Pre-Baby Bucket List

[lola]

I'm working on a fun list of things for my husband and I to do before the baby arrives (in addition to the list of things we actually need to do like we've discussed in other threads). I know we're not all first time moms, but if you are, what's on your list? And if this isn't your first baby, what did you do before your first baby, or alternatively, is there anything you wish you'd done before your first baby arrived?

My list includes...

-Eat dinner at a fancy restaurant we've been meaning to try
-Go on a picnic
-Go for a hike/swim
-Host a pool party at our house
-Cooking class
-Bowling
-Concert
-Establish some holiday traditions for the baby

Help me add to the list!

[Deleted]

Dh just hopes baby will hold out long enough for him to see the new Star Wars. I'd like to get a couple of hockey games in before baby comes. We are trying to think of some holiday time traditions too.

[emilie]

We have a few concert tickets for the summer and fall, so those are already on the list. We also are probably going to take some sort of long weekend babymoon in August or September to get in one more romantic getaway Also, host some sort of blowout "we're having a baby" party at our house, maybe in lieu of a baby shower (though my siblings are being insistent on a baby shower...)

Holiday traditions - I figure we'll have a year to work this one out, as we are an interfaith family and we have to figure out how we want to handle everything. Baby will be too little (or nonexistent, if she comes late) to care this year. Hanukkah falls late this year (Dec 24-Jan 1) so it's possible that we could have a hybrid Xmas/Hanukkah baby!

[tbonequeen13]

We took 1 last trip as a couple before DD was born (to celebrate our 5 yr anniversary)....I can't think of anything else we really did but we still do everything that's on your bucket list (sometimes with DD, sometimes when we have a babysitter).

It's sad, we don't have much of a bucket list this time: take DD to her 1st movie is about all I can think of (she's dying to see Finding Dory). We're also taking a trip to Disney World but we'll do that sometime after this one is born too.

[requiressnacks]

I love the idea of holiday traditions! Does anyone have any Christmas examples they want to share? The only thing I can think of is that I want to get everyone matching stockings.

[littlelion]

Jul 6, 2016 14:19:50 GMT -5 requiressnacks said:

I love the idea of holiday traditions! Does anyone have any Christmas examples they want to share? The only thing I can think of is that I want to get everyone matching stockings.

My brother and a sister made christmas ornaments in school one year as kids.  I always thought those were special.  I'd like my kids to make some ornaments for our tree, either the crafty kind or going to the pottery painting place.  Plus since our families celebrate Christmas eve, we're doing our own family thing on Christmas day morning.  

[kaydee0402]

requiressnacks, we have matching stockings. Pottery Barn, FTW.

[littlelion]

lola, I think your list looks great! Enjoy every one of those!  Don't forget to add extra sexy time in the 2nd tri! Life after baby is never the same...

[requiressnacks]

Jul 6, 2016 14:59:04 GMT -5 kaydee0402 said:

requiressnacks , we have matching stockings. Pottery Barn, FTW.

Yes! Those are the ones I want. Right now we have a mishmash of stocking we had as kids, stocking we bought for the dogs, etc. I'd like them all to "go" together.

[lola]

I know a lot of people do matching pajamas, and I want to do that one. We also have matching stockings, so I'm hoping they have the same style this year for baby. I'll probably order two, just to be safe.

I also know families who take the kids in pajamas for a drive to look at holiday lights with hot chocolate, which is cute for when the kiddos are older.

The holidays were always so magical for me, and especially with a December baby, I want them to be special.

[kaydee0402]

For holiday traditions, this year I'm going to do Polar Express Day with DS. Last year we took him to the mall to see Santa and we did breakfast with Santa. This year we want to take him to Christmas Town. We always go and cut down our own Christmas tree. That's a fun tradition. And we're practicing Catholics, so Christmas Eve mass and then appetizers and gifts at my sister's afterwards.

Also, my husband and I always open our gifts to each other at midnight. That way we can focus on DS and his toys in the morning. Plus, it's fun to have that special time under the Christmas tree opening gifts and drinking champagne.

Our traditions will be thrown for a loop this year thanks to baby, DH (hopefully) coming home in time for the holidays and the fact my entire family plans to come up from Florida and stay at my house to help with DS and the baby. I'm just excited I don't have to worry about cooking Christmas dinner. Yaaaay me!

[requiressnacks]

Jul 6, 2016 15:04:22 GMT -5 kaydee0402 said:

Also, my husband and I always open our gifts to each other at midnight. That way we can focus on DS and his toys in the morning. Plus, it's fun to have that special time under the Christmas tree opening gifts and drinking champagne. 

I think I'll be having November babies, so this tradition sounds AMAZING to me.

[kaydee0402]

As for pre-baby, I definitely recommend a few date nights, go to the movies and go on a trip somewhere, even if it's only overnight. Oh, and stay out really late just because you can.

Your marriage will change when the baby is born. Enjoy it being just the two of you because it will never be that way again.

[Winnifred]

I want to get out on a kayak at least once this summer, I know that won't be as easy next year!

