BaBy Thoughts!

Baby is on the way! 

PJ and I were blessed with the news of a baby to bring in the New Year. Good things to come in 2014, but there is so much to do and a finite timeline so we are trying to capture and savor every 

moment and enjoy this new phase of our lives. 

Join me on my adventure!

My Hospital Bag Essentials! 

This was my packing list for the hospital for my baby girl Sophia's birth. There are lots and lots of lists out there but these are the things I found most useful for my stay. 

1. CLOTHING - obviously you need to wear clothing, but some essential things I brought were cute outfits for the baby- a variety of onesies as well as nighty footie pajamas since I wasn't sure how big she would be I brought a couple of sizes. For myself, essentials were nursing tanks, I bought at Target that turned out to be very convenient! As well as large underwear! I bought some silky undies at Target so that I wouldn't feel totally gross in "granny pannies"  but a size or two bigger to accommodate lady products. 

2. Slipper socks - I bought these believe it or not at Hallmark, so random, but I found them there, they were better than no-slip socks which I thought would be too hot, and they were not as cumbersome as large floppy slippers. Also, I could get in and out of bed with them, super convenient! snoozies 

3. Bathrobe - This was helpful to me as it just made life easier for nursing and covering up if all I had on was a tank top and shorts. 

4. Makeup, chap stick, and headband! - Most people will tell you some of these things, but I found that my lips were super dry and chappy while in labor! Also, the headband was convenient for laboring and I brought a sparkly gold one so that I felt a little glam too. 

5. SNACKS! - I made this basket for my husband as a gift, that was full of his favorite snacks, 5-hour energy, gum, etc. Cant say it didn't come in handy for me too! Although the hospital had food it was nice to have snacks on off hours.  We also shared the candy with the nurses who were most appreciative! Hard sugar-free candies also came in handy during labor when your mouth gets so dry!

6. Hospital Gown - see my post about the Baby Be Mine gownies! I only wish I had packed two!

7. Boppy - or other breastfeeding pillow, I found it helpful to practice with it while in the hospital and having lots of helping hands to get the hand of feeding. 

8. Sleepsack, swaddle blanket, and hat for baby! - Although not "essential" I love the swaddle sacks and found it was much easier to wrap up baby than to try and do a perfect swaddle every time. The blanket and hat we wrapped her in after her first bath and before everyone came in to see her. She looked so perfect in all her first pictures with her cute polka dot blanket and hat! 

9. Shower supplies - shampoo, conditioner, soap - this was not provided at my hospital so I was happy to have brought it! 

Other essentials like obviously a toothbrush, hair brush, deodorant, camera, phone charger, insurance cards and paperwork. We also brought music and a Bose wireless speaker but I was never in the mood to listen to music. Our hospital was great enough to provide pillows and blankets for my hubby but we did have one of each in the car just in case!