Ruth_Baldock

I stopped at 35 weeks mainly because of the commute to work- not ONCE was I offered a seat and I was huge, like really really huge (Octomom had NOTHING on me). I got bored around 38 weeks and remember wailing 'He's neeeveeeer goinnngg to cooooome!!!' (re: infant) and got a bit sick of the constant texts/emails entitled 'any news???'. Anyway, he was born at 39 weeks in the end, so alls well. I couldn't have carried on any longer and it was nice to have a few weeks of very selfish but deserved 'me' time :)

okay folks- are we all still on for the herne tomorrow? is it 2.30 or later?

That advert has me in tears every time. I cry at everything nowadays though (Monday's episode of Glee was a particular sobfest. THE SHAME!)

I have 40 quids worth of Mothercare vouchers (Thanks Child Trust Fund incentive...)burning a hole in my changing bag, really want to go this week...so yes, do report back!

Hi Clare, Same as Ryedalema, had my 4 1/2 month old son 'done' on Friday and it was absolutely fine- he cried less than he did with the 8, 12 and 16 week jabs and had no side effects at all (including not sleeping a lot which is his usual 'reaction' to his vaccinations...) Once the jab has been done, it lasts for the rest of their life, which is a plus. I was in two minds about it, but now it's done, I'm pleased we did it, so would say it's worth a few seconds of tears.

Next Monday or this week good for us :) I'm taking Seb to the polling station in the sling on Thursday and hoping to take lots of 'hilarious' baby's first vote photos...

Ha, he's never been one to lay there in the pram- he normally ends up on my lap making eyes at the cutlery and boiling hot coffee and other things which pose a hazard. In fact, my NCT group has had to stop meeting in local cafes because all the babies want to be out crawing/rolling around on the floor. Hmm.

Do you mean the surestart list? I was emailed a list of baby things to do in and around SE5- think a bit of it stretched to herne hill/se22 if anyone is interested? I'll dig it out/fwd it on...

This all makes me feel like I should be doing more with Tiny Man, we spend most of our time in cafes/looking in the mirror/going to Uni Qlo. Whoops!

I know you don't want to get her anything baby related just in case...but if you do, my boss got me the rough guide to pregnancy and the rough guide to babies and they were hilarious and really informative and very honest- even better than the serious ones i had!

I second snowboarder's suggestion of a doorbouncer- my son is 4 1/2 months and loves his- you can get them for about 20 quid from argos/mothercare. he also has a bouncy chair with hanging toys that he is obsessed with smacking- again, ours was quite reasonable from kiddicare. we look at music videos too! his faves at the moment are take on me-aha (must be the black and whit video...) and that bloody lady gaga song 'telephone'. he also likes the telly show 'glee'. we bought the boxset, total slummy mummy moment when it arrived from amazon...

Fuscia, I COULD try to express on the way in...except I work in Holborn and I'm sure it would cause some raised eyebrows on the 171. Or maybe no-one would notice? Lovely boss has offered me the first aid room whenever I need it, says I'll have a key and everything *feels very important* Thanks for your input everyone!

Ha, me (295 months) and my baby (4 months) are looking forward to it ;)

MOnday at 2.30ish good for me and Little Man, if we can gatecrash...?

Good morning all, A few days ago, my super lovely boss offered me my former job back, from September. I was previously on a temporary contract and when I was 34 weeks pregnant I left the company as I wasn't eligible for Mat. leave. However, my replacement didn't work out, and the company want me back. Hurrah! It was a lovely company to work for and my boss was The Nicest Manager In The World (Seriously, when I left i cried for days because I KNEW I'd never work for anyone as nice as him...) I was doing my PhD, and working, which was really tough and after a LOT of thinking it through and talking to soon-to-be DH, I've decided to leave my PhD program, and work so that I can 1) Afford to buy a bigger place with DH in the next year or so and 2) Be able to have another baby in the next 2 years and be 'protected' in terms of my job and income. It's only 20 hours a week, 9am-1pm Monday-Friday and by the time I go back Baby Baldock will be about 9 months old. He's still mix fed and breastfeeds around 4-5 times a day but I am assuming this should decrease when he's older, right- what with solids and all? Between 9-1 at the moment, he probably nurses twice- but once is just for comfort really. Has anyone here gone back to work and expressed milk in the day? How did it work out for you? Was it awkward when broaching the subject with your employers? Since having the novo-virus, I've had problems expressing anything at all, although I know I DO have an okay supply now. Hmm. Tricky.

