A Gardeners Forum Forums Members History Forum Life 2005 Whew!

Today we visited Babies"R"Us to put some things on our baby registery that I couldn't do from the computer. So, off we went for lunch and a stroll through the store.....the very BIG store. Oy. We were there for just over an hour...test driving strollers and trying to figure out which one would work with the car seat that we have...looking at play yards...looking at diaper bags....looking at pumps. I think we have almost everything that we want and need on the list now. Talk about overwhelming in that store tho!

Jenn! I SO missed your 'big announcement'! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Haha, Jenn! I remember how overwhelming it is. I don't know how many times we went to that store to do our registry-- All I remember is every time at about an hour into it, I'd start to get all panicky and have to leave. We were NEVER able to pick a stroller for our registry. For some reason we'd get to that huge selection of strollers, and I'd just freeze up. My mom ended up going out and buying one the day after he was born.
And re: strollers, if you aren't settled on one yet, a strong word of advice: Get either a "travel system" (even if you already have a carseat) OR there's like a little metal cart thingy where you can take a carseat out of the car and strap it into this thing, and push it like a stroller. That way you don't have to either 1)wake the baby to do a carseat-to-stroller transfer or 2) Lug the carseat around. It gets surprisingly cumbersome surprisingly fast.)

Do you know what-all you're going to need yet? I'm itching to give unsolicited advice on what to get and what not to get! (You probably already have tons of advice, tho.)Can we look at your registry?

OOOOohhhhhhh, me too, me too!

aren't we all?

Ok, BUT, before I give you the registry, I will write a quick disclosure. I will LISTEN to any advice, but it doesn't GUARENTEE that I will take the advice. There may be some things "missing" from the registry for a VERY specific reason that I haven't disclosed to the forum yet....only to Bill. So, with that said, here is the registry. Go to Babies"R"Us and click on the registry button. You can type in my name if you know it, or you can just put in my registry number which is 8116187

The only thing I'm a little bummed with is that the Peek-A-Blocks and the Rounds that Fisher Price makes (there are probably 10 different sets of blocks and 6 different rounds) have the same SKU # (barcode), so I can't specify that I want all of the different varieties of them. All I can do is say that I want 6 of the food ones or 2 of the sports ones. Other than that, I'm pretty happy with the registry.

Have fun looking. Lemme know what you think. OH!! You will notice things that are a gender specific color are blue. That is because I don't mind putting blue on a girl, but won't put pink on a boy....we won't find out what its going to be.

Okay, I tried, but I can't remember your last name (I'll probably remember it in the middle of the night) and for some reason, the number doesn't seem to work. ??? Did anyone else try the number?

Jenn...this is an excititng time for you (and us) thank you for sharing this with us! I don't think anyone would "expect" you to take all the advice given...but some of it may click new ideas that you hadn't thought about yet...all mothers are different and only YOU know your baby and you will know how you want to handle things. You already are very organized and prepared! Know that our prayers are with you through your pregnancy...enjoy every minute of it! I personally loved my pregnancies...even the yucky parts were well worth it!You are gonna be a GREAT mommy!

The site would not let me in with your id number. It's funny that as soon as I read that specific things were missing because of a reason, TWINS just popped in my head. Maybe that's because we are overrun with twins in this family.

Hoping you get everything on our list, maybe each item twice.lol

The ID number worked for me when I logged out of my account, so I thought that it would work. My name is Jennifer Vermeire...you don't even have to put the state...I'm the only one of me!

Nope...not twins. After I posted that I was like oh-oh....now I just started another fire!! NO TWINS!!!

I love giving unsolicited advice too!!!
****and Geegeeburr/Ginger too****

Well, I guess I will have to let the cat out of the bag now. I'm finding it hard to write exactly what I want to without giving it away. So, here it is....


We will gleefully produce our offspring and a couple months later will be moving to Alaska. Some of you think I'm joking...but I'm not. Moving to Alaska has been the plan since before we got married and next summer just fits.

SO, some of the things that may be lacking on our registry are just because we will be moving and I don't feel like taking some stuff with us.

