What do you have left to do?

peachy13

I'm a planner/organizer type person, and it helps me big time to write things down and make lists and stuff. The "home stretch" has appeared out of nowhere and I would love to hear what you all still have to do. When you have too many projects going on and balls up in the air, it's easy to get stressed and overwhelmed. So journal it out, list it out, whatever helps you -- I think it truly does help.

Hopefully at the end of writing your post as well as reading others, you're feeling like this:


And not like this:

peachy13

To do before baby shower (11/5):
- clear space in kitchen for a baby drawer/cabinet
- clear space in linen closet and bathroom for baby towels and bath stuff
- buy thank you cards and hostess gifts

To do after baby shower:
- organize gifts and put everything where it belongs
- set up video monitor in nursery
- organize changing table with diapers, wipes, etc.
- wash baby clothes and organize dresser and closet
- finish decorating nursery
- send thank you cards

To do in next month or so:
- buy a lamp for nursery
- assemble stroller, install car seat
- buy nursing bras/tanks
- buy toiletries and stuff for hospital bag
- pack hospital bag 
- take breastfeeding class at work and buy anything I might need for pump and accessories
- prepare for last day of work before maternity leave (11/22)

On maternity leave before baby comes:
- grocery shop for myself for after baby comes, so that I always have something to grab real quick or cook up 
- take care of myself and try to relax as much as possible. Get my hair done, get a mani/pedi, etc.

Marley629

So some of my list of things to do stems from moving but this is my stuff that I'm prioritizing and want to accomplish by months end so that I can maybe relax a bit in November.  (I tried to spoiler  but wasn't working)

Things we need to accomplish asap 
- storage for playroom  - done 

- does shelving unit fit in closet or do we need a new one  - done 

- put both kids clothes away

- unpack playroom

- wash all baby clothes 0-3 months, blankets and receiving blankets 

- bracket big dresser to wall 

- put crib together 

- make sure car seat fits bases we have 

- put stroller together and make sure it fits stroller. 

- put swing together 

- get rock and play from moms house and wash 

- get car seat from old house 

- get wood for AC so we can turn off central air 

- Put headboard up so I can have my closet back and my pillows stop falling behind bed. 

- Oil change

- car seat installed 

- Christmas shopping 

- order new Return address stamp 

- Need to get Diapers. Wipes. Desitin.  Little remedies kit. Breast feeding stuff

-Call ins about ordering Breast pump 

- update my last name with hospital registration 

mdcd44127

Oh man, I feel like I've done so much, yet the still-to-do part of my list is epic. 

We still haven't even finished emptying out the office to turn it into the nursery, so there's all that stuff...
- Finish emptying office
- Paint & apply decal(s)
- Install new ceiling light/fan
- Assemble crib/c-table
- Buy & set up/test baby monitor
- Buy rocker/glider
- Buy a rug
- Buy small desk & bookshelf
- Buy a chest freezer
- Make & stockpile a bunch of freezer meals

Plus the other fun to-do's...
- 2 classes & the L&D tour
- Install the carseat & bring it to the local fire station for inspection
- Pack the hospital bag (& put together some survival kits for BF when I get home)
- Start laundering some of the baby clothes (at least the going-home outfits and some swaddlers)
- Speaking of which... choose 2 going-home outfits
- Get DH his flu & tdap shots
- Finish ordering the pump through insurance
- Baby-proof the house (I know this can wait a little while, but I'd like to at least get a start on all the loose cords)

Plus non-baby-related to-do's...
- Find DH a new nightstand because suddenly he hates his
- Take cats to the vet for their annual check-up
- Get car serviced/inspected
- Get our passports renewed

Not even going to get into the home improvement stuff we were "going to get done before baby's arrival"
Plus decorate the house for the holidays since I'm a glutton for punishment...

Soooo, yeah...

katiegeminimoon

My list was SO LONG but now it's getting so small!

