Any Scottish April 2013 babies out there??

[Kaybee]

There is never a dull moment with kaiden around

Aww it would break my heart too if kaiden felt left out. My plan is to try involve him as much as possible and try make sure to have one to one time with him. Its more visitors im thinking might make him feel left out. My mum said thats when i would get jealous of my little sister people would come in and just make a fuss of the baby and ignore me.

 

[lj2245]

I've tried to explain that people are going to be excited to meet the new baby and to get to know the baby but they already love him to bits and were just as excited when he was born. Hopefully they will be ok

 

[bbymc]

Aww, I hope they're not jealous! I'm sure if you just turn them into 'mummy's best little helper' they'll enjoy it and feel proud to be helping you.

 

[Kaybee]

Laura are you getting a present from the baby for Shaun? We will get something and a friend who recently had her second DS said DS1 got DS2 a little something too which he picked out himself so think we will get Kaiden to pick out a little teddy or something.

I've just been looking at meal planners/menu ideas to try cut down our weekly shopping bill. I've not really come up with any plans yet but am starving now.

 

[lj2245]

I was thinking about getting him something, yes. Don't know what yet though. Maybe something he can do with me or Stephen without the baby. Or a Toys R Us voucher, which is his favourite gift ever. Shaun has already got the baby a Little Brother t-shirt

I have the worst sleep ever last night. I was soooo relaxed after my pamper session and went to bed with a magazine. I fell asleep so easily but my hips were so sore and I could not get comfy at all. I can't lie on my back at all now and couldn't lie on my sides, so I sort of sat up all night. Every time I move my pelvis is crunching. It feels like the whole area is so bruised. I was feeling sorry for myself today so Stephen made me breakfast and I fell asleep on the couch with him stroking my hair at 1pm. I woke up at 3 and Stephen had left for work. I have started coughing though...it's a persistent tickly cough. This is just what I need when I'm starting work tomorrow

What are menu planners? I cook a lot of meals from scratch and always plan my meals a week in advance but I just choose things we haven't had in a while. Tesco do 3 for £10 on some meats too so I always try to consider things like that. I use a lot of frozen veg to keep costs and waste down.

 

[arlene]

Hi ladies. I'm really suffereing today too!! Like you Laura, I just feel like it's bruised, like someone has given me a good hard kick between the legs!!

Hopefully Shaun and Kaiden won't feel left out, think the idea of a gift from the new baby is great! My best friend is due 6 weeks after me and she has a wee girl already. I'm gonna make sure I get something for Sophie when the new baby arrives too xx

 

[Kaybee]

How cute a little brother t shirt.

Thats rubbish that you's are suffering. My pelvic pain comes and goes but find I need to sleep propped up for reflux. My hips give me bother anyway but usually sleep on my front but of course cant do that now so have to swap side to side. Not long to go now though.

Laura I hope you have a good day at your new job tomorrow.

Menu planners are just ideas for meals for the week. I do that anyway but was just looking for some inspiration. Most of the stuff I make is from scatch, and I make a list and do the shopping online so I dont get distracted but I still seem to spend about 100 a week. Just want to drastically cut it down. Am thinking I migt try going to aldi or lidl but the trouble is I would need to do it after work and most days as soon as i get in the car i just wanna head straight home. What kind of stuff do you make? Any cheap recipes?

Arlene when my friend had her second baby i got her eldest, who is 2, a pack of stickers so she wouldnt feel left out as i had got the new baby a new outfit. She loved them.

 

[lj2245]

I try to make things as cheap as possible lol. I like to make spag bol a lot as my 2 love it. Making that tomorrow as its so easy and my sister and her GF are coming for dinner so I can feed all of us for a couple of quid! I use tesco frozen healthy living mince which is only about £2.50 and half a pack is more than enough for 3. I brown some frozen diced onion and add the mince to brown, then add 2 cartons of passata (29p each) and an oxo cube, then some dried garlic powder. I add oregano, parsley and basil (all dried) and some sugar to take out the bitterness of the passata and thats it done after seasoning! I serve it with spaghetti and garlic bread.

onion - 25p (1/4 of a £1 bag)
mince - £1.25
passata - 60p
oxo - 5p
herbs & garlic cant be more than 10p
spaghetti - 50p
garlic bread - £1

£3.75 total

Sometimes if I'm being really cheap I make pasta instead of spaghetti and will boil some broccoli and cauliflower (frozen). I chop the veg up into wee bits and mix it in with the bolognaise then mix in the pasta. Because I'm adding the veg I only need to make half the amount of bolognaise and it's really healthy too

Another cheap dinner I like to make is what Shaun calls 'awesome soup'. I make soup with diced turnip, carrot and potato, a leek, ham stock cubes, pearl barley and lentils. It's all so cheap and its more like a stew than a soup. I service it with crusty bread. Shaun absolutely loves it.

The tesco dinner for £6 is good if you cant be bothered cooking. Main, side and dessert for £6. It's not very healthy though so we only have that once in a blue moon and I always serve a massive bowl of salad with it.

