My most memorable crib memory was, when we took Espen home from the hospital, and he didn't sleep incredibly well the first night, and we were bleary eyed with exhaustion and nursing was still slow to get established and everything seemed so new and overwhelming -- TallDad and I got up for a 'midnight diaper change'. Epsen was slow to settle into 'regularity' so we were watching for poopies. Well, as soon as we took off his diaper, he squirted a mysterious brown liquid clear across his room! In our sleep-addled state, it was the funniest thing we had ever seen. We laughed until we cried, then we changed him and took him back to bed. It was a little less funny cleaning poop off the wall across the room from the crib the next morning...

  But, other than changing diapers in months 1 - 3, we never used it. From day one, Espen slept with us, and did so until he was about 18 months old. I have serious sympathy for those who, for various reasons, cannot co-sleep with their kids, and want to do so. Same goes for those with disorders or various maladies that prevent the baby from even being in the same room as them (that's a little more rare). For the rest, that just don't like co-sleeping because it seems "weird", I say, "Enjoy sleep deprivation! Because co-sleeping families actually get sleep!"

  Okay, these are my raging pregnancy hormones talking -- but honestly, I feel happy to have embraced the concept of the family bed that we learned about in our Natural Family Planning class. I have found that it is WAY more common than most people think in the US -- but it is rather hush-hush. Some are loathe to admit it. Some, like me, readily admit, if only to encourage others that its normal. (Most of the world co-sleeps with their kids. Cribs are pretty uncommon everywhere else but here.)

  So, consider having the baby in a simple bassinet, Pack N Play or Arms Reach Co-Sleeper in the room, or better yet, put 'em in bed with you -- and save a good 300 bucks on a sleeping apparatus. Maybe they are more? I'm not sure. I never bought one!

Other furniture items: changing table? I did use mine for a month or two, but it eventually became toy storage, and then I sold it on Craigslist. To me, it wasn't as helpful, because I tended to change diapers on the bed, and stored all the baby's clothing in our room, too. I do like changing pads, to save my comforter a bit.

Dresser for the baby? I had a hanging 'sweater organizer' that I have used for 2 of the 3 kiddos, and that worked well. I just don't have the space for additional furniture in my room. I'd say large clear rubbermaid drawers would be a nice option, too.

You will need a diaper pail - but just a regular garbage can works, too. I like to splurge occasionally on the nice-smelling bags. Mmmm...flowery fresh. But, I also like the baking soda packages that have cloth-like sides -- they are great in the bottom of the diaper pail to deodorize.

Do you need to buy clothes?

If it's your first, you'll probably be showered with clothes from Day 1. I'd save my money for the 6-9 month and beyond clothes, because buying tiny newborn clothes are more fun for friends and relations, and so people generally load you up with those, and expect your baby to go naked the rest of his life.

I LOVE consignment stores and thrift stores for kids clothing. It is less than half the price, usually, and they have shoes, too! (Also, I don't really have my kids wear shoes until they walk. But that's just me. Others may feel differently about that.) I also love sharing and receiving clothes with/from friends, and also tend to limit the outfits I have available for my kids. I give them each about 10 - 12 complete outfits -- including the underthings. With very young babies that are poopin', spittin' up, and what not all the live-long-day -- I might allow as many as 16 outfits. Especially because in the first days, I usually don't have the time, energy, or desire to do laundry, nor does my precious husband. I may have to train Baz and Espen on the laundry thing before December 21st rolls around....

What else are absolute must-have's?

A car seat. (Unless you don't have a car. Advice: Use it mainly in the car. Don't break your back by carrying baby in it EVERYwhere you go. Sometimes its the most appropriate to bring in the carrier -- but I think babies are muuuuch happier in arms, or in a sling).

 A stroller (doesn't have to be the most expensive, but I would tend to go to the higher end on these, after talking with people for personal reviews, and doing online research. If I got a new stroller today, I would get something like this, where you can switch the handles around. I've heard enough and read enough to think it would be better to have a young infant facing parents, and then switch handles so they can face out when they're good and ready.)

A sling (and there are SO MANY to choose from!  Here's a good site to being your research, and a good slew of articles to read ). As a first time and new-to-breastfeeding mom, or for those situations where it is more appropriate to cover up, consider one of these. I might get one this time around. I'm sick fiddling with blankets that fall off anyways. There is a local person I know that makes them too -- even better! Or, search on etsy.com for a good deal, and support handmade!

Selecting your diapers:

I LOVE, let me repeat, L-O-V-E, cloth diapers! Originally, I thought of this only as a money-saver, next I thought of the good environmental impact our family could have (did you know it takes 500 years for ONE diaper to biodegrade in a landfill? Might even be longer, depending on various factors. The phrase that still runs through my head when I think of this: "I want my kids legacy to be something more profound than a diaper.") -- lastly -- my kids have rarely had diaper rash, and laundering cloth diapers and covers is not hard. 

That being said, there is a learning curve to them, because, though they're becoming MORE common, chances are you don't know anyone that used them, and if your parents used them, they also used pins! (Which, mostly people don't use anymore...though I do know at least two people in my group of friends that do!).

