Baby To-Do List - 1 Week Left

So yeah. I didn't go into labor or anything. I actually forgot it was Thursday and it dawned on me a few minutes ago that I didn't publish this... Gotta love this pregnancy brain thing I got going...

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I really and truly didn't think I would get to this post. I was -positive- that the baby would have made an appearance by now, but here we are... 2 days away from my due date... Still plugging away at this list. I have been having false labor pains off and on for the past week or so, so hopefully that means that things will get going soon...

Need to (in no particular order):

• Decide on co-sleeper or bassinet
• Find and buy a bassinet
• Pick a name... First and middle
• Go through, organize and wash new born clothes 
• Go through, organize and wash 0-3 month clothes 
• Buy Diapers  
• Buy double stroller  
• Buy a wipe warmer  
• Pack hospital bag
• Install infant car seat (probably won't be done until right after the baby is born)
• Buy small toys/gifts for Elijah to receive when the baby gets presents
• Wrap the small toys for Elijah (put them in gift bags is more like it)
• Buy the big present for Elijah
• Install TV in Elijah's room  
• Find baby tub
• Buy gift for Elijah from the baby
• Wrap present from baby
• Buy bassinet sheets
• Buy baby tub

Progress this week:

• We bought the newborn diapers, yay!
• My FIL (and potentially MIL) are coming up on Saturday to mount Elijah's TV, in his room.
• I am bound and determined the presents will get wrapped before I go to the hospital... even if I have to wrap them while in labor
• Elijah's big present will be bought after the baby has made his arrival. Right now he hasn't showed interest in anything, for sure, except for his Ipod, but that's a whole other post, completely.

Well... If I'm still around, without a newborn in tow, I will be updating again next week... But that should be it. I believe July 29th is the last day they will let me go without inducing me, so until next week...

Baby To-Do List - 2 Weeks Left

This week has been very interesting. I have cleaned and sorted and straightened, but not because I actually wanted to do those things (nesting), I was forced into doing them. Meanwhile my feet are swelling like nobody's business and my back is killing me. BUT, I guess you didn't visit here to "hear" me complain. In other news, the baby is doing well.

I went for a growth sonogram at 36 weeks and they said at that time the baby was approx 6lbs 4oz, so he's probably going to be about the size Elijah was when he was born. I dunno, I just feel like I'm done. I'm ready for this kid to be born, whether I don't get any sleep or not. This is what the list has turned into. I have come to the conclusion that not everything is going to get done and I'm perfectly ok with that, at this point. It will all get done eventually...

Need to (in no particular order):

• Decide on co-sleeper or bassinet
• Find and buy a bassinet
• Pick a name... First and middle
• Go through, organize and wash new born clothes 
• Go through, organize and wash 0-3 month clothes 
• Buy Diapers  
• Buy double stroller  
• Buy a wipe warmer  
• Pack hospital bag
• Install infant car seat (probably won't be done until right after the baby is born)
• Buy small toys/gifts for Elijah to receive when the baby gets presents
• Wrap the small toys for Elijah (put them in gift bags is more like it)
• Buy the big present for Elijah
• Install TV in Elijah's room  
• Find baby tub
• Buy gift for Elijah from the baby
• Wrap present from baby
• Buy bassinet sheets
• Buy baby tub

Progress this week:

• Bought a baby tub. After we opened the box to make sure we liked it for sure, Elijah went over, got one of his baby dolls and put it in the sling part. Hopefully this is a good indication of things to come.
• Joe put away the baby clothes... this wasn't on the list, but was a general thing that needed to be done.
• We priced mounts for Elijah's TV. I'm not quite sure this is going to get done before the baby is born though, cause we are so close.

We are buying diapers for sure tomorrow and I'm pretty sure unless I get to it soon, the present from the baby is going to get wrapped at the hospital (haha). We are still undecided of what to get Elijah for his big present. I'm hoping he'll give us some hints.

So, with the time winding down, I hope to update next week, either with baby news/pictures or a list with everything crossed off (ha ha, again). Until next week...

Baby To-Do List - 3 Weeks Left

I hope everyone had a good 4th. Ours was relaxing... We went grocery shopping and grilled out with my family, then lit off fireworks in the backyard. We would have gone to see fireworks, but I was afraid I was going to go into labor (not for any particular reason, except that we wouldn't be able to leave quickly if it did happen). That would have been just my luck, so we played it safe.

