If you are a mom, what might be one of the best gifts you could get on Mother’s day? OK, obviously, there are 101 answers to that question, but I think for MY mom, the answer would be a grandchild. And guess what…this Mother’s Day, she got one! Well, she’ll have to wait until October because I’m only 16 weeks along, but she was still super excited — as was the rest of my family and Dave’s family.
Want to know how we told them?
Well, my immediate family got together for a big Sunday dinner, and after dinner my mom opened her gifts. Our gift was the last one {see picture above} but when she opened box #1, this is what she saw:
Yup, we wrapped up a bunch of boxes inside each other, but the last box had a very old photo album inside.
This is the exact same photo album and note that my mom gave to my Grandma when she was pregnant with me. I just changed the month to October so it would fit our due date. We haven’t had an ultrasound yet so we didn’t have any pictures to put in the album, but she got the idea and quickly jumped up and gave Dave and I a huge “congratulatory” hug. That’s when the rest of my family realized what was going on… and the chaos began! Later that night, Dave’s parents stopped by and we had a “special” gift for his mom too!
Again, we didn’t have any pictures to put inside — but they immediately realized what was going on and were super excited. Since I’m not really showing yet, we probably could have waited a bit longer to tell people, but Mother’s Day just seemed like such a fun day to spread our good news…and neither of our parents expected anything!
OK, so now to answer a few questions:
Since Sunday, we’ve only told a handful of the people in our lives {well, until now I guess!} — but even still, I’ve already been asked the same questions over and over again. So I’m just going to save you all the trouble of asking, and save myself a bunch of time!
1. Have you been sick?
Nope. I feel SO fortunate that I really have not been sick {don’t all hate me at once!} There have been a few times where certian smells bother me, and I did have a couple of days where all I wanted to eat was grilled cheese, but other than that, I have felt great. Praise the Lord!
2. Are you going to find out the gender?
Seriously, do you even have to ask?? yes, Yes, YES!!! I can’t handle that kind of uncertainty! And yes, we will share the gender with everyone too.
3. Do you have ideas for the nursery yet?
Actually, yes! You can see a bunch of my ideas right here!
4. Was this planned?
Well, not exactly — which is kind of ironic since I make my living being all “planned” and “organized”. I suppose some things are just better left unplanned! We are still super excited though.
5. Are you tired?
Yes! I was absolutely exhausted for the first couple of months. Thankfully, I got a chance to relax on our Spring Break vacation and I’ve been trying to get to bed on time — but even now, I’m still pretty tired.
6. Are you finished with all your house projects yet?
Definitely not! However, the plan has always been to be finished with “round 1” by the end of June, and we are still on track to do that. Then, we’ll try to wrap up a bunch of odds and ends before school starts again — which should give us plenty of time… I hope 🙂
7. Are you going to quit your job(s)?
Nope, that’s the beauty of working from home! Currently, I generate a large portion of my income “sitting at my computer” so I won’t have any trouble keeping up with those responsibilities.
There are still plenty of times when I have to leave my house for my organizing business and other work obligations, but I can often set my own hours and should be able to plan that for when Dave is home. We’re also not against daycare or hiring a babysitter for 1 or 2 days a week.
I LOVE working so hopefully I’ll be able to make everything fit. If not, I’ll reevaluate when the times comes.
8. Have you had any cravings?
Honestly, since I was never really sick, I’ve been craving ALL foods! I’m hungry all the time and often eat 5 square meals a day! Now, for those of you who know me, this is actually not that abnormal.
I’ve always been a frequent eater and I carry snacks with me wherever I go. But since I’ve been pregnant, my hunger has risen to a whole know level! Fortunately, I have not gained any weight yet — we’ll see what happens at my next appointment.
9. Is Dave excited?
Oh gosh — yes! He’s been so antsy to tell all our friends and family…and seriously, he’s going to make such a great dad! I had to practically put a muzzle on him to keep him from blabbing the news until now.
10. Are you going to let your house turn into a pig sty?
Absolutely not! Yes, I’m sure our home will be a little more “relaxed” and I know there will be days when I don’t feel like picking anything up. But Dave and I are both super clean and organized and there is just no way we could let things get totally out of control! Plus, you have to remember that I actually LIKE to clean 🙂
And now the fun begins — doctor’s appointments, shopping, baby showers, picking names, etc. etc. Don’t worry, I’ll post lots more pictures in the coming months {maybe even a few belly pictures once I actually have something to show}
But now I have a question for you:
What are your MUST HAVE baby items? What do I really NEED and what can I live without?
