40 + yummy mummies with baby tummies and those who've 'popped' - come hither!

[jeanjeannie]

Come join our merry (talkative) band of ladies who lunch - feel sick - are getting fatter - sleep deprived or run off their feet with babies! Some of us suffer all of the above - while trying to retain an air of calm and mystery

All we ask is you play nicely, eat cake and indulge in the occasional gossip and moan about our ills....or anything else that we can think of.

We're like grumpy old women....only not so grumpy...

Much better, thanks hedgepig. I slept for a good part of the day and lay on the couch for the rest of it!

And the baby has been incredibly active today. So I think we're both feeling better!

Cor blimey, it's been like Emergency Ward 10 here tonight DSS has had his bottom lip out and wanting lots of cuddles. I tucked him up on the sofa while DH was dropping DS#2 off, with fluffy blanket, big pillow and a treat of an extra half an hour watching tv. Instantly better! Amazing isn't it? Anyway, while he was loving the extra time up with the adults, K was coughing all over the place, crying and generally getting herself worked up. Gave her some calpol which she managed to keep down (still crying though) and finally went off to sleep at 9.30pm so it's a big AHHHHH and sit down for us.

DH came home from dropping DS#2 off with not 1, not 2, but 3 boxes of chocolates for me He obviously wants me to be too fat to nag him or be found attractive by any other chap. It really is death by chocolate.

JJ fun and games in your house/garden. Have fun re-doing the garden. Like the image of your OH in his ELC little hut Tres cute. Funny how it's all just clicked into place with Verity isn't it? I think this is how it goes with all of them....they just suddenly 'get it' and off they go and no stopping them

K found a chocolate eclair wrapper today (hides her guilty face) and spent ages holding it, scrunching it etc etc. I've spent a small fortune on really nice toys and all she wants is a toffee wrapper Typical! Empty cardboard box coming up for b'day present

Think it's an early night for me tonight. New duvet is fabulous so I'm looking forward to getting to bed.

mrsb are you still pickled? How did your day go? Getting the taste back for monday? Hope you can get MN at work.....you better had do anyway! EEEEk.

Happy Valentine's Day all you gorgeous Girls [slushy heart-shaped emoticon]

Well, here at JJ towers I simply haven't got time to read all my cards

Lovely day here - sun is shining it's frosty and we're heading off into town for a spot o lunch.

jw hope K is feeling Ok and DSS. I reckon you'll find the choccie eclair really hit the spot - more medicinal than Calpol...

hedgepig I have a pressure cooker - it's fab. Scared of it at first but now it's amazing what you can whip up without thinking about it! Have to say I occasionally spend a couple of eves making meals I know Iris likes (lasagne, fish pie, sausage pasta etc ) and then freeze them - really helps when we're out a lot or both of them spend the day shouting at me! My friend has two boys and she spends the week before the holidays in the kitchen during the evening pre-making meals for that time. Go on - give it a go - you can do it while sinking wine and watching telly!!

Talking of wine..mrsB ....hangover???

Righty ho - second coffee coming up....Verity woke three times last night

Verity crawling! Eek and great! And love your garden! So wide and long and such a lovely backdrop. Keep us posted on developments.

Well our Friday evening was spent with M on a quilt on the living room floor sweating cobs and tossing and turning. Didn't want her up in the bedroom as was worried about her with a fever. Calpol seemed to do its trick tho and after a few hours she sat up, had a cuddle and then firmly said "BED". So off to bed she went. But i chickened out and had her in the travel cot next to us all night. Lots of checking and fretting every 10 minutes throughout the night and then an alarm call for "Bick-Bix" (breakfast) at 6:30 that wouldn't stop. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz so much for a lie-in and bacon butties in bed . But at least she's fine today [silly fretful first time mum]

bonzo sounds like you're having to paint a large X on your front door as well. Poor dear. Sounds like she's on the mend though

K settled with a rattling cough after her coughing fit (again) last night. Slept through with snuffles and snoring (her not me). DSS has got up and his throat is still very sore so DH is just doing a ring round to cancel today's activities. Seems that laser Quest will have to wait until next week once this gets better.

