~*Heart*~

On the umbilical cord stump thing, here's my experience with 2 kids~

With DS, the hospital told us to leave it alone. We did NOT have to sponge-bathe, he has had full tub baths since the day after he was born. His stump fell off exactly one week after birth and we never had an issue with it smelling or bleeding or anything. It just fell off during a diaper change.

With DD, the hospital told us to swab with alcohol, avoid tub baths, all the "traditional" stuff. We did everything that we were told and let me tell ya, it was NASTY. It started oozing and smelling (wasn't infected, though) and took more than 2 weeks to fall off! I had to gently swab around it, pull on it a bit to get under it, all that stuff. It was quite disgusting.

So, with that in mind, DS #2 will be done just like DS #1...tub baths from day one, and no alcohol swabs! That is what worked the best, IMO.

Nursing bras: I have ordered ONE GlamourMom nursing tank. They have the long tanks on ebay for the same price as the SALE on the short tanks! And free shipping! So I got my normally $35 + shipping tank for $29! My SIL loves hers, but says that she prefers a sports bra for night time. But she adores her GM tank! I was surprised they had my size (I'm a 44DDD).

I'm trying to think of what I couldn't do without the first few weeks...

OH! Someone mentioned the cover for the infant seat...I agree, however, I prefer the JJ Cole BundleMe to the one that just covers the baby with the little peephole. The BundleMe is nice and warm and eliminates the need for snowsuits or coats. A sweater and a hat do fine in the coldest weather with this thing! It completely surrounds the baby, and you can flip up the front part to cover the baby completely when you're running him/her out to the car. DS was always warmer than DH and I when he was in his BundleMe!

The other thing I found very useful was a bouncer. Specifically I had the Fisher Price Ocean Wonders bouncer for both DS and DD. That thing was what let me be able to shower!! Unfortunately, to this day I can't think of the music it played without getting misty-eyed thinking of little tiny DS in his bouncer...I miss him being so tiny!

I'll keep thinking...it's only been a year since I had a newborn, but you really do forget things as they get bigger! I feel like I have to start from scratch again!

__________________