39 weeks...the end is in sight! Or is it?

39 weeks...hmm where do I start? It honestly seems a blur but we will start with this. I worked monday and tuesday and I had been doubling my efforts to get this child out. It didn't do anything so I stopped exhausting myself. I decided to just take it easy and use my mind power instead of exhausting my body to will Henry to come. Monday and tuesday were easy shifts. I was just trying to get through the shift and move one day at a time toward my due date. I was still contracting pretty regularly and monday night I had horrible back pain that made me have to get out of my chair and walk around the unit because it hurt me to sit. I was hoping that meant he was moving down.

 Tuesday things slowed again and I got frustrated...again. I had an appointment Wednesday morning at 8am the minute I clocked out of my shift and I counted down the hours the entire night to get there. I walked over and had a few things that I wanted to talk to my doctor about. The biggest one. Getting my baby out.

 I was just so mentally and physically done with being pregnant. I had waited so long and I just wanted him here. The nurse told me that I was tentatively on the books for  an induction next wednesday 3/26. I would be 40 weeks and 4 days. I couldn't wait another 7 days and work another 4 shifts before I would deliver. I begged my doctor to let me be induced earlier than that.

• We talked about the fact that I wanted the nurse practioner for the nursery (who works only mon-fri) to do Henry's circumcision and not a resident (who would be the one to do it if he were born at the end of the week or a weekend when the nurse practioner was not available). Noone would be "practicing" on my baby in that way so I wanted to deliver during the week and not the weekend or end of the week.
• I also wanted to make sure Taylor got time off with us. He starts a new job next monday 3/31. Which is so wonderful for us! A great opportunity for Taylor with stability, more money, paid vacation, full benefits, a corperate ladder to climb, opportunity to go back to school, NO SATURDAYS!!! (he has worked every saturday since we met 4 years ago). I can't wait for him to start but each day that went by was one less that he would get to spend at home with us after Henry was born and I need help with a new baby and recovering! YIKES!

 

So the doctor asked me how soon I would be okay with induction. I said tonight! And she told me she would check because it looked like I just wasnt dilating as well as I should be for how many contractions I was having. She looked and they had space for me on L&D. I got my papers and literally skipped out of the office. I was going to have my baby that day!! WOOO HOOO!! I called Taylor and said "get your party pants on, we are having a baby!" Now initially I really really wanted to go into labor on my own and to experience laboring at home, in my bathtub, in my bed, with my husband, privately. I wanted to experience the excitement of "it's happening! He's coming!" and rush off to the hospital on pins and needles and the edge of my seat in the car from the contractions. BUT things turned out way better......

 

 

To Be Continued....

Chalkboard time

Guess who is excited!!!

BOTH OF US!!!!

This was literally the minute we walked out the door to go to the hospital.

 

 

 

How far along? 39 weeks, Baby is the size of a watermelon. I don't feel quite that big. I picture a watermelon being absolutely massive. I don't think it looks like I have one under my shirt by any means. I feel big but not as big as some of my full term counterparts.

Total weight gain: I gained a ton in water weight at my appointment this week. I was up 10 pounds and most of it swelling and fluid retention my doctor said. I almost died on the scale and made her reweigh me but my doctor reassured me it was normal. Up 27.5lbs now. HOLY $h!t. Gross. Oh well, pregnancy, not fat, pregnant, not fat.

Maternity clothes? Nothing new. 

Sleep: Not sleeping at all. Like 1 hour at a time and tossing and turning during those hours.

Best moment this week: GETTING PERMISSION FOR AN INDUCTION!!!!!!

Miss Anything? Feeling normal. I want my old body back now, thank you Henry.

Movement: He went nuts tuesday night and I think that was a big part of my pain and then by wednesday he had settled down again.

Food cravings: Orange Juice, cereal, banana nut muffins, greek strawberry yogurt. Breakfast items to say the least which is weird because I HATED breakfast food before I got pregnant.

Symptoms: going to the bathroom all the time, back pain, contractions, sore hips/pelvis, back pain.

