Lochie

Nice to meet everyone too. I think first weekend nov would be good for me as will be toddler free! Also was thinking alot of us should have had second scan by then? Am easy with dates though.. Rosie x

We also liked rocking crib in our room. We used to have a moses basket and put it in the crib so that baby had the same snuggly bed set up for day i.e. moses in the living room for portability, as for night (moses in crib next to double bed so could rock to sleep). Worked quite well for us and will be repeating for baby 2.

I remember being about 8 years old watching The Really Wild Show after school with my brother and mum, and being told that the reason Chris Packham had really blonde long spikey hair was because he had a medical condition which meant that he had nerve endings in his hair, so every time he wanted to have a hair cut he had to have a general anaesthetic. So he never really had his hair cut and that was why his hair was so long and spikey and white. Incredibly I still believed this story (maybe not that he had to have an operation but that he had nerve endings in his hair and so his hair 'hurt') until a few years ago when I shared it with my husband and he put me straight. I can't believe in hindsight my mum didn't tell the truth...hmmm....

Motherhood has really taught me to live in the moment. I frequently find myself wanting to press the 'pause' button at particular magical moments and I've never had that before, desperately wanting time to just stop. And I feel so blessed that I feel like that, having previously been a person who always plans for the future (though obvs don't feel like that when woken at 3 in the morning to shrieks of 'BEEBIES' or when having my arms scratched and pinched to high heaven by the worlds strongest man child). So I guess the key is as long as you are living in the now then you are making the very most of being a mum and will never have any regrets. Plus its sooooo fun looking over those photos of the different stages and just think one day your babes will be animated enough to enjoy looking at them as much as you do! ...and of course you have time on your side to have a third or forth should the urge overtake you! ;-)

To be honest for me its not just music. Its adverts as well. Aggggh!!! There was an ad for google chrome entitled 'Dear Hollie' recently where a dad sends an email to his daughter every day of her childhood. That really got me weeping - ugh. And there is a new Apple ipad one with a girl holding a baby. I really need to man up.

Thanks Smiler. Its ok - i'm a career lottery player - my numbers will come in! Today i'm thanking god for the simple things in life anyway like sunshine in September and good health. Got to be grateful ;-)

I think the Night Garden music is purposefully emotive - whoever wrote it is a genius really. Always pulls on the heart strings and makes me never want my little mischief to grow up. Also Brahms and some Mozart lullabies. Adele's version of Make You Feel My Love makes me always think of motherhood and I have a little weep - though am sure Bob Dylan never intended it for the hormonal mum brigade! But the lyrics really sum up how I feel about being a mum i.e. really protective http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/a/adele/make_you_feel_my_love.html Rather annoyingly the Gigglebiz theme tune will always have a place in my heart as it makes me smile to watch my 2 year old bop to it...

...and Milliband to be honest - I don't hear him piping up with any solutions!

Thank you for all your replies. I totally agree with the 'short term pain long term gain' opinion and if possible I will definitely take the sting for a few years to keep in the job market. I very much enjoy being a working mother and want to continue. My mum was saying last night that when she had children women just took 5,6,7 years out of their career then went back to work afterwards when kids were at school, but it was different back then as mums were younger and would re-enter their careers in their late 20s/early 30s rather than now where mums are older and face the daunting prospect of going back to work after a break in their 40s. Luckily we are lodging with family nearby and pay cheapish rent so can take the sting of childcare costs. However we worked out that if we want to move out locally to a 2 bed flat at ?1500 a month rent (as we were planning to do spring next year!) we'd be in debt every month with childcare costs as well. So whilst we can bear the brunt of the costs by lodging with family on cheap rent, that is not the case for all and I am sure we are not the only ones in this predicament. Tempted to take a box of rotten eggs to lob at Cameron, Osborne et al...

thanks for that. I have previously benefited from childcare help from my mum but that will not really be on offer with 2 kids - doesn't seem right to ask a 60+ year old woman to care for two handfuls when its my own decision to have more than one child. my son has just settled into nursery and loves it so want to keep continuity there by putting both kids in same place but didn't realise the gigantic costs involved. Just found this - UK highest childcare costs in developed world. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1305310/UK-families-face-highest-costs-childcare-Average-weekly-nursery-160.html What a shame - guess i'll be looking at who I vote for very carefully in the next general election!