DH and I are going to watch the flight prices and see if anything interesting comes up. We just went on a vacation a month ago so we're most likely not going to do a baby moon unless it's cheap.

We're going camping at the end of August and plan to leave our dog behind. It will be really nice to have one last camping trip without her or the baby.

I need to think about other fun things, I've been way to focused on the non-fun to do list items!

[sdgal]

Love this!!

We have tickets to a couple concerts this summer.
We did hiking and camping last month.
Our 2nd anniversary is in October, so maybe we can do the fancy dinner then. I will probably sneak in 1 glass of champagne at home!!
In September, we have a road-trip vacation scheduled with DH's family. So that might have to be our "babymoon" of sorts.

I love Christmas traditions. My family always did Christmas Eve service at church, then pictures in our fancy church outfits in front of the tree and fireplace. Then we got to open 1 gift and it was always new matching pajamas. Then more pictures in front of the tree and fireplace.
DH and I have also been collecting ornaments as souvenirs from all our trips or special events. So our tree is literally covered in our memories.

With a Christmas due date, this year will be all "playing it by ear". Hopefully little DS won't resent his holiday time birthday, if we make sure to make it special and separate from the Christmas celebration.

[sdgal]

And funny story about Pottery Barn stockings.

DH and I had been dating for about a year when I found out that his ex-wife and I had the same first name. He made a decision to not let it bother him and I found out that his sisters called me "good name" and the ex-wife "evil name". So everythings fine.

Later, I was helping him clean out an old storage unit, and what did I find...personalized Pottery Barn stockings.
Since my reaction was to start laughing hysterically, and DH said that I could have whatever I wanted, I have no problem using my new personalized stocking at Christmas.

Some people think it is totally weird, but since I don't have a problem with it, that is what matters.

[wherethelightis]

My birthday is in October, so I've already dropped hints to my husband about where I want to go and what concert I want to see. Our 5th anniversary is in November, and before getting pregnant, I wanted to go back to Jamaica, so that will have to wait until next year.

My daughter will be turning 4 this Halloween and I always go over the top on her birthday, even if it's just our family and she really doesn't have "real" friends yet and it's just a few of my cousins' kids.

We always host Christmas Eve for our parents and siblings. It was sad last year since we just lost my son. Now it will be completely different with a 2-3 week old baby! DD really believes in Santa so I'll have to come up with some presents for the new baby, too.

[Winnifred]

sdgal, LOl about the names - his mom doesn't have the same name, right?!? Of course my Parks & Rec obsessed mind immediately goes to Ron and his Tammy 1 and Tammy 2.

Good advice, @kc295905!

I also love the matching and/or new pajama tradition for Christmas Eve, I'd like to incorporate that into our festivities. I'm also working hard to drop hints that our families should come visit us for Christmas. We live about 2.5 hours away and we have come home for Christmas (usually before or after) every year. We much prefer to spend the actual holiday in our home. So far it sounds like I might get what I want but we'll see. I'm sure in a few months I'll be totally regretting it anyway

[lola]

emilie, I love the thought of a hybrid holiday baby! So special. Not sure if you ever read the blog A Practical Wedding, but they do lots of great posts about interfaith families juggling things like holidays because their editor in chief is part of an interfaith family. So insightful.

littlelion, I read this comment to my husband, and he's totally on-board with that suggestion.

kaydee0402, requiressnacks, We finally got our matching Pottery Barn plaid stockings last year, but now I have to hope they have the same ones this year!

tbonequeen13, Disney World is definitely on our list once baby is a little older!

sdgal, We collect ornaments on our trips too! It's so fun to decorate the tree every year and reminisce about our travels. Also, what a great stocking story! I'd totally use it.

wherethelightis, Very exciting to have a new baby to create some special memories this Christmas! In no way the same, but we lost my grandfather on Christmas a few years ago, and every year I feel like we're able to celebrate a little more and make some new memories.

crimpgirl, I feel the same way! We're active people, so I'm hoping a baby will just make us more selective in our activities, and make us plan a little better in advance.

@kc295905, If only I could sleep! But I'm going to keep trying.

Winnifred, We go to my parents' house every year (3.5 hours away), and I've already told everyone that is NOT happening this year with a 12/15 due date. They can come to me, or we'll just have Christmas with our tiny new family at my house.

[Winnifred]

lola, totally agree with you on that one! We won't be traveling this year regardless. Even if no one ends up coming to our house for the holiday, I'm sure we'll have seen them enough earlier in the month that it will be fine.

Also, my step siblings ALWAYS came home to visit for Christmas with their kids and stayed several days with my parents. I always hated that they were all in our house on that day and DH and I have really enjoyed our quite Christmas at home pretty much since we were married. I don't plan on that changing any time soon - I much prefer to celebrate the holidays on an off day with extended family.

[requiressnacks]

sdgal, I love that you use the stocking!!

My 2nd anniversary is in October too! I will definitely have a glass of champagne....in the privacy of my home.