-Finish painting/installing baseboards in nursery
-Clean out garage
-Lay new flooring in bedroom (probably won't happen at this point)
-Rip up carpet and lay new floor in guest room (def won't happen at this point)
-Stock up on animal food/household supplies (I DO NOT want to have to run out for stupid stuff in the middle of Winter with a newborn!)
-Maybe make some freezer meals (I have never attempted this before)
-Pack hospital bag
-DEEP clean the house (I may hire a cleaning service for this  )

I'm sure I'll find other things that "need" done too 

Marley629

lol reading others lists is adding to mine!  

mdcd44127

@Marley629 Same!! "Oh shoot, right, I need to do that, too..."

MJDsquared

This is scary, lol.

-Buy hostess gifts
-Two baby showers
-Make sure we buy whatever else we need after showers are over
-Finish arranging nursery once we have everything
-Anchor dresser/cube organizer to the wall
-Wash baby clothes/blankets/covers on secondhand gear
-Freezer meals
-Tdap for DH
-Hound family members about immunizations again
-Install car seat/have it inspected
-Car maintenance
-Thank you notes
-Figure out breast pump situation (my insurance company said I have to call after delivery, but I want to try calling before)
-Figure out clothes/nursing stuff for hospital
-Pack hospital bag

That's all I could think of off the top of my head (and reading other people's lists to see what I was forgetting, lol).

skc040512

@MJDsquared If your insurance is like mine, I called before last time and they basically were like, "Yeah ok but we won't pay for anything until after the baby is born, so if you want it to be covered up front and not have to pay out of pocket, call us back after the baby is born". Very not helpful...

katiegeminimoon

Yep, I just added about 15 things I had planned in my head but hadn't written down, plus a bunch more I hadn't thought of!

MJDsquared

@skcobb Ugh, lame! I sent a message asking what the protocol is and they said to call the company they work with (that provides the breast pumps) after the baby is born, so I wanted to try calling the company and seeing what they say. But I'm guessing they'll just say what your insurance company said.

stella_700

To do list: 
-buy thank you cards for two baby showers
-wash all baby stuff, fold, put away
-finish setting up changing station/wash, stuff cloth diapers
-finish decals in nursery
-finish cribs
-set up nursing stations/baskets (in our room, the nursery, and in the living room
-make freezer meals
-have carpets deep cleaned (hiring out)
-still need to get hanging rod up in nursery closet
-install car seats & get inspected
-finish the cushions for the swivel rocker
-check on ordered breast pump
-buy nursing tanks/bras, haven't done this yet cause I'm a FTM and I'm just not sure how big they will get once milk comes in
-reorganize furniture in bedroom to allow for baby area in master bedroom
-rearrange kitchen drawer for bottles, nipples, etc.
-pack hospital bag
-clear room in freezer for bm
-clean up laundry space for greater ease of working with cloth diapers
-attach sprayer to toilet
-hang curtains in nursery

To be done after babies arrive
-baby proof house
-finish ripping up all carpet and lay rest of flooring (after the new year and taxes are done)

Ugh, I thought I was further along with the prep stuff. I need to get to work. Luckily my mom and sister will be here this weekend and after the shower we can get in the nursery together and work on it.

whiska

This is fun - I'm really interested in what other people have on their lists or what's stressing them out.  I feel like I'm the only person who's more like...

skc040512

@whiska I'm there with you...since we live in a very small 2 bedroom apartment, this LO will be sharing a room with DD after the first 2-3 months, so nursery is pretty much done (we had to set up baby's furniture pretty much as soon as we got it to get her used to it). All the major stuff is done, but we've got a ton of small things left.
My list:
-Order decor for over the cribs  (Wooden cutout of each girls first name initial) 
-Hang window decor
-Deep clean apartment (this will seriously take like 2 hours. Hoping to save this for the week before my due date in an effort to send myself into labor lol)
-Clean out mine and DHs closet
-Get storage shelf for DDs closet for the new baby's clothes
-Clean out storage in DDs dresser (we host events for our apartment community in exchange for cheap rent, so we have a ton of decorations and event supplies stuffed in every random place we have available)
-Move event decor to the management's storage unit
-Get car seat and baby swing from my parent's house
-Buy new yoga pants and long sleeve maternity shirts 
-Order replacement parts for breast pump
-Get remaining pumping supplies I need (storage, breast pads, lanolin)
-Clean out freezer
-Make a few freezer meals

