SCREAMING AB-DABS

I don't know where the phrase "screaming ab-dabs" comes from, but it's certainly one we've been using a lot in the last two days.

Sure enough, after another successful night in her Moses basket, we had another hellish day. From around lunchtime, nothing could console Charlotte - and it just turned into a vicious cycke of her wind stopping her from sleeping, tiredness turning very quickly into overtiredness, leading to erratic feeding, and those ear-splitting screams.

By 7pm we resorted to long walks round the park. It eventually seemed to work. and she fell asleep on my OH until we had to wake her for a feed. Then, miraculously, she went down in her Moses basket for the rest of the night - waking for a couple of feeds.

Today she has been a million times more manageable (until the point when I'm writing and we're struggling to settle her down for the night - another long walk may be in order). When she's been screaming at the top of her lungs through overtiredness we've let her reach her peak three times and then she calms right down. But generally she's nodded off after a feed and been a bit.more content, even when we went to visit my friend with the twins. In fact none of us quite knew what to do with ourselves with three sleeping children. We should have all gone for a nap!

PREGNANCY - MONTH NINE (WEEK 39)

I have been in some discomfort this week - for the first time all pregnancy really. But it's not in my back, tummy or legs - but in my bottom. I won't go into too much information, but the dreaded 'Hs' (see week 36) are getting worse, more painful and making it harder for me to get comfortable and sleep.

It's the first time that I've started to feel that I'd like the Little Monkey to come sooner rather than later. His/her movements are so big that I'm sure he/she's trying to get out! I still really enjoy feeling all the squirming, kicking etc - but I just hope they're not in any distress.

Booking lots of stuff to keep me occupied next week, so I'm not so focused on my due date - from a mortgage review to dinner with friends. Still very aware the Little Monkey could potentially be a full three weeks away though, and I keep telling myself he/she will come when and how it decides.

Some lovely news from my close friend and colleague who was expecting twins - she had 2 gorgeous wee boys this week. Sounds like she's had a tough first few days, and I don't envy her the stress of two, but looking at her photos made me bawl my eyes out and make me want our Little Monkey to put in their appearance really soon...

PREGNANCY - MONTH EIGHT (WEEK 35)

I don't know how I ever managed to fit work in - managing to fill my days quite happily! What with still sorting the flat out, washing (and buying more) bits of baby clothing, daytime TV, reading lots and generally relaxing and enjoying myself - quite enjoying being a lady of leisure... while it lasts.

Had one day when I felt completely wiped out, and ended up having a good sleep in the middle of the day - which I know is my body telling me to slow down (and my DP also telling me). Still managed to get everything done that I was planning to do that day, but I must learn not to feel guilty for doing next to nothing some days.

Last weekend we managed to get loads of baby stuff done, without especially planning to. I did my Birth Plan, packed most of my hospital bag (hard to know what to pack for 'going home' clothes as I'm still wearing anything I might pack), and we took another trip to Mothercare and Boots for bath stuff and plenty more odds and sods.

Also had a lovely lunch this week with my friend whose twins will be arriving sometime in the next 3 weeks. She's due the same week as me, but her hospital won't let her go beyond 38 weeks. It was a good chance to natter all things baby, labour and birth - which, apart from with our respective other halves - we don't do very much with other people.

DP and I did a 2-night First Aid course especially for babies and children this week, through the Red Cross. It was well worth doing - if only for gaining a bit of confidence if ever we find ourselves in an emergency situation. It wasn't just the thought of being prepared for our own Little Monkey, but we'll find ourselves surrounded by far more babies and toddlers as a result, and it's good to know we've got that little bit of knowledge on all sorts of medical emergencies if the worst ever (hopefully never) happens.