Lists

arliemaree

I have been trying to make lists to prepare for the baby... mostly to do/buy lists.  What did you do to prepare for baby?  What would you recommend for a first time mom to do to prepare?

susanmosley

Comforable places to be.  Extra sheets for your bed, pjs presentable enough for visitors.  Clean, organized house.  If you are BFing and you have a spit uper, you won't get out of your pjs.  Along the same lines, plenty of burp cloths and thin blankets.  Have a freezer full of food - we had lasagna, chili, soups, etc.  The swing, boppy and baby papasan were life savers for us - these are the places where she slept. 

My best advice is to get everything done that you need done so you will have nothing hanging over your head, and your entire focus will be you and the baby - by that I mean cleaning, organizing, completing any tasks you have wanted done but haven't done, etc.  Thank you notes written, an email list compiled for DH or someone to share the news when the baby is born. 

Buy some great bath soaps/lotion to use for the first few showers just to make them exceptionally wonderful. 

Hope something in this long list of rambling is helpful!  GL.  It is SO exciting and wonderful to spend that first month or so with your DC knowing that everything is taken care of  and your only job is to focus on you and DS.  ENJOY.

arliemaree

I hadn't thought of an email list to send out an announcement that way, but that's a great idea.  We got a new computer this past summer, so I've been working on updating and making a more accurate address book, but this would be great to do email lists as well.  Someone told me to have a list in order of who to call from the hospital too.  That's something I need to add to my actual list. 

I also hadn't thought of getting some great bath stuff for me.  I've really only been thinking of baby, but I should get some to put in the hospital bag for that first shower, etc.

I plan to have a cooking weekend in a few weeks to stock the freezer.  Any specific dishes that you'd recommend that are freezer friendly and husband friendly?

WyWysMommy

If you plan on nursing, get some nursing bras! I pretty much live in mine while I am at home still. So comfy!

Also, some cheap pajama pants, for the first week or so at home, just in case you have any leakage. And those extra absorbant pads that you would put down in a bassinet, works great for under you, for leakage. And along the same lines, get a waterproof matress cover for your bed, just in case baby leaks out of his diaper.

As far as food goes, lasagna is great re-heated, as is meatloaf. Also, cook some chicken, season it the way you would like, and freeze it. You can cut up small pieces of chicken as well and freeze, and buy some fettucine noodles and alfredo sauce, and add brocolli. Really easy! Or fry up some hamburger and freeze, and later you can make spaghetti and meat sauce.

JLS0320

We didn't do freezer meals we made sure the fridge was stocked (luckily I did this the day before I went into labor) w/ quick things to fix. We also made sure to have a lot of meats in the fridge and DH would just throw them on the grill, something fast for dinner. Worked out really well for us. I can barely get time to eat still now so I still recommend the quick fix items in the fridge. GL!