I really enjoyed reading Mrs. Oatmeal’s list of things to do before Baby # 2 arrived, so I thought I’d see what kind of list I could come up with before our Baby 3 comes. I remember having a small list of things to do with Drakey before Juliet was born. I was working right up to the pregnancy so a lot of it had to be crammed into the last few weeks I had before Juliet’s birth, but we did manage to check most things off our list. Here’s hoping for the same success this time around.
Things To Do With Drakey & Juliet
– Birthday party in June. I hired a petting zoo this year and I’m just starting to think of ideas for decorations, favors, foods. Drake is so excited about the idea of animals coming to the house.
– Sesame Street Place. Juliet loves Elmo (she calls him La La) so much we want to take her to Sesame Street Place to give her the full Elmo experience. We never took Drakey before and truthfully I have always wanted to go as well since my parents had promised me as a child but we never went.
– Visit the local aquarium. A friend of mine works there and she told me they just had baby penguins born so I hope I can take the kids to see them once they are on display.
– Take family photos in the spring. I got some lovely family/maternity photos before Juliet was born and am hoping to do the same before this one comes to remember our time as a family of four. I recently found out we live close to a lavender field and I’m dying to visit and take photos.
– Start visiting and using the library more. I admit I’m a bit terrible when it comes to borrowing books from the library. I’m always overdue or one of the kids loses a book. I mostly buy books but that can get pricey. Juliet and I go to the library weekly for story time and I see all these wonderful titles, so I want to try to take both of them to the library weekly to pick out books.
– Build A Bear. Before Juliet was born I took Drakey to Build a Bear to make his first animal. I want to take Juliet now (and of course Drakey) to make one too as a tradition.
– Visit the beach. We are lucky to live so close to beach. Mr. Chocolate’s parents are only a mile from it, and I want to make sure the kids get to go at least once this summer.
– Splash Park. We live by a great free splash park and went a ton last summer. It’ll be harder this summer when I’m pregnant, but I hope we make it at least a few times.
– Playdates. A lot of my friends are teachers so once the summer is here they are all around more. I hope we can squeeze in some playdates before baby arrives and makes them harder.
– One on One Date. Before and right after Juliet was born I used to take Drake out once in awhile just the two of us to some place fun just for him. I hope I can do this again once this next one comes, and take them each out at least once to give them one on one attention for at least a few hours. On this vein I’m really hoping to take Drakey to his first movie. I’m so excited about that experience and am just waiting for the right movie that will keep his interest.
Things to Do For Me & Mr Chocolate
– Sleeping In. I am hoping to be aided by family with this one, but Drakey and Juliet have both spent a few nights away from home sleeping at family’s houses (mostly Grandma and Grandpa, but Aunt and Uncle have offered Drake a sleepover as well). I’m hoping at least one more time will happen so Mr. Chocolate and I can sleep in until whenever we want, even if it’s only one time before we are thrown back into those sleepless newborn days.
– Dining Out. I haven’t been out to dinner with just Mr Chocolate in I don’t even know how long. I’m really craving Melting Pot and hoping we can eke out a small date night once before this one comes. I don’t even care if we don’t do dinner, but chocolate fondue sounds heavenly right now.
– Reading. I haven’t read since Juliet was born. As a previous avid reader, it makes me so sad that I’m so far removed from the book world and have no clue what’s even being released. I want to find the time to find a book to read again, and do it before not reading again for years.
– Photography. I am always working on my little craft and I hope I can take at least one, if not two, more workshops to help me improve so I can take better photos of the new baby as well as Drakey & Juliet.
– Writing. I am a wannabe novelist and have a little over 11,000 words written in a hopeful book. I want to try to set a goal to hit maybe 20,000 words before baby comes? I’m not sure if it’s realistic, but I’m a very deadline driven person so I’m hoping a looming deadline might give me the push I need.
– Walks with the dogs. My poor dogs. Since Drake’s birth life has never been the same for them. They went from beloved pets to second class citizens in the house. I used to take long walks in the summer after dinner before and when I was pregnant with Drake. I’m dreaming of that again when the weather turns nice. It might be good for me health-wise and sanity-wise after staying home all day with 2 toddlers, and it might be nice for my dogs to finally have something for them too again.
. . . . .
That’s all I can think of right now and I truly hope I can implement some, if not all, of these now that I have a clear list to work from. I’m sure I’m forgetting something, but is there anything really obvious I’m missing? What did you want to accomplish before your child arrived?
pomegranate / 3032 posts
Love your list! great reference of just some general fun things to do.
I can’t wait to take my LO to Sesame Place esp since its only a couple exits up from where i work. I havent been there in years but friends have said its only gotten better and better.
pomegranate / 3275 posts
Don’t forget to do something just for you! You are going to really lose yourself after the third (now there are going to be THREE things that need something from you!). I made sure to have a few me dates (going to a movie by myself, getting dinner with friends, go shopping by myself)