To-Do List Week of Oct. 31st

[jubilantsquirrel]

I'm not sure how many of us still have to-do lists, but I figured I'd start another thread just in case. Lord knows I still have a list a mile long.

[jubilantsquirrel]

Purge all the things - pantry, kitchen cabinets, all the closets, bathrooms, bedrooms and garage.

Clean out car

Install car seat base

Pack hospital bag

Pack spend over bag for DS

Buy and hang new cordless blinds (happening this weekend) - Did not happen last weekend as they didn't have the color or sizes that we needed.

Hang things on walls - Got a clock hung this weekend! Still a few more things to do.

Install closet organizer in guest room/DS's big boy room

Toddler proof DS's big boy room

Buy new video monitor

Re-decorate nursery

Go through and wash all of DS's old clothes. Figure out what, if anything, I need for LO.

Pick a coming home outfit

Finish re-finishing the dining room chairs

Find some GD curtains for the front window (never going to happen) - Being delivered tomorrow! Hopefully I like them.

Buy a birthday present for H so I don't forget (birthday 11/22, EDD 11/29)

Pull out PNP and set up in our bedroom

Pull out, clean and set up swing

Buy some new bottles and nipples

Sterilize all the bottles, nipples and pump parts

Survive this "Sprinkle" my mom is throwing herself me (happening 11/5)

Send in FMLA and STD shit

Spend some quality time with DS.

Assemble the rest of the Ikea shit we bought.

[kleigh]

Def still have some To Dos lol:

• Oil change & clean car, then install car seats

• Sterilize breast pump parts (forgot to do this when I did the bottles and pacis)

• Hang curtains in our bedroom

• Light grocery shopping for some staples/easy to eat foods

• Hang all the nursery decor - but this seems so trivial right now

• Finiah bringing the rest of our stuff from ILs house to here

• Run washing machine and dryer a few times to make sure they are in proper order/no issues since we haven't used them in a long time

[hangry]

I'm with you jubilantsquirrel. I could probably make a weekly to-do list for life. But today I'll keep it reletively baby related.

- Move glider into our BR
- Finish decorating kids room
- Confirm EI benefits
- vacuum seal O's small clothes
- get O over his cold and don't catch it

[htk1113]

Clean out car

Install car seat base

Pack hospital bag

Pack spend over bag for DS

Pick a coming home outfit

Pull out PNP and set up

Buy DS his birthday/Christmas presents (Birthday is 11/23, EDD is 11/18)

Get last signature on FMLA form and send in to HR

Clean bathroom

Clean/sweep floors

Review more labor prep information (ie. contraction timings)

Wrap up work projects (at least organize myself enough to hand off things without worry)

Buy baby care items (diaper cream, bathing stuff, gripe water...)

Sign up for honest company diapers again




Reality Check (ie. things that won't happen until after baby gets here)

Sterilize all the bottles and nipples

Buy new pump parts (tubing and membranes)

Get pump serviced (want to make sure it's in working order)

Buy some new bottle nipples

[jubilantsquirrel]

Oct 31, 2016 10:26:21 GMT -5 tgrimes1980 said:

Buy more wine.

I really need to add this to my to-do list.

[kleigh]

Oct 31, 2016 10:38:53 GMT -5 jubilantsquirrel said:

Oct 31, 2016 10:26:21 GMT -5 tgrimes1980 said:

Buy more wine.

I really need to add this to my to-do list.

+1

[kleigh]

Re: pumps and BF, I'd like to make this as easy as possible since I have like a triple or quadruple whammy coming: FTM, twins, no one in my family/friends who BF.

1) I read about getting extra parts so you don't have to wash as often - which parts am I buying and what do I need to know about washing.

2) What other "supplies" should I make sure I have? Lanolin, breast pads, nipple creams, cabbage, etc

[kleigh]

Thank you vinolove !! I owe you a bottle of wine ;-)

[jubilantsquirrel]

Oct 31, 2016 11:36:39 GMT -5 vinolove said:

Oct 31, 2016 10:38:53 GMT -5 jubilantsquirrel said:

I really need to add this to my to-do list.

