Yesterday my friend Erin put together a baby shower for me. It turned out so nicely! Nothing like a good party to make me feel loved. Sometimes it's easy to think, "I really don't have that many friends" because I don't happen to "hang out" with people regularly. The whole "girl friends" thing kind of took a back seat when I got married. While I think its quite important to cleave to your husband, I've found that it can be helpful and refreshing to get some good girl gab on occasionally.Once I started making the list, I found that there really are quite a few people that I care about and think care enough about me to be interested in coming to a little party. We invited 35 people and about 15 showed up. I had people from my two wards, piano, and work attend. There were some RSVP regrets because of conflicts, and more than one person told me today that they were sorry to miss it, but they had a gift for me. All in all I felt very loved and supported by my friends.
The party turned out well. I didn't want cake, but we ran with the "little pumpkin" theme and she made some pumpkin rolls with the cream cheese frosting inside. It was so good. Erin also made some delicious brunch meat balls, mini quiche and fresh fruit. It was the perfect combination of food, and it was delightful.
We played two little games. She bought me this AWESOME basket that matches my nursery and filled it with level 1 diapers. The top was covered so we couldn't see and we had to guess how many she was able to squeeze in there. It held 82 diapers and someone actually got the exact number! They got a prize and I got the basket with diapers. The other game we played was "name that baby food". She had 8 jars of baby food and people had to identify what was in the jar. Someone actually got all 8 correct! Amazing since they all look like thrown up sweet potatoes.
The gifts were all so cute and some were nice and practical. He got a lot of cute clothes (and I'm happy to say they're not all just that stinking light blue that everyone associates with a new born boy...I have nothing against blue, just against everything being blue). I now have 1 package of newborn diapers, and about 5 packages of level 1 (one of them being a gigantic bag you'd find at costco). I don't know how long babies stay in each stage (I'm sure each child is different), so hopefully if I don't use them all, someone (Walmart??) will take them back and let me exchange for a different size without a receipt.
There are a couple other things I need to buy soon, but I really need to concentrate on getting the travel system so I have the car seat handy if I were to go into labor early. I tried getting it on Saturday, but Target was out of stock of the particular one I wanted and they're the only retailer who carries it. So I either need to order it online pronto or go to a neighboring town's Target.
5 weeks. It's coming quickly. Scary and exciting all at the same time!
18 comments:
Wow! Only 5 weeks?! It'll fly by! Especially if, like it turned out for me, you end up with a little-more-than-2-weeks-early-baby.
Sounds like a nice party. The diapers will so come in handy. I've loved living off of the "shower diapers" we were given...it definitely beats buying them myself. To give you a gage on how long your baby might fit in his diapers, here's how it's worked out so far with Garrett: he wore the newborn sized diapers for about 3ish weeks, and he's been in size 1 diapers ever since (and he's, what, 2.5 months old now?). He is, though, getting really close to moving up to size 2. I imagine that, unless you have an enormous or very fast growing baby, you'll probably use your five packages of size 1 diapers.
Oh, and also, in case you're interested, some friends in my ward here have introduced me to what I think just might become my best friend: diapers.com. The prices of their diapers are extremely competitive and they'll deliver them right to your door. Also, if you spend over $50, you get free shipping (which, it's not hard to spend that much on diapers). I actually haven't used them yet (still mooching off the "shower diapers"), but I plan to. It sure beats lugging boxes of diapers around this city!
Celia,
I miss you guys! Erin always puts on such a good party. Showers are so much fun, you get so many things that you need! I am still using alot of shower stuff. Tell everyone hi for me! I miss you.
Lesley
It sounds like you had a great party. It is always fun to come away from those things feeling loved. What else do you need? David is such a chunk I can't even remember what size one diapers were! If you do happen to have a big baby (which is not bad :) I do think Wal-mart would at least exchange them for a different size. I think the costco diapers usually are bigger so use them last (1-2 right?)
Besides the absolutely necessary car seat/stroller combo, there are a few other things I'm looking into getting.
1. A pack and play with a bassinet (since it might be nice to have him in our room the first little bit)
2. A swing (I haven't decided on how important this one is...and if I do get one, do I go with the basic open top that's compact, or the kind that swings back and forth as well as front and back?)
3. A changing pad and cover to go on the desk I'm turning into a changing station/ diaper storage
4. The forehead touch thermometer
5. A good monitor (Suz gave me one, but it looks heavily used. I haven't actually tested it to see if it works yet. If it does, I'll probably just keep that.)
