Finished packing!

Well, I think I finished the whole "packing for the hospital" thing. So in the event that you're interested, here's what's in the bag:

1. The Husband Bag

• Gym shorts


• Sleep pants in case it's freezing


• 2 tshirts


• Boxers


• Socks


• Basic toiletries (toothbrush, deodorant)

2. Toiletries

• Toothbrush and toothpaste


• Hair tie and headband


• Face wipes


• Shower essentials (shampoo, conditioner, deodorant)


• Lotion


• Chapstick


• Hand sanitizer


• Lanolin


• Nursing pad


• Maxi's


• Sample vitamins


• Towel

Most of these things I already had since I like to collect travel size things. But I did purchase a new toothbrush for a whole buck. I also thought it was a good way to take advantage of all the free sample vitamins I've received over my many months of prenatal doctor visits instead of having to remember to pack my big bottles.

3. Clothing

• DIY hospital gown #2


• Giant walmart undies


• Nursing bra


• Tank top


• Yoga pants


• Zip-up hoodie


• Non-slip socks

Pretty basic here. I plan on wearing my DIY hospital gown #1, leggings, robe, and flip flops into the hospital.

4. Warmth

• 4 walmart pillows in blue cases


• Fleece blanket

$2 pillows from Walmart in some cheap cases. The nurse at the hospital said to be sure and bring our own because they're quite scarce around the hospital. I put them in a vacuum bag to take up less space for now. I know I won't have a vacuum for the trip back home, but odds are I'm not going to care about it then. The fleece blanket is for Cory on his poor little couch bed.

5. Boppy
Pretty self explanatory. I'm taking my mini boppy to the hospital and leaving my full size at home.

6. Bag o'Colette

• A couple of coming home outfits


• Little hat


• Swaddler


• Blankets


• Pacifier

Pretty basic here too. Blankets for coming home, a wubbanub paci just in case, couple of outfits because I can't decide just yet and don't know what size she'll be, and a hat with her name on it.

7. The Paperwork

• Phone charger


• Birth plan


• Triage questions and answers


• List of people to call/text/email


• Baby book


• Pens


• Paper

All my paperwork is nice and neat in a little folder, ready to go. I found a list of possible/usual triage questions upon entering the hospital. Cory and our doula will be with me and in the event that I'm unable to answer a question because of a contraction or something, perhaps they'll be able to find the answer on the sheet and I can just confirm.

And that's it. The only other things I would possible like to pack are some Harry Potter DVDs. Call me crazy but during those lulls after delivery when/ if I can't sleep etc. it'd be nice to have something playing in the background.

I'm also happy to report that both guest bedrooms and the nursery are clean and ready for occupancy. The only thing the nursery is missing is the bookcase and it will be here late this week. Ahhh sweet relief. Only 3 weeks to go.

Nesting

According to good ole Wikipedia:

Nesting: In human females, the nesting instinct often occurs around the fifth month of pregnancy, but can occur as late as the eighth, or not at all. It may be strongest just before the onset of labor.

It is commonly characterized by a strong urge to clean and organize one's home and is one reason why couples who are expecting a baby often reorganize, arrange, and clean the house and surroundings.

The first signs of things on the "cons" list of pregnancy have arrived. {Mildly}. I believe the nesting instinct has come on full force in the last week which has been accompanied by stress to get things done and thereby inducing stress-related mood swings. It hasn't been terrible, I just feel like I'm in a race with myself to finish projects.

Here's a list of things I did over the past week:

• Made two hospital gowns


• Made a maternity sash (I actually ordered one from a lady on Etsy {with good reviews} a few weeks ago and that turned into a fiasco ending with a PayPal and Etsy dispute and me getting my money back and deciding to make it myself)


• Cleaned for 8 hours straight on Friday


• Shopped for 5 hours on Saturday morning for guest room #1 decor, organizational things, and cleaning supplies


• Spent the rest of Saturday putting together the guest room (with the help of Mrs. Branum THANK YOU!), making a wedding present for a friend (no detail here, I haven't sent it yet!) and setting up my DIY baby photography backdrop holder.


• Sunday was the day for meal planning, another trip to Lowe's for ceiling mount curtain rod holders, Target for cheap curtains, and grocery shopping.... And taking down closet doors and putting up a curtain instead. The good news is I don't have any issues opening the closet doors anymore. The bad news is that it's not terribly attractive.

All that, plus the usual house upkeep, dinner making, and my actual job, it was a very tiring week. And I can assure you I won't be doing that much walking for a while as it was very unpleasant to move about halfway through the cleaning spree on Friday and into the shopping event on Saturday. My pelvis, right hip and right knee where NOT HAPPY.

I'm very glad we're back to Monday. Monday means actual job and lots of sitting. It was a very productive day at work as well. Lots of things to get done before I take maternity leave.

I also spent a little time in the nursery last week, basically just moving things around and thinking about all the things we still have to get.. which is just about everything that isn't clothes. (Diapers, car seat, stroller, diaper bag, more diapers, wipes, pack'n'play, and possibly some socks.)

I think Cory and I will need to get the car seat/stroller and pack'n'play in the next week or so. I like to be ready for the unexpected and since "full term" is a measly 6 weeks away, I'd just like to go ahead and have those two things ready. I'd like to pack my hospital bag too. I've already made the list of things I need to pack and plan to print it out and put it on the fridge in the event I don't get to pack it myself.

So now we're down to just 2 or 3 hundred more things to do before baby Colette arrives in the next 0-9 weeks.

A nap is needed.

Oh and here's a couple more maternity photos from Brittany Mauldin! If you've landed here via Facebook, you've already seen them :)

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