The Ultimate Hard and Fast debt clearing mission

Cinny91

Agreed, and I can't wait to hear the name! Me and OH had the *serious baby talk* last week and finally picked a girls name, so I can either reference Little Ralph or Tiny April Jay! Might be joining you all in the baby talk later this year

Oohh, and I don't know if anyone's interested but Aldi are doing Valentines 'meal deals' M&S style. I can't find it online (because I'm an idiot) but I think it's leek and potato soup, chicken stroganoff with rice, fudge cake for pudding with a bottle of wine for £8 or mozzarella dippers with chutney, lamb shanks with potato dauphinoise, petit pois and ham then ice cream for afters for £10.

In a slight sulk because we're going for the £10 one but I want the pudding from the first

Dinah93

The name is one NIM originally didn't think suitable but I've liked for years and years, but then coming out the hospital he suggested it - which I found really nice that that was the one that came to his mind when he saw our daughter. I'm quite proud I've only burst into tears twice this morning at the thought of our little baby girl being all healthy and having got to see her again.

NIM says as soon as the sonographer showed us the face profile he knew it was a girl - he could see my profile in front of the screen and hers on it behind me and apparently they're identical. Poor little mite!

Baby gate is to keep the tiny curious females out, not to lock you two in... although that's not a bad idea.

That sounds like a horror movie to me Cinny! Giant baby indeed. It keeps going round in my head that while my brother and I were both really early and therefore tiny, my dad set the record for the biggest baby born in his town at 12lbs 10oz, that's like birthing a toddler

My family seem to think I'm disappointed we're not having a boy, and it's not that at all, I'm thrilled she's a girl, I'm just finding it really hard to believe and I think I'm a bit in shock. Don't worry Birdie, I've already cleared the next sale of tiny pink things and teeny dresses. I also got sent a £10 mamas and papas gift card yesterday because I spent over £100 in their sale (they don't seem to realise I returned all but £10 of it), so I'm going to spend it on this as while white is an utterly impractical colour for a baby, it's really pretty without actually being pink. Okay, and this which is gender neutral but I love it and I need to get the order over a tenner.

Glad you're doing well Flower, Noah seems to have made you so much happier.

Transfered £117.83 out of paypal yesterday, and a further £65.27 this morning. I don't have loads listed at the moment, but probably have £30-£50 of sales up. Would really like to get some more listed in the next few days. Today may not go so well as I've got a doctors appointment, but NIM has the car so it's about a 45-50 min walk each way, and they're always late, so I'm imagining that might have me out the house for up to 3 hours. Before the doctors I need to parcel up everything that sold on Tuesday, so NIM can send it all tomorrow.

Extra income wise this week is looking fab. NIM has £250 of mystery shop fees from jobs done today to Sunday, and then I've got the bit from ebay coming in.

We're taking advantage of our last few baby free months and going to a gig tomorrow night - seeing Snow Patrol who I've wanted to see for about 5 years. So that's something off my 101 things list too. I did consider reselling the tickets when I saw they were going for £110 each and we got them for £35 each, but I figure this is the time to see them.

Mum asked us last night when we're planning our first weekend away just the two of us so she can have the baby. I didn't quite know what to say but I told her we'd try to go away for at least one night in the first year, maybe a weekend away if that goes well a bit later on but it's all very dependant on feeding.

NIM gave me a fantastic birthday yesterday, took me to a restaurant I love, paid for my parents to come too (although I dread to see how much it cost), and for my present he's taking me to see my auntie who I haven't seen in about 10 years. We talk quite often on the phone, but Wales seems like another dimension, not just another country. We should really visit people more often as I quite like road trips now we have the truck and I don't feel sick, I think it might be the lure of all those Waitrose service stations as we don't have Waitrose near here and I love their dark chocolate ginger bars - they saw me through the first trimester!

OMG so exciting you might be starting a family Cinny

Cinny91

I was thinking the same about Flower, you do seem so much happier with Noah

Dinah93 wrote: »

It keeps going round in my head that while my brother and I were both really early and therefore tiny, my dad set the record for the biggest baby born in his town at 12lbs 10oz, that's like birthing a toddler

I wouldn't worry! It's not something you have much control over, but I have a feeling she'll be a tiny thing.

Sounds like your birthday was lovely, I'm sure you'll have an amazing time visiting your Aunt too. Good going NIM

And eep, I know! The talk actually terrified OH, until I pointed out that even if by some miracle we get pregnant in the first month he still won't be a 'proper' Dad until he's 25. Part of me starting back up on the voucher sites is to get a bit of a baby stash on the go, although my child will need this.

Birdie85

Ooooh I love a meal deal, not sur where our nearest Aldi is... hmmm...

Those bits in Mothercare are very cute Dinah! Sounds like you had a lovely birthday And enjoy Snow Patrol, should be good!

I can't believe how big your Dad was! :eek: I want a little cute baby, I'd be a bit gutted if it came out toddler size!

How exciting that there could be a little Ralph or April Jay Cinny! I've picked out my names, just have to get OH on board now He can't complain though as they're nice and traditional and not at all 'made up'.

That bib is too cool!

I agree that you sound so content Flower, it's lovely!

