AVIDLY addressing the key questions that WISE women ask....like 'full refund or credit note only?' and 'what this would item actually be on a cost-per-wear basis?'

[notyummy]

Hello all!

Evening ladies. Just popping in to say a quick hello and huge congratulations to Blue

Black dress for Bloss. Weren't you looking for something like that a while ago?

Hi Zembo, I missed the Burberry link too as it is on NaP and OpenDNS denies me access. I am guessing it's a black one. Loved you in your fuschia one last year.

Thanks Pickled Also, while I remember, I'm so pleased that you've been so true to yourself with regards to your work decision. I feel like there's no way I could fit work into my life at the moment (home alone with the kids whilst DH working away, renovating a house, selling up etc) but still feel the pull. Luckily I enjoy my SAHM work. And, well done to your clever DD!

Good morning.

Missed lots of posts yesterday so a big wave and hello to all!

Well, I am no further forward and starting to feel really fed up. The scan predicted the baby weighs 8lb 9oz yesterday, at 37+4. The Dr would not give me a sweep as too early, and wants me to go back in 2 weeks time, if I haven't gone into labour by then, then it'll be a section.

Which is a good plan, and is sensible but my main fears are what if I go into labour in say 12 days....can I give birth to a big baby as my 'first' delivery?

Also, I just can't get rid of this feeling feeling of 'missing out'. Also I have a friend that is making this worse for me, long story - but enough to hurt.

Sorry for the me, me post first thing in the morning though.

Oh mim you're more than entitled to be 'me me' at the moment. The weeks and days just before delivery are hard. It's all so unknown and impossible to stop wondering what's going to happen. It does sound like these weight scans are unpredictable though and also weight of baby doesn't always determine what the birth is like. DS was a harder birth than DD and he was 6lbs13 while she was 8lb6oz. But I can understand why you're worrying of course. Thinking of you and hoping things go well.

Hi zembo! You sound busy and admirably restrained on the shopping front. Jealous of your size 4 Burberry; mine is a 6 and I would like it to be a little smaller and to have shorter arms, much as I love it. Is alteration really an option?? Where will you get it done? Need a good tailor in Nottingham!

Very little sleep last night but off to gym club this morning with DS...it will need to be a great outfit to distract from the exhaustion today!

Who is it who also has the TS spotty trousers? red? Have you worn them yet and what with?

Morning all!
Poor mim, I completely empathise. Try and think that the only important thing is a healthy mum and baby. Nothing else matters.

When zembo was buying the pink trench last year I was completely obsessed with the idea of a trench. I tried it out, with a BR one, and when I saw the Burberry one in NaP this year at a good price, and a knee length, I went for it. Should arrive today. It will have to be perfect at that price.
Thanks for the dress link pickled. Nobody link anything else for me for a few months please!!

Morning All!

Amber I do hope that you got home ok last night, I really felt for you. In my 20 odd years of marriage I have learnt that some times we can be too capable and then are left doing everything, If I was to do anything differently , it would be , not to be so capable all the time, sometimes a strength can almost become a weakness! If you get my drift!
Mim hopefully things will start to move themselves a long
Bloss I have a classic Burberry trench, it's a great wardrobe staple, I find the sleeves a bit short though.
NYE good to see you again.

Welcome to the lurkers.
*

Oh MIM hugs. Those last few weeks/ days before birth can be so hard. A couple of things if I may. (1) scans are notoriously inaccurate- mine were out by 2 lbs for my DS a week before birth! The weight of the baby does not always indicate the labour you are going to have. I totally failed to push out 7lb DD but managed to push out DS, 9lb, with no tears at all?!! (2) please do not beat yourself up about HOW you give birth. What matters most is having your lovely baby. When she is 21 she is not going to look at you and judge you for how she was delivered. I have not had an elective CS but friends who have have told me what a lovely calm and beautiful experience they can be. The great thing is you can prepare for them including needing extra help in the first few weeks so that you can focus on recovery.

Lots of love

Thanks all for the lovely words and advice. I think its just the feeling of being under a stopwatch really, wish I could just go with the flow.

Am excited about the trench for you Bloss. I think for you its a very wise buy, will be a great addition to your work wardrobe as well as 'normal' life.

I looked at more coloured skinnies Blue in Donna Ida this week, I have decided to do the same, maybe a couple of Topshop coloured skinnies, but either J brand/MIH for grey ones. However, the colour of the blue bonnets is tempting!

