What have U done to prepare for baby? so far [Archive]

SummerTwilight

03-06-2006, 08:49 PM

Well I am a first time mom and have NOOOO patience so I have probably done a lot more than others have. Don't laugh. :blush I have scraped the old wallpaper off Croissant's bedroom walls, bought and assembled the crib, armoire and changing table, arranged the gifts I have received from people already (basically my way enthusiastic family) in the bureau, picked out names (even though I have no clue if it is a boy or girl yet...three weeks to go till 20wks!), wrote out an invite list for the baby shower (my sister-in-law asked me to compile it at some point, which basically means now to me) and decided on some other stuff for boy/girl that is just awaiting knowing the sex before I can paint and buy decor/crib sets. I am restraining myself to not write a list of who can come see Croissant after he/she is born. That would be too insane, even for me.
HAHAHA. I am insane. Yes, I work full time. But I have been trying FOREVER to get pregnant so I am a lot ahead of the game. It is like I have been pregnant for 3 years. I had names picked out in a month of finding out. :lol

BirthFree

03-06-2006, 09:10 PM

I've situated where baby is going to sleep (quite a task when we only have 3 bedrooms on a floor), bought about 1/2 a stash of newborn diapers, found my birth supplies... oh, and figured out who is going to be our doula and watch our kiddos here... but that's it. :)

ColoradoMama

03-06-2006, 09:45 PM

Well, let's see - I went to two midwife appointments! Hmmm, I have to have done something else. Uh, nope. I suck. I need to get busy!

mrs rockstar

03-06-2006, 10:43 PM

The only thing I've done is start collecting newborn diapers since my daughter didn't start in cloth until she was 3 months old and huge! But there's no nursery to prepare since we sleep with our babies and we're moving shortly after the birth anyway. I should look at double strollers but eh, there's time. I'm the queen of procrastination.

amybw

03-06-2006, 10:58 PM

I havent done much either! :lol

I washed the bassinet bedding ...well actually i did that before i found out i was pg because it converts to a changing table and we just decided to quit using it for DS downstairs. :lol I washed all the other fabric covered stuff too, high chair cover, car seat cover, etc...

Bought maternity clothes ...oh wait, that's for me... :lol

hmmm.... still not sure where to put the babe...we probably wont cosleep much but we only have two bedrooms upstairs and an office downstairs that i think will be too small for our bedroom.
No clue. But i am not gonna worry about it. Babies fit in!
Maybe we should just move. :lol

I got two bags of girl clothes off of freecycle :lol will refreecycle if it isnt a girl. There's some NICE stuff in there that i hope we get to use! :lol

Arranged to get a dresser for the babe from my brother ( who moved and doesnt want it)

Does eating, sleeping, exercising, etc count? :lol

Oh yes, went to appts... i did that!

Well, i did buy some books. I guess that counts. "The womanly art of breastfeeding" and some books for wrangling my toddler :lol and natural childbirth info.

Got some hyp-birth relaxation cd's off of freecycle too :thumb

Will get busy if the baby reveals its gender at our u/s the 23rd.

:)
Amy

NewAtThis

03-06-2006, 11:06 PM

We got a clothesline! From Freecycle!! It's my first step in gearing up for diapers...purchasing them still seems overwhelming!
Lots of reading, here and books, trying to learn and figure out what we need and what we're supposed to do upon becoming parents.
Very little purchasing yet, but I'm starting to at least visit the resale shops and see what they have and get an idea of how much things cost.

amybw

03-06-2006, 11:08 PM

Oh I am so jealous!

I want a clothesline! We have so many trees I would be doing so much rewashing it isnt worth it...

and to think, as a kid I was embarrassed that we line dried our clothes!
( understandably in many ways...but ironic too)

:)
Amy

eightyferrettoes

03-07-2006, 12:55 AM

Haven't done a dang thing. My older son is just now a year... all his baby stuff is still usable and accessible. We did move him out of his hammock and into a crib, so he's not suddenly displaced by the newbie. That has been quite a process, as you can imagine.

Might have to shop for more diapers, though... we barely have enough for ONE baby, let alone two in cloth.

And should probably get around to organizing the outgrown clothes in DS's closet by size.

Is it 14 weeks already?????

