Preparing for baby...

[swiftlyirun]

I feel like I'm finally allowing myself to get excited about baby! I feel like last time, I had so much STUFF to get which provided a good distraction for the waiting and was a way to channel my excitement. This time around, I have 95% of what I need, so I feel a lot of the waiting. Also, I feel like baby #2 is getting the shaft because I spend so much of my day just trying to survive with my toddler.  I feel like some planning will help ease my anxiety and get me more excited, so let's talk!


What's on your to-do list for baby in the next month?

What is stressing you out most right now about baby coming?

Tell me your most wanted baby purchase that's totally not a "need" in your mind?

[swiftlyirun]

What's on your to-do list for baby in the next month?
Get DD's big girl room finished. So I can start pulling things out for baby and seeing what I need.


What is stressing you out most right now about baby coming?
Today? It seems to change, but today it's being able to handle my super needy toddler and the baby. She's been in this funk the past few days where EVERYTHING is a fight. Like a literal, clawing at me and hitting me FIGHT.  Pass the ice cream please.


Tell me your most wanted baby purchase that's totally not a "need" in your mind? For DD #1 it was a Mamaroo. I literally had a breakdown over not having a Mamaroo (we had nothing else at this point either) at like 28 weeks. DH went out and found one on CL the next day. DD hated it. LOL. This pregnancy, it's a double stroller. I'm not sure I "need" one, but I'm feeling pressure that I should have one. 

[estrellita]

To dos:
Clean up our bedroom so we have room for the bassinet
Wash sheets, Boppy covers, burp rags, etc
Start packing hospital bag
Install car seat base
Finish buying some essentials I didn't find at Target
General cleaning and decluttering
Sanitize bottles
Find and clean pump (I have another coming but I would like a backup)
Print off FMLA paperwork and bring it in to the doctor

Worries
Dealing with 2 kids instead of just one!
Recovery
Hoping BFing works this time
Doctor thinks baby is breech so.. possibility of a c section
Sleep deprivation

We didn't buy much this time other than a double stroller, bassinet, a few clothing items, and just essential items. I'd really love another carrier (like a Tula) but I already have a wrap and SSC so it's not really necessary.

[krystee]

What's on your to-do list for baby in the next month?
-Get the room painted
-Order crib sheets and art prints from Etsy
-Buy curtains
-Buy dresser
-Buy double stroller, formula, diapers, bottles, pacifiers
-Wash swaddles, NB, 0-3 month clothes
-Wipe down pack n play, clean RnP and car seat as needed
-Get FMLA paperwork signed
-Finish DS's big boy room (new ceiling fan, hang art, buy a desk and bookshelf
-Finish playroom (dining room); replace light fixture, organize toys, buy toy bins
-Set up 529 for DS2
-Update wills
-Roll over retirement account I've been meaning to take care of for years (not sure why I feel this is tied to being ready for baby, but I put it on my list!)
-Renew passport (taking international trip for work right after mat leave)
-Pay off credit card (will do while on maternity leave; need to get this done ASAP to make 2 in daycare more affordable!)

What is stressing you out most right now about baby coming?
-The money! Buying all the nursery stuff and supplies we need and a newborn photo shoot on top of Christmas expenses is stressing me out (DH was laid off for seven months this year and we had to spend down savings). Daycare with 2 has me a bit worried too.

Tell me your most wanted baby purchase that's totally not a "need" in your mind?
-The dock a tot looks handy, but I am not understanding the $165 price tag. The NB photos are also definitely not a need, but I wanted to do the same thing for this one that I did for the first, and I love the photos we have!

[arehopsveggies]

To do-
Make a big boy room for my toddler. Kick him out of my bed into his super cool new bunk bed that DH is building for Christmas

Stress-
Sleep. DS is still up several times a night and is a beast to get down. I'm so stressed about two kids waking me up

Breastfeeding is surprisingly stressing me. DS is still nursing, and I'm so sick of it, and sometimes I completely panic at the idea of being tied to a newborn-- like, how do I handle cluster feeding and a toddler?!? I am trying to tell myself that we are going to combo feed, so if I decide to add a few bottles of formula I've mentally prepared. It just seems so weird to plan on formula from the beginning when I'm still nursing an almost 3 yr old!!!



Wants-
I've been dying to get a double bob and found a used one last week for $75. That was so exciting!!

