Baby Registry Advice and Bumpdate: 26 Weeks Pregnant

Hello friends and happy fall! Can you believe it’s fall already? I’ve always deemed myself a “summer” girl. I enjoy the hot weather, outdoor dining, and social nature of summer. But man, at 26 weeks pregnant, this lady has  never been MORE ready for sweater weather and legging season. For all you mamas out there that endure the 3rd trimester in the heat of the summer, I bow down to you. Speaking of which SIX MONTHS. That means only three months (god-willing) left until we get to meet the Pistachio. I mentioned this in a recent post, but for the past month or so, I feel like the “preggo-planning” has hit a bit of a lull. After I completed my baby registry process (see below for some tips and advice), I needed a few weeks to recover.  I liken it to wedding planning. So many things are happening and need to be addressed at the beginning: find a venue, pick a date, find your vendors, figure out the guest list so you know what type of venue you need, etc. Then there’s this waiting period until you get within a couple months of the big day and BAM..it’s a mad house of “last minute” decisions, parties, and chaos. Well friends, after a fleeting break from baby planning, the carnival is back in town and I’m about to enter that mad-house.  To be completely honest, I thrive on the madness. So bring. It. on. 

But before we get into that, here are a few updates at 26 weeks pregnant:

1. Pistachio is an acrobat. His movements are becoming stronger and stronger. We went in for our monthly ultrasound and he literally put on a performance for all of us.  Matt can actually feel his kicks now, which is pretty awesome. We can see  them, which is a little freaky.
2. Overall, I’m feeling pretty swell. I still tire easily and, of course, there are some aches and pains that I’m dealing with as my body grows and prepares for labor. Also…the itchiness. Thank god for this body oil I’ve been using and my essential oils. Want to learn more about how I used essential oils pre-pregnancy and during? Let me know in the comments!
3. I’ve had a few Braxton-Hicks contractions, which the doctor said is totally normal. I actually had one while I was at her office for my check-up and she medically explained everything going on while it was happening. So for my fellow nerds out there, Braxton-Hicks are contractions that are thought to “prepare your body for birth.” The uterine muscles are contracting, however, your cervix isn’t affected. AKA…you aren’t going into labor.  
4. The off-set umbilical cord issue isn’t presenting any issues. In fact, Pistachio is growing exceptionally well. We’ll still be going every month for an ultrasound, just to be safe. And hey, who can argue with extra pics of our little guy. 

What’s on the docket now?

Two baby showers, my maternity photo shoot, nursery construction (because apparently just “pinning” my decor ideas won’t magically pull the nursery together),  childbirth, breastfeeding, and infant care classes, putting together my maternity plan for work, and, of course, figuring out baby boy Sgambato’s name. Oh…and my glucose test. Not looking forward to that one. I’ve scheduled it at the last possible second, so there’s no getting out or delaying it. Any advice for this needle-phobic creature? 

Speaking of baby showers, let’s talk about the Baby Registry. 

I’ve had a few mama’s-to-be reach out and ask for some tips on putting a baby registry together. As a novice pre-mom, I found the registry process a little like shooting in the dark. Of course, there are the “normal” things you register for like a car seat, stroller, etc. But now there’s literally a “must have” gadget for every possible baby scenario. Have you ever seen how many types of bottles exist? Or baby swings and bouncers? The options are endless..and here’s the kicker: for like 90% of these items, there’s a huge possibility your baby won’t acclimate well. So what’s a rookie mom to do? Pray my friends. Pray.

And…try to take some educated steps. Here’s how I sorted through the seemingly endless task of putting together my registry: 