Please stop adding to your list, it's giving me anxiety.

Girl, me too. I try and justify it by telling myself I'm not due until the end of the month, so I have plenty of time. But I'm pretty sure I'm going to need to borrow that paper bag from you.

I did pull out the bag I'm planning on taking to the hospital. I mean, it's completely empty, but at least it's sitting on my bedroom floor now.

[LizInFL]

-buy a new monitor (old one died last week)...going tonight

-schedule my friend's cleaning lady to come and do a deep-clean.

-get oil changed; might try to take care of that during preschool one day this week, or see if DH can take off early one day and handle it. I HATE car stuff.

Otherwise I think we're pretty ready. I'm sure I'm forgetting something big, but we do have wine!

[htk1113]

Oct 31, 2016 11:07:27 GMT -5 kleigh said:

Re: pumps and BF, I'd like to make this as easy as possible since I have like a triple or quadruple whammy coming: FTM, twins, no one in my family/friends who BF.

1) I read about getting extra parts so you don't have to wash as often - which parts am I buying and what do I need to know about washing.

2) What other "supplies" should I make sure I have? Lanolin, breast pads, nipple creams, cabbage, etc

I would be cautious of using cabbage leaves as I've always been told that's the way to help reduce your supply.  I bought extra parts not to avoid washing but for the pump bag, in case I forgot something at home.  

I bought extra:
membranes and valves
Cleaning wipes (totally optional but I liked when I went back to work) www.target.com/p/medela-24ct-quick-clean-breastpump-accessory-wipes/-/A-10203467 
Sanitizing bags (again, nice for work didn't use all the time) www.target.com/p/medela-5ct-quick-clean-micro-steam-sterilizing-bags/-/A-10953413
Disposable breast pads (target brand)
lanolin/nipple cream (towards the end of my pumping, I started using coconut oil for comfort while pumping)
Lots of storage bags 
extra bottles to pump into (if your feeding bottles have universal threading you can pump directly into them) 
 
At home I would rinse and dry my parts (all but tubing).  At the office, I used the wipes most often but have a friend who would rinse and stick her parts in the fridge then wash at home.

*Don't wash your tubes since they won't dry well and could get moldy.  Otherwise, I just used dish soap and warm water for everything else.  

I did a lot of research on Kellymom.com regarding breastfeeding and pumping.  Also, if you have a local lactation consultant, I would reach out to them early.  I've heard mixed opinions about lactation specialists in pediatrician's offices.  Since you want to breastfeed, try to find a pediatrician that fully supports that.  

[kleigh]

Oct 31, 2016 13:24:34 GMT -5 vinolove said:

kleigh what was the cabbage leaves for? Cause htk1113 is right, it decreases your supply.

Yeah I have zero idea what the cabbage leaves are used for, I just read something somewhere maybe for pain? But obv I wouldn't have done it without researching/asking like I did here.

[kleigh]

Actually, I could always use the cabbage to throw at H when he's pissing me off.

[kleigh]

Not preachy at all vinolove !!

I have NO CLUE what I'm doing but I am intent on trying really hard, even if I move to EP. It's overwhelming for me to read source after source after source right now, and I've taken a BF class but once the class instructor heard I was having twins it was basically like "good luck" . I'd rather get straight info here than read ten different books that say ten different things based on ten different agendas.

There is a supposedly really good LC here who only sees "complex cases" (though she has staff that will see standard cases) but I'm told she would consider twins a complex case but won't see me until they get here. I have her phone number to call from the hospital.

Im going in with an open mind, esp knowing my anxiety/depression history I won't allow it to drag me down emotionally, but I am also allowing myself to trust my body and give it time and patience.

[cookswithwine9]

I did not accomplish much from last week:
- Pack hospital bag
- Make freezer meals
- Wash pump parts, figure out how it work
- Wash larger items
- Set up pnp, swing, rnp, diaper genie

[shedreamsincolor]

I haven't read this whole thread but my god the Motherlove nipple cream saved me from giving up breastfeeding. It's that awesome. Recommend to everyone!!

