We are Avidly snapping up Primarni brogues, whilst Wisely swapping (for charidee!) our unwanted clothes...

[notyummy]

This way ladies....

I have just read Everybody Bonjours and This is Paris to dc1. Verity, I can't remember if you're taking your dcs with you when you go, but I bought these before I went, and they make a lovely memory for dc1 now. In fact it makes him want to go back. Me too!

lovely links everyone, I'm not buying anything this month it's very difficult
Birth stories hmm..I was induced twice and had no pain relief on either occasion. I am a masochist Second round worse than first as DC2 was a big monster, but still escaped the hospital after 2 hours! hurrah

blossoming Hope DD had a great first birthday and you can relax soon!

Evening! Have caught up so epic post to follow and apologies if I miss anyone...

reine I have been playing around with my brogues and have decided they work best with florals (de-frumps them and makes them look vintage), cropped trousers (for example with plain tee and bib necklace or crisp white shirt tucked in) or with shorts and tights.

I can't get mine to work with jeans, just not happening for me.

ltec thanks so much for the shorts - they look perfect with a pink cashmere v-neck I have and had forgotten about so it is now revived!

Those of you with leather pencil skirts, what do you wear them with? I have worn mine with aforementioned v-neck and another one in green but not really sure what else to wear them with? Also, have worn bare legs and courts (worn for work) as black tights seemed too heavy and although a fine knit contrasts well, wooly rights just don't!

roma like the cable knit

yangy like the blouses. I have decided all I need for winter is a nice blouse, a smart pair of trousers (either dark pegs or camel skinny bootcut, not sure) and some new indigo skinnies as mine are rather warm. I say need, I mean want!

carciofi just to balance all the bad stories, I had a perfectly straightforward 16h first birth with DD. But then had 10lb2 DS arrive in 2hr10 start to finish and a 3rd degree tear. Other people have told me they felt their tear - I wasn't aware of it. Yes the contractions hurt but it was no more intense than DD and it was over a lot more quickly so I actually preferred it. Plus I got amazing drugs because of the tear and found the recovery much easier than I had the first time without a tear! I spent so long worrying about labour when pregnant with DS and would lie in bed panicking about it - the worrying was worse than the reality. Wish I hadn't had all those sleepless nights being a wally

meet-up ladies what are you wearing? I think I might chicken out of anything fashiony and just wear some classic basics instead! Typically have broken out in spots due to burning the candle at both ends (as my mother would say) so teamed with my three inches of roots, I'm not looking too fetch (any Mean Girls fans here?).

fleecy, I'm aiming for 'nice'! Recent favourite being new short dress, cable tights and boots. Safe. Coat providing dilemma. Meant to be cold outside but will be scorchio in Selfridges. I'll be the one carrying big arctic coat under my arm. Such glamour.
Coould be worse, could be wearing hf's link too!

Thanks fritzi. Have just shredded, so a very attractive sight to behold for dh!
Starting today I've given up bread and butter. Wish me luck!

Hallo!

Well...baby DD has taken first few steps (yeay!)...shoes here we come , has chicken pox (boo!), and 3 year old DD has chicken pox too...oh, and DH away! Fab....It's all go in our house.

Agree that photos immediately after birth very special and amazing...babies look so different even hours later...I hate the thought that I won't ever do the pregnancy/newborn thing again...and am really enjoying my baby because in reality I know she's my last....

No shopping here today ...and not likely to be for a good few days... ...as DDs being at home together meaning its impossible to have any computer time!!!!! What????? I shall try though!

Oh and Happy Birthday Baby Bloss!!!

Fleecy ....saw a very stylish woman wearing brogues with skinny jeans with ankle zips, breton and black narrow blazer...looked fab!

I wear a black leather pencil skirt with a silvery grey cashmere roll neck and have worn with a silk chemise too...with a blazer over the top...

Well, on account of the pox the ILs aren't staying with us now...(yeay, yeay)...so that's one good thing!

Yes indeed Happy Birthday baby bloss

First steps are so lovely Dolcee

They say every cloud has a silver lining....!! No, I am sure your inlaws are lovely!

Lots of lovely links :)
You are a v bad influence! My clothes budget is fairly small (at least compared to most of you ladies) so have to be a tiny bit sensible!

roary- I am v tempted by that leather belt you linked to. I don't like huge amounts of animal print (not on me anyway) but that looks classic and on trend at the same time.

Lovely post natal pics (those that I could see)

yangymac*- I can't believe you had a ventouse with no pain relief! Did they not even give you a nerve block? You must be as hard as nails!

I was v lucky with my three (quite quick labours, just G&A but still painful)!!

carciofi- second time nearly always easier and QC has a good reputation especially higher risk ladies :)

Nice to hear the good stories. My mother had awful labours too so it must run in the family. Anyway, for now I shall just go back to burying my head in the sand.

