Last Minute "Gotta-Do-RIGHT-NOWs"

I logged into my BabyFit account today to enter in the last few things I had eaten and my exercises for the day before heading downstairs to unwind for the night. I went to my home page, where I typically watch the counter for my "due date". It read, "Only 19 more days to go!" I knew "the time" was drawing nearer and nearer, but it didn't hit me until today... and I feel like I still have SO MUCH to do.

This may seem a little obsessive, but I don't care. I am writing this blog entry to physically map-out my plan for the rest of this week so that I (hopefully) will get these things done. By Sunday, I will have somewhere around 13 days left until Keeli's arrival. Here's what I have left to do so far (and I could technically do it all in one day if I so chose, but that's highly unlikely):

• Call the remaining pediatricians on my list and .pdf directory to set up additional consultations, since I obviously had far different views from the first one I interviewed.
• Set up an appointment for proper infant seat installation inspection at BabiesRUs. (I used to work there!)
• Call the child care centers on my list around Ooltewah to set up interviews/pay retainer deposit for when I return to school in January (though I am considering staying at home with her the entire first year) Forget this part entirely, as I am going to stay home with her until next fall when she will be a year old.
• After phone calls, I need to pick up the two parcels I have waiting on me at the Post Office. This will get done first, more than likely, even if it doesn't make sense route-wise to do so; it's a big shipment of more cloth diapers!!! :)
  
• Buy the items on the list I made (complete with pictures, haha) on the blue laptop. Shop The Dollar Tree first for smaller items, then Target (with $50 gift card), then Wal-Mart if absolutely necessary.
  
• Force Dad to let me have a clothesline so that I can buy that, have it installed, and feel "ready" for diaper duty. He keeps dodging me on this.
• Fill-out, address, apply postage to and mail my Thank You cards for those who attended my baby shower/sent gifts in the mail. There are tons of them. I keep putting it off but if I don't do them before she gets here, I know I will never get them done.
• Add new items from shopping to hospital bags for when it's "time".
• Condense number of hospital bags if I can. Right now there are a total of 7 in various sizes, and I also have to take my birthing ball and pillows. The only problem I can foresee with downsizing is that everything I'm packing, I will probably need. DOWNSIZED, but still have all the essentials.
  
• Wash pocket diapers. I am trying to wait on all of them to arrive first so that I can do one big wash, but who knows when they'll all be here. I am currently waiting on twenty more, fifteen of which I believe are in the shipment mentioned above that I will be picking up tomorrow.
  
• Finish sewing newborn AIO's and a few more newborn fitteds.

Now that I'm seeing all of this in writing, I think it makes it seem a little more manageable. It at least gives me something to refer to.

Nevermind; it seems like a lot still. Jeez. I better get in bed so I can wake up before 10am tomorrow. =)

Sling-Stashing!

I have assessed my "sling stash", and I feel pretty decent about it. I have two pouch slings and four ring slings (technically five, but I don't like one of them). Considering how expensive these things can really run, I am calling it quits for those. The most I have paid for a sling has been ~$12, so I have been lucky in that aspect. If I buy any more (if I NEED any more), I will be returning to eBay, of course. I'm a bargain shopper!

Here is a picture of the ring slings I have. (The bottom right is the one I am "iffy" about.)


These ring slings are actually, simply, fabric from India that I scored in a previous relationship. I am more economical than anyone gives me credit for. Haha.


Here is what my pouch slings look like. I am waiting on the orange-colored one to arrive in the mail.



These are slings from SevenSlings.com. I have read mixed reviews on this brand; some people don't like the fabric or think it's sturdy enough. However, I showed the sling I have from there to the leader of our local baby-wearing group (Lookout Babywearers) and she thinks it is just fine. I guess it is more about personal preference.

I can't wait to see her little face looking up at me from the safety of her sling. Even more so, I can't wait to breastfeed her while being out and about, using the cover of my ring sling fabric! I know that may sound odd to some people, but I think it's totally precious.