As far as the stroller, there has been some debate about that. My best friend gave me the infant car seat (which is part of the Graco travel system). So, we have that and 4 bases for the thing. We did test drive some of the strollers and found what works for both STephen and I and what doesn't work. We saw the metal frame one that the car seat just strapes into and liked that idea. But the big thing is that we don't know if we would use it in the 2-3 months that we're going to be around here. There is this thing called The Maya Wrap and I really like that idea and really want one of those. You can put the baby in the carseat while in the wrap if it is sleeping and then get it out of the carseat if you have to without waking the baby up. We are looking at a Snugli for Stephen because he won't use the wrap. The only time I can see needing a stroller is if we go to the mall...which isn't really that often. So, like I said, I'm just not sure about that yet. I have 6 months to figure it out tho!

We won't need the zip-up car seat cover since the baby is due in May.

Try me....
How much do you have to give!?

I posted above with my full name....where you able to see my registry. I really would like people to look at it and tell me what all I'm missing. Even if there's a reason that I didn't put it on....just in case I didn't think of it! You will notice that there aren't really clothes on there. I figure the kid is going to live in non-gender colored onesies for a while and I can but pink or blue heavier stuff with gift cards.

I WILL tell you one that I have started to do. I was originally going to buy a pack of larger sized diapers whenever I went grocery shopping (every other week) so that we can stock up ahead of time. BUT because we're moving, that puts a kink in that plan, so, now everytime I go grocery shopping, I go to Walmart and get a $15 gift card for myself and put it away for when we'll need it. I should have a nice chunk set aside by the time baby comes.

Jenn,
I had my mother give me diapers every week for a year..

She wanted to get me a diaper service for her "larger~gift", but living here in the boone~docks, neither nearest town would drive that far for a poopy diaper...(*go figure*)

So, it was so nice to have her give me a pack a week... ******and

IF you are... good for you...
*if you're not because you heard horror stories,
still give it a try..~I could HONESTLY tell you some, but I would still do it every time, even if I had 20 kids and triplets..*
The good out way the down side..

Okay..
Here's some pictures of my suggestions earlier..
Stroller Netting

Stroller Weather Shield
Infant Car Seat Cover #1
Infant Car Seat Cover #2
Infant Car Seat Cover #3

I had something like this, *not quite the same and can't find a picture of it or I'm wording it
wrong..*
Lil Nursery Tent
oooh found one.. Infant Nursery Tent..
I loved mine, cause I just put in some soft blanket and when I would garden, I could have him
close to me, but in some shade, out of misquito's harm, and not in fear of him crawling away..

But when they get older, this line of items,
are PRICELESS...especially on space.. if you don't have much...
PLAY HUT TENTS
They fold away for storage...Great to take on trips like to family reunions/picinic's.. so easy to fold up and go......

Wow, I'm pooped.. I'll be back with more unsoliced advice..*this is so much fun*

I figured we would end up getting a bunch of newborn sized diapers and I'm aware of their cost which is why I'm saving those gift cards.

I'm planning on nursing. Its easier that way. Its always reading, no mixing, the perfect temperature...

I will keep the tents in mind, although, I must say that Stephen and I do not spend alot of time outside. We both burn incredibly easily and there's no doubt in my mind that our child will be the same way. Yes, that supports the reason to get it, except neither of us would be outside to watch the child!!!

Always keep a bag of the new size *bigger* around..
I swear, it's like someone blows them up in
the middle of the night...
I put them to bed in one size and the next time
I am having a hard time fastening the velcro strips...
(*I used the cheap store brand ones' during the day, and the more expensive, better absorbancy for the long over nighters... then you're not spending so much money on the expensive diapers..*)

I'm glad to hear you are going to nurse...
It is sooooooo worth it..You do do a wee~bit of sitting around, but worth the time it takes to bond with baby and spend time, in this hustle and bustle world we live in, to just sit with them..

Don't get discouraged either.. keep positive about it.. and you're right, no mess to clean up, no sterilizing, *hurts like H#LL when you try to sterilize the real n!pples*
Remember if you get sore or cracked...use Lansinoh Brand Lanolin
or even a vegetable oil, real little..
And do not soap your n!pples either, that will dry them out.....

I saw you had a pump on your registry...that's good, then you can start to pump a little extra and put it in a bottle and give to Stephen to feed the baby too, very~very import for dad to be able to feed baby...
#1.. in case you have to go away, for the day or whatever..
#2.. for his bonding time with the baby
#3.. then there's no n!pple confusion either...
a drink is a drink, no matter where or which direction it comes from...

And do two different nursing pads tooo...
one for day time and one *a heavier one* for night time...

