Ordering the big furniture!!

I got the Dwell stuff ordered on Friday the 11th, after much deliberation. We chose our wardrobe and a shoe cabinet with a mirror front. 

I was ready to order the Moffii Oberon cradle with the spiral frame and OMG catastrophe - they aren't doing that frame now, the cradle itself is now in its second generation ... and the frame is now a wooden one OMG I cried and cried and cried - it really felt like the baby will have NOTHING nice ... which of course is not true. He will have all nice things, and just what he needs, and the cradle is still the best, and the frame we are getting now is more versatile, portable, reusable and sustainable (eco-friendly too), so all over, it IS the best choice, and despite being pregnant I am not irrational .... I accept the situation is not bad at all. I ordered the cradle too. Plus sheets and all that. We are all set.

[Since then there has been a delay in shipment - cradle should get to us by end of August ... oooooh ... hope it all works out!! China and the floods are the problem .... poor Chinese manufacturers have managed to make our baby's crib even with the water, bless them. Moffii's service is very reassuring - he updated me and pre-empted me from sending him hysterical hormone-fuelled emails by keeping me in the loop, and he's also said he'll send me an extra mattress/sheets - which does help. Iain's parents have paid for it all, which is a load of our minds!]

 We went to Ware on the 12th, Saturday and ordered the sofa. It was a nice shop really, the chaps who work there were easy going matter of fact types, they let us get on with it, gave us fabric swatches, offered to show us other sofas in the same fabric as any of our 'maybes'. We went through the swatches impatiently bus systematically, and narrowed it down immediately. Being particular has advantages! The list was down to 2 by the end of the process, and our hearts went out to the one we chose - we liked the other one in our minds, but didn't love it, want it - and our final choice we think is practical, we think we love it, we think we want it in our home. 

So all is well. Just gotta wait for it all to come.

Can't believe the changes!!

Hi All

Obviously I have been too busy to post much, well, I have been too tired too. It seems ridiculous - literally the MINUTE I hit 30 weeks enormous fatigue set in. Not all day, just often enough to mean I just about get back up before am down again. Last night, following on from yesterday being a slow, miserable, sad day for me (darned hormones, darned sugar levels the day before, darned consequences!!!) I was pretty miserable. Pretty sad. Talking to Iain helped, and realising I DID achieve a lot yesterday even though I didn't leave the house was a good thing. (I shopped, for Baby and Mummy essentials,  sorted out the birthing pool ... I've done my bit now, am hoping the pool will arrive - the stockist in Holland should send it to Tanyapa once she's paid for it, and it should arrive at their place in time for them to bring it over to me. I did the accounts for June/July, and made some rough calculations for the next 7 months - I think we might be ok in the end, I need to stay focused. Maybe if we keep the balance right we can let go of Green Meany [the car] when the baby is about 5-6 months old and move up to a Skyline as planned ... maybe we wont have to and can just do the LPG conversion on Greeny. I'm glad the Skyline will do ... we just need to find one in the right colour which is a good car. I also called the council waste disposal people and asked about the brown bins for food waste and they are sending us one they say. Good. I wonder what will go in our normal bin now if we can recycle everything .... just disposable nappies I guess. And non-recyclable stuff. Plus I did a whole lot of the baby's laundry and it all came out looking brilliant.)

Iain really helped. He gave me a really nice bedtime massage, we put the hypnobirthing music on and he made up stuff to say - hypnobirthey stuff! It was great, he is very good at it, and he did a special voice ... sounds like HAL ... lol!!! I slept well, which makes a change from the night before! 

So I guess my strategy has to be keep the sugar levels down. I got careless on Sunday and suffered for it. My gut is also less tolerant now of many things. the obvious problems are back - I was teetering on nausea, was a gas bucket, and had lactosey-pains over the last day or so. And indigestion is threatening! So being careful is my only option, huh? 

I didn't walk at all yesterday, but did a fair bit of laundry and housework, I was active - just in very small chunks. More activity!!! That's the way. 

There are big changes in the flat too. The bedroom is almost done I guess. The big changes - wardrobe and mirrored cabinet - are in place. Am waiting for the baby's changing table - Richard & Birgit have it (it was Katie's). A lot of things are looking more plausible - the shelves that we're getting for the bedroom walls, the pegs to hang things on - they are all selected, we just have to get the rest of the place ready before we can get the shelves/pegs and put them up.

Should be nice in the end. 

Iain is putting in a new door to the kitchen soon, with glass panels. The baby will be able to see us in the kitchen, and we can see him from the kitchen, if need be. Also more light will be able to be shared between the lounge and kitchen, which will be good. 

The kitchen itself will soon have another cabinet, above the fridge, and I'm going to keep the chemicals there, out of reach. Under the sink can have all the non-toxic but big stuff - supplies! Am glad. Maybe the nappy pail will go there too, am not sure. 

When Iain's Mum gets here in a few weeks, we'll send the table and chairs back to Redgrave and get the sideboard and Grandma Midgley's table. Am hoping Baby's cradle will also have arrived and we would therefore know what's what in our lounge! 

We're ready to get rid of the coffee tables with wheels ... the big old shelves are going to move next to the TV to serve as media/phone shelves + Virgin Media box shelf. There will be room for some books still, so it should be ok. The Ikea shelves will move to the wall that's on the kitchen side, and should take up very little room - leaving space for the baby's stuff. Maybe a toy chest or something. 

Our sofa should come soon too. Am hoping everything will look nice together, and that there will be a huge space in the middle of the room for the birthing pool! 

Iain will strip and varnish the two wooden chairs and probably the 'heirloom' 50p  b/f chair from Mamma & Abba's place [it's just a wooden chair my Grandmother picked up for 50p at a charit shop when my Mum was expecting - we've all been breastfed on it, even Brishti]. The three chairs should look nice in the end when they are done. They are all we'll have apart from the new sofa, possibly the futon, and the bean bag! 

Should be good though. Nice stuff, nice room, nice flat (inside!). 

Right now he is working on the doors in the flat, and once they are all done the place will look transformed, I am sure. The 'Narnia Cupboard' and hall carpeting is next on the list ... and what he has to do is petty simple, so I think we'll manage. Hmmm ... good thing we have very little on in August...  apart from my showers but Iain does not have to do anything in advance for them. He can do DIY stuff! 

A Mummy's work is never done ... baby's not even here yet!!

Hmm. Mummyhood is a long, l o n g slog. Have been sorting through his newborn clothes. OMG he has a lot!!! 

I have a lot of laundry to do .... And folding, and now that I've seen Katie's handiwork ... I have ironing too! 