SlingWearin'Mama

03-07-2006, 07:17 AM

Well I am a first time mom and have NOOOO patience so I have probably done a lot more than others have. Don't laugh. :blush

Okay I was just like that the first time around too! stripping wallpaper, ripping up carpet. We were ready to go way ahead of time, I say do it while you have the energy! Congrats and yay on the healthy pregnancy! You make all the lists you want :wink

I haven't done much myself yet. We are leaving for a cruise at the end of the month so I am waiting until after that. But weeks 20-30 will be busy for me. I want to slow down after 30 weeks, I feel I'll be pretty worn out just living life.

ibex67

03-07-2006, 07:25 AM

Definitely a procrastinator, here. Haven't done anything but midwife appts and won't do anything for months and months. I was so over-prepared with #1, seven years ago and found I didn't need anything but a car seat, diapers, wipes and onesies for months post-partum. Oh ... and a sling. Sometime in the beginning of the summer, I will shop for those things. Won't be doing a nursery or anything because we did that the first time and never used it. This one will share our room for the first couple of years... then we'll see. Oh... and I guess I will probably by a co-sleeper this time.

jenmk

03-07-2006, 07:50 AM

Well . . . uh . . . nothing. :blush

This is number 3, so I have everything I need already. But we're off for an ultrasound in 2 weeks, and if it's a girl then I'll be buying some purple yarn to make her a little hat to wear soon after birth to help keep her toasty. Probably won't buy any outfits for her because I do have some girl ones that have never been used (my first two are boys). There's also a cute knit romper that I've wanted to make for a girl ever since I saw it years ago. So I'm sure I'll be buying yarn for that too if we have a she. If it's a boy, I'll probably make him a special hat too, but most likely not purple.

I may also knit some wool diaper covers, which are so cool. I have all the diapers and covers that I could need, but I like the idea of knit ones. (Okay, we'll see how much time I have to do all this knitting . . . plus I still have to finish a couple of other knit projects too.) I have big plans to put up a laundry line outside once the ground thaws, and to get my garden tilled and planted this spring (okay, that's really not for baby . . . but sort of because those yummy veggies will help make healthy milk for him/her). I'll wash the car seat cover before August (or maybe at the very beginning of August), and do a couple of loads of baby clothes . . . that are clean but have been sitting in plastic bags for the past two years.

Does it count that I will do some things to prepare? :o

Glittergal

03-07-2006, 08:21 AM

Not much! I'm planning on knitting some soakers as well. I have started to buy diapers, do need a changing sale but this weekend there is a huge moms of multiples sale, so i'm hoping to get one there. will have to buy clothes if we're having a boy! that's about it. more stressing about my job (if i'll return) and how we can afford for me not to work. i hate money and student debt.

KC in KS

03-07-2006, 09:02 AM

LOL in a way it really is for the baby. We've been living with my dad, which has gotten a little "interesting" as DD1 entered toddlerhood. With a newborn on the way, it was time to get our own place again!

I've also hired a doula.

And told DD1's daycare I would NOT be needing a space for the baby. I'm going to stay home with both babies! :throb

I actually think that's going to be about it until it's time to start washing baby clothes and packing suitcases.

Ary99

03-07-2006, 09:08 AM

We also bought a new house and will be moving at the end of this month. I can't want to let the nesting begin!

Other than that, I have done absolutely nothing, maybe read a little here and there. Oh, and contacted my doula :thumb

magpiedee

03-07-2006, 10:14 AM

We bought and put together a little bookshelf for all the kids' books we've been buying for the last 4 years or so. Every time one of us goes out of town or sees a cute book, we buy it, and then bring it home and read it together and date it. It's one of my favorite traditions, and now we've got 2 shelves of great books for all ages.

Other than taking good care of myself and getting all my appointments made and trying to get rid of clutter in our home, that's about it. Once we find out the gender on March 21, though... it's registering time!

peilover010202

03-07-2006, 10:51 AM

I haven't done a thing. I've thought about it, but haven't actually done anything yet. :blush

I'll get busy after the u/s in 2 weeks, when we will hopefully know more about the sex of this babe.

We need a swing, rocking chair, amby and clothes (only if girl). I think that's it. Oh, and dh will paint the babe's room (since it's a putrid turqoise right now from previous owners.)

2 in August

03-07-2006, 11:40 AM

I haven't done much yet. I'm over feeling sick, but still get tired soo easily that I'm not doing much of anything.

Dh moved his computer and related stuff out of the office and down to the end of the basement closest to the stairs. I have to clean out the rest of the stuff (mostly ebay stuff that needs to get sold off). The office will then become our 4yo dd's room and they baby will get her current room.

I did get 3 really cute pairs of baby shoes yesterday. They were only $2 a pair. 2 are gender neutral, one is all girl but they are bigger, so if we find out we are having a boy, then I'll give them to my friend who just had a girl 3wks ago.

I have a mental list a mile long of stuff I "should do" but nothing much has actually happened yet.

