I have a feeling I will be buying a lot of the bigger items on my registry, and I’d like to know what other now mommies consider are the “necessary” home/traveling items you need for the first 3-4 weeks of taking care of a newborn. I’ll be going back to work 2-3 weeks after baby, so I can start buying all of those “items of convenience.”

So, what essential items (list them all!) do you recommend I’ll need?

Tonight I saw the movie, What To Expect When You’re Expecting, with my roommate’s mom. It was absolutely hilarious, and held a lot of truth.. I knew the 15 other pregnant women there we’re all like, “THIS IS MY LIFE!”

I guess the only part of the movie I had a hard time relating to was the relationship with the father support. Seeing all of the couples made me wish I had more middle fingers. To this day my ex hasn’t touched my belly, even though some of his friends have, but that doesn’t seem to motivate him. People wonder how I can be okay with that, but I do know he’s still scared and wants to do his own thing. I guess the only thing I can expect is that he shows up to the hospital when I tell him I’m having the baby.. And I’m okay with that. He’s not a horrible person, we have a decently functioning friendship, and have been meeting in the middle with time with our dog lately without arguing.

I’ve been told time and time again that I’m the nicest, most sane, understanding and emotionally kept pregnant woman for being in my situation. And it’s true, for the most part. If things get fizzy between my ex and I, I drop the conversation and try again another day with a smile on my face. I don’t ask for much, and I certainly do not expect much either.

To be honest ladies, arguing with a baby’s daddy is such a waste of air. A man already has his mind made up, and a crazy baby’s mama isn’t going to change his mind just because you hold him to expectations in a situation that he’s already not okay with. That was a hard realization, I fought for weeks to get him to take prenatal classes, and I know the whole entire time he’s going to be hating me for it.

There are only a few battles worth fighting for.. And they should only be relevant to the welfare of your child. Not one thing about a relationship, our past or either of our social lives because it doesn’t matter what he’s doing, or who he’s seeing and vice versa.. We both already know we’re not trying to jump into a relationship and love someone else. How can I be upset that he’s out with a girl? I can’t. Plain and simple.

It’s amazing how many women can be the most selfless person when it comes to their child, but cannot get over themselves enough to treat the father of their child with the same respect. I do not let my ex get away with everything, in fact, he’s very aware of the bullshit I will not tolerate and that I do expect him to be an adult when he needs to.. But, at the end of the day he makes his own decisions.

If you’re worried about your baby’s dad letting down your child, then realistically it’s not your job to make sure that doesn’t happen. It’s his, and you can only prepare to be there the extra 110% to prove that a single parent household doesn’t mean they are any less loved or privileged than kids with two parents, seperated or together.

I’ve been encouraged to write more of my single mom-to-be thoughts down, but I don’t like over thinking this situation as the outcome is yet to be. I can however keep my cool about doing this whole entire pregnancy on my own, and confident that it’s only making me stronger. Yes, it can suck and it can be painfully lonely, but it’s the security in myself that keeps me going. The security to know that I don’t *need* the company or support of a man, boyfriend, or whatever to get through the nights, or be my ego boost because yeah, being single and pregnant is sort of the biggest cock block ever to guys who would probably be with you if you weren’t pregnant.

I’m not sure where this is going, but I know that if I can handle being single now, I can handle being single when my nights are spent with my beautiful daughter and knowing that she is the only person in this world I have an obligation to make happy. My ex, and his social life cannot impede that mission, nor can the bittersweet nights of lonliness.

:)

The physical change everyone usually expects during pregnancy is happening over night it seems like. You can finally see the weight I’ve gained, my belly is getting more round from it’s previous pointy shape it held, my feet swell off and on, and my skin breaks occasionally too. The skin on my belly is holding up well still, and my doctor says baby is growing beautifully.

BUT ON A MORE SERIOUS NOTE, WHAT’S UP WITH THESE BRAXTON HICKS?

Friday night I had 5+ hours of mild Braxton Hicks contractions, and I was put on bed rest and was told to stay out of the gym! Since then, they’ve slowed down but they have intensified when they happen. Ella ~*comfortably*~ sits head down, and kicks my rib cage now.. Breathing can become a chore too. Standing up and stretching is my only relief. Gah.

I thought I was going to be a magical pregnancy unicorn until the end, but I guess not. :(

I’m coming up to a 7 week countdown, which really means I should be preparing for a 5 week countdown! I just printed a list to pack a hospital bag, I’m just finishing up my registry and handing out the rest of my invites for my baby shower.

I’ve decided on cloth diapers, and found an amazing company here in Arizona - recommended by another cloth diapering mommmy - with a fabulous infant starter package and a household cleaning system to replace a diaper service. The package will get me on my cloth diapering feet, and will save this single mama a ton of money! For you other mamas looking into cloth diapers, but don’t know what to do for your registry, take a look at mine and the company (Does out of state, too!) I’ve decided with.

I’ve also decided on breastfeeding, and I know the pump I’m looking at is a little spendy, but it will be put to good, long-term use! I’m hoping to feed for a year, at least! I know I will have so much to blog about once Ella arrives. :)

My Registry

About time for an update, although I’m not sure how much I can put into words.

I’m sneaking up to 31 weeks on Wednesday which means I’m reaching the home stretch! I am definitely not where I want to be with my living situation for Ella and I, seeing as I did not move to Oregon like I had previously started to plan for, but I have to keep one foot in front of the other to get there. So Arizona for me, and moving into a new apartment just short of Ella’s arrival. That’s suuuch a stressful thought, and a part of me wonders how I’m going to do it but I’m hopeful that something will pull through.

My baby shower date has been set, and I will be sending out the invitations so soon. I’m glad we could finally sort though the details and get the show on the road. I’m hoping the Arizona heat will treat my baby shower well, as it is at a local park in Phoenix. But none-the-less I am excited for the detail planning with my roommate and her mom.

At the beginning of my 2nd Trimester I did a pregnancy survey, which I am going to do again starting tomorrow! I’m looking forwards to seeing how my life and pesception has changed since earlier this year.

It’s getting late and I have work at 8am, and I’m falling asleep with a lot on my mind still but I will update more tomorrow. :)