With just seven days until my due date (though we suspect Baby P might make us wait a little longer), we’ve officially started preparing for her arrival.
We’ve already finished the nursery, but this phase is less about paint and decor and more about practical readiness: protecting the house, organizing keepsakes, and making sure our dog and home can adapt to a new family member. From the moment we learned we were expecting, we slowly accepted that our family would grow. It’s only recently that the idea of actually meeting this tiny person became real. That realization—knowing there’s a little girl in my belly who will one day walk, talk, and roll her eyes at our paint-splattered hair—has made the last weeks both exciting and intense.
Now that we’ve truly embraced the fact that we’re about to become parents, here are eight concrete things we’ve done to get ready for Baby P:
1. Practical protection: I worried about my water breaking in bed or on the couch, so we bought a waterproof mattress cover for our organic mattress and a smaller waterproof blanket for the sofa or car seat. They’re much more comfortable than I expected, and together they cost about $23 with coupons. It felt worth it to protect our furniture and car—especially since my mom’s water broke in bed with every child. (Side note: I secretly think it would be hilarious if my water broke at Target or Home Depot.)
2. A DIY baby book: John suggested a fabric-covered album as a personalized baby book. We gathered patterned paper, prompts, and plan to add hospital keepsakes like the bracelet and going-home hat, plus the newborn footprints nurses often help with. A local craft store run with coupons yielded an 8.5 x 8.5″ album and paper for about $15 total. Because we made it ourselves, we included playful pages such as “future predictions” where we guessed her hair color, first word, favorite subject, and even future profession. It’s a sentimental, inexpensive way to document her firsts and will look great in the nursery.
3. Preparing our dog: We read up on introducing a dog to a baby and learned that bringing a gift for the dog when the baby arrives can create positive associations. We’ll also let Burger sniff a baby blanket before the big day. Inspired by childhood stories of receiving a toy when a sibling arrived, we picked up some treats and a new chew toy to help Burger feel included and excited about the new addition.
4. Blog backup: To keep things steady while we adjust to newborn life, we’ve prepared a stash of extra posts. We scheduled Reader Redesigns, tutorials, and other features so the blog will continue to publish fresh content during those first busy weeks of diapers, feedings, and sleepless nights. That way readers still get the same experience even while our days are focused on a newborn.
5. Diapers and laundry plans: We opted for BumGenius one-size organic snap cloth diapers from a local shop we like to support. Cloth diapers will save money over time and reduce landfill waste—an average baby uses thousands of disposable diapers in the first years. Our Energy Star front-loading washer and dryer will keep water and energy use low, and we’re comfortable adding diaper loads to our regular laundry routine.
6. Washing baby clothes: I washed new, non-organic clothing and bedding with a cup-and-a-half of vinegar to remove excess chemicals and dyes. The items come out odorless, and the process gives me peace of mind about what touches her skin. I did have one accidental laundry mishap—tiny pink leggings with the whites—so now several white items have a soft pink tint. It’s a small reminder that nothing is perfect and that’s okay.
7. A pretty pillowcase: A reader suggested bringing a pretty pillowcase to the hospital because it appears in many delivery photos. That simple tip appealed to me: a cheerful pillowcase can draw attention away from a tired, puffy face. I found a springy, floral pillowcase on sale and even received two as a birthday gift; they’ll brighten the hospital room and later serve as guest bedroom decor.
8. A multiuse sound and light solution: To save space in the nursery, we hunted for a two-for-one device. We chose an iPod I-Home dock that plays music, functions as a white noise machine (we downloaded a white-noise track from an online store), and cycles soft colored lights. It’s a compact, economical way to cover the sound and light needs without adding extra gadgets.
During all this prep we came across a quote that really resonated:
“A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for.” — Anonymous
We can’t wait to meet our little one. If you’ve prepared for a new baby, pet, or houseguest, we’d love to hear what you did to get your home ready.