Update

As of last week, baby is definitely due August 13th. He is currently weighing about 6 lbs 5 oz and doctor thinks he will weigh close to 8 lbs when born. I'm sooooo excited!!!!!!!

Officially In Ohio

I received a text message from my brother today letting me know they made it safely to Ohio.  It was then that I broke down... again!  It's all getting more and more real every day.  It makes me happy to see us all moving up and on with our lives but so sad that life has pulled each of us in different directions.  Who knows?  Maybe somehow this will bring us all closer together.  I'm hoping we will work extra hard to make the time to see each other during holidays and long weekends.  I refuse to let the distance in miles put a distance in our relationships.  Good luck to us all and remember to always trust that God has a plan for us.

Daddy Checklist

Everyone knows the mom has to pack her hospital bag for herself and baby for the big day but what many lists don't talk about is what the father should be packing. Whether mom is waiting for labor to really get rolling, in labor, delivering or recovering with baby, dad is not only going to be the man in charge of all the "stuff" that mom will need and want but he will also want to be sure that he brings enough of his own belongings to stay comfortable, sane and keep busy. Here is a list of things I think all dads should bring in their own bag. By the way, both mom and dad should always prepare for the unexpected. You never know if you will have to have an unexpected cesarean. If that becomes the case, be prepared to stay in the hospital for at least 4-5 days.


Bring Snacks
Trust me on this one! Granola bars, protein bars, candy, crackers....do it! Try not to flaunt these things in front of your wife. Some situations do not allow the mother to eat anything solid.

Bring a Pillow and Sweatshirt
As far as I can tell, hospitals really aren't in the business of making sure that the Dad is comfortable during his stay in the hospital with Mom and Baby. While some hospitals at least seem to make a feigned effort to accommodate dads with pull-out beds and such, most don't. Even the ones that do don't really keep extra pillows or blankets on hand for dad, so it's a good idea to bring your own. Hospitals are also very cold. Regardless, be prepared to be very uncomfortable. After the delivery of my last baby, we were lucky enough to be placed in a room with two beds and my husband was able to sleep there.


Change of Clothes
Like I said earlier, labor might be very long or you might have an unexpected extended stay. You really won't want to leave mom and baby unless you absolutely have to.


Electronics
Camera, batteries, earphones, music, phone chargers, laptop, video, and the like. While it's on her list - you'll be held responsible.


Entertainment
Magazines, book, puzzles... whatever


Sh*t Happens...and Quickly
No amount of jokes, stories, or anecdotes can ever prepare you for the terrible contents of your cute little bundle of joy's first dirty diaper, and a tarry black substance known as meconium. Meconium is basically the end ("end". Ha. Get it?) result of your baby practicing swallowing in the womb by ingesting massive amounts of amniotic fluid and gearing up it's bowels for post-delivery production. If you ever get the urge to skip a few meals, I'd suggest looking up pictures of meconium online, because it is nasty stuff.


If you're "lucky" (depending on how you look at it) you're little one will start pumping out the nasty black tar immediately upon entering the world and you'll be able to stave off changing the first diaper at least for a little while, but trust me there will be plenty more where that came from, and unless you expect your baby-mama to pull out all of her IVs and climb out of her hospital bed to come change those diapers, that task will fall directly to you. So, come prepared to meet the nastiest thing to come out of your adorable child for a long time.


Steal Supplies Shamelessly
OK, maybe "stealing" isn't the right term for it, it's really more like "stockpiling". During your stay in the hospital, and assuming that your baby is staying in your room with you instead of a fifties-style viewing-window nursery, the hospital will provide for you as many baby supplies as needed in the form of diapers, wipes, blankets, etc. and if you've done your homework prior to parenthood, you'll know that these items can get very expensive, especially if your baby blows through diapers like my son does.
*Side note... If mom is offered the chance to get some sleep while they take baby to the nursery at night...DO IT! It will be difficult to part with your new little bundle of joy but trust me, you'll have plenty of nights to "bond" with him/her once you leave the hospital. Take the rest while you can get it. It will be the last night of good sleep you will get for about 18 years...no, really!!


