May mummies and rainbows to be :)

[kabuk1]

Unfortunately, we don't have any family here, so no help. I know my in-laws will spend more time here in the winter when it's their off season (they have a B&B in Ireland), but that will be temporary. Luckily my dw can support us on her own, but my salary does help, and I'd prefer to at least be able to pay the utilities and be able to just buy what's needed. I have no qualms with nursery except the cost. With an au pair, kids still get the exposure to play groups and the like. Plus, my best friend has twins and lots of people from hockey recently had kids. There will be plenty of opportunities for interacting with other kids.

In terms of returning after maternity, it depends on what your company offers. If it's just SMP, then there is no requirement for you to return. If they offer a better package and you take it, there may be stipulations of a return or paying it back.

 

[Emily0505]

Hi girls! There's so many pages to catch up on, sorry if I've missed anything important!

Finalised all my leave today! I've got a weeks hols in Feb for my lo's 1/2 term and then my last working day is 18th March! My maternity leave starts officially on my due date so from March - May is all my holiday and lieu days. So can't wait to finish!!

XX

 

[lisey]

Emily. Really not long and fab you have so much time before mat leave actually kicks in. More time on mat leave with bubs xx

 

[Emily0505]

I can't wait to finish and for my time to be my own.

Going to try and walk my son either to or from school so I get out and do a bit of gentle exercise each day and def going to try and do it once bubs is here to help get back in shape.

Still not sure what's going on with the car seat so I've got to call back tomorrow. Hopefully it'll be ordered and here soon.

XX

 

[snowbee]

Wow Emily that is going to come around fast! I am slightly nervous about how quickly time is going to start flying by. Feb is going to be super busy with all our building work going on, so fingers crossed it will go smoothly, be done by March and then it will be very nearly baby time!

 

[lisey]

It is flying by now isn't it. I noticed on my ticker that I have 111 days, soon it will be double figures! Xx

 

[Eryinera]

So I've begun the process to changet the days I work. So I'll he doing mon-Thurs instead of Thurs-sun. Woop! And. ..I have. I've brought a pram. And it hasn't got huge wheels lol. It's got a car seat and it can be parent facing as a buggy or out wood facing. It's got a carry cot that has a proper mattress so can double as travel cot.
Despite everything I said earlier. Ive brought a silver cross!

 

[lisey]

Lol ery, which silvercross have you gone for? I like all of the travel systems of silvercross really. What colour did you go for? Those working days sound much better. No weekend work xx

 

[Eryinera]

I think it's called the elegance travel system in white/cream and black

 

[lisey]

Oh I haven't seen that one. Sounds good though xx

 

[Eryinera]

This one.....

 

[lisey]

I haven't seen that one in stores. Looks lovely, really like the contrasting colours xx

 

[Emily0505]

Oooh that looks nice Ery! We liked them too when we went to have a play with prams.

I can't wait until there's an ickle bubba to put in it!!

BTW ladies, the aldi baby and toddler event is on 19th January. Maybe some bargains to be had!!

XX

 

[lisey]

Thanks for the heads up Emily. Asda have theirs at the moment and mothercare have extra 10% off sale clothing. We ordered mattress for cot from mothercare yesterday. 160 down to 80!! Haven't even got the cot yet lol but felt it was too good to miss xx

 

[Eryinera]

I know Emily nor me I'm super excited now lol. Ita all becoming real and with me now not working weekends I can be home when we have all this housework done it's going to make life so much easier and with no weekend work we can have family days! I can do normal things like go with my son(and later daughter) to the pictures and go to the zoo... you know. Normal family stuff! And I can pick up extra shifts for overtone if I need to!

 

[Emily0505]

I'll need to order a custom made mattress again. Cam was in the cot I had as a baby and want lil miss to use it too but it's a bit smaller than other cots so I need to order one specially made to fit.

I've got enough clothes and muslins. Still need a changing mat, blankets, bottles and a swing/ bouncer. We've got a steriliser still but need to descale it and make sure it still works. Will get a couple of dummies and some more packs of nappies but I think we're doing pretty well with getting stuff.

XX

 

[lisey]

Tescos have deals on those sorts of bits. Got changing mat the other day for £5 and they had 3 for 2 on bedding and blankets.
I have a list and we have most stuff, it's odd bits and pieces apart from the cot but my mum is buying that.
I need to get baby bath and stand fr moses basket. I don't have any toiletry stuff yet or nappies. I don't know what ones to go for. Lots of people rave about the newborn asda ones but I am concerned they won't be as good as the known make ones. I love buying baby stuff, I will even be excited to buy the water wipes lol xx

 

[Emily0505]

My friend is giving me her baby bath so that's all sorted. I need to get toiletries too and then obviously at some point pick up bits for me for the birth etc.

XX

 

[lisey]

The birth! Yikes xx

 

[kabuk1]

Damn I feel way behind. We've been so focused on the move that we haven't started buying any baby stuff yet. We will as soon as we're moved in. No point in buying it only to pack it up.

Gosh, I just had a massive meltdown. I have this love/hate relationship with technology. I've gotten fed up with apple constantly adding security without you being asked and then there never being a clear way to deactivate things. You have to search for everything. They've also gone overkill on verification when downloading free apps. I get asked too frequently to confirm my credit card details. I hate doing that on my phone. Plus, I never use the credit card, so it's never on me. I just started shouting at it like it could hear me and then started crying. This is after battling with my netflix and vpn so I could watch Elementary, well download it on netflix as you never know when it will start to detect the proxy. If you don't want people using proxies, then licensing needs to change to include all regions. Hell, most of Europe has it, but not the UK or Ireland. Too tired for this and another early morning tomorrow.

I just want to curl up in bed and watch some Elementary. Is that too much to ask?