me Said:
7:30 am

Here’s one for ya!! What do you wish you’d known when bringing home your first baby that you didn’t at the time? I am looking for not only the sappy stuff but the practical stuff! Thanks!

Answer – I wish someone would have said: That they really don’t need all that stuff - They need:

1. Someone to love them. You can never love your baby too much.

2. A place to sleep (a laundry basket works the first 2-3 weeks.).

3. A carseat – there are 100 different ones out there – get one that fits snuggly in the middle of the backseat of your car – that’s the best one to have.

4. A couple of sleepers (the ones like a sack are awesome). And a few cute outfits for when visiting the grandparents.

5. A couple of onesis (sp?) and receiving blankets – the ones from the store are too small – if you can’t sew, ask someone to make you some bigger ones. About crib size.

6. Bottles – even if you are nursing – have some bottles and formula on hand. (Carnation has an awesome baby formula.) Sign up for the coupons – your budget will thank you.

7. You can never tell your baby “I love you” to much.

8. Let daddy help – even if he doesn’t do it your way, it’s his way, and it will be okay.

9. Diapers - White Cloud are comparable to huggies – only they didn’t give my kids diaper rash – you will change that diaper many times a day. Boys will pee as soon as you take the diaper off – it will go everywhere.

10. Put an emergency diaper bag kit in each vehicle – because you will (as all parents do) forget to grab the diaper bag as you are just running the store – and you will need it. Put a couple of diapers, a baggie of wipes and extra clothes for the baby. You might want to toss an extra top for yourself in there if you have a baby with the delicate stomach.

11. Its okay to let them cry for a short time – it’s good for their lungs, and maybe they will fall back asleep.

12. Don’t keep the house perfectly quiet while they sleep – they won’t be able to fall asleep later in life if a car drives by, if the dishwasher is running – you get the picture.

13. Babies like to sleep in cooler rooms, and all that fluff you bought for the crib – get rid of it.

14. Learn to swaddle.

15. Read to your Baby starting NOW – it doesn’t matter if it’s children’s books, or popular mechanics – they will love the sound of your voice, AND they it’s good for the brain – yours and his. Encourage your hubby read to baby as well, then when he is born, and your husband talks to him – you will be amazed – the baby will recognize the sound of his voice.

16. TUMMY TIME – let your baby have tummy time on the floor – the back of their heads will thank you.

17. Let sleeping babies sleep, and sleep when the baby sleeps. Dust will wait, floors will wait.

18. And most importantly – I wish someone would have told me – birthing plans are great – but the baby will determine, how, and when he comes into this world, and no matter how much you plan, sometimes things don’t go that way. Epidurals are a good thing.

That’s enough for now – but believe those people that say “the time goes fast, because it does”.

Shelli Said:
11:14 am

I have a friend, let’s call her Amy. She has another friend, we’ll call them Jesse. Jesse wants Amy to participate in this event that happens once a week. Amy hates it. She doesn’t want to do it and she dreads the day. She spends most of the day crabby because she doesn’t want to do it. During the event, she is irritated and crabby. After the event, she is angry and frustrated. She doesn’t want to do this thing anymore. She doesn’t know what to say to Jesse to get him/her to understand why she doesn’t want to participate anymore. Amy doesn’t want to hurt his/her feelings or put a monkey wrench in their friendship.

Shelli’s last blog post..Fick the Bullets

Shelli Said:
11:15 am

Oh, I meant to ask, “What can I tell Amy to do?”

Answer: Since I don’t like hurting people’s feelings – If I were Amy – I would tell my friend Jesse, that something came up and I can’t be there at the next meeting/event. And then go out with your hubby – go grocery shopping, or have a special date with her kids/grandkids etc. Just don’t be available during that time. Or Amy could be honest, and say “Right now, this event doesn’t fit my life. Maybe if I take a break from it for a few weeks, I can come back, but right now, I need a break for myself, and my family.” (Because Amy’s family doesn’t want to be around a crabby, grumpy person either!)

KC Said:
1:59 pm

Ok I have one.. when you get a week behind on reading anyones blog.. Do you take the time to go back and try to read every blog post you miss or do you just jump right in on that days blog and start all fresh?? and on the other end of it???

signed so far behind on reading my blogging buddies blog.. ;P

Dear So far behind on reading my blogging buddies blog – I try to keep up with blogs, but anyone with kids, a husband, a job, etc can understand that it doesn’t always work that way. At one point I was behind by 150 posts. I didn’t read/comment on all the posts or blogs. I can’t do it. Most of my readers understand this, because they have the same situation.

Silverstar Said:
7:02 pm

A question? Hmm..What is a good way to get motivated to do routine, boring stuff like housework? I have a hell of a time working up the desire sometimes.

Answer - Some people would say tackle it in 15 minute bits – chose a room, set the timer and clean for 15 minutes. When your 15 minutes are up you can stop, or keep going the choice is yours. And some have the only handle it once – when it comes to mail, paperwork etc. The key is to have a home for everything in your home, or decide if you really need it. The reality is – I live in my home – and If you could see my house you would know that I hate housework, I work 40+ hours a week, I have two kids, I have a husband, I am exhausted when I come home at night – I do the bare minimum during the week, and do deeper cleans on the weekend. But honestly, I haven’t had a “clean the way I like it house” since I went back to work full time. It’s nearly impossible. I think after my surgery, and I am not so exhausted all the time, this will get better. I hope it does. I love a clean house, I love having everything in its place.

The Kept Woman Said:
10:13 pm

Dammit.

I always freeze when people do this.

Ummmmmm…any plans on a trip to Wisconsin any time soon? I can show you a really, really big pink fiberglass elephant and a large fiberglass cow all within a two mile radius of one another. We have some kickin’ tourist attractions here.

Answer - Actually - we will be spending one week in Wisconsin this summer. Lake Genevia (sp?) have a nice little condo for the week, and uhm I’ve seen the pink elephant, probably have a family photo of it as well. (yes, I had those parents). I’m not sure of our plans while there for a week - but maybe we could meet up?