littleEDfamily

This place has a massive range and can do any size. This is an option if you would rather organic: http://www.naturalmat.co.uk/ Maybe save money by buying a second hand cot and splurge on mattress?

on mattresses, personally I think as long as the mattress is in good condition (give it a good hoover and put in the sun if we ever get any) you're prob better off with a second hand one than a new one, which unless made of organic materials is prob going to be giving off some fumes due to chemicals used in manufacturing initially anyway. just my opinion... and nope you will get some variation of mattress sizes among the different brands. Take the secong hand offerings! But I disagree on tha maclaren - I have one as the back up to my bugaboo cameleon, and there's just no comparison! I'd buy a second hand bugaboo over pretty much any other buggy.

Hey karter - good luck (I feel a bit quilty about being so graphic in the presence of a newbie). Do you mean most important stuff for baby, or for you? Or both? And do you mean the big ticket stuff (cot, buggy etc) or the little things? PS Sorry Saffron, mine hated the tummy tub. Most expensive bucket I've ever bought! We just got in the bath with them.

Oh and, good advice from my hubby - if there are other siblings, take complete or as close to complete responsibility as possible for them.

Agree with you. Always. Ignore any outbursts, repeating the mantra 'it's just hormones, it's just hormones'.

I'll let others comment on the emotional impact, but in terms of the physicality of it all, here are my thoughts. The first few weeks are really quite gross. You may well have stitches and when you walk you may feel you have 'balls'. It will probably hurt to go to the loo and if that wasn't bad enough, there's the bleeding and other type stuff coming out to make you feel even less attractive and grimy. The night sweats will probably mean you wake up saturated every morning for a while and your boobs (if b/f) will leak all over the place for quite a few weeks. You may think you are not hormonal, but you probably are, and although you may have some reserves, the constant attention that baby demands and lack fo consistent sleep will soon have you feeling quite mad with exhaustion. Some days, it may take all the energy you can muster to lift your baby and walking around shhussing and patting them will feel like a cruel and unusual form of punishment. The whole experience is very full on. But then again, you have created, nourrished and birthed a proper HUMAN BEING who is now relying on you, and pretty much you alone for life, so I suppose it was never going to be a walk in the park. And it really really is all worth it ;-)

I think its something to do with phthalates - it's some sort of chemical used to plasticise (is that a word) textiles. I think is considered dangerous. Try googling phthalates...seem to recall the US introducing new restrictions a year or so ago. You could try a genuine oil cloth instead, but could be expensive.

Updated thread name!

Great to see life breathed back into this thread...tummy rumbling...

pebbles - I'm worried about you... make sure you don't crash and burn! But actually I have loads of overripe bananas so may be following you into baking land. pickle - love your menu plans. am stealing some of those for this week. must get baby oil (and potentially a male Brazilian cleaner...) Loving the soda crystals advice. My friend got a great natural housekeeping book for Chrimbo - must ask her the name of it - one fact I learned from the book is that wooden chopping boards are naturally anti-bacterial whereas plastic ones actually cause bacteria to multiply. Tell your friends, girls, this may change their lives....

Now, cooking I can do. I am naturally greedy so prioritise food above all else. Part of the reason my kitchen was such a disaster as always making something to stuff my face with. I do, one day a week fish, one day chicken and another red meat - the rest of the time, vege stuff. I plan all meals for the week on a Sunday night or while watching 'Something for the weekend' in the morning. We always have jacket potatoes (various toppings) once a week, as so cheap and everyone likes and I tend to check cupboards for what we already have before planning meals. Emergency meals for the evening: fish fingers (gross, I know, but you know it's an emergency) scrambled eggs on toast with peas beans on toast pesto and pasta meals you've frozen (spag bol, any stews) - you can make toasted sandwiches out of stews as well kids antipasti with carrots, hummus, bit of ham, cheese, cherry toms, followed by a nice dessert I do like a stew though.... one pot, easy to do, keeps well in fridge, can freeze. my daughter will actually eat plain pasta with grated cheese if I am really stuck. or mini pizzas made on wholemeal pitta bases - you just put a bit of tomato pesto on the bottom, grate some courgette, carrot on, chuck some cheese on top and grill in oven. Fresh fish is super fast to sort - I fry in a pan with a little bit of oil and butter and some jerk spices with lemon. Will have to get some babyoil this week.....

I may as well just kiss any shred of residual coolness I have goodbye.. I am twitching with excitement about these organised-mum planners. Credit card at the ready!! Good girl pebbles... although slighly baffled by you shining with baby oil. My upbringing was very sheltered. Spent early childhood in not the safest of cities, and by the time we moved somewhere safer, we were all so paranoid, there's no way I would ever have been out of parents' sight. We're now out of ED in the countryside (tres boring, but really quite lovely in many ways), and my daughter won't go out in the garden let alone on other outdoor adventures. Maybe this summer things will be different....they will be I invite a playmate round and lock them both in the garden :-) The irony is I bring family back to Dulwich for some fresh air and scooting in the park.

Luck, Moi23!

I love it, but it's making me very conscientious about contraception. Birth is brutal!

