We finally decided it was time to get a jump start on our baby registry, so this past weekend we ventured out to Babys R Us and Target to pick out some of the bigger items. We had already decided that we would pick out generic colors and fabric for the larger items, so we can hopefully save those for future children. I’ve been feeling a lot better lately (finally at 12 weeks, YAY!), so I had the energy to get out of the house and look around.

Our first stop was Babies R Us. It was helpful we went on a Saturday when it was crowded because a lot of new parents were giving us some great advice. It seems that a lot of the moms had bought travel system strollers, the ones with the carrier and the stroller, but they despised them once they brought the baby home. The carriers are very heavy, especially when the baby starts growing, and the strollers that come with those carriers often are bulky and also very heavy. So, it made shopping a chore for these new moms, and they found themselves back at the baby superstore shopping for a lightweight stroller option. So, we opted to pick out a lightweight stroller that also accomodated a carrier. Then, we could buy a stroller that was much lighter in weight, and also choose if we wanted to use the carrier with the stroller, or just leave the carrier in the car and put the baby in the stroller. It gave us a lot more options, and I could lift the stroller with one hand and toss it in the trunk. So, we appreciated that advice! In addition to the stroller and carrier/car seat, we also picked out a Pack ‘N Play. One of my friends just adopted a newborn, and I have learned by observing with her and her little one. They use the Pack ‘N Play ALL THE TIME. She barely ever used the bassinet they bought, so we marked that one off our list, and will invest in good baby monitors. All of her moving and little noises kept them up during the few hours they could get some sleep, so she transitioned her to the crib within 3 weeks. Makes sense to me! If all I get is an hour at a time, let me have the full, solid hour! haha…

Next stop was Target. Well, actually it was Chik-Fil-A because I was hungry, but what’s new?! We can skip that part. I had seen a crib that I really liked on the Target website, but I really wanted to see it in person before we bought it. A lot of times the images on websites can be deceiving. So, we rounded the corner to the baby section, and there was the crib I wanted! I was so glad it was on display, so we could take a good look at it. And that was the one we liked the most. It’s a convertible crib WITH a drop-down side. It is hard to find that combination, so we were happy to see it had both of the features we wanted. Sean is super tall, so he would have no problem if the side didn’t drop down, but I would break my back, so this was an important feature to me. With it being a convertible crib, it will convert into a toddler bed, a daybed, and a full-size bed. We thought it was well worth the money and a great deal, if we could get more long-term use out of it, so that is what we went with.

So, there you have it! The big items have been chosen. You can search for our baby registries at Babies R Us and Target, if you want a sneak peek. Our 12 week doctor’s appointment is tomorrow, so we are super excited to hear the heartbeat again! 3 months down, and 6 more to go!