Mid-August Testers

[snowflakes120]

Oh my Hands. Please stay safe - I thought it was a volcano too at first. Check in girl - I am worried about you guys! So glad we got the independence thing right with Kellan I was kinda doubting whether it was that or something else - I am proud of myself!

I am really worrying about my belly too Nic. It is alot bigger this time for sure. Tim's mom said something about me already showing last week. Ugh. Still hiding at work. I keep wearing the same tops over and over again. And my pants sure are getting tight. I'm not sure how much more I can hide this. I'm still not ready to tell - we're still debating on Easter but my body seems to have other plans. I can totally understand you wanting to hide it with your explanation of working for a month full time.

Bex - Your BD schedule sounds great! All crossables are crossed! I'll be chart stalking you!

Kellan did great with his food yesterday at school. He thoroughly enjoyed pancakes, chicken strips, apple slices and pineapple and some other stuff I can't remember! They said the pineapple was his favorite. And we got notice that he moving up to the next classroom on May 19th.

Oh, I got results for another test - normal. One more to cross off list. This was to test all the chromosomes. I should get the 3rd test (testing DNA) back this week sometime. Tomorrow is the ultrasound to re-check fluid and start looking at the heart.

P.S. Someone needs to come to NC and pry these Birthday Cake Oreo's from my hands.

 

[NotNic]

Woop woop Bex. Seems like you're ovulating in perfect time and slightly earlier this month. Great news!

I can still wear all my old clothes and they're not tight yet, but I'd actually got a bit skinny in places after going back to work (I think not being at home with a pack of biscuits probably helped!). People used to comment quite a bit about it, which makes me think that they'll notice sooner that I'm filling out. I'm very aware they've been looking at my stomach for months. I'm wearing dresses with draping and skater skirts so the movement stops them looking too closely. My mum said that she's noticed that my hips are bigger, and my waist has definitely thickened but it isn't obvious to anyone who doesn't know. I'm just hoping that I can keep it to myself for the next few weeks and if people start to suspect they'll think I'm about 8-10wks and are waiting for my scan. But like you said Bex, even if its obvious I don't have to admit anything!

Hands - hope you're staying safe. Update us please. We're worried xx

Snow - I can't help you with the Oreo cake I'm afraid, unless you need help finishing! Im mad about chocolate at the moment. I had a big slice of chocolate birthday cake before I left the house this morning!! Boy or girl, this baby has a sweet tooth!

 

[InHisHands]

Hey all... As of Tuesday evening the fire was classed as a class 1 fire which means they sent teams in nationally. Currently 408 fire fighters fighting it. Bad news: The fire isn't contained yet. Good News: It appears to be burning itself out. It has shrink in size from 366 acres to 244. It is currently "stuck" in a canyon 5 miles away.

 

[Srbjbex]

Well lets hope it stays stuck Hands! I hope you still manage to enjoy your Easter weekend.

Hands / Snow - need to ask you a question. We were chatting at work randomly about how hot tea should be, and someone said American tea is never hot enough, and that's because you guys don't really have kettles as standard kitchen items, and that you heat the water in the microwave to make a cup of tea!! Is that right?!?! I don't believe him. I would give up my toaster, microwave, slowcooker way before my kettle if we were ranking kitchen appliances!


Lots of BDing for me this weekend....excited that my chart actually looks in decent shape for once!!

 

[NotNic]

Haha Bex. I think they do, but their voltage is lower than ours so I don't think it heats up as quickly or as hot as ours do. I also think a lot of people have stove top kettles instead. I know when I took my UK GHDs to NY they didnt straighten my hair properly because they didnt heat up as hot as they would do back home. My mum's hairdryer kept shorting the fuse too!

 

[snowflakes120]

Hands - So happy for an update from you. I hope it continues to be contained in the canyon and doesn't closer!

