Preparing for Baby (countdown!) « Back to Group Discussions

[jr'smom]

I'm getting just a twinge to start nesting.  Can't wait until it kicks in full force!  I made a list of the things I need to get done and the special events we have going on for all the weekends left until my due date.

Here's my list...  Feel free to share yours! 

13 weekends left for me not including this weekend (which is full already), but does include the weekend I'm "due" because I'm counting on going a week past (always heve before!)

1.  Anniversary trip to WI

2.  Organize the youngest kids closet

Order replacement diaper tabs

3.  Easter

4.  Organize the 2 bigger kids' closets

Clean the garage

5.  Clean/Organize the basement and office

6.  Conference in MN

7.  2 year old's birthday party

8.  Landscaping

Fix cloth diapers and order a few new ones

9.  Mother's Day (Trip to WI?)

10.  Find/buy baby clothes

11. Organize laundry room and diaper changing station

12.  Memorial Day weekend

13.  Clean van and put in baby car seat

I think I'll have this baby just before Father's Day...so poor DH loses out on another Father's Day celebration..My 7 yr old's birthday is the 17th, so I think we'll postpone an extended family party until around the 4th of July for him. 

I can't believe time is going by so fast now!

What does everyone else have on their list to do?

[SweetMama34]

I'm SOOOOO excited to meet this little girl. The next 12 weeks cannot go by fast enough! 

The only thing I really need to do to get ready for her is clean out a dresser and a closet to make room for her stuff. My shower is in a few weeks, so we'll have to get our hands on whatever else we need that we don't get. Going on a cross country trip in a couple of weeks and a bit nervous about that, but it'll help pass the time!

Less than 100 days.....ahhhh!!!!

[pokeyAC]

Good question!  Here are some of the things I need to do.

1.  Start contacting day care providers to see if I can get on a waiting list/See how this all works.

2.  Have a garage sale.  This is part of getting rid of stuff to make room for baby.

3.  Refinish furniture for baby.  DW will be doing this due to the chemicals.

4.  Set up baby's room, co-sleeper, car seat, etc.

5. Baby Shower in April.

6.  Childbirth classes, newborn care class, hospital tours in April.

7.  Wash clothes and things for baby.

8.  Last trip for just the 2 of us.  We don't know where we are going yet.  We had to cancel our trip to Vegas due to placenta previa, so we will be staying closer to home. 

9.  Ultrasound April 1st to see if placenta has moved.  Then we can start planning for birth and visits from family better.

10.  My best friend is visiting Memorial Day Weekend barring early arrival of offspring.  Last chance for girl time!

11.  Get all my maternity leave stuff straightened out for work.

12.  Celebrate my birthday!

[shanna-cat]

My nesting has been a bit out of control this pregnancy... I have already re-orginized all our kid clothes and baby stuff in the basement ( 7 years worth) into labeled Rubbermaid containers, cleaned out my boys closets, washed all my newborn clothes and took care of any old stains, peeled all the stickers off dh's old high school dresser to use for LO (hours of work!!), and gone through all my diapers and replaced some wraps with wool covers. I picked up my new Diono car seat today and already have it put together in my bedroom-I even have my labor bag all ready to go!! ( I birth at my moms house about 20 blocks away) I am not normally this orginized or prepared for any thing!

What I still want to accomplish:

1. Grout my kitchen tile

2. Finish the bathroom remodel (finally!!)

3. Learn to knit

4. Bring up co sleeper and dressed from basement

5. I am going on a girls beach trip in a few weeks and really excited!

6. Get my garden boxes ready for planting

7. Order some post labor pads and nursing pads from party in my pants - I love these pads!

8. Get a new nursing bra. Someone posted a link to some seriously cute and stylish nursing bras and I can't wait to get one.

9. Get prego photos taken from a good friend who is a photographer.


This is my last baby so i am going kinda all out and getting all the things i always wanted with the other babies but never got (like cloth pads, cute nursing bras, and pregnancy photos) I probably won't have a baby shower this time but friends and family are already donating to my diaper service request! I would really like to have at least 6 months paid for up front since I won't be working and hoping it works out. I think that's it!
Edited by shanna-cat - 3/8/13 at 9:11pm

[spotty4]

I am 25 weeks today and I am surprised that my "nesting" has already kicked in.  I have never been dirty or a slob, but my cleaning habits have definitely stepped it up a notch.  These lists are great to help me realize what I still need to do, too ...

