Aww...how I love a good list!

Okay I know I am not pregnant (yet) but I came across this today while at work **cough** and I wanted to keep it. You know how much I love list.. I got it from Stick Baby!

At least one month before due date
*Install car seat
*Keep Hospital Bags in the car you will use or by the door you will be leaving from.
*Have a neighbor or designated person to watch the house/pets/ or other children.
*2 pillows with garbage bags over the pillow like a pillowcase, then w/ pillowcase
*barf bag or two, since people in labor may throw up
*towels
*A list of last minute packing items (ID, license, fruit, frozen items, etc…)

In General
*Your Birth Plan
*Your insurance card and any hospital papers you will
*Pediatrician info
*folder for new paperwork
*cell phone

For Labor*Warm socks
*Lip balm – All that puffing and panting and also dehydration, lip balm is a must)
*Loose underwear (did not use, the mesh underwear the hospital gives you are a godsend, ask for extras to take home)
*Snacks (fruit, nuts, popsicles, etc….) (did not use)
*Sour Suckers (sour ones curb thirst where the sweet ones will make it worse)(did not use)
*Hair band or tie (unless you want sweaty matted hair stuck to your forehead) (did not use but should have)
*Video/still camera (for your lovely shots of labor)
*Pillow (From home with not so good pillow case……..fluids…enough said)
*Pen and paper (if you are in the early stages, you are a list maker, journal writing, or well anyways, just in case) (did not use, too much going on)
*Ipod or music (did not use, too much going on)
*Roll of toilet paper (hospital paper is cheap and scratchy)
*Slippers (non-slip and once again take them off when things start to get nasty)*toiletries
*talismans (picture of someone or something you love, anything you find reassuring) (did not use)

For your partner/coach
*Change of clothes (especially if they plan on staying the night) (did not use, DH just wore the clothes he came in, we were only there for a day and a half).
*Pillow/blanket (check with the hospital first – however, your own will be more comfortable) (did not use our blanket, the hospital had plenty to spare)
*watch with a second hand for contractions (did not use, the monitor tracks your contractions anyway)*mints/gum/mouthwash (sometimes the birth partner needs to be really close during labor)(did not use)
*remember your partner can leave the hospital...pack light

For after delivery
*Fresh nightgown (with openings in front if you plan on breastfeeding)
*Nursing bra (if planning to breastfeed)
*Nursing pads (even if you plan to bottle feed as you may still leak)
*A going home outfit for mom (did not use, I just wore my pj's home)
*Lanolin cream (if you plan on breastfeeding)
*Bathrobe (for the trips to the nursery)
*Baby Book (for all the vitals and getting the feet and hands stamped)
*Boppy nursing pillow
*Dermoplast/Proctofoam: for numbing your sensitive parts (did not TAKE, the nurse gave me dermoplast, definately used though)
*Spare nightgowns (you will leak) (I just wore one nursing top that came with my nursing pj's, you won't want to mess up your nice gowns or pants, blanket cover your bottom half the entire time anyway)
*Nursing Tank (did not use, see above, just wore pj top)

For Baby
*Going home outfit for baby (we actually had JR in his own clothes the entire time)
*hat/cap (babies lose so much heat thru their heads…even in the summer)
*receiving blanket (Once again, check with hospital first, bring a heavy one if weather is cold)*sock/booties*sleeper
*CAR SEAT!!!!!!!
*You may want to bring an extra cute outfit for the pictureExtras or Activities (usually non-essentials)
*Make-up (No one looks good after, but you can pretend) (did not use, planned on using, but just didn't care)
*Towels (Dark towels….most hospital towels are scratchy) (did not use, theirs are good enough, you're not going to want to rub anything against you sensitive areas no matter how soft or scratchy)

Extra tips
*Bring your baby book…and let the nurse know you have it and they will stamp it for you
*You may want to bring an extra empty bag just in case you get gifts at the hospital
*Some hospitals charge for parking...beware
*Hospitals usually will take pictures of your newborn….bring some extra cash for these (did not use, at our hospital, we wouldn't have paid for pics at the time anyway)
*You can usually wear the same clothes home you came to the hospital in.
*Some Hospitals will give you a pre-labor tour of the nursing center,take it.
*Get a list of things the hospital will provide.
*Wash the baby clothes you’ll bring to the hospital
*Remember gowns = easy access
*Make sure your labor shirt is short sleeved (They will check your blood pressure a lot and those pesky i-v’s.
*Fill out the forms during your last trimester…makes admittance so much quicker.