Obviously nothing planned here apart from administering Calpol, sore throat lozenges and lots of cuddles

I didn't get anything for DH for V's day and feel a tad guilty now as he bought me a mountain of chocolate which, I hasten to add, I've had some of for breakfast No matter. I've promised him something money can't buy later on when the children are asleep IYKWIM He's more than happy with the arrangement.

Hope all you lovely ladies have a nice day. Sorry to hear that Verity has been up again JJ

Yes, where is mrsb. Conspicuous by her absence. Shall I tiptoe off this post so as not to give her a bigger headache....?

Forgot to mention, DM news....

Seems Jade is losing her fight. Very sad for her children

17 year old having triplets

Kevin Costner has had a baby (he's more ancient than me, surely).

And finally, Madonna going out with Jesus......oh come on!

mornin' all

No hangover here - was only a bit squiffy because I hadn't had time to eat yesterday before D's gran came to pick him up and then she gave me a lift into town where, after I'd had my hair done I wandered about happily for hours (spending money I hadn't got) all on my own! it was great. But three glasses of wine at the pub went straight into my head.

It was very nice though cos there is a beautiful old pub right by our offices and it had been run into the ground by the previous landlord, bad beer, bad atmosphere, dirty, pongy - everything a pub shouldn't be. Well. the credit crunch did for him and it is now in the hands of someone who is taking good care of it - we went there last evening and there were big open fires light in each room and it smelt of polish and all the brass etc was gleaming. Such a difference.

jj that is a great size garden - bet it will be fab!

jw three boxes of chocolates eh? now I think its only fair that you share them out!

bonzo I would be exactly the same - glad she is feeling better

jw I will be beside myself if I can't get MN at work! OH told me yesterday that they have now blocked the extra security pop up thing that you have to complete before buying something on line from a lot of websites. Eeeek indeed.

x posts jw

just been spooning a jar of banana and blueberry down Mr D's gullet - I'm starting to think of him as my little fois gras goose

Poor Jade - and as if things weren't bad enough she is now going to marry Jack Tweedy. Hmmmm I hope she has made bomb proof financial arrangments for her kids.

Morning all you cupids out there. I got a card but have the moral high ground as I got DH a card and some choccies. He's now very dutifully making shelves. . The kids also showered us with home-made cards and 'anonymous' letters including a teeny one from DD (10) which had 'top tips for a happy valentine's day' and included 1) Send all your lovers a card. . I might need to talk to that girl.

JJ I used to use my pressure cooker but never got it quite right - I was so scared of everything turning to mush, and found the steaming and whistling a bit alarming! I really should have another go.

Tee glad you're feeling rested. Is it pram shopping day today? Do insist on wheeling them around the shop to get a feel of it, and doing all the folding etc. yourself. The guy who sold us our buggy put it up and down in 5 seconds and it took me 5 mins the first time I tried, holding screaming baby in one arm .

Bonzo hope baby is much better today, and JW glad that K had a good night. My sister whose babe has been on a ventilator twice for RSV with bronchiolitis had a scare the night before last - her 2 yr old was breathing in a v rattly fashion and far too fast, GP sent them to A&E (only sensible given her history) and they spent 4 hours there checking her O2 levels etc. Her levels were fine, and she lashed out at anyone with a stethescope who came near her, so they sent her home and my sis and BIL took it in turns to watch her thru the night (she has stopped breathing in the night - terrifying). But yesterday she had the energy to be extremely grumpy all day, much to everyone's relief, so all seems fine. Horrid time of year for lungs though.

I saw The Bump move when babe kicked this morning - am going to start balancing maltesers on it

MrsB how was the little fois gras gooses sleep last night? and did mummys glass or 2 of vino make you sleep more soundly anyway? O actually slept from 11:30 till 4am which is very good for him, it was in my bed so my sleep wasn't so good but at least he slept. How does a 4 month old baby manged to push an adult to the very edge of her bed so she is clinging on for dear life?

JW LOL at the eclair wrapper. In Bens memory box there is a Walkers crisp packet which we used to crunch for hrs at him he was absolutely fascinated by it, so it is not just K. Happy Birthday to DSS and hope he is feeling better soon, he must be ill if he agrees to lazer quest being cancelled.

We are off to the shops today to but DH new clothes all his trousers have holes in then he look like a rag bag.