I don't exactly know what this means, but I was apparently "nesting" on Saturday, which quickly was over by Sunday and non-existent on Monday and Tuesday. It was this burst of energy where all the clutter and junk got to be too much, so I just started cleaning. I didn't even feel tired afterward.... It was weird, but anyway, enough about me, let's get onto the list...

Need to (in no particular order):

• Decide on co-sleeper or bassinet
• Find and buy a bassinet
• Pick a name... First and middle
• Go through, organize and wash new born clothes 
• Go through, organize and wash 0-3 month clothes 
• Buy Diapers  
• Buy double stroller  
• Buy a wipe warmer  
• Pack hospital bag
• Install infant car seat (probably won't be done until right after the baby is born)
• Buy small toys/gifts for Elijah to receive when the baby gets presents
• Wrap the small toys for Elijah (put them in gift bags is more like it)
• Buy the big present for Elijah
• Install TV in Elijah's room  
• Find baby tub
• Buy gift for Elijah from the baby
• Wrap present from baby
• Buy bassinet sheets
• Buy baby tub

Progress this week:

• I packed the rest of my hospital bag. Truly amazing and it only took me approximately 4 weeks to do it, hahaha.
• Tried finding the baby tub, but alas it was nowhere to be found. So we are using the gift cards that Joe's co-workers got us and are going to buy a new one.
• Joe's sisters are going to get us the bassinet sheets. :-)

Unless the baby decides to make an appearance this week, I will catch you all next week...

Baby To-Do List - 4 Weeks Left

3 weeks, 2 days, 9 hours and 14 minutes to be exact... I'm just kidding, but it would be kinda nice to know exactly when I am going to go into labor, so I could procrastinate until the day before... or the day of, like I do with everything else. That is partly why I started this weekly update. I know myself and if I didn't have some accountability nothing would be getting done. Soooo, on that note, onto the list...


Need to (in no particular order):

• Decide on co-sleeper or bassinet
• Find and buy a bassinet
• Pick a name... First and middle
• Go through, organize and wash new born clothes 
• Go through, organize and wash 0-3 month clothes 
• Buy Diapers  
• Buy double stroller  
• Buy a wipe warmer  
• Pack hospital bag
• Install infant car seat (probably won't be done until right after the baby is born)
• Buy small toys/gifts for Elijah to receive when the baby gets presents
• Wrap the small toys for Elijah (put them in gift bags is more like it)
• Buy the big present for Elijah
• Install TV in Elijah's room  
• Find baby tub
• Buy gift for Elijah from the baby
• Wrap present from baby
• Buy bassinet sheets

Progress this week:

• They delivered the bassinet, so it is physically in our house... potentially with all the parts, but I guess we'll find that out when Joe puts it together (Update - We put it together last night and it looks great!)
• I packed the essentials for my hospital bag... That way, if Captain Caveman (what I've been calling the baby) decides to come early, I will have the important things ready to go... like paperwork, cameras and make-up. I should be packing everything else sometime this week... or when I start having contractions... whichever happens to come first.
• My sis said that she read somewhere that it helps smooth things over if "the baby" buys the older siblings a present. So we decided to do that... We just need to wrap it.
• We almost bought Elijah's big gift last night (a basketball hoop for children), but are having second thoughts about what to get him. I really want to buy him a Nook (ridiculous, I know, and totally out of our price range for presents), but I think we will save that for Christmas (as a family present) and go back to the drawing board for what to buy him.

We've gotten to the point in the list that nothing urgent needs to be done that can't be done after the baby is born (except for my hosptial bag, which I swear will get done this week :-)). That makes me feel a lot better. Until next week...

Baby To-Do List - 5 Weeks Left

Four weeks and two days to be exact... Time flies when you're having fun... If you can call all of this "fun" ;-). But anyway, between having to update every week and Joe's nagging help we got a lot accomplished this week.