So, after all that, I will also say, I do tend to use disposable for the first week or two. They just simplify life. Then, I have newborn sized prefolds and covers, and from there, it rolls quite smoothly. I have cloth diapered two kids at a time, and there is where you REALLY see major savings. I can't imagine keeping two kids in disposable diapers, even generic! It would really stretch the budget.

I love the Diaperaps brand, and have ordered prefolds from two different places. Choosing a cloth diaper can be kind of overwhelming, but when you find something that works, use it. You can often get samples or low-cost diapers on trial, to see what you like. Here's another bank of articles for that decision.

Feeding Baby:

I have exclusively breastfed my babes until 6 - 8 months, and then have introduced solids when they're able to pick things up. I've never used pacifiers -- partly out of philosophical reason -- no really, I'm serious! If you're interested, comment on it, and I'll explain -- and partly because my babies liked their 'nee nee" better than even a reasonably soft piece of plastic.

I haven't done a lot of pre-made pureed stuff, because they've never liked that, and when they're ready to munch a tiny, easily-broken up cracker, that's what they go for. I've known kids to resist solids as long as 12-14 months - so don't be worried if you're not buying lots of Gerber jars or Puffs for awhile. If I did make any purees, I tended to make them myself with a baby food grinder. A blender or food processor work equally well. You can freeze batches in ice cube trays, and then just pop them out an hour before mealtime, or heat them in the mic for several moments -- of course making sure to check the temp before offering to baby!

When Espen, Baz, and Jo-Jo were born, I worked part-time. So, I also needed a pump for when I 'got full' at work. I used breastmilk bags, tending toward the La Leche or Gerber Store N Go brands, which were both easy to use and fairly inexpensive. I have a very simple hand pump. I did have a plug-in one at first, but did not find it comfortable (probably because it is the cheapest one on the market!) I've heard awesome things about the double Medela pump, and if I was in a market for a new pump, that is the kind I would get.

I did buy a few baby dishes and table ware, but generally haven't used them - I don't think I have any anymore, except for spoons, and two forks, which are helpful at times. (The forks I use for appetizers at parties, in fact!  ). Interestingly enough, my three boys have been very claustrophobic when it comes to bibs, so I haven't used those, either! Less laundry to wash....well, in a way. Just more outfits to wash, actually. I have used Dreft for the first couple of months, but now that I'm making my own laundry detergent, I feel it is gentle enough for a baby, too, so I probably won't buy Dreft. The one downfall of that plan: I Love the Smell of Dreft. So, I may buy some anyway.

A few nursery items you'll need:

- I like these Johnson and Johnson soap cloths for the first couple of baths, rather than using a baby tub. I have neither the room nor desire to own one. Hey, that's just me. I pretty much sponge-bathed the baby, or got in the tub with him, until he could sit up. Otherwise, gentle head-to-toe bathsoap 'no tears' formula is great. I would probably tend toward an organic/natural brand at this point.

- Desitin or A and D, for those red-bottom days.

- Wipes. You can actually make these on your own, too. I did do this quite a few times. I also made flannel wipes for Espen (I use them for Kleenex now, as they're SO soft!). Most often, though, I defer to throwaway ones, out of convenience. I tend to get unscented, but am not picky about whether they are 'all-natural' or not.

- Medicines. I do tend to keep a supply of infant tylenol and ibuprofen, as well as infant Vicks rub, but don't forget your homemade 'medicine chest'. Read this awesome article for all the holistic/healing uses for breastmilk -- God designed us so wonderfully, did he not? There are also 'Mycelin gas drops' you might consider, which I've never used, but would certainly try if I ever had a real gassy baby. Another product I've heard about are 'ear drops' - not sure of the brand. Soothes the ear and moisturizes is, possibly healing an ear that is on the way to infection.  

- Some good books to read, or music to listen to while nursing. If you think you'll nurse in the same spot often, set up a comfort station for yourself, with water and snacks, books, videos, music, laptop computer even. But, don't forget to spend time just looking at your baby in wonder. That  time goes all too quickly, it seems. *If you are expecting number two, you might want to set up a similar 'comfort station' with special toys, books, or even juice or snacks for the "old baby" to enjoy, while the "new baby" is nursing. I did this for Baz when Jo-Jo was born, and I think it did help the transition a bit.

Whew! I think the main point: You probably need less for a baby than you think -- and you might need less or different things than what most main-stream parenting magazines suggest.

Maybe we'll see you in part 2 someday, if you're still awake. Or, if you're like me, babies, birth, and mothering are the exciting focus of your life, and now you're going to look up all these links, make a card and a meal for a new mom (the BEST GIFT EVER, IMHO), and say a prayer for the safe delivery of your friend's baby. Next post should have prayers, maybe some more product recommendations, and advice for surviving the first days as a new mom -- not just surviving, but thriving! But, that will be sometime later...I have my high school reunion this weekend, so it is doubtful I'll post again this week. Wish me minimal weirdness, if you would. I will probably resist saying 'I invented post-its'. But, we'll see.