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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

nothing can drag you down when you're not holding on...

942 replies

chocoraisin · 06/04/2012 21:03

Hello :)

I've decided that blog or no blog, I can't imagine not having all of you fabulous people to turn to in the next couple of months while I count down to baby arriving. So I've jumped ship from the old thread and decided to set up camp here.

would anyone like a Brew?

OP posts:
MadAboutHotChoc · 15/06/2012 12:23

Given what I have heard about your FIL, I would just ignore this suggestion. No need to be diplomatic Smile

blackcurrants · 15/06/2012 13:00

God your xH is just so weird sometimes, isn't he? I actually laughed when I read his suggestion. Erm, jog on, mate.

The scan was lovely, thank you - little mouth sucking on little fingers, arms and legs a-waving, and in a perfect position to get all the measurements they need. Last time DS wouldn't stay still for them, was just turning somersaults all the time, and the sonographer got rather mardy about it all, jabbing at me repeatedly. This one was a dream, a very calm, pleasant woman- it's a different hospital as we've moved - and I feel very happy about it! H and I just sat there with mad grins on our faces - oh and the heartbeat noise! I'd forgotten how heavenly that gallopy heartbeat noise is! I did get a bit misty-eyed at that point. First time I was pregnant I heard it on the booking-in appointment, around 8 weeks - and burst into tears. Heh. Not that it takes me much to burst into tears while pregnant. I saw a dear in the woods yesterday while walking the dog and I was blundering about blurry-eyed for ages after!

I think you name your son, and present him, named, to the xH. I think that's how it goes. Are you having fun thinking of names and imagining? DH and I have a girl's name in mind (the one not used last time, when DS emerged!) but are discussing middle-names and stuff. As for boys, we are absolutely at square one. We quite fancied using DH's lovely grandfather's name, (Martin) which I don't love but don't mind.... until we heard it pronounced in an American accent, and then H said "oh god no, never, oh no." .... and he had a point! Grin. But after the scan we went to McDonald's (we're so posh! But it was practically a date because DS wasn't there!) and held hands and scoffed chips and it was really really real! And that was fun. I think we both believe it a bit more, and so the odd "what do you think of Charles? no?" conversation keeps cropping up. 20 weeks is when we'll find out gender too, and from there I think we will have a more focussed name-plan.

KirstyWirsty · 15/06/2012 13:25

Hahahaha Choco your H is a bit of a comedian isn't he? Hmm

Why on earth would you want to name your son after your FIL?? A lying cheat - just like his son!!

Not exactly a role model is he??

I agree with blackcurrants - present the name as a fait accompli - your dad could go and register the birth for you

(Glad the scan went well Blackcurrants) :)

skyebluesapphire · 15/06/2012 16:23

blackcurrants would you like to come round to mine? I could do with my H in seven pieces under the patio Grin glad the scan went ok.

Choco , yes I think the baby name rights are all yours!

Slambang · 15/06/2012 16:30

Ooh Choco I'm getting excited about the Birth of Bean on your behalf!

A suggestion regarding dh's risible attempts to engage you in naming chit-chat as you don't need silly suggestions like that. Send h 1 email requesting 3 names he would like. No discussion. No debate. Choose the least offensive of his 3 names as Bean's middle name and give Bean the name you like as his first name but may not have discussed with h. Then present Bean fully named to H.

That way h can never give you grief that you didn't consult him (blardy blar poor poor misunderstood H Hmm), you avoid getting into negotiation and Bean will grow up having a full name genuinly chosen by both his parents.

chocoraisin · 15/06/2012 18:18

Slambang I like your style :) sounds like a plan. Very diplomatic handling of an awkward situation!

I've just woken up from a really long nap Blush having left my fab DM in charge of DS. I think she's amazing - but I definitely owe her one! My 'I just need 5 minutes' turned into snoring for two hours!! Eek. I hope she doesn't mind...

I am having fun with names actually. The first name got picked ages ago and is conveniently from DS1's shortlist so I know I'm not being deliberately 'two fingers up' at H with that one. Which means it's just the middle name conundrum left. I like such a lot of different styles. Musing on Isaac, Michael, Jonah, Morgan, Dexter (I love it but I don't think I'm brave enough, it's quite American, and makes me think of the serial killer of tv lol)... Also like Joseph, and Cassius. I probably won't decide until the day and then name him something in the post-birth haze without thinking about it too much.

No doubt there are a few in there that would raise a couple of eyebrows as well as a few safe choices Grin but that's half the fun of naming games!!