Belly Button in or out? Completely flat this week. It looks so weird.

Wedding rings on or off? I can still wear them! yay! 

Happy or Moody most of the time: Impatient is the mood of this week. 

Looking forward to: Henry coming!! I just want to meet him I CANNOT WAIT!

38 weeks

This week was uneventful. Which is good and bad. I needed a rest but I also wanted my baby to come! 

My contractions slowed down and only picked up and became painful and regular while I was up moving around. Then when I go to bed they slow. Which is ok because then I got some more sleep but....it meant that my progress stopped nightly. I had my BPP this week and munchkin did really well and actually didn't look grumpy this time. For once he looked pretty dang content just suckin away on his fist and back of his hand. Then I had my weekly appt. My doctor checked me and I'm making more progress but not a huge amount. She said this next appt (wednesday) we would talk more about induction if I wanted. I was so on the fence about it because I do NOT want to force him out and cause him stress or to have a c-section. But, I am so uncomfortable and anxious and ready to meet him and he will have had full time to cook by then. I feel like that's fair. So, I'll talk to my doctor and see what she says. She told me she is comfortable "pulling the plug" at any time based on my comfort level. My physical comfort and my mental comfort with it are two very very different things. If it was just my physical comfort level...bring it on, i'm ready for my kid. If just my mental, eh I'm on the fence just from risks but I also do NOT want a post-dates baby. The risk of his size, distress and meconium in utero are too much for me and I don't want to to take those chances either. Such a toss up. So we will see.  I worked wednesday all day for a meeting day and thursday night. Thursday I worked my little booty off, I ran around with a super sick baby all night long and barely sat until the very end of the shift and my body could feel it. Back pain, hips and pelvis sore and stiff, baby feeling heavy, contractions, cramps, lightening crotch zingers you name it. But, of course when I came home, ate breakfast and layed down...they subsided. I'm just praying he makes this decision for me! COME ON HENRY!!!

In other news my mom got a new dog this week! She has wanted a "big dog" for a long time now and our old neighbor had a golden doodle that had to live in their studio apartment in Chicago due to a job transfer and it wasn't fair to her to be cooped up so they wanted to find her a new home. My mom decided to adopt her. Her name is KC and she is sooo cute and happy!!

 
My mom also got me a necklace engraved with Henry's name. I LOVE it!

Chalkboard time!!

How far along? 38 weeks,  Baby is the size of a pumpkin....yup that's about how it feels lol.
I'm going to guess he is close to 7lbs 11oz based on his track record with weight. Perfect size! Come on Baby Henry!

Total weight gain: lost 2.5lbs this week (I think my body is just being ridiculous with my fluid retention). I'm at 17.5 pounds now.

Maternity clothes? Nothing new.  

Sleep:Still not sleeping well, I'm too excited just thinking about him or how this delivery will actually go down. Then I have to get up to pee, switch sides because of my hips, contractions etc.

Best moment this week: Realizing I have at most 7 days left if I decide to go with an induction next week.

Miss Anything? Just moving like a normal person, watching me get out of a chair, couch, car, bed is hilarious. I really want a glass of wine too.

Movement: Still movin' and groovin'.

Food cravings: Orange Juice, cereal, banana nut muffins, greek strawberry yogurt.

Symptoms: Lots and lots of swelling, no sleep, going to the bathroom all the time.

Belly Button in or out? Still pretty flat, definitely not going to pop.

Wedding rings on or off? I got my rings back on this weekend!!! YAY!!!! They get pretty tight but I really hate not wearing them, it makes me sad.

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy but just want him to be here, We will say the mood has been anxious and excited.

Looking forward to: Henry coming!! I just want to meet him, HURRY UP BABY!!

 

37 weeks

I LOVE BEING PREGNANT. I LOVE BEING PREGNANT. I LOVE BEING PREGNANT!

This week I just have to keep chanting that to myself because until this week I have loved being pregnant.....until this week.

