From Spotters TTC thread to BFP! Success at last!

Interesting that you heard that Americans would mispronounce Leila as Leela or Lila. I would consider it to be a pretty common name, and much more often spelled Leila than any other way. I've never heard of anyone pronouncing it as anything but Layla. Of course, I also have a relatively common name that you wouldn't think people would mispronounce (Chelsea), but you'd be surprised.... And it was even our president's daughter's name at one time!

I can see the confusion in pronunciation of Leila. I had been thinking her name was layla this whole time, like the Eric Clapton song . But veil is pronounced the same way so it's not unreasonable to think Americans would pronounce it correctly.

Time for baby to nap so mommy can eat lunch. Sleep, baby, sleep! (as she stares back at me, enjoying her lunch)

Wait, it is Layla like the Eric Clapton song, right?

I guess I'm in the minority of Americans in saying that Layla isn't the way I would expect the name to be spelled if I just heard it (I would automatically think Leila), but I think it's a beautiful spelling of the name because it is a little unusual.

Ha, i think i was being confusing. I wrote Layla like the Clapton song meaning pronunciation, not spelling. I had thought it was spelled L-a-y-l-a up until just now, but always knew it was pronounced that way. In any case, Leila is a beautiful spelling I have people ask me how to spell Gabriella all the time. I really thought there was only one way of spelling that, but i suppose you could do some non traditional spellings, adding a Y, removing an L, adding a B perhaps? Poor girl is going to have to spell her last name to everyone since no one EVER gets it right (thanks, DH!) so i thought I was doing her a favor by giving her a first name that is easy to spell. Nope!

Now I have Clapton's song stuck in my head

We also had a spelling discussion with DH. Ann is more common than Anne, but that's the way his aunt's name is spelled, so I think we'll stick to Anne. We also considered Anna, but I think I like the way Anne sounds a bit more, seems softer and more gentle, but that's just me.

The girl started moving all of a sudden, of course just as started eating. I think its time for a Turn, baby, turn!

Happy birthday Chloe! Good job Gabby on the perfect present!

Cat your bump is perfect!

I have been having phantom baby kicks since last night, SO weird and kind of annoying bc it's more often than when I actually had a baby in there! I can't tell if its my uterus twitching or something with my intestines? Either way it is WEIRD! I also had my 6 week check and one of my tears is slow to heal bc breastfeeding apparently. Another week or so and should be all clear. DH was a bit disappointed, as am I to be honest. Ready to be back to normal.

wow daydream, I had no idea phantom kicks was a thing, hope they have passed. Really sorry to hear that you're not quite healed, hope it's not too much longer for you.

katie - I love the spelling Anne, I agree it has a nice soft sound to the name

chloe - yep we have a difficult to spell or pronounce correctly surname (and i think it's straightforward again!) so thought we were doing baby a favour too.

cat - i have to ask how else did people pronounce Chelsea?! I can't think of any other way to pronounce it.

AFM: well I think we might be changing Leila to Layla . Discussed it with DH last night after it coming up on here as it got me thinking. 10 weeks on it seems Layla isn't so straightforward, people pronounce it correctly but regardless commonly people spell it wrong and I keep writing 'Leila' as instinctively that's how i would spell it.
It seems it's pretty straightforward to change babies name in the first year and as it's not an actual name change it won't really be odd for friends and family.....going to mull it over this weekend but really wish i'd just gone with Leila in the first place as I wanted!

daydream - sorry your appointment didn't go as well as you hoped I hope it's not much longer.

katie - I've always like the name Anne or Ann, and the spelling Anne looks more complete to me, but they are both nice.

nell - Amazingly, some people will pronounce Chelsea as "Chelsea-ah". I have no idea why. I'm sure they've heard the name Chelsea before, but maybe they are not familiar with seeing it spelled? Despite Chelsea Clinton being the president's daughter for 8 years? It's mystifying. It's definitely not the majority of people, but every once in awhile I'll get this. I probably wouldn't have this problem if I lived in the UK. It just goes to show you that some people will find a way to butcher most names, so just go with what you like. I wouldn't even be that surprised if some people thought Anne was pronounced like Annie haha.

Thanks for the nice bump comments, ladies I still think it might not be a baby bump, because I have gained about 4 pounds already, which is a lot of weight for me. Plus, I can suck in that little bump if I want to. You shouldn't be able to suck in a baby bump, right?

Hi ladies,

Chloe ooh a jacuzzi bath, very nice! Can't believe people can't spell/pronounce Gabriella!

Cat you're very slim, I'd say that's a cute lil bump You can suck it in at first, I did. Re the maternity leave, it's law for you to be able to take a year off, 6 weeks at 90% of your pay then 33 weeks at statutory pay (smp) which is £135 a week then 13 weeks unpaid. I work for the government and am lucky to get 26 weeks full pay, 13 weeks smp then no pay if I want it. I have plenty holidays to use so won't need to go onto no pay. We're very lucky over here.

Eee Nell sorry for starting the Layla/Leila debate! I take it you haven't registered her yet if you're talking about changing the spelling?

Katie, turn baby turn!

AFM I have swollen ankles and mild shin splints hope it's not here to stay, especially the swelling!

x

mrsP - ah, I see. Usually here, people will get 6-8 weeks with full pay, then they have to take their accumulated leave or unpaid. I work for the federal government, and here in the US, that means I get nothing at all paid, I have to use my own leave for 6 weeks, then unpaid. Luckily, I have been able to save enough money over the past several years that I could actually take the year off and pay my full salary to myself from my savings haha. But I'll save my money for future education expenses.... OH has 8 weeks paternity, then he'll take 4 weeks sick leave, giving us 6 months between the two us. So back to work after 12 weeks for me!

The only thing I think is pretty crappy here is that I think the law only protects your job for 12 weeks of maternity leave. So depending on where you work, you have to go back after 12 weeks if you want to keep your job. It doesn't apply to me - I can take up to a year before I would lose my health insurance coverage (I think I would still have the job). But I wish the law would protect everyone for up to a year.