My husband found a $100 diaper pail and really wants it. We just used paper grocery bags till now.

Most of our $$ purchases have been for the older kid- big boy bed, big boy car seat, etc so we can pass down his old stuff. Poor second kid gets no cool new things!

[krystee]

I forgot one! Potty train DS1.

[linz]

Last time I had twins so nursery was done super early. I'm 26 weeks and just starting nursery and not very motivated . I'm more trying to get stuff done before I'm too big.

I just got stuff from storage so now going thru and washing newborn and 0-3 clothes. Plan to also finish up nursery in next month. Furniture is all in there, mainly need to decorate.

Stress would be thoughts of nursing with 2 toddlers. They'll go to daycare fulltime but I know it'll take a lot of balance to be a good mom to them and baby.

My splurge was a lillebaby . I didn't have a carrier last time but planning to wear this baby more.

[rupertpenny]

To do: We are pretty set I think. The only big thing is that I currently have no clothes storage for him. He is sharing a tiny (like really small, I had to custom order a bed because a twin didn't fit) room with B and there isn't much space for a big dresser. Also, we plan to move next spring so I don't want to buy something specifically to fit this room when I know it will be temporary. I need to figure something out.

Stress: I am stressed out because we don't have a name and aren't any closer to figuring it out now than we were when we found out the sex back in July. I also know we are going to end up having a big fight about circumcision and it just hasn't happened yet. Not looking forward to that, but I also don't want to start it just to get it out of the way. This is probably flameful, but I told H he needs to make the arrangements* since he is the one who wants it done and I'm kind of hoping he just never gets around to it.

*Circumcision isn't covered by insurance here and isn't offered at the hospital where I'm delivering. We will also have to pay a few thousand out of pocket if it we do it.

[rupertpenny]

Oh, I forgot unnecessary thing I want! I bought a dock-a-tot which definitely counts. I don't think there is anything else on my wishlist.

[mrslefty]

What's on your to-do list for baby in the next month?

I have all ds's clothes in boxes in the babies room right now and I need to go through and cull some stuff as a friend borrowed it all and added to it. There are 5 of the biggest size Lowes boxes full of new born-2t.

What is stressing you out most right now about baby coming?

I have a Neuro inflammatory disorder that can make recovery from a c section even worse. I am really scared of having a c section since my odds are higher with twins. Oh and parenting two newborns with a 3 year old...

Tell me your most wanted baby purchase that's totally not a "need" in your mind?

I want a size 8 wrap so I can wear both babies at the same time. I wore ds a ton and have all the wraps I need for a single baby and who knows if I chance the skill set to wrap two so it's just a want. A spendy want.

[jewel]

What's on your to-do list for baby in the next month? Basically nothing. We will hopefully do family/maternity photos soon, but nothing planned yet. I'm 32 weeks and have my hospital bag mostly packed and some baby clothes washed. Around 38 weeks, I'll probably finish packing my bag and wash the rest of the NB and 0-3 clothes.

What is stressing you out most right now about baby coming? Just the anticipation of sleep! Or lack thereof. It was, by far, the worst part of having a baby for me. I am wishing all my wishes that this baby sleeps better than DS did. My kid sleeps so well as a toddler, both at night and for naps. I am DREADING the sleep deprivation. I'm also not too excited about the actual birth. I had a bad experience with a failed epidural last time, and am just worried about the pain.

Tell me your most wanted baby purchase that's totally not a "need" in your mind? I want another Kinderpack. I sold the first one I had because I didn't love the print. We already have at least 5 carriers, but I want a Kinderpack again. I'm just waiting for one I like to come up on the BST.

Overall, I'm doing the bare minimum to prep for this baby. I have a ton of diapers from various sales and will wash his clothes, but I'm not itching to get everything set up like I did for DS. I plan to have him in the co-sleeper, which folds out in 2 minutes, and will have my H set up whatever else we need as we go.

[midwest07]

I feel like I have just as much on my list for #2 as I did for #1, just different. I am really glad not to be dealing with registries and showers and not knowing what we need. We will need some clothes possibly, even though same gender, since they will have been babies in winter versus summer.

I have several house projects - rearranging to make our office into an office/guest room and buying things for that and painting. And then moving DD to a new room and getting that room ready. The nursery will stay as is.

I also want to get estate planning in order (meant to do that with DD) and get DD's baby book caught up and picture books made or I will never catch up once #2 comes.