Well, I am going to be brave and total up my Feb spends:

TS Ambush Boots: £75
Grey scarf from Cos: £20
MD blue swallow top £50
Whistles breton jumper (same as Red) £50.

I am going to try and have a good March, try and limit the overdraft a bit. I still have some vouchers left over from Xmas to look forward too.

mim and blue and anybody else who is worrying about being too self-centered: We all have the right to make ourselves the priority from time to time. Having a new baby and waiting for one should be reason enough not to worry about anything than yourself and the baby. I enjoy reading about your love for your baby blue! Agree with bloss that your and baby's health is the most important thing mim. Don't listen to anything your "friend" tells you. Protect yourself from the silly things she says, I can only imagine what they might be . Do.not.talk.to.her.

amber Did you get home alright yesterday? Take it easy today. I highly recommend cleaner and having shirts ironed by someone else.

red A while ago DD had a two weeks at school where she kept pushing other children, not really listening to her teachers etc. I was devastated but kept talking to her about it, encouraging positive behavior and even did some role-playing with some of her dolls. It worked and I was glad the teacher told me. Your house projects sound very draining too. You have a lot going on at the moment.

bloss Fingers crossed the trench will be perfect for you. I think I'll wait before doing any investment buys until I had my style day.

marsha Sorry but it's also a no from me to the cuff. It's just too much.

nye I have that book too. It's great!

Oh, and Happy World Book Day! Think I will celebrate by snuggling up on the couch and reading during my lunch break

Mim, please don't listen to your friend regarding the cs, it doesn't matter if the baby comes out your ear as long as you are both ok! I am convinced that you are going to have a girl. I keep hearing that scans are innacurate. They were for me and I was a big lump of a baby!

I never feel guilty about having help, just don't like seeing dh worried and think we should used the money for us both to go out.

Dauphin, I bought the Chanel April too but I think I will reserve it for my toes in the summer. I don't recognise my hands with it on, even the baby did a double-take at me this morning. :)

Zembo good luck with your move.

I spent a lot in Feb, Alexa bag, Barbour jacket, Me and Em dress, two pairs of J Brands, several tops at Whistles, lots of make-up, possibly more I've forgotten about but it was covered by present money so nothing on the credit card and I won't total it, phew.

I'm going out to dinner with friends tonight provided DD1 is ok. She is still asleep so that's a good sign.

Amber, hope you had a good snooze last night.

Morning all. I am not having a good day. Currently on the train to Manchester with a rip roaring headache, having left all my tickets for the journeys I am doing today (to Manchester, then back to Nottingham, then back to Lincs.. ) In the coffee bar at the station. Having to buy new ones as I go. Should be able to claim back on expenses tbh, but so stupid! Am tired and have a grumpy creased face! Also just spilled yoghurt on carefully chosen outfit (grey tulip skirt, blue silk blouse, grey opaques, grey leopard heels and blue Mango blazer.) This week seems endless- had to dial into tele conferences on both my way to and from work yesterday (a teleconference at 6am- tbh I am up and driving by them anyway, but a lot of the participants were not happy!) Honestly- anyone would think that the Budget was coming up next month and the economic development figures don't look good .

And now having read the thread properly , I sound like a tired, grumpy, self centred so and so! MIM- the others are right. Whatever means you give birth, it is how you look after that baby for the next 18+ years that actually counts. And yes- you cannot control the weight and scans can be unreliable. Breath deeply (am trying to take that advice to myself and will now go and try and wash all thus bloody yoghurt off!!)

NY, how annoying! Just think of your holiday.

Poor DD1 seems worse and has just gone back to bed so I'm going to cancel going out.

Poor Dd Scarf hope she's not too poorly today.

NY hope your day goes on to get a bit better.

Mim ignore your friend. I had a great chat with my friend who is a midwife when I was pg with DD. she had the exact same difficult labour with her first that I did with DS (brow presentation, back to back) and we had a long talk about birthing options. The best advice she gave me was not to expect the birth of my second to atone for the birth of my first as I would be setting myself up for a potential fail. Whatever gets your baby here, in a way that is safe for both of you physically and emotionally is the best thing to do. Thinking of you lots.

NY ah I hate that. Having tickets, trains and taxis all booked and paid for in advance is obviously so much less stressful.

