off to feed, its ok for baby. Sorry if I'm telling you stuff you already know!

Honey - i'm really enjoying using the washable nappies again. took a bit of getting used to at first, but am in the swing now. She looks so cute with her big bum!

MrsMc - good luck wiht the house - sounds promising! Whatever nappies you decide to go with, the Motherease Airflow wraps are fantastic over anything - really comfy for the baby and hardly ever leak! Bet that tour around the hospital got you excited/nervous!

DD1s whinging getting too unbearable, so will have to cut short!

Afternoon ladies

Fettle ? my nipples are huge; DH laughs his head off when he hears that the baby is meant to get the whole nipple in its mouth! I am looking forward to the holiday, lots of sleep and chat with my Mum and I know my Dad?ll love the bump! There is quite a lot of kicking now, a lot down the way actually, most active times seem to be first thing in the morning, after lunch, around 6 and around 9 ? haven?t seen any discernible feet or anything yet but the bump does move where the kicks are. I did a through inspection last night for stretch marks and that black line up the tummy, negative to both but I was amazed at how purple and thick the veins in my chest and boobs look! LOL at DD! Thanks for the link, the lady last night was raving about the bamboo nappies, apparently they are so absorbent but can take up to 48 hours to dry inside in this country!

Honeyapple ? yes do let me know how you get on with the nappies!

Chooster ? sorry to hear you?ve all been ill what a great sleep Theo had!! One set of prospective buyers are the Church of Scotland, they need a new manse for the local church and so far we?ve had 3 lots of viewings by 3 different committees! Thanks for your good vibes and for the tips about Seesaw sorry about Max last night ? how odd but sad all the same. Splash the skinny birds for me!

ok, first a catch up!!! i am sure you will all be watching 'bringing up baby' anyway!!!

hello seaside! what a fab post yesterday! your holiday sounds fab! wish i could come!!!! i am very jealous! and of you mrs! and make sure you apply as early as you can for your MA by the way cos i still havent heard about mine and i keep chasing it and i applied at the start of july!

fettle - so pleased that your dd is so in love with toby! and so she should be!!! cant wait to find out what my 2 will be like with our new arrrival when it arrives!!! i have nipples like saucers too! wish they were smaller, but at least they are nice and dark at the moment !!!( anyone elses went/gone darker when pg??)

bodders - how sweet that you love talking about your 'kids' or girls!!! i remember once dd was born saying to dh every morning " which one are you getting up, the blue or the pink one?" and getting really excited that we had two kids!!!

rainbowdays - hope you didnt come online to help with my breathing cos obviously i was talking shite and this baby is staying put for another 9 months!!

mrs - WOW!!! your buggy was so expensive!!! good for you though!!! if i had the space and the money i would buy SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much wonderful stuff!!!
mrs, i remember my tour of the labour ward and hearing one woman screaming at the top of her voice in agony!!!! now that was scarey!!! all us heavily pg ladies looked at each other in huge panic, and i have never forgotten it!!!! i also remember the first day i was at home on my own with dd and ds after dd was born and i had to change 10 (yes 10!!!) pooey nappies in one day, and probably some wet ones too!!! my ds was still in nappies cos he was only 17months old and both my kids have always pooed a lot!!! but i can remember thinking "shit, is this what i have got to look forward to for the next few months!!!" i think 10 pooey nappies a day was the worst i had and it was just bad luck it was on my first day alone with them both!!!
oh and mrs - keep moisturising your tummy! i didnt get my stetchmark till 38wks ish with ds and then another one at a similar stage with dd! just when i thought i had been let off without getting any!!
honeyapple - i think your plan once you hit 37 wks is the way to go!!! i am moaning about not giving birth but to be honest i havent tried many of the old wives tales yet so i guess i shouldn't moan! although i have been doing SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much stair marching today!!! my midwifes personal favorite induction technique!!! OMG! cant believe you are 37 wks next friday!!! you are going to have your baby before me!!!!! AAAARRRGGGHHH!!!!!! i had better start douching with raspberry leaf tea!!!

chooster - fab news about theos sleeping last night!!! sorry to hear about all of you getting the bug!!! good way to lose a few pg pounds though!!!??? maybe?!!! sorry to let you down but i am still here with my big wriggly bump!!!! not at all fed up !!!!!!!

bodders - what do you think of chooster calling your boobs scrawny hey?!!! if i was you i would be seriously offended!!! oh and sorry, cos you said everyone was so positive and upbeat on here today!!! just as well i havent posted until now to lower the mood!!!

