Getting Ready for Savannah

Jeremy and I have been blessed to have this past week off from work for Spring Break.  It has been a great time that we've been able to just relax and get prepared for our little daughter!  I'm proud of how much we've gotten accomplished this week!  Here are some projects we've done:

- Went shopping in Greenville, SC with our gift card money from the baby showers we've had so far as well as the $125 bonus money that we got from ING direct for opening up a checking account on Black Friday (we opened it with the intention of using the bonus money to buy baby supplies).  We were able to get a high chair, breast pump, bouncy chair, some clothes, burp cloths, nursing bras, new pj's for me to take to the hospital, diaper genie refills, and a few other random things.  We were blessed to only have to spend about $80 of our money for all of that!  So thankful for friends and family who have given us gift cards!

- We have assembled the high chair (and yes, we know it will be several months until she actually starts using it, but I'd rather look at the high chair than the box :)

- We got the carseat from my aunt (who graciously offered to give us the car seat her son just finished using) and installed it in the car.

- We got the cradle from my aunt as well and set it up in our bedroom 

- My mom came over and helped us spring clean and she painted a bookshelf for us and brought over a lot of my old children's books from when I was little.  We got those set up in Savannah's room.

- I packed Savannah's bag for the hospital

- I started packing my bag for the hospital, although I don't have everything ready just yet.  I am excited for my new pj's that I got to wear in the hospital after delivery.  

- I started washing Savannah's clothes and made tags to hang in the closet to separate the clothes by sizes. I used the template that I found here and added in my own text.  We went to Staples and had them printed out and laminated- all in all spent about $2 on them and I think they'll do the trick!  If you'd like to download the labels with the text I inserted, feel free to do so here (the labels are not my own, please see the original link above).  

- I also created a post-pardum recovery kit (sorry no pictures of this one, although I'm sure you don't mind :)  I am thankful for those who have shared what to expect as far as recovery for me after delivery so I have some idea of what is to come.  I took a look at a lot of different suggestions from other blogs and put together a basket containing: overnight super maxi pads, epsom salt, witch hazel, pure aloe vera, Tucks, medicated spray, stool softener, ibuprofen, hemorrhoid cream, spray bottle, and also made some "padsicles" to put in the freezer. 

- We had maternity pictures taken.  See a few of them here. 

- I downloaded some apps onto my phone to help me through labor.  I downloaded several free relaxing/nature sound apps, relaxing video apps, and I'm planning on buying an app called iBirth that has videos of labor positions and tips for relaxation during labor.  Although I plan to take a book with me to the hospital to help refresh my memory on some of the tips, I think having videos to watch may be easier for me to handle while in labor.  The app costs $2.99, and I've never actually bought an app, but I think this one may be worth it.  I'm working on creating some index cards with Bible verses and prayers to help me through labor and keep me focused.  

Still left to do- hang the curtains back up in the nursery.  They fell when my mom was helping us spring clean- just glad they didn't fall when Savannah was here and in the room!  We need to get some mounts to go into the dry wall to help them stay in place.  I also need to make the mobile to hang over the crib and hang up a picture.  Other than that, her room is ready to go!  We still have about 4 weeks until she is suppose to arrive but I'm so glad that we've gotten an early start on getting things ready!

Over the next month I plan on freezer cooking and continue getting the house ready for her to arrive.   I'm happy with how much we've done so far!

Maternity Pictures Part 1

A sweet friend offered to take some maternity pictures for us as a baby gift.  She posted some of the pictures on Facebook yesterday and I love them!  I'm 35 weeks in these pictures :)