Launder all baby clothes, towels, blankets, covers, etc.

Look into babysitting and/or daycare services.

Fill out my short term disability paperwork.

Figure out how/when to get baby on our health insurance.

Register with the hospital.

Find a pediatrician.

Gather post-partum materials (pads, etc).

Baby shower in May.

AND GOBS MORE I AM SURE!!

Edited by spotty4 - 3/9/13 at 11:43am

[veggieviola]

So...the list is long here, and I don't even know where to start!

- Upstairs needs to be completely painted.  I'm fine with painting with low/no VOC paint, but there is a lot of sanding and priming that needs to be done.  I have a respirator, but am nervous to do the sanding myself.

- Bathroom tile is in desperate need of re-grouting.  Will probably hire someone for this (and maybe the painting prep as well, as my husband is ridiculously busy and not especially inclined toward DIY/home improvement).

- Make a baby registry (shower is not until end of May).

- Figure out what cloth diapers we want to invest in.

- Do something about our backyard landscaping so that it is not a mud puddle anymore.

- Find a pediatrician.  Hopefully one that has privileges at our hospital and will support an early discharge as appropriate.

- Decide on what to do about furniture for the new one's room.  Or just wait until they actually need furniture...

- Do some networking to make sure I have freelance work closer to home for the fall/winter.

It feels like I have all of the time in the world, although tomorrow marks 24 weeks for me.  So only a little less than four months to go!  Freelance work has all but dried up for me this spring, so I do have plenty of time to accomplish what needs to be done.  I'm just one of those people who has a tough time getting started.  Hoping for some nesting hormones to kick in soon!

[BabySmurf]

I have been having bouts of nesting urges and then bouts where I feel like we have all the time in the world! I have already gone through DS's baby clothes and picked out what is relevant for a spring/summer baby as opposed to DS who was a winter baby.  I've indulged in a few new outfits as well.  DH is regrouting the bathroom as I type (we have had some mold issues, so this was the weekend to address that).  I have a list of things to do, but I haven't timed it down to the weeks yet...although that was my next step!! So this weekend is

12.) (This weekend) We are regrouting and recaulking the bathroom, repainting the bathroom ceiling.  Making the attic accessible (DH threw a bunch of stuff up there so I can't get to most of DS's baby stuff).

11.) DH has to work, so I will be doing little odds and ends.  The dresser and changing table should be in by then, so putting that together and washing the clothes we have and putting them away.  Getting stuff down from the attic, like the crib, car seat, boppy pillow, etc and washing/cleaning it.

10.) Hitting up a massive consignment sale to pick up the last of the baby clothes/stuff we need.

9.) Easter

8.) LLL Conference

7.) Start cleaning/organizing/Listing for helpers.  Plan garden

6.) Last weekend away as a family of 3

5.) Get together "Big Brother" kit (this brings me to 36 weeks).

4, 3, 2, 1).  Nitty gritty cleaning, organizing, any yard work that needs to be done.  Any other odds and ends that need to be done (putting anything together that needs it, installing car seat, etc).  Really I just want this time to focus on relaxing and spending quality time with DS and DH (although DH will be working a ton at this point). I really want to have everything "done" by 38 weeks. 

During this time I will also be feeding my freezer.  The projects we need to get done for the summer are to paint our house and fix our fence...DH thinks that he will fix the fence (himself) during his 1 and a half to two week paternity leave .  We also have a lot of odds and ends to do in our downstairs such as caulking and painting trim in our laundry area, finishing up the downstairs bathroom, finishing the playroom (which is where I plan on sticking FIL when he comes to stay with us this summer - we need furniture).  We need to redo the landscaping on our house too.  (We bought a foreclosure two years ago and have been working on the inside, but the previous owners were avid gardeners (apparently) and the yard hasn't been properly cared for for the two years we have been here or the two years the house was vacant before we moved in.  We've barely kept up on maintenance stuff, so we desperately need to simplify.  Plus, I have no idea what all of the neighbors were talking about when the said that the previous owners had great gardens...what is here just doesn't make sense at ALL!! The yard looks so yucky!)

Edited by BabySmurf - 3/9/13 at 12:16pm

[kitteh]

We have so much left to do before baby comes.