firsty - hope your house move goes as smoothly as moving house ever can!!!

ok, so now my news!!!...............i dotn have any obviously!!! my marathon sex session didnt eveen happen last night!!! the curry did but dh spent so long cooking it that by the time we had finished it we were both too knackered for any action and i dont think i am especially attractive at the moment anyway with my massive bump and constant waddling!
so i have tried lots of walking today and stair marching and even painted the downstairs toilet, but i reckon this little girl is quite comfy in my tummyh! i suppose the stats on this thread mean that i will go overdue anyway! everone has been at least a week early so far apart from firsty and babymad, so the odds are i will go overdue!
dh has just said he is going to bed, so i might see if i can tempt him into a shag!!! i will be SSSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO upset if he turns me down, cos i am feeling so fat and unattractive anyway the last thing i need is rejection from him too! anyway g'night all!

God just have to rant about that Bloody Programme! I can't believe those stupid fuckwits have spent the first night of their baby's life listening to that Hag. Just to get on the telly. The only one with any sense in their house is the elder daughter! I am soooooo

But the babies were all seriously cute though! Is it legal to be broody when I've got an 11 week old

Greedy - hope you're getting royally rogered as i type

cor - quiet on here today - have I scared you all off with my sweary rant?!

Greedy - don't worry - I called my boobs scrawny first - Chooster was just repeating me, so put that wooden spoon away, yer big stirrer

Am in Impetigo hell - 2 more patches today Think will have to go back to docs and get some nasal spray, apparently thats the thing to to with recurrent attacks. Had to send all my mum friends away this morning, as had arranged a nice coffee morning, but couldn't face inflicting it on all their lovely DCs

Oh God I know that programme was infuriating!!! I could hardly watch that little girl being left to cry. The poor dad looked distraught!. I just couldn't imagine holding my baby away from me to feed, not cuddling and putting him outside in his pram between feeds. Did you see the bit where the other woman took a picture of foxes in the garden and was worried in case her babies got eaten . I hate to say it but the strict lady doesn't have kids herself (I saw her being interviewed this morning) so can probably be a little tougher as she doesn't know what its like to hear your own child cry. Anyway.... I'll be watching again next week ready for another rant .

Its good to have you still here Greedy!! As long as you're not getting too fed up How was that shag session last night?

Any news from you Honeyapple?

Bodders, yup, I take Theo once a week - time is flying by!!!!! Sometimes I forget how many weeks Theo is? . I'm sure I've been saying "9 weeks" to people for ages . Speaking of Theo, he did another 9pm to 4am last night

So, operation "Christening dress" starts today. My cousins little boy is being Christened in 3 weeks time and the dress I'm wearing is a little - um - snug . So I'm going to bite the bullet and stop eating whatever I want . Especially as DH and I had another yummy curry last night...

Ooops, crossed with you Bod - yup that did take me an hour to write in between feeds etc... Sorry to hear abot the impetigo. Nasty for Nelly, but also rotten you had to change you mum friend plans . Hope the nasal spray works.

Also, have any of you ever had a fussy eater? DS1 is a bit of a tinker with his food and will often play up at dinner time, and more recently sometimes refusing to eat anything. Its been getting worse since Theo came which has co-incided with DH getting busy with his new training job and not being around much for Max's dinner time. So, I think it may be an attention seeking thing. But he's such a skinny wee thing I dont want this to turn into a bigger problem. My latest approach is to give him something I'm fairly sure he has liked before and if he eats he gets a pudding, if not, then he gets nothing else. But am I just re-inforcing that food is an issue by doing this?

Any thoughts / tips would be appreciated!!!

Hi Chooster - great news that you've had another good night. Me too! Thank goodness or i'd be a right mess today!

DD1 has also been a bit faffy with her evening meal lately (having always previously been a great little eater) However, she is on the chunky side, so I've never worried too much before. I can't be bothered with stressing too much, and if I know she's had plenty of fresh fruit etc. in the day (she always finishes her pack lunch at pre-school), I figure she's just too tired to concentrate on sitting still and eating properly by teatime, so I usually make a bit of an effort to get her to eat at least some of her tea, then give her fruit or a yogurt for pudding. Plenty of time for her to be eating "proper" meals when she's older. Which is basically what it sounds like you are doing, so I reckon we are doing ok! Like you say, no need to make a big issue out of it, it's a phase and it will pass!