*Most important* Your baby MUST travel home in an infant car seat. Have it installed in plenty of time*

For a Caesarean make sure your partner knows where the extra maternity pads are.
* Cell phone & Charger
* Lap top
* Video to watch

What Not to Bring
*Jewelry (unless it’s a religion symbol)
*Lots of cash, credit cards, or any other valuables

How old am I?

The word cervical fluid makes me cringe. I received my answer to getting knocked up in the mail yesterday and I can stand to look at the pictures. do I really need to see what my cervic looks like? Or sticky fingers. C'mon lady! But I am going to have to get through it if I want to feel like I am in control of this baby making machine. The tips sound pretty basic look for CF that looks like eggwhites....bllllahhh!! so gross. A girl has to do what a girl has to do I guess. I hope this is the month it happens bc if Nate things I am sticking my finger way up there to feel the tissue he is out of his mind. Okay this has gone to a place I didn't want it to go.

A good thing is one of my lifetime friends Courtenay is pregnant and due in May. It is so much fun talking to her about pregnancy and babies. When I had Ethan I was my only school friend to have a baby or be married. Now 8 years later they are finally catching up. I love that we have this in common now.

Family Pics

for our christmas cards this year we hired Miss Phom from http://missphom.com/blog to do a monring in Neptune Beach. Me and the 2 divas headed out on a beautiful November morning. Man I thinking my boys a so handsome. Check out som eof the teaser..I don't know which ones will make it on the card yet. I order a card template from My Lil Creations during your buy 1 get 1 1/2 off time. I love what you can create with photoshop. I expect my cards will cost about an 1/8 of the price than ordering it from a photographer.

A little more crack before I start work

Decorating is in my head

Yaritza and I have been obsessed with decorating ideas for our homes. Nate is on his way to buy the above shelving unit across town. $150 off ebay. I love it! I have been missing shelving space in our new house and this will take up that giagantic wall in the dining/living room space. Check out the picture frames. How simple and inexpensive. Oh and I love these from pottery barn which I think I could recreate for a little less and bring some fun color into the room.

I have a few favorite decorating blogs.

• http://j-a-girl.blogspot.com/
• http://workingwomansguidetodomesticsuccess.blogspot.com/
• http://theletteredcottage.blogspot.com/
• http://brynalexandra.blogspot.com/

Now if I could only get that money tree to finally bloom in the backyard!

Strike 2

Second month of trying to conceive and Aunt Flo came on strong today. It is so crushing. Isn't weird 10 years ago I would have held my breath while waiting for the single line to appear but now I sit waiting and waiting for the second line. Court said once you stop trying it will just happen but I can't stop. I want it more than anything right now. So I am going to solve this problem like I do everything else...a good self help book. I bought this book that has great review Taking Charge of Your Fertility and then I am going to get that BP themometer. We've been having more yanky panky which has been GREAT! I think it has brought us alot closer too. I just want to be around him and cuddle next to him. I hope we become pregnant soon I hate the disappointment of those darn sticks. Fingers crossed and prayers answered that it works. Meanwhile to add to my baby name list...i like Sophia :O)

Day 1

we had our first baby making session this morning. I know it is not the first of the year but everything I have read says it might take up to 6 months. The thought that in a few months I can be carry out little baby makes me feel indescribable. It has been so long since I was pregnant with Ethan I am scared. What if I can't get pregnant? Will it be a healthy baby? Will out finance go down the crapper and I won't be able to provide for the baby and Ethan? Will I be a good mom? Will I remember how to be a mom to a newborn baby? Will it all be too much for me and Nate. Our family of 3 is great what if it all falls apart again? What will he/she look like? Like me? Will he have his Daddy's adorable nose? Will he have his Daddy loving heart and his Momma's goofiness? I am going to drive myself crazy with all these questions and worries. It is just the way I am. I hope Ethan and our new baby will have their Daddy's carefree spirit. I wish I had it :) Despite all my concerns above all I am so excited. I can't wait to be carry our little baby. I can't wait for Nate to look into his own eyes. I can't wait for Ethan to be the big brother he has been praying for. I have been pushing my belly out in he mirror and trying to remember what it feels and looks like. silly huh?

Day 1 out of ???????