TTC grads - the one where the old temp buddies come home to roost!!!!

[rainbowdays]

The old thread was getting impossibly slow on my computer, so decided that it was time to create a new one with hopefully Rah and Ready joining us, and with a whole new due date list.....

so MrsM, Momwi - come and start the list and hopefully Rah and Ready will come here now too!!!!!

I am so excited that the temp buddies are back together again, can you tell?!?!?!?

Happy Due Date Iamamummy!!! Hope all is well with you and Herbie - did you decide on a name after birth, or is Herbie going to stick?

Greedy - red leather skirt?! Sounds interesting! I must get into selling some stuff on e-bay - we've loads of stuff to sell. But I just can't let myself sell our baby things - just not ready to admit I'm not having another one. But could do with some extra money at the moment...

Talking of which I have to get on with my coursework - very nearly half-way through now. Can't believe it, but sooner it is finished I can get out there and start earning again!

Have a good week all.

ps 3 weeks down, only 25 to go! Seems ages still., but we'll get through it

Thanks fettle!!!

really thought id have my bubba by now though Herbie is the name we have chosen for him, i think most people hoped we would change it - but we like it
25 weeks fettle dont you see dh in the meantime at xmas? i know thats not much.....

greedy - red leather skirt, you dodgy woman!!

See my work is going well!!!

Iamamummy - I think Herbie is great! He may not thank you when he's 50 and trying to be a serious high court judge!, but other than that I think it is a great name! I hope he doesn't leave you hanging around too long (or turn out to be a girl?!).

DH will be back for 10 days hopefully sometime in January, but that doesn't really count in the grand scheme of my wallowing in self-pity day that I'm having today!!!

Right, back to my case studies.....

iamamummy- any twinges yet? BTW I like Herbie too- and I like it shortened to Herb. Is everything in place for the HB?

Fettle- I think you have every right to be wallowing at the moment- It must be dreadful not having DH with you- and also worrying about him. How is the course going though? I haven't actually started on any proper work- lots of essays in the future to look forward to...

Had a look around a playgroup today- they could have Dex from Nov for 2 afternoons (the mornings are all booked until sept 2010!) Seemed a nice place- not very many kids which is good and a lovely outside area. Only thing that is a bit annoying is that they charge £30 just to put his name down... non refundable... is this common practice?

Right better go and check out red leather skirts on ebay- maybe I'll put a bid in...

Hi Honey! I've paid anywhere between £20 and £30 to register my DC for different nurseries, so quite normal I would say. Sounds a lovely setting though - I love picking up Toby and finding him in the garden as it is his most favourite place!!

Feeling a bit better this evening - had a lovely chat with DH (only for 10 mins!, but it was still good!). He sounds on good form and really enjoying himself and finding it very interesting. Makes it much easier for me to deal with - I just wish little Toby was coping better. He's becoming more and more dependent on me and gets very upset when I'm not around or leave him somewhere. He's also not settling to sleep as easily as he used to and is crying himself to sleep. Every morning he asks where Daddy is. But seems relatively happy to say he is in his helicopter (DH has nothing to do with helicopters, but in Toby's mind he's now driving a helicopter up to the mooon!!!).

Right - want to get in bed in time to watch the last part of Waking the Dead!

Come on Herbie - out you come!!!!

xxx

ah fettle, you are very brave. i only really appreciated when you said you had a10 min chat with dh that you dont get to speak to him everyday. when my dh is away (only ever for a few days and thats bad enough) i get to chat to him at least. you are a superstar and i am sure toby will adapt before you know it.

honey - i had to pay £60 non refundable registration fee for marcy! yikes! she starts in 2 weeks (2 days after tuning 2!!) feel a bit mean sening her so oung, but it will only be for 2 2 1/2 hr sessions a week and i know she will love it cos she is little miss sociable!!

i am very ashamed of my leather skirt now!!

Wow, just looked on ebay, can't believe there are that many red leather skirts out there! Are you modelling it in the photo Greedy? . Been meaning to say to you that we are also ebay fanatics in our house, buying and selling. We've sold loads of kids stuff, my shoes, jackets, bags etc. It all seems like such small amounts at the time but its all adds up doesn't it!!! And I've got some fab bargains. In fact I'm wearing a £7 Diesel jacket today . I'm trynig to sell my wedding shoes at the moment but no-one wants them . I thought they were quite nice but apparently not .

