Last week a friend gave us four massive garbage bags of gently used baby clothes. There are some really cute stuff in there! I started washing it over the weekend and it got me thinking about what else I need to get done before the baby gets here. It’s all been floating around in my head, but it’s nice to put down a proper to-do list and see what we need to do.
Some of it we’ve already started and others are still a ways away, but here’s any idea of what needs to be done in the last trimester. I still can’t believe that we’re already there!
- Look up maternity benefits and maternity leave – In Ontario, we get a full year of maternity leave with reduced pay. I feel very fortunate that I get to take that first year off work and spend it focused on our growing family. I still need to double check all the benefits that we get, how to set up my maternity leave, as well as the benefits from my full time employer.
- Book and attend hospital tour – Although we opted out of the prenatal classes at the hospital and decided to go with an online class, we both agreed we’d still like to see the birthing unit at our hospital. Thankfully they run tours every week and they aren’t very expensive.
- Complete Baby Registry – My mother and mother-in-law are co-hosting a baby shower for me later this spring. They are both so excited about having their first grandchild and I’m really touched that they wanted to work on this together. I still need to finish the baby registry for them, but I have to admit it’s harder than I realized. It feels like every single item I put on there I need to research all the many many different options (opinions on each!). Thankfully I have some great friends who’ve done the first mom thing before and are helping me put it together.
- Decorate Nursery – As I mentioned in last week’s post on the nursery inspiration, we still have a ways to go. For the most part the pieces are there and it just all needs to be pulled together, with the exception of a few keys pieces I’m still on the hunt for.
- Assemble crib – We were going to attempt it this weekend, but chickened out to work on another project instead. I can’t help but see this video of Ryan Reynolds assembling a crib and picture that being Garrett (right down to the same haircut, ha!)
- Find big area rug – Someday we hope to replace all the flooring in the bedrooms upstairs but in the meantime we’re going to cover the nursery’s white linoleum flooring with a rug.
- Find rocking chair cushions – My parents are lending us my great grandmother’s rocking chair, which is the same one my mother used with me and my siblings. My dad refinished it when I was a baby and all it needs are some new rocking chair cushions to keep things comfortable for those late night feedings ahead.
- Paint dresser and side table – While we’ve decided not to paint the walls in the nursery, there is still some furniture to paint. We’re waiting for the next burst of warm weather later in the spring so that Garrett can paint most of it outside and keep the fumes at bay.
- Hang curtains, shelves and pictures – All these finicky little things need to go up, but we’re waiting for some of the bigger pieces to be in place to make sure it all looks good together.
- Book babymoon – With the Zika Virus scare, we decided against any kind of a last minute tropical vacation this winter, but I’d still like to get away for a long weekend somewhere close.
- Attend breastfeeding class – I’m planning to breastfeed and thankfully there are some great free classes out there for first time moms to get more information.
- Research cloth diapers – This is definitely something that I want to try to do as well. I’m hoping to do a mix of cloth diapering and disposable, based on the time of day and where we’re going. I still feel like I need to do more research on all the many different types of cloth diapers and the best methods of keeping them clean. Any tips are appreciated!
- Pre-register at hospital – In the next month or so, I’ll need to finish pre-registering with the hospital. This will help make it easier when we arrive and I’m in labour.
- Arrange cord blood donation – Thankfully our hospital and my midwives both participate in a great initiative where you can donate the blood from the umbilical cord. The cells are collected and used to help children with serious illnesses or used for medical research. It doesn’t cost us anything, takes very little time and could potentially help someone in need.
- Dentist appointment – I went for a routine dentist appointment when I first found out I was pregnant and they warned me that it’s really important to keep up your oral health during this time when your hormones are crazy. I’ve booked one more check up before the baby gets here to make sure that everything’s a-okay.
- Wash all new things – Although I started it this weekend, there is still so much stuff to wash…and I haven’t even had my baby shower. We already use a laundry detergent that is free of dyes, perfumes and lots of other not-so-great chemicals, but I’m still giving it all an extra rinse cycle just to be sure!
- Make a few baby things – Whether it’s some burp cloths, receiving blankets or if I’m really ambitious, a quilt, I’d still like to have a couple little things that I’ve made myself for the baby before she arrive, if time allows.
- Freeze some meals – In anticipation of not want to (or being able) to cook homemade meals in the last month of pregnancy and those first weeks of motherhood, I’m starting to plan out some good wholesome and nutritious freezer meals to have on hand. We only have a small freezer in our kitchen, but with some strategic planning, I think we can fit quite a few meals in there.
- Stock up on household supplies – Rather than trying to pick up things up with a newborn in tow, I’m trying to stock up on our usual supplies whenever I see them on sale right now. Pantry staples, toiletries, medicine, toilet paper, shampoo, etc. are all things that we could run out of in those first few weeks.
- Clean out our cars – Both of our cars are in need of a deep spring cleaning. As soon as we get some nice weather, I want to clean them both out really well and give them a good scrub down.
- Install car seat and have it inspected – You can no longer bring car seats to fire stations to be checked out, but there are a few private companies that we’re looking into to make sure we get the car seat installed properly.
- Get a hair cut, pedicure, etc. – In the last month I’m going to give in for a little bit of pampering. I tried to paint my toenails by myself this weekend and I’m sure it looked quite hilarious. Bending over at this point is a joke, so I don’t anticipate it getting any better in the last few months!
- Dog vet appointments & nail clipping – It just so happens that the week I’m due is when the dogs have their annual wellness check up and get their heartworm/tick medication for the year. I called the vet and was able to book it sooner in the month. The plan is to get that done, get their nails clipped and give them one last good bath before the baby gets here. They have to be ready to meet their little baby sister too!
- Get out spring clothes – I’ve been living in maternity jeans and long-sleeve t-shirts with my regular winter sweaters throughout the cold weather, but it won’t be long before the nice weather comes along. I’m going to switch out my wardrobe before the baby gets here, so that I have all the warmer weather clothes ready to go.
- Figure out birth announcements – I’m going to wait until the baby is here to figure out the announcements, but for now I’m bookmarking any ones I love, like these beautiful Foil-Pressed Birth Announcements from Minted.
- Pack hospital bag – I’ve started a list for this too, but I’m going to wait a little longer before I start packing everything. We’re planning to take mine and Garrett’s things in our small wheelie suitcase and then pack baby’s things in the diaper bag. Any time someone tells me something that was a must have in their hospital bag, I’ve been jotting it down. Again, any tips are appreciated!
- Create a contact list for baby’s arrival – When our baby makes it’s debut, there are going to be a whole list of people that we want to update. Garrett is in charge of getting the word out, so I’m putting together a list to help him out.
When you write it all down into one list, it sure looks like a busy few months ahead of us. If you have any tips or suggestions, please leave them in the comments section below! Thanks!