I was trying to work out which parenting method (of the three on that programme) I subscribe to - and in the end decided it was a little bit of all three! I am a firm believer that a little bit of routine is no bad thing, as long as you are flexible and listen to your baby!

God listen to me, BabyGuru. I'm such a twonk

Got my first work enquiry today (from my website I think, as I have just left it up and running while on mat leave), so that will be interesting if it comes to fruition - nothing like a bit of juggling

Thanks Bodkin I reckon I worry more because I thinkk DS has become thinner, mainly because his trousers are falling down even more than usual. I dont worry too much on nursery days, but I do if he's hardly eaten lunch too. I think keeping calm about the whole thing is the key though but am thinking of a sticker chart with a toy at the end as I think I'm using pudding as the threat / reward which may not be a good thing really?

good news about the work??? It'll be a juggle but good to get the work in?

BTW - you are not a twonk - haven't heard that in ages .

I reckon a bit of routine is a good thing, but I could never do the 'not cuddle' thing. I enjoy them too much! . Of the 3, I think I'm more of the Spock type.

Hey Ladies

Hey Greedy I did watch ?Bringing up baby? now I am all in a quandary! MA? my nipples were really dark anyway but you should see them now! I know the buggy was expensive but that?s it now, all we need is a bed of sorts, no nursery for us MIL called last night and after pussy footing about for about 10 mins she started asking if she could buy sheets and clothes and blankets and wash them and and and ? I had to tell her to whooooo! slow down, firstly we don?t know what we are having, what size it might be and what allergies it might have, also haven?t decided on what type of bed yet and er would quite like to buy my own baby?s bedding if that?s ok with you (got very scared we?d be lumbered with horrid things she?s washed so we couldn?t return them) told her we?d go shopping one Sat nearer the time together? I know she is excited but it really overwhelmed me!!! How awful about that lady screaming ? that must have been terrifying. This is an awful memory but I?ll share it anyway, when I was young I had a termination in hospital (medical method so pessaries) it wasn?t the nicest of experiences and it did hurt but there were women going through the same thing screaming and having all sorts of pain relief, it really shocked me, I guess everyone experiences things differently and have different pain thresholds but I remember at the time thinking they were hysterical and they scared me. LOL at the nappy changing! Thanks for the tip on the stretch marks, I?m on my 4th bottle of Clarins oil so nice and greasy most of the time!! Hope the action starts soon with you!

Bodkin ? I know I really felt for the ones with the militant nanny and was quite shocked at them all being left outside alone for all those hours the 70s method was a bit extreme I thought and I couldn?t really see what the other method was ? anything goes I guess. Sorry about the impetigo!

Chooster agree with all you said ? she seemed to prefer the foxes to the babies!! Chooster ? if operation Christening Dress goes pear shaped or rather boob shaped, let me know as I have lots of ?function? dresses you could borrow I was bigger than you to start with so I?m sure you?d look fab in any of my dresses/suits. Sorry, can?t help on fussy eating.

Not-cuddling how can you not cuddle your little baby?!!

I wouldn't worry too much about DS1 not eating much Chooster, but I wouldn't necessarily make too much of a fuss of it either, or else you might build it up into something more than it is. They always say to encourage healthy eating puddings etc should never be used as a threat/treat, as otherwise you link them with reward and lead to comfort eating - if you believe all that rubbish - maybe I'm a twonk too!!

We've had times when DD refuses to eat and says that she doesn't like what I know perfectly well she does like - she is pretty skinny too and can still fit into size 18mth-2year skirts, as long as the lenght is ok!!! When she refuses to eat we encourage her to "hide" the bits she doesn't like in with the rest of the it - gives her something different to do. It generally works - got her eating salad leaves this way!! She once said she didn't like plum, when I gave her plum, apple and banana puree, so I said the plum was in the top layer, scooped that off and ate it myself and then she happily ate the rest (all down to deception). the best was leek and potato soup - she said she didn't like leek, so I added a tin of sweetcorn and told her I'd removed the leek and added the sweetcorn - she wolfed down two bowls of it!!

Have to say that we have never refused pudding for the reasons above and I really don't want her having comfort eating problems which I have - at the end of the day he is not going to starve himself and as long as he is not gorging himself on biscuits etc outside of meal times, I reckon he'll grow out of it quite quickly - think it is a normal phase that all 2-3 year olds go through.

Anyway, enough of my parenting guru-ing - don't think I'd be very good at it - just do what I think is best for my little ones.