Need to (in no particular order):

• Decide on co-sleeper or bassinet
• Find and buy a bassinet
• Pick a name... First and middle
• Go through, organize and wash new born clothes 
• Go through, organize and wash 0-3 month clothes 
• Buy Diapers  
• Buy double stroller  
• Buy a wipe warmer  
• Pack hospital bag
• Install infant car seat (probably won't be done until right after the baby is born)
• Buy small toys/gifts for Elijah to receive when the baby gets presents
• Wrap the small toys for Elijah (put them in gift bags is more like it)
• Buy the big present for Elijah
• Install TV in Elijah's room  
• Find baby tub

Progress this week:

• I -finally- ordered the bassinet. It is the one that Joe didn't like, but then after a few days he decided he was ok with it.
• With Joe's help, we sorted through all the Newborn and 0-3 month baby clothes and then my mom washed them.
• Even though this whole time I've acted like we have a name or two picked out, we actually don't. It's still a work in progress... However I think this week we have come the closest to picking out a name than ever before.
• I bought some things to go into my hospital bag, so sometime in the next week I should be able to pack it all up and have it ready to go... for the most part.
• We went to BJs on Friday and picked up some baby related items like baby wash/shampoo and a big two-pack of desitin. We decided to hold off on getting the diapers, cause I don't want them sitting around the house for a month. So we decided we were going to get them at the beginning of July.

I actually have a question to end this. If you have had a baby before, what is one thing (or multiple things, if that is the case) that is not on the usual list that you are glad that you packed? I haven't even packed yet and already I feel like I've forgotten things...

We are in the home stretch now... Until next week...

Baby To-Do List - 6 Weeks Left

A month and a half until the big day... if Baby Raymond decides he wants to stay put that long. I have a really bad feeling that he's going to come early, but hopefully I'm wrong. Some things got done this weekend... you wouldn't be able to tell by the lack of crossing off on the list, but prepping things and putting things together was what was going on this week.

Need to (in no particular order):

• Decide on co-sleeper or bassinet
• Find and buy a bassinet
• Pick a name... First and middle
• Go through, organize and wash new born clothes 
• Go through, organize and wash 0-3 month clothes 
• Buy Diapers  
• Buy double stroller  
• Buy a wipe warmer  
• Pack hospital bag
• Install infant car seat (probably won't be done until right after the baby is born)
• Buy small toys/gifts for Elijah to receive when the baby gets presents
• Wrap the small toys for Elijah (put them in gift bags is more like it)
• Buy the big present for Elijah
• Install TV in Elijah's room  

Progress this week:

• We found more Newborn and 0-3 clothing, but it still needs to be sorted through
• Got out the infant car seat to make sure it looked ok to use
• While we were in the closet getting the car seat, we also pulled out the swing and bouncy seat to make sure they were in working order too. Turns out everything is still in great shape
• Put together the double stroller to make sure all the pieces were there
• Made a list of what I need to buy to put in, and what I want to put in, my hospital bag
• I made a decision on what bassinet I like (finally), then I told Joe and he said he didn't like it, so that is still on hold for the time being

So the BJs coupon thing didn't pan out, cause apparently you need this thing called money to buy things at BJs. We were short on funds this week, so I think we are planning on going tonight or tomorrow. Who knows... in my life nothing is for certain until it happens.

Until next week...

Baby To-Do List - 7 Weeks Left

Another dud in the progress department... Well, for baby stuff. You would have thought, by my OB telling me my belly grew a LOT since the last time I was there and that the baby is head down, that a miracle would have happened and I would have been doing everything on the list, that day. Hah, actually, I couldn't, because after my doctors appointment I came home to Elijah and Joe... Elijah had a 102 fever and Joe had a sprained foot, so we headed to yet another doctor, called Patient first.

Elijah has a double ear infection. Joe has a severely sprained foot/ankle. That meant that for the rest of the night I had to take care of both of them. The next day, the feeling of wanting to get things done had passed and that is the reason (even though I didn't need one) nothing was accomplished this week.

Need to (in no particular order):

• Decide on co-sleeper or bassinet
• Find and buy a bassinet
• Pick a name... First and middle
• Go through, organize and wash new born clothes 
• Go through, organize and wash 0-3 month clothes 
• Buy Diapers  
• Buy double stroller  
• Buy a wipe warmer  
• Pack hospital bag
• Install infant car seat
• Buy small toys/gifts for Elijah to receive when the baby gets presents
• Wrap the small toys for Elijah
• Buy the big present for Elijah

  

Progress this week:

• Ok, I lied, we picked up a few more little presents for Elijah and unless we see other ones that are yelling out "buy me!", I think we are done.