 

 I've had random painless braxton hicks contractions for about 5 weeks now. Sometimes just 1 or 2 a day, sometimes none, sometimes 10. But they just tighten my belly and don't hurt. No big deal right? Reassuring that my body has been practicing for the real deal. Sunday they started up again and got close together quickly but didn't really hurt. They were like 20-25 minutes apart. By the time I finished my shift monday night they were painful, intense and 5 minutes a part, just felt like horrid period cramps that wrap from my back through my entire abdomen and focus down in my pelvis. Tuesday morning when I got off work I had my weekly BPP and Henry did great but I was still contracting like crazy.

Grouchy little nugget with amazing cheeks and even a nose wrinkle this week.

 I went home to rest and take a hot shower and see if they went away or if they were real deal and got more intense. They didn't go away and just kept feeling stronger as I laid in bed. I have been told by a million people when they are 5 minutes apart lasting 1 minute and like that for an hour or more to go in.  I called L&D and told them this and that they were not at all excruciating just uncomfortable and they said to come in to get checked anyway. We packed up our bags (left them in the car until we knew it was the real deal) and headed toward the hospital. Before we left Taylor said "Babe, come here, feel my T-shirt", I went over and touched his chest and asked why I was feeling his shirt. He said, "It's the softest one I have, I want to have something soft on so when I snuggle him my shirt won't scratch his little face, do you think this is soft enough?" I about died. I just started bawling. What a wonderful man to even think about such a thing. He's such a good daddy already, it just melts my heart (sorry Taylor, I know you are tough and strong and manly but I had to share this part of our story, I don't ever want to forget that moment.)

Taylor's visitor badge for L&D :)

 

Montior and contraction strip

 I was having beautiful, strong contractions that were textbook perfect on the monitor every 5 minutes on the dot and Henry was tolerating so well. But, my cevix was high, thick and fingertip dilated, so they watched me for 2 hours and checked me again. No progress....at all. I think, ok whatever, this happens, first baby, it's early. They sent me home and Taylor and I spent the rest of the day doing everything we could think of to induce labor and get things progressing thinking we might as well... since this funfest had already started, or so we thought. We had super hot wings for lunch, a warm bath, walked the mall for 2.5 hours....

When the mall closed we even went to Target and walked around for an hour and Taylor had fun in the boy toy aisles. He keeps me laughing and I need that now more than ever. God I love that man.

....and other at home things like stairs and such and things got going big time. They were 4-5 minutes apart and increasingly painful but I could walk and talk through them, just had to slow down. They told me not to come back to L&D until they were too painful to do either of those things. So we went to bed exhausted and in pain. They slowed through the night and I woke up bawling that I still slept like crap and that they slowed, I felt like exhausting myself all day was for nothing. I had a scheduled appt on wednesday and my doctor checked me again. I was progressing....slowly, cervix still very high, but 50% effaced and dilated to a 1cm. I'm sure my dr. was just being generous to shut me up. She said I could easily do this for a few more weeks. WHAT?!?! I have never heard of people having real contractions like this for weeks at a time before actually delivering! Braxton hicks sure but not painful ones like that. I feel like women love to brag about the hell they went through during labor and that this would be a major bragging point but I have yet to hear these stories.  I had 5 days of contractions 3-10 minutes apart depending on how active I was, that hurt me and nothing happened. Still pregnant. Everyone keeps saying oh you're early, he's just not ready, he will come when he wants to. Ok....no shit. I get that, I'm not stupid, I am 9 months pregnant and have been waiting for my baby to be in my arms for almost 3 years now. I WANT HIM OUT AND IN MY ARMS! But, I was in pain and exhausted and frustrated and scared for the 5th day in a row. He obviously isn't ready and my body apparently isn't either. I get that too but it doesn't change the fact that I am physically and emotionally exhausted. I haven't slept for more than 2 hours at a time since sunday and the sleep I have gotten has been horrible and interrupted because the contractions woke me up, then my hips would hurt from laying on them, then I would have to pee. (don't tell me to wait until I have a newborn screaming and that keeps me up all night....bring it on) I want my baby out where he is safe. Why can't anything in this pregnancy be easy or normal. Why can't I start contracting and have my baby like 48 hours later like normal first time moms. It just seems so unfair and I could do this for 2 more weeks. Throw on top of that, that I still have to work full time and my charge nurses have given more horrible busy assignments where I run the entire shift (not nice to do to a 9 month pregnant person, rude) but I always hope the running and crazyiness will help me move things along....obviously not.

