Random/ To-Do Post

So I am really running low on ideas to post about this week.
Andrew and I celebrated our First Anniversary this past weekend. He rented us a quiet little cabin about and hour from home and we went to an Arts and Crafts Festival, Flea Marketing, and had a nice candlelit dinner. After dinner we stayed at the table and a Nashville band, called The Vallows (a rock/pop/country duo) played us live music (loved them). It was a wonderful little getaway, that both of us agreed helped us to wind down. This week is also the week before my summer semester finals, so a relaxed getaway was very appreciated! 
As I said, ideas are a little cloudy this week so I thought I would keep it simple and share my To-Do list before the baby comes... This list was compiled from babycenter.com, I just added in personal lists, also.
(We are 19 weeks this Wednesday!- - Biggest change I have noticed in myself is entering the nesting phase, either that or I have gone completely mad---(Who refolds all the clothes in  a dresser or linens in a linen closet?!?)
First Trimester-

• Make sure you're really pregnant.
• Take your prenatal vitamin I am taking Flinstone Chewables once, daily and a prenatal called Foltx
• Investigate health insurance
• Choose a caregiver Dr. Carr
• Make a prenatal appointment
• Consider your options for prenatal testing Our decision was against.
• Start taking belly photos
• Make a baby budget
• Buy new bras and undies
• Start a daily ritual to connect with your baby
• Start a baby name list

Second Trimester-

• Explore a prenatal exercise class
• Learn about second trimester visits and tests
• Track weight gain Using an IPad app to help with this-Pregnancy HD
• Shop for maternity clothes A neighbor brought over her entire maternity wardrobe to help myself to!
• Consider a professional labor coach
• Plan some adult-time
• Start moisturizing your belly I am using Covenant Garden Sanctuary Spa "Mum To Be"
• Narrow your baby name list
• Decide whether you'll find out baby's gender We are gonna be surprised!
• Keep a pregnancy journal *Need to be better about doing it every night!
• Look into childbirth classes Scheduled for an evening class at the end of November
• Do some financial planning
• Prepare pets--For now, plan to set up swing and let them go in and out of nursery as they please.
• Get teeth cleaned--Have appointment in October
• Start sleeping on your side- Harder than it sounds! Using a pregnancy pillow full-time now.
• Create a baby registry- Amazon.com
• Maternity leave- We plan to have me stay home permanently raising kiddos! I start staying home the beginning of September (that is what my employer and I agreed on)
• Tackle Home Improvement Projects-
• Put up Nursery Wall Decor
• Stain bookshelf, map frame, and wall shelf
• DIY dresser project
• Stain back deck of house
• Replace back slider door
• Finish Guest bath (Ceiling strip and Tub Seal)
• Keep record of Pregnancy moments to share with your child

Third Trimester

• Learn about Third trimester visits and tests
• Consider additional classes We are taking child safety  & I will be taking a breastfeeding class in Dec.
• Prepare for breastfeeding
• Choose a doctor for baby
• Assemble Baby gear
• Swing
• Decide on/Set up temp and permanent sleeping areas for baby
• Study labor stages and coping with labor pain
• Create a birth plan- Started, just need to do a little research before finalizing...
• Wash baby's clothing and bedding
• Start lining up helpers- We plan to welcome anyone down for the birth and visits at the hospital, but will only have one set of parents down at a time to stay in our home and visit us at home.
• Maternity Pictures-Planning to do our own, then get family pics done professionally?
• Consider Baby costs and ways to save Saving for us so far is me staying home, breastfeeding, and using cloth diapers
• Read up on baby care
• Pack bags for hospital- Mommy's, Daddy's, and Baby's
• Load up on household supplies
• Deep house clean- GG (My Grandma) is coming down for Thanksgiving to help!
• Make frozen dinners--I would LOVE suggestions and or recipes!
• Tour hospital or birth center
• Install baby car seat
• Make a plan for when labor starts
• Think about birth announcements Hoping to make my own, we'll see...
• Make a call list for updates on labor
• Finalize baby name list
• Exercise Patience! 

Next week's post will be short, but will have all Belly Pics to celebrate 20 weeks & 1/2 way!