As others have said, 2 kids is making me nervous. We also had a rather easy baby with DD so I am nervous we are going to get a really difficult newborn. Not really looking forward to BFing and pumping. I didn't like that feeling of being sole source of food and being tied down to the schedule.

[swiftlyirun]

I noticed several ppl mentioned Dockatot- I totally have that on my list to watch. Anyone have experience with them?! I don’t know if I can justify the $$$

[browneyedgirl9]

My list is for the next 2 months, since I'm not due till January.

Wash baby carseat
Wash rock n play/ bouncy seat
Take out all bottles and sanitize
Order breast pump (I don't like my old one)
Finish setting up nursery/ decorations
Set up pack n play with bassinet in our room
Get new changing pad cover, sheets, blankets
Pack hospital bag
Pack DS1 overnight bag for grandparents
Buy another baby monitor or a 2 camera monitor

What stresses me out is the idea of 2 once I return to work full time. Getting 2 bags packed each morning, 2 dressed, 2 into the car, 2 to daycare, ect (my husband works in the city and leaves for the train early, so not much help)

[rupertpenny]

Nov 16, 2017 18:52:03 GMT -5 swiftlyirun said:

I noticed several ppl mentioned Dockatot- I totally have that on my list to watch. Anyone have experience with them?! I don’t know if I can justify the $$$

I'll let you know how ours works out in a few months. It is an insane amount of money, but I took the risk because I know they are extremely easy to resell where I live. If that wasn't the case I don't think I would have bought one. 

[redredwine]

swiftlyirun - I have one! My team at work bought us one for our shower gift as another coworker has one and loves it.

Overall, it's pretty great! We don't co-sleep, but I can see the biggest benefit being that. We have a 2 story house and a small family room area (where we mainly hang out) so we keep it on the couch and it's where we "park" her: she naps there (well, mostly she naps on me, but every once and while we can put her in there) and I park her there when I need somewhere to put her while I go to the bathroom, fix myself a snack, etc. We even took it on a night away so we didn't have to bring a PNP , so it was her sleeping area for the night. I love that it's a safe space to park her and I don't need a big contraption that takes up a ton of room or to take her upstairs. We actually were given a hand me down RNP and we never used it.
Would I pay $200 for it? Meh...maybe not.

My MOST FAVORITE baby items so far (9 weeks in ) that I can't live without and even H has commented how he loves these things too:

Ola Nail Trimmer ( i actualy look forward to doing her nails, lol. I can do them when she's awake and nursing?!)
www.amazon.com/Olababy-Trimmo-Electric-Baby-Trimmer/dp/B01DE5UEEY

Swaddle Me Pod (OMG, the easieset swaddle EVER)
www.amazon.com/SwaddleMe-Pod-2-PK-PeaPods-NB/dp/B01416HEHA

Bumbo Changing Pad (similar to the Keekaroo Peanut)
www.buybuybaby.com/store/product/bumbo-reg-changing-pad/3316115

Bumbleride Indie Stroller
www.bumbleride.com/strollers/indie/indie/1671966

[rupertpenny]

redredwine, I agree on the SwaddleMe swaddles! I liked the next size up that velcros too. There are so many fancy swaddles but these are among the cheapest and the best I ever tried.

[swiftlyirun]

I’m thinking i need a dockatot now for real. We have three stories that we live on. With a super active toddler- we’re up and down the stairs all day long, I think an easy place to stow the baby would be ideal’

[specialk]

To Dos-
Install carseats
Sort and wash clothes
Buy baby monitor
Maybe buy baby carrier
Get prescription for breast pump
Order some comfy clothes for maternity leave

Worries-
How DS will adjust
How I will solo parent a newborn and toddler
Baby coming too early or having a health complication

[swiftlyirun]

redredwine I loved the swaddleme pods, haha as a SECOND barrier for DD. We used the Moms on Call swaddle, but after a month or two, DD started breaking out of that and we zipped up the swaddle me over the MOC swaddle. She could get out of both on their own, but neither one together!

I'm considering getting a second PnP since we plan to use it exclusively for DD2 as sleeping quarters until we transition her to the crib. I'd like to have a second PnP in the basement to let DD2 nap in while DD1 plays in her playroom (to avoid climbing 2 flights of stairs to put her sleep all the time). BUT if we go any where I'm thinking we're going to need 2 PnP anyways right?