Chilli con carne is easy and cheap too. Mince, onion, frozen peppers, passata or tinned tomato, garlic, cumin, coriander, paprika, cinnamon. You're supposed to add kidney beans (tesco value - about 20p a tin) but my family hate them so I don't.

These are all the dinners that I have all the ingredients for in my cupboard and freezer at any time. If I run out of cash or can't be bothered to go to Tesco, I know I can always knock any of these up. Well, except the soup.

Stir fry is good too if you have a kid who isn't fussy. Chicken, stir fry veg (pennies in tesco), dried egg noodles and soy sauce. You can add honey too if you want a bit of sweetness. Or lime juice and a little brown sugar if you want it tangy.

 

[bbymc]

Thanks for the meal tips! My cooking repetoire is rubbish lol. I'll try those on Ryan once I can stomach cooking again. Lol. It's always good to know super cheap meals!

My pelvic pain has been pretty bad today too. Usually if I swap ling on one side to the other I'm ok but last night that didn't wok and I hardly slept. I just keep reminding myself I don't have long to go now! I'm finding it all so depressing!

Good luck on your first day tomorrow Laura. I hope it goes well!

 

[Cherrybump]

bbymc are you 29 weeks today lol i can just read the bit lol.

If so we both at same stage cant wait to get to the end and meet my little princess x

 

[bbymc]

Yeah 29 weeks today! 11 to go, it's gona drag!!

 

[arlene]

Aww wow we're all getting so close!!

Talking of recipes, I got one for Persian chicken when I was on the Tesco diet plan. you basically marinade chicken in mixed herbs, cinnamon and turmeric, fry it off in the pan then add some homey and fresh orange juice and let it simmer. We usually have it with couscous or rice and some pitta bread. very healthy and filling! We tend to make a massive tray of lasagne at a time as well although we're uber lazy and use dolmio sauce. Usuay get 6 portions out of it though xx

 

[Kaybee]

Thanks for the recipes. I will need to add them to my list!

So been for scan this morning and baby is doing well. It can take 10 weeks for baby to develop symptoms so the practice here is to do weekly scans for 12 weeks. Thankfully I should be able to get them done in Perth now and as I'm due in less than 10 weeks it will be until he is born. It was good to see him again

Laura hope your first day was good.

 

[Cherrybump]

YaY! im chuffed we're same due date bbymc

 

[arlene]

That's great news Karen! And great you'll get to see him every week until the big day!

I have a mw appointment tomorrow morning so gonna speak to her about the spd symptoms I have, see of she can recommend anything between now and physio on the 30th. xx

 

[lj2245]

Aww that's good news Be great to see baby every week too! I have a growth scan on the 13th March, so looking forward to that.

 

[bbymc]

That's good news Karen. You'll be more familiar with baby than ever by the time he is born! Have you got a name for him yet? I can't remember.

How was your first ay Laura? Bet it was great to be doing something different eh? It can get soooo boring sitting in the house a lot.

I thin I'm gona have to go back to the docs soon cos these pelvic pains are definitely getting worse and stopping me doing every day stuff. Even going upstairs to the toilet is becoming a dreaded experience lol.

I've been looking into using cloth nappies. Anyone got any experience or thinking of using them?? I think they'll work out way cheaper, especially if another baby comes along in the future.

Cherrybump, I take it you'll be giving birth at the Royal? We might be in at the same time!

 

[Kaybee]

Thanks.

Arlene hope mw can suggest something that helps. What about some kind of support belt?

Laura is that a private scan you get in March?

Emma we havent agreed on a name yet i dont have any experience with cloth/fluff but some of the nappies are gorgeous. My sister tried it for a while with her first but didnt stick with it for long. If you go the natural parenting section on here there are loads of mums there that use them and would keep you right. Think there is a for sale section too and am sure there are groups on FB where people sell them. The council here do a cheap starter pack. It might be worth checking your local council.

My SIL just phoned to tell me my neice has slapped cheek now. I feel bad that I hadnt already told her that I was going for a scan today but didnt want to worry everyone. She was ok about it.

 

[lj2245]

No it's a NHS scan because Shaun was so big lol. They are also giving me a Glucose Tolerance Test tomorrow too. Apparently it's standard if you have already had one over 9lbs.

I haven't used cloth nappies, it all looks too confusing to me! Too many different parts and brands :S

Mothercare sell support belts, they might help you Arlene but tbh I didn't get any relief while using mine last time around and my midwife told me they don't issue them any more, just crutches and advice! I tried using crutches too but that didn't help either :S

 

[lj2245]

How was your first ay Laura? Bet it was great to be doing something different eh? It can get soooo boring sitting in the house a lot.

It was good! They are going to be a good company to work for. Have agreed to time off for all my appointments, including the 2 I have this week and have said I can go home at any time if I ever feel unwell or too tired. I can work until I want to too, so I don't need to give notice of my intention to take maternity leave. I sat about all day doing adminy stuff and playing with the 2 Boston Terriers, Elvis and Edith I'm sooooo tired now though