I have a dozen red roses I must go and write his card I have hidden so well that I'm not too sure where it is.

This is so weird, O is asleep upstairs in his cot and I have the monitor on, DH has just had a shower and I can hear him crunching around getting dressed. At least he isn't talking to himself about what an old bag I am or anything like that.

Bonzo you are not being silly fretful 1st time mum you are being a good mum who worries about her little one. Hope you can get some rest today. Mass spec wow that is clever stuff I can never make head nor tail of those things, I'm a biochemist by training so it was GC & HPLC only for me.

Malteser football what fun ermintrude

he didn't sleep to badly hedgepig although grandma didn't manage to get much food down him so he woke twice - but daddy fed him cos mummy was too "tired" He may as well get started since I am now back at work he is going to have to do his share of night feedings.

dozen red roses eh? very nice

enjoy the shopping!

bonzo awwww- hope M has a better day today. Don't think it matters how many you've got - you're still restless when they're ill.

jw Hope DSS feels better - and at least he'll have laser quest to look forward to Choocies huh? I got flowers...I can't em them Such sad news about Jade - so young too

mrB no hangover - well done you.

The reason the garden is surrounded by trees is it's bang in the middle of the Chilterns - hence why High Wycombe is so....high! Trees everywhere and we get HUGE red Kites circling and popping into the garden like massise sparrows! That photo doesn't show the sink estate in the dip of the hill!! Chainsaws and fires later!

Off for lunch - yum yum

ermintrude roses And LOL@ maltesers sport!

hedgepig DP is also buying trousers today -he's a threadbare rag bag!

mrsB glad your little goose got some kip - and and you too!

Happy Half Price Chocolate Eve, everyone!

JW they do love boxes and wrappers, don't they? Best pic I have of one of my nieces is her asleep in the box one of her Xmas gifts came in!

ermintrude I keep thinking of that ad, but no outside the bump action here yet. DH has been sitting with hand on bump for a week and is very disappointed he can't feel anything yet. I blame the extra stone I was carrying around before I got pregnant!

bonzo hope LO is feeling better today. Sounds like a horrid night.

mrsb pub sounds lovely!

jj I am of your garden. I only have a little balcony!

Well, didn't get to go pram shopping today, after all. Was all set and popped into the bank to put in a cheque and suddenly came over all hypo. DH ran me to the nearest coffee shop and got me a bagel but that time I couldn't catch my breath either. So too wiped out to deal with prams today. I feel fine now, but scared the crap out of DH and man at coffee shop who was staring at me!

Did pop into M&S and picked up their £20 meal deal for 2. Got scallops, steak, chips, choc souffle, red wine and a red rose. Really good deal. That's the extent of our valentine's day, other than cards and a box of truffles from Thorntons!

that Marks deal is very good tee the sparkling rose looks lovely

have out a couple of pics of Mr D in his activity centre thingy - he loves it. We got it cos he loves being stood up and in this he can stand and twizzle round and bash and play to his heart's content. V good for hand/eye coordination too.

mrsb D is looking so much more grown up now! Awww he's really gonna be a heart breaker one day

DSS is feeling sorry for himself and getting in training for man flu and other such male conditions no doubt. Stupid SiL rang and insisted on talking to him (as you do to a child with sore throat) and then said to me 'cor you can't get much conversation out of him' Followed up by 'well I wouldn't stand for that....I'd MAKE him talk'. I've told DH I can't be arsed talking to the silly mare any more as I feel that if I do, we'll come to blows.

Glad all you ladies have been spoilt by your OH's/LO's. ermintrude even your bump is joining in the fun

hedgepig I'm wondering if Ben is going to get to 15 and open his memory and think 'mum is a batty lady indeed saving old crisp bags'! haha. I have saved all K's bonnet's from ITU, her bp cuffs, and all manner of things from the hospital including a father's day card with the tiniest feet prints (hers) on it. No doubt it'll be very boring to her when we get it out!

I've whipped around the house in a cleaning frenzy this morning while K was asleep and DSS occupied on his new game. DH kindly did the food shopping. I'm just about to get the newspaper out, have a coffee and put my feet up. DH is singing the ooompa looompa song to K and she's loving it......sorted Just need a giant set of earplugs on the children while I put Echo Beach on the cd player very loud (in an ideal world...not today though so I'll just have to hum it to myself) .......my job is very boring I'm an office clerk............do do do dooo!

