The Baby Expo and fulfilling our shopping list

After 6 months of holding back, we were finally ready to buy the baby gear. We went armed with our list of everything we needed. We came out with a handful of samples, an order for a pram/travel system, a Spanish/English nursery rhyme CD, and this picture of me sitting in an adult-sized bouncer (quite comfortable, and it vibrates, too!).

From 2009-10

Panic set in. We had put all our hopes into getting all our stuff at the Expo, but we only ticked 1 major item off the list. We weren’t satisfied with what we had seen at the big British baby stores (Mothercare, Mamas and Papas, etc.), so we went to the one that I trust in America… Babies ‘R Us. Jackpot! We found everything we were looking for and went on a major shopping spree, and they even delivered it so that we didn’t have to drag everything home on the bus. Now we’re putting everything together, feathering the nest.

We now have almost everything from our baby list:

Medicine cabinet

• Digital ear thermometer
• Infants’ non-aspirin liquid pain reliever (acetaminophen/parecetemol/tylenol or ibuprofen)
• Rubbing alcohol to clean thermometers, tweezers, and scissors
• Antibacterial ointment for cuts and scrapes
• Tweezers for splinters and ticks
• A pair of sharp scissors
• A pair of safety manicure scissors
• Child-safe sunscreen lotion (click here for details on baby sun safety and sunscreen guidelines)
• Nasal aspirator bulb syringe for drawing mucus out of a stuffy nose (not the pointy-ended ear syringe)
• An assortment of adhesive bandage strips in various sizes and shapes.
• Gauze rolls (1/2 to 2 inches wide)
• Gauze pads (2×2 and 4×4 inches)
• Adhesive tape
• A medicine dropper, oral syringe, or calibrated cup or spoon for administering medicines
• A hot-water bottle and ice pack
• A small flashlight to check ears, nose, throat, and eyes
• First-Aid manual

 

Labor suitcase

• Dressing gown x1
• Massage oil
• Backrub tools
• Nursing bras x3
• Breast pads
• Maternity pads
• Cheap undies
• TENS machine
• Movies to watch, music to listen to, laptop
• Aromatherapy
• Arnica cream
• Clothes to get home

Mom’s clothes

• PJs (x2)
• Lounge pants (x3)
• Lounge sweatshirts (with zipper, for easy breastfeeding)
• Nursing tops (x5)

Nursery

• Moses basket
• Moses basket rocking stand
• Moses basket sheets
• Baby blankets x2
• Cot
• Cot mattress
• Cot sheets
• Cot mattress protector sheet
• Changing table
• Gro-egg room thermometer
• Baby monitor
• Mobile
• Playmat
• Taggies (toy with tags)
• Decorative wall stickers / pictures / etc.
• Muslin squares
• Sleeping bag x2 (Gro-Bagg)
• Swaddling blanket
• Knee blanket for rocking chair
• Rattle, soft
• Fabric book (textured)
• Cuddly toy
• Dummy (x2)

Nappy changing

• Nappies
• Petroleum jelly
• Baby wipes
• Nappy cream
• Towels for changing table (x2)

Breastfeeding

• Breast pump
• Milk storage pots
• Sterilizer
• Nipple cream
• Breastfeeding tops (clothes) x5 (2 so far)
• Bottle warmer

Bath and Care

• Towels, hooded x2
• Baby hair brush
• Baby tooth brush
• Baby nail clipper
• Cotton balls and pads
• Baby shampoo
• Baby soap
• Bath thermometer
• Top and tail soap
• Cotton buds

Baby Clothes

• Newborn short-sleeved vests (onesies), x14
• Newborn babygro (footie pajamas), x13
• Booties, x3 (1 so far)
• Socks
• Bibs, soft, x7
• Hats, x3
• Overall (jacket with hood and legs), warm
• Cardigans, x2
• Going-out outfit, x3
• Scratch mittens

Travel

• Pram / Travel system
• Changing bag
• Baby carrier (Baby Bjorn, etc.)