Hope you're doing OK fettle, the early days after he has gone must seem to drag along, but I'm sure before long you'll realise the time is speeding by - especially once we get into Xmas fever and the countdown is on. It must make it easier knowing that DH is getting on OK. It would be harder if he was miserable and you'd wonder what it was all for, but he's obviously in his element there.

Any sign of Herbie Iamamummy!? Is Oscar handling it all OK? (Apart from peeing around the house)...

All fine here, went to a christening this weekend and just found out my uncle who I hugged and kissed (not in a dodgy way obviously!) now has swine flu - rats, hope i dont get it. Went to GP today to get on their radar and booked in for my early scans. Not sure when it will be but hopefully will see the same consultant again, fingers crossed.

hi all - no sign of Herbie yet ? I love the name too btw.

Glad the girls of 3 on here have given you some positivity Chooster. I think three is a great number and know lots of friends with 3 - 3 is the new 2!! Wow I need some ebay tips from you and greedy. I have about 10 bags of stuff I have not taken to charity shops so I can sell them but have not even started yet - I need to set up a little photo studio I guess?
I actually think that I have a red leather skirt too greedy well it is more burgundy and def knee length - no ann summers visions here

ready - you are so NOT doing anything wrong honey - every baby is different and every mummy is different. I promise sleep will come and you will be able to look back and think "what was I worrying about"! I think H just sounds really interactive and bright, she will find a routine eventually honestly, it just sometimes takes time for them to learn it/not fight it. Hope you and DH and managing to get some rest xxx

Thanks for the Dhea info lottie - am considering giving it a go as I sure my ovaries are about to give up the ghost any day now! Like the other girls I don't think you necessarily need the wool swaddling blankets but then again I never did much full on swaddling - more wrapping up as Cassius likes to be able to thrash around in the cot and always has done! Although he loved his muslins and sleeps surrounded by them
Everyone is right ? you will undoubtedly buy loads of stuff you do not need do not use ? but tbh that is the privilege of a first time mum and it is exciting to shop for it all and plan ? I LOVED it - in fact I even made copious amounts of spreadsheets ? yes I am sad and my friends call me Monica.

Now you have opened the floodgates I will start getting link happy!

These are the best things I have bought/used so far:

waterproof mattress protectors invaluable for changing on, I even bought a large on for our bed in case my waters went in the night (they didn?t)

luxury cellular blanket
scroll down to see it ? it is the BEST blanket ever ? washes like a dream, soft, warm, everyone asked where I got it from. All the green baby stuff I got was brilliant.

I also got my cot mattresses from Naturalmat.com ? they are lovely.

I am afraid to say I am a complete sucker and a massive consumer! But I loved the whole experience of shopping for baby

Hi bodders So sorry you are having a hard time settling Isla into nursery. I am dreading that I have to say. I really hope it gets better.

Fettle - glad you had a nice phonecall if only short with DH and good news that he is doing well. Well done on your course work too

I have Cassius down for the local montessori next spring - they have not asked for any ££ yet? But then we are in the sticks down here!
Have you had your NCT interview yet honey?

arghh - I need some TTC grads wisdom - I feel like I have lost all the TTC knowledge I spent so long gaining before pg and now am not sure I am even oving at all I have given in to the dreaded ebay opk tests (i know I know!) and despite casually keeping a track of my cycle for the past few months and thinking I was def oving I have tested on my usual days this month and nothing, nada, zip - not even a faint shadow of a second line on those strips - looking back at my old charts I always got a second line in the middle of my cycle even if it was not a dark positive, it was there. DH and I should be in the midst of a BD fest (esp as we only have a few days together as I have been away and then he goes away on Friday) but I just cannot be bothered if I am not even oving!! That's awful isn't it!
Anyway- now what? I guess there is nothing for it but to temp again at least for three months and see what the charts look like then?

I really want to be able to just switch off and not think about it but I just can't - what is wrong with me! Grrrr. I am also feeling completely apathetic and unmotivated to do anything, I really remember this feeling from TTC last time. Rubbish

OK moaning over with!

has it started to sink in a bit more then chooster? how you both feeling about everything now?

can i just say, if anyone else looks on ebay at red leather skirts................i am NOT the dodgy woman modelling it with my arse sticking out and a see through leopard print top on !!! was that the woman you meant chooster?

Yup! Thats her! I mean, you .

greedy and chooster - OMG that's woman is some kind of ebay porn!

OMG. Even on my little phone screen I can see the picture you're talking about!!!! She's got some bids though which is more than most of them! How's yours selling Greedy?