 

 

Friday I took Taylor (or he took me) to the auto show at bartle hall, a happy husband and a night full of walking with distractions sounded pretty good to me. I didn't really contract much at the show though. I told Taylor it would be hilarious if my water broke there in front of all of those people. Only that kind of bang could be the icing on the cake to this pregnancy. The cherry on top, if you will. But oh well, nothing happened.

 

As of saturday things started to slow down which was ok by me, If I wasn't going into actual full blown active labor then at least I could get a little sleep and a break. My belly is so sore from the contractions and my hips, back and pelvis are too but I'm doing pretty good. I try not to whine, I got myself into this situation. I just would love to help get myself out. I worked saturday and sunday night shifts and had a better assignment than the last few weeks, thank god. I still contracted through both shifts but not as regularly. I have an appt tue (with our weekly sono) and I can't wait to find out if I am making progress. My doctor said she isn't considering induction at this time but that we can talk about it if things continue this way. It depends on how dilated I am. Maybe she will help me along a little bit. I wouldn't hate that. But if not, I will have to just wait it. We all know how good I am with being patient. Ha!

 

Here are a few pics of my swollen legs, and a video of how bad they get at night. Gross! Come on baby Henry, momma wants to feel normal again.

My leg runneth over my show and my knee apparently swallowed a grapefruit.

 

I need to submit this to a nursing school to show what pitting edema is. Fun!

 

And we got our maternity pics back. I'll share a few with you all.

 

 

 

Chalkboard Time!

 

See how happy I am about having contractions....not, I'm a good faker.

 

 

How far along? 37 weeks,  Baby is the size of a winter melon (whatever the hell that is). Somewhere above 6lbs 11oz I suppose. My doctor says he's gaining about an ounce/day at this time.

Total weight gain: gained 5 lbs but my doctor said it looks like all water weight and assured me this is normal for the last few weeks. I was devastated to look at the scale and SHOCKED but she pointed out the fact that as of wednesday I can no longer wear my wedding ring and my legs, arms, fingers, hands, and feet are very very swollen as you can see in my pics. I'm up 20lbs total now.

Maternity clothes? Nothing new.  

Sleep: I'm not sleeping at all. Between these contractions that happen every 5-15 minutes I wake up and then I have to pee or can't get comfortable. But, those are the ropes in the end of your 3rd trimester I suppose, I'm just exhausted.  

Best moment this week: Getting everything on my to-do list finished! What an incredible accomplishment. I literally have everything done that I wanted to get done. My house is spotless. Our bags are packed (and in the car now). It just feels good to be ready, emotionally and physically.

Miss Anything? SLEEP, but I've just got to get used to that. And moving like a normal person and I could do without useless contractions that hurt me and do nothing....minor detail.

Movement: More subtle movements this week again. Nothing extreme, I think little dude is running out of room.

Food cravings: Orange Juice and cereal

Symptoms: Contractions!!! UGH Ouch. Lots and lots of swelling, no sleep, going to the bathroom all the time.

Belly Button in or out? We will say flat-ish now. I don't think it's going to pop, I had a freakishly deep belly button to start.

Wedding rings on or off? Off as of wednesday :(. For some reason this has been really hard for me, I love my wedding ring and everything it stands for, I want it on.  

Happy or Moody most of the time: Moody, I have been busting into tears randomly every single day and more and more as time goes on. I just am so exhausted and frustrated of going nowhere.

Looking forward to: Henry coming!! I just want to meet him, HURRY UP BABY!!