KITCHEN

*Finish priming and painting the last corner (I have most of it painted, but the cupboard area was so detailed and lasted forever, which kinda took the wind out of our sails)

*Figure out how to make our own wall-mounted fold-down kitchen table. We're in a tiny apartment and hoping to stay here for at least another few years, so we're trying to be creative with the space. I figure that having a fold-away table will help the space feel larger with two little ones running around

*Build or buy a full-wall shelving unit for the corner. We have precious little closet space and need more storage. This corner currently houses the jogging stroller and dd's highchair. I'm hoping to build a bunch of shelving above that and then hide the whole mess with a (folding?) door system.

*Replace a bookshelf (which has become a sort of catch-all dump space) with a pantry that has doors, or figure out how to somehow add doors onto the bookshelf so as to hide the clutter. It drives me battty.

LIVING ROOM

*Steam clean the carpets AGAIN (just did this back in December, but they need it again!) I hate the nasty beige apartment carpeting, and this stuff is particularly cheap so it looks dirty faster.

*Buy a nice area rug that will hide toddler/baby spills and messes.

*Research, Find, and Buy a Queen-sized leather sleeper sofa for when my parents (and later the in-laws) come to visit. Our current couch is tiny and the support beam is bent, so the fold out bed is horribly uncomfortable. Plus it's a light beige color and shows every little mark that dd makes (and she makes a lot!)

BEDROOM

*Sell our queen bed frame and upgrade to a King. We need more space for baby, plus the mattress that we bought 4 years ago is crap and dips down on DH's side. It's one of those pillow-top type mattresses, so we can't flip it upside down, just rotate it which doesn't do the trick at all. DH is not a big guy by any means, so the fact that his side has bowed down so noticeably is really annoying.

*Paint the entire room. This should be fairly easy, except for moving the furniture. We'll probably wait til the queen bed is out and paint before the King bed arrives.

*Go through the closet and try to figure out how to eek out some more storage somewhere. This will probably have to involve getting rid of some stuff.

BATHROOM

*Touch up the paint here and there, this room is mostly done.

EVERYWHERE

*Deep Spring cleaning. The bathroom especially needs it, but the rest of the place could use a good scrub down too. We vacuum almost daily and tidy up the place, but I hate to admit that things like dusting all of the book shelves and scrubbing the bath tub have been neglected for the past few months.

BABY RELATED

*We have no newborn clothes, so we have to buy those and wash them

*Maybe get another sling or carrier. I have a Moby and an Ergo but I'd like another option or two

*Get a breast pump (free from insurance!) and bottles/storage pumps for when I start back at work. I'm only part-time, so I shouldn't need much.

*Get a bouncy seat and maybe a swing off craigslist

I also want to get some major grocery shopping done, fill the pantry and also the freezer with a bunch of meals. I don't think I did this last time and we were fine, but we didn't have a newborn AND a 3 yr old to take care of.

OMG that list is ridiculous!

[kitteh]

BabySmurf, I like the sounds of this "Big Brother (Sister) Kit"  What do you plan to include in it? I think I need to do something like that.

[BabySmurf]

Originally Posted by kitteh 

BabySmurf, I like the sounds of this "Big Brother (Sister) Kit"  What do you plan to include in it? I think I need to do something like that.

I'm not entirely sure yet, but I've been searching forums on here for how to prepare toddler for new baby, and it's something that comes highly recommended.  There's a few angles, and I might put together a few different kits.  One is making up their own baby book of what happened when they were babies (their birth, baby pictures, the special times we had, etc).  Another is a "helper" kit, which would include things that DS can help me do with/for the baby - like diaper changing stuff, or maybe a baby doll that DS can work with while I do things for the baby.  Another kit would just be special toys that we keep just for the PP period - new toys that DS can play with on his own that are relatively self contained. 

Really, this is the part that I am having the most trouble with mentally - how to help DS, who is super intense and attached deal with not only the separation during labor, but also the addition of the baby.  I'm relatively okay with all of the baby stuff - I just want to research more about having a birth plan in case things don't go as planned.  (i.e. what to do in a c-section scenario, both for myself and the baby, but also DS).  But there isn't a whole lot to "do" per se.  He did wake up from nap one day asking where "baby sister" was....a huge improvement from waking up from the "that's MY mum!" nightmares. 

[RaeRae1109]

Spring cleaning will sure be fun this year!!  Thank goodness nesting is occurring this season and not in the middle of summer when I will just want to be outside in the sunshine. 

My main goals before baby comes:

-start veggies indoors and clean out garden (maybe I should have done that in the fall like normal!)