About 2 weeks before my due date:
-pack hospital bag
-figure out where to set up pack n play
-install carseat
-set up swing
-Finish freezer meals
-Wrap Christmas gifts
-Finish thank you notes, if not done (my sprinkle isn't until November)

I'm makingndaily to-do lists and it's really helping chip away at everything. Doing 2 or 3 little things a day is so much better than leaving all the little things to the last second like I did with DD 

elvenchick92686

I cant make my list until my last baby shower on the 21st because i do not know if we will be giving any furniture items or not. We have all the very basics to start out with in case she comes earlier than expected. So, until that shower im just waiting and then i can make my lists :-(. It makes me feel like a procrastinator. 

flowerpower5838

Oh my goodness I haven't done anything. You guys are stressing me out!!

Go through DS' clothes to see what I can pull out for DD. 

Clear out guest room closet and set it up for DD

Deep clean house and cars. 

Stock up on diapers

Make freezer meals

Order breast pump and buy extra accessories

Buy new nipples and a few bottles

Install car seat bases

Try to get DS' hitting phase cleared up ( )

I've started buying Christmas gifts already so I need to finish that up and wrap. We'll bring everything with us when we travel to visit family on thanksgiving and leave all the gifts at my moms/MIL

cait5413

@djd0404 You're not the only one who still has to clean out a room!

@stella_700 not a bad idea to wait on buying nursing bras, though you will likely need a variety of sizes depending upon how long you breastfeed. So, if you buy some that fit now (or next month), you may need bigger ones when baby arrives, but you will probably fit back into the ones that fit now eventually (and maybe even need smaller ones). As for the nursing tanks, they are more shelf-bra style and stretchy, so you could probably buy 1-2 before baby arrives that you could wear immediately after baby is born pretty comfortably. 

-clear the rest of the stuff out of the baby room
-paint dresser and install new handles
-affix dresser and bookshelf to the wall
-build cube organizer, put in closet, anchor to wall
-move changing pad from DD's room to baby's dresser, organize dresser drawers & closet
-Hang art
-get a lamp for the baby room
-move glider from DD's room to our room and another chair into DD's room
-get pack'n'play with the bassinet attachment back from my mom's house
-buy and assemble crib
-finish wrapping Christmas gifts
-order last few gifts and DH's birthday gifts (his birthday is in Feb, but I usually buy most stuff while I am Christmas shopping)
-find out if MIL is making a stocking for LO or if I can buy one (she made one for DD)
-finish 2 baby blankets (one knitted, one sewn. Both are about 3/4 done)
-wash a few things for baby
-pack hospital bag
-freezer meals (started this week!)
-re-stock changing basket in our room; possibly set up one in living room (never used that one w DD b/c her room was so close, but baby's room is farther down the hallway)
-have carseats inspected

flowerpower5838

Oh hey just a reminder to anchor your furniture, ladies. I know it'll be a while before these LOs are mobile, but I found that it was better to have it done in advance than have to rush to do it once they become more mobile.

peachy13

@flowerpower5838 does everything need to be anchored? 

andipandicWed121369

My list
Buy thank you cards and write them for baby shower.
Baby's Room:
Clean off top of dresser and move mirror to garage (so now it's a changing table!)
Put in contact paper in the dresser so I stop getting splinters
Clean out closet and scrub it
Put away baby clothes, diapers and paraphanalia
Move old recliner out of the room
Find new space for sewing machine and fabric
Move dog and his 'stuff' out of the baby's room
Get crib back from friends
Scrub and disinfect room
Basement:
Clean off and get rid of computer desk.
Move play kitchen and easel into basement
Organize storage space so can be used again
DD's Room: 
Clothes flipped around so fall clothes are in the drawer and small stuff goes downstairs
Purge some older toys/games/coloring books (No room for any new stuff and she has another birthday party this weekend!)
My room:
Put in Rock and Play and test it
Make room for dog bed in our closet
Sleep a million years (just wishful thinking)
How will this ever get done?  Feeling overwhelmed but I think I can do it!