Hope You're all still in a loved-up, flufy mood Well, we went for sushi and noodles. Iris decided she'd eat loads of stir fry and Verity ploughed into a mini salmon Maki, grilled chicken & noodles...not bad going for a LO that's not really gelled with solids. I'm sure Annabel Karmel and the like don't hold with such foods for babies - but hey - she was loving it!

Bought Iris some dressing up stuff from Primark - she's now wearing red heat-shaped glasses and a pink corduroy peaked cap She looks like spawn of Elton John....!

tee good to hear your DH rescued you with a bagel and scallops sound delicious!

jw sorry to hear your SIL is still be soooo stoopid Enjoy Martha and the Muffins.

Ooooo I saw a magazine today called JAMIE - yes, St Oliver has his own magazine! He is turning in the UK version of Martha Stewart...not sure how I feel about that?!

mrsb little d looks so grown up, where has the time gone? Is that your new hair cut? You look absolutely fab, are you sure you're over 40?

tee we're also having the M&S meal deal - scallops, dover sole with the caesar vegetables, choc souffles and the vintage pink cava. Sorry you're feeling rough. Am I the only one on here who did bloom in the 2nd trimester?

Have to say I'm not looking or feeling too dreadful now with 8 weeks to go. Am still in my horny phase though only in the mornings. Probably because I wake up remembering my dreams which are not so much erotic as downright filthy Feeling a bit sorry for DH as I do have something of a beached whale look about me!

Had my last day at work on thursday and the kids I work with made me a lovely card. I felt quite emotional. I've been feeling tired though I'm with ermintrude, if I had a nap I'd feel worse afterwards. I've found that sitting on my bed for half an hour to eat my lunch does recharge my batteries. I'm lucky that Elizabeth sleeps in the middle of the day. However I am ready for bed by 9pm every evening.

Have an appt with the GP on tues as the Gaviscon is not touching the sides and I'm waking every night with that awful acid in my mouth. Yuck. Added to the frequent trips to the loo and waking up to turn over I'm really getting in practice for when this baby arrives

DH had yesterday off so he could be here for a speech therapy and signing session. It was great as he was able to ask loads of questions and be told how brilliantly his daughter was doing. E and I then went off to a friend's house for lunch and he stayed home and mopped all the floors and did all the paperwork. We have a really successful division of labour here. I do all of the cooking and he clears up as I go along. It's a good opportunity for us to chat about our days. He and Grace do the clearing up after dinner. I clean sinks, he hoovers. I do all the laundry, he cleans the loos. And he gets sex on demand. That's on demand from me of course Poor sod, it's either feast or famine here!

JW ooh no, Katherine will love every daft thing you put away for her - my DC are forever asking daddy to take down 'their special boxes' which are on top of our wardrobe, so they can coo through the plastic umbilical cord clips, nursery records about how many poos they did each day, their 3-yr old selves' attempts at drawing people, teeny vests and shoes and all manner of crap treasure.

JJ twas hedgepig that got the roses. I told DH that I'd happily wait a week till the prices had gone back to normal and he could get me even more. He didn't seem to be listening.

mrsb - 3 glasses of wine. Sigh. Can't wait to enjoy a drink again. I'm sure I drank too much for a b/feeding mum the last two times but it doesn't seem to have done them any harm... hic. Cute pictures of baby D in his playgym. Hope your skirting boards will take it, once he gets going he could do some serious damage

Tee I too am carrying an extra stone in addition to baba, and it does ahem cushion the bump a little. I also have anterior placenta which the songrapher described as 'an extra layer of padding' much to DH's amusement - 'she doesn't really need that', he said supportively . Even so, he has felt a few big kicks if he presses gently and I position his hand. And if you can feel the baby really thumping, lie back and breathe out so that the bump is as low and uninflated (!) as possible, and any day now you'll see a movement. And in a few weeks we'll be identifying elbows and knees making their way under the surface (my DH always makes the dur-dur noise from Jaws at such poignant moments).