6. A very gender neutral diaper bag (so Matt will carry it too). I think that one of my friends got me a small one, but she wasn't able to come to the shower. I don't know if I need a large one or not.
7. I probably ought to get some more crib pads and sheets. I have one fitted sheet and one fitted crib pad.
8. Some sort of storage/shelving system since I have no place to put toys and blankets and misc. items when I start acquiring them. I was thinking something like this but with pullout bins to hold items.
I don't have a baby bath, but our sinks are pretty decent sized so I don't think I'll need it.
I bought a baby bjorn on craig's list. One of my friends said I could use her little bouncy chair once she gets it cleaned up. Another friend said she's going to give me her boppy since she only used it once and her youngest is now almost 3. Another friend said she has a second diaper genie she's never used that she wants to give me. I got a couple gift cards at the shower and used one to buy a medela harmony breast pump. That's the manual one.
Oh, and though it's a bit expensive for what you get, I really want to get this little pumpkin set. Since he'll be a halloween/harvest baby I just think it it too cute!!
Okay, so I hope you don't mind me giving my totally unsolicited two cents worth to your list. I suppose that, since I'm only, what, 3 months ahead of you in learning the whole baby business, my experience is on the forefront of my existence and therefore asking to be shared. Or something. Anyway.
We looked into the "delux" swings (that go side to side and back and forth) and in the end decided that one that plugged in would ultimately be cheaper. It actually turned out to be cheaper up front as well! But at our house, a swing is an absolute necessity. I'm not sure what I'd do without ours!
Also, about the thermometer...I wanted to get something great so that I wouldn't have to take his temp rectally (because, ew gross, right?). But after all my research, I learned that, especially in small babies, taking a rectal temp's actually the most accurate. So I learned how to do it. And believe you me...it's a piece of cake. So much simpler (and not nearly as painful for baby as I feared it'd be) and so much more accurate. The cool, hi-tech thermometer's are nice, but you might want to consider holding off until the baby's 1) old enough for it to work accurately, and 2) too big to not notice his temp being taken rectally. Just my thoughts. Take them for what you will.
We love our pack n play and have used it heavily with both kids. It's nice to have them in the room for the first month or two, and they just fit better in the little bassinet than in their big crib. We've also used it tons since then for trips, going to the park or beach (or camping, if we ever went) with a not-quite-walking baby. I've even liked having it for babysitting or having friends over when they need a place to put a baby down for a nap or something and my kid is already in the crib. It's something I've never regretted having.
Get a second sheet at least, and maybe the crib pad. If your crib mattress is covered in plastic, then you don't really need a second pad neccessarily. What I do is put the extra sheet directly on the mattress, then the crib pad, then the other sheet. If baby makes a mess in the middle of the night, it's easy to just strip off the sheet and pad and just put them back down on the sheet. No fumbling around trying to make the bed in the middle of the night. I tried layering another pad over the mattress, but four layers get bulky and it's covered in plastic anyways.
My kids grow slowly, so Little Dude is still in size 3 diapers at 15 months, but each kid is so different. You have a pretty good chance of using up all the size 1 diapers, I would think.
I second just getting a cheap rectal thermometer. You can get a digital one that works well. It's really not a big deal and it's more acurate. I actually found that with both my kids it wasn't hard to do at all when you're changing their diaper. Just put some KY or Vaseline on it and remember to wipe it with alcohol afterwards. I have a little thermometer that I use only for bums, so there aren't any mix ups :)
Interesting. I've heard that the forehead thermometers are more accurate and easier. Many doctors' offices are moving to those. I've read some bad reviews about them being inconsistent, but I just found a review on Amazon that tells why that is possibly.
"I was shocked to read bad reviews on another site. My husband had some problems at first (like these people's complaints) but I figured out that he was pulling it away from our kids head and was still holding down the button for a second, which was then adding to the calculations the room temperature. Depending on how long he continued to hold it down after pulling it away, it really made the temperatures fluctuate. My readings would only vary by .1-.2 degrees.
So practice a couple times when you first get it. (Across the forehead, down the temple and stop in front of the ear). BEFORE YOU PULL IT UP, LET GO OF THE BUTTON!!!. It will beep as soon as you let the button go and has your reading."
.