Marley629

@peachy13 bookcases, chests, dressers, TVs  should all be anchored. A lot of people forget about TVs 

babytimeagain

- buy a few more NB sleepers (I'll leave the tags on all but a couple of outfits in case baby girl is too big for NB)
- buy dresser and closet organizers from Ikea
- wash and fold baby clothes and organize in closet/dresser
- make some freezer meals (I'm low on freezer space, so I'll only have room for a few)
- finish buying things for hospital bag (nursing tanks, hard candy/mints/gum, snacks, etc.)
- pack hospital bag (probably around 34-35 weeks)
- DH paint trim/paneling in guest bathroom 
- DH clear out center area of garage for easier access getting baby carrier in and out of car
- pick out baby announcements/holiday cards (drop in picture and information once she's born) and complete recipient list/get addresses where necessary
- submit maternity leave forms to HR

This was actually really helpful to think through/type out. Good post idea!

tmk0325

STM here.  What I need to do probably within the next month. 
-Get everything back out of storage that I literally just put away like weeks before we found out we were expecting.
-Steralize bottles
-Clean
-Get a dresser for baby clothes
-Get pack n play and rock and play washed up and ready for use
-Wash baby clothes and put in dresser
-Pack hospital bag
-Double check with grandparents they can take the twins for a few days when we go into labor
-Pick out as many house furnishings as we can get started on, so I have less to worry about with starting to build our house!  This probably won't happen but a girl can dream... 

ngarciabyu

I'm sure I'm going to forget something for this list, but I think this is what I have going on. Some stuff doesn't seem baby related, but they are things I have planned out in prep for baby.

October:
-thank you notes for sprinkle gifts
-finish decor on walls in nursery
-prepare freezer meals 

November:
-wash babies clothes, sheets, covers, towels etc
-wash my clothes for my hospital bag 
-maybe reorganize everything one last time, double check everything is good to go
-assemble mamaroo, rock n play, halo bassinest, video monitor, owlet, sound machines and test out
-move DS1 car seat to the 3rd row and install infant seat
-black Friday and finish Christmas shopping for kids and parents
-decorate for Christmas after Thanksgiving

December:
-schedule my cleaning ladies to do the deep cleaning, baseboards, shudders, windows, ceiling fans, bathrooms, kitchen (stuff I'm going to struggle with that far along)
-by Dec 5th! finish wrapping all Christmas gifts.
-relax and enjoy Christmas season and wait for baby

andipandicWed121369

I need to add to my list watching breastfeeding YouTube videos.  I don't think taking the class again would be helpful but I need a reminder on how it works.  

tmk0325

Oh man, I forgot one of the most important ones. Buy minivan and install all 3 carseats rear facing!!

splsmama2016

Freezer meals
hire a cleaning service
take a nap


thats about all I have energy for lol. My house is a mess with DD1's toys, and I know I should go through them (yet again) and put away the ones she doesn't play with often and switch them out for the ones in the toy chest in her room, but I have no energy. 

eazybreezy225

I think it has something to do with the fact that I'm now going to be a 4TM... But I'm super chill this time around.. my attitude is mostly "meh" when it comes to a lot of things involving baby prep. Baby will be here the day after Thanksgiving and we still need to buy half of his things.. I do have a diaper stockpile and all his clothes for the first 6 months.. So I got that going for me. Lol.

To Do (in order)  :

- finish purchasing baby items (car seat, baby swing, bath time items, etc)

- get doctors prescription for a breast pump through insurance

- purchase things for myself post partum (nipple creams, pads, nursing bras, etc)

- find places to put all the baby stuff, as I have no idea where we are going to put it.

- set up said baby stuff, everything is still in their boxes.