This next week has potential though. Joe is on my back to pick out, and order, a bassinet. So that will most likely be happening. We also got this awesome coupon book from BJs wholesale that has like 10 coupons we can use, on things we usually buy, so the diaper buying may soon make it way off of the list too.

Baby To-Do List - 8 Weeks Left

This week I really needed to get my tail in gear. Thankfully it was a long weekend, I felt wonderful Sunday afternoon and ok Monday afternoon, so that is when most of this stuff was accomplished.

Need to (in no particular order):

• Decide on co-sleeper or bassinet  
• Find and buy a bassinet
• Pick a name... First and middle  
• Go through, organize and wash new born clothes
• Go through, organize and wash 0-3 month clothes
• Buy Diapers  
• Buy double stroller
• Buy a wipe warmer
• Pack hospital bag
• Install infant car seat
• Buy small toys/gifts for Elijah to receive when the baby gets presents
• Wrap the small toys for Elijah
• Buy the big present for Elijah  

Progress this week:

• We bought a double stroller. I had been eyeing this one specific double stroller pretty much since I found out I was pregnant. This weekend Babies R Us/Toys R Us was having a wonderful sale, which included 15% off of cribs, strollers, high chairs, etc. So we bought it, cause even after looking on Amazon, I couldn't find it cheaper. Now if I could only commit to a bassinet like that...
• We cleaned and straightened our bedroom, which indirectly was on the list of things to do. It took me 6 hours of sorting and packing, then having braxton hicks contractions and back spasms that evening... but it looks marvelous!

Review of my week and Baby To-Do List

9 weeks are left. I said I would start freaking after it got to single digits, but this week was kind of another dud in the "getting ready for the baby" department. Otherwise my week was jammed packed full of events and drama. It went a little like this:

Last Thursday - Went to my gestational diabetes class and learned all sorts of things about the things we eat and how to manage my blood sugar during pregnancy.

Friday - Joe and I had a date night at Bengies Drive-In. Thanks to my parents volunteering to watch Elijah and put him to bed that night (which is no easy task). The main reason we went was to see the new Pirates movie, but before that African Cats was playing, so we had to sit through that. It was pretty good, but it was LONG for the type of movie/documentary it was. Thor was playing last, but we were exhausted, so we headed home before it started.

Saturday - In the morning we went to Walmart to buy Charlotte's birthday presents (this is a perfect example of how much of a procrastinator I am). While there, I happen to come across some neat little presents to get for Elijah. We will still need to buy some more, but that is partially crossed off the list. In the afternoon/evening we went to Charlotte's birthday party and had a really good time. Elijah enjoyed himself immensely, especially playing with the pirate Legos.

Sunday - We went to church, then went to Walmart (another Walmart) to buy groceries for the week and also to buy some stuff for me to eat at work to keep my blood sugar leveled off throughout the day.

Monday - Drama with trying to get ahold of my nutritionist/dietician all day. Turns out they were calling Joe's phone back when I gave them my work number to call...

Tuesday - Elijah woke up at 5am, then there was drama at work. That night we celebrated my dad's birthday. I was tired as anything, however Elijah was cute that morning, before I left for work he brought me  the "I'm a Big Brother" book for me to read to him. I had a few minutes, so I said I would. I sat down with him and he exclaims "Wook, that's my baby!" as he pointed to the baby in the book. It was the first sign of him actually being excited about a baby. He also indicated that he understood the big brother was him. His excitement makes me excited. :0)

Wednesday - Went to my follow up nutritionist/dietician appointment that morning. I passed my "test" of eating and blood sugar levels with flying colors. Finally there was no drama during work hours and last night I wanted to revel in that fact by enjoying my evening. Elijah got a haircut and then we went home and chilled.

So, as you can tell, a lot was accomplished this week, however pretty much nothing from this list was. Such is life.

Need to (in no particular order):

• Decide on co-sleeper or bassinet  
• Find and buy a bassinet
• Pick a name... First and middle  
• Go through, organize and wash baby clothes  
• Buy Diapers  
• Buy double stroller (unless there is a wonderful sale, this won't be done before the baby is born)
• Buy a wipe warmer
• Pack hospital bag
• Install infant car seat
• Buy small toys/gifts for Elijah to receive when the baby gets presents
• Wrap the small toys for Elijah
• Buy the big present for Elijah  

Progress this week:

• Bought a few small items for Elijah to open after the baby is born.

