What I Plan To Do Differently

I cannot believe it has been so long since I have written a blog post!! This summer has been jammed packed for me. Between vacation, work and preparing for a new baby, blogging has been pushed to the side. School starts NEXT WEEK!! (Picture me doing a dance and throwing confetti :) ) I definitely need the 2-3 weeks of morning hours while Makenna and Matthew are at school to get some stuff done before baby #2 comes. Which comes to the topic of my post… here is a list of 5 things that I plan to do differently than when I had Makenna. 

1. My entire birth plan. Honestly, I didn't even have one for Makenna. I went in with no instructions or wishes. I had a hard long labor and ended up with a c-section. I never ever thought I would have a c-section so I was totally unprepared! I knew I wanted to breastfeed but I never told the doctors and nurses to keep bottles and pacifiers away. If you read my breastfeeding  post, you know how much of a struggle breastfeeding was as a result. This time I am having a scheduled c-section and will be informing EVERYONE I see to not give bottles or pacifiers. My husband is on bottle/pacifier watch. I think I scared him when I told him that he is to under no circumstances let them give her anything. This is our child, unless she is under distress for some reason, they will be following OUR rules! I am also asking for a "gentle c-section." Where they allow skin to skin immediately after delivery like a normal birth does. 
2. If for some reason I cannot breastfeed without pumping and bottle feeding, I will only be doing so for 3 months. Pumping and bottle feeding is A LOT of work. I applaud anyone that can do it for a long period of time. Unfortunately, I already know I just don't have it in me. With two other toddlers to take care of, it would be way to stressful for me. 
3. Co-sleeping. This is not something we planned to do with Makenna. It just sort of happened. I do not regret it, but with baby #2 so things will be different. Makenna slept right in between us. Baby #2 will be in a co-sleeping crib next to our bed. Makenna became so dependent on me to sleep that it got a little ridiculous. I would just lay in bed and nurse her to sleep. Baby #2 will be nursed and then laid down in her crib to fall asleep. There will be NO nursing to sleep after 3 months.  

   

   This is how Makenna prefers to sleep

4. 

   Makenna finally using her crib bedding. 

   With Makenna I got a whole crib bedding set and accessories. I have to say the biggest waste of money to me is those crib bedding sets. No one uses the little comforter it comes with and bumpers aren't recommended anymore. Even the sheets aren't that soft. Though Makenna never slept in a crib, every single family I nannied for also never used the crib bedding. It just sits there taking up space. Makenna now uses the little comforter as a picnic blanket. Instead I just have random crib sheet and an Aden & Anais Dream Blanket. I got one for Makenna when she was a year old and she still sleeps with it every night. I just purchased another for baby #2. I honestly might buy one for myself. They are so comfortable!  
5. Using a babysitter. Whether is be family or a hired sitter, Makenna and baby #2 will be left with someone other than me. Makenna is my shadow. She is hardly ever left with anyone else. She has never been left with anyone besides family. (Matthew's family is considered our family too) My mom lives about an hour away and Michael's mom has a busier social schedule than me lol Its tough to find some time to go out without the kids. We definitely need to find a trusted babysitter!

So those are my top 5 things I plan to do differently. Of course, anyone that has kids knows nothing really goes as planned. 

Getting Ready For Baby #2

I feel like the weeks are just flying by now! I can't believe next week is the beginning of July already! The count down is officially on till we bring home baby #2. 

I have started pulling out all Makenna's old clothes and organizing them. I took out all the newborn and  0-3 month sizes and can't believe we'll have a little baby to wear them all soon! I love looking back and remembering when Makenna wore each item. She was holding them up to herself and saying, "We can give these to Gummy Bear. They no fit me anymore." As I was going through all the clothes, I noticed yellow stains on a lot of the newborn stuff. I remembered seeing something on Pinterest a while ago about getting stains out of baby clothes. I went back on and did some research. I decided to take a few peoples suggestions and combine them. I was amazed at how well it worked! Almost all the stains are gone or hardly noticeable anymore! I'm sorry I never took before and after pics! Blogger fail! But here is the recipe I used to get the stains out. 

• OxyClean powder detergent
• Hydrogen peroxide 
• Gain dish soap
• Hot water
• A small spray bottle

1. I combined about 3 tablespoons of OxyClean and about 3-4 tablespoons of hot water.   
2. Added 2 1/2 tablespoons of Hydrogen peroxide
3. Added a good sized squirt of Gain dish soap, a tablespoon maybe
4. Shook it al up and let all the bubbles settle so I could put the lid on the spray bottle.
5. I laid out all the clothes with stains and sprayed them all generously rubbing the solution in with my fingers. 
6. I let them all sit for around 20 mins
7. Put them all in the washing machine set on the stain wash setting and used OxyClean detergent 
8. When the cycle was done I laid them all outside to dry in the sun

The results were pretty amazing. There were some heavily stained onesies and now they look brand new! Some still have really faint stains and if I really cared I would probably just redo the process on them. But they don't bother me since baby #2 will be adding her own stains in no time. I'm kicking myself for not taking before and after pictures so I could show you how well this really worked.

Now I just need to find somewhere to put all these clean clothes. My husband and I decided that although we have a third bedroom, we want the girls to share a room for as long as possible. Makenna has been really great saying she's going to share her stuff with her baby sister. As soon as I mentioned sharing her room she looked at me like I was crazy and said, "But this is MY room." She's finally coming around to the idea when I showed her some cool bunk beds they can get eventually. Baby will be in our room for the first year anyway since I plan of breast feeding and it will be easier to have her right next to me.

I feel like I have so much I need to do to get myself organized. If you are a parent of 2 or more and have any good advice for me, feel free to share!!

-K