Jennifer says
Congratulations! How very exciting, and what a great time to get to tell! I’m expecting my second at the beginning of September, so I’ll enjoy following along with you.
I think so much depends on the baby. My son, for instance, loved carriers, any kind, and hated the Bumbo seat. Get what you most need, the obvious stuff like a crib, etc., and look for things that are safe that way used. If you plan to nurse, a good pump (I like the cheaper Ameda one), the Medela microwave sterilizer bag, and good storage bags for the freezer, a Boppy, and some Lansinoh are good to have. Motherwear.com sells some good nursing clothes if you want stuff like dresses and to hide the tummy. Sounds like a bunch of stuff, but it’s SO much easier than bottles, and you’ll lose weight more easily most likely. You’ll get more stuff than you know what to do with most likely.
Above all, have a wonderful time with it!
Kathryn says
What wonderful news!
I am an old mom-my “baby” is 18 years old and has 2 older siblings. Back in the days when I had my first child, there wasn’t all the wonderful stuff that there is nowadays. I have always thought that simpler was better. So I would say lots of onsies and receiving blankets.
The other thing I would add, is to establish a reasonable schedule for you and Baby. Have a good idea of when you want Baby to have a morning nap and afternoon nap and when it is time to get ready for bed. Yes, Baby will have her own idea about that—but you are the Mom and you can be reasonably firm. Naptime can be a real sanity saver on a tough day! But even more, your child gets an idea of routines and good habits, a sense of orderliness to her world. I think this is an important mental habit as well as helping to avoid afternoon meltdowns.
I enforced afternoon naptime until my children went to school, then during the summer they would have what I called their quiet time. Each child had to go to their bedroom and they could do what ever they wanted there by themselves. This would give everyone–me included–a break and rest. After quiet time they were rested and cheerful and so was I! What I still find amazing is my two older children asking for quiet time when they were in their teens!
Rana says
Congrats on the new baby! What saved me since I had twins was a baby carrier and a baby swing. Those two things I loved. One could swing while the other was close to my heart. Then I would switch off.
Emily says
Congrats Andrea!!! So excited for you and can’t wait to read all those tips on organizing for babies and toddlers that I’m sure are soon to come! I had to laugh when we walked into Babies R Us to registered for our first baby (we have two girls, ages 2 and 4) and saw the list of 10 different strollers that we “needed.” I think we registered for 2 🙂 Here’s my list:
1. boppy (get the naked one and buy a couple slip covers or make them)
2. portable swing (doubles as a bouncey seat and not as bulky as the large ones)
3. activity mat with objects that hang above the baby for them to grasp and pull on (an excersaucer is also nice for when baby gets a bit older)
4. bumbo seat, i didn’t have one of these with child #1 but borrowed one for child #2 and LOVED it, she loved it, you can get the tray too and it doubles as a high chair
YAY!!!! Conratulations!!!
Rachelle says
I have to second the idea about the Ultimate Crib Sheets at Babies R Us. We only have 2. When one is in the laundy, we use the other. It makes changing the sheets super easy and you don’t need a separate mattress pad b/c it has one built in.
This isn’t for the baby, but I highly recommend the Bella Band (at Target). You can wear your pants unbuttoned as you get bigger and it just looks like an undershirt. I only bought one pair of maternity pants and didn’t wear them very often. I just wore the Bella Band over my regular pants. It saved us so much money!
Kristen says
Oh my goodness, Andrea! What wonderful news! I’m so excited for you and Dave! God’s richest blessings in this exciting time in your lives. I know you’ll be just as organized as you are now – and be a great Mom, too!
Jenny White says
congrats Andrea!!! super exciting for you guys!!!
Katie says
Andrea, Congratulations and I love reading your blog! I have one year old twins and everyone told me once we had kids my house would be messy….it still isn’t! I also work part time as an RN and I will tell you, it is hard working and having kids but it can definitely be done. It was really challenging the first 3 months or so (I went back to work after 6 weeks). The first 3 months are pretty much just about survival! I wish you a happy, healthy pregnancy!
Andrea says
Thanks for your vote of confidence Katie!
If you can do it with twins, then I most certainly can too!
Tina @ Life Without Pink says
OMG congratulations!!!!
Rivki Locker (Ordinary Blogger) says
CONGRATULATIONS. So exciting. What a terrific way (and day) to tell your mom. My must have baby item is the Diaper Genie. I have four children ranging from 2-11 am still using the same genie I bought 11 years ago. Great investment.