OP posts:
Midwife99 · 16/06/2012 12:18

Good for you - sleep isn't a treat - you need it!!! Not keen on Dexter I must admit! But you know me - Jude or Gabriel Grin

Midwife99 · 16/06/2012 12:19

Oh & there's a VERY naughty boy at DD's school called Morgan! Grin

dublindee · 16/06/2012 12:29

Hope you're doing ok Choco. Can't believe the audacity of your SBXH to ask you to name your gorgeous little boy after the "original" selfish arse in his family. YOU definitely get to pick - he can feck off for himself!!

I give you my sympathies re name choosing though it is such a minefield!
We sorted out our 1st DS name reasonably fine. DS2 took aaaages!!! With DS3 - my gorgeous hubby asked if I minded calling him after my dad (RIP) who passed away 4 yrs ago just 2 days after we came back from honeymoon in Antigua. He'd held on for our wedding but just gave up when he knew we were back. DH said my dad had always made him feel welcomed and accepted and thought it would be a way of honouring his memory.... I blubbed when he asked and he was so scared he had upset me but in between snotty snivels I explained it was a lovely idea and he was a sweetheart for suggesting it!!!
Don't think I could go through the naming thing again though - we have well and truly used up all our options now for boys and I don't think I could cope with a girl (even though we had a lovely short-list!!) 3 is definitely the magic number for us!! :D

dublindee · 16/06/2012 12:31

Morgan makes me think of Derek Morgan from
Criminal Minds phwoarrrrrrrrr

blackcurrants · 16/06/2012 13:11

Me too, dublin, phwoooarr indeed! Grin

I'm loving the Js, I wonder what DH thinks of joseph.. . I am going to steal all of your greqt ideas, choco !

dublindee · 16/06/2012 14:06

Ok, beasties are fed and watered and littlest hobo is snoring in his bouncy chair..
I am gonna give you all the boys names I loved but DH vetoed for one silly reason or another!!!

Conor
Eoghan (Irish version of Owen - hubby is Welsh but still vetoed this on the grounds of weird spelling Hmm - eh, Geraint anyone??!!!)
Liam
Thomas
Noah
Aaron
Andrew
Oisín (pronounced uh-sheen - character from ancient Irish folklore)
Tadhg (pronounced tie-g, again hubby couldn't understand spelling!)
Jamie (not James!)
Jonathan
Robert
Nathan

Enjoy mulling it over and pick whatever you're happiest with!

tribpot · 16/06/2012 22:58

Good god, the temptation to reply: "you don't think being related to two cheating wankers is already enough of a heritage for Bean, without being named after them both as well?"

(Only works if you intend to give Bean his surname, if not, delete 'them both' in favour of 'one of them')

Slambang · 16/06/2012 23:07

Yes, Choco, is a new surname on the cards for Bean or all 3 of you too? Try out your name choices with all current and potential future surnames (just in case you have a marital moniker that may be surplus to requirements.Wink)

chocoraisin · 17/06/2012 12:14

hehe - loving the suggestions guys. I'm keeping a lid on anything scathing as a reply, and rising above it for now! I'm keeping my married name I think, I don't think it would be worth the hassle to try and change DS1's or give DS2 a different one and then argue about it. I sense this is one of those 'pick your battles' issues, and if the boys will have the same name I want to keep mine the same as theirs.

I've been feeling more positive today, sent DS off to see his daddy with two lovely handmade cards he produced at nursery and playgroup. Decided that it was important for him to enjoy the day and show off how much effort he put into his creations. The only concession I made to myself was to opt for 'Happy Fathers Day' on the card as a pose to 'number one super dad' lol.

Had my second coaching session yesterday too, and that has really helped me to look to the future. I'm really getting a sense of where I'm going. It's currently a 10 year plan (avoidable only by winning the lottery or someone sinking £500K into my vision lol) but that's ok, I'm planning my career around spending the next 3 years at home with my pre-schoolers, so that I enjoy their childhoods too. I'm getting more comfortable with what I will and won't compromise on, and I don't feel too panicky that I need to rush out and 'provide' for them. They're going to need their mummy a lot more than wads of cash for the time being :)

Hope you're all enjoying fathers day (if you have one to celebrate with) or your day off (if you've sent the kiddies off to daddy day care) - sending positive vibes to you all!

OP posts:
DoingItForMyself · 17/06/2012 13:27

I looked at the 'Number 1 Dad' gifts too, with a pang of sadness that H had never earned one!