Roary, I have that belt too and I like it a lot. I was thinking about getting that cardigan, is it true to size?

Romanarama, I like the sweater dress.

Roma - I normally consider Boden to be the work of the devil, but I really really like that knitted dress. Buy buy buy.

OWW - what a star you are w your baking and fundraising!

Dolce - love the sound of your black leather pencil skirt outfits.

Bloss - happy birthday to your littlest one!

Carciofi the cardigan is true to size, at least for me! I am pretty consistently a 10 and it fits well in 10. It's a lovely one and if there is another 25% or big code I may get a third because the colours are great. The blue is quite cobalt.

IF you have the belt can you explain to me what the purple loopy bit is supposed to do? I am clearly some kind of belt amateur because I can't figure it out. Have been ignoring it.

I have had 2 inductions, one that took...ahem...three days, and one for DS2 that was classed as 'emergency' so they didn't have any pauses between types of intervention. Inexperienced midwife the second time around tried to talk me out of an epidural and delayed and delayed till it was too late and although I got it it was not sited properly and didn't work. Was very angry about it at the time.

Anyone seen any great short winter jackets? Am thinking of asking for one for Xmas.

carciofi, please try not to worry. Demand a section and sleep easy.

OOoh, Carciofi doing ten things at once and just read the end of your post - Bloss is right!!

Carciofi I agree with Bloss

I was induced at exactly 41 weeks so that dh could fly back from Afghan for the birth and then fly back again 2 days later. I was fine and dd was born at Northwick Park Hospital, not the hospital with the best reputation in London!

Right, must be the cabin fever (or my age), but have spent the evening dancing around to Lady Gaga (P p p pokerface...) in my bedroom, whilst trying on some wardrobe 'looks', from latest Instyle magazine...

I really want some black pvc skinnies to wear with oversized camel coloured chiffon shirt...any recs? This for girls night out....oh I do like a bit of Gaga...funny usually have this blaring out the car when I get to go out on my own in it....(i.e. sans enfants)...or quieter when kids in car...cute to hear DS sing, 'Just Dance'....

Carciofi - do not worry...get the Gowri Motha books on The Gentle Birth Method....I found it v v useful....

LOL I just puffed in all indignant about the WIT today girl and her Next cardi, since I already linked to it on August 21st (yes, am petty and wanted to check just how ff I was ) and then I read back through today's mammoth posting effort and see that a) hells has drawn my attention to it and b) NY has also linked to it before. Take that WIT girl!!

Okay, digging deep into addled memory here so bear with me:

happy birthday baby bloss!
Congrats on first steps baby Dolce
glad you like the shorts Fleecy
love the Zara links yangy esp the first. Birth pic also lovely.
great dream MrsJ would love to meet you & bun at such a salubrious haunt!! another lovely pic, too
Nice knit dress Roma
carciofi please don't worry. Ultimately, no matter how gruelling labour is, it eventually ends. And then you have a baby and a whole lifetime of pain to follow

all 4 pregnancies very good here, a few migraines but that was about it. Labour also good - apart from dd1, which was obviously horrific, and in hospital, my living dc were all born at home and without any G&A or anything. Lovely. Ms P was born in the pool, Master C was born next to the pool and The Bub was born upstairs from the pool (which we hadn't even bothered to fill)

I was pretty adamant that I was going to have good labours. As I said to dh "These hips have never done anything good for me yet - it's about time they made it up to me!"

NY Happy anniversary for Friday (is that right?)

waves to tracey, vin, verity, looby and anyone else I may have missed

PS - ordered the MJ coat in 2 sizes .. will let you know. hells, make sure you check in re SbyC trousers!!

Morning all. Stopped all night feeds and on to early weetabix.

Have been hanging around Kensington last few days with friend who lives in most beautiful place.

Zembo love your birth story and empowerment thing. Felt like that too and loved it. Ds in bedroom with dh, no noise, no talking during contractions. Swedish midwife. Was fabulous. Did whole thing standing up and couldn't bend knees afterwards!

Christmas is easy this year thank god. Home with family. Mother doing all stress and food. Me lounging around in sun and floaty dress.

Has anyone started thinking about party outfits for nov and dec?

I have to wear a VW dress still unworn and black m by Marc Jacobs boots to one. The rest is up for grabs.

And.. Happy birthday little Bloss

Thanks for birthday wishes for baby all. We bought her a fisher price piggy bank. Does anyone have it? She loves it! As does dc1, 6!

Great news re first steps dolcee.

Where are your family marsha?

This will be my first Christmas on Mumsnet. Looking forward to party dress links and family nightmares. I will feel less alone I think!