And get yourself at least 3 nursing bra's...one you're wearing, one in the laundry bin, and one that's fresh in your drawers when you have to change it..
The one's that you can unclip with one hand.

and get yourself one of those pillows...
Nursing Pillows
There's one that has straps on the back..
They can be tricky...
If you're tryin' to nurse in a rocking chair,
you have to take in account the width of the pillow and the width of the pillow's sides!!!!
But they are very useful... no bending over,
and keeps the baby up there, and NO PILLOW STUFFING!!!!
The one's with the straps can be good for getting up and walking around, like going to the potty real quick or answer the phone, and you don't have to worry about dropping the pillow or balancing it and the baby..

Hi Jenn!

I haven't been on in a couple days cause hubby's on vacation and we're cleaning out the garage (UGH), but I'm gonna try tomorrow to look at your list.

Weezie's right about the strollers- ours is difficult to steer with one hand, and sometimes you HAVE to. Umbrella stroller is much easier once they're older, but test the height of the handles. If it's too short for you, you'll get a backache quick. You may think you won't need a stroller much, but are you planning to stay home with the baby? 'Cause there are days when you're SO desperate to just get out of the house for a few minutes, taking a little walk is like heaven, and the stroller comes in handy.

Re: slings, snugglis and Baby Bjorns-- If at all possible, have both you and Steven actually try out the model you're thinking of using. Ours was so complicated I almost never used it, also it didn't fit me too comfortably as I gained 70 lbs with first baby, and it didn't seem to be designed with LARGER moms in mind.

Breastfeeding, man, I could give you horror stories, but it's pointless. My best advice would be- if you're bleeding, that ain't normal, and see a lactation consultant. It's great that you've decided to breastfeed, but don't let the breastfeeding nazis bully you. Like, it won't kill the baby if you have to give him/her a can of formula once in a while. I haven't seen your registry yet, but can tell you that the Medela electric double pump works as well as the expensive hospital-supply kind that you can rent. And that the hand operated ones or smaller battery powered ones are not NEARLY as comfortable as the electric double ones.

Totally agree with you on the gender-neutral colors for clothes. Besides, who cares if some stranger can tell whether your baby is a boy or girl?

Diapers- VERY smart what you're doing! I think my son wore the newborn size for about a week, and the size 1 for about another 3 weeks. Also, if your grocery doubles coupons, it might be cheaper to get the smaller "jumbo" bags on sale with coupons than to buy the bigger "mega" bags or boxes. My grocery puts Pampers on sale for 7.99 every so often, and I use coupons to get them for 5.99. (Doubling a dollar-off coupon.) That's usually cheaper than buying the super-big sizes.

Whew, that was a lot of unsolicited advice!

The breast feeding nazis...Ginger, you cracked me up with that!!!

Not only is it always ready, perfect..no mixing...but it is better for the baby. Helps build their immune system.. but Ginger is correct...some women have horrer stories about the experience.So, even if you only breast feed at first...you have given the baby what they need to get a good start. I personally enjoyed breast feeding my babies. However had to stop early with Darin because of a temp so we had to go the bottle route...it wasn't bad. The formulas are so much better now..that they still get the nutrients they need.

My advice on breastfeeding is in the first six weeks don't think that you're baby will go 2-4 hours in between nursing, I tried to "hold off" with my first baby and she was crying alot and I didn't know why???? It was because I wasn't nursing "on demand" and trying to make her wait the alloted time. Learned with my next three that there is no alloted time you just let them nurse whenever the heck they want to nurse. Some days you just spend the whole time nursing!

You know it's funny you should write that... cause I always think it's the other way around.. the one's that say something about breastfeeding and that makes the person NOT WANT TO DO IT, and that's the part that's frustrating to me....

Just because one person, or your mother or your friend had a hard time doing it, doesn't mean you will...and those bother me when they influence a new mom into not doing it..

And if I would have given in to my circumstances..
I'd maybe be in the same boat..
I had a hard time in the begining with the first one, *and without getting into detail, unless you want me to, but will in a PM* I had several nurse's tryin' to help me.. and to no avail, and a screamin' kid...
but there was this older nurse, ready for retirement age.. and she should have been *or was* in the Army...and she came in my room in the morning, whippin' open the blinds, and said
"You've got to feed this baby" and I'm thinkin' yeah, right, I've been tryin' for a whole day now.. well, let me tell you, she got out all of her tricks of the trade, and said this and handed me that, and next thing I new I was feeding the baby... then she said, "Them new nurse's haven't been around as long as I have to see all the tricks"
I smiled.. cause it was true..

So, you just gotta keep patient, keep on track and don't let anything stop you...