I wonder if grandparents forget the whole 'not wanting to leave your baby' feeling? MIL has already decided that she's having our baby (not that there is one right now!) one day and night a week... not sure if I like that idea for the first couple of years. OH is really annoying though as he's happy for his Mum to take our kids away as often as she likes but my Mum is apparently only allowed one afternoon a week as he doesn't want her 'taking over'... !!!!!!?! He really has a stick up his !!!!! about her and I'm not really sure why, she's a good MIL! I put him straight the other day when I said that the maternal grandmother nearly always gets more involved because of the femal bond so he needs to get used to her being around!

Dinah93

I'm trying to work out if NIM is 25 or 26 now, I have a feeling he's 25 as we're over a year apart and I'm 27 now, so I think he'll attest that 25 is a grand age to start a family.

1. Wrap all sold amazon and ebay and possibly risi if I have any parcels
2. Seal the next bag ready for the next man (I thiink I alone keep him in business, I order so much but it all goes back!)
3. Try to update the spreadsheet with January's numbers so NIM only needs to help me make images of it to post on here
4. Contact bra company/go on their website to work out how to return the bras
5. Stop bursting into tears every time I think about our little girl. Somehow knowing it's a girl has made it all the more real and I'm not doing so well!

Dinah93

It's only fair each granny is as involved as the other imho, obviously time constraints and distance allowing. If you're planning to return to work just make sure that's the day either granny gets the baby, save on childcare, but you can still go and pick it up at the end of the day. Once a month or something you can always treat granny to an overnight friday or saturday night so you can go out for a meal or a night away. It's just hit me this morning that I'll have to leave the baby in nursery when I go back to work, and I'm not liking that idea at all. I was fine before, but now I'm becoming clingy and she's not even here yet! It just seems so much more real now we have a gender and name.

We're a bit on the fence as regards middle name though, we're certain on one, but we're considering having a second middle name as we'd like to get it in there. Not sure if it's a bit pretentious having two middle names, but they both mean something to us and NIM has three of the things himself.

N.I.M

Poolie wrote: »

Whooo

NIM - Time to get extra protection for the man cave?

I've application in for the shotgun licence already

Poolie wrote: »

Is that to keep baby or NIM and I out of the man cave? Please clarify.

I lolled...in the middle of the silent office.

Birdie85 wrote: »

I put him straight the other day when I said that the maternal grandmother nearly always gets more involved because of the femal bond so he needs to get used to her being around!

I saw more of my maternal but a lot of that was to do with being on the farm riding all day whenever I got the chance.

Dinah93 wrote: »

I'm trying to work out if NIM is 25 or 26 now, I have a feeling he's 25 as we're over a year apart and I'm 27 now, so I think he'll attest that 25 is a grand age to start a family.

I am and it is.

ETA:

Dinah93 wrote: »

NIM has three of the things himself.

To be fair, I was only given 2.

Dinah93

I don't think I saw much more of either granny tbh, probably my maternal one as we used to stay at her house almost every Friday night when we were older (my brother was about so we were at least 3 and 8) and she'd pick us up from school when mum had a staff meeting or drive us home once a week once we moved to the country, but my other nana was more likely to babysit during the week and we'd often pop over there for an hour or two on the way back from anywhere, often enough that at Christmas there were never more than 3 chocolates to eat from the advent calendar in one go.

Cinny91

Birdie85 wrote: »

I want a little cute baby, I'd be a bit gutted if it came out toddler size!

Reading that I thought you were going to say 'comes out ugly' and I'm just sat here thinking 'WHAT IF MY BABY IS UGLY!' I mean, they say everyone thinks their child is gorgeous but there must be limits..

I'm sure you'll find an equal level with the MIL's, Birdie. I'm just hoping a grandchild will make Mum2 more easy to pin down as she's always so busy, but regardless I'm planning on taking our little'un across every week to see Nannan. I think it's a given you'll lean more towards your own Mum for help though, your OH will just have to stop being such a willy about it.

Still, at least you're getting offers, our Mums both hold the view that they've done their time with sleepless nights. Grandchildren are to play with and coo over during the day, and hand back before the soaps start.

wendz86

Sounds like you had a brilliant birthday ! That is such a lovely surprise NIM is taking you to see your Auntie.

The little bits you have bought look so cute, don't forget people will buy you loads of outfits as well. I didn't buy any before she was born,just sleepsuits and vests and was bought enough outfits to last her for months!

Poppy hasn't been away from me a whole night yet, i still feed her at night so wouldn't work plus i would miss her! She has been left a couple of evenings though as i know she doesn't need feeding for a few hours.

One lot of my Grandparents lived 300 miles away and my Grandma 45 mins away so don't think i was ever left with them till i was a lot older. OH is still keen to move back down southampton probably before Poppy starts school so at least she will get to see her grandparents more. She tends to see my Mum more now as we stay at my parents when we go down and also my mum comes up here where as OH's mum has never come here. She lives across road from his sister so sees her kids everyday.

Don't get me started on nursery, I have all that to go through next month. There will be tears and they probably won't be Poppy's.

Cinny - that is so exciting you might be starting a family.