I've just been doing some sums to try and work out childcare costs for when I hope to return to work after birth of second child due in Feb (am hoping to go back next Summer). I am not sure if my maths is wrong but it looks like childcare costs for 2 will be 150% of my take home earnings (based on 2 x nursery places 3 days a week). I am really shocked and just wondering if I am missing something here? I earn under the national average but don't consider that I earn a tiny amount either. Are there any childcare tax breaks for working mums of more than one child? Are there any government subsidies I don't know about? It looks like the working parent would need to earn over ?45k a year full time from my numbers to break even with childcare costs for two. That seems like total madness! How do working mums of 2+ manage? I'd just be interested to hear if my maths is wrong of if that really is the way it is. Have you gone back to work after 2 kids and actually lost money doing so? Was it worth it? I am at a pivotal stage in my career (half way through a qualification) and want/need to go back but can't if the maths doesn't add up which I'm totally gutted about! Any advice/experience appreciated...

11ish good for us too

1st works for me too and will also have 2 year old toddler in tow so toddler friendly venues would be good! i.e. pub/cafe with play area?

That's really lovely moos :-)

Thanks for comments. I've got a bit stricter now and try and replicate fimness of nanny - will not budge! Be interesting to see how he reacts to nursery when he starts in a few weeks. guess it's all growing pains.

I saw this yesterday and quite enjoyed it. Had not read book but read review after seeing film and it was saying whereas the book was more serious and similar to say themes of Thomas Hardy ie we determine our own fate be it good or bad, the film was basically a rom com and not like book in tone. So if you've read book and liked it u might not want to see film!

I am sure this is a common problem, I was just wondering if anyone has any tips on how to deal with a toddler who is a little prince for our 1 day a week nanny, and then a total nightmare for Mum. For nanny he will do all the stuff he won't do for me.... Sit at highchair without complaint and eat ALL food without quibble, sit and play with toys nicely, say please/thank you. He turns into Jekyll when i come home and our nanny is pretty much the only one he will obey, even when I replicate what she does. It's so tiring and i am wondering what the psychology is behind it since I'd quite like to sort it out as child 2 due early next year. Or is this just the start of the terrible twos (ughhh)?

Agree its really not worth wearing anything nice for the actual 'birth' bit. I got cheapo nightie from Primark and I didn't want to keep it so chucked it away the next day - it had buttons down front to make skin on skin contact easy immediately after labour. I had a nice stash of new pjs/nighties/dressing gowns/slippers though waiting at home and they were such a comfort as really that is all I wore for about 2 weeks. So defo recommend some expense on new sleepwear! stawbs - you say the nightie in the amazon site has been recommended as a 'godsend' but as I said before i can't see anything on it you can't get from primark for a fifth of the price. Someone also recommended a large man's shirt to me which to be honest would do exactly the same job and I'm sure your partner has a stash he doesn't need that you could wear?!

i'm pretty sure you could sell them at merry-go-round in Herne Hill? Might be worth a call... http://www.welovelocal.com/en/london/southwark/herne-hill/childrens-clothes/merry-go-round-se249ju.html

I have noticed SB that you are accruing a nice collection of buggies! Thanks for the offer I will probably take you up on it once I get passed second scan stage in a few months. that is interesting about mountain buggy I didn't realise it was the slimest - maybe i'll have a look on ebay for some second hand jobbies...

Time to Play at Rosendale Children's Centre every Friday from 10am is outstanding - the best toddler group I go to and its free! You can get the 468 or 68 from top of Red Post Hill or half hour walk. They are off for the summer now but worth calling to see when they start up again, I think they said early Sept/mid Sept http://www.rosendale.cc/newsletters/RosendaleCCSpring11.pdf

hmmm ok will definitely get side by side. I walk alot so comfort in pushing is a must. Shame they don't make a side by side that can convert to a single. Gap in the market! That'd be perfect.

ok great - city jogger is one i want to get but was hesitant with the buses situation and also not sure you can get buggy board on back of it? guess its about weighing up good and bad points of each!

Am expecting 2 year 5 month age gap between first and second born child due early next year, if all goes to plan. I was thinking of getting a Phil & Teds but I've noticed a few negative comments on the forum about them though always a bit non-specific, I think most allude to how heavy they are etc. Is that right? Is there anything else about them that makes them unfavourable? I think I'll defo need a double buggy as will be walking son to nursery 2-3 times a week and its a 20 min walk so don't really reckon he'll last on a buggy board. If not P&T can anyone else recommend a good double buggy? Don't really want to spend more than ?400 and I also use bus/trains alot so assume P&T is best for that too? (guess side by side wouldn't be good for buses?) Thoughts/experiences very much appreciated x

Hi everyone - i'm due 29 Feb but would prefer to join this group than winter babies as this is second child and first was 10 days overdue. so am antcipating March baby! My son will be 2.5 years when this one comes, had scan yesterday. Still suffering with morning sickness too :-( But would love to meet up. Mondays best as work part time other days. x