-Complete clean out of sewing area

-Rearrange living space, including bed area (I live in an open floor plan, so no doors between rooms)

-Crochet baby clothes and blanket (still need to buy yarn for blanket)

-Plant garden in it's entirety (Baby is due end of June, so this should work out just fine, but I'll be pushing it my last month of pregnancy!)

-I have some tree/brush clearing that needs to happen, but I will have help with this and might end up not doing much of it myself

-Continue search of cloth diapers and sew some of my own

-Car needs to be in working order (currently has to be push started if temp is below 50 degrees F).  DP wants to do this work himself, I keep begging him to take it in and just have it done!

Other than all that just some basic house cleaning needs to happen.  I might move my bed out of the nook it's in now so I can birth in front of my french doors and big windows.  That will give me a good opportunity to do some serious cleaning of the floors and all the little nooks and crannies.  I want to set up a little birth altar and print out some info on neonatal resuscitation along with other handy info to have close by.  I will probably also tack up some reminder art pieces (things that say "remember to breathe, remember to laugh" etc.  Most of that can happen in June when I will only be working about 8hrs a week.  I have a friend coming to visit in Oregon that wants to help me get things in order around the house and then another friend close by that is willing to help me do a deep clean of the house closer to EDD. 

It doesn't seem like that much looking at it all written out, but then I remember I work 5 days a week and rarely have full days off with DP (luckily I think we will have Saturdays together from here on out, yay!). I'm sure more will come up as time goes on, ha!

[holidaymama]

Sounds like we are all busy women! I have a c-section scheduled for Wednesday, June 12th. Planning/Nesting is in FULL swing around here. In fact yesterday I finished the nursery...not that baby will sleep in it much the first few months! HA...only took me three kids to admit that! :) We received our tax return about two weeks ago, so I have purchased all of the big things including:

1.) cloth diapers - ordered 4 dozen prefolds and 8 fitteds from GMD (two sizes), 3 aio from Kelly's Closet, and then I purchased 7 covers and 3 more aio from a local cd shop.

2.) carriers - bought a boba and will be getting a ring sling from local cd shop

3.) BOB jogging stroller - infant carrier attachment and cup holder

4.) detergent - Crunchy clean samples in a bunch of scents to see how they work

5.) mama cloth - ordered a full set since I am just switching. 5 post partum pads, a couple heavy, a couple of reg, and a couple of lite as well as a diva cup for after I get my first period again

Only big thing left is a pump (our insurance only covers a hand pump...that would be worthless for working full time out of the house!). Still looking for the best deal on a Medela Pump In Style

I am kind of doing the same as one of the other mamas who is having her last as we know this is our last (3rd c-section and having tubes tied). I'm getting all of the nice things I didn't get with my other two...although I have totally gone frugal in regards to furniture (all used/free) and even our travel system (craigslist)

We have a lot coming up too until baby comes as we have two boys in competitive baseball and the seasons go from now until July. 

[jr'smom]

It actually makes me feel better to read some of your lists!  I feel like mine is less overwhelming.  On the other hand, it's giving me more ideas to add to my list!

[JNajla]

I haven't done a thing yet, and starting to panic a bit!  I have a week off of work for spring break March 23rd-April 1st so I was planning on doing some painting and nursery prep that week.  

I do have some baby clothes, but not many.  

No nursery furniture purchased yet.  (Was hoping to hit some rummage sales here soon- if it would ever warm up!!).  

Found daycare (early learning center)- it is $1k a month- not sure how we're going to afford it

Probably going to cloth diaper- have to get those yet

No plans for baby shower yet- might just have an open house/ meet and greet after baby is here.  Not sure.

Money is tight, so this is a stressful time, unfortunately.  It would make it more exciting if my family or my in-laws would offer to help in some way (neither have asked if we need anything or have offered to get us anything).  I'm not going to ask.  

[jbirdbrain]

Originally Posted by BabySmurf 

I'm not entirely sure yet, but I've been searching forums on here for how to prepare toddler for new baby, and it's something that comes highly recommended.  There's a few angles, and I might put together a few different kits.  One is making up their own baby book of what happened when they were babies (their birth, baby pictures, the special times we had, etc).  Another is a "helper" kit, which would include things that DS can help me do with/for the baby - like diaper changing stuff, or maybe a baby doll that DS can work with while I do things for the baby.  Another kit would just be special toys that we keep just for the PP period - new toys that DS can play with on his own that are relatively self contained. 

