Making the future happen - museumworker's MFW diary Pt 2

museumworker

Thanks CathT - am wondering how pregnant mums with toddlers managed to put their feet up though? DS will go to nursery one day a week whilst I'm on mat leave - but beginning to wonder if maybe that's not enough when still pregnant...

woken up with sore throat and got dizzy/double vision when walking to bus stop, so back home for duvet day (well morning at least, have to take DD to hospital appointment in the afternoon )

OH has found an AEG tumble drier he likes, with a trade-in offer plus discount will come to just over £200. It was on the cards to buy as our last one was dodgy since it came free with the house, but stopped working completely last year. Will be ordering later on today.

greent

museumworker wrote: »

Thanks CathT - am wondering how pregnant mums with toddlers managed to put their feet up though? DS will go to nursery one day a week whilst I'm on mat leave - but beginning to wonder if maybe that's not enough when still pregnant....

Do NOT use that day to run around like the proverbial blue bottomed winged insect to get everything done! Make sure you use it for rest before LO arrives and - after LO arrives too - you really do need to snatch rest when LO sleeps when you have 2 small ones xx Consider online shopping being delivered and even a cleaner for (say) 1 or 2 hours a week/ fortnight to zip through for maybe 3 or 4 months and make sure bathrooms are clean, house is vacuumed and floors mopped and maybe dusting. They can get all of that done and more in the time it takes to get one bit done when you are tired and have small ones- and the joy/ relief of getting it all done at once rather than it taking you possibly several days to get around it all is priceless. Well worth the small delay in MF for sanity xx

museumworker wrote: »

woken up with sore throat and got dizzy/double vision when walking to bus stop, so back home for duvet day (well morning at least, have to take DD to hospital appointment in the afternoon ).

hope you feel better later when you need to go out. Take it easy x

museumworker

Thanks for the advice greent! I have got much better at resting during DS nap, hoping he will keep it up and the LO will adopt it too! But yes, will use DS nursery day to hang round house and sleep when LO does I think, rather than anything too ambitious.

I have a bit of a mental block about getting a cleaner, but never say never! Part of the reason I've been decluttering is to try and make it easier to clean...

Tumble drier bought, have also used my winning voucher from maternity website to order myself a pregnancy/feeding nightdress, just had to add £3. Used up entertainment budget this month with 1/2 price offer to I can't sing! musical in west end - took DD and she loved it! We've been needing a bit of bonding time and that was a special trip for us.

We've also weeded and reorganised the garden this weekend. We weren't using the back third at all, so moved table down that way, pulled up the veg beds we weren't using, dug over the weeds, and planted some hardy perennials - we got 48 plug plants for a fiver from a gardener's w0rld offer. I have no idea what any of them are, but at that price we had to give them a go! We've still got about 20 left, so have started weeding front garden to chuck a few in there too. Anyway, the back end of the garden is looking a lot better and a lot more useful already. DS loved digging and playing with stones/water whilst DD played with kids next door so it was lovely and relaxed.

OH now off on work trip, had lovely (free) day in local park watching dog show. Lots of HM food in freezer, tonight we had veggie chilli with rice, salad and wraps.

I've won a £50 love2shop voucher from survey too .

PS did rough calculation and OPs to date have cut 6 years and £40K in interest off my mortgage. Wowsers!

tootallulah

You are doing brilliantly, 6 years cut off - hoorah. Looking forward to seeing how you enjoy the summer, new baby and all.

museumworker

Well, that was May! Survived OH's first work trip overseas (just! was quite frazzled in parts - left wallet, two sets of keys, a mobile phone and DS reins/backpack scattered across London all in one day!), nursery closure, unexplained 5 day D&V with DS, and last few weeks at work.

Had some highlights too - took OH out for a very swanky exclusive dinner for his bday (think 2 michelin star chef cooking a 6 course taster menu in front of only 20 people), which was not cheap but I had the money in my pocket money account and thought it was a once in a lifetime opportunity...

Then two days later I won another meal cooked by a different michelin starred chef at the same place - what a treat! A fantastic win - I couldn't take OH due to lack of babysitter so went with a friend who had helped out with DS and DD whilst I was working one weekend.

Also did trip to Book of Mormon with sister which was just hilarious!

OH now on second trip and we're on half term, much less running around now finished work. So far been pond dipping in local park, playdate, museum visit with cousins and a few more days out to go too - all free.

Moneywise we've paid OH's CC off in full whilst he awaits expenses so no OP this month - but should be about £1200 available when he returns/money comes through to make an OP. We've using a rewards CC for the first time so hoping to get some vouchers through for Xmas.

greent

Restaurant trips sound fabulous - and what brilliant luck to win a meal there again!!


Hope all is going well - your post sounds nice and upbeat x

museumworker

Thanks greent, they were 2 very fabulous nights out that I know we'll talk about for years to come - I felt extremely lucky, I can tell you! Reminds me how crazy life can be - just need to make the most of the ups (and weather the downs).

museumworker

£37.01 OP made from cashback from transferring energy suppliers.

Checked school records and been overcharged £8 which have asked to be refunded.

Last half term of Yr 6, just told DD she can only go to breakfast club one day a week now I'm on maternity leave. That's £8 a week saved plus we should have a more relaxed morning together.

Waiting for 3 boxes of guff from work to be redelivered - hoping they come v soon as I want to take DS out to try a free local playbus.

Trying a new hairdresser tonight who does home visits, if she's good means I'll be able to fit in haircuts with family life.

Had midwife appointments yesterday, all well at 33 weeks - baby oblique at the moment but nothing to worry about at this stage apparently. Shattered today from day running around town and plan to get a nap in during the afternoon.

PS 3 bed in ok condition went for £440K on our street 2 months ago - looking like our house is worth about half a million. How mad is that?! Property market is really overheated in this area, well, London in general I think.

mouche

Hi mw...you're sounding so relaxed and happy. Hope you have a fab maternity leave and enjoy the time with DD and DS before the new baby arrives. Those mobile hairdressers are a godsend. Mine would cut LOs hair as well as mine and was the only way I could fit in a haircut post-LO. Cheaper than a salon too. Hope yours turns out to be good!

tootallulah

Hi MW good to "see" you and you sound great too. London house prices are mental at the minute my tiny one bedroom flat is worth more that my beautiful Victorian house in Notts. It is so unfair on people starting out who pay ridiculous rents and have no chance of home ownership where they work. How long until you are on maternity leave it can't be far away?