Jennifer

veganf

03-07-2006, 11:44 AM

I've only had cool weather babies, so I went through the newborn clothes and picked out all the warm weather clothes. They're still sitting in a pile in the basement though. We're going to get a few new bookcases, one of which will go in our room with one shelf for diapers and clothing for the baby (so we don't have to bother the boys at night).
We only have one small bedroom for the boys upstairs in addition to our bedroom, so when the baby is old enough it'll have to share with themn whether it's a boy or a girl. Eventually we'd like to add onto our house, but that won't happen for a while. We have an office and a guest bedroom downstairs, but we don't want anyone sleeping downstairs--it's just too far away. We cosleep for the first 6 months or so, then move baby to a pack & play next to our bed, then around a year into the other bedroom. So I have time to figure it all out.
We've picked out names, but that's all we've done so far. Once it gets warm out I usually feel more motivated--sort of like spring cleaning.

- Krista

3_angels

03-07-2006, 12:26 PM

peilover010202

03-07-2006, 01:44 PM

I bought some onesies at the second hand store. My mother told me to stock up because an August baby will live in onsies for a while. They were only 2 for a dollar at the second hand store!! Yeah! Something I can afford!
I've looked in vain to find a crib/ect we can afford. Seriously considering the Amby. Are they expensive? How long do you let the baby sleep in one without worrying he'll roll out of it or knock it over?? Anyone know?
What is Freecycle?
Oh I am so overwhelmed. Being a First Time Mommy to be is exhausting.

I found a great crib at a garage sale over the summer and grabbed it up (just make sure your up on the safety "rules" before you do that.) Same with second hand stores - some will even call you when they have one come in. And, Goodwill too!

Amby's are $200 new and just a bit less if used. From what I've read and babe can sleep in one until about 1yr.

Freecycle is a yahoo group that offers things for free from your community. Sometimes you can get some nice stuff, other times not so nice - but you can always freecycle whatever you don't want/can't use.

rebeccalizzie

03-07-2006, 02:29 PM

Too much...I feel like a dork too. Glad to hear other mama's are ahead too!

I'm making dipes, I think I'm up to 10 or so, and I bought 12 kl's and 50 kl wipes. I just bought a diaper bag, and I'm positive I'm insane for getting one this early but I like it and it was on clearance so I thought I'd better grab it. It's Lands End, and I hate their normal diaper bag (I think it's super ugly) but I know from other people that one is great--sturdy and with perfect pockets. So I found this one on their clearance site, and it looks like a khaki and light blue square tote bag. Much more my style, so I hope I like it! If not, I'll probably put it on the tp here. I also started a "registry list"-I'm not registering, instead I just made a list of what I want and my sister (who is going to throw my shower) will keep track of it. That way people can shop wherever.

The baby's room is coming s l o w l y. It's been my office/sewing room/junk room for 3 years. I have a list of where and how everything is getting out of there...I just need to do it! I am not repainting, I love the current color and the baby won't care. I am using DD's crib for this baby, and DH's old dresser from his bedroom (which somehow actually match!) My current sewing table is too high for me and covered in formica...so it's going to be a changing table. So all I have to do is *empty* the darn room and then I can set up the furniture.

Nu_Mommy_2003

03-07-2006, 04:38 PM

Boy, some of you have been busy!

eleven

03-07-2006, 06:29 PM

CatskillMtnMama

03-07-2006, 07:59 PM

I haven't done a durn thing .... pregnancy has made me somnolent!!

I guess this counts: last summer we divided one big room on the second floor into two little rooms so that we could have a guest room for grandma to stay when the new baby arrives!! Well, she decided to come up early to help me during the pregnancy!! Yeah!

Yah, Pease, got my boobs and got my DD's old clothes in boxes somewhere. :)

Liz

JenMidwife

03-08-2006, 08:54 AM

This is a great thread! It's so fun to read about where everyone's at & for those of you have #2+ how your preparations change so much from #1 :)

SummerTwilight, after trying to get pg for 3 years, I am SO HAPPY for you! What an exciting time!!!

magpiedee, I LOVE your book buying tradition. We are big travellers & a couple of years ago, knew we'd be trying to start a family in a couple of years. So I started picking up cute, cheapo onsies & t-shirts for baby (but then would mail then to my mom so it wouldn't make me feel bad about not having a baby yet!). So now we have stuff from Ireland, Australia, Idaho (very exotic, ha, ha!).

