Baby Registering

Look at me with all the baby talk now!

Well, I recently found, in the bottom of my nightstand drawer, a couple of lists I made while I was pregnant. I made a list of things I wanted to be sure I registered for. Of course, we always register for way more than that; but, I wanted to make sure I registered for some items at either Target, Walmart, or Amazon.com.

I thought about sharing the list with my friend. However, why not share it with everyone else too? Sure! Then, those fellow mothers out there could add other things. It sure would save her some time searching the internet! :)

Here were my 'Must Register For' items:

• Diapers
• Wipes
• Enfamil Formula
• Hamper
• Video Monitor
• Play Pen (with bassinet and changing table)
• Car Seat
• Stroller
• High Chair
• Tub
• Car Seat ‘Snuzzler’
• Pacifiers
• Bottles & Liners
• Bottle Washer
• Baby Hangers
• Crib Bedding
• Extra crib sheets
• Water proof crib sheets (2)
• Swing
• Thermometer
• Brush/Comb
• Nail clippers
• Clothes (all sizes)
• Pajamas (all sizes)
• Bibs
• Socks/Booties
• Anti-scratch mittens
• Diaper Bag
• Hats/stocking caps/PJ hats
• Blankets
• Hooded towels
• Diaper Genie II, Elite
• Diaper Genie II, Elite refills
• Changing pads
• Sun shades for the car
• Rattle/Toys
• Play Mat/Gym
• Vibrating/bouncy chair
• Diaper rash ointment
• Baby powder
• Travel wipes
• Baby oil
• Baby shampoo/body wash
• Wash cloths
• Teethers
• Travel formula dispenser
• Gas relief medicine
• Long sleeved onesies
• Baby Orajel
• Baby Tylenol
• Night Light
• Nasal Bulb
• Carbon monoxide detector
• Boppy
• Water for formula
• Breast pump
• Car sear cover (for winter babies)
• Boogie wipes
• Sleep sacks

Here were my 'Need - Later On' items:

• Toilet Seat Locks
• Toddler Shoes
• Safety Plugs for Electrical Outlets
• Cabinet locks
• Sippy Cups
• Plates & bowls
• Spoons & forks
• Potty chair
• Booster seat
• Tooth brush/paste
• Bath toys
• Snack cups, to-go
• Cheap stroller to keep in the car
• Toy box of some sort
• Faucet cover
• Outdoor swing
• Bath bucket
• Baby gates

Here were my 'Want to Register For' items:


• Bows/Headbands/Hats

• Infant Shoes
• Bumbo
• Bumbo tray
• Baby leggings
• Pacifier clip
• Baby food carousel
• Bedtime books
• Sound machine
• Dishwasher basket, for baby accessories

Here was the list of items that I wanted or needed for myself before Lucy came:

• Pads
• Nursing pads
• Nursing Bras
• Nursing pajamas
• “Granny panties”
• Tummy compressor

If anyone has any questions about what an item is or what I used it for or why I used it, I would be happy to share. Please share any other items that you thought were very helpful or necessary for you.

One thing I didn't use; but, I know a lot of mothers do, is a baby bjorn or a swaddler/carrier. New moms might want to try them out. :)

Happy baby registering, friend!

Baby Boom!

Two of my best friends are pregnant.

Also, I know at least three other women who are pregnant.

Four of the five women I've mentioned are due in January! Can you believe that?

My first thought is: what happened in April that I missed? :) No one can say that it was the long, cold winter. :)

I am so excited for my friends. Being pregnant, while sometimes nauseating and scary and irritating, is so wonderful. Bringing babies into the world seriously might be the most touching and miraculous thing ever! :) I am so excited to take part in their journeys.

The big question now that two of my best friends are pregnant?

"Cori - when are you going to have another one?"

