Our forever home

jennystarpepper

Congratulations X

maggiem

Congratulations, so pleased for you. 

Kakiste

That's wonderful news! Also remember that the term after bean turns 3 you'd be eligible for 30 free hours of childcare. When my sprog turned 3 her childcare dropped from £640 a month down to about £150 which was such a relief.  

bellevie

That's so good, it's looking like it'll be just under 1200 for full time nursery dropping to just below 900 looking at one of the few that list their prices openly. It will definitely help!

bellevie

We had our final scan from the ivf clinic at 8wks 3 days. Baby had grown so much it was so lovely to see. Weeks are flying by now we are almost 10 weeks!

We've been looking at what we can get second hand in good condition to allow us to carry over savings into maternity, compiling my list so we can start working through it over the summer.

Particularly excited about a lovely second hand nursery set, seen so many available, I never had a full matching set for dd but then again it was never needed she usually had some form of built in wardrobe. We don't here so a nice matching set would be lovely, even better if we can pick it up for a good price.

I'm not superstitious so I don't believe in bad luck buying early but I'm conscious how difficult it would be to face having to get rid of things. I don't however want to leave things to the very end and be unprepared, so will start in the next few weeks after 12 week scan.

 Talking of that I haven't had a letter booking it yet so might need to call the hospital this week. Not sure what department to go through to, when I had dd it was all arranged through the gp.

Placement is going well though I was relieved to have the long weekend, I'm completely exhausted. Its a manageable Placement so I'm sure it's just hormonal side effects! Next week will be my 4th week, need to start preparing my presentation for week 6, then 2 weeks later I'll be back with my team! 

I have truly missed them, my educator and placement team have been superb and I am learning lots but I have missed my colleagues.


Mse wise, no success in bringing down food bill, increase in food prices and my aversion meaning I'm eating different to dh & dd. I've got an aversion to meat mostly, but I feel constantly half starved, start shaking and heaving on an empty stomach so I an definitely eating more than normal. They say there's no need to ear more, and I didn't with dd but I literally feel I could pass out if I go for more than 3 hours without anything. This makes me suspect with it being so different we may be having a boy. I know all pregnancies can be different so keeping open minded, can't wait to find out though!

Kakiste

That's great to hear. 

Nursery sets sell for so little second hand, I remember buying one before I had my daughter, It was over £800 new but the lady sold it me for £60! 

Best of luck with the end of your placement. 

AgathaSquirrel

Congratulations 🥳. I somehow missed your news.

FtbDreaming

I can’t remember if I already congratulated you as I do follow your thread but I am so pleased it’s going well! Xxx

bellevie

Thank you ❤️ we've reached 13 weeks now. Sickness has eased though hunger has not!

We picked up a lovely second hand nursery, solid oak used only for 2 years. My mother in law is coming up in the summer, she has a good eye for decorating so will help us set it up when she stays.

Mse wise, leaving my gas /electric dd at the same payment although we are using 100 less now, I'm hopefully  building up a credit might mean minimal increase when it gets colder.

Our back garden door and patio doors are arriving this week, I am hoping they will make a difference, the existing doors have been in since the 80s and let a lot of cold in. We've got heavy curtains for the nursery to keep that warm.

We did get a quote for windows and toyed with the idea of having them done but when we looked into it financially its a huge increase, its cheaper to do it ourselves even if dh pays a colleague to help.

Food wise, I've mostly reverted to shopping online to avoid heavy lifting and resist temptation to buy things we don't need. I broke that once last month, took DH with me and we went hugely over budget, its just too risky to take him no matter what shop I go to 😅

We are due 3rd January, the midwife said they don't let ivf babies go overdue, I hadn't heard that before. I hope I don't need any intervention. I was messed around with so much with DD I'm really keen to avoid that if I can.

We are going to start buying things we need from now, I'm glad that the nursery being our biggest expense is sorted. 

Pram wise, how they've changed since dds pram!  My friends offered me hers for a lot cheaper than it was new, she keeps her things immaculate so I've no doubt it'll be like new. That'll help savings.

In the background to baby things I need to remember Christmas & birthdays! Dd & DHs birthdays are in December and January I'll make sure we are ready by November mostly because if I remember how I was with DD December will be a write off!

No more updates really, lots of planning, planning, planning!

bellevie

We are now almost 19 weeks, found out at an early scan so that DD could come we are having a boy 💙

We have started to buy things now, we got our pram second hand in great condition, a bundle of baby clothes on market place just beautiful. We have a few new things, but I remembered DD barely stained anything before weaning so I thought it was worth a look and it was well worth it!
Made use of Boots baby event too which was great.

All that's left to get over the next few months will be cot mattress, crib or moses basket, bedding, few more vests, a bouncer/rocker, playmat.

MIL is visiting for a week, DH has the week of with her and will be decorating the nursery.

Food wise I've been sticking to budget, although I've spent some of my left over money buying extra bits. I've been diagnosed with gestational diabetes so buying extras that help keep my sugars low from my own money when the main budget doesn't permit it. I'm starting to get to grips with the adapted diet- low carb, high fat, high protein, dd and DH have accepted some of the dinner changes but sticking to their own breakfast and lunch unless a fry up is on offer!!
Only disappointment really is our trust said although they will monitor and decide nearer the time they usually induce between 38-39 weeks. That'll means baby will come in December, just before Christmas or in the week between Christmas and New year. I've seen the additional risks in GD pregnancies in terms of still birth, or birthing complications due to size so I'm not at all opposed to this if its best for baby, but having seen the complications that can arise from an induction I've found myself seriously considering a c section. I know things can go very smoothly with inductions  but I had a very low chance of having 1 let alone 2 ectopics but was in that unlucky few. So Ill be going for the absolute lowest risk to baby. I've got lots of time yet but I like to be well informed so will continue to research to be sure.

Car had to have some work done due to a knocking noise there were a couple of issues so £400 a lot but far lower than quoted at a couple of nationwide names. It's also a garage in walking distance that I didn't know was there so will look to use that one for our mot.

Car works came out of savings which have been slowing down with baby spends but I'd rather that than get into debt. By October all of the interest free things we got when we moved in, asude from the sofa, will be paid off. Just in time for a couple of months high savings before my pay drops.

Things had been forecasted to be so much easier when we started looking at IVF, I could never have imagined we'd spend an extra £100 a month on gas & electric and see food rising the way it has. Absolutely dreading the next raise, praying the investment in our patio doors, back door and front doors pay off. 

I do thank my lucky stars we fixed into a 5 year deal when we bought this place, I pray things are a little more balanced when that ends.