Getting Inked.

I am really wanting a tattoo on my wrist. I am thinking of something to do with Mini-catslife - maybe his time and DOB - along the lines of Angelina Jolie's coordinates on her arm.

Is that too obvious though?

Cooking doesn't get tougher than this...

Did you see the Brits Last night?? I watched some of it, I always expect more of these things and them to be better than they are.

U2 of course are fab, but Bono makes me cringe a bit now as he is a wee bit too old and watching him dance felt oddly like watching your Dad try to cut some moves at a wedding.

Kylie looked great but as always way too much botox (I wonder if her and Danni get some kind of family discount?)

I am gradually warming to Girls Aloud ( although that feckin Promise song does my head in), but how lashed was the Sarah one? They did look great though and rocked the feather burlesque job - but I am sure Kylie has done something similar..

I watched it until I got fed up pondering who did Duffy's make up as the fake eyelashes were a really bad, bad job, then decided to watch Masterchef.

Now I am seriously addicted to Masterchef. I love the whole build up and by week 2, just like X factor you are an expert judge and can spot who is going out or onwards in the first 10 minutes. I love the fact that John Torode and Gregg Wallace get fatter as the series goes on, and of course Gregg cannot resist a pudding. I actually wonder if he can dislocate his bottom jaw as he seems to be able to fit a ladle size spoon in there..

It is now done to the quarter finals, with some unlucky bugger going out tonight. My money is on the young guy - he is too inexperienced. The winner - I reckon the guy who has came back from last year's heats.

Back to Reality

Can you believe My Boy is 5 months already? 5 months! where did the time go? I won't drone on and on about baby-detail (cause I know it is boring to everyone apart from Mr Catslife and Granny- Catslife) but it is amazing how quick babies learn things. Things we take for granted and obviously all learned ourselves, but each week I see a little step forward in his coordination or communication abilities.

I have 4 months left until I return to work and my thoughts are returning to the real world. I work in the Banking Sector and unless you have been on planet Zog for the last 6 months, you may have noticed things aren't too hot there at the moment. This has got me thinking about what I want to do when I return to work. I know I do want to go back to work - don't get me wrong being a Mum is brilliant and Son of Catslife is the love of my life, but I do need adult company to keep me sane- but I don't think I want to go back to the work I did.

There are offers of redundancies floating around, there are other jobs out there, but do I take a risk? My mind is ticking overtime on what to do.

The other thing I have learned is that children pick up every cold and nasty going. We have all had a horrible stomach bug that originated in Mini-C and quickly spread round the whole family. After 2 days of vomiting and 3 days not eating, any remains of baby weight have now gone. unfortunately the pale gaunt look that I am sporting isn't as great and has me seriously considering some type of cosmetic filler treatment.

Rage.

I am not sure if it is the fact I am now the mother of a young baby boy or I am emotionally not very strong at the moment, but undoubtably like every other parent out there, the tragic death of Baby P has horrified me beyond words. I have shed a tear while feeding my son in the early morning hours when my thoughts morbidly turned to the lonely death that the little boy had in his cot.

Like any I cannot fathom how anyone would treat an animal far less their own flesh and blood like this and I feel powerless and furious at the same time over this tragedy.

I truly wish the mother and step father/boyfriends a painful slow death, not unsimilar to that of baby P, but my true rage lies at the catalogue of incompetence by the social work and GP's that were meant to protect this child.

As an employee of a bank, I have personal responsibilty to ensure I follow the laws and guidelines set by the FSA and within the banking code. If I don't do my job and break the rules, I personally could be charged and end up with a heafty fine and criminal record. These people have a duty and responsibility with greater reasons. I know socail workers are overworked and the national services are under strain, but how a GP can miss a broken back, bite marks and missing finger tips is nothing short of unbeleivable. If I had my way, that individual would be serving time in prison along with the parents.

RIP, Baby P, a nation mourns your short life. X

Son of a Witch..

Well, I am back & I am the proud mum of a very handsome baby boy. I went into labour the day after my sweep and the boy was was born on the Thursday afternoon. Things didn't go to plan, as he was a big baby and managed to get stuck, so it was the sunroof option in the end, but the scar and shuffling like a geratric afterwards was definately worth it. Although I am still undecided if I will be down the the pregnancy route again.

For those wondering about the pains of labour, I can honestly say it wasn't too bad, bad as I had an epidural so despite labouring for 14 hours, I didn't feel a thing and slept through most of it!

I think it was more trauamatic for my hubbie watching the monitor of heart rates and his endurance of the hours passing.

The days are flying by in measurements of sleep and volumes of feeds but we are slowing getting into a routine and I am now back into pre-pregnancy clothes with only a 1/2 stone to loose until I am back to my usual weight. So not all bad at all.

I also have the new joy of tiny clothes shopping for a male who doesn't complain no matter how long I spent looking at shoes!