Tania says
Hi Andrea, CONGRATULATIONS to both you and Dave, I am so very happy for you. I check your site daily as I love your content, and you are such a warm and friendly person! I truly wish you both much happiness. I am aged 46 and have never had children, so don’t have any advice for you, but just wanted to say I am just really pleased for you both!
Sandra says
So excited for you! My oldest was born in October. It’s a wonderful month to have a baby! You get to snuggle all winter long!
Cassie says
Oh my gosh! Congrats! I am soo happy for ya’ll! Let’s see. Must have’s besides the obvious (diapers, wipes, etc.)
1. Baby Monitor
2. A swing, unless your okay with rocking your precious little one all day, which is great and dandy the first few days, but then you never get anything done! 🙂
3. Rattles, babies love rattles!
4. Plenty of warm sleepers sense your little one is going to be due in October.
I’ll think of some more must have’s and let you know. 🙂 Again, I am soo happy for you! 🙂
Tammy aka @Tammy_Skipper says
SO excited for you! Congratulations
Eos Mom says
Congratulations!!!! My number one thing I recommend to all new moms is the Boppy pillow–whether or not you breastfeed, that is a super great pillow to help hold your baby. If you have any troubles getting baby to sleep, I wholeheartedly recommend a swing–my son wouldn’t sleep anywhere else. Get the kind that plugs in or you’ll spend a fortune on batteries.
We also used the AngelCare monitor–if you’re a worrier (as I am), it’s so great for peace of mind!
So happy for you!
Shannon says
Congratulations on your pregnancy!
My daughters are now 19 and 16, so reflecting back…if I had to do it again now, I would make sure I have:
Rocking chair
Cloth diapers (I used disposable for diapering but used cloth ones for burp rags and still use them now for cleaning – talk about frugal mileage!)
Baby monitor – allows you to have freedom around the house while keeping an eye on baby
Sleepers and onesies
Any outfit that snaps on the legs to make diaper changing easier
A few toys but you don’t need to go overboard
Kim says
This is so exciting!! Thrilled for both you & Dave.
I think you have gotten a lot of gread advice. See what you can borrow. For instance, we borrowed a bassinet. Or even a breast pump. I did get by with a hand held one (and it worked great).
One suggestion – skip the highchair. We got one of those plastic, portable chairs that hook onto your own dining seat. It doesn’t take up much space and it is so portable. This is one of the two things that I have kept, because it is great for guests.
I would also get a good stroller.
Congratulations!!
Andrea says
Thanks Kim — I’m definitely interested in any alternative to a bulky highchair…so thanks for the tips!
And I think one of our moms is planning to buy us a nice stroller {good ole’ grandparents!!!}
Emily says
I agree with Kim! We had both types of highchairs and we definitely used the type you strap to the chair more often and I wish we had never registered for the large highchair.
Patrice says
Congrats on your baby! What a great Mother’s Day present! I couldn’t live without: a ring sling, my babyhawk (baby carrier), muslin swaddling blankets (Aden & Anais, etc..), nursing cover, lansinoh nursing pads. Bumgenius dipes are great too!
Stacey says
Congrats!!!
Im not much of a minimalist so i think you need one of everything, lol. Almost all baby items are helpful in their own way so if you think you can use it or you just want it because gosh darnit you are pregnant and its too cute to pass up, i say at the very least – register for it:)
so excited for you and cant wait to read all the updates:)
Jennifer says
Congratulations !!!!!!!!! This is so awesome. Being a mother has been the best thing in my life.
Every baby is so different. Some of the things that our first two LOVED our 3rd did not.
One thing that we felt was essential was porta cribs. In fact we purchased 5 (we have a 29 month old, a 19 month old and a 4 month old). What we did was keep two at each of the Grandparents houses (we spend a LOT of time over there). We did get them at garage sales and typically would spend $10 or less on them. It’s perfect though, when we go to the Grandparents houses we don’t have to worry about setting the schedule to where we have to leave at a certain time. The porta cribs fold down so nicely that the Grandparents had no issue with storing 1 (to start 🙂 ).
The other thing that we love is our Fisher Price portable high chairs. We can take them with us if we are heading out, they take up WAY less space and they are very easy to clean. If we want to take the kids outside for a picnic (in the back yard) we can still have them in their chairs without making them feel like they aren’t right down on the blanket with us. They don’t get dirt in their food and they get to sit on the ground.
