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...

Book Requests...

As I've mentioned before we've been reading to/with Elijah since he was probably 3 months old. We started off just reading before bedtime... one short book. Then that one short book turned into several short books. After a while the books were moved into his play area, so he could look through them as he pleased. Yes, some of the books were torn apart or are very well worn, but, to me, a worn book is a well loved book.
At first I was buying him a new book every time I got paid, but that kind of fell to the way-side. One reason was about a year or so ago Elijah decided he didn't want to read or look at books anymore... he would rather play with Legos or his little figurines. When I would offer he would say no, so I just let him do what he wanted. We weren't too concerned, cause every person goes through phases in things that they like and don't like.

We let him be and probably around Christmastime he decided books were on his agenda again... with an added interest in books where you find things. So it was off to Barnes and Noble we went. We ended up getting a few different books, but this book series is one of his favorites:

There are 3 other books in this series
People, Places and Things
Moo, Quack, Roar and More
Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall


We only had 3 out of the 4, so Elijah's very first book request was

It made me proud for him to actually request a book, out of the blue, so I had to get it for him... that night.

The second book request was from a different source. On barnesandnoble.com they have these videos of famous people/authors reading children's books. Elijah -loves- the videos and looks forward to each new one. They upload a new video every month and you can even watch the ones from previous months. I love to sit there watching them with him. One of his favorites is

He would (and still will) ask to watch it over and over and over again. So one day we were at Walmart and guess what book we found. Yup, it was "my book" as he likes to say. We couldn't leave the store without it... Now he likes me to read it over and over and over again.

I wrote this entry about a week ago, but never finished it up to publish until now. The reason I mention that is because last night I offered to read Elijah a book and asked "What book do you want to read?". He wanted to read "Where The Wild Things Are", so I said "Where is it?". He looked around and couldn't find it initially, so after a few minutes he ran over to the computer chair and said, "Monnie, sit down, sit down, sit down!". He wanted to watch it on the computer since he couldn't find his book. (As an aside, we found the book about a minute later and he let me read it instead)

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.

Mother's Day...

My Mother's Day was pretty nice. We did some things that were ordinary, like grocery shopping and going to church, but there were also some special things we did and something special that was given to me. So, my Mother's Day went a little like this:

We went to church that morning, to the late service, so I could sleep in (a little). While there, Elijah made this for me in Sunday School:

He was very proud of what he made. He kept saying "That's Elijah's hand!" and he insisted that it was done in crayon, even when I said it was paint, he said, "NO, Crayon..." Ok, it's crayon then... Either way, I love it and will treasure it forever.

The poem made me weepy because of how big he's getting and I would def have baby fever right now if I wasn't pregnant. I can remember like it was yesterday when we were heading to the hospital to have him... Then I look at him and realize he is coming into his own and really is a little boy.
He:

• Talks in pretty much full sentences
• Helps with things around the house like straightening up and helping take care of Azalea
• Listens well, for the most part, when we are out somewhere. It was so nice not to have to worry too too much when we went to the Zoo. When we go to the mall he stays by our side... unless something catches his eye inside a store...
• (We) can go out to eat without worrying if he's going to act up or not
• Is starting to examine things Joe and his Pop-Pop (my dad) do, like cutting down a tree, fixing the gutters and shaving. He will actually sit there and watch, with furrowed brow, taking in every step of the process and probably saving it in his mind for use at a later date.
• Roots for the Orioles (sometimes without coaching)
• Takes pretty good pictures with my camera
• Asks hard hitting questions like "What happened to the lights?" when it's dark out and "What is hungry?" When someone said they were hungry on TV. I'm waiting for the harder questions like "Where does the sun go when it's not in the sky?" I'm sure that one is coming sooner than I think

But yeah, so back to what we did on Mother's Day, haha. After church we headed to McD's to pick Elijah up some lunch. While we were in the drive-thru line I smelled the best smell... Grilling meat. Specifically hamburgers. So I decided that I wanted a cheeseburger for lunch (which only happens about once every 10 years). A legit cheeseburger, not a McDonald's one. So we headed across the street to:

YUM!

Elijah was well behaved for the most part. The O's game was on the TV closest to us, to which he proceeded to yell at the top of his lungs "GO ORIOLES!". It was a pretty laid back lunch, which was nice for an old pregnant woman like myself.

After lunch we went grocery shopping (woopie...) then home. A little while later Elijah requested that we go to the playground, so we did for a little bit. After we went home Joe made me dinner - Fettucini with Asparagus and chicken in a lemon-butter sauce:

(not a picture of the actual dish)

It was pretty good. I think next time he makes it, he should make more sauce and it will taste really good. But it's the thought that counts, in my book, and I appreciate that he would take out the time to make it for me.

After dinner we watched the Amazing Race finale and then it was bedtime for all. Overall a good Mother's Day. I hope yours was good too.

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?

Egg Dying Videos

While we were doing the egg dying I took some video. There are 3 (actually there are 6 total on youtube if you wanted to watch the other more boring ones) because I'm spastic and don't like to have videos much longer than 1 minute.

So without further ado:




http://youtu.be/zLUmEYZ01DI



http://youtu.be/JjDGkIpAGUY



http://youtu.be/e6c7NFLYy_M

I hope you enjoyed a little glimpse into the fun we had dying eggs.