So, I've been spending a lot of time with my stuff lately. I've been trying to determine what stuff I want to keep, and what's just sentimental clutter, or useless gadgetry that I'm never going to learn how to use.
This is mostly because I have a feeling that this baby is going to bring with it a whole boatload of stuff to let sentimentally clutter my closets, and gadgets I might never learn how to use. Out with the old, in with the new, right?
Well, we're super lucky that we have friends who have kids, and some of them have kids who have outgrown a lot of baby stuff, so we've been given a lot of stuff to get started. I mean, there's some new stuff that's already been gifted to us. I need to shop for the glider/rocker that my folks said they'd get me for my birthday that was over a month ago. We have a couple of onesies and a... chair-type saucer, rocker... thing... with danglies that vibrates & is supposed to be a place to put the kid when we don't want to hold it... I think. So, we don't need another of those.
My dad is also making a cradle. I can't even type that without getting all giddy with pride and joy and excitement. He's MAKING a CRADLE! Because he can. And he's awesome. He's also completely refinishing our dining room table, while my mom knits & quilts baby blankets for me and all my pregnant friends, and makes me maternity dresses and stuff. Yeah, see? I win at parents.
Basically, I need to make a list of all the stuff we have for this baby, and then cross-reference it against the ONE MILLION lists of things we (probably don't really) need, none of which agree about anything at all. I will be cruising the archives of every blog I've ever read of anyone who has ever had a child looking for the thing they said made everything easier. I have questionnaires for my friends with babies. I'm working on a spreadsheet to categorize all their answers.
I have sort of started regestries at the two stores that I can currently be bothered to register at, but I'm not telling anyone yet, because most of it is just... fluff. There isn't anything substantial or important on there yet. I have no idea what kind of stroller I want. Or what to do for a thermometer. Or baby nail clippers. What I do know is that everything with a giraffe or hippo on it is on those lists. Some of it will have to go if this turns out to be a boy baby, which, I have a sneaking suspicion it is, based on absolutely nothing other than... well, no, based on nothing. Though I keep dreaming that this baby is a girl, so... whatever, either way... giraffes for everybody! And Hippos!
4 comments:
Giraffes ARE for everyone. The baby stuff is confusing. I always tried to tell myself that it all doesn't disappear after the baby arrives, so if I forget something--it'll be there afterwards, too.
Since having kids I've lost all emotional attachments to my stuff. We're drownding in things! I want it all gone! It's a great idea to start before the kids come.
Here are the things I would recommend to anyone: a bouncer (which is maybe the chair thing you described) a swing (a little fold up one, doesn't have to be a big expensive one) and an exersaucer (which you don't actually need until the baby is a little older.) Mostly I think you figure out what you need as you go. For instance, my first was trying to sit up from a very early age so we went and got her a bumbo and she LOVED it. But I wouldn't recommend it to everyone, because my son HATED it (unless we were feeding him-- he was big on eating.) You'll get it figured out! And I totally agree that giraffes and hippos are for everyone. They're so cute!
why should i not be surprised you've created a spreadsheet...
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