1. Don’t be afraid to phone a friend: I reached out to a few mom friends of mine and asked for their advice. Did I incorporate ALL of these items into my registry? Heck no. I basically took a tally;  I checked off items that repeatedly received gleaming recommendations and nixed items that moms repeatedly told me “aren’t worth it.” It was a good starting point for me to identify the “must haves” and the “not-so-muches.” One of my girl friends recommend this Baby Bargains book to me, as it really helps you navigate through necessities. 
2. Consider your lifestyle and what’s important to you: This is a big one, and I think it’s often overlooked. What I’m about to say may be a bit controversial, but hey, I’m just being real. While I know that my life will change tremendously once our baby boy arrives, I also want to make sure that he acclimates well into our lifestyle too. SOUND THE ALARM..before anyone jumps down my throat, this is what I mean:
   • Travel: Not only do Matt and I like to travel, we also don’t live close to most of our family members. So traveling, whether by plane, train, or car, will be part of our norm. I made sure to register for items that are easily portable and make traveling a bit easier. A few examples: Pack and Play, Traveling sound machine, and a “light weight” stroller.
   • Walking, socializing, and outdoor adventures: If you’re a faithful reader, you know that I’m a pretty active person and try to get as much done on foot that I possibly can. So, registering for items that made it easy to take Pistachio with me when we go on walks, hikes, or strolls to the farmers market is important. Aside from my stroller (obvious), here are a few examples: The Lillebaby All Seasons Carrier, Hearing protection ear muffs/baby headphones, and the Milk Snob Car Seat Cover. 
   • Style and function: Call me vain, but there are a few items that I registered for because I not only respect the function but liked the look. An example? This diaper bag. Yes it may be a little pricier, but it is a quality bag that will last me for a while, it’s easy to carry, and I’ll feel relatively chic for my urban adventures. When does “style” go out the window? Burp clothes. Friends…the child will be spitting up on these things. Do we really need cute ones? I actually registered for cloth diapers to use as burp cloths.
3. Choose your registry wisely: Honestly, there are so many choices for baby registries out there. Amazon, Buy Buy Baby, Babylist, Pottery Barn, Target…the list goes on. Here are a few things I considered when choosing my registry.
   • Registry completion discount: Most registries offer some sort of completion discount for items that you put on your registry, but aren’t purchased. For example, Amazon offers a 15% completion discount on all items for Prime members. For big ticket items, that’s a decent chunk of change. PRO TIP: Take advantage of this discount by adding big ticket items that you plan on purchasing. I have a few items on my Amazon registry that I added with the pure intent of getting 15% off.
   • Location: If you choose only online registries, this becomes a little more moot. In retrospect, after actually having gone through the registry process, I recommend sticking to online retailers. I added a brick n’ mortar option (Target), so that family and friends who chose not to shop online had a physical storefront option. In all actuality, those people could have still gone to a brick and mortar location and picked something out that wasn’t on my registry. You live, you learn.  If you do plan on having a brick and mortar option, consider where you live and where your guests live. For example, there are NO Buy Buy Baby’s within an hour drive from my house. I ended up going with Target because it’s literally everywhere and the prices are equatable to online retailers like Amazon.
   • Goals: Are you a minimalist? Are you a budget-mama? Do you already know that the nursery will be decked out in Pottery Barn decor? Do you support the little guy over the big retailers in all situations? These things matter when registering. For example, aside from Amazon, I also registered with Babylist. Why? It’s super easy for me add items from smaller, more specialized vendors. You can also “register” for non-commodity items, like “babysitting for date night” or “cash for college fund.”  They also offer sample registries and resources that help you navigate through the registry process and provide price comparisons for shoppers. I consider the latter a great feature because it allows my friends and family to find the lowest price.
   • Swag Bag and return policy:  Ah, the swag bag. Not as important, but a nice addition. Both Babylist and Target have some pretty sweet gift bags and boxes that you get simply for creating a registry with them. The Amazon one is a little frustrating to me.  To be honest, it’s really the only downside of Amazon. You basically have to register for an item in ALL of the categories on their checklist in order to receive this welcome box. Sorry, but if I don’t need something, I’m not registering for it. And return policy…remember when I mentioned “shooting in the dark?” This is when the return policy is key. Also, we all know that there will be people that purchase items on the registry even if they’re marked complete. It happens. 
4. Safety and Reviews: This one is probably obvious, but safety is a big consideration when figuring out what you’re going to expose your baby to. I will splurge on a item if safety marks are high. Things that are important to me include consumer safety ratings and avoiding toxic chemicals when possible. Sure, not everything I registered for is organic and earthy crunchy,  but I tried to stay as close to that realm as possible. Also, consider other reviews. That’s the beauty of Amazon in particular. There are SO many reviews you can look through. Take advantage of that.
5. Avoid the noise: When I first started navigating through the baby registry jungle, I watched a LOT of Youtube videos and read a lot of blogs about what to register for. Some of this material was great! Others were more like paid advertisements for different products. If you can, steer clear of sponsored content. OR, do your research after seeing your favorite influencer dote on a “must have” product. I can’t believe I’m saying this as a marketing executive, but it’s true.
6. Go light on the clothing: A tip from EVERY momma out there. People will most likely get you clothing any way because who can resist the pint size adidas sneakers or adorable onesie? But remember, you have ZERO idea how big your baby will be, how fast he or she will grow, or what how fussy he/she will be when trying to put clothes on. I actually “registered” for gently used clothing items on my Babylist registry. And I’m not ashamed. PRO-TIP:  when registering for onesies, look for zippers, magnetic ones, or velcro. From what I’ve heard, the button up ones are a pain in the patootie to maneuver with a newborn.

BONUS ITEM: It’s not the end all and be all. Anticipate that you will not have EVERYTHING your baby needs/wants when he or she arrives. And that’s ok. At the advice of numerous friends, I registered for the Rock n Play  Who knows if Pistachio will like this thing. Your registry is not the foundation of being a parent. It’s really easy to get overwhelmed and think that your registry is the definitive end game for being “prepared.” Save yourself the stress and just be ok with not being 100% prepared.

I hope you moms out there find these tips helpful! If you’re jonesing for some video content, fear not! I’ll be filming a video that covers my baby shower and registry items with a little more insight into the different products I chose and why I made those particular selections. So be on the look out for that one. In the mean time, if you have any questions about registries OR if you’re a mama/mama-to-be with some helpful registry tips, sharing is caring. Comment below or on any Facebook/Insta.

Until next time friends,

Xtina