I THINK and hope his newborn stuff will fit into the two drawers I have allocated to him. 

His future-clothes will definitely have to be in boxes on the shelves as planned. Phew. 

I catalogued and sorted his clothes ... haven't made it through his 4-12 month load (a drawer & 2 bags!!!) from Katie yet. 

I'll get there. 

Elizabeth visited today. I had a good day actually. Iain cooked me breakfast, and I woke up happy after visiting Katie last night so it was good to be up and about. I went to the market and bought loads of yummy fruit and the veg I need for the week. Might get more veg on Wed, probably wont have to. I carried two big bags back, stopped for a breather every now and then, but managed very well, did not struggle even up the hill. Am proud of my fitness. The baby has given me a lot. He may well have given me more life than I have given him. It's a humbling thought, and I will always be grateful to him for it. 

It was so nice to see Elizabeth - I walked to the station to collect her too! I did my whole hour of walking before lunch!!! 

I cooked a spicy beef thing in the pressure cooker with swede in it, served with organic salad and a home made balsamic vinaigrette, and some fruit salad I made (pineapple, grapes, cherries - my new favourite combo) - and you know, eating lower carb meals isn't so bad when its that fresh and nice. No leftovers. Am pleased. Heated up food sucks (mainly). 

We hung out and chatted and caught up. Then we sorted some clothes and I showed Elizabeth the new stuff I bought him. She wanted to see them OMG I am so lucky today!!! 

My favourite is his 'coming home from hospital' outfit - beautiful, just in case we do have him in hospital ... I'd like the outfit to look forward to. 

Now I'm trying to get organised and have been focusing on getting the birthing pool. We've picked the La Bassine and I expected to get it from the UK supplier. They have a good website, interesting and everything ... however I am underwhelmed, even a bit miffed at their customer service. I am getting replies ok, and answers to my query ... can I buy it now, can I use it a few times etc etc ... but the answers about supply are a bit short ... I realise now after a few near-monosyllabic messages that they don't have any pools in stock till mid-Sept, and the Tres Tria Co-Sleeping solution I want to order too is not in stock till they dunno when ... No good really. I am not interested in shopping with them if it's so hard to find out when, why, how and what they are doing about it .... So I have ordered the Tres Tria from the US site. It should be with us soon - within 10 days. 

Bummer ... but there you go, am petrified now I won't have the Tres Tria pillow ... OR the pool ... Am hoping things will arrive ok. 

As for the pool, I have one long shot - I don't read Dutch but the Holland supplier of La Bassine appear to have them in stock ... if they can get one to Tanyapa before the 29th, she can bring it to me. Or presumably they can ship it right to me. 

Oh what trauma.

How many times do I have to say 'Don't upset the pregnant lady ... it's not nice.'

27 Weeks and 3 Days!

Here's my big 'ol belly now, almost at the 3rd trimester ... or has it already begun???? 

I'm definitely more tired, my back is easily achey ... baby has started moving more, I can feel him in more parts of my tummy. things are moving along. 

Means more work! I have to keep up, for his sake as well as mine and Iain's. Am tired of working so hard, but that's not really very helpful. No point feeling that way and there will not be LESS work and less effort involved in the years to come!!! Pregnancy, I am sure, is a piece of cake compared to parenting. 

Lets see, the joys of 27 weeks - my son is alive and well and making his presence known to everyone else. People notice my bump. Some people have even felt him move, or even seen him move. People say I look well and fit, even Abba has noticed and he's hardly perceptive! That is great motivation. 

Oatcakes taste great, that's a really good UP!! 

On the downside - am exhausted. A lot of the 'plans' on the to-do list have to take a back seat now because a) I don't care about shopping much at the best of times, I only care about taking care of myself and little one right now, and feel I should just do that. If the chores, housework and simple things like reorganising furniture can fit in with exercise ... then well and good. But really, everything else can wait. b) I realise the baby doesn't care at all about the flat, and the best thing I can do for him is work as hard as I can for his birth. If that is all I can train for, and focus on, then so be it. He WILL care if he has a bad one!!

I don't think I have been able to do as much as I wanted to ... but I do think I have done a load more than anyone else expected. And I am doing very well in this pregnancy, even by my own standards. I'd like to step it up though. 

Question is, do I have enough energy and drive to eat right, exercise and practice the hypnobirthing for 13 more weeks????? 

Food List - June/July 2008

Might as well keep track of the food list, as it will most likely keep changing as my sugars fluctuate.

Protein -

Beans & pulses, meat, fish, eggs, cheese, quorn - only thing is....

Beans/Lentils/Pulses - In a real switch, now that I don't produce insulin in humongous doses, I don't count these as good carbs any more, they are now my best protein sources. Excellent. SO beans all the time now!!! Am building up to it so that I can just eat them as my main food. Chickpeas, kidney beans, haricot beans, butter beans, sprouted beans and dhaal or khichuri are my favourites. I think my parents may well make me assorted lentil products (pakoras, piyaju and whatnot) if I ask nicely ... I'll have to watch out for oil and calories ... but normal portions should be fine. We'll see, I am to rely on my trusty blood sugar monitor for data after all.

Meat should really be quite lean, and I can't have too much as I need to not have too many calories.

Fish needs to be chosen carefully (mercury levels etc).

Cheese needs to be mature and hard or similar (check has less than 1% carbohydrate on the packet .. ie should be 0.2 or 0.1 or even 0.5 gms carbohydrate per 100 gms as this will ensure there is literally no lactose in it).

Eggs must have the lion stamp on it.

Quorn can't be breaded, so that ruins it for me as I love the Southern Style Quorn Burgers ... for that matter, no more fish fingers either. No breaded meat. Too much Quorn or Soy makes me sick anyway, so won't have much of any of that.

Peanut butter - I know I can try other nut butters too ... but am sticking with this for now. I have it on oatcakes, on bread, on celery or with banana or apple, sometimes with cheese on the side with the apple.

Nuts - I am to have these, and I do. I also have seeds sometimes. I don't have huge amounts (calories), too many make me feel odd anyway.

Marmite, Bovril etc - I do use these, but, again - very limited now! I also put pickle in my cheese sandwiches when I have them ... and have chilli pickle with rice, when I have rice - but those are carbs!!

My best Carb/Protein mix complete meals are - soup that I've made and balanced perfectly; scrambled egg, maybe with salmon in it, on toast; oatcakes and cheese or apple and cheese; beans & friends that I have made; khichuri - which is rice and lentils cooked together; and chickpeas cooked with potatoes.


Carbs -

Fruit - apparantly a good source for me as fruit sugar won't hurt me - I am sceptical about this ... we'll see what the blood sugar monitor tells me. I am keeping an open mind.

