tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post318897941866807296..comments2023-11-19T21:42:17.901-08:00Comments on My Path to Mommyhood: How We Attack Registering for a Mystery BabyJesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15868505568965284742noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post-72260209542373730102015-08-23T03:44:36.978-07:002015-08-23T03:44:36.978-07:00First off, I am so excited for you! :-) I don'...First off, I am so excited for you! :-) I don't know how you feel about buying second hand, but I've found Facebook groups in my local area that are a constant yard sale. There is SO much baby stuff and a lot of it is barely used! Babies use so much stuff and sometimes you use it a ton and sometimes barely at all. Each baby and mommy are so different. The things that I didn't get at my showers, a lot of it I was able to find though the yard sale group.<br /><br />One thing in particular that I really liked was a video monitor. I know it's an expensive item, but something that you will be able to use all the way into toddlerhood and beyond. I bought just a regular sound monitor at first and then ended up splurging with a leftover gift card to get a video monitor. I have used it SO much! <br /><br />Some "small ticket" items that are easy to register for... diapers, diapers, diapers... :-) (I liked Pampers Swaddlers for the earlier stages with blowouts and then we just used Luvs) ...pacifiers, baby wash, baby toys, spit up cloths, blankets, bath toys. People are basically going to buy you whatever they want even if it is not on your registry unfortunately. The people at the return counter will get to know you on a first name basis. :)Jen, Jenny, Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10670130854383230565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post-91564515884506826462015-08-18T14:30:43.524-07:002015-08-18T14:30:43.524-07:00Yay that this trip back went so much smoother with...Yay that this trip back went so much smoother with regard to employees. Love it. And a great accomplishment to figure out all the big ticket items. I wouldn't worry about the registry list looking large item heavy. So many people register just for the discount of "unfilled" items that I don't think people give it a second thought. Plus with a possible school/work and family showers you never know if people want to go in on gifts to help you out with the larger items. <br />As for items I love a nice soft seat to hold or rock baby in is a must. We ended up finding a small lazy boy style chair on clearance at a furniture store. It fits just fine with a dresser, and crib and I don't think our nursery is much larger. I love that your pack n play is multi functional (awesome!) and I'm big on recycling my kid gear (selling it at a discount to make room and money for something new) but not sure if that fits your plan or not. Excited for you both in the midst of scanners, planning and announcing :) Michelle Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18344980628402079740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post-67516710664420031932015-08-18T07:44:42.090-07:002015-08-18T07:44:42.090-07:00Seriously--it IS a weird turnaround. I had bought ...Seriously--it IS a weird turnaround. I had bought onesies and displayed them in earlier cycles, to send out a message that we were "ready," but since that call was unanswered so many times I hid everything and we closed up the room for a little while. It's nice to think about it being far more hopeful than it's ever been, but also surreal to think that a baby will materialize in there at some point unknown. I feel woefully unprepared and panicky. But also thrilled and joyous. I'm sure you know the feeling! Wishing you the best as well... Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15868505568965284742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post-14773605803145149312015-08-18T07:42:57.520-07:002015-08-18T07:42:57.520-07:00More trips is definitely the way to go! It is comp...More trips is definitely the way to go! It is completely overwhelming, which makes me kind of sad because I always thought it would be so joyous. It IS joyous, but also causes so much anxiety in me. It's like infertility has caused this whole PTSD thing when it comes to prepping for an actual baby, because it's hard to believe a real live baby is coming to us, even with all our hopefulness! It is fun to see the list grow and to imagine these things in our home. :) Thanks for your encouragement!Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15868505568965284742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post-58942189851849407152015-08-18T07:40:59.946-07:002015-08-18T07:40:59.946-07:00It is so true--I feel excited for about ten minute...It is so true--I feel excited for about ten minutes and then get swamped with anxiety and feelings of complete inadequacy in that store. Bryce holds the scanner, which helps. :) Pants, will do! We are looking at that Chicco Lullago airflow bassinet collapsible thing, it's like $100 at Target and seems like a good choice for early months when the baby's in our room. I'd better get cracking on cleaning up my side of the room... :) THank you for all the advice and encouragement!Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15868505568965284742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post-23683181053718693112015-08-18T07:38:15.655-07:002015-08-18T07:38:15.655-07:00YES! There are definitely benefits to not being pr...YES! There are definitely benefits to not being pregnant. I am starting to turn when I see late third-trimester folks to being just a tiny bit smug instead of broken up inside that that's never going to be for me. Oh, I love the "pregnant on paper" shirt idea! I saw a shirt that said, "Adoption is the New Pregnant," but I felt it was a little inaccurate and snarky. Hahaha on the coasters and knee pads... I'll find some purpose for them, or maybe donate them? I'm sure there's some place where women need breast pads. Thanks for your excitement!Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15868505568965284742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post-82764985345257901082015-08-18T07:36:15.024-07:002015-08-18T07:36:15.024-07:00Ooh, samples and coupons are the best. I was advis...Ooh, samples and coupons are the best. I was advised to wait until the baby is born to stock up on formula, because you just don't know if the baby will need a special type or anything, but I have one sample already. We totally registered for the Boon grass after your recommendation! We went with the Dr. Brown's warmer due to recommendations from random in-store people and friends who have gone before us. Ah, side-snaps! We haven't gotten to clothing yet. We are still maybe halfway done... this registering business is no joke. I feel like we need to block out six hours and bring a meal to really get it done. ;) Thank you!Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15868505568965284742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post-55136647427001658482015-08-17T09:29:37.047-07:002015-08-17T09:29:37.047-07:00It was so weird to move from avoiding all things b...It was so weird to move from avoiding all things baby to embracing all things baby without a baby. But, I guess that's part of moving on from RPL to adoption.<br />Now, I have mostly enjoyed starting to pick up things. But, I really hated the actual registry - there is so much out there that it's hard to know what to pick and what not to pick! I think you are doing great by starting with the big stuff, those are the ones that you really don't want to get wrong. From there, I think the little stuff will come together! Wishing you the best!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post-79570672292442521992015-08-16T20:09:08.268-07:002015-08-16T20:09:08.268-07:00Very nice there is an adopting parents option at t...Very nice there is an adopting parents option at the store. Glad to hear you guys are taking the time you need to figure it all out and what you want for baby-in-waiting-out-there-somewhere. So smart to break it down into more trips, giving you time to get thoughts and ideas together. Hope you guys are having fun with it. :)Jamiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06275071143469111072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post-43487921173343124162015-08-15T04:49:20.560-07:002015-08-15T04:49:20.560-07:00It's quite surreal to be handed the power of t...It's quite surreal to be handed the power of the scanning gun and set loose in the store. I researched and knew my way around IF like the back of my hand, but was completely lost when it came to actually being able to move forward to anything baby. <br /><br />We love our Boon grass drying rack. I do have a tree and a flower attachment, but would honestly use the trees more than the flower. <br /><br />We are formula feeding as well and love the Dr. Brown's Formula pitcher. We just warm the bottle up in water, so we skipped any warmer. Although when we travel to others' houses where there water doesn't heat up as fast or as hot as ours, I could see how I could maybe want one. :)<br /><br />Definitely register for just pants...we had to run out to Target after he was here, because I had nothing for the bottom side. I also have a love hate relationship with socks for babies. <br /><br />He's slept in his Gra.co Little Loun.ger for the first three months of his life. We've taken it with us when we traveled to my parents' for overnight visits and we moved it downstairs during the day those first weeks.<br /><br />Consider registering for sleep gowns or pajamas with zippers. Snaps in the middle of the night are my nemesis...especially when you get to the <br />last one and realize you've done it crooked!<br /><br />I'm so excited that you're this much closer to getting your baby home!Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11569304261655584855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post-81591133462311209192015-08-14T15:46:57.424-07:002015-08-14T15:46:57.424-07:00I have a good friend who adopted her two children ...I have a good friend who adopted her two children and she says she finally made peace with not being pregnant when she would see the swollen ankles and general uncomfortableness of heavily pregnant women, she would say to herself "Thank God, someone put a 10 month old in my arms!" I also made a T-shirt for her that read "pregnant on paper" which helped when they were shopping. I've been joking that the cloth breast pads can be re-used as coasters, but maybe the disposable ones can be knee pads for when your little one is crawling! So excited for you to be taking these steps to get ready! jAllenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06282963869813954232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post-31571497659809960422015-08-14T10:44:31.782-07:002015-08-14T10:44:31.782-07:00So, I'm formula feeding A due to low supply (a...So, I'm formula feeding A due to low supply (as I'm sure you read) and I think that registering also somehow gets information to Enfamil and Similac and they'll send you samples! And coupons! And if you use the coupons, they'll send you more coupons. We haven't yet decided to use generic formula (I'm torn about it; on the one hand I'm pretty sure it's the same as the name brand formulas but I'm such a sucker for advertising). I'm sure you have so much of this advice already, but I'd recommend registering for the Boon grass (large size) and at least two, but I find that I like having three "trees." It's great and holds tons of bottles and bottle paraphernalia. I resisted getting a bottle warmer, but it's nice, however, I wouldn't recommend the Boon warmer, I just don't think it's that great. I know every baby is different, but I like both our Philips Avent bottles and our Born Free bottles. I'd like to plug the MAM pacifiers--they've worked the best for A and they have such cute designs. Finally, (again, more experienced moms probably already told you this), but I wish I had registered for side snap shirts as A has a giant head and hates having shirts pulled over his head and pants--I got a lot of onesies, but no pants! <br /><br />Registering is completely overwhelming; there are so many choices and so many lists and so many things that you may or may not need, and I'm still not sure if I did it right. I'm excited for you and I can't wait for your nursery to come together and I can't wait for your baby to come home!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com