Until next week... Let's hope for more progress this week...

Baby To-Do List - 10 Weeks Left

10 weeks... time is flying. This week went fairly well and I actually feel somewhat accomplished.

Need to (in no particular order):

• Decide on co-sleeper or bassinet  
• Find and buy a bassinet
• Pick a name... First and middle  
• Go through, organize and wash baby clothes  
• Buy Diapers  
• Buy double stroller (this probably isn't getting crossed off before the baby is born)
• Buy a wipe warmer
• Pack hospital bag
• Install infant car seat
• Buy small toys/gifts for Elijah to receive when the baby gets presents
• Wrap the small toys for Elijah
• Buy the big present for Elijah  

Progress this week:

• Cut the tree down - See previous to-do list (not on the list, but it was preventing progress of the things on the list)
• I think maybe, possibly that we have decided on the bassinet we want. Now I just need to find the best price and buy it
• I actually touched and sorted the Newborn baby clothes that were left over from Elijah. They need to be washed and put away still... and I need to go through the 0-3 month clothes also, but progress is progress.

Apparently, I'm told, slow and steady wins the race, so that is what I will do.

BTW, this is a scheduled post. Right now I'm in a lovely little class where I will be learning how to test my blood sugar level and also what I can and can't eat. It's a 3-hour class, so I guess we'll see how it will go... Until next week...

Baby To-Do List - 11 Weeks Left

***Blogger unpublished my entry from Thursday, so I'm publishing it again.***

There are 11 weeks left... If Mr. Mr. decides not to come early. Since I am a true procrastinator, in every sense of the word (especially during this pregnancy), I am not freaking out just yet. When my countdown hits 9 weeks (single digits) I feel like I will be getting my tail in gear more.

Need to (in no particular order):

• Decide on co-sleeper or bassinet  
• Find and buy a bassinet
• Pick a name... First and middle  
• Go through, organize and wash baby clothes  
• Buy Diapers  
• Buy double stroller
• Buy a wipe warmer
• Pack hospital bag
• Install infant car seat
• Buy small toys/gifts for Elijah to receive when the baby gets presents
• Wrap the presents for Elijah
• Buy the big present for Elijah  
• Buy Dreft

Progress this week:

• Added more things to the list of things to do
• Narrowed it down to a few bassinets to choose between

This week was kind of a dud. I did plan on going through the clothes, but before I can do that and really start getting our room ready for the baby, we need to cut down a tree near our house. (Don't ask how that correlates, it just does, haha) That is planned for Saturday, then I can really start going full steam ahead on our bedroom.

Baby To-Do List - 12 Weeks Left

With less than 12 weeks left until Baby Raymond is born I thought this would be a pretty good time to publish a list of things I need to get done before the baby is born. This list has been going on for a while... I just now decided to publish it, since I don't feel like doing anything else on it, but I feel like if I have accountability to update about the progress (Every Thursday), the things will get done faster. In theory this will work. In reality, I have no idea if this will motivate me or not... Hence the horrible job I did updating about the Easter projects.

So here is the list of stuff that needs to be done before the baby makes his arrival:

Need to (in no particular order):

• Decide on co-sleeper or bassinet
• Find and buy a bassinet
• Pick a name... First and middle
• Go through, organize and wash baby clothes
• Buy Diapers
• Buy double stroller
• Buy a wipe warmer
• Pack hospital bag
• Install infant car seat

This is actual a very small list compared to the one I had made before Elijah was born. We still have pretty much everything from when he was a baby, so a lot of the things we had to decide on and buy, we already have and can use again.

As I said, this list has been going on for a while, so here is the progress we've been making, so far.

Progress:

• Our friends Steve and Brie gave us a wipe warmer they weren't using
• Have narrowed down the list of first names, from the entire Bible, to a small list of names we somewhat agree on. I know I said it would either be Caleb or Matthew, but Joe and I aren't loving the name Caleb anymore... Matthew is still on my list though, so we will see.
• We bought his coming home outfit and Steve and Brie gave us some short sleeve onesies. Now I just need to wash them.
• We have picked a middle name.
• Changed middle name and have come up with two full names we are going to choose from once the baby is born.

I'm sure I'll remember more things that we need to do and buy, but for now this list is more than overwhelming enough... But, on that note, can you think of anything I'm forgetting?