Chooster. Glad to hear you sounding settled into your pregnancy. Sure you'll be fine with the swine flu. You don't need more worries at mo.

Was going to say something else but can't remember!

Night-night all
xxx

Thanks for all the words of comfort. We are doing some work on the sleep issue... leaving her to cry a little bit, but honestly, I can't leave her long. DH has to stop me from going to her within 2 minutes. He'll let me go after 6 ... then we soothe her to sleep in her cot as opposed to picking her up and holding her. She cried in our arms anyway, so this just saves our backs. She has been settling ok, still fights sleep in the day and won't nap for more than 40 mins, so I bundle her in to the sling and walk to get her more. I am pounding the pavements 3 times a day at the moment. I really don't want her to suffer for lack of sleep, and she gets so grumpy without it.

At night she settles better for dh than me, I think she knows that mum wants to pick her up. But last night after she fed at 2.45am I put her down after a burp and she grizzled for 2 minutes then fell asleep until 6am. So I wonder why she can do it sometimes but not others.

I am sure I will look back at all this and smile. Already it's an improvement from having to hold her while she screamed for 10 minutes. Onwards and upwards.

evening all

iam- is Herbie here?

Ready- glad to hear things might be getting a bit better with H and her sleeping. I think with all things it is usually a case of 2 steps forward, 1 step back- so don't worry and don't get concerned if you feel things do start going backwards again. Dexter does not sleep all night through at the moment- usually wakes at some point and I have to go to him and give him a pat and resettle him. I think disturbed sleep is something you just get used to! I never feel like I have enough sleep.

Well Dex is all set for 2 afternoons a week from after half term- yikes, pretty soon... He has to take a packed lunch in for the afternoon session! And on the monday session he can go in early for a music group which is cool (although obviously more money).

Hi to everyone else x

Your nursery playgroup sounds fab Honey - just like DD's old nursery before we moved! She had music, french and an activity time, a bit like Tumble tots, but the lady came to the nursery - DD absolutely loved it!!!
Ready - hang in there. As Honey says Sleep is tricky. She is still very tiny still - I found it much easier to tackle sleep issues once I'd stopped breast-feeding, as then DH can do the feeding and settling and it is easier on everyone that way round!

But I'm not really the best person to give advice on the matter anyway - I still have a 5 year old who needs a long cuddle to settle herself to sleep and she wakes at least 1-2 times a week still! Toby has definitely turned a corner from his placid self - cried himself to sleep again tonight. HAd to go to him in the end and give him another cuddle. I'm hoping this is just a short phase and it was hard for him today as he was taken and collected from nursery by my friend (who he adores) and then taken home to my mum and I got home just in time for bed, so he must have been slightly concerned that I maybe had gone too for a while - not looking forward to dropping him at nursery in the morning, but I'm looking forward to my facial, so he has to go [bad selfish mother emoticon needed here!!!]

Well I'm now officially half-way through my reflexology course - pretty scary, but had a good day at my training session. Mum leaves tomorrow, which is going to be really hard, but hopefully I'll stick at my routine of working well on Monday mornings and Thursdays while Toby is at nursery. HAve to admit that I'm pampering myself tomorrow - having a facial and back massage. Feel quite rebellious, but thought I need to do something for myself and if I treat myself once a month, it might make the time go faster! This week has flown by, which is good! Starting to think about everything I need to do to move next April - new school, nursery, gym classes, swimming lessons etc..... Not forgetting sorting out the attic and garage! Think I'll just ignore it all for a bit longer!!!

Hope you're not getting too disheartened and uncomfortable Iamamummy - sure you'll get to meet him soon!!

Seaside - I think temping for a couple of months may be a good idea, just to remind yourself of how your own body works. PArticularly as having a baby can change your cycle a bit - it doesn't mean you are stressnig about conceiving, just checking!

hello everyone else!!
xxx

Hi Fettle- I didnt realise you were having to move again- must have missed that- are you going far? It doesnt seem anytime that you moved before. I think the playgroup is a very nice one- fingers crossed Dex will be happy- might have to book myself in for a facial... Do you plan to set yourself up as a practising reflexologist as soon as you finish the course?

Done my back in lifting Dex today... Greedy I need you!

Yup. We on the move again up north when dh gets back. Couldn't handle the weekly commuting the short time we did it this summer. Been here the longest since having children. Over 2 years now so feel really settled - going to be hard leaving.

