Where Gestation Meets OCD

Call it nesting. Call it  OCD. Whatever my affliction was, it ran deep (see also: our wedding week) and Mark gave me major side eye because apparently re-landscaping the front yard was "too much". 

Whatever.

I broke everything in to gestational weeks (lumped into weeks of four) with a list for home (on the fridge) and one for work (displayed on my desk) for the end of my second trimester thru postpartum and let me tell you, it was a life saver. Those first weeks with a newborn is a haze (gross understatement).

My mom and sister came over to help us clean for the baby shower and we whittled this list down relatively easily. Thanks guys!

Lists make me happy. Obviously. Do you make lists? Use a day planner? What kind? 

(week 36 until delivery)

• baby book {similar} -- letter to baby, family info
• TDAP shot (Mark, grandparents, nanny)
• replace back stair tread -- super slippery when wet (tumbled down them at five weeks)
• basement -- started; finished about two months ago
• pantry -- a reminder I should do so more often because, expired food 
• scrub microwave + stove #greasymess
• scrub fridge + freezer -- did not make any freezer meals like I wanted but we had a pretty good stash of easy food to prepare, so it was fine.
• hamper -- finally finished!
• shampoo couch + stairs
• thank you cards (baby shower)
• nursery - nursing station
• car seats installed -- we went to a local FREE seat install event. Super informative
• baby laundry
• hospital bag
• make padsicles -- made, and never used. The hospital ones were EVERYTHING. And I forgot I made them...
• birth preferences + hospital folder
• call list
• wrap hospital gifts

(postpartum to return to work)

• activate maternity leave benefits -- tip: fill out as much as you can prior to delivery
• nanny/child care start dates -- my baby sister is nannying for us in the summer (HALLELUJAH!), then he'll go to daycare
• cloth wipes + wipe warmer
• diaper bag -- Nordstrom Rack find; $25!
• setup breast pump
• newborn photo session
• update life/medical benefits
• will/guardianship
• announcements
• blessing -- he was blessed at his circumcision* (a lovely prayer in hebrew and english), then again by Mark's family priest
• download wonder weeks app -- simple and concise with monthly reminders. One less book to reference :)
• request white house birth greeting
• get birth certificate copies

* Rabbi Mike came to our childbirth class to educate us on circumscion and we liked his warm nature instantly. When he mentioned a) he performed circumscions (you don't have to have them done by the hospital and it is covered under insurance) b) he did so on those not of the Jewish faith, we jumped at the opportunity. Owen was circumsized on the eight day (he was out of town, otherwise he would've come to the hospital) with both Mark and myself present. It was quick, he barely cried and I'm grateful to have been present.