Bread - the dietician was very keen on me eating bread, and pitta bread ... Ok, some bread is practical, and I'm all for keeping a wide range of food in my diet ... but I can't see what's so good or nutritious about it. I'd rather have oatcakes or oatmeal.

Oatcakes/oatmeal - I love this stuff and it loves me ... as long as it's not breakfast. So I'm basing a lot of meals/snacks around oatmeal or oatcakes and cheese/peanut butter.

Vegetables - the dietician was not concerned about my veggies, and I do try and eat a lot of them. So far they are not a problem. I focus on green leafies, broccolli, cauliflower, mushrooms and tomatoes, and I have some peas, some carrots, and some root vegetables sometimes. Rarely I have potatoes too. The exception is crisps. I do have them when I have access to them, but I have cut down a lot.

Rice - the hospital sanctions all Basmati rice. I do have brown basmati every 10 days or so, and sometimes (less often) I'll open some ready made rice from a Tilda packet. I could have more rice. With stir fry vegetables perhaps?

Noodles - I buy wholeweat wok noodles for emergencies - I'm sure they are HUGELY carby, plus they are oily and most calorific. However they are nice, and they make a meal (with stir-fried meat or veg, or in soup). I do love Ramen, but am sure can live without it for a few more months.

Pasta - I do buy pasta, it's cheap, quick and not that bad GI wise. However I do have to have a lot less of it now - I can have it every day, just in a tiny amount, and who wants a tiny bit of pasta?? I'd rather not waste my carbs on pasta.

Cereal - Even porridge is tricky depending on what else I have eaten recently, what time of day it is etc ... so other cereals are obviosuly much worse. I can get away with some Weetabix, or Shredded Wheat, or even Bran Flakes or Shreddies - all of which I love - sometimes. But again, why bother - they are all full of a load of extras like sugar or malt ... (apart from Shredded Wheat, but then that is just wheat ... big whoop ... what's so great about that considering all the other, far superior foods on my list). Again, not really worth it. I will have them again when baby gets here I think. Safer then.

Milk - I am still on Lactofree (will stop in August at the earliest so the milk clears my system before the baby gets here. Will stop cheese then too.) This is very low in carbs of course, and I am so pleased about that! I do use sugar free Crusha every now and then.

Spread, Jams etc - Am using Pure, and St Dalfour. Am happy with that for now. No more marmalade or other jams.

Drinks - Am sticking to no added sugar squash (blegh), the occasional decaf coffee, fruit tea, sparkling water, water and the occasional diet coke. It's not fun and I should be drinking more.

Fats -

I use olive oil and sunflower oil, and Pure to cook. I use sesame oil too in stir-fries.

Most fats are out because most foods are restricted.

The NO list

NO corncakes or rice cakes
NO fruit juice
NO sugary drinks
NO white bread (unless absolutely no better choice because I am out)
NO pastry
NO cakes, biscuits, chocolate, puddings, sweeties
NO sugary cereal
NO milk, cream, yoghurt
NO pizza
NO ice cream
NO jam, marmalade etc - just fruit spread (carefully)
NO full fat, full sugar, caffeinated drinks like cappuccinos - again, I choose alternatives and negotiate compromises, I don't make myself miserable after dinner or at Starbucks by abstaining totally. I'd be jumping off the nearest cliff ...
NO fizzy (sweet) drinks
AVOID fizzy (diet) drinks
AVOID potatoes, pasta, rice, couscous etc - I think Quinoa would be the best alternative, along with brown basmati rice.
AVOID tropical fruit - very sugary. Some is fine, be careful when you have it

Lovely Hair Treat!

My hair has been a BIT of a problem ... getting dryer and harder to keep shiny and soft. Blame the pregnancy, or the sheer age involved ... have never had hair this long. So it was time to inject some life in, to recruit some professional assistance. Time for hair TLC.

Of course, hair dye as such is out of the question for me right now ... and no-ammonia dyes are not ideal either. I'd decided to try Lush's blocks of henna a while ago, but it seemed messy and daunting - I wanted someone to do it with me first time.

Amazingly, it all came together through a very enthusiastic and lovely Lush shop assistant - Kalvin (we're firm friends now. He's off to become a nurse in a couple of weeks. Lush in Cambridge will never be the same again.) Kalvin put me in the window and applied my henna for me, Richard, another member of the Lush team helped with expert blue-towel and bin-bag arrangement!

The stuff dried on like dreadlocks a little, and the mess factor is not too bad. Getting the right consistency and keeping the product at an appropriate temperature is crucial though. It's definitely a two-man-job.

The funny part was going home. I had my head wrapped in clingfilm - CONEHEAD!!!

The bus driver didn't know where to look! [He jokes about it every week now!!!] I explained it was henna as I can't use hair dye, it's bad for the baby. He appreciated that! I got quite a few smiles from old ladies!!!

I'd definitely use the product again. Took two washes to be truly gunk-free ... and the smell lasted 2 more days ... BUT my hair is a lovely colur, all but 2 grays were dyed (Iain had to pull them out for me instead!) and my hair is definitely in better condition now.

Shopping List for the Baby

Wonder how long this list will end up being by the end of September!! 

Books we still have to get

Suzannah Olivier's 'What should I feed my Baby', and come to think of it, her book on balancing women's hormones .... she does a what to eat while you are pregnant book too.

Patrick Holford and Susannah Lawson's book on what to eat before and after your baby is born.

Baby sign language book, this one or similar.

Get before baby comes (by end of Sept 08)

Happiest Baby DVD

Clothes (warm), newborn - 6 months at least

This Baby Book to record his first year (have seen it in Mothercare too)

Slings

Car seat

Thermometers (room/bath/car) and for checking the baby

Baby hammock

Baby swing

Nappies & wipes (eco disposable and reusable)

Nappy pail with net laundry bag

Lots of net laundry bags!

Organic cotton wool

Changing mats

Nappy ointment (paraben & chemical nasties free)

Potty

"Muslin"s

Blankets & swaddle cloths

Towels & flannels

Bedding suitable for the family bed

By about 8 weeks (by end Nov '08)

Might need -

Bottles, steriliser, formula, breast pump

Pram (use what we have if we decide we need a pram or buy the Xplory)

Cot bedding

Will need -

This specific Play mat, er, and this one too.

