Click here to read --> Ready for your 1st Baby or Another!?
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"How do you know you are ready for another baby? Some moms just know it’s time, but for others writing up a “baby bucket list,” or “to do before baby” list, will help them know when they are prepared for a baby. Whether you already have a bundle of joy (0r a few) or are thinking of taking the plunge into motherhood, setting goals you want to accomplish will make you feel secure in your decision to start trying to conceive. For today’s Mom Tip Monday, Jenn from Baby Making Machine, shares her tips on making a baby bucket list.• • • • •
Once you start seriously dating someone the questions from friends and loved ones never stop.When are you getting engaged?
When is the wedding?
When are you having kids?
When are you having another?
Another?
Another?
People are obsessed with other people’s lives. Or maybe it’s just that we’re all so excited for one another to experience the next exciting step in life.
It took years of marriage for me to finally decide I was ready to become a mother. Then once I figured that out, at least anther year worth of convincing my husband he was ready too. Finally, after nearly six year of marriage, we welcomed our little girl into our lives. What a blessing!
But now that we have her, I know one reason why people sometimes refer to child rearing as “dominoing.”—Once you have one, it’s a domino effect, and whether you mean to or not, you’re already thinking about when or if you’re going to have another.
Before getting pregnant with my daughter, I found myself constantly wondering when I’d become a mom. When was it really going to happen? I’d say the last year and a half of my pre-mom state was spent daydreaming about life’s next adventure. While this was fun, my overzealous look to the future made me overlook some of the present. I’ve decided I don’t want to do that again.
Oh how I didn’t realize how much my life would change after having a child. I had a baby bucket list of things I wanted to achieve before becoming a mom: Get a master’s degree, travel the world. Umm… Didn’t happen. Some things did, but my baby fever overtook me before I could cross my most ambitious goals off.
This time I’ve made a list: “To do Before #2” and it’s much more realistic. Things like: “visit the zoo” and “take a dance class with my husband” top the list. Things are more family-focused and dare I say it?— Realistic.
My little girl will only be so little for so long. I know my second child isn’t coming right this very second, so I’m not going to focus on that right now. Instead, I’m going to relish in the present, and make the best of what we’ve got going right now.
So, here’s my growing list of things to do. If I complete it all, great. If not, well, I’m sure it’ll be even more fun to do with another munchkin tagging along.
To do together as mother/daughter, or family:
1. Go on a bike ride.
2. Take swimming lessons.
3. Take a dance class with hubby.
4. Feed ducks.
5. Visit a pumpkin patch.
6. Take a trip to the zoo. (We have a Groupon we need to use by October!)
7. Get a mother/daughter pedicure.
8. Go kayaking as a family (with Snoop too).
9. Go to the circus.
10. Go to a concert.
11. Shop at the farmers market.
12. Take a stroller strides class.
13. Visit our state capitol.
14. Visit our local black history museum.
15. Complete a sewing class.
Other to do:
1. Establish a regular date night with the hubs for at least once a month.
2. Teach my daughter how to fold her arms when we pray.
3. Make my will (I know, it’s horrible I haven’t done this yet).
4. Open Lil’ J’s savings/bond/college account.
5. Open our 401K.
6. Be cooking dinner (non-frozen meals) at least 3 nights a week. <— This may never happen.
7. Take a creative writing course.
Anything else I should add? What have you enjoyed doing with your families?"
(Emily, thank you for finding this article at www.babysteals.com and for sharing with us!)