My Ever-Growing Diaper Stash

As of right now, I have won a total of 11 Babyland pocket diapers from eBay for only $31, all with free shipping!!!

Here is a picture of what one of them looks like, the other 10 are just plain colors (red, pink, purple, blue, green, yellow, orange).



That brings my diaper stash count to the 7 AI2/OS that I made myself, 14 Babyland OS pockets, 58 pre-folds and 20 pairs of plastic pants.

I am also waiting on a bidding for 10 more Babyland OS pockets. If I win those today, that will bring my OS total to 31, not to mention a TON of pre-folds (that I will be using as inserts as well when she gets bigger).

CAN'T WAIT FOR THEM TO ARRIVE! Just one more thing I'll be impatiently waiting on. :)

UPDATE:: WON the 10 diapers from eBay for $23, including shipping!!! I now have 30 OS and a ton of pre-folds/plastic pants. My hyper-diaper-shopping is now DONE.

I won the OS Pockets!!!

I won my diapers! I'm so excited. I cannot wait to get them in the mail!!! I ended up paying $17.01 for FIVE, with free shipping. That's basically a steal in my book! Yay, fluffy mail on the way! :) Here is what they look like: (I already have the yellow, so this time I am getting the green, blue, purple, pink and red)
I am also currently bidding on a set of 10 (currently bidding at $1.75, ending in two days), as well as four individuals (right now, bidding at $.06/piece, ending in one to two days).
Fingers still crossed!!!

Hyper-Nesting

According to my OB, my "due" date is on July 24th. Today is June 24th, meaning I have somewhere around 30 days to try and get everything else in order for the arrival of my angel! I feel great as far as having everything I need. The only thing I am still waiting on is the travel system, and my sister is planning on buying it for me from one of our friends once she begins feeling better. If worse comes to worse (I go into "labor" before we have one), I'm sure my dad will go and pick one up.

There is, however, one thing I am concerned about... Diapers. I have this awful nagging feeling that I don't have enough. Until today, my mom had assumed we had somewhere around 50 pre-folds in our arsenal, along with 10 nappies, subtly varying in style but all OS pockets. She is super "old school" and doesn't see why I feel the need to buy the nappies. Her words to me are always the same: "I don't see what you have against the pre-folds and plastic pants". It's not that I have anything against them, they worked just fine for my siblings and I growing up, but the nappies just seem so much more convenient... not to mention CUTER!



It turns out, though, after inspecting Keeli's closet, she only has 34 pre-folds and 10 nappies. I almost started hyperventilating. That is probably only enough for 2 days, and I'm not about to be doing diaper laundry that often and increase the financial burden we are already imposing on my parents (water bill). The pre-folds we bought, although not organic and maybe not even of the best quality, came 12 to a pack for around $10. I am planning on buying probably 3 more packs of those, but that doesn't solve my nappies problem.

I have been looking around on Ebay, and currently have bids on 4 more OS pocket nappies and if no one bids against me, I can get all 4 for $1. That would be a rare occurrence; prices always rise to around $10/nappy, which is still better than buying at my local store. The bidding for these diapers ends in 2 days, and I'm just praying no one finds them!!!

I have sewn 6 of my own for less than $30. I really enjoyed the process, but my ankles and feet did NOT! They are really cute, AI2/OS, and very economical. Now, I just wish I could pay someone to sew the next batch so that I don't have to be sitting so long... and I'd have to watch them and nit-pick at them to make sure they're doing it right. :) Here is how they turned out.

I would love to be able to buy more material and make more. I can just imagine how proud I'll feel when I get to tell people "I made those myself!". I am hoping, though, to luck-out with this bargain I found on Ebay, and then use the money I saved to make 6 more of my own... That would put me at 20 diapers.

Ugh...

So, this is a summary of my current obsession: Diapers. Either way, I know she will be provided for, even if it's by the less-cute pre-folds and plastic pants. We are blessed.