You poor love with your DH - mine has been similar at times; in the summer when he's "working" on his car especially, or if his parents want him round there in the evening. Usually now he plays on the computer - so I only really "see" him at dinner time, even though he's sat a couple of feet away from me (if that makes sense). I know it's a high-stress job, but even so!

I hope your house is finished soon, and I agree about sub-standard work. You have children it is going to affect: you need it sorted now! I've told DH before about what he's doing, that it won't suit me, and he gets in a grump, even though I'm right (we almost had a bathroom sink you couldn't use unless you stood in the bath or squeezed in - would not have suited me at all!). Even working on the house in which we live meant I didn't see him that much, I'd hate it if he were working on one far away. Although in early pregnancy, it would be nice not to be told I couldn't use the loo between the hours of 4pm (after work) to 7am the next morning.

We hear noise from upstairs a lot - music before they go out clubbing/pubbing and a lot of running around in an evening like a baby elephant. I think it's normal when you live with other people, and I'm aware they can hear us if we have the radio/TV too loud, or when my parents visit (they're loud people!). But fair's fair - we both hear each other and it's not stupid amounts of noise. I would be mad if it were "boom-boom" music every night until 12ish, but it isn't. And babies can get pretty loud, so I am making very sure we don't complain about noise! Pot and kettle and all that!

DH has had an offer from his brother's work: low-stress and not so much work to do, but not as much of a pay-rise. We're waiting to hear back from the main one now - they'll have to offer more than BiL's work, but it's more stress (though less than his current job) and more responsibility, but I reckon that will be better for his CV.

As for my cycles, I *think* I've figured it out. They were 41-45 days, but the last cycle I would have missed a bleed. I did think at the time that DH caused it by having sex LOL! I had the PMS at the usual time and the back pains, they all went away at the usual time, and I had none of those problems when I did have my period after 8 weeks. Anyway, looking back, there were always about 6 weeks between ovulations for the last few cycles. Don't know if I'm right, but it's a good working theory. I also put it down to my weight (my BMI was about 19 - OK, so my weight was about 9st10, but I'm tall) and coming off the Pill. Although my cycles were 3-7 weeks pre-pill, usually about 5-6 weeks, so maybe that's just normal for me. If I could be bothered I'd try putting on weight and see what happened, but I just can't be doing with putting on weight just to have more periods.

DH... I *finally* remembered all my man-management stuff! You don't ask, you tell. So I don't want a kiss goodbye in the morning, we want a kiss - so he has to kiss me and the bump. I tell him what his "two favourite people" have done in the day. I just keep telling him how much he loves the baby and it seems to work a bit better - for him, I don't know, but for me it works wonders! Cos he can't contradict me and say we're not his two favourite people! I think he is being less grumpy now, which helps too, but I must confess I tend to manage men like I would do a 2-year-old (including my boss) and that's what seems to work best. I tried to treat my DH like an adult and it all went wrong! (Seriously, give him no choice over what I cook for dinner, give him clean clothes, ask him what he did with his friends, tell him what I want him to do in the next five minutes, never booking up more than an hour ahead, keeping the sole diary and not letting him book things up... actually works a lot better than asking his opinion!)

Anyway, I'm more relaxed at home, which is fab, and I've stopped caring about work, which is even better. Can't wait until I leave! Just 4 weeks 2 days to go! Huzzah!