Toys that do things

More nappies (what kind depends on how first 2 months went)

Tint the car back windows, put sun shade on rear window

By 2-6 months (between Dec '08 and end of March '09)

Might need-

Extra car seat for Mamma & Abba's place

Extra feeding stuff to keep at Cherry Hinton

More bottles etc if not breastfeeding exclusively

Might be using the cot by now, either at ours or at Cherry Hinton

Will need -

Baby bathwash, shampoo etc (nasties free stuff)

Bumbo or similar seat for him, perhaps a seat harness to take to people's houses

Stokke Tripp Trapp (high chair)

More toys and books

In-car entertainment

Food containers, spoons, bowls, plates, bibs

Cup or bottles to drink from (if not sorted already)

Wardrobes (if we don't have them already)

By 6-12 months (March - end of September '09)

Clothes - for warmer weather, ages 6 - 12 months

Pram (if not already sorted earlier)

Toy to ride about on (with wheels)

Rocking horse or chair perhaps

Toy power tools like the Bosch range of toy tools - we'll just give him the big toys, not the tiny ones!

Reins so he can walk about (I think Stokke do one)

Shelving units for lounge (move stuff out of reach, make way for his stuff)

The Marvel Pop-Up books - can't start them on the right track too early!

Stuff for me 

Hair - Godiva shampoo bar from Lush

Veganese conditioner from lush

Babyliss Be Liss straightening hair dryer

Beak clips (big ones) such as this one

Bath - Foamy bath stuff from Lush, or the Sanctuary Mande Lular stuff from Boots, or the coconut range from Body Shop.

Bags - Pretty ones from Accessorize, I love this (and optimistically reckon I can get one nappy in it too!!!) and this. I really want to get this bag from New Look, everything will fit in here I think!!

Shoes - I have enough boots to see me through baby's first winter ... am struggling for summer sandals BEFORE baby gets here ... don't have any strappy things that aren't high, need some fairly low pairs, but not so low that I can't wear them with jeans ... being completely flat on the ground doesn't help either ... need a little lift or my arches (lack thereof) hurt. Gotta go shopping!!! 

Baby Skincare and bath stuff

I'm fussiest about these items. For a while, he'll just have water to clean him, and olive oil if he needs moisturising or some sort of barrier protection. I guess this will continue till he is clearly in need of something that will get more dirt off than water alone can. At this point, we can move to something designed for washing a baby with ... but it does need to be free of nasties (you know, parabens and that) - so no Johnsons, Boots or any other thing like that. The free-from-nasties stuff can often smell icky or feel nasty though - I don't like the Neals Yard stuff at all, and actually, some of the Green Baby products are a bit too greasy and smelly, like the nappy balm. (The rest of their range is quite nice though.)

I DO like the Burts Bees baby shampoo and wash, and their nappy cream. I also love the Weleda baby range, which I am happy to use, and I like the Dr Hauschka's baby suitable products, specially the Rose Day cream and the sunscreen. I think I'll go for the Organic Children sunscreen - they do fragranced ones as well as the scent free version, but perhaps no fragrances for a baby! I like this range of products actually. They are easy to use, not too greasy, and don't cost too much. I think most of this is available at John Lewis too, which makes it easy for me. I like the washy stuff from Earth Friendly Kids too, but perhaps when he's a bit older. They do have an Earth Friendly Baby range. I have plenty to choose from, and only one baby to keep clean!

All we will need is some sort of bath wash, some sort of nappy cream, and olive oil really, plus sunscreen. I don't want to use anything else.

Burts Bees website

Weleda website

Green Baby website

Earth Friendly Kids online shop, and their stuff is also available here.

Dr Hauschka website

Organic Children website

Clothes

Largely I have no real objection to where baby's clothes come from - they can be from Primark and Tescos (as un-green and un-ethical as we can get) all the way through to the most expensive, fancy boutiques. He'll wear them, then some other baby will, and then another - whether these are all my babies or someone else's. That's what happens to baby clothes, right?We don't live in a world where ethical and green clothing is available readily and within an affordable price range, and a lot of the materials involved confuse me too - industry on such a small scale, such a lot of transport involved, I don't know ... not sure if I would be doing the right thing insisting on only green clothing.

Most of the clothes I am amassing gets round the ethical and toxins issue by being second-hand or even more used before my baby will get into them.

There are loads of green clothing places, Green Baby for a start - they, like me, are keen on stripes. I'll have to list the rest below when I've got through them all ...

He'll be newborn in October 2008 - but who knows how big he'll be.

Christmas 2008-March 2009 he will be 3-6 months, again, how big is he going to be? He'll need warm clothes then.

April-September 2009 I suppose, when he is pretty big, 6 months to a year old, he'll be in lighter fabrics as it will be warmer, might also be a bit wet of course, I suppose he will be in layers. He should also be mobile within this time - I know he won't go far (!), but I suppose his clothes will reflect his increased mobility, and separates that can be easily, er, separated will be the way to go - plenty of baby trousers, shorts and t-shirts, some sandals and shoes. No point bothering much with socks I suppose. He'll have them, I doubt he'll keep them on though! Maybe he'll have a raincoat or something. He'll need plenty of hats, and sunglasses (Babybanz will do nicely).

So must get wintery stuff for 0-6 months, and summery stuff for 6-12 months, and basically layer for in between times.

Blankets, swaddling, towels & muslins

He'll need a few of these for sure! I'm knitting him a few blankets. Lets see how they turn out!! His grandmother is busy working on one too. I'll buy some as well, he'll be carried a lot, and our flat is nice and warm. A little onesie and a blanket might be all he needs of an evening ...

My Mum is planning on helping me make his swaddle cloths, and I'm sure I'll buy some sheets that wilol do the job too. I guess these will be washed a lot! There are a few swaddle-products that allow the baby to be swaddled and strapped into his car seat, which sould to me like great way to reduce the misery of being in one of those things for ages. So might get something like this Miracle Blanket.

I'd like his towels to be as natural as possible, I'd imagine, like all people, his skin will be at its most sensitive and absorbant of all things nice as well as all things nasty, corrosive and toxic after his bath. Bamboo sounds lovely and soft and ethical too. Will take an age to dry after each use I suppose, but we can just hang it up to dry over the warm floor each night.

We'll need a whole bunch of small towels to clean and wipe him with, and bamboo would really be a good bet for these as I'd rather not use wipes that much when at home. Colour coding seems essential here, to avoid cleaning his face with his butt-cloth all the time (!)

I guess we'll buy loads of muslins, My Mum has plans to help me make some gorgeous ones out of the kind of saris old Dadus wear in Bangladesh. Lets see how that project goes!

