10 Tasks To Prepare For Baby

So I am sitting in the doctor's office trying to guzzle that terrible glucose drink, I always forget I have to do this. This is baby number three. The third pregnancy is just different. For example, I have no idea how far along I am. Well, I have an idea, I can tell by my sleepless nights and that urge to waddle that I’m coming into the third trimester. On the first one, there was so much time to plan and dream. By the second One, I was so excited for all the same pregnancy, birth, and newborn experiences. This time I’m in a mad rush. Who is watching the kids, is the Christmas shopping done yet, how do I update the subscribe and save order for all baby needs, who will cover my work, are the curriculums laid out, how soon can I start the tax forms I need to send out? It’s all a little much. Luckily I am a "rise to the occasion" type. With baby number one nesting meant creating a beautiful space for baby. Now nesting means figuring out how to use Clicklist and freezing from scratch meals for quick dinners. So this is my “mommy doesn’t need help” prep list. Okay okay, I’m dreaming, but I do want to make things as easy as possible so that our transition into a family of five is peaceful and happy. I feel like it’s a pretty good start.

1. Line out winter semester school work for older children.

2. Line out Capsule Wardrobes for the next 1-2 seasons (for older kids), lay out baby wardrobe.

3. Pull, clean, and place baby essentials. (crib, carrier, car seat, etc.)

4. Double meals and freeze them twice a week. (build a two week stock of healthy dinners)

5. Give current “baby” lots of extra snugs as he is about to lose his place in the world. And then there was a middle child.

6. Get everybody a daily checklist (So that teeth stay brushed and trash gets taken out while momma is recovering. )

7. Start enforcing checklists and offering incentives, so that older children are on a manageable routine for dad/grandparents.

8. Make a quick "Hospital Bag List" and pin it in case of early labor.

9. Create a weekly budget for maternity leave and start saving.

10. Create a calendar for tasks that need to be done before baby. Share Calendar.