The most time & energy consuming thing I've done to prepare is trying to find a back-up OB since I'm planning a homebirth. It is proving to be pretty difficult & frustrating. UGH! Shouldn't medical care be every person's right?! :irked:

Other than that, I'm in the less-is-more, miss practicality camp. We are not really going to have a nursery (baby will sleep with us). We are going to CD & while I'm hoping to put together a registry for the bulk of it, I have started to dabble on the TP & am having a blast (trying not to spend too much $$$)!!! :D

I have started eating some organic food for the first time in my life for baby. Am LOVING organic dairy! :love

JenMidwife

03-08-2006, 09:05 AM

I just bought a diaper bag, and I'm positive I'm insane for getting one this early but I like it and it was on clearance so I thought I'd better grab it. It's Lands End, and I hate their normal diaper bag (I think it's super ugly) but I know from other people that one is great--sturdy and with perfect pockets.

Way to go!!! I LOVE Lands End & was shattered to learn that they are discontinuing their maternity line :( When did you find the bag? If it was recently, I'd love it if you could PM me the link! Thanks!!! :thumb

JenMidwife

03-08-2006, 09:06 AM

We're supposed to prepare?! :lol

Second baby, let's check the list:

1. King size bed - check
2. Boobies - check
3. DD's newborn clothes and dipes - check (somewhere in the basement, to be found later)
4. Slings - check

Guess I'm a lot more prepared than I thought! :D

Hehehe, I love your attitude!!! :love

JenMidwife

03-08-2006, 09:08 AM

What is Freecycle?

Here's the link http://www.freecycle.org/ Also, Craig's list www.craigslist.org can have some good deals on baby gear as well as Ebay.

rebeccalizzie

03-08-2006, 10:47 AM

Way to go!!! I LOVE Lands End & was shattered to learn that they are discontinuing their maternity line :( When did you find the bag? If it was recently, I'd love it if you could PM me the link! Thanks!!! :thumb

Wait a minute...they are discontinuing the maternity line??? I saw a swimsuit that I wanted on their clearance page, maybe I'd better get it now!

I sent you the link!

SummerTwilight

03-08-2006, 02:36 PM

Oh and I remembered when I read other's entries to add that I also have a doula who I had my first two hour appointment with yesterday and I am IN love with her, think I like her better than my midwives, have had a few midwife appt. and have some great books to read! Basically anything to make the time pass by faster! HURRY UP AUGUST!:love

taradt

03-08-2006, 03:44 PM

eightyferrettoes

03-08-2006, 05:59 PM

3_angels

03-08-2006, 08:55 PM

pease, the only thing on your list I have are the boobies.
huge, mountainous, sore, cumbersome boobies.
is there any way we can take that OFF the list??

SummerTwilight

03-09-2006, 02:55 PM

peilover010202

03-09-2006, 03:22 PM

3 Angels: Sure, if you want to get rid of them you can give them to me! After being barely an A my whole life I am PSYCHED to be up to a B. I think I will fall in love with myself if I get to a C. I will actually feel like a GIRL!!!:D

I went from an A to a C when my milk came in. WOW! I didn't know what to do with those things :lol But, after ds weaned, I was smaller then I had ever been (umm, less than an A for sure) Thinking back, I really have no idea why I bothered with a bra :wink

Azreial

03-10-2006, 08:31 PM

oh I wish my boobs would get smaller after nursing. I was a b/c before ds. Since I haven't been smaller than a c/d, even when I was down to my pre-kids weight. Now I don't know, I tell dh I'm one midget and if I end up tandem'ing I might end up being a 2 midget :blush Seriously though I am squished in a dd/e, really squished boob pouring out the tops and sides; underwires forget about it, they float in the middle, not even touch my breast bone :blush I really need some new bras but I'm in denial :lol Even dh has commented that my bras look too small. I figure thats a bad sign, since I know he knows diddly about bra fit.

Ok back on topic. I bought a pram with a toddler seat. I bought 1/2 dz nb diapers (I foolishly let dh talk me into selling dd's to fund md diapers :irked: even though we knew we wanted more kids) That's really it. Like Jenn we're going on a cruise at the end of the month. Plus we're hoping to find out the gender at our u/s wed. After that, I'll have clothes to sort though, eventualyl car seats to buy. Hmmm I think that's it, I'm sure Ill find more to do, especially when I'm around 7mths and can't do it myself and must franticlly harrass dh to do it for me :mischief

acupuncturemomma

03-11-2006, 11:04 AM

We have been remodeling a space in our detached garage into a guest suite, so the grandparents and aunt/uncle-to-be can visit once the babe's here. And I've begun researching car seats and have looked into the Arms Reach co-sleeper...Oh, and I did contact a diaper service for info...other than that I haven't done a thing!! This is our first, so I'm not even sure what we should be doing. I was on hold a bit over the last few months as I studied full-time for a post-grad school licensing exam, but now that it's over I can focus more on getting ready for the baby; maybe I'll even break out the knitting needles!!

nfbmom

03-11-2006, 12:11 PM

I've bought about 6 newborn dipes and two wool covers. I need lots more diapers and I would like at least one more wool cover.