- put together hospital bag week of delivery

bb89012

Oh man what’s left to do that’s a good one- I feel like because I’m having another girl, there’s really not much I have to do, which is making me feel like I NEED to be doing something. DD1 is going to get her own big girl room so baby can have her nursery, but that’s not until at least spring time (baby will be in our room first), so I’m not really starting that yet. Some obvious things though need to set up her swing, co-sleeper, pack hospital bag, wash clothes, HAVE MY SPRINKLE! and bring some ‘baby essentials’ downstairs into our family/play room. Otherwise, I feel both prepared and totally clueless at the same time it’s super frustrating.

lindsey30

To do: 
-Paint nursery
-Pull carpet 
-Buy & install new carpet 
-Put nursery back together 
-Pack diaper bag
-Pack my bag for the hospital 

kyrwyn

Nursery:
- Paint (last coat, mom helping this weekend)
- Carpet (measuring person coming tomorrow)
- Build dresser (arrives 17 Oct)
- Anchor bookshelves, hang art, put stuff away
- Set up monitor
- Ottoman for rocker (preferably with storage)

 Baby things:
- Choose/purchase bassinet/PnP (early days sleep solution)
- Collect hand-me-downs from family
- Wash clothes / blankets
- Fill in gaps from shower presents
- Choose/purchase diaper bag
- Car seat inspection (DH has it handled)
- Build/assemble/whatever RnP
- Set up a couple diaper change stashes/stations (living room, nursery, our room)

Mommy things:
- Nursing clothes, choose/purchase/wash
- Robe for hospital / home
- Make snack stashes for nursing
- Postpartum self-care supplies
- Breastfeeding supplies (totally neglected in our from-registry gifts)
- SDI/PFL paperwork; HR letter for start of mat. leave

DH:
- Sell motorcycle (or don't, he's been talking about it for 2+ years)
- Sell massage table (or don't, ditto motorcycle notes)
- Deferred maintenance on my car
- Get both cars detailed (inside)

Other:
- Pack hospital bag
- Finish Thank you cards
- Freezer Meals
- Holiday shopping / wrapping
- Welcome Home! gift for brother (Welcome to America! gift for SIL)
- Anniversary gift for DH
- Set (reset) expectations about visiting at home / hospital with family members
- Clear out guest/craft room for out of town grandparents
- Hire housecleaner & schedule deep clean
- Keep throwing clutter away as needed/able

KayLee77

I can't even read everyones responses because I know it will add to my list.  I have so much to do the more I think about it the more it stresses me out.

Babies room
- Paint
- Organize it

I have stuff I need to buy since we won't be having a baby shower. We do have some left last baby so not too much to be bought
- baby clothes
- breast pump (insurance won't process the claim until birth of baby though)
- bottles

Think about packing hospital bag for both me and baby

Bailey1823A

Everything. Ha! I need to go through clothing to see what this lo will be able to wear from her sisters (different seasons) and it washed. Still need to figure out where we are putting said clothing as we have no dresser or anything. Technically she doesn’t even have a room. Still need car seat, and all the big items. Sigh I guess that is what happens when it’s your third. 

KathrynJ088

Mine is a bunch of randoms:
Organize diaper changing cart
Swap out bar glass cabinet for baby cabinet in kitchen
Pack my hospital bag, but I keep wearing what I want to pack
Get cars cleaned inside
Install all 4 car seat bases- really waiting on this one bc once we install, we'll have to start taking 2 cars when we do something as a family
Clean house.. except I'm so big already, I can't really, so maybe hire someone? Idk yet

Most of the actual baby stuff I've already done! I've got a whopping 5 weekends at most to space this out over!

P.s. finishing washing and organizing the twins clothes (preemie-newborn) and blankets was a huge check mark!

kln62689

I am so thankful for this thread. It made me realize I have everything left to do, and helped me put my list together! I sent this to DH and he just said 'woah'. Hopefully he will be proactive as a result of the list about helping instead of making me specifically ask him about each item. 