Nappies

I can't face using Pampers and Huggies and all that, so offensive on so many levels. Nor can I choose to use cloth nappies all the time - it won't work with the 'we don't use the car unless we have to, baby and me' policy I have. I simply will not be able to carry the necessary stuff on my back with a baby slung on the front, AND do things like shopping, hanging out, visiting people and places etc. For long days on the go I plan to carry Baby Go nappy change packs, which are SO not eco friendly, but are tiny - in my backpack or bag. Realistically they give me a chance to do more in a sustainable more responsible way with him in his first 18 months or so, in the way I want to (obviously there are other responsible and excellent ways of hanging out and getting about with a baby ... on foot and on a bus or train is just my preferred way). We're going to work on the Elimination Communication stuff, so hopefully he'll be nappy free soon anyway.

So disposables AS WELL AS reusables! Plenty of room for adjustments, I know not all nappies suit all babies, whether they are disposable or reusable.

The disposables we will use look like they will be the Moltex nappies from the Green Jelly lady nearby, or Spirit of Nature, or even just Planet Organic at a push. We can get Tushies from Green Baby or Planet Organic too. Or Bambo nappies. There appear to be just 3 kinds for me to try. In an emergency, Tescos sell an eco range, (the Nature Baby range) - not sure I trust it. We'll see!

The reusable cloth nappies have been harder to decide on as there is by far more choice. In terms of practicality, appearance and easy of washing/drying, along with the fact that before too long I'll have to chase him to get his nappy on, and pre-folds won't be a welcome addition then, I've chosen two options to start off with -

1. The Bumgenius pocket nappies, and they come in gorgeous colours - I love the yellow one which is called Butternut. They sell them at Mothercare too. There are birt-to-potty age options, and they are available in packs such as this one.

Bumgenius website.

2. The gorgeous Tots Bots Fluffles nappies - they are great to start with as they will dry very fast. The wraps to go over it are the really cute part. I love the TotsBots wraps with the PUL covering. Here's the range of wraps, including the fleecey ones, available at Mothercare.

Tots Bots also do the most gorgeous changing mats and I want them all!!! Mothercare sells the whole range.

TotsBots website.

I'd like the wipes and liners we use with our nappies and at nappy-change time to be reusable (fleece I suppose, will dry fastest). Bumgenius do flannel wipes as well as bamboo ones. Tots Bots do fleece nappy liners. Suitable Liners and boosters are available from Green Jelly, as are washable wipes.

There are plenty of chlorine free, eco-friendly disposable wipes available everywhere - John Lewis does the Earth Friendly Baby range, and Tescos even do one, of a fashion - the Nature Babycare Eco Soft Baby wipes. In fact they do nappies and everything else in this range, which appears to be Swedish.

Potty

We definitely need at least one, (like this one), from the start. Iain is pretty much approaching the Elimination Communication stuff from a cat training perspective ... am not sure it is the same, as I have never house trained a cat ... or anyone ... So one to start with, and perhaps many, many more potties around the place before we are all fully trained!

I think a potty that has a step-stool that stacks with it would be good to have in the bathroom, under the sink, with the smaller one (link above) as something we move around and take with us more ... I can't seem to find a stackable potty I like, and a musical potty is a DEFINITE NO NO!!! Far too distracting and completely misses the point I think.

Pram

I can't see us using a pram until he is about 6 months old. We do have a pram - Brishti & Zain's Quinny. We will be using a car seat in the car of course, but he'll be in a sling when he's not in the car, or in his hammock, or in bed, or in someone's arms, or just chilling on a rug, playmat, cushion, beanbag or something. There IS a pram I adore, and would be happy to use with him sometimes - shopping expeditions perhaps - The Stokke Xplory.

Slings

My shortlist includes the Baba Sling, the lovely Didymos slings, or the Kari Me or Moby slings, although I don't really want a stretchy sling. I suspect I will be spending a lot of time on Little Possums, and will end up with plenty of slings, including the home made ones we will fashion out of the material Mum brought back from Bangladesh.

Bedding

We're using white, cream, light yellow, or light brown bedding, to go with the room and to be easy on the eye - the whole flat will be full of bright, garish baby stuff after all!

We're planning a family bed for night-time and my Mum will help me make leps to make up for the fact that we will temporarily abandon the duvet (till he is bigger). A lep is a few layers of soft fabric sown together, a bit like a kantha but not as decorative or intricate. It would be safe to use one with baby in the bed, but he won;t be under the lep. I wouldn't think that would be a good idea. The baby himself will be in a sleeping bag or gro-bag of some sort, the tog depending on the weather, with appropriate under-things on. I ADORE the Jelly Bean Gro-Bag, maybe he'll have one! He already has a few bags to sleep in, I think he'll be ok.

The leps won't always be enough, and we will have blankets to use as layers too (Iain and myself). I like the idea of a silky soft bamboo blanket, mostly because blankets give me the creeps - it's a texture thing. Blankets, of course, we can pick up anywhere.

To make the bed baby-safe so we can all have as good a night as possible, we wanted the Humanity Family Bed, but I'm not really keen to ship something that big over from the US. Not my style. It's not just the money, it's a big deal ... and I think we can improvise with a big body pillow and lots of flannel sheeting. If we can't quite make it work, we can always order the thing from America. We want to make ours so that it fits the bed and Iain can be on it as well as me and the baby. We'd rather not have a split in the bed ... a space where Iain isn't welcome. This way the baby will be free to make a mess on any part of our bed! Oh Joy!!!

He will have his own cradle, the beautiful Moffii Oberon Cradle, which his grandparents are sweet enough to buy for him. He'll be happy (I hope) and safe in it if I want to put him down in the daytime, and he can be in it when we visit people, because it is really really portable. Attaches on to any door frame. Of course we can't then use the doorway, so perhaps we will not be popular guests ... but should anyone agree to allow us to visit with our hammock, we'll be ready!! He can use it till he stands up by himself, and by then, really, he'll be well used to the bed situation and bed safety. Am so excited! I decided against the Amby Natures Nest, it won't do and I don't like what it is made of.

Feeding

We're hoping the breastfeeding works out ... I know it often doesn't for PCOS women, and Iain and Dougs were both unable to feed for long - some sort of allergy. Now assuming I will succeed, and be able to carry on for a while ... we don't need much by way of bottles etc, but the cottles I am considering are the Born Free range as they don't have BPA in them. Ideally, I'd use Dr Brown's glass bottles, but I'd have to get Jen to post me some, as I don't think they are available outside the USA. The Glass bottles available in the UK - at Green Baby and Spirit of Nature for example, don't appear to have the vents.

I will try and use a special cup I have read about instead as a first choice ... that would interfere less with the breastfeeding mouth action ... and eliminate the huge problems associated with using bottles - cleaning them, filling them and carrying them about, never mind protecting the contents by keeping them at the right temperature, and limiting deterioration in the bottles themselves.