I'll be honest - I had baby fever as soon as Lucy turned one year old. However, Heath and I knew that it just wasn't right for our family. I had to think rationally. That would just be too much for Heath and me. We want Lucy to be out of diapers (crossing-fingers) and in a big girl bed before we have another one. Having two babies in diapers and/or cribs, just isn't for me.

Seriously, no offense to anyone who likes children that close. I get it.

But, as most of you know, Lucy isn't even close to potty training yet. She did sit on the potty chair the other night though...with a diaper on. Small steps! :) And, we still need to lower her crib one more setting, because she is starting to monkey-climb.

We have a while. And, does all of this make me want to have a baby more? Or sooner? No - not really. This is their time. I will just share in their happiness and Lucy will get a sibling soon enough.

In the mean time I get to buy baby stuff! :) Yay! It is so fun to buy; I can't wait. I hope that one is having a boy and the other is having a girl; then, I could buy some of both!

I'll be sure to let you know how it goes and if my baby fever raises at all. :)

What do you think is the perfect age difference in children?

Where did Heath and Cori go?

This is a rhetorical question. Don't think too much about it.

However, I do think a lot about it. Heath and I both do. We've reached a point in parenting where we are constantly being thought of as mom and dad; we are always a family. But, where did Heath and Cori go? Where did the couple go? When did 'relationship' become 'co-parenting'?

When we first had Lucy, it brought us so close - closer than we could have ever imagined. It was such a wonderful feeling to share the miracle of birth with Heath - to look at him and know that we created this beautiful baby out of love. Wonderful!

Since Lucy turned one year old and became a mobile, tantrum-thrower, who can't be left alone for two seconds...our relationship has shifted. It is all we can do to have an adult conversation in bed at night before falling quickly asleep.

Lucy goes to sleep at 8:30 pm, you say?

You are right. However, that time is when I can actually use a pen without someone crying and having a fit, trying to snatch it out of my hands. Or, when I can cut coupons without someone thinking they need to shred my papers or steal my scissors. Or, use cleaning products without having someone right behind me, digging in my cleaning bucket or trying to wipe her face with the Pledge towel I just used.

Alright, alright. I know. I can do these things, if I can distract her. However, let me give you a quick example of such a case. I wasn't watching her for a few minutes and left her in the living room. It should have been pretty safe - no exits, no electrical outlets, no heavy items, no swallow-able items. However, Heath found her.....sitting in the middle of the coffee table, watching television. She had moved a couch pillow over to the side of the table and climbed right up.

I wouldn't change a thing in our lives. I love my family so much. However, Heath and I need to find one another again. We need a re-boost of relationship energy.

We often feel guilty for having date nights. We feel super guilty when Lucy stays the night somewhere. And, when you feel rested and good the next day, you almost feel guilty for enjoying yourself so much. It's like you shouldn't be happy, if Lucy wasn't involved...

We recently went to Weston, Kansas and stayed at a Bed and Breakfast with my family. Lucy stayed at her Grandma Jeannie's. It was so relaxing. Heath and I had a great time. We found each other again.

Monday came and we went back to the old routine.

We know that we need to be more active in making date nights a routine. We need to. It's tough; I'll admit. Since we work so much, we don't get to spend as much time with Lucy as we want. Any time we get with her, we cherish. We hate to give up even a couple of hours to go out to eat.

So, perhaps we need to take one night a week to not do chores, not mow, not cut coupons, not work, not do all of the things we just 'have' to do. We could take one night to put Lucy to sleep, pop some popcorn, and just watch a movie, cuddling on the couch.

It's easy to feel guilty about not cleaning or making lists of to-dos. The weeds in my flower bed mock me. The unswept floor really grinds my gears. But, when it comes to our relationships, it's easy to put them on the back burner to these minuscule, unimportant to the big picture, things.

This weekend we are going away for our three year wedding anniversary. Hopefully we can start a trend of date night.

Have you and your significant other ever reached this bump in the road? How did you get over it?

Note: Heath and I are doing just fine. Family - don't freak out like we'll get a divorce or something. haha.