36 weeks

FULL TERM BABY!!!! That is the key message in this post! No I am not 40 weeks but If Baby Henry decides to come now he will be able to go to Full Term Nursery as long as he is healthy enough. Woo Hoo!
This has been my goal week from minute one. And I am so happy we hit it. This week my body has really been getting ready for Henry to come. I've had lots of symptoms that labor is near which is exciting! These symptoms can last for a few days before labor begins or a few weeks so there is no telling how soon he will be here but I'm thrilled my body is showing signs that it's getting ready. Henry has really dropped now. I feel downward pressure most of the time now, especially when my bladder is full and he has his head on it. I also started contracting last week and into this week. I've had Braxton Hicks contractions for weeks now where my tummy just gets tight but it doesn't hurt at all and often times I don't even realize it happened until it goes back to normal and is soft again. This week they have changed into what I think is "false labor" contractions. My tummy gets really tight and hard like Braxton Hicks but now my belly feels crampy and really uncomfortable. I noticed one I had last night I even was holding my breath through but it was totally doable. For most of the week these have been happening more at night and when I'm active, like running around at work. They have also been very irregular. I'll have one and then won't have another one for an hour and then have two back to back. Last night however during dinner I probably had about 7-8 so I started timing. Still not in regular intervals and they went away after a few hours. Hopefully this is helping to dilate or efface me a little so munchkin can get out! I just can't wait until the real thing starts, I just want to get it over with and meet my little man!

I had my weekly BPP on tuesday and Henry did his tricks quickly this time (which was nice to not sit there for 30 minutes and worry). He also got a growth sono this time and weighed in at 6lbs 11oz. I'm so happy he is growing and doing well. He was hiding his face again, shocker! So here is the best pic we got this week. Can you see his little fist held in front of his face?

 

 Then I got canceled tuesday night so Taylor and I got to enjoy wednesday (Taylor's day off during the week) together. We rand some errands and picked up Henry's ottoman for his room, it was ready but the chair is not yet. Hopefully it will be here before he is. I also did one last load of baby laundry and made sure everything is clean and ready to go. His room is just so cute and fun to be in.
He wants to meet us I think. Check out this video of him trying to bust loose! Crazy how much he moves.

I packed my diaper bag with some boogie wipes, a bulb syringe, a few burp rags, a bib, a swaddling blanket, an extra outfit, a small hand sanitizer and roll of dirty diaper baggies and of course some diapers and wipes. I also packed Taylor's backpack from college with the same items so he has a man-bag to take with him when he has Henry with him and doesn't have to carry my black and white polka dot purse looking diaper bag. He was thrilled with this idea and I was happy to play along. Taylor is just so excited to meet his son. The look on his face when I was contracting the other night was priceless. I wish I could have taken a picture of it, it was like a little kid on Christmas morning. "Is is time?!", " are you ok?!", "Should you be timing these?!" I loved it. He makes me so much more excited to meet Henry too. He put our swing together the other night while I was at work too.

I worked thursday night and I didn't get much sleep at all the night or day before so I was tired and hormonal and burnt out. I've literally been at the hospital for weekly sonograms, lab draws, Dr. appts, work, meetings etc every single day for the past 3 months strait. I can't get far enough away from that place and I am ready for my maternity leave to get a break from everything.
I started crying at work  that night talking to a friend. I have loved being pregnant but the combination of everything just made me feel so overwhelmed. I'm just ready to be done. I am just so ready to have him in my arms. If I'm not going to sleep, I might as well get to snuggle my little man-cub in the mean time. People keep telling me that I'm going to regret saying that and that I will be so exhausted and overwhelmed once he gets here and that I should enjoy these last quiet moments but the truth is.... I can't wait for the middle of the night feedings, and crying and snuggling and stroller walks and milestones hit and seeing my husband hold his baby....His human baby....