Expressing milk will probably be on the cards. Am still not sure whether a pump will be the best way, or in fact what kind of pump. Most of them seem incredibly thoughtless in their design. Without the benefit of actually lactating I obviously can't tell at all what will work ... but on paper, the Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Freedom breast pump seems like a good bet. There seem to be better, more 'natural' (as in, mimic baby's way of getting milk out better) in the US, but unlike bottles, they are too much of a risk to ship over. In any case, this website called baby loves your milk might well be helpful when the time comes, as might the Express Yourself Mums website. I choose these theoretically comfy breastpads, with eco disposable ones for when I'm on the move a lot, and I suppose shells will be necessary too. I'll need the nipple cream from Lansinoh - unless he is allergic to Lanolin like Jules! I already have nipple shields at the ready, just in case. I gather they will be handy.

Laundry

We've switched to Eco Balls and I love them. The clothes are nice and clean and soft, and I don't have to measure anything or watch for when I need to buy more product. They will work for the baby's stuff too, with a bit of Borax perhaps or some eco-bleach - UNLESS there's a real unshiftable stain, win which case I will wheel out the Vanish and use it with the Ecover laundry detergent. I will be soaking his new clothes in water which has some white spirit vinegar in it to wash off the bulk of the nasty chemicals. Can't do much more than that really.

We don't tumble dry - me on principle, Iain because he's sensible! The underfloor heating should allow baby's nappies to dry overnight, or at least over 24 hours, and we can line dry for half of the year. We'll have a nappy pail to store dry dirty nappies, with some tea tree oil added if needed. I suppose the nappy wash will be every day to every other day. Easy to do with the Eco-Balls as the wash cycle is so quick. We will use loads of net bags to make all this go smoothly - we're not really a low-laundry family now .... it won't get easier when the baby comes!

Clothes Shopping

Didn't actually end up buying any of this stuff. But here, for posterity, is the trawl from the web ... I appear to be a size 14 now, pregnant or not! Wonder what sort of a Heffalump I will be by the end of September, or indeed by Christmas, once baby is well and truly here!

As you'll notice, I rarely make it out of Royston, so ended up improvising with stretchy cheapo items from Peacocks (it's in Royston, it's a chain a bit like Primark).

Yoga pants - I've actually been using pyjama bottoms from Peacocks - I have a very charming (not!) pink pair and a mjore subtle black pair. Should these fail me before beby gets here, I could go for these from Definitely Baby.

Leggings - Should I ever need any past the Peacocks ones that seem to cope with my bump (and are, like £2 each) ... I could go for These from Definitely Baby, these by Crave, available at Funkybump Maternity, or the more obvious Topshop ones.

Jeans and Trousers - I tend to stick to my leggings, my stretchy American Apparel basics, and stuff like that as they support my bump best. I did end up buying a blue pair and a black pair of jeans from New Look's Maternity range, and I love them. They were cheap and are way nicer to look at than a lot of the expensive jeans ... which looked kinda like something someone older would wear ...? Maybe I'm just stuck in the past ... My choice before I stumbled accross the jeans I eventually bought were these from Seraphine. The drak ones seem ok. I like the ones I bought a lot more though!

I did consider cords ... from Funkybump Maternity or Crave.

Tops - I kind of have enough to get by thanks to the 'oh I'm not pregnant I just wear clothes like this' trend from the last 2 years ... and the fact I was tubbier than usual then too. I did come across the following - Mamaway do tops, not sure I want special 'nursing' ones, but they seem nice, some of them. Next do a load of basics, in basic colours. I really do like this top from Dorothy Perkins, in Lemon, and this Pink Topshop top. Funkybump have a load of nice tops too. I aloso think tops like these from Bumps Maternity Wear (this is a Noppies top) or these from Definitely Baby would help once baby gets here. My dream top is less attainable, it's the pink Geisha wrap top from Isabella Oliver. Of course we could buy the second car seat or the baby swing with £85, so really ... no way! Thought this was a nice wrap top, from Definitely Baby, or this one , a crossover in black.

I really did not like what Mothercare and M&S had to offer. Really.

H&M and New Look appear to be a better bet, I like a lot of their stuff. Fabric that is very removed from cotton is not really working for me right now, so that becomes an issue though. Cotton or jersey with stretchyness in it is great. A mix of stuff that still lets me breathe and feels nice against my skin is great. Just plain synthetic nasty is not so great. Am loving ruched bump hugging stuff - supports my bump and lets me see my bump, which I prefer by far to being swamped in a tent-like garment. Who would I be kidding anyway??

Jumpers and Cardis - Tricky to deal with this when summer is beginning. When baby gets here, if the whole breastfeeding thing takes off as plans, layers and reasonably easy access would be the way to go, bearing in mind baby will be in a sling too. That's a lot of access and logictics issues! I doubt hoiking my top up all over the place will work out well for anyone but the baby ... so have been adding to my collection of zippy hoodie tops - perhaps they will suffice as a shield, they should work with the sling too, and I tend to have a shawl or something anyway, so we might well manage not to look like a right spectacle (baby and me). Perhaps an extensive cardigan collection is in order! This is the kind of thing I normally go for, a little wrappy one, but that won't really do will it!! I did find a really old-fashined looking jumper and cardi company ... and ignoring the ladies-who-garden in the catalogue, I liked the cardis themselves, and they don't cost the earth, so might just go for them: Woolovers. I do get stuff from La Redoute too, and they do cardis.

Jumpers, I found this black number from Crave, Oh I love it! I also saw some more colourful jumpers - a green and a purple one at Funkybump (darn it, their pages expire so frequently there is no point pasting in a link).

Better than all that, I love the Seraphine Poncho and really, really, really want it. Not sure how useful it will be with a sling though, so haven't bought it - it's an extravagance and I can't really buy it myself.

Skirts - I only have a couple that will withstand the new belly (maybe). Skirts might well be necessary before the baby comes - summer is coming. I don't like most of the maternity skirts I've seen. I liked a few denim ones in H&M, but they were not very practical or cool. This tube skirt from Topshop might have to do. Although I do quite like this brown number from Bumps Maternity Wear. This is pretty too, from Crave, kid of swishy - but I'd feel a bit old in it perhaps. I might have to just make a skirt. I have my now-unsuitable big jeans from last year, they are too big now, and yet too small for the bump, and could do with being recycled into a nice skirt.

Tights - don't need them now, might need them close to baby's B-day if I'n out somnewhere nice (and cold) in a skirt. Topshop seem the best bet, although obviosuly it's not hard to buy maternity tights.