[jubilantsquirrel]

I had never heard of cabbage leaves before! Learn something new everyday.

[sophiegrace]

Anyone else throwing their hands up because they've realized that no matter what they get done there will always be a never ending amount of things to still do?

I think I'm there.

[dashook]

Oct 31, 2016 11:07:27 GMT -5 kleigh said:

Re: pumps and BF, I'd like to make this as easy as possible since I have like a triple or quadruple whammy coming: FTM, twins, no one in my family/friends who BF.

1) I read about getting extra parts so you don't have to wash as often - which parts am I buying and what do I need to know about washing.

2) What other "supplies" should I make sure I have? Lanolin, breast pads, nipple creams, cabbage, etc

PP's had you pretty well covered but +1 to no cabbage leaves. Idk about buying extra parts; I never had a hard time keeping up with washing pump parts personally. You could always wait and see how much you are actually pumping before ordering extras. There's a good chance you'll just be nursing them on demand for the whole time you're on leave, in which case you won't really need to pump unless it's to have bottles handy for if you have to be away from them or something.

For supplies, I have buttloads of breast pads, both disposable and reusable, and I hate them all lol. In my experience they are all uncomfortable and show through clothes but are kind of a necessary evil. I used coconut oil sometimes on my nips and I also got an olive oil based cream from Bamboobies that I loved; it was also great for lubricating my pump flanges. Finally, I friggin LOVED the Lansinoh soothie gel pads. I have stocked up on those this time.

[dashook]

Btw kleigh, I have full confidence that you will be able to breastfeed both your babies if that is indeed what you want and choose to do. People love to naysay with breastfeeding while at the same time judging women who don't do it. They can all GTFO because they don't matter.

[kleigh]

Oct 31, 2016 19:16:11 GMT -5 dashook said:

Btw kleigh, I have full confidence that you will be able to breastfeed both your babies if that is indeed what you want and choose to do. People love to naysay with breastfeeding while at the same time judging women who don't do it. They can all GTFO because they don't matter.

Thank you! And don't forget I have your phone number so I take this to mean I can text you MOTN for support when I'm having a breakdown about BFing 😂

[dashook]

Oct 31, 2016 19:55:25 GMT -5 kleigh said:

Oct 31, 2016 19:16:11 GMT -5 dashook said:

Btw kleigh, I have full confidence that you will be able to breastfeed both your babies if that is indeed what you want and choose to do. People love to naysay with breastfeeding while at the same time judging women who don't do it. They can all GTFO because they don't matter.

Thank you! And don't forget I have your phone number so I take this to mean I can text you MOTN for support when I'm having a breakdown about BFing 😂

Absolutely! I am always happy to help. Plus I will be looking for things to occupy my MOTN feedings!

[sophiegrace]

Oct 31, 2016 19:16:11 GMT -5 dashook said:

Btw kleigh, I have full confidence that you will be able to breastfeed both your babies if that is indeed what you want and choose to do. People love to naysay with breastfeeding while at the same time judging women who don't do it. They can all GTFO because they don't matter.

Seriously. This is the truest statement and I cannot understand why. Gee thanks for both making me terrified to try it and like a terrible person if it doesn't work out all within 30 seconds. Sometimes people are the worst.

I'm glad there are so many supportive and knowledgeable ladies on this board.

[ClassyMrsA]

To do:
Buy supplies for hospital (drinks and snacks we like for motn and zombie moments)

The end.

[kleigh]

Oct 31, 2016 23:14:03 GMT -5 @sarahwithanh said:

Oct 31, 2016 23:11:52 GMT -5 waitwhat said:

I packed my hospital bag basically on the way to the hospital. I work best under pressure.

MH had to pack it on his own. The nurses helped him make a list.

I just "awwwww"'d at this. That was really sweet of them to help him.

[htk1113]

Things I got done!

Sent FMLA form to HR (found out there is one form left to send in)

Moved crib into kids' room

Installed car seat in one car

Yeah!

[pinktartan9]

[goldenlove3]

Hahaha danib!! I noticed the date right away and was super confused!