Bex - It's true. *blushing* I only pull out my kettle when company comes to stay overnight and am making tea for multiple people for breakfast. And I honestly don't remember my mom ever owning a kettle growing up. Which is probably unfathomable to you guys! If I am making tea for just me - I do heat the water up in the microwave. I have always been a big tea drinker - I had quite the obsession for awhile. And everyone at work knows to come to me for tea because my desk is always stocked. At work, we have a coffee machine that has a hot water spout that I use. Hubby got me lots of teas from Teavana for Christmas but I haven't drank any since BFP because a few are herbal and I don't know what is ok and not in pregnancy. Anyways, speaking of tea, what is a good authentic British tea brand? Maybe I'll try to find some here in the US and give it a try. I like milk and sugar in my tea. How do you guys like yours? I need a lesson on proper tea drinking.

And I love your temp drop. Def BD tonight!!

Nic - Another reason I am going to say girl - sweet tooth! Sounds like you can def keep your secret a secret for a few more weeks!

I am editing to add my tea kettle is for the stove. I have never seen one here that plugs in. I'd have to ask hubby about our voltage - he's the electrical engineer after all!! But I think it's 120 or 220 or something like that.

edited again to say it looks like I can buy a plug in tea kettle. Is that what you guys use? Maybe I need to get one!!

 

[NotNic]

Yup we have an electric one. I probably use it 10 times a day! I use it for hot drinks, hot water for cooking vegetables, pasta, rice, making quick stocks or instant gravy. I use water straight from the kettle to sterilise or rinse teats or dummy's and to help soak cooking dishes. I too would be lost without it! Personally I really like Yorkshire Tea (but their decaf is horrible) and I buy it loose leaf and in tea bags. I like PG Tips decaf and Twinnings is quite a well known tea brand here (they have some stand alone stores) and they would do something for everyone. I'm a breakfast tea kind of girl but I do like Assam too. Where I live 'Tea Bars' (like trendy coffee shops ) are getting popular and Tea Shops / Tea Rooms are very vintage chic with huge slabs of cake and tea in mismatched china. A lot of pregnant girls here drink Roobush which you might like if you enjoy herbal teas. It's a bit flowery for me.

Habds - Glad to hear the fire is containing itself, keep safe xx

 

[snowflakes120]

Hmmm. You are def convincing me to get an electric kettle now! Those are alot of great uses!
I have seen PG here in the grocery store. I will have to pick up a box! I want to go to a Tea Bar!! That sounds awesome!!
Roobios like this Nic? I have this one at work!

 

[Srbjbex]

Yep ditto what nic said for all those uses! First thing I do normally when I cook is boil the kettle. I had no idea a kettle was such a british thing! Tea wise Twinings is the best I think. I'm an earl grey girl really and twinings do a lovely decaf earl grey.

 

[Srbjbex]

Oh and if it is earl grey then I have it black. Normal tea I would have just with milk

 

[NotNic]

That's the one. Couldn't think how to spell it! And I spelt Twinings wrong. Oops!

 

[InHisHands]

Don't shun me, but I'm not a big tea drinker at all. Cold southern sweet tea is always good in the summer though. If I do drink hot tea, often times I put water in the coffee maker and let it warm the water up and then poor the water into a glass... that way I can make tea, hot chocolate, and etc with it. I suppose that's about the same as a kettle.

But my dear Brit friends, just as you think it is weird that we heat up water in the microwave, we think its weird that you call underwear "pants" over there. I would never make it over in England because every time I would mention my pants everyone would break out laughing. SO NOT FUNNY.

Nic - I know you have all the myth signs for a girl... and that may be the case...but "Pop" might still be a boy so it would be best for you to find out early

As For Dex - He finally outgrew his 2Ts and is onto 3Ts. What a sad moment. He also is hitting his language explosion. He keeps repeating odd words that I say. For instance: Last night I was getting him ready for his bath and said "Hold on Dex, I need to google something" and he kept repeating "GOOGLE" all throughout bathtime.

We are thinking about taking Dex to the Zoo tomorrow.

 

[snowflakes120]

Just saw this ad on tv and thought of you hands. Its a hen do kinda!!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KhWHEnDw43w

 

[InHisHands]

I love it snow! That's the type of hen do I'm talking about! Bex... be sure to bring some hair gel for your hen this weekend.

