A list of stuff I need to buy within in the next 10 weeks. Or, maybe I should make that 6-8 weeks because DOOD. WHAT IF SHE’S EARLY?
1.
Gerber 2 pack gowns ($9.99) (2 packs of these) - We only had a few of these with Lorelei and OMG I loved them. Seriously, they were one of my favorite things. I still have the few that she had, so I only need to buy a few (like 3 or 4) more gowns. Other than that, she’s pretty much set on clothes because she’ll be born in the same season as L was! Done! Mom picked these up! (Thanks, mom!)
2.
Baby Delight Supreme Snuggle Nest ($59.99). I lost a LOT of sleep when Lorelei was first born. We wanted to co-sleep for the first few months just so we could make sure she was still breathing through the night…and for feeding. This time around, I plan to breastfeed AND I still want to co-sleep at first… But, I want the security of knowing there’s something more stable between me and the baby so I can sleep a LITTLE deeper knowing I won’t roll over on her. I never rolled onto Lorelei, but my body also really never allowed me to sleep very deep either. Steven on the other hand… Update: Got it! (Thanks, mimi!)
3.
A glider. I found this one for 174.99 at Toys R Us (I linked it, click the photo). The dark wood matches the other furniture, and it’s the cheapest I could find. The “star rating” wasn’t tip top but most of the complaints were about it either being squeaky or not enough cushioning (although just as many people said they liked it just fine). So, I figure since I’m super petite, maybe the cushioning won’t bother me, but I can always rip out a seam and add some more and close it back up, right? As for the squeaking - OH PLEASE GOD, DON’T LET IT SQUEAK! I thought I wouldn’t need this when L was born and I took a petite rocking chair from mom that she used when I was little. I decided that I hate unpadded rocking chairs. It kills my back and butt and Lorelei uses it simply as a step stool to climb onto the dangerous twin bed I told you about in the last post.
4.
A circular play yard (Walmart, $52.98, click photo for more info) - If you have a toddler, or more than one kid - you’ll get this with no explanation. I’m anticipating wacky naptimes that won’t coincide, which means I’m also anticipating almost no sleep for me. This would be great, indoors and out, to help “corral” the toddler when I need to sit down and rest - and great as Aurora gets older for the two to play together in.
5.
A double stroller. Which is giving me hives just thinking about. I need advice on this one - as in, what do I freaking get?! I’m petite and well, tiny, and I’ll be the one taking both Lorelei and Aurora to doctor appointments (both mine and theirs) and anywhere else that has normal business hours. Alone. So, it has to carry 2 kidlings, should preferably work with an infant carseat, should not cost an arm and a leg, and should be something I could lift in and out of the SUV. Oh, and I must be able to push it. Obviously. Ideas? Recommendations? (UPDATE: DONE!)
6.
3 Aimee Nursing Gowns - because I need something to wear around the house for awhile…and to bed…while I’m nursing and not going places and such. Because nothing else that I have really fits. Except I don’t know. I could make do with humongous tshirts or something. It’s not really a “need” and they’re kind of expensive (especially since there are other things on this list), so they are really at the bottom of the list.
7.
Medela Breast Pump. Because I’m supposed to be traveling and leaving baby A and L with their grandparents throughout the year - and, there’s no way I plan to use a hand-pump for a weekend’s worth of supply. So, it’s either this or take the babies along. (click photo for more info) I know several moms who BFed without a pump or bottle EVER, but they also didn’t do the traveling or grandparent thing. So, yeh. Done! My cousin is giving me hers!
What else am I missing? Ideas?
Welcome back!
February 28th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
i say skip the double stroller and use slings. or get a cheap double stroller from a consignment shop or yard sale or something to use when out for extended walking times (like…going to a theme park or something) only, so the requirements are fewer. we got a double stroller from a garage sale and i’ve begun using it but it is a pain in the neck because i’m 5′4″ and the thing is unweidly. it probably isn’t that bad, much better than our single stroller, but i plan to only use it when my oldest won’t walk the whole time or ride in a shopping cart. ours is a graco and fairly streamlined. just big, to accomodate two kids. and i’m not used to maneuvering strollers, anyway, so i think anything i have to push and lug around is unweidly and obnoxious.
my two cents, anyway. you may not be the sling-wearing type.
unless you’re attending adult-only events, i don’t see why you can’t bring your infant with you to wherever you’re going. unless it will be loud. i don’t think babies and, say, rock concerts mix well.
i never pumped, exclusively breastfed until 8 months, but my daughter went with me wherever i went. of course, i didn’t go to blog conferences or anything, but i’ve seen other bloggy mamas who’ve taken their infants with them to those types of things (adventures in babywearing mama steph, for instance, at blogher or fussy at mrs. fussypants at the blissfully domestic blog conference).
i love those nursing gowns, but i never had one. too expensive. i just wore regular nightgowns that had buttons, or big t-shirts and pj pants for the first couple of weeks.
aaannd…..oh! we have that wagon on your lorelei list and LOVE IT. we got it from target for cheaper than walmart (about $105) for my daughter’s birthday last year and it’s pretty much her consistent favorite thing ever. now she’s getting to where she wants to pull it, not ride in it, but i’m hoping when the new baby comes and can sit up with her, she’ll go back to enjoying riding in it. she still does, it’s just sometimes a process of getting her to obey and sit and not want to pull the handle. that playset looks major fun, too! my husband is building a playset for our daughter’s second birthday in june. i’m so excited! even though we have a park down the street we walk to often.
but there’s swings and a slide and a sandbox and a little playhouse over the sandbox…..oh fun! 
i love kids and playsets!
February 28th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Okay, so here’s my thoughts on the double stroller situation. Get the graco duo-glider. Seriously. First off, you can steer it WITH ONE HAND. Love that. And since it’s long and thin, you can take it to the mall. Because the side by side doubles are NOT your friend when it comes to running errands. Plus, it has a huge storage basket, and you can snap the infant seat into either the front or the back. Which is nice. And it has a mom tray. bonus. Did I mention you can steer it with one hand? And Graco has awesome customer service so if something breaks, you call up and they send it out to you for free, and fast too.
It doesn’t fold up super tiny, I mean, it’s a double stroller. When we had a honda civic, it would fit in the trunk as long as you took off the front tray, but now that I drive a beast, I just throw it in the back, no worries.
(Plus, the sun shade on the back seat? Yeah, I totally throw my bigger kids up there when the need arises and it hasn’t broken yet. And we’re talking 40 pound kids. So…. yeah.)
February 28th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
@annie - I do love slings, but I have to admit that I don’t think I’m comfortable wearing both of them at once! The baby, sure - but Lorelei is starting to kill me to wear, and is NOT happy on my back! Or side. I’m used to strollers, so I think I can handle it as long as its not horrid and such. But, thank you! And, I’m even more excited now about that wagon!
@Mombabe - I’m so putting that on my preference list! You are such a lifesaver! Thanks! I really had no clue and we have no real stroller places cept for Toys R Us, and their selection is wee tiny. So, I’m totally going by your (and anyone else’s recommendations) to order online. Thanks!
March 2nd, 2009 at 3:09 pm
Look at all the great stuff! How exciting!
I can’t believe how inexpensive that glider is! Seems to me they were much more pricey when they first came out. I rented my breastpump from a local pharmacy. It came out to be much cheaper, but I don’t know if that’s the case these days. Things have changed a lot since my last kid was born almost seven years ago.