Yes, agree, SW is that good combo of firm to slightly scary but nice too. I can just hear you saying 'C'mon now, let's get this baby out'. Quick Q on Tendayi's birth, why were there a hundred people there? Or did I just imaging that... seemed like a lot.

dully - so true it is tedious, but you're right do-able, as I have found out this week. I guess it's like most things, you just have to make your mind up about it (or be 'forced' to as you were). Oh and make friends with FlyLady. Perspective: gained. Thanks RB, I love to learn a new plural!

Sorry, but can't help share another tidbit from my sad and dull (yet strangely enjoyable) new life. This morning, when we (all dressed, beds made) came into the shiny-sinky-kitchen, daughter announced: "This smells of grandma's kitchen." Aaah... the sweet smell of Cif (or Jif as it was called when I was a kid). PS RB.. I hear there are spiders as big as your head on kibbutzes (is that the plural?). For that reason alone, 'I'm out'.

I don't iron my little one's uniform. The tunic is made of some hideous polyester and I just shake it like a polaroid picture when it comes out of the washing machine.

I descaled the kettle with white vinegar and destained the cups with a bleach solution (not eco, but effective). I also have magic ironer - it's called my husband. Only does his own stuff though... using the age old technique perfected by men the world over, I have persuaded him I am bad at ironing. Ok, so latest update from dullsville (aka my house), I have implemented '5 minute tidy up time' after dinner, before bath, during which my daughter has to tidy up an area of her choice (I do the same, baby just cries). I have discovered she has a natural affinity for interiors and seems to take great pride in plumping and arranging the cushions. Bl**dy brilliant.

Gussy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Getting fully dressed, hair, face etc before > coming downstairs is a really BIG one for me, ie > I'm not sure I can do it :) I really don't know if I can get dressed at > 6am, not knowing the weather, rummaging around a > clothes drawer with unironed bits and pieces in > it. If you follow the gospel according to FlyLady, you would have your clothes laid out from the night before.... (having checked the forecast, I assume!);-)

I think it's like putting your oxygen mask on before attending to others - when you're sorted you're in a better position to look after others. I always was a 'shower the minute my feet hit the floor type' until second sprog when I slipped into PJs all morning. For me I am finding I am psychologically in a better place if I know I am at least ready if things are going haywire with getting the littlies sorted. pebbles - I hear you on the sink! Once it is so lovely and shiny I don't want to reuse.... PS I am such a loser - today I spontaneously decided to descale the kettle and de-stain my teacups.

I think the pharmacy on north cross has it...

Yes, I am not sure what her exercise of choice is, but I imagine it is along the lines of Aerobics Oz Style (US version...)

I started at Day 1. I get the Daily Flight Path email every morning (high fromage content) as well as some random other updates by email (I think best ignored for now). I cleaned the sink on day one, yes, and now do it daily. And I quite enjoy it. The other hugely significant change has been getting up, making bed immediately and getting totally dressed (including a bit of make up) before even going downstairs. Oh and laying out my clothes at night. By starting the day on top, I seem to be more efficient all round. Here is the contents of today's flight path email (yes, I must admit again, it is wonderfully weird): Zone 3: Mission #2 Tuesday Dear Friends, Our bathrooms get grungy from dirty little hands and big hands that come into the bathroom to get washed. Today we are going to take a hot soapy rag and wash these dirty spots off the door facings, switch plates and door knobs. They have become invisible to us. 5 Minute Holiday Leftover Room Rescue for your Dining Room. Set a timer and spend 5 minutes putting away any holiday items that are still hanging around. Kelly Today's Reminders: * Morning Routine: -Get Dressed to Shoes including Hair/Face, Brush Teeth - Make Bed -Swish & Swipe -Empty Dishwasher -Reboot Laundry (a Load a Day Keeps CHAOS Away) -Check Your Calendar -Check Your Control Journal * What's For Dinner? * Drink Your Water * Declutter for 15 Minutes * 15 Minutes of Loving Movement (exercise) * Before Bed Routine: -Lay out Your Clothes for tomorrow -Check Your Calendar -Put things needed for tomorrow at the Launch Pad -Where are your Keys? -Spend Two Minutes Clearing off a Hot Spot -Shine Your Sink - Wash face/Brush Teeth -Go to Bed at a Decent Hour

dullified Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > LittleEDFamily you could maybe ask your mum how > she managed to be so organised? Presuming she?s > still around to share her secrets. No sadly, not mum and grandma passed on when I was still a young lady. I still have my mum's sister, who lives by the mantra of 'do a little bit often' around the house. But, thinking about how mum coped, she did have some help (paid for and family). My grandmother never had any help, however, and her entire family was in another continent. I do so wish she was still around so I could ask her how she actually coped (and hoping she would admit to how rubbish she was in those early years!) I am thinking about writing a journal for my girls; a warts and all account of motherhood in the hope that that might be of some comfort to them when they find themselves in the same position in years to come and I will have forgotten what is was really like. But I never find the time.... But... back on topic! FlyLady is bloomin marvellous (thank you peckhamgatecrasher)!! She is exactly the kind of organising I needed (sister is onto her as well), and 3 days in my house has not been in better shape in recent memory. Yes, it's weird and cheesy, but quite motivating - and FREE! My favourite quote from her so far is 'perfectionism got you into this mess in the first place'.....deep.... :-)