Dresses - Now I do love dresses. I found some loveley options. Can't say I'm going to fork out for any of them, sadly. Here they are though - I love this little dress in yellow from Crave, or this one, a stripy brown dress from Bumps Maternity Wear, this slinky crossover dress from Definitely Baby, or this pretty one maybe, (but where on earth would I need to wear this?), or finally this A-line number from Picchu.

I've found the PERFECT products for me

Ok, so I've been umming and ahhing about what moisturiser to buy for a while now ... and have been avoiding going in to John Lewis to pick up the front-runner, Dr Hauschka's Rose Day Cream, just because I knew I had to check out the Burts Bees Carrot Day Cream as well ... and was worried about disappointment. I quite like the Rose Day Cream, but it goes on a bit greasy, and the tube is so hard to use. But it IS a good cream, and safe for Lambykins too. 

So I went in to John Lewis, tried the Carrot cream and it almost made me gag, really, the smell, and its very oily, so sorry Burts Bees - not that cream! So I gravitated over to Philosophy and dabbed on some Hope in a Jar, and honestly, sadly, those days are now gone for me ... I don't think I can use it again. It's just not natural and happy-making enough - I am used to lovely essential oils now. 

A John Lewis Lady came up to me and offered some help, so I told her my problem, my moisturiser needs to be really, nice, smell and feel great, make me feel great, really soak into my skin and keep me moisturised, and it has to be organic and natural because of the baby - I need to be happy with the baby sucking it off my face if that's what the baby happens to be doing to my face!!! She understood perfectly and took me over to the Stella McCartney counter (who knew??? where have I been, under a rock?) and I had a good session playing with the Care range with the Stella McCartney lady, Sian (lovely girl, but scary eyebrows, not a very natural look). 

Ok, I LOVE this range L O V E it, almost enough to not get furniture and just buy the stuff instead .....!!! The smell is just right, feels good, skin looks nice. Oh I want this stuff. 

The moisturiser, though - wait for it - is £46, making it the most expensive moisturiser I have ever considered buying. You don't just use it by itself of course, there is a serum, an 'elixir' (choice of 3) that you buy to put under it - mine would be the calming/soothing one, oooh so nice. Then before that there is a range of cleansers - the one I love is the foaming one, I love foaming cleansers and this one I can wash off or tissue/cotton wool off, so it's great - £21, and the toner is a spray mist that feels nice, and it's another £21. 

If you buy the whole lot, it's £131 and you get a flannel and a plastic rectangular block with holes in to keep your products standing in .... gimmick. Now where am I going to get £130??? 

Oh My God. I finally find it, and it's out of reach. 

Life is so unfair.

Yoga class was brilliant though!! I loved it, and had a real workout. Definitely carrying on with the class in Cambridge, no matter what. 

Shopping spree!

Just did some shopping. I've been putting it off for so long ... it is scary spending money, but I really need this stuff. Ordered the pregnancy pillow (went with the Dream Genii) and got a birthing ball, I HAVE to do something about my muscles, just walking up the hill is still hell. I only have 6 months to go!!! Got all that stuff from this amazing website www.expressyourselfmums.co.uk 

I also ordered my Mexican Bola pendant - love it! 

My tummy feels really heavy and I've been hungry the past couple of days, thank goodness as it's possible to have 3 meals easily now, even 4 if I am up early enough. It was so hard to eat for a while. 

I still need to drink more. Wish drinks didn't hurt my gut so much. 

New look? Plans post-trip-to-Ikea.

Well, the nausea has not eased, or let up. What a day! However I DID get a haircut, which was most cheering. 

At least I didn't toss my cookies as the ladies on the board say ... (however some tossing of said cookies did sadly take place, although minute and discreet in amount, as I left Ikea last night). 

Oh yes, on Tuesday night after seeing that useless Doctor Middleton, we went to Ikea for inspiration and a look-see. Well, we found everything we wanted for the flat ... shame it costs about £1300 ..! We have a compromise option, which would cost considerably less. There is always the option of staying much as we are now, and really making do. We'd rather be happy and together and not stressed and over-burdened by money pressures than in a flat that looks perfect but has cost us more than we can happily spend. The baby won't care, honestly, and we like our flat now too (we'd love it even more with the furniture we like ... but that is neither here nor there, whatever the surroundings, we'd never love a wardrobe more than eachother or the offspring, surely?)

So that's that. 

We could end up with not a lot to buy really ... we have enough to do the flooring in the bedroom with the underfloor heating, and to do the carpeting in the study and the hallway, with a new storage heater in the study. Those are the essentials really. If we can't do any more, we won't. Put in an extra set of shelves maybe, if we really can't do more. 

If we DO manage to get the money together though, the rooms will be just as we want them. Whatever happens the futon is going into the study. If we can do it, we'd also downsize the table in there to a small desk, add a big, nice filing cabinet and put in a big floor-to-ceiling macho shelving unit for all the ringbinders, nothing else in the room so it's ready for Iain to sleep in if he can't sleep with us, or for guests to sleep in when people come over, like to help or keep me company. 

The lounge would change a lot, first of all the futon would go, then the dining table would go as the table in the study would be our dining table (as it used to be). This would be in the top right hand corner as we look at the lounge from the kitchen doorway. The big sofa would stay where it is, as would the TV - but if we have the money we'd get a big sturdy attractive unit to put the media stuff in with spaces for toy baskets on the bottom row, space for the kid's big toys etc. The wall that has shelves now would have different shelves all along it (we're not keen on the current shelves) with all our books. The small sofa would be around somewhere ... 

The bedroom would be different too. The current shambolic wardrobe would be closed off. 

The bed would move under the window, but pushed against the short wall, Iain would sleep by the wall, then me, then the baby, the baby and myslef on the humanity family bed. How we arrange the 2 chests of drawers we already have and the wardrobes we need to buy depend on the pricey or cheap option - which will we choose? The expensive option has a wardrobe and a dressing table cabinet for me against the wall which is currently not a wall, but a wardrobe entrance. A further matching wardrobe would follow on the long wall at right angles to this wall. Then a bit further along would be the chests of drawers, with the changing mat atop one, and shelves for the baby's clothes above these. On one of the free spaces we'll have a railing for Iain to hang his clothes on - he likes putting them on a chair and I trip on the chair all the time! 

The cheap option has the chests of drawers/changing mat section + shelves on the wall that once was a wardrobe door, with, on the long wall, cheaper wardrobes on either side of a shorter unit which has a mirror above it and mirrors on the sides of the wardrobes so I can look and have 3 mirrors at once, like the expensive dresser.... 