No News, goddamit.

Well I was back at the midwife yesterday and had a membrane sweep done. (don't read if you have any fear of child birth please.) I can now totally sympathise with those poor cows you see on Vetinary programmes with someone's arm stuck up inside them.

So after an afternoon of cramps , I had my hopes of going last night. I'm 'fraid not - seems the Antichrist is holding on in there, despite my midwife's gorrilla handed attempts to shake him/her out.

My Mum told me yesterday, that I was a MONTH late - my due date was the 8/11 and my birthday is 6/12! Jeez. The good news is that in this day and age they don't let you go that long, so my midwife will phone the hospital on Friday AM for an inducing date between Mon - Wed next week , so the end is now in sight.

I am REALLY fed up now and going shopping this afternoon - I am refusing to be housebound anymore! Fingers crossed my waters break when I am in M&S!!

On a more annoying note, I have managed to do something to my mobile phone account online so can't reply to the umpteen texts that people are sending to see how I am and b*starding Vodaphone Customer Service is doing my head in with what seems to be their fundamental employment criteria of staff must have a single figure number of brain cells..

I now remember why I left them before.

For Miss F..

Don't do it..

X Factor

Having not much to do these days but wait and lower my IQ level with daytime TV, I have become a voyeur of odd programmes that I never new existed and watching repeats of things I don't usually have time to see.

X Factor is one of these. Now I don't know why I keep watching, because they seem to be rolling out he sob stories to disguise the fact that the talent is wearing thin this year and I am meaning with the judges. Simon remains Simon with his pantomine baddie comments, Cheryl contributes nought apart from varying her 3 lines of ' I really enjoyed your voice' or ' I love you' or 'your gorgeous'. And occasionally crying when left to make a decision on crap singer's fate. (here's a tip - if they weren't good enough the 1st time - they won't be now)

Louis is a non - entity as far as I am concerned and contributes as much as a card board out out.

But what holds my curiousity is what the hell is happened to Dannii's face? Even Mr Catslife picked up on this. I cannot decide if she has went one botox injection too far into the world of Jocelyn Wildenstein or she needs to have a word with her makeup artist who obvious skill is making her clients look like stroke victims on camera.

Still Feckin Preggers.

'nuff said really.

I have been amusing myself with looking at new winter clothes to buy. I am actually quite impressed with some of Next's stuff (apart from their blatant M&S copying advert with wonky eyed Danni Minogue).

Only downside is when you go online to order anything it is all sold out or has what feels like a million weeks delivery wait time.

A bit like this lazy baby that I am carrying.

Still here..

My midwife told me today, that despite things happening it could be another 2 weeks. I don't think I can bear another fortnight of daily calls from various family members seeing if I am 'still there'.

In other news and observations I am loving Posh's New Crop. Not everyone's taste, but I do admire short hair on women. Stylish women I might add, not the Shirley from Eastenders look..

I think things are beginning to happen..

the signs are there folks.. I woke this morning and thought I had peed myself but now I suspect it was my waters breaking. (it isn't really like in the films with a tidal wave - it can be a slow trickle fact fans). Since then weird pains and other things are starting to happen and I am now sitting oddly alert and very nervous like I am about to go into an interview.

Anyway to keep the mood light and stop myself freaking too much, I think Mickey Rouke demonstrates a good arguement why you shouldn't mess with what nature gave you.

Je Ne Pas Sexy.

Well, the wallpaper trip went fine, although the 2 hour matching paint to the selction of papers (How many shades shades of white/ magnolia is there FFS?!)was a bit testing.

My gran still haven't picked one yet, but she left happy clutching more samples than a sample factory. Someone else can now pick up the mantle of the next buying stage..

In between my last post I have managed to tear a muscle in my abdomen after trying to dry Reggie the other night when he came in from the rain. (My cats do like a good rub with a towel).

So the midwife has just left and I am now wearing what I can only describe as a full body tubi-grip and a wriggling baby who can also feel the difference in pressure. I look an utter state & I am never going to get it off and then on again myself. There is a good chance that I could be tubi-gripped until I go into labour now.

I tell you, I will not be down this pregnancy route again, purely out of fashion principles. He or she will just have to make do with cat-brothers.

Take That and WTF??!

Now I have never been a Take That fan, so I am not really very clued up on their earlier hits..

But I came across this mouth opening shocker last night on one of the music channels.



Chainmail jock straps and jelly covered asses... I bet this didn't make it onto the greatest hits album.

Old Skool Rock.

11 Days to go..

until the antichrist is meant to put in an appearance. I am now officially on maternity leave and living the life of a lady of leisure. I would like to say I am enjoying it but I feel oddly redundant and concerned that I am dropping behind.

This coupled with the waiting and people's phone calls/ texts/ emails asking if there are any twinges. And of course not really knowing what a twinge should feel like. I have a fear of going into labour and not knowing it is happening, or assuming it is just another pain of pregnancy, leaving it too late & ending up giving birth in the back of my car or something equally as embarrassing.