We also had a better night sleep last night, only woke at midnight and 4am - which is a huge improvement on the night before. Off for a nap now, was going to go out for a walk and some fresh air, but they can't tell me when the midwife is coming round, so have to stay in until 5pm - really frustrating and ridiculously upset about it - hormones eh?!!!

Greedy - hope you're in labour as we speak? But at least you don't sound too down-heartened by waiting a bit longer - maybe you and Honey will do it together!!!

Honey - roll on Friday!!

Mrs - countdown til friday too!!! Hope it is warmer in spain than here - it is freezing here. Resorted to our winter duvet - not quite winter enough for the heating yet!!

Right, must go sleeping, or else it will be a complete waste of a day.

take care all
xxx

crossed with you Mrs - your MIL does sound very keen, but i completely agree with you, I would much rather buy those kind of things myself, but sounds like you've had a good compromise to take her shopping with you nearer the time!!

Bodders forgot to say sorry about Nelly's impetigo - hope it clears up quickly - def go with the nasal spray if it helps prevent it - better all round, as it can't be nice for her, feeling she can't play with her friends.

Right - sleep now!!!

xxx

Thanks for the sympathetic words ladies - it really helps not sure what to do about preschool tomorrow though... will have to wait and see =how things are in the morn.

Mrs, your MIL situation sounds a bit like another thread I read on here recently. Probably quite common with overenthusiastic Grandparents! Good compromise though - that way she feels involved, but yOU get to do the choosing Tell you what though, by the time your LO is walking and into everything and up at 5am every morning, you will be thinking yor MIL is Mother Theresa when she offers to babysit/take LO for the day/weekend etc...... so def. keep on her good side without letting her suffocate you too much!

Fettle, that sounds like a pretty civilised night's kip - well done, and enjoy that nap!

Cant believe what a chilled out baby #Isla is turning into! DD1 NEVer let me sit and type on the pooter with her on my lap like I am doing now without screaming....

Hey Fettle glad you had a better night last night. Thanks for being kind about my MIL, I sometimes think I am so mean to her when she is lovely really.

Just had a weird call with my Mum, I called her and she was whispering. She said she?d gone to the hospital for routine bloods this morning and they couldn?t get any and she fainted and next thing she knew, she was in a bed in a ward with a drip and waiting for a cardiogram! the cardiogram was fine and she was hoping to be released soon but it was all a bit odd. She also thought we were arriving on Sat and seemed a bit put out that it was actually Friday as she and my Dad have ?plans!?

Bodkin ? thanks hon I think MIL is also conscious that we?ll be in another country after a few months and she won?t get to see her grandchild that much. Exiting about a new commission for you!

Aaah, 3 cheers for chilled out babies!!1 Theo is the same - a real little angel .

Thanks for the words of wisdom on the eating thing. I think you are right fettle about puddings. It started to feel wrong using pudding as a reward - fortunately it did no bloody good anyway . I'll just play it down and mae sure he's not sneaking in snacks fomr DH / Grandparents etc - GParents are the worst. They love shovelling chocolate in him . Anyway, I'm going to do him mashed up egg in a cup tonight with toast soldiers as they always seems to so the trick, esp as he has been at nursery so no doubt will have wolfed down his lunch. By the way, I'm all for deception too Fettle!!!

Sorry to hear MIL has been a little too keen MrsMc. I think its a natural Grandparents trait... My mum was worse than MIL but I think thats because MIL was too worried about pissing me off. She's very thoughtful like that . A shopping trip sounds like a great idea .

Thanks for the offer of a dress too! . I'll see how I get on over the next 2 weeks - I just need to make sure I dont polish of DS1's egg in a cup this evening if he doesn't eat it. Its one of my favourites too!

Ooops, sorry Mrs, I temporarily forgot about you moving to Spain! Well, she can still babysit when she comes to visit so you and DH can have some nice evenings out - mind you, in Spain, doesn't everyone take their babies out with them in the evening? Do they really pierce baby girl's ears straight after they are born still - we had a Spanish girl in our ante-natal classes that i wetn to for DD1, and she asked if they did that in the UK - there was a tumbleweed blowing through the class for a minute while all the mum's jaws dropped (mine included) when she explained it was standard practice in Spain! Hope your mum is OK. Sounds scary.

Fettle - like your crafty food-hiding tricks, hmmmm, I think I need to be more devious

Bodders - I was asking on the Spanish mums thread about ear piercing as you are a real freak or a boy if your ears aren't pierced there!