Jambeans has hives

Jambeans woke up yesterday morning covered in red blotchy spots which spent the rest of the day moving round her body and coming and going.

Bf reliably diagnosd them as urticaria, or hives, to you and me, with no identifiable cause in 80% of cases. So we're just sitting and waiting for the blotches to go.

Jambeans is totally asymptomatic and carefree as a result, but I am a wee bit worried and upset, because they just look so blotchy, and red and itchy. But, obviously, I'm projecting.

I just had about 10 Braxton Hicks in the space of an hour and got all paranoid again about going into labour. They've calmed down now, so I have to as a result, but man they were intense.

Jasmine is a graduate

The nursery told us that next week Jasmine will start settling into the Amber Room - ie the toddlers room as opposed to baby room where she is now. Bf and I are both brimming with that "our little baby is growing up" feeling.

Somehow it seemed fitting that they made the decision last Wednesday, cos that's the day that Jambeans went Super-toddler on us. Bf didn't have to leave for work till later so we were both looking forward to a lie in when, at 6.30am on the dot, Jambeans screamed us to attention, insisted on being taken downstairs immediately for breakfast by doing that cute arm-pointy-head-noddy thing of hers, and then spending the next hour going absolutely bonkers and charging round the living room like there was no tomorrow. In the end poor the bf had to leave for work early so he could give J a bit of a walk and hopefully calm her down and debean her a little before dropping her off and getting on the tube.

As for mama - well, she just lay like a lump in bed. It's nice to get the rest, but the lack of energy and mobility is getting quite frustrating at the same time.

Boyfried's third DIY

As per Phase 4 of the getting ready for Felix plan, we bought a new super duper Super King Size bed (room for us, 2 bubs AND a dog if we want one) and it's just been delivered. I am sooooo excited, not least because it gives me the chance to buy a whole shed load more bedding (my weakness. don't ask why or how.) On a more practical level it now means I can co-sleep with Felix on our old bed if I want to, especially if we're having a tough night...

BUT

when the mattress was being hoiked upstairs it ripped the upstairs gate out sooo boyfried has got his manly drill out again and is refixing it to the wall...

First day of maternity leave

Day 1:

Stay in bed till 11am. Because I can.
Sod the "To Do" list. Go to Camden - Meet La Gitane for 3 hour lunch. Show off Orla Kiely bag.
Go home. Put feet up. Watch Countdown.

All good so far.

Mat Leave at last

At last, I'm on maternity leave.

ie NO MORE WORK FOR 7 MONTHS

Hurrah Hurrah Hurrah

Date for the c-section and more noo shoose

34 weeks and 4 days up the duff

Ooooh. Had an appointment with the consultant yesterday who said I wasn't going to encounter any problems of a similar nature to when Jambeans was born and that I didn't need to see her again. Then we booked in a date for the c-section - 18th February - which is when Felix will be sprung. How exciting.

Took Jambeans to Crouch End for more new shoes - her second pair in a week (well, the first pair was boots really) - which she absolutely loves. Just as well cos they cost a small fortune, but secretly I am proud my daughter is developing an unbridled passion for shoes.

About Morrison

Morrison and his girlfriend, Krista, came round for an exceedingly chilled lunch the other day, which made me feel guilty I haven't written about him yet, particularly as he is possibly one of my favourite people in the whole wide world.

I met him through work in the heady dot.com boom days when BMPinterAction, where we worked, was the kick-ass digital agency in London (though obviously I would say that).

He was notably hyperactive and was also very rude to me within days of joining. He said I dressed completely "village", as in, like a girl who'd just come to the big smoke from a sleepy rural backwater, and hadn't got a clue. Obviously, it was true, and I remember being taken aback at his effrontery, but also thinking how I really didn't give a shit (let's face it, I've never been a snappy dresser.)

Us being friends kind of took off from there.

It's not just that Morrison is cool, interesting, clever and witty.
Nor is it that he's gregarious and intensely social*
It's that Morrison talks to everyone on the same level without judgement, and brings you into his wonderful world in a charmingly elevating way.