 

 I've been dreaming of these days for so long that I am totally welcoming the change. I know it'll be hard and stressful and exhausting and a huge life change and no I've never had a newborn at home before or breastfed or any of that. But, I have people tell me all the time "you have no idea what you are in for", "it's the hardest thing you will ever do", "you don't get it", but I don't care. They don't get it. They don't know how many times I cried in the waiting room at the infertility office, hiding my face behind a magazine, watching the new babies and pregnant moms walk into the OB/GYN side right next door. Or how I used to close my eyes as I walked by the bullitan board in the hallway of the "success story baby birth announcements" on the way to the exam room. Maybe they don't remember how bad we wanted this baby. How hard we worked, how much disappointment we went through and how many times I thought "maybe we will never get pregnant" after failed months over and over and over again. We have wanted this sooo bad for so long so I just want people to let us enjoy it. Let me be excited for him to be here, let me want a screaming hungry newborn in my arms. MY screaming hungry newborn and let that be ok.

 I read an article the other day about a clearly frazzled brand new momma in line at target with a crying newborn and another couple near her said "oh just wait" with a negative connotation as in raising children is just one horrible headache after another. The woman who wrote the article was a bystander and was totally taken back because having and raising children is an amazing and wonderful thing! She responded to the woman "Yes, just wait...until he smiles the first time at you!, Just wait... until he starts talking! Just wait.... until he runs up to you at preschool and hug your legs when you pick him up because he missed his momma! Just wait.... until he come home from school with a dilemma and needs his mommy to help him and you save the day! JUST WAIT!" I feel the same way, everyone has something negative to say about motherhood and newborns. Why don't you tell me how wonderful it is to hold your brand new baby for the first time, to fall in love with them, to hold them and rock them as they sleep on your chest, to watch them get fat and grow because of your milk you give them, to see them learn to sit and crawl and walk and talk because YOU taught them. I'm excited for all of that, every second good and bad...so just let me be.


Momma bear rant over. Bottom line....come on baby cub, we are ready for you.

I woke up the other night and Taylor had fallen asleep with his hand on my belly, waiting for Henry to kick. I about lost it. He is so wonderful and so excited too. I can't wait to see him hold his son. That is probably the greatest excitement for me at this point.

 

Chalkboard time!

How far along? 36 weeks, Henry tipped the scales at 6 lbs 11oz at his growth sono this week.

Total weight gain: 15 pounds total now.

Maternity clothes? Same ole, same ole. I am getting kinda jealous that there is so much cute spring stuff but I can't buy any of it because I won't fit in it for awhile.

Sleep: Let's face it, I sleep like crap. I'm trying to adjust to it. I used to be able to sleep for 12 hours strait with no issues and now I can't stay asleep longer than 2 hours in a stretch, I either have to get up to go to the bathroom or flip to my other side because my hip hurts and that means I have to move all my pillows and blankets... Taylor and I both wake up, not fun. UGH!

Best moment this week: Seeing that Henry is still doing well and growing. And starting to contract!

Miss Anything? Moving around without feeling like I'm going to fall apart. I'm out of breath, my hips and pelvis and lower back hurt, I can bearly pick crap up off the floor. I'm just ready to be active and normal again.

Movement: Remember last week when I said he wasn't kicking as much as just making big body movements? Well I lied, this week he has been kicking and punching (my bladder and crotch) and rolling around all over. My belly looks like an alien is going to bust out of it.

Food cravings: Orange Juice and banana nut muffins this week.

Symptoms: My hips, pelvis and lower back are very sore, I think he is scooting down and getting ready. Out of breath all the time, lower energy level and some swelling in my legs.

Belly Button in or out? We will say flat-ish now. I don't think it's going to pop, I had a freakishly deep belly button to start.

Wedding rings on or off? still on but they get a little snug at the end of the day or if I walk with my hands down for a long time. 

Happy or Moody most of the time: Both, I started out super happy and ended that way too but I got kinda emotional thursday. I will say, the only thing I got super anxious about was coming home to my freshly mopped floors that took me 3 hours to do and lots of moaning and groaning to find tiny muddy pawprints ALL OVER. I could have killed Taylor for not wiping her feet but oh well. He said he would redo it for me and he did. What a good man.

Looking forward to: Henry coming!! I just want to meet him, HURRY UP BABY!!

Let's take a train to Organization Station!