 

[Srbjbex]

Happy Easter all! X

 

[InHisHands]

Hey girls... question/concern:

Dex just hit a huge growth spurt. I finally measured him and he grew 1/2 inch last week (2.5cm). Phew!... but it got me thinking. At 1 years old, he measured 31.5 inches (80cm) which put him in the 80th percentile. Now at 33.25 inches (84 cm) he is considered in the 25th percentile. What happened? Why isn't he growing at the same rate as before?

His weight also went from the 80th percentile to the 40th percentile. I don't understand how a kid can go from one of the tallest to one of the shortest when puberty isn't involved.

 

[NotNic]

Finlay "dropped" from the 75th percentile to the 25th at 18mths. Except of course he didnt drop he just wasn't having the consistent growth spurts he was having for the first 12mths. Dexter is definitely a big boy but rather than him having consistent, constant growth he is probably doing a huge growth spurt like Finlay does. On those charts they imagine that they grow consistently, so at the point he's measured he might be the same height as a 25th percentile baby but in two weeks several cms bigger! At Christmas Finlay could still fit in some 9-12mth jumpers. 4 mths on he is wearing age 2 ones! Most of his current clothes are 18-24mths and they fit perfectly so we are buying 2-3 for the next period. All of a sudden he looks big again though he's officially average, but his spurts have been huge. If they have spurts 'ahead of schedule' they appear bigger than perhaps they are meant to. Dexter is probably more active than a lot of children his age too, so he is naturally lighter, as they will be when their physical achievements catch up with him.

 

[snowflakes120]

Happy belated Easter ladies! What a whirlwind of a holiday I had! I had 10 people and it was an awesome day! Hope everyday had a wonderful day too.

I don't know much about growth much past where we are. I know my coworker said that growth slows after the 1st year. Kellan has remained in and around 70th %tile for height but we have had issues with his weight for a long time. He dropped from 20th %tile to like 3rd %tile back around August/Sept. We are still fortifying his formula to be higher calorie. He has continued to stay in the 6th %tile since then. We just say he will be tall and skinny like his daddy.

I see your temp raise Bex! Looks like you are def officially in the 2ww! How was the hen do?

I know I didn't update you guys yet but I got results from test #3 and it was normal - this was testing all the DNA. So yay! Also, had ultrasound on Thursday and fluid is "looking good". They did a level 2 ultrasound so they checked all sort of things. The heart is currently showing no serious defects that would require surgery. Head is measuring good, saw the kidneys. spine, brain, fingers. They measured femur and humor (whatever that arm bone is) and they measured a bit on the small side (a few days behind) but I am small (5' tall) so not surprised. The stomach is big which I am attributing to hubby huge appetite! I go back on May 15th for another level 2 ultrasound to continue to check baby. And I should get the results from the 4th and final result in early May.

Kellan is doing great with his table food! He ate everything we had for Easter. So proud of my big boy!

 

[InHisHands]

Thanks Nic... Dexter always appears huge to me, but I suppose a lot of that is his "take life by the horns" personality. It had just dawn on me that my little boy hadn't grown much this year. Perhaps he'll have several 1/2 inch growth spurts soon. hahaha

It's hard to believe that Finlay will be 2 and Kellan will be 1 in about a month! Where does all the time go?

I know personally, as Dexter gets older he gets easier to deal with (despite the terrible 2's). Does anyone else feel this way?

Snow - Great for table foods and what an amazing relief to know that your tests are coming back normal! Yay.... I hope you can finally start to relax and enjoy your lil girl. Have you thought about a nursery theme yet?

 

[Srbjbex]

Well...Not quite the easter we had planned here as elliot has chicken pox! He's covered in so many spots bless him but not bothering him too much so far....he's being a real trooper. Now we are just waiting for the itching to begin!

I did still go on the hen do which was nice...and very tame by hen do standards but that suited me fine.

Hands - elliot is a real shorty and I often worry about his growth. He's always been around the 25th centile for height, and in particular has very short legs. I think hes just destined to be short as some are. Dexters obviously eating well so im sure you dont have too much to worry about....these things aren't linear like the charts would have you believe, and maybe as he approaches 2 he has found his natural height and weight?

Snow - great news on the results

Temps not looking great....need a better rise than what I have had so far! Warm thoughts please ladies!