The best bit is what happens to the old wardrobe. The hall cupboard basically leads on to this cupboard space again, as it used to and we open the hall cupboard, see the coats and progress within, like Narnia to reach the shelves and storage! Brilliant. The Narnia factor makes the inconvenience worth it! Who really wants to wade through coats .... Well Iain will do most of it anyway, who am I kidding? 

Things the Baby will need

Hmmm, as far as I can tell, mostly Lambykins will need to be warm, dry, fed and safe, with plenty of cuddles and opportunities to sense what goes on in our home. 

Our room/Sleeping

We're not turning the study into a nursery, as we want Lambykins to sleep with us. If it freaks us out or doesn't work out in some way, then the cradle I would buy is this one: the Oberon Baby Cradle 

We're changing the heating in all the rooms to the underfloor variety (I can't face the changing temperature - poor Lambykins), and I'm happy we won't have carpet in the bedroom and study - I just have images of Lambykins rolling about on the floor happily sucking up dust and creatures that the Dyson missed .... chewing away on toxic carpet fibres ... We'll move the bed under the window and have all the chests of drawers on the long wall, hopefully that will leave us enough room in the bedroom - it's not big for 3! 

At the moment I suppose I think we'll use something like these products to keep Lambykins safe in bed as we will stay ON the bed (won't just be on the mattress on the floor - that messes up the underfloor heating idea) - the Snuggle Nest, or the Humanity family bed. I LOVE the look of the Humanity bed. 

[UPDATE: April 2008 - We are probably going to get either the Oberon Cradel or the Amby cradle ... and Mamma is going to make me a Family Bed like the Humanity one]

Clothes

Lambykins will need clothes, of course, and I hope he gets to wear other babies' hand-me-downs (good karma). His own clothes will mostly be a selection of tops and bottoms rather than all-in-ones as the nappy-off situation will need to be instigated fairly soon. I've seen plenty I like at Tescos, H&M, Mothercare and La Redoute, but on Saturday Julie introduced me to some LOVELY stuff from baby gap - their Organic Newborn range. I particularly like the little white body suits, the fabric is lovely. Other favourites are the wrapover hoodies and the pants.

[UPDATE: April 2008 - I LOVE the Green Baby clothes, plus the ones from Dollyrockers. A lot will probably come from Tescos!!]

He'll need nappies - gel free? biodegradable? - I'm all for the gel free, but am not too fussed as the nappy-free business will mean Lambykins need never be in a soiled one long. Biodegradable will not actually mean biodegradable for us as all soiled nappies will go straight in the bin and then into landfill, not into any composter - we don't have one, nor do we have a garden to put one in, even if we did, it would have to be industrial sized. So basically just choose one that is fairly non-toxic, easy to use and easily available, so the commercial 'natural' one would do, perhaps Tushies or Bambo Nature Nappies. I'm actually totally thinking about using the Tommee Tippee nappy wrapper kit - hold your tree hugging horses - our little flat needs a nice environment, specially if we want to take on the extra stress of potty-training the little one asap. We can see how it goes. 

For nappy changing time, I guess the wipes need to be as gentle as possible to start with, or be reusable to start with - till we know what kind of action Lambykins' botty is up for! There are so many available, I suspect there will be a few choices for the home, a choice for when we are travelling as a family, and a really short-cut for when it's just me and the baby. Someone does individual packs of all you need for a nappy change ... compact thing, nappy, changing mat, wipes, the mat changes into a nappy-bag for the soiled one ... Must find that product again ... which magazine was it in ....

[UPDATE April 2008 - I am still none the wiser on wipes, but the Nappies will be Moltex Nappies, we might even get them from the local nappy lady, and as Hertfordshire Council apparantly gives you £40 cashback for buying reusable nappies, I might try a few on them ... maybe the Bamboo terry style ones ... or Motherease nappies. Not till the baby is a bit bigger though - not the first few weeks. And for when I'm out and about I want these Baby Go packs which are basically everything you need for one nappy change in one pack. Not very eco friendly if I use them all day every day, but ultimately I'll be able to do more on foot with the baby in a sling with one of these in my bag.]

Lambykins' skin

To begin with, Lambykins should not need much on the skin, unless something turns out to be lacking - but we won't know that for a bit. I'll need to take along some nappy cream of my choice to the hospital, because if not, overzealous busybodies may well slap all sorts of undesirables on the poor baby's botty. Am unsure whether to go with the Green Baby nappy balm, or the Burts Bees one. I could use Dr Hauschka's Rose Day Cream on the Lambykins bottom as well as my face ... but that could work out a bit expensive! Good to know I'll only have to pack one cream for the pair of us when we are out and about though! We'll share the Organic Pharmacy massage oil too. 

Lambykins' first baths will just be with water and a soft cloth, in one of these Tummy Tubs - Like Brishti had. When he's ready for soap, there's a baby-friendly selection from Lush to explore. Perhaps they will be too strong for the baby ... we might start using the one we pick out in advance - before Lambykins arrives. 

[UPDATE April 2008 - I am now not so keen on the Tummy Tub, I think I'll just get in the bath with the baby instead, or Iain can. Where would we put the Tummy Tub anyway? 

The washcloths I want for Lambykins is the bamboo ones available at Green Baby (colourful!) and I want the bath towel too (also bamboo). 

The jury is out on the soap and massage oil ... will most likely stick to Green Baby stuff, and forego other brands ... will have to see how the Green Baby products feel. Will go in to the store and check them out.]

Getting about 

We're planning on wearing him, not sure which carriers we'll pick, we haven't seen many in the flesh yet, so to speak. I'd imagine we'd get a red cloth one for me, a green one for Iain, and another grey one (neutral), spare. Lets see what we end up with ... I think they should all be different kinds so that we use different muscle groups etc. 

I'm hoping for no pram, or if we do have one, have Brishti and Zain's pram. 

Of course Lambykins will have a new carseat, I don't have a preference, I think Iain will have one soon though! I suppose based on the pram idea, we should get a carseat that is compatible with their pram. 

If we were to get a pram, which is of course an idea we should consider - the baby will be heavy, and I won't be carrying much else if I'm carrying Lambykins already - I'd like the Stokke Xplory which I think is amazing (get it in red of course). Am also partial to the lightweight Quinny Zapp in turquoise or red, which is suitable from when the baby is 6 months +, and therefore probably not keen on being carried all the time anyway. 

I'll have to keep adding to this ...

[UPDATE April 2008 - Well I am less and less able to conceive of Lambykins in a pram until s/he is quite big. I like the slings that are just a piece of cloth the best, but I suspect I will have one of those and a sewn sling (I still like the Baba Sling) as well.]