I LOVE ORGANIZATION!!!! I know I talk about it all the time and my anxiety with that kind of thing so let me tell you I was pumped to be able to organize all things baby before this munchkin arrives. I don't want to have to be digging in drawers and bins to find stuff in the dark in the night while he is screaming. I also want to make things easy for Taylor to find and put away. He can text me while I'm away and ask me where something is and 95% of the time I can say "under your bathroom sink, left side shelf in the basket labeled _____" and he can find it. I want the same for baby crap. So let's take a little tour and I will show you how I organized different places in our home.

We will start in the kitchen. Eventually this cabinet will be all baby related items, bottles, nipples, baby silverwear, bowls, plates, cleaning supplies, sippy cups etc etc. But for now we will keep our plastic cups here too. I got these containers from Target on the cheap, I think they are pretty and functional and easily wiped out and they fit perfectly. They only had 3 but I am on the hunt for a few more for the top and bottom shelves. I also intend to make a cute label for each one (not sure what I will make it out of yet though).
 For now the bins have sippy cups (and disposable sticky placements for when we eat out), baby bowls and plates and baby silverwear and bottle brushes. I plan to have another one that has bottles and bottle nipples soon (for now that is packed away until we start introducing bottles closer to when I go back to work, I fully intend to exclusively breastfeed to start.) These are all things my smart momma friends got us for our shower....way to think ahead girls!
 Next we move to the living room. I wanted to have a small changing station somewhere downstairs that also contains must have baby items so they are easily accessible to us without running up and down the steps. I got this shelf from target and the bins as well. I LOVE that everything is hidden out of site but still right there. I am trying to avoid my living room looking like a daycare center at least to start.

 The bins have burp rags and swaddling blankets on the left and diapers, diaper ointment and wipes in the right (I also have a vinyl changing mat to put on the floor to change his diaper on without going upstairs. I plan to throw some baby toys, and whatever essentials we decide we need in the left one as we go.

Into Henry's room. The bin that you all have seen on Henry's dresser is a metal Ford bin from Hobby Lobby that I got half off that I have used to organize must haves for easy access during diaper changes. The bins contain baby powder (not that I think I will use it), baby lotion (and a bottle of room spray), hand sanitizer, boogie wipes, a tub of desitin and lots of pacifiers.

In his drawers I wanted cloth bins to put in there to divide his clothing by size so we can grab what we need and what fits and leave the rest for orangized storage until he fits into it. I couldn't find the bin in the size I needed so I just made my own. I took matching green corduroy fabric that his comforter is made of and cut out cardboard in the sizes I needed. Then I covered them with the fabric using hot glue and placed them in the drawer, underneath his clothing is white shelf paper to protect his tiny outfits from potential splinters in the wooden drawer bottoms. These are his onesies organized by size newborn, 0-3mo, 3-6mo, 9mo, 12mo and 12mo and up.

 Here is the pants/shorts drawer also organized by size newborn, 0-3mo, 3-6mo and 12 mo. I don't have alot of larger pants yet.

This is the top of his changing station. Wipes hanging from the pegboard and diapers in the metal bin on the counter.

 Onto the closet. I have 5 bins on his shelf. The left one has bibs, the right has hats.

This one has socks, mittens and shoes.

The next has baby toys. There is one more to the right but it has nothing in it....yet.

I have extra diapers and wipes above his clothing. And then I have his hanging clothes organized by size with the wooden painted dividers I made. You can kind of see the tops of the wooden plaques (they are navy, light blue and green to match his room).

Onto his bathroom. My mom found this vintage tool box and I have used to keep a candle, kleenex, lotion and soap in it.

The drawers have baby washclothes in them and medicine (baby tylenol, gas drops etc) The shelves have extra diaper genie refills, and the white basket has bath toys.

The blue bin which match the ones in his closet hold his first aid kit, extra shampoo, lotion, boogie wipes, Q-tips etc. The other one holds rolled up hooded towels.

The bin hold bath toys like I said.

And this basket by his rocker holds all his books but they might have to be put into shelf on his closet too because that sucker is gettin full!

So there you have it! Ways I have organized my house for baby.