Oh my, my brain definately went fuzzy and forgtful during my pregnancy and I was still doing all of the same things at work.  I really had to think at times even for the easiest of task.  Just because a study tells us something, doesn't mean it is correct for 100% of people.  I do feel like my brain is up to speed now though.

Before we even thought of having a baby, I always thought I wanted a girl.  I thought I would be able to do so much with her and connect better when she was older.  Go shopping, teach her how tho cook etc.  Then when we got pregnant I was hoping for a boy.  I don't know why, but that is what we were both hoping for. We got our wish. He is the best little thing I could have asked for, boy or girl.  He is a happy kid, eats and sleeps well, what more could I have asked for.  We are thinking of trying for another soon, and my thoughts at the moment are I would like another boy.  We did use a maybe baby type device the first time around and I'm not sure if we should let nature take its course or if we are lucky enough to conceive or try for a boy.  I'm sure I'm missing out on something special if we don't have a girl, but I in the end I would be happy with whatever we are blessed with.

I've gone back to work full time as we really need the cash,k but many of the mothers from my mothers group have started up things like tupperware, learning ladder book and things they can do when it suits them.  They start of with one party usually with the group mums who bring a friend along and from there get a few more bookings and so on.  With the contacts from mums group they really do have a big network.  So far all who have done it are going well.  Wish I had of thought of doing it before they did.  One of the other ladies from work left to  start her own gardening maintenance business.  She works the hours she wants and can still go to all of her kids things at school.  She takes on as little or as much work as suits her.  She had never done any of this before, but said with a few regular customers it keeps her as busy as she would like and has knocked back many jobs when she is too busy.  I think I will try something if I have another bundle of joy.

I too was wondering how to fit it all in.  I've got some great ideas from your post.  So far what we have been doing is if time allows we have been watching a twiddlewink lesson of a morning, then after dinner doing 1 reading and 1 math session on the flashcards.  With dinner, bathtimes, getting lunches ready, it seems like there is nowhere else to fit it in, but maybe I can try one just before bed.  Do you think that will stimulate his mind too much and make sleep that little more difficult?  He does love both the reading and the maths cards and gets so excited when we do them.

Rome - Budapest - Valletta - male' (maldives) - Adelaide (South Australia) - Madrid -Bucuresti (Romania) - Atlanta (GA) - Moscow-Riyadh - Cracow(Poland) - Kuala Lumpur- London (England) -Port Vila (Vanuatu) - Bogotá (Colombia) - Dublin - Sydney

I don't have a hobby at the moment.  It used to be playing with my dog, but unfortunately he had to leave this world for the next earlier than I ever imagined.  Even though Koen was only little, he loved the dog.  We will get another one, but maybe at the end of the year when it is warmer in Australia.  So at the moment like many of you out there, my hobby is house stuff.  One 'hobby' I really dislike is all the paperwork that has to be read, filled out and filed away.  That always seems to be my job or other wise it just sits there.  I really must get myself a hobby, one that doesn't take up much room in the small house we have would be ideal.  When I think of things I would like to do, they all seem to need space, like sewing, scrap booking, jewlerly making etc.

oh, that is supposed to say rashers of bacon.  Just the bacon you get from the deli or in the packs.  you decide if you want the short cut or longer stuff.  Maybe its called something different outside Australia

yay, so did I. I ummed and arrhed, as living in Australia we also have to take into consideration the dollar conversion cost, so in Aussie dollars it cost us about 1 1/2 times as much.  After seeing the update today, I'm so happy I got it before the price rise.  The update is great!  My boy at the moment like LR best, but is still interested in LM.  Can't wait for the music one, I got him Trebillina and he loves that, shaking his marakas about the place, so cute

oh, I love the chicken pieces shaken in moroccan spice.  cook in the oven or on the BBQ.  so so tasty.  serve with salads and veg. 

I always love the soups, you can make up a huge pot and it it for days during the winter months.   tomato, bacon and basil soup:
2 large brown onions
12 rashers bacon
2 cloves garlic
tablespoon butter and oil
fry all this together stop before the bacon goes brown
2 large tins crushed tomatoes
tub tomato paste
1 -2 tins water (tins tomatoes came out of)
2 tablespoons brown sugar
add this to bacon & onions, bring to boil and simmer for 20 minutes - you don't have to stir it
add 1 bunch chopped basil, salt & pepper to taste simmer 15 - 20 minutes
add 300ml fresh cream to finish, serve with crusty bread

alternativley you can cook the bacon/onions then stick it all in the slow cooker to simmer away for as long as you want.  just add the cream at the end.

YUM

I have been lucky enough to have 12 months off, however in 2 weeks I will be heading back to work.  I so much don't want to do it.  To ease back into things and hopefully make life not too stressful for my wonderful boy, I'm taking 2 days a week annual leave and working 3 days.  I'll do this for 10 weeks to test the waters and during that time make some decision on what my next move will be.  I am supposed to be going back to full time work early September, but I'm thinking even if I do 4 days instead of 5 I get that little bit more time with what matters the most.  I'm not sure how flexible they will be at work, but I can only ask and see what they say.  Good luck to all returning to the workforce.  I am looking forward to the extra income so I can spend it on a cubby house

Hi BK,

While browsing through the 2nd hand section today, I thought it would be a great idea if that forum section was broken down into a few others areas such as:

For Sale
Wanted
Auction
Swap

I think it would make it easier to find exactly what you want as you wouldn't be opening the wanted adds when you are need the for sale ads.  Cheers

Hi from Bathurst NSW

Wait until you get the mess in the pants! pooooooo, especially from the canned spaghetti.  I've looked after a few kids, and I'm sure I always got them after that extra special spaghetti meal!  Oh well, we all have to do it

Koen got his first cold this week.  I have been putting nipple cream  on his nose to reduce the pain and redness.  It has been working well.  Like others have mentioned a soothing shower works wonders.