I bought one outfit to announce the pg. Good thing I was right about the gender!

At some point I need to get out my storage bins and figure out what I can use from when my 11yos was a baby. Then I can start buying/gathering the rest of what I need.

I've started (several times! LOL) to kint a blanket and have the kit for a sweater/hat set. I've also considered knitting a couple of wool soakers.

Hum, I think thats it. Baby will sleep with us forever :lol We just have to figure out what to do for a dresser for him.

LisaMcB

03-11-2006, 02:28 PM

I've really done nothing. Yesterday, I ordered some baby clothing patterns, but I need to get fabric, etc. and get started on sewing things.

I need to get going on diapers, too.

I don't have to worry about bedding, etc. b/c the baby will be sleeping with us.

I have a sling, but I want more than one.

That's all I have done or thought about. All of you are so far ahead of me!

Hugs~
Lisa

GentleBirth

03-11-2006, 10:24 PM

I haven't done much. I have thought a lot about rearanging our room so we could fit in a changing table (weren't not having a nursery this time, since we co-sleep for atleast the first year). I've bought a few new prefolds and diaper covers. Other than that I haven't done much!

veganf

03-12-2006, 06:25 AM

I brought up a little pile of clothes last night while folding laundry and Ryan had so much fun looking at them. It was fun telling him which outfits he wore a lot and showing him how small the baby would be.

- Krista

NewAtThis

03-12-2006, 11:07 AM

Since my last post I decided to check out a few of the baby resale shops in town...and to my delight found a used Arm's Reach co-sleeper for $65! I thougt I would have to look much farther than my neighborhood resale shop. It totally made my day...what a score! Finding quality used goods make the whole task of shopping for new baby seem much less overwhelming.

JenMidwife

03-12-2006, 08:36 PM

Way to go!!! :thumb

Since my last post I decided to check out a few of the baby resale shops in town...and to my delight found a used Arm's Reach co-sleeper for $65! I thougt I would have to look much farther than my neighborhood resale shop. It totally made my day...what a score! Finding quality used goods make the whole task of shopping for new baby seem much less overwhelming.

veganf

03-15-2006, 06:45 AM

Got out the newborn diapers yesterday. Ryan was all excited that we have a "Pikachu" diaper and a "Monsters Inc." diaper for the new baby, LOL. I think I have enough diapers for twins. They're just so darned cute! I love the little preemie prefolds (IMO they fit better in small diapers than the infant size).

- krista

magpiedee

03-15-2006, 08:20 AM

Mom and I went by Walmart yesterday and found a glider rocker and chest of drawers (hardwoods) for... just... really cheap. It was fabulous! Our couch is icky/itchy and our only other chair is a papasan (which makes me feel like Humpty Dumpty), so I really needed a comfy place to sit for the next 5 months and after baby arrives. Glider rockers are awesome! It practically puts *me* to sleep already. And we had to have a chest of drawers, because we do not currently have one, just closets and an armoir. Yay!

veganf

03-18-2006, 04:17 PM

Got a bookshelf in our room for baby's clothes, diapers, etc. so we don't have to go into the boy's room when they're sleeping.
Also got some new shelves downstairs to be able to clean up all the boys' toys. My SIL's family gives us way too many toys.
And I think I've got a list of enough people now to call who live really close by to come help with the boys if I go into labor when my husband's not home.

- krista

Mama2 '05'06

03-20-2006, 05:24 PM

I haven't done much. With the last one- she's 10 months old- I bought baby clothes at garage sales, second hand stores, goodwill etc, to no end. I have a huge tote of boy clothes and 2 of girl clothes. I have cleaned out Meg's closet to put away the too little things. I have a mental list that I need to put on paper of things to do. I am going to a kid's consigment sale in a couple weeks so I hope to find a bassinet and a double stroller. I don't know what we will do for sleeping arrangements. DD slept with us for 4 weeks and then moved to her crib where she's been ever since. I don't know if she will be ready for a toddler bed yet or not. We only have 2 bedrooms on the upstairs floor so they'll have to share a room eventually. That's why I need a bassinet. I have big plans for some crocheting projects but I have to finish the ones I have started!:blush they've been sitting since before dd was born!!:blush