Things to get done before the baby comes!

[Wildwaterfalls]

Those of you who have been there: what are the things you were really pleased you did / really wished you had done before baby's arrival?

I've got the baby things ready and also done some cooking for the freezer. Planning to put clean sheets on our bed, and also prepare guest bed for visitors. Anything else I should be getting ready now?

I have sorted and cleaned the kitchen cupboards, all the bedrooms and cleaned the walls and window sills. Need to do the garden and car this week. I am 36 weeks and think I may be nesting!

Oh I have also washed baby's/ clothes and blankets, done hospital bags and made up a changing set (nappie etc) for upstairs and one for down stairs.

I'm 35 weeks with dc2 and hoping to learn a lot from last time...

I'm going to have an online shop ready to go (if you haven't already done it, do one now as the first one takes ages but after that it's soooo easy!)

Have a think about what visitors you want and when? Last time we had one person/family group per day but it dragged on for weeks so this time we are having one day of madness when everybody can come then they can all bog off

Make sure DH remembers how to use the washing machine As last time I had to write him instructions (I'm not joking)

Stock up on stuff like loo roll, kitchen roll, breast pads, nappies (via afore mentioned online shop)

Buy birthday cards (& presents?) for people who have birthdays in October and November (baby due beginning of October) wrap and write cards.

I've also given my mum some of the washing powder we use so she can do some washing of essentials of necessary (which is really more so DM can get involved without being here all the time!)

Bloody hell.... I'm more organised than I though!

Wow that is very impressive! I was wondering if I should sort out the kitchen cupboards.. Still waiting for that 'nesting' burst of energy though

Oh and I oven-prided the oven last week

which is probably just nesting

Sorry...baby brain...

If you're planning on bf-ing, get a few numbers of support groups (la leche league etc) stored in your phone in case you have problems. I didn't do this, but should do for this time just in case.

X-post Newton: thanks for the excellent tips. I like the idea of getting some online grocery shopping set up!

Wild I think my friends think some of the supermarkets are paying me as since I tried it a couple of months ago, I realised its the best thing ever and haven't shut up about it!!

buy birthday presents for the next 6 months

for those who you just send cards to, do moonpig, write them all and pay for em for the dates they need to go so you don't even have to remember to send em

buy LOADS of thank you cards and stamps

if possible buy a cheap photo printer and photo paper to send pics

make sure you have a boots loyalty card

sort finances - life insurance etc

do a will, can do it for children not born yet

If you're like me and find it hard to let people help out in your personal space, clean until you feel able to say yes! For me this involved cleaning cupboards, bleaching the inside of the washing machine, blitzing the oven and renting a carpet shampoo machine. Then I felt okay about mil cooking meals, doing laundry in my house etc.