So, the trick to learn is that each time there is a changing of nurses, which is usually every 8 hours and your current nurse's shift is probably posted in your room somewhere, the new nurse comes in to introduce themselves and restock your supply of baby-fixins. So what I did every time our current nurses shift was about to end, was to load the bulk of the remaining diapers, wipes, and any other useful items into our overnight luggage, so that when the new nurse came in she would give us a fresh supply. Prior to the next shift change all you need to do is lather, rinse, repeat and you'll start building a sweet little cost-saving diaper cache.


Of course every delivery situation is different and no two people's experiences will ever be exactly alike, but with these few tips at hand, I'm sure that you'll be slightly better prepared to face your inauguration into fatherhood with a slightly better idea of what the hell you're doing.

10 Best Baby Shower Gifts

I stumbled upon this article on Baby Center and thought I'd share it.  I also decided to link each item to a specific product I either experienced or have heard great reviews about. Personally, I would rather have diapers than a few of these :)  Enjoy!

• 
  
• 1. Bouncy seat
• 2. Baby monitor
• 3. Bedding
• 4. Baby sling or front carrier
• 5. Activity gym
• 6. Bath kit
• 7. Starter library
• 8. Out-and-about
• 9. Sleep kit
• 10. Set up a group of dinner providers

1. Bouncy seat

Keep a newborn and his parents happy with a bouncy seat — the baby can wiggle and jiggle to his heart's content, and his parents can squeeze in a chore or two knowing he's safe and entertained. This versatile, portable piece of baby gear features cheerful fabric stretched across a metal or plastic frame, with straps to ensure safety. Some models are battery powered for a rhythmic and more soothing bounce.

2. Baby monitor

Nervous first-time moms and dads will appreciate the reassuring presence of a portable baby monitor receiver on their bedside table. These gadgets have become more and more sophisticated — some models can pick up a baby's faintest breaths within a range of 600 feet or more. They're particularly comforting for parents whose baby is sleeping in another room. Newer options include motion sensors that sound an alarm if the baby hasn't moved in a certain period time, and video monitors, which let parents see as well as hear their baby.

3. Bedding

Pastel sheets covered in teddy bears, lambs, ducks, and other friendly critters are a perfect addition to any nursery, and soft fuzzy throws will help keep the baby warm. (They should be saved for out-of-the-crib cuddling, though, as soft bedding is a potential SIDSrisk.) And you can be sure that any new mom or mom-to-be will be grateful to have extra linens come laundry day!

4. Baby sling or front carrier

One of the handiest ways a new mother can tote her baby around is in a sling or front carrier. Babies love the feeling of being snuggled up close to a parent's warmth, and the ingeniously simple design leaves a mom's arms free to do housework or errands while her little one sits protected in a makeshift pouch. As a bonus, some experts, including pediatrician William Sears, swear that the close contact encouraged by slings and front carriers helps strengthen the parent-child bond.

5. Activity gym

Babies are enthralled by their environment in general, but you can make it even more fascinating with an activity gym — a contraption that typically includes a cloth mat and toys suspended from soft bars or arches. Colorful mirrors, noisemakers, and other objects of different shapes, sizes, and colors dangle within the baby's grasp, encouraging his developing eyesight and growing physical skills. Portable and lightweight, activity gyms are travel-friendly, whether you're shuttling between rooms or across the country.

6. Bath kit

For a gift that's both fun and practical, grab a baby tub and fill it with all the essentials a new mother will need to keep her child squeaky clean. Be sure to include baby shampoo, a mild soap that won't irritate a newborn's sensitive skin, a soft washcloth (or sponge) and hooded towel, and a bright yellow rubber ducky for good measure. A baby comb and brush are nice additions, as are a couple of simple bath toys, even though infants won't be able to really play with them for several more months. Toss in a bottle of bubble bath for Mom to use when her baby's asleep, and you're done.

