Preparing For Lil Dragon's Arrival

After posts and posts on schooling, I had a gnawing sensation that something was amiss.

Then I realised what the problem was. There are still too many things that I was ill prepared for.

After having Tiger, I knew I would love for him to have a sibling and for our family to be a little bigger.
Now, 32 weeks along, I am starting to worry a little about the second childbirth. I never really experienced labour pain since I had the epidural the first time for induction of labour indicated for post date baby with suspected meconium aspiration. Well, I did feel the pain for 5 minutes when the epidural failed at 8cm dilatation and they gave me a shot of pethidine. Everything went downhill from then. I was groggy through out the pushing and Tiger was drugged and floppy at birth. So attachment and bonding was a failure from birth.

Then, there are the frivolous issues of the baby's dresser, cot, bedding colours, arrangement, etc. You get the idea...

Of course, then I started thinking about Tiger's preschool. To hold on or enrol for toddler class? What if MIL could not cope with two little munchkins?

My live-in help is hopeless with children as she is only in charged of cleaning. I would never allow her to carry the baby. Mind you, she breaks faucets and doors. Yup, don't ask how or why.

There, it's all out.... I a mess of a worry wart.

So, I've decided to list them out so that I can tackle the problem one at a time. Easy peasy...I hope....

Mommy:
To complete shopping list
To go through birth plan 

Newborn checklist:

Red: Done
Blue: To-do

Clothing:

• 8 undershirts or onesies (mix of short-sleeve and long-sleeve)
• 5 pairs of pants
• 2 newborn hats
• 8 pairs of socks or booties, to wear with nightgowns and outfits
• 2 pairs of scratch mittens, to keep baby from scratching his face
• Laundry detergent for infants
• A bunch of other totally unnecessary but utterly adorable stuff

Blankets

• 6 receiving blankets

Feeding

• My boobs
• Burp cloths
• Breast pump
• Milk storage containers
• Nursing pillow
• Nursing bras
• Breast pads
• Lotion for sore nipples
• To get the new breast shield for pumps
• Milk warmer (for upstairs)
• 6 five-ounce bottles with nipples
• Bottle and nipple brush
• Formula
• Thermal bottle carrier
• Fenugreek

Diapering

• 1 bag of newborn size Mamypoko.
• 2 bags of S size Mamypoko
• Changing pad
• Baby ointment or barrier cream to prevent rash
• Disposable wipes

Bathtime

• 1 plastic infant tub
• 12 washcloths
• Baby soap or cleanser
• Baby shampoo
• Baby soft-bristled hair brush
• 3 soft-hooded towels

Bedtime 

• Rearrange and clean master bedroom
• Approved crib and crib mattress
• 3 waterproof mattress covers
• 4 fitted crib sheets

Other necessities

• Car seat
• Bean bag for feeding
• Playpen
• Sling or baby carrier
• Diaper bag
• 1 or 2 change pads
• 2 or 4 pacifiers
• Rattles and other baby toys
• Mobiles
• Night light

Daddy:
Hmmph...

Last night, I asked him, "Are you ready for the little girl? Are you alright with the baby co-sleeping?"

He replied (with a straight face),"She has my permission to sleep in the room."

@.@

Tiger was a terror for the first three months of life, with erratic sleep patterns. Luckily I had a confinement lady and dear MIL to help me survive. Now with a second one and a pampered hubby, it's going to be a different ball game.

So, it is going to take a lot of training for the both of us and we will survive, I hope... :p

Little Tiger:
He is the most important part of my planning/worrying:

Preparation/talking about the baby:
Tiger's only almost two. So far, I have been telling him that "mei-mei" is sleeping in Mommy's belly, when the time's right, she will be out.
Tiger's been pressing my belly button, asking mei-mei to come out @.@
Whenever I ask "Do you love mei-mei?" He would nod vigorously.

Make a baby book/bibliography for Tiger to talk about his babyhood

Get picture books and a baby doll for pretend play. I hope he gets the realistic idea that the baby isn't going to be an instant play date.

Visit AshleyprettiMommy, my sis who is expecting her second baby anytime now so that he gets the idea of how the newborn would look like and behave.

During delivery:

I have chosen to deliver as close to home as possible so that Tiger can be around when mei-mei arrive, well unless my little girl decides to pop out in the middle of the night.


Post delivery:

Gift exchange between mei-mei and Tiger

Remind visitors to say "Hi" to Tiger first before oohing over the sister.

Prepare busy bags/boxes for guests to present to Tiger. Also, easier on guests' wallets :)

While breastfeeding:
1. Read to Tiger
2. Sing songs
3. Ipad (yeah, I know)
4. Tiger's toy box filled with some of his fav toys so that he can play near by

Tot School/right brain:
Right now, my best bet is to continue with Brillkid's program.
I am still working on this. I will have to plan WAAAAYYYY ahead.
I am hoping that Tiger would be more of a reader by then so that it is easier to just make book baskets.
As of themed learning, I may have to put that on hold for a while until we settle into a new rhythm.
Crafting and art will have to wait as well :(

Tweedlewink/Kinderbeat/Ditoso:
Update: MIL has agreed to accompany Tiger to his classes until Mommy's strong enough. Btw, I am not doing confinement this time.


Okay, that's the list for now. I have just burdened myself with more work than I started with :p

Wish me luck!