Preparing for Baby: To-Do List

With only 4 weeks until our due date I think I finally have everything checked off my list except install the car seat which we are doing tomorrow! Here is a list I came up with. I hope it helps if you are planning the arrival of a little one too!

1. Wash all baby clothes, washcloths, towels, bedding, anything the baby will be using with baby safe detergent and put away. We had some Dreft on hand, but the homemade detergent I use for everyday is baby safe also! While washing all of his stuff with safe detergent, I went ahead and washed my nursing tanks with it too.

2.  Make cloth diaper safe detergent: Equal parts washing soda, sun oxy and borax

3. Prep and wash all cloth diapers, inserts and wet bags and put away. We are using Sun Baby diapers so my prep looked like this:
- Boil bamboo inserts 20- 30 minutes
- Wash inserts, wet bags and diapers. I washed the diapers 2-3 time as suggested on their website.
- Dry wet bags, inserts and diapers in dryer on high (diapers only dry in dryer 30 minutes, then hang dry rest of way if needed)
**Note that prepping is different than how you would normally do a regular wash
**I am also using baby washcloths as cloth wipes so I washed and put those away too

4. Make postpartum relief pads:
** You'll need overnight large maxi pads, witch hazel and aloe vera gel
- Mix equal parts witch hazel and aloe. Spoon a little on inside of each pad.
- Fold pad back up and place in freezer bag. I fit 20 pads in a bag and then double bagged it.
- Put in freezer until needed

5. Stock up on household essentials such as toilet paper, paper towels, disposable plates, shampoo, etc. Thank you cards/stamps would be handy to have also!

6. Buy ready to go snacks and frozen convenience foods. I bought granola bars, 100 cal snacks, some canned soups and ravioli, frozen pizzas, frozen breakfast sandwiches etc. for when we need something quick and don't feel like cooking.

7. Make some freezer crock pot meals. Here are the recipes I used! My bestie, Kylie, came over to help which made it much more fun!

8. Sterilize all bottles, breastfeeding pump and supplies as directed on packages.

9. Stock up on medications for baby! We registered for this essential kit at Wal-Mart which has everything we'll need for awhile.

10. Buy a baby book and fill out as much as possible before baby arrives. We got this one from Target.

11. Get preregistered at the hospital and attend birthing and breastfeeding classes.

12. Give the daddy to be a "hospital survival kit"! Father's day was a couple months before our due date, so it was perfect timing! I wanted to make sure he felt special and involved in all this too :) Here's what I included:
- Money for vending machine fund, travel size shampoo and body wash, toothbrushes, hand sanitizer, energy drink, chips, candy bar and a children's book.

13. Pack hospital bags!
* For Dad: Toiletries, shirt, shorts, underwear, socks, slippers and snacks (Last minute items: wallet, phone/charger, medications)
* For Mom: Toiletries, hair ties, crop pants, nursing tank, nursing pads, Lanolin, robe, slippers, nursing cover, hospital folder, comfy going home outfit and plastic bag for laundry (Last minute items: purse, phone/charger, camera/charger, medications, makeup)
* For Baby: 2 sleepers, 2 hats, 2 socks, coming home outfit (both newborn and 0-3 month just in case), receiving blanket, boppy pillow and 2 burp rags

Is there anything else you would add to the list?

Baby Moon

The past couple of days have been wonderful! Much needed time away with my husband before our little one arrives in a couple of months! We headed to Elizabethtown, IL and stayed a night at the River Rose Inn, a little bed and breakfast on the Ohio river. 

It was our first time staying at a bed and breakfast but we really enjoyed it! We lodged in the "Quilt Room" which had a two person jetted tub and private balcony that overlooked the river.

Our first day in the area we drove about 15 minutes to Cave in Rock, IL and had lunch at Rose's Kountry Kitchen. I had a grilled chicken salad and a root beer float. Derrick had the bbq sandwich and onion rings. We both enjoyed the food and the small town atmosphere inside!

After eating we drove down the road to Cave in Rock State Park and explored the cave and surrounding area.

We then went back to the inn and relaxed for awhile. Unfortunately it was too chilly to use the outdoor pool so we opted for a movie in our room instead. We headed to dinner at the E-Town River Restaurant. It was right next to our bed and breakfast and they had great river catfish!

The next morning we sat on the front porch swing looking out at the river while Sue, the innkeeper, finished making breakfast. We had fresh fruit, ham and her stuffed french toast, which was delicious!!



After breakfast we checked out of the inn and went back to Cave in Rock where boarded the free ferry to Amish country near Marion, KY.

You can find a map for Amish country here. During our drive we stopped at a variety store, several roadside greenhouses with fresh fruits and veggies, a couple of bakeries and saw lots of farm animals.

 We ended up coming home with some zucchini, strawberries, banana nut bread and a thornless blackberry bush to plant in our yard!

 We then headed back across the river to IL and stopped in Golconda on our way home. There is a great view of the river, some resale shops and we had a late lunch at the Dari Barr, a little restaurant on the edge of town. 

It was such a fun little getaway!

Noah's Woodland Nursery

It's been so fun sharing with you our home renovation! This room I'm most excited to share with you because well..it's means we get to meet our little guy very soon!!

Originally it was one large bedroom, but we had our contractor turn it into two smaller rooms. Here is the before...

 One is currently being used as a guest room/office and the other is now Noah's nursery! Since we live out in the country and Derrick loves the outdoors, it was only fitting to go with a woodland theme.

I bought these woodland animal finger puppets on Etsy and sewed them to twine to make a mobile. 

I made the leaves myself with green felt and red buttons.

 This adorable banner was a shower gift from one of my best friends! It turned out so cute and goes perfect in his room!

The old yellow soda crate on the wall was an antique store find and other things collected from Noah's grandmas and around thrift stores are used to set on the shelves.

  I have always loved this bible verse so painted it on a piece of wood we had lying around. Can't beat free wall art!

We received this teddy bear from Derrick's great aunt so I made him a little bandana with some plaid fabric I had in my stash. 

 I love an organized closet! I had seen several pictures on Pinterest of how to make clothes separators. Here is my take on them using different colored foam sheets.

This little area makes me so excited to read and play with Noah! 

It was so fun going around to different antique and thrift stores searching for items to decorate with. My favs are the bright colored ammo boxes and little foxes Derrick's mom bought us!

This red lamp shade was only $2.00 brand new! I love when Target sends Goodwill their clearance items!

Now all we need is for August to hurry up and our little man to get here! :)

Ice Cream Shoppe: Gender Reveal

I can't believe we are already halfway through the pregnancy! I hope the second half goes just as quick so we can meet our sweet baby.....BOY!!! :)

Yesterday we got to reveal to our families the gender and it was a lot of fun! I decided on an ice cream shoppe/what's the scoop theme. Here are the invites I designed for the party.

I used several pieces from my thrifty 31 rentals inventory to decorate with! 

 

 

For the actual reveal we filled a cardboard box with balloons. I made "ice cream scoops" out of card stock so each family member could make their guess as to what baby was before we revealed it. Boy was the most guessed! :)

We are so thankful all these people came to celebrate with us!  Noah is loved so much already!!