Cn says
congrats! I loved the bouncy seat with #1 but #2 didn’t care for it. #2 loved the sling/mobi wrap. #1 adored the swing, # 2 hated it. Borrow as much as you can for the first few weeks until you know what your baby will like. They are all just so different.
Also-Bumbo seat! Did not have those around with #1 but I have to yet to meet a baby that didn’t like it since they have come out. You can use them from the time they can hold their head up until they can crawl out of it on their own. If I had to choose only 1 I would get the Bumbo over a bouncy seat.
Stacey says
lol, just goes to show you how different babies are. Neither of my kids liked the bumbo seat. At all. Loved the bouncy seat though. my 8 month old still uses it regularly, its the only way i can get a shower in every day.
Zolane says
Congratulations!
The best ever diaper rash cream…Crisco shortening! Used Desitin for my kids but Crisco for my grandkids. I’ll take the Crisco over the Desitin any day!
Kendra says
Congrats! The best gift I received was an ultimate crib sheet from Babies R Us…that thing saved a lot of frustration of changing sheets at 3 am after the baby’s diaper leaked yet again!
Racine says
Andrea! I am so excited for you! Congrats, congrats, congrats! What a cute way to tell your parents, too 🙂
I think everyone has their own personal preferences as to what items are “must haves”. I’d say keep it simple (aka…minimal amount of crap) until you have an idea of what YOU and YOUR baby like and need.
Yay, baby!
QuatroMama says
AWESOME news! Thank you for sharing the wonderful details with us!
God Bless!
Andrea says
Thanks Jen!
I thought of you when I went to the doctor for the first time and they looked for multiple heart beats. Thankfully they only found one!!
Kristia says
Congratulations!!!
I agree with Amy on the baby carriers. I used a ring sling when my kids were infants. We walked a lot with our kids for exercise, so a good jogging stroller was a necessity for me, but they’re really for babies 6 months and older.
Amanda says
I rarely comment, but my son just turned 3 and we have a tiny house, so tried to be really aggressive in editing our baby purchases.
I second the advice of the commenters who say wait until you know your baby. For example, we got a LOT of mileage from the activity center (where baby sits in the middle) but limited on the swing.
My advice would be to consider longevity – for any item that had less than 1y estimed use (swing, bouncer, bumbo-seat, etc) we borrowed. So what if my son had pink & purple accessories from his cousin? We also looked into space conscious options – we use a Fisher Price high chair/booster that straps onto an existing dining chair. Never had a free standing high chair, because we don’t have room. That was also a hand me down.
Things we invested in – a high quality breast pump & accessories – if you’d like more info email me but got some great options at moms4life.com, in particular a freezer tray that results in 1oz “sticks” that can be bagged in gallon or quart ziplocks, fit down the mouth of a bottle, and were a much better frezzer solution than the little disposable bags for us. Less waste, too. Also, invested in his furniture, which converts/combines changing table with dresser, and crib to toddler then full bed. They were spendy, but quality, hardwood furniture. My SIL bought from Babies R Us, held up fine but after 2y she was ready to replace all that laminate furniture. Diaper bag – still using it at 3y, and will probably use it for myself after he’s done – a JuJuBe bag.
Things we skipped – bassinet. Got a play yard with bassinet top, he used that in our room until 6m, then moved to his crib. Used play yard for travel bed until last year. Bought, but rarely used, the baby slings – personal preference, and a wiggly kid:)
Other useful ideas – most manufacturers of infant carrier/car seats sell a very simple stroller frame the carrier can snap on. I had to get one when the monster Graaco cadillac wouldn’t fit in my trunk. Bonus – the frame collapsed with one hand, so I could get it in the trunk one handed. It cost about $40. Also, we used Born Free bottles, which sell nipples and sippy cup tops that all fit on the same bottles, so we just got rid of the last of them a few months ago. They’re available in stores and from the web, in BPA free plastic & glass.
Congratulations! We’ve been enjoying your tips, espeically recipes, for several months now and I’m delighted to hear your good news.
Jamie C. says
Congratulations!! It is such an exciting time! I am 10 weeks along in my 2nd pregnancy, so I can understand all the excited/nervous/chaotic feelings! What great ways to tell the grandmas! I’m sure they’ll remember that forever!
The one thing that I loved with my first baby was the AngelCare monitor. My baby was a belly sleeper (Shh! don’t tell! :), so I was always nervous about SIDS. This monitor goes under the crib mattress and will sound an alarm if it does not detect the baby breathing. It set my mind at ease knowing that I would be in the room in two seconds if she stopped breathing. They can be pretty expensive ($80-100), but go to yard sales and stalk craigslist, and you might find a used one. I bought mine used from craigslist for $25!