7. Starter library

A shelf full of classic children's books is a gift sure to win any mom-to-be's heart. Reading them to her child will strengthen their bond, and the baby will begin to learn to appreciate the beauty of the written word. Some of the best are Goodnight Moon, Runaway Bunny, andGuess How Much I Love You?. If you love the idea of giving books, consider making it thetheme of the shower: Have everyone bring their favorite with a note to the baby tucked inside. Be sure to mix some baby-friendly board books in with the traditional hardcover variety — that way newborns will be able to truly appreciate the sound and the taste of your gift.

8. Out-and-about

If you're a parent — or even if you aren't — you know it's virtually impossible to get out of the house without leaving something essential behind. Help the happy new parents avoid mishaps with an assembled out-and-about kit. Start with a diaper bag; add a couple of diapers, some wipes, an extra outfit (or two) for the baby, a bottle of ready-to-feed formula (if she's formula feeding), a couple of small toys (rattles and chew toys are perfect), and a pacifier; toss in an extra T-shirt for mom; and finish it off with a pencil, a pad of paper, an extra set of keys (if you can get her originals to make copies), and a packet of safety pins. Now she'll be prepared for anything.

9. Sleep kit

Why do newborns cry at night? This question may be unanswerable, but a basket full of things that make the nursery more soothing after dark can help a new parent survive those first few sleep-deprived months. Fill your sleep kit with a comforting nightlight, a soft blanket (for out-of-the-crib cuddling only, as soft bedding is a potential SIDS risk), and some soothing music made just for babies (For Crying Out Loud and Lullaby: A Collectionare great examples). If you want to splurge, include a white noise sound machine or a special mobile that plays music and projects dancing light pictures on nursery walls. The baby will be enthralled, and his parents may look a little perkier in the morning.

10. Set up a group of dinner providers

When the beds are still unmade at 5 in the afternoon and the baby's having a good end-of-the-day cry, the last thing a new mom or dad wants to do is make a meal. So give new parents what they really want — dinner on someone else. Before you go to the shower, organize a group of the mom-to-be's friends to volunteer to make dinner for the new family after the baby's born. Depending on the number of people involved, you can plan to have hot meals dropped off either nightly or every few days for the first couple of weeks postpartum.

5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Becoming A Mom

There is nothing that can really prepare you for the incredible, overwhelming and over-the-top feeling of becoming a mother. You can read every pregnancy book out there, listen to the advice of loved ones and experts, but once you have a child everything you thought you knew goes right out the window. After the birth of my third baby, I was the most relaxed and easy-going. I had already gone through the experience of giving birth twice and my parenting tactics had loosened up quite a bit. These are the 5 things I wish someone would have told me before becoming a mom.



1. Listen To Your Gut & Follow Your InstinctYou know those feelings that you just can’t shake? The ones that tell you something is wrong or ‘off’ even though everything looks and seems just fine? Listen to them! Your instincts are almost always right.
2. Don’t Sweat The Small StuffPlease don’t worry about the little things, because in the end they are just that. The first year of your baby’s life is one of the most magical. People are not kidding when they tell you that it goes by in an instant. One minute your newborn is a tiny little thing that fits in the crook of your arm and the next, she’s walking. The laundry can wait and all those little things on your to-do list can be finished eventually. Don’t sweat it!
3. Ask For HelpThere is absolutely nothing wrong or shameful about asking for a little help. Family members are usually more than willing to help with a few chores, pick up some dinner or help take the baby off your hands for a bit. If your family isn’t close by, hire someone. Remember, you still need to heal and getting a little bit of help is a must for the first few weeks at least.
4. Take Time Out For YourselfSomething as simple as having a bath without being disturbed, taking a walk by yourself or going out for a coffee with your husband or a friend can be incredibly refreshing and rejuvenating. You need time for YOU as well. When mama is happy, everyone is happy.
5. There Is No Right AnswerWhat works for one generation, parent or family may not work for another. Don’t feel guilty if you decide to do things a different way whether it be something as simple as sleep schedules or feeding preferences.


Is there 1 thing you wish you knew before becoming a parent?