Oh yes I forgot to say mrsB Young D looks so grown up He's gorgeous - and looks cheeky with it. I love those things - is it one he can scoot about in?

ermintrude Ha - I knew it was hedgepog really -I couldn't tell through the insanely green mist infront of my eyes!

ladymac you hot lady! Well, I suppose your DH may as well make the most of it - once LO is born the only hing bed will be for is sleeping!

That's nice that he got to see Elizabeth working her magic at speech group - awww proud daddy I bet!

I want an MS meal stamps foot and walks off

Hello all

ladymac are you having a boy? just that the dream thing and subsequent 'need' you mention I had the exact same thing but only when I was pregnant with my boys not my girls, never quite sure if it was due to a twin or boy pregnancy, thought perhaps it was the double dose of testosterone

mrsb you are lovely and so glad the follow on formula seems to be making a difference with young D.
As for a couple of glasses of wine being enough, much like me since cutting out completly while pregnant only takes a few now

jj Verity crawling, excellent that brought a smile to my face when I read that, now the fun begins, be afraid, be very afraid

jw and bonzo hope all those suffering illnesses and bugs are on the mend

Just popped in to see how we all are as DH works a 4 day week and this weekend is his long weekend, so lots and lots of lovely family time for me
A gold and pearl ring and matching earings and 24 red roses delivered today makes me a very happy bunny and I too, like jw will have to partake in a few favours later

Now off to check out jj garden pics, hope you lovely ladies have a fun evening and I'm sure I'll get chance to sneak in again before long

awww thanks ladies that is my new hair and Mr D is indeed a very cheeky boy.

mum41 I think you get the prize for the most spoiled rotten on Valentine's Day. Am v v Enjoy your weekend!

jj no its not a scooty about one - it stays put but wobbles about, oh but my, how tres sophisticated of your little madams - starting as they mean to go on no doubt Mr D will countenance nothing but banana based foods. If it hasn't got banana in it he ain't having it. So it's banana yoghurt, banana custard, banana breakfast...

ladymac your DH is a lucky chap - mine got next to nowt in terms of conjugals for the whole nine months. So pleased that E is doing brilliantly - and I do like the sound of your division of labour! 8 weeks to go We've not had a new one for aaaaages - how exciting .

Am also v jealous of those having the M and S meal thing - I am about to start making a venison bolognese which I am having second thoughts about.

Want Marks' steak and chips and choccie pudding and Cava!!!!!!

Hello back from shopping DH got 4 pairs of trousers and 3 tops and pant, B got 2 tops and I treated myself to some decongestant (I think I did something wrong there).

We too got a M&S meal but the shelves were pretty bear buy the time we go there so no choc puds or scallops but we do have steak and chips hurrah.

Mum41 very of your jewellery I love pearls.

Off to wash the car seat covers O had an exploding poo that leaked all over his seat thorough his trousers, I get all the great jobs here!

Morning ladies. Judging by lack of evening posts, you were all being spoilt rotten by your OH's/children? Hopefully this was the case. I picked up one of those curry's in a bag from the supermarket and DH threw it in the oven and that's about as far as we got.

He's taken DSS to the out of hours walk in clinic this morning as his throat is still no better I don't think the over the counter lozenges I bought are touching it and we're on day 4 now so I suspect he may need some AntiB's.

K's cough is subsiding too but we're almost in week 3 so I figured it should be doing. Did I mention that at her last synagis jab the nurse said it'd probably be her last one...as in last one ever? Seems she probably won't get one in her second year. It's not written in stone yet so will have to see. Anyway, want to enjoy the summer of going out first before I start worrying about her second winter.

I'm a fan of pearls too and have some lovely pearl earrings, but I hasten to add, that I bought these for myself a while back Just need the twin set now and I'll be away into old age before you know it!

Poor DH didn't get anything I promised him last night.........far too tired after tending to the wounded all day. I'm sure it'll keep

Saw the story of Jade Goody on the news this morning who says that she'll let the cameras follow her right up until the moment she dies. I was shouting at the tv 'have some bloody dignity woman!' Her sons could end up watching this in years to come and think of how they'll feel. I simply can't believe she'll be marrying Jack Tweedy (half wit scrounger). I do hope the boys go to their father and not him.

Saw pics of Kim Ryder in the local rag couple of days ago. She was leaving hospital. Heartbreaking story