99 Days Left: Double Digits to Due Date!

The bump at the end of October.

I can’t believe time has passed so quickly! The halfway mark seemed to be just a while ago, and now, I’m almost to my third trimester. It’s the final stretch, and things are just going to gather speed, just like a roller coaster. 

There is still so much to think about, to organize, to buy. 

The thinking part I can do with my eyes closed, but the organized part- hard when we already live in a very cramped, over-full, tiny cottage. Which leads to the “buy” part- where would we put it all, IF we could even afford it?!

Things are much more expensive in SA, so while we are in the USA, we are trying to get what we can on sale and from used re-sale shops. I haven’t decided whether we are cloth diapering, but if I make up my mind soon, it might be worth buying them here. With my husband’s skin sensitivities, he required cloth diapering, so it might be a necessity for our child as well. Unfortunately, we can’t buy furniture and travel systems while we’re in the USA, so that will be more expensive for us. Electronics are another story- can’t buy too many from the USA because most will not be the right kind (see my post on electricity here), and we would either need plug converters or a power inverter to use most of it. So, unless there is something that “we can’t live without” from the USA, most electronic things (monitor, warmers, etc.) will be bought in SA.  

Along those lines, I am on the fence about what kind of breast pump to buy: 

First, an open system (which can have mold problems and I would consider a one child machine) like Medela Freestyle (of course one of the brand’s more expensive ones) because it is more portable and is rechargeable (which might be useful with the whole electricity thing). This would be handy for the electrical issues we’d have from buying it in the USA. I’m not sure how much more expensive it would be, but at least I could find replacement parts in SA. 

Self portrait 27/10/12 (I'm pushing the bump out).

Or second, a closed system (less likely to collect mold because it does not use outside air for the pumping action) like Ameda’s Purely Yours Ultra. It is a little cheaper, and might last for another child, BUT the brand is not sold in SA, so if I need repairs or replacement parts (valves, tubing), I would have to import/have someone send it to me at a huge cost and time. The time delay could really cause problems to our routine and to my milk supply. If I lived in the USA, I’d probably go with this one, no debate, but I must consider other options.

What we have so far:

• A really old Arm’s Reach Co-Sleeper in SA (imported and pretty old) that we will use for the baby right next to our bed.
• Someone gave us a Bumbo.Yes, we are aware of safety guidelines.
• I might have her coming home outfit- a little pink knitted cap and sweater (if it fits).
• My sister-in-law sent us some really cute outfits right before we got to the USA, and we’ve bought a few things from Carters since we’ve been here.

I’d really love any input on the breast pumps or anything else you can think of! We’re kind of "flying by the seat of our pants" here as first time parents.

Song of the Post: I feel the Earth Move by Carole King. She is one of my favorite songwriters AND singers.The time to meet our baby girl is coming soon!