Funnily enough my Mum just laughs when I tell her this and gives me a knowing smile along with the lines of 'oh don't worry, you WILL know when you are in labour'. Great. Just great.

So I have been amusing myself with catching up with friends I haven't seen in ages, midiwife/ doc appointments and meeting my Mum for lunch. Today I am taking my gran wallpaper shopping, which I have an inkling might turn into another painful repeat of the wedding outfit buying from a few months back. But at least it keeps me from watching daytime TV.

For Miss F..

I saw this and thought of you. Please don't be holding anything hot when opening the link...



Surf's up Baby..

The countdown has begun..

Well, if science is right, I have 5 weeks to go until the big day. And a whole 2 weeks left to work. I have funny feelings about finishing up, partly worry that I will have a job to go back to (if any of you pay attention to the banking half year profit results, you will understand why) but also looking forward to a break from it all. I am thinking of taking the opportuntiy for an industry change and maybe use my skills in an area that I have more personal interest in.

I have also started my parenting/ antenatal classes which are proving interesting.It covers everythign from the birth (oh god) through to getting the baby home & bathing it. If I am honest this is the bit that is scaring me the most - it seems so technical and practicing on a doll isn'tthe same as 8lbs of squirming real baby.

The other mums and dads-to-be are an odd bunch who do not say much and I wonder if they understand at times. Some of them look like the do not want to be there.

At home the nursery is finished and we have a nightly challenge of keeping the cats out the room/ cot/ basket as they think it should be their's. Boy are they in for a shock.

Other news is that I having a massive clear out & flogging things on ebay - I had forgotten how much of an asshole city that site has become & I wishing I hadn't started.

Getting scared.

This article in the news today absolutely terrified me.I realise it is a rare thing, but the utter horror of it has haunted my thoughts all day.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1031198/Woman-stole-baby-alive-mothers-womb-feared-husband-leave-lied-pregnancy.html

It struck me now I am quite far on in my pregnancy how scared I am getting with things. Yesterday I was out walking my Mum's dog (who we are looking after at the moment - the cats just love that). Anyway I passed a man on a lonely bit of pathway & realised that if he attacked me i wouldn't have the strength to defend myself and even if I could fight back he could still damage my baby. Now I know he wasn't going to try anything when I had a 10stone alsatian by my side, nor was he doing anything remotely threatening, but it suddenly woke me up to what it meant to be a parent and the fears for years to come that I will have, that my mum always said I wouldn't understand until I had my own children

Things they don't tell you about being pregnant..

Is the odd dreams. For example, I recently dreamt that I was a vampire. Infact head of a vampire coven, that lived in a big castle that faced on to a grave yard.. The castle had patio doors that too for some odd reason.. Anyway I had agreed with the head of another vampire coven thing that we were going to join households, and he had came to my castle with some of his people where we were going to do some biting ceremony.

All was going well with the proceedings until I came across one of his stupid members, who had cut a whole in the patio door glass & was eating Reggie's legs through it. Reggie was ok, but the bottom part of his legs were nibbled down to the bone leaving his feet and stupid wee stick legs.. I then I went ballistic smashing vampire skulls and woke myself up with the rage.

I really shouldn't eat cheese before I go to bed...

Today's news..

In lazy bullet points again because I am getting lazier. Fact.

* I am currently interviewing for my maternity cover which is a very odd feeling. When I have ever left a job before I couldn't give a monkeys who they gave it too, but as I am intending returning to work, I am slightly more proetective of the role because I don't want someone who can do it better, or someone who f**ks it up and I have a mess to come back too. It is a fine line y'know.

* The tiredness and hormones are taking effect now, I find myself having moments of panic over not knowing what the hell to do with babies or that I am going to be stuck on my own. my mood fluctuates between happy glee then murderous black moods and my growing belly feeling out breath doesn't help my confidence.

* The cats seem to be involved in some knid of street turf warfare with a monster of a fluffy ginger cat, whom we have named 'Old Red'. Old Red is as hard as nails because not only does he take on Alfie The Muscle without fear, he fights H-Man at the same time. I would like to say Reggie joins in too, but he seems more interested in chasing moths than a knife show. So far H-man has returned with a scratched eye and Alfie spends his time at strategic lookout points like the neighbours roof searching for Old Red approaching.

* I really want a Louis Vuitton bag. To the point I am obsessed with it. I know they aren't to everyone's taste and there are a lot of fakes out there, but I have my heart set on a Speedy 30. Technically I should be spending that money on nursery furniture. Pah.

* Miss F has informed me that Keifer is getting married. I can only comment that is it undoubtedly rebound as both of us are officially of the market.. And anyway Mads is higher up the list these days after watching Casino Royale again on Saturday.