Scarfi hppe you get to go out and dd is ok.

Fritzi you're right. Did you get your cuff?

MiM hugs from me too. It can be so tense in the last few days, I think that's natural. But try not to let others words stick.

Finally, an outfit out of nowhere. The Little Prince. Beautiful book from my brother. Ds1 made blue cape with stars, a present from my parents, two years ago and yellow tshirt etc etc. Blimey! close call. Plus didn't want to spend anything on it.

Scarf sorry to hear about your dd, hopefully lots of rest will do the trick

Ny Sorry you're having one of those mornings. I know I've said this to you many times, but I really, really don't know how you do it, I would be a wreak on half your workload. Blips like this are bound to happen, don't let it get to you.

Bloss can't wait to hear about your trench

Amber I hope you are ok. Having a baby and a toddler is the toughest phase. I totally agree with Portia, if you appear totally on top of things your dh will never need to step up. You are not superwoman, you don't need to even try to be one. As mrsCB says, throw money at the problem - cleaner, ironing service, babysitter in the afternoons so you can catch up on some sleep. When I look back on the time when mine were little and I was up 6,7,8 times every night for years, I don't know how I survived.

MIM I have had 2 electives and they were both great experiences and a much quicker and less painful recovery than my first ventouse delivery. What is important is a healthy baby and mum, nothing else matters IMO.

We have had a rough few days here. My mums lovely, lovely friend died. She was such an important person to me growing up, I can't believe she's gone . As the Irish contingent here will attest, Irish funerals can be a pretty exhausting event, so I am feeling a bit drained. She had 5 children and 5 grandchildren under 5 and it was lovely to spend time with them. Our friend ran an amazing pre-school and at the funeral there was a beautiful choir, so professional. It turned out that the choir was made up of parents and grand-parents of children who had attended the school over the years. It was a lovely tribute

To add insult to injury I slipped down the stairs on Monday and went bump, bump, bump down about 5 steps. Ouch. It took 24 hours for the bruise to appear, it's about 7cm wide. I had to smile though, I have never seen a bruise like it, it's a perfectly uniform navy blue

Have to go to meet the builder now, but will be back with links as I have never felt more in the mood for some retail therapy!

So sorry to hear about your DMs friend Verity- and your fall.

Scarf- sympathies in the cancelled outing. Hope dd better soon.

I am cheering myself up by texting one off my best friends in Scotland. We have officially just booked gorgeous hotel with spa in Budapest for a long weekend in Sep to celebrate lots of 40th birthdays. Five of us going from all over the uk- we all went to school together long ago! Must count blessings rather than stress over train tickets and yoghurt (which appears to have come out after numerous spongings.) am attending high end business networking thing this evening and really didn't want to turn up looking stained and crumpled...

Thanks very much notyummy!

Thanks blue for the welcome and the added advice about mih Paris Jeans I was drawn to the rose ones but, you made a good point about not getting the wear. I am also in the shortie club at 5`4 how do the TS ones compare.

Sorry Doctor was not more constructive MIM, those feelings will happily disappear when the baby arrives. Grrrr to your freind though.

I hope your day improves dramatically notyummy.

I am [jealous] of the gorgeous trench bloss I`m sure HOC will approve.

Thank you Marsha for the welcome.

Sorry about your mothers friend Verity, sounds like quite a send off.

Talking of HOC who was due to have a Colour Analysis ? ( I hope to book in next month)

The pale blue MIH paris also look nice, Slaymill.

Sorry about your mum's friend (and your fall), Verity. We do funerals very well, as well as they can be, of course.

I am compiling my new list and think I might give white jeans a skip this summer (as the baby likes to fling her food). So it's now black sandals (have seen a great Stuart Weitzman pair), 2 x white co dresses, this top and I think that's it for now.

That will be a great weekend, NY.

scarf, I have popped home and eating my packed lunch flicking through the white co catalogue. I will probably get the pin tuck bib tunic, but in a small, after someone thought I was preggers last year in the 12, and the pleat neck linen dress. So sorry your dd is poorly.
Hope things go smoothly from now on notyummy.
Welcome slaymill. Where is your name from?

Like that top scarf. Can I have a link to the SW sandals please? I need a black pair. You're right about white jeans being impractical but I love them!

slay I am only 5ft 1 so you would tower over me! I usually get TS petites or 30length but haven't tried any of their coloured skinnies yet this year.