Absolutely, Weezie, you should TOTALLY keep trying to do it and don't give up right away, but just for some people, there may be a right TIME to give up, and the really hard-core breast-feeding people will make you feel terrible about it.

I won't go into my own horror story in detail, cause it wouldn't be useful to Jenn in any way other than to scare her, but my son and I tried for 8 WEEKS to get it right, and by the end of the 8 weeks, whenever my son was hungry and I'd pick him up, or someone would try to give him to me, I'd cringe and burst into hysterical tears. I was AFRAID of him- didn't want him near me. And this was after I don't know how many nurses, and two different lactation consultants. (As well as advice from every breastfeeding mother I've ever met.) But I was by God determined to breastfeed, and felt like I'd be failing him as a mommy if we couldn't manage it. Finally my best friend (a mom of three) set me straight about what was more important-- breastfeeding or being able to hold your baby without fear and pain. In the end, I pumped until he was a year old- he got ALMOST exclusively breast milk (except if occasionally we went on a long trip or supply didn't keep up with demand), but we never managed to successfully breastfeed. And it took me a long tie to get over the guilt.

So my comment about breastfeeding nazis was just meant to say that no matter HOW MUCH someone else may know about a subject, I think only the mommy can really decide what's the best thing for her and her child.

But you're right about it going the other way, too, because from the VERY FIRST time in the hospital when he didn't want to latch on right, the nurses were trying to make me give him formula right away, which fro what I've heard is totally unnecessary. One nurse even called my doctor and "told on" me because I wanted to wait.

The only problem I had was an overproduction of breast milk and when they would bring him to nurse...when I would sit up, it would almost drown him!!!
It is an excellent way to bond with your baby...but Ginger is right...if it frustrates you...the baby will fell all of those emotions and be fearful as well...and it isn't worth that!

I will tell you my views on the whole breastfeeding thing...and then let's let that part of it drop since some people may not really want to read about people's boobs and stuff that comes out of them!!

Ideally, I'd like to nurse, BUT if I can't, then I have no problem doing the whole formula thing. I've done research for both sides of the whole controversy. I understand why some people don't want to nurse and I understand the whole "YOU MUST NURSE!!!" thing too. If I AM able to nurse, I'm going to pump and refrigerate and freeze some so that Stephen can do feedings too. I know how important that is. Stephen is more than willing to get up in the middle of the night and warm a bottle for a screaming baby so that I can sleep through the night and not be a zombie during the day. I've received an entire canister of Enfamil in the mail 2 weeks ago and get frequent coupons from them also. I'm saving them just in case. I'm still researching on the whole nipple confusion thing, but I think if I start out with my breast at first and also with a bottle for nights and emergencies, then I think it will be ok.

...and that's all I have to say about that.

Anyone see those Peek-a-blocks from Fisher Price??? I LOVE those!!!!

Hey Jenn!
FINALLY looked at your registry. It looks like you've got it covered pretty well!
Here's all my unsolicited advice/comments (worth about 2 cents...)

The ear thermometer looks nice, but I remember being told you can't use an ear thermometer on a newborn. Not sure if that's true, cause I don't remember the reason, but they said you pretty much have to do rectal, or get one of those pricey ones that you roll across their temples. ???

Do you have any KNIT receiveing blankets on your registry? Cause if your baby turns out to be a wiggler, he/she will wiggle right out of the regular swaddling, but if you get a knit one, it stretches, and they can't wiggle out so easy. (Our knit receiving blankets were lifesavers!)

If by any chance you don't get your breast pump as a gift, you might want to check e-bay. It doesn't give the price on yours, but we saved about $150 bucks buying our on e-bay, and you can just buy new "accessories/attachments" if you don't want to use something that has already touched someone else's "hoo-has".

I love that Ocean Wonders fishbowl! We had that one, too. (Our BABY didn't care for it, but we thought it was cool.)

You know the roll-arounds? They're cool, but WATCH OUT! They're HEAVY, and once your little one learns how to throw, you might have to hide them. I don't even know how many times my son has pegged me in the head with those darn things.

BTW, I love the peek-a-blocks, too. That's another toy that WE thought was super-cool, and the baby didn't care for. (But other people's babies seem to like them.)

Let's see, do you have a bottle drying rack? Might need that. And LOTS of onesies? ("Cause you'll probably use way more of them than you thought. It seems like no matter how many you have, they're always all in the wash.

WHEEE! This is fun!