In short, a lovely guy.



*yup - cheap malcolm gladwell reference to a connector. incidentally, morrison is also a total maven, as in "one who accumulatesd knowledge.

How much for a card????

So everyone's been popping sprogs lately so I chose a couple of "Congratulations on your new baby girl/boy" cards from a shop called Diva in Mussie Hill the other day. And when I got to the till it turns out they're £4.50 each.

Come again?

How much?

For a card???

The bf, impatient to be out of there and done with the whole card buying business, thrust a tenner into my hands and said just pay it. EVEN though Clinton Cards was only 2 doors away, and has a much better selection of cheaper chavvier cards. (But it's not like the cards we picked are that spesh).

I'm still reeling.

That's £9 for just two cards.

Bits of cardboard with a picture on them.

Un-fucking-believable.

Back to skool

First day back at work today. Finding it hard to motivate myself but lovely to catch up with the gels. Still only 8 more days tra la la la laaaaaa.

So that's what a Braxton Hicks is

32+5 weeks

I've decided that the aforementioned 'slow turns' are actually Braxton Hicks, which my trusty pregnancy book advises me can occur as early as the 20th week and are particularly noticeable in second pregnancies. I've been a bit paranoid today as I feel them about once an hour but I can't always tell a BH from the baby kicking. Bf says to time them and if they come regularly (but how regular is regularly?) then maybe they're not Braxtons but actual contractions. The thought is too anxiety-making to bear so I'm going to stick my head in the sand and ignore that particular thought. I don't feel like I'm in labour, so I don't reckon I am, and I'm resolved not to worry about it.

Boyfried's second DIY

Bf spent a good few hours yesterday re-fixing the stair gate to the wall from whence it came loose not 10 days after it was first put up. But, to his credit, it's now attached fast and firm and ain't coming away again.

And he's the proud owner of a brand new Black and Decker drill. His first drill. And I guess that makes him a real man now.

I look forward to standing around bored senseless at drinks parties watching him compare DIY notes with other saddos.

One year older

It's my birthday today. The last 2 have been crap, but today has been a remarkably good one, largely because I have made no plans and have had no expectations.

Jambeans went to nursery, so I got to kip till 11am, update my blog, make crumble (a bit too much on the soggy side, but at least I know what I did wrong) and watch 3/4 of a seriously rubbish chick flick that I am committed to finishing nevertheless.

Best of all, the BF went to Covent Garden today and bought me an ORLA KIELY BAG. New season. I am deeply privileged and lucky to have found such a wonderful man.

Boyfried's first DIY

We finally have stair gates up! What's more, they were assembled and erected by none other than the BF, with only the tiniest amount of effing and blinding in the process.

I was so in awe I awarded more boyfriend points than ever before. Perhaps a little over zealous on my part, but I just have so little talent for anything that involves so much as a screwdriver that the achievements of others leave me somewhat dumbstruck.

In addition we have had some Poles around to lay floorboards in the loft, thus completing phase 3 of Operation Declutter to prepare for Felix's arrival.

Phase 1 involved moving the computer (ie the detested and utterly unecessary, overclocked ultimate wide-boy of all gaming devices) from the 'Play Room' into the dining room.
Phase 2 involved buying blinds for the living room and 'Play Room' so we can all have some privacy, and these are being fitted tomorrow.
Phase 3 involves laying floorboards in the loft so we can move all the unecessary rubbish from the 'Play Room' (ie old PC, boyfried's CD collection etc. etc.) into said loft
Phase 4 involves buying a King Size futon to put in said Play Room (ie big enough for two adults, 2 bubs, and potentially a dog too...)
Phase 5 involves putting the Moses Basket/ Cot and feeding chair into the 'Play Room'

et voila - 'Play Room' becomes Felix's Room and Spare Room for when visitors come/ baby cries and Babymomma wants to co-sleep but Bf doesn't.

I do the planning and just get others to do the work. Just the way I like it.