I've never heard anyone say the forehead ones are anything but wholly inaccurate, but perhaps times have changed.
First off--yay for baby showers! I love giving them and going to them and receiving them!
Second, my two bits on the supplies needed-- we had an economy, small swing that Patrick LOATHED. We got the Fisher Price Papasan (fortunately we were able to return the small one and put the money towards the big one) and it CHANGED OUR LIVES. I do wish it would plug in, although Costco batteries are pretty cheap. If you have a colicky kid, I say go for it. Maybe borrow until baby's here?
Secondly, we had the forehead thermometer and every time he had a fever the nurses pretty much insisted that we take a rectal temp since doctor's seem to have those things. Maybe ask your pediatrician.
And thirdly, I am of the opinion that you need at least one small and one large diaper bag. The big one is used heavily for newborn crap, and then just for trips and church mostly later on, when you can run with a smaller bag. Both of mine are gender neutral and could actually be used as regular bags, although they were intended as diaper bags and have all the right pockets and compartments.
Anyway, moral of the baby crap story--every parent and baby is different and loves different products. Best of luck!
Thanks for your input. It sure does look like a case in favor of rectal thermometers is building. I could always start with that and if I have any troubles with it I could try the expensive forehead one.
I used to make Aaron take the temp in the bum, but really it is a piece of cake. Also it helps if the kid is kind of constipated...gross I know, but hey it works!
I wouldn't spend the $30 on the pumpkin outfit, cute, but really... do you have a second hand store? they usually are loaded with things like that, especially for newborns...if not I will look here and find you something REALLY cute.
I also meant to say that Target has a good selection of nice diaper bags. I got a great looking black one there that holds a ton of stuff.
Is it the Eddie Bauer one? I registered for the big one and little one. The little one is the one that my friend bought for me, but I haven't received it yet.
Celia, I'm so glad that you had a good shower. Showers are so nice, especially for your first where you need so much that it can seem overwhelming. i think you will love the pack-n-play and the swing (any open topped electric would probably be fine, but i never had the side to side, so no advice there.) also, the hopital will give you a free diaper bag (from similac/enfamil), which isn't fancy, but is usually black, so matt could probably use that one. if you want a fancier one, you could get that, but i definitely wouldn't spend a lot on two nice ones.
ok. you will see that i am not at all opinionated about thermometers, but i have four kids and wouldn't trade my forehead swiping thermometer for ANYTHING!!!!! it seriously changed my life. if you plan on having more than one kid (they get sick at the same time quite often)or a baby who squirms (EVERY BABY WHEN THEY ARE OVER 6 MONTHS!!!), i highly recommend something that only takes 2 seconds to take the temp. on the packaging of my thermometer, it says that it is the most accurate one on the market. i think you do have to get the whole press and release of the button thing down though. also, babies' temps are usually the worst during the night. the last thing i would want to do is fumble around with a rectal thermometer in the dark with my eyes halfway closed.
also, i think that just about every store will exchange unopened diapers. and you might want to see if you need a better monitor before you buy one. we moved into a new house (2 stories with open floor plan) and i can hear the baby upstairs just fine, so i only need it if i am in the basement.
and about the pumpkin outfit, i might check on eBay first or something, but if you really want it, i say go for it. you deserve something after 9 months of pregnancy.
good luck in your last five weeks. or maybe i should say in your last 2-7 (?) weeks. my advice is to prepare physically for an early baby (pack your bag, get the baby stuff) and prepare mentally for a late baby (it is so traumatic to be overdue when you KNOW that baby could be out of you and lving on its own).
Oooo. Thanks for weighing in Cackel. I love hearing pros and cons. The multiple child and middle of the night arguments are some to take into consideration for sure.
As for the pumpkin thing, I did get a little shirt that is similar at the shower. It's cute and I will use it, but just not AS CUTE as this one. With the cute little hat and the burp cloths....I know he'll grow out of it soon, but it's the colors I love and it's just so tempting...
We have a kid-to-kid here, but I haven't looked through their clothes since you can get new stuff at Walmart for about the same price.
I was thrilled to be at your baby shower. I will confess though, that I didn't read the address properly and was en route you your house when I saw some ladies who looked suspiciously like baby shower attendees walking up to Erin's house. I then re-read the invitation and redeployed myself to the correct house.
You are going to be one fabulous mom. And I am sure he will be one fabulous kid!
You are an exceptional lady, Celia.
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