I second Annabel Karmel, someone got it for me when I was pregnant and it seems really sensible, it's coming in useful now we're weaning the baby too.

Really limited space, but Mon Petit Chou have always been very accomadating and understanding when we've bowled up with Sebastian. I had my first nursing in public...er...experience there, and the waitress smiled at me and told me her Mum BF her for 4 years! Top notch, made us all feel comfortable. Also, nice food that doesn't cost the earth.

Another thumbs up for locale. Having the wedding reception there with approx. 5 babies in attendance and they've been great about it! Were also fab when we went to a pretty formal dinner there when Baby Baldock was 2 weeks old and he started screaming in the middle of speeches/desert. No one batted an eyelid...

As long as its not the 27th or 28th may, I'm good for all dates! (27th is 'the big day') and were going away for 5 days on the 28th) I am obviously assuming the whole world revolves around me...

Hello chums! Today we went to good old John Lewis in Bluewater, and they are selling off their older version of the bugaboo bees for 250quid! Brand new! Some are display models but even those were immaculate. They said their other stores (Oxford St etc) are doing the same. Also got a look at the new bee. Am pretending not to like it, because have just bought mine, but it was actually really nice (ARGH!) Lovely to meet everyone yesterday, hope no one had awful hangovers and that you got to sleep past 6am? (I slept till 7:05, IMAGINE! ALthough Seb did wake up at 5.45, but Himself looked after him. SCORE!)

Ryedalema, me too! Back at '8, by the...er...latest'. THE BUFFOON. Anyway, will be there around 8.45 ish, in garish makeup as I have forgotton how to put on slap without looking like...a slapper. Am wearing inappropriate striped dress- obscene in someone who gave birth 17 weeks ago to a right porker... also look slightly maniac and insane. See everyone there, heres a bit of a 'teaser', have exciting secret news. Or not so exciting. Or secret. But news nonetheless!

Hmmm...I think I might go along to my GP afterall... Snowboarder, glad someone knew what I meant re: buggy wheelie and didn't think 'You what? This woman is quite, quite mad...'

Hello Family Room! I seem to turn to this forum for answers rather than my GP, but I don't want to bowl up to the surgery, wait to be seen for an hour, then be fobbed off. As I keep going on about, I had a c-section 4 months ago (Thanks, Baby Baldock...) I actually found the recovery quite easy, especially when I had my stitches removed (aaaahhh, sweet relief!). However, my scar is still as tender now as it was days after the Op. I can't push the 'big' buggy (a bloody Jane...) or shopping trolleys because my scar always hurts me so much, and when I am going up or down curbs and doing that 'buggy wheelie' thing that I'm sure everyone knows about to get back up onto the pavement, it also hurts. Taking Sebastian out in the sling hurts me, too (And not only because he's now 17lbs+!!!!) Even picking him up sometimes is a bit touch-and-go. The scar itself is fading very very quickly, no keloids and there wasn't ever an infection in the healing wound. So what gives? Is it meant to be this tender 4 months on? Is this a stupid question? Probably...

Well, is a bit of an update called for? I think so... Sebastian is now able to, mostly, settle himself IN HIS COT (and sometimes pram) in the day for his naps, no problem. We're following baby whisperer's E.A.S.Y routine, and it is working really well...in the day. In the evening, this happens: -Bath at 6pm, tummy time and small breast feed, in bed by 6.45pm -7pm, finally drops off to sleep after a bit of chatting/whining. -9pm wakes up, usually has another feed, or a small cuddle, falls asleep again within 15 mins. -11.40pm- wakes up and will not re-settle. He has also got into the habit of crying hyterically, like he's really sad and upset and distraught when he wakes up- so much so that last night both DH and myself ran upstairs when we heard him crying like that. He's got us wrapped around his teeny tiny little finger, thats for sure. Basically, he thinks that after every period of sleep there is a period of getting up for play/cuddles. If I can 'crack' this habit of his at night time,we should be home and dry... Still, things ARE looking up and there is hope, I am trying to stay more positive. I don't think CC will ever work for us, and Sebastian knows it, the cheeky monkey!!

Was lovely to finally put some faces to names! Sebastian enjoyed it lots too, getting out and about makes him much easier to settle after his bath- he went down at 7 without any fuss...but was up again at 9.30pm. Never mind, it's all progress! Hope we can do lots more park outings this Spring/Summer :)