Pre-Nugget to-do list-->

Before shower (11/19): 

- Finish painting the house & pressure washing and staining deck (3rd party target date 10/20)

- 3 ceiling fans and 3 light fixtures are installed (3rd party target date 10/30)

- Get gate situation resolved (combo lock, keypad, something)

- Buy hostess gifts 

- Shop SM's hand me downs

- Update registry if I get anything bought second hand

- Pick up rocker / glider (on or after 10/19)

- Wax painted dresser / changing table

- Put new hardware on ' '

- Move ' ' and deep freeze from barn to house 

- Move inversion table to basement and extra bed from nuggets room to office / spare room

- Move heifers KS to MO 

- Sign up for and attend birthing class 11/11

- Maternity photos 11/12

- Christmas shopping

After shower:

- Organize shower gifts and put everything away

- Set up video monitor 

- Send thank you cards 

- Install car seat and have inspected at local fire station

- Pack hospital bags (launder appropriate baby clothes)

- Order breast pump (on or after 11/25) 

- Begin baby proofing the house (anchor furniture and determine plan for fireplace at minimum)

- Order whatever else we need that wasn't purchased from the registry

- Confirm family immunizations are complete 

- Rearrange kitchen cabinets to make room for bottles and baby stuff 

- Curtains for nursery (pick, order, install)

- Pick out baby announcements / holiday cards (drop in picture and information following birth) and complete address list

- Organize dog care while in hospital

- Determine approach to managing hospital and home visitors following birth 

elev2017

This thread is actually giving me major anxiety! I haven't made a list because I think it will just overwhelm me to see it all written down.

kaylawing

This thread is stressing me out, but I needed it to get myself in gear.  I have done nothing.  So, I just ordered the crib and dresser and they will be here next week.  Officially can say I have checked something off my list! 

Still To Do

• Buy paint and paint the room/closet
• Assemble furniture
• Decorate walls
• Choose a name for the baby (I can't believe we haven't done this yet)
• Make freezer meals
• Go through DD clothes to see what we can use (different seasons)
• Organize DD clothes because they are all in a pile in the basement right now.
• Assemble closet organization in nursery
• Discuss plans with grandparents for DD when we head to hospital
• Install car seat base in both cars
• Pack hospital bag
• Call insurance about a new breast pump
• Sterilize bottles
• Purchase any needed clothing for baby
• Wash bedding, blankets, clothes
• Clean the pack and play
• Sell the single stroller and order a double stroller
• Arrange pet care for hospital stay
• Hire someone to deep clean my house

I am sure there is more, but even this much has me a little anxious, so I am going to stop and head to the basement where 17 months worth of baby clothes awaits me. 

elcd458

I've literally had to just stress-skim this thread because holy crap.  I NEED TO DO ALL OF THE THINGS.  

I got some of the big stuff out of the way, like establishing with the pediatrician, ordering the breast pump, and putting the crib and PnP together.  I've got a tiny diaper/wipe stash and a little bit of clothing, but nothing is organized or washed or anything.  Nursery is currently a big pile o' stuff in baskets on the floor. 

I did get contacted by my prospective cleaning lady about setting up a visit but my house is currently too dirty to show to a cleaning lady 

babybison

Seriously where were all of you when I was planning my wedding. Your list-making would have made life so much easier. 

@kln62689 Re: - Move heifers KS to MO, are you actually moving cows across state lines or...?

kln62689

@elcd458 Oh yea, the pediatrician. I need to add figuring that out to my list. Thanks for the reminder!

@babybison Yes, moving some cattle east from my brother in laws operation to our mini-ranch which is new to us. We raise Herefords. You may wonder wtf this has to do with the baby. I want them in the background of the maternity photos, and if it is on the list I get to hound DH to hound his brother to ship them. 

Amber_Waves

I have a lot to do, but have decided to write down the headlines only, so that it seems more manageable. Lol.

october:
finish nursery prep
baby shower & thank yous
Install car seat

november:
finish shopping for baby
pack hospital bag
finish last work project
finish holiday shopping 

DH's major items:
deal with floor of great room
decide if buying new furnace