I am planning on setting up practise but that will be really hard having just moved into a new area. It would be so much easier here but there you go - the things you do for love. It is only for 15 months then we get to move all over again!!! Lucky aren't we?!![slightly hard put upon but i knew what I was marrying into so should have known better army wife emoticon!]

xxx

Blimey fettle- I guess it is part of life in the army- but I really feel for you- It is hard moving into a new area- are you moving somewhere you know? And then where in 15mths? How do the children feel about it? Your DD must be much more aware of everything now- moving schools etc.(Sorry lots of questions!)

Herbie??

sorry guys no herbie yet ;0(

Ah, come on Herbie!!! Dont keep your mummy waiting too long .

I also hadn't realised that you'd finally decided to move when DH got back Fettle - where abouts up north? Or is that a state secret and you'd have to kill me afterwards . It will get harder on DD as she develops more friendships, but it really can lead to an interesting childhood. We moved location every 2 years-ish when I was growing up and I think it cna make you more resilient to change and more adaptable. Although its hard every time you say bye to some good pals. The effect on her (and Toby at some point) needn't be all negative. Good to hear about the facial and back massage!!! Good for you, pampering yourself sounds like a great plan otherwsie you'll be so focused on the kids and your coure you'll forget to look after yourself.

Playgroup sounds lovely Honey - I'm sure Dex will be happy there... So does that mean you'll be doing your NCT studying after the half term break?

Speaking of half term break we are heading over to Spain and have decided to catch up with MrsMc so that should be fun.... At least it will be if this bloody sickness dies down a bit... I dont think I've mentioned that morning sickness has arrived . I was naively hoping that I was going to escape but not so lucky. Its better than with previous times, but only marginally. YUK!!! I'd forgotten how rubbish and constant it is. This doesn't really help my feelings of positivity about the pregnancy but hopefully it wont last too much longer - am 7 weeks now.

How are you feeling Iamamummy???

iam- don't feel too - I'm sure Herbie will be here soon- keep us posted.

Chooster- that will be lovely to meet up with MrsMc- what does she make of your news? Sorry to hear you feeling sick- but I am still so excited for you! Have you got a scan date? And yes I will start getting my head into some NCT books after half term. I need to observe an antenatal course. Then I have to book onto an introductory weekend course (hopefully I can squeeze into one in november). The first essay is reflecting on one of my birth experiences so that should be quite good. Have to decide which to choose- probably Dex as is most recent and also most positive experience.

As for the modelling- he has had a few castings and had his pics submitted to clients but so far no actual job! ho hum- maybe it will pick up, but to be honest I'm not that bothered and feel too busy to think about it. I am making sure I keep his photos updated etc just in case.

Dex is watching peppa pig- he is totally in love with it- forget Night Garden now! Like who is Igglepiggle? (Bit annoying as I bought him this Night Garden mini world play mat thingy for his birthday ages ago cos it was half price!)

hello ladies

sorry to hear the dreaded morning sickness has arrived

just nabbed 5 mins away from oscar - he is driving me potty! i really think he can sense that a change is a coming. i just havnt got the patience at the moment for tears and tantrums. i seem to be biting everyones head off today as well - should have just stayed in bed!
saw mw and head is well down she said she could only just feel it, and she said the birth should be nice and quick i think she sensed i was having a bad day and tried to cheer me up!

anyway il let you all know as soon as anything happens, in the meantime i have an appointmetn at the hospital for monday to book induction.

come on baby!!!!

Chooster - Not a state secret, just quite easy to work out where and I like to be a bit incognito on here!! I'll tell you on FB if you're really interested! Talking of half-term is yours the week before Halloween, or the last week of October ending in Halloween? Sounds fab a trip to Spain - you must send MrsMc our love (if she remembers us!).

Herbie will be out soon, Iamamummy. Hang in there - these are probably the worst few days of pregnancy I think. The waiting and not-knowing. You are certainly allowed to let steam off at people!!

Right - I really must get to bed, been meaning to go for about an hour now, but thought I ought to send a letter to DH, as I haven't done for about a week and I feel awful. Suddenly it is going so quickly and I don't know where the days are going, which is good I suppose.

xxx

Oh yes, meant to add - I think it is good news that the morning sickness has arrived Chooster in a way! Is it all sinking in yet? Or still feeling a bit surreal? I keep thinking about you.

xxx

Girls... I am having a wobbly day today, don't feel good enough, have no idea what I am doing. H is 10 weeks today.
If you can remember, and have the time, talk me through a typical day with your 10 week old.
My trouble is I look at too many books, and start to doubt myself. I don't feel like I know anything. My name is 'ready' but I quite clearly wasn't.