Really, this is the part that I am having the most trouble with mentally - how to help DS, who is super intense and attached deal with not only the separation during labor, but also the addition of the baby.  I'm relatively okay with all of the baby stuff - I just want to research more about having a birth plan in case things don't go as planned.  (i.e. what to do in a c-section scenario, both for myself and the baby, but also DS).  But there isn't a whole lot to "do" per se.  He did wake up from nap one day asking where "baby sister" was....a huge improvement from waking up from the "that's MY mum!" nightmares. 

BabySmurf, I LOVE the idea of a "Big Brother Kit"!  I've been wondering what to do for our 5 year old who is SO EXCITED to have a baby sister.  I like your idea of a "helper" kit...maybe I will get him a changing pad and wipes that are "his", maybe a burp cloth, a special blanket, a wooden rattle that is for him only to give to the baby...any other ideas, mommas? 

Otherwise, my to-do list is coming along due to some nice nesting impulses!  I've washed all our baby clothes and blankets and made a short list of items we need. 

Still to-do:

-buy some new nursing bras

-maybe start some perineum massage with oil??  (anyone doing this or planning on it?)

-work on birth plan, make sure DH is on board/understands my preferences

-i'd like to wear something other than a hospital gown at the birth center so i might try to find something (ideas??)

-schedule a day for just me and also a day for just for the three of us before we become a family of 4

-remember to breathe and live in the moment :)

[kitteh]

Oh, that reminds me I have to write up a birth plan. I didnt bother to do one with dd and it worked out well, but when we went on the hospital tour (diffrent hospital this time) the tour guide repeatedly recommended one. So i guess I'll do it.

[pokeyAC]

Originally Posted by jbirdbrain 

-i'd like to wear something other than a hospital gown at the birth center so i might try to find something (ideas??)

This company actually makes clothes for labor.  I don't know that that is necessary, but it might give you some ideas.  I would recommend something you can clean easily or don't care about wearing again.  A skirt or gown would be best for access.  It should also be easy to take off and put on in case you get hot or cold during labor.  And it should have easy access at the top for nursing and skin to skin. 

[bearandotter]

Originally Posted by jbirdbrain 

-i'd like to wear something other than a hospital gown at the birth center so i might try to find something (ideas??)

I wore a bravado nursing tank and a yoga style knee-length skirt (cost about 15$ from Motherhood Maternity) during birth of both kids. Didn't care if skirt had to be cut off or had to be thrown out. Allowed me to be as comfy as wanted in any position. I GUESS it wouldn't allow for easy epidural placement, but I had no plans for that. I had the nurse put in a saline lock for my IV so no problem getting unhooked to change shirt if I needed. I will wear same thing again this time.

[BabySmurf]

Oh, I do need to write a birth plan too! We go on a group tour of the hospital next week, so I will have a better idea of their actual policies after that.  I know for the practice I am in, I won't need to go too crazy, but in terms of hospital procedure I may want to be a little more detailed. 

I like the idea of not wearing a hospital gown this time too.  I have a nursing night gown that might work....but I also kind of like the idea of a two piece thing.  i'm also thinking about doing a water birth, so i may not need much at all :)

[jbirdbrain]

Originally Posted by bearandotter 

I wore a bravado nursing tank and a yoga style knee-length skirt (cost about 15$ from Motherhood Maternity) during birth of both kids. Didn't care if skirt had to be cut off or had to be thrown out. Allowed me to be as comfy as wanted in any position. I GUESS it wouldn't allow for easy epidural placement, but I had no plans for that. I had the nurse put in a saline lock for my IV so no problem getting unhooked to change shirt if I needed. I will wear same thing again this time.

I like the idea of an inexpensive skirt and a comfy nursing top!  No plans for an epidural here ;)

Originally Posted by pokeyAC 

This company actually makes clothes for labor.  I don't know that that is necessary, but it might give you some ideas.  I would recommend something you can clean easily or don't care about wearing again.  A skirt or gown would be best for access.  It should also be easy to take off and put on in case you get hot or cold during labor.  And it should have easy access at the top for nursing and skin to skin. 

Cute stuff!!  A bit spendier than I was looking for but I like the idea of a skirt and comfy top.  Some moms probably don't care either way, but last time I felt like changing into the hospital gown somehow affected my feeling of being powerful in my own body.  Or something.  Its difficult to articulate!  But I just feel like I might stay more "myself" if I have my own clothes on?