There’s really so many options of what to buy for you and your baby, and it’s so easy to just want to buy one of everything! Our philosophy was to only buy what we “knew” we needed for the first month or so, and then went out to buy other things as we found the need for them.
Mandi @ Life...Your Way says
Me too! We used ours for all four babies and it was completely worth the cost!
Congratulations, Andrea — so excited for you!
Andrea says
Thanks Jamie,
I’ve never heard of the AngelCare monitor, but it sounds great! Thanks for all the helpful tips!
Stephanie says
Congratulations!!!!
It’s been a while since I’ve had to use baby stuff. Borrow a swing and I’m sure you’ll have the perfect doorways for a Johnny Jump so that baby can play/jump while you’re on the computer working!!
Please pass along our wishes to Dave too!
Monette says
Yay! congratulations! I have four kids and I remember I always run out of onesies and baby sleepers so I say get enough of those bec. newborns are messy!:) You don’t need a lot of baby blankets. I would say 6 or less. Get some baby sweaters and depending on the weather when he/’she gets here. I wish a had just diaper, wipes,books,clothes only shower. No baby bottles unless you requested the brand. Oh, gift cards is nice too! I hope this help.
Frances says
Yay! Congrats! I want a sling, a nursing cover-up, reusable nursing pads, a good dual pump, a variety of cloth diapers, a car seat and a pack and play. I am quickly adding to my list reading your comments though!
Mary says
Congrats congrats CONGRATS!
Im not as minimilistic as you are but Im close. Number one thing we used was probably the swing. Most important thing you will probably need to do tho is attach straps to your furniture so they are strapped to the wall. My son is now two..and Ive taught him not to open cabinets or pull on drawers….but its still better to be safe than sorry.
Meghan says
Congrats! So excited for you!!
My absolute favorite thing is the bags for dirty diapers. You can get packages of 75 or 100 at the dollar store and they work wonderfully, and keep the smell away without having to buy a diaper genie. Totally worth it 🙂
Megan says
Wow!! Congratulations! What a fun way to share the news.
With our first, we found out we were pregnant the day before Mother’s Day so we were able to call all the Grandma’s and Grandpa’s on Mother’s Day to share the good news. (We don’t live close to any of our family).
I think the only baby items that are really NEEDED are a few diapers and a couple outfits. However, some things I love and am so happy to have had with each of my children are:
* A nursing cover with a strap and boning in the front to easily see my baby while nursing.
* A swing for the first few months. Used from about 1-5 months for both kids. I love the Power Plus swing I have because
* Sleep sacks for bedtime. It’s great knowing that your baby won’t kick off their blankets and also won’t cover their face with them. Wearable blankets are awesome and come in many sizes and types.
Kathy @ House of Hills says
SO excited for you! Congratulations!!!
And, to jump in the conversation going on above. I NEVER used a baby carrier. Nope, not once. However, there weren’t the variety of ones available then as there are now. However, I LOVED my buggy bagg, which fit into the front of the shopping cart and kept her from eating the nasty handles and such. THAT I would invest in for sure.
Mary says
Agreed, those shopping cart covers are a must have..
Julie says
While I don’t think they are a must have for most people, for me it was. I religiously used one, but only for my last baby. I didn’t know they existed until I was pregnant with my last one.
Krista says
I didn’t think a shopping cart cover was necessary when I was pregnant, but my mom did and had her friend make me a couple. Now, I also consider them a must have! I don’t mind her chewing on it and it holds the toys in.
Sue says
CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so happy for you..
I have to disagree with the other ladies.. I loved my Bjourn.. Maybe it was uncomfortable cause the straps were too short.. we got bigger straps for ours.. My husband is really tall.. the kids both loved it.. and so did I.. never really used a stroller until they were at least 2 ! There are so many things that they sell that you will not need.. But some people think you do need.. Check ou yard sales they are great !!!!!!!!!!!
I am so happy for you ! And yes you are blessed with no morning sickness or any sickness at all !
Sue in Nj
Stacey says
Congratulations! What exciting news and a great Mother’s Day present!
Sara K. says
Congratulations Andrea! Very exciting news – and what a cute way to tell your parents!
Amy K says
Baby carriers! And not the awful Bjorn-type ones that hurt your back and compress the baby’s spine… Personally I used a ring sling (short duration) and Moby wrap (long duration) when my son was tiny. Now we use woven wraps and occasionally still a ring sling.
Congrats!