Preparing for #3

I have to say, preparing to welcome our third baby into our family is a lot different from the first two! My due date is just over 10 weeks away. According to my OB, I only have 7-8 weeks left. Honestly? We don't have much done!

There are things we need to do, and there are things that we wanted to do, but will have to put off until a later date. There just isn't enough time! This time of year is so busy for us between end of school activities, summer activities, and a busy baseball schedule.

Before Nugget arrives, we have to get rid of a lot of stuff in our finished basement and clean it up so we can turn it into a playroom. Dylan and Lexie have far too many toys, so we need to move some down to the basement to make room for baby gear! We also have to paint the living room before Nugget's arrival, and get some more shelving for Grant's massive DVD collection. We have some DVD's in our bedroom that we need to move out, because Nugget will be rooming with us at night for the first few months.

I saved most of Dylan and Lexie's clothes, and all of the baby gear. It, along with our 3 month stockpile of diapers and wipes, is waiting in the attic. I know I need to go through it, but I'm just not in any rush. I'll get to it as soon as our projects are complete!

I was just thinking about how I had everything completely prepared at this point in my pregnancy with Dylan and Lexie, but I'm so much more go-with-the-flow with this baby! After having two babies, I've learned exactly what I do and don't need, so I'm not stressing about it.

Preparing for Baby #3 is nothing like preparing for #1!

CRIB

Baby #1: The crib is completely assembled and is outfitted with adorable crib bedding long before my due date. Pack and Play with bassinet attachment is set up in our room.

Baby #2: The crib is set up and has same adorable crib bedding in it, months before baby is due to arrive. New bassinet is set up in our room.

Baby #3: Baby (uh, kid) #2 is still using the crib as a toddler bed. Once she gets kicked out, the crib will get set up and fitted with a mattress pad and plain white crib sheet. After Nugget is born, I will buy a gender-specific crib skirt and sheets. Bumpers and comforter are, after all, unnecessary since they are a safety risk! Nugget will be sleeping in the bassinet in our room at first.

CHANGING AREA:

Baby #1: Dresser that matches crib is set up with a changing station on top. Changing pad and basket of toiletries are sitting on top, and diapers are hanging in the diaper stacker along the side. This gets set up the same time as the crib. Changing supplies are set up in pack and play as well.

Baby #2: Ditto. Supplies are also stocked in bassinet long before baby is born.

Baby #3: Need a new changing pad and cover. Need to put basket of changing supplies under bassinet. What's the rush? Baby can get changed on the bed...on the couch...on the floor...I'm just proud of our 3 month supply of diapers and wipes, which we only have room to store in the attic, anyway!

CLOTHES

Baby #1: Wide variety of gender neutral clothing is washed and put away in the dresser immediately after baby shower.

Baby #2: Gender neutral hand-me-downs are pulled out of storage, washed, and put away in the dresser. A box of newborn boy clothes and a box of newborn girl clothes is waiting in the closet.

Baby #3: Must go through the huge stacks of storage bins, and separate newborn girl clothes and newborn boy clothes. Someday. Will wash the remaining gender-neutral items and put them in the dresser. Someday. Don't even bother looking for gender-neutral clothes, because baby will get plenty of new clothes after he/she is born. Money is set aside to buy gender specific infant summer clothes after Nugget is born.

CAR SEAT

Baby #1: Car seat is installed in car immediately after baby shower. It's outfitted with strap covers and a newborn seat insert.

Baby #2: New car seat is bought and installed weeks before baby arrives. Get a seat safety check. Ditch the strap covers because you realize they're unnecessary.

Baby #3: Car seat is sitting on attic steps and will be installed when baby arrives, because you are now an expert at putting in car seats properly. All strap covers and newborn seat inserts will just be pitched, because they are a safety risk.

BABY GEAR:

Baby #1: Swing and bouncer are set up in living room, highchair set up in kitchen, pack and play ready to go, and tub is in the bathroom. Long before baby arrives.

Baby #2: Everything is, once again, set up well in advance.

Baby #3: Gear is still packed away in attic. New highchair is still in it's box in the attic. Will set up when needed!

FEEDING

Baby #1: Bottles are sanitized and stocked, along with bibs and formula, in a kitchen cabinet.

Baby #2: Ditto.

Baby #3: Must buy new bottles and breast pump. I'll be exclusively breastfeeding again, so really, I don't need to prepare much!

TOYS:

Baby #1: A basket full of infant toys and books are in the nursery.

Baby #2: Ditto, even though I now know that baby won't use them for a few weeks. The books will be read.

Baby #3: The infant toys and books are packed away in the attic. Somewhere.

It may not look like we're prepared for Nugget, but truthfully, this is the most prepared I've felt. I know exactly what to expect, exactly what I need to get and when I'll need it, and I know what works and what doesn't. The truth is, we have everything we need to bring our baby home. Everything else will fall into place!