Babyproofing

• Fire extinguisher
• Carbon monoxide detector

Other

• Zebra cuddly toy
• Bilingual Lullabies CD
• Forehead thermometer
• Memory foam portable changing pad
• Baby bedtime bath pack
• Football outfit
• “That’s not my reindeer” book
• Toiletries bag for baby stuff
• Santa footie pyjamas

 

There were a few other things that we missed, but we’re a bit tired of shopping so we’ll probably hold off for a while:

• Activity mat/gym (we have a mat, but not the gym part that goes over it)
• Bouncer chair (we saw lots but couldn’t decide)
• Nappy basket (maybe just a garbage bag & hermetically-sealing clip)
• Rubber duckie (everyone needs one!)
• A “Noah’s ark” bath set or other toys (his name will be Noah after all)

Bump, Nov 7

From 2009-10

20-week scan, Aug 13, 2009 – It’s a…

It was a beautiful Thursday afternoon. We left early from work. We were excited. The Day Of Knowing had arrived.

From 2009-08

They call it “the anomaly scan,” which sounds a bit freaky. We preferred calling it “the 20-week scan.” Thankfully, no anomalies were found.

From 2009-08

And the big moment we were waiting for…

From 2009-08

It’s a Boy! We can now officially stop calling it “it” and start calling it “he.”

From 2009-08

Marta on Westminster Bridge. Behind her is St Thomas’ hospital, where she’ll be giving birth. The corner room on the 6th or 7th floor is one of the labour rooms. It has a relaxing fountain, comfortable sofas, and one of the best views of the Thames, the gothic Palace of Westminster, Big Ben, and Parliament. (Would be a great place to take a date, if it wasn’t for all the screaming pregnant women around.)

From 2009-08

Bumpilicious collage, June 24 to Oct 14

From Bump Pictures

Sweden in July – Wedding photography

They didn’t have a wedding photographer, so I volunteered my mediocre camera services. It was a lot of fun, I learned a lot about how to use my camera, and I’m happy with the results.

Here are the best 3 wedding photos I snapped, in my opinion:

From 2009-07 Wedding in Sweden

From 2009-07 Wedding in Sweden

From 2009-07 Wedding in Sweden

And my 2 other favourites:

From 2009-07 Wedding in Sweden

From 2009-07 Wedding in Sweden

Picture of the Day: Marta and the bump at the London Eye

Our maternity ward is across the road from the London Eye.

From 2009-06

More pictures from 4th of July in NJ (the Wedding After-Party)

Thanks to my Mom for putting it all together, and to everyone who came. We had a blast.

From 2009-07

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It’s official… we’ve joined the baking club!

We have a bun in the oven, and it’s due in December (18-21, depending upon which dating method is used).

On our way to the first antenatal scan:

From 2009-06

Scan pictures at 11 weeks, 4 days:

From 2009-06

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Born into a household of computer nerds, his first words will probably be:

From 2009-06

On our way home from the scan. Much relieved.

From 2009-06

Marta, the bump, and the London Eye

On our way to St. Thomas hospital, right in the middle of touristy London. Our first antenatal appointment, to meet the Midwife. And it’s a clear day – how unusual!

From 2009-06

Baha’i wedding

We went to our first Baha’i wedding last month for our friends Amal & Peter. It was good to be at a wedding as a guest again, no worrying about getting things organized — just show up and enjoy!

From 2009-03

We had never been to a Baha’i wedding before. They had some traditional music and blessings, but to me the most interesting part was the Sofreh Aghd, the wedding table spread where every object has a symbolic meaning.

From 2009-03

The biggest feature is the large mirror and candelabras facing the couple so that they clearly see their illuminated reflection, representing the couple’s brightness in their future. There’s also bread to symbolize prosperity, walnuts for fertility, crystallized sugar and a jar of honey for the sweetness in life. They also had lots of Persian sweets & pastries which they serve *during* the ceremony — something that I think Western weddings should start doing. There was a tray of herbs & spices to protect them from harm, a bowl of apples and fruits for a joyous future, and in the center is a holy book (usually a Bible or Koran) to symbolize God’s blessing of the marriage.

Amal and Peter’s table also had a fishbowl with 2 goldfish in it, which I think symbolizes the Omega-3 fatty acid which is part of a very healthy diet.

Congrats, guys. Well done you!

From 2009-03