Had a moment when I read the wording in the card I bought for them to give him, it says "a great big loving wish that comes straight from the heart. Happy FD to a wonderful dad!" - well he may not be wonderful but they still love him.

Glad the coaching is useful Choc. Its great to have something which will help you now and will also help you to acquire skills for your future.

WRT to 'rushing out to provide for them' I think that as a self-employed person you can still claim income support if you are not earning enough to live on, so don't feel you'll have to go short - a good accountant will help you set it up properly. I know it varies a lot at the moment with all the changes the govt are making, but certainly for now, I may even be in a better financial position than I was with H controlling all the money and me being mainly a SAHM.

skyebluesapphire · 17/06/2012 14:34

My daughter has gone off with a card she made at home. I couldn't bring myself to buy one that said wonderful father or anything like that on it.....

Regarding surname, I had this conversation this week with my friend. Part of me wants to drop his name when I'm no longer married to him but I know it's better to have the same nome as my DD. plus my surname is part of my business name so would mean changing advertising and business cards etc. why oh why did I use my name?!

Also when you are divorced are you still a. Mrs? Or a Miss or Ms?!

Rowanhart · 17/06/2012 14:42

Wondering why it's better to have same surname as child. I don't have the same surname as hubble and will have a different to baby. Don't see problem myself....

tribpot · 17/06/2012 15:02

Rowan, I think skye probably meant 'easier' rather than 'better'. Fewer explanations - in theory. I've never actually had any problems with the fact I don't have the same surname as ds, although have never travelled abroad with him on my own, which is meant to be one of the potential complications.

Ds has never asked me why I don't have his surname, and as DH can't keep track of who is who is my enormous blended family anyway, it's unlikely to make a great deal of sense when he does :)

Skye - I don't use the title Mrs even though I am married. You don't have to drop it when you're divorced if you don't want to. I know someone who has retained her maiden name but wanted to use the title Mrs and the main hassle she has had is the Post Office claiming she needed to send away her marriage certificate to 'prove' she could use the title Mrs. With her maiden name! This is bollocks, in my opinion.

However, as choco intends to give her newer ds her ex-tosspot's surname, my suggestion about 'named after two cheating wankers' remains Wink

skyebluesapphire · 17/06/2012 15:15

Yes, sorry no offence intended to anyone.. I meant easier, with school work, holidays etc. i was thinking of my cousin got married after 18 years with her partner only when she had a child as she wanted them to have the same name.

But obviously each to their own in this, I don't mean that anything is right or wrong, it's just whatever suits the individual. And if course if I ever remarried I would then have a different name to my daughter.

Rowanhart · 17/06/2012 15:32

In offence taken :)

Just it's never even crossed my mind that their may be difficulties in the future when baby comes along. Guess will find out over time...

Rowanhart · 17/06/2012 15:33

I meant no offence taken!

blackcurrants · 17/06/2012 17:24

Rowan I didn't change my name when I married (already used professionally, plus didn't see the point) and have used "Ms" since I was old enough to state a preference - so about 18 years!
Not had an issue yet, DS is nearly 2 and I travel (trans-atlantic)with him about once a year.

dublindee · 18/06/2012 00:00

I was a complete Jezebel :D and lived in sin (shock horror!!) until 4 years ago when DP became DH. Up until then I had different surname to hubby and DS1 and DS2. We had always planned on getting married so I gave the boys their dad's surname straight off to make it less hassle later! We travelled VERY frequently by ferry and plane from Wales to Ireland and had no issue with different surnames or anything - even with Ryanair!

chocoraisin · 18/06/2012 06:02

I definitely just think it's easier, as a pose to better :) and I don't feel particularly strongly about rejecting my married name, so I'm not bothered about changing mine. TBH I mostly just couldn't be bothered to faff about with the bank and passports again!!

Does anyone else feel irrationally pissy with their inconsiderate toddler when they get up in the middle of the fecking night and insist it's morning? I've been up since 4.30am with DS who is really cross with me that beebies isn't on yet. And I'm equally furious in return that he won't accept that 4.30am is not morning!! We are having a bit of a standoff while he drinks his milk and I eat my coco-pops moodily on the other sofa. I've done cuddles and soothing and tried to take him into bed with me, only to be poked and kicked and generally whined at. Doesn't help that his brother has decided to join in and poke and kick me from the insides too!! Gah. Motherhood hey. Hopefully the sugar rush will chill me out!!

Cbeebies is now on, and I have to endure bloody teletubbies...

OP posts: