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TOPIC
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NOTES |
FROM
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Tupperware
Cabinet
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For
safety, locking cabinets and drawers is critical, BUT... you should
leave at least one open, stuff it FULL of tupperware... hours and
hours of fun. I witnessed this first hand with Allysa in Florida with
her Mom and Dad.top |
Kurt
and Kim Giacomelli
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Corners
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Do
you realize how many corners, plugs, steps, HAZARDS you have in your
home? Take a walk around, and start prepping your home early.top |
Giacomelli
Family
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Sleep
(or lack thereof)
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A
cousin of mine told me to catch up on my sleep... this cannot be done...
ex-co-workers gave me better advice... PREP yourself for sleep depravation.
Instead of trying to get as much in before, try getting only 4 - 5
hours a night well before your baby comes, I was doing it for a years
already, so I was in pretty good shape. And if you and a partner can
switch off, its not that bad. Prepare! top |
LaPolla
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Diaper
Changing
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Dad's...
learn to change the diapers early, the mess isn't that bad, and they
don't smell at first. Change it all the time for the first 3 months...
LATER, you can start getting out of diaper detail cause you did it
the entire time Mom was recouping! top |
Can't
say who... they would get in trouble...
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Mustard
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If
you don't know what Mustard Poupon is... click here top |
Peg
Hesse (email)
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More
Room in Diaper = Sleep Longer
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Jess doesn't
like a wet diaper, and this is the number one cause for late night/early
morning wake-up's. So... when Jess was diaper size 1, we also bought
size 1-2, and put her to sleep in them. They held more waste and kept
her MUCH more dry, which made her sleep a little longer, which made
us more sane... kinda.top |
Dan
and Kelly
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What
to get the parents of newborns
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Outside
of gifts for the baby... one of the best things to get new parents
right after the baby comes home is FOOD! Our neighbors made us a HUGE
dish of Lasagna, went a long way. Gift certificates work, and not
for dine-in restraunts (use some common sense)... Take-out-taxi,
Grocery stores, Pizza, and any
take out restraunt in the immediate area work GREAT! top |
A book
and especially our neighbors the Manna's!
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Supplies
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Joining
a Club like BJ's or Sam's
will make life much easier. Buying in bulk not only reduces costs,
but the mroe you have, the less trips you have to make. Just remember
Diapers, Wipes, and Formula (if needed), and food for yourselves is
good too. If you can't afford a club membership, there is nothing
wrong with Target or Kmart.
top
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Dan
and Kelly
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Supplies
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STOCK
UP BEFORE! Buy everything you need before your bundle of joy arrives,
and make sure you have enough to last a while. you will NOT want to
go out for at least a week for anything - you'll want that extra time
to sleep (yeah right).top |
Books
and Friends
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Supplies
- Price Search
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So
many ways to order products... retail, discount, grocery store, web,
warehouse... do the comparisons and shop smart! And remember, almost
all stores allow you to use coupons, find the lowest price and use
them! BJ's accepts coupons as well! Ordering online is not
necessarily cheaper when you factor in delivery charges.top |
Dan
and Kelly
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Variety
in Supplies
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Don't
just buy one type of anything, try different things and find out which
ones work best for yourselves and your baby - regardless of what doctors,
friends, and experts say - they may be right, but YOU may find something
better. We love Pampers, tried
many others... MANY others... and the Hospital was right on with formula-breast
feeding mix using Isomil.
top
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Dan
and Kelly
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Accessories
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Make
sure everything is put together (crib, swings, toys, stroller) about
a week or more ahead of your due date.top |
Greg LaPolla
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Things
that Work!
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Some
things that have worked best for us: Travel System, not just a stroller
or just a car seat, spend a little more for the system, - trust us
its worth it; a Non-wind-up swing, spend a little more for the battery
operated one, cause if it stops, your baby usually starts; this Aquarium
toy thing we have isthe best for keeping her attention and putting
her asleep at 4:AM - we'll try to give you a better description later.top |
Dan
and Kelly
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Monitors
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Baby
monitors are a must, and don't' buy just one... 2 or 3 are perfect,
and make sure one of them is battery/plug operated so you can take
it with you anywhere in the house anytime, even outside if you have/need/want
to... bu tknow when enough is enough (read the next one).top |
Dan
and Kelly
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Monitors?
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I like this one... I took Tom's advice after she was
6 months old... and Kelly finally got some sleep...
"As for the baby monitor. Stick it in a drawer and sleep with
a pillow over your head. You can never get a good night sleep with
those things on. (so ture) With our
fist kid we had it on all the time. With the second we had it on low
at night. With the third, I have no clue where it is. Oh, sleep with
the doors open though you do want to here some noise. By the time
you get to the third, the other kids are in your room waking you up
anyway. "top |
Tom
Slook
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Clothing
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Onesies
are a MUST! Those gown things SUCK, and buy different sizes up front...
you don't know how big/small they will be or how fast they will grow.top |
Dan
and Kelly
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Clothing
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plan
Ahead! You're baby was born in the Summer... 6 months from then its
winter and we'll need an entirely new wardrobe... and guess what...
Winter clothes are on sale in the summer aren't they... hhhmmmmm...
(Vice Versa). And buying ahead, while on sale, is always a good deal.
ALWAYS keep an eye out for them... Mom's love to shop, and let Grandmom/dad
buy what they want, its their job to spoil them! Mom and Dad get to
dictate what she wears, at least at this age.top |
Dan
and Kelly
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Entertainment
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"As
for entertainment, get the battery swing, they are great, and the
bouncy seat. Get a baby jogger, used if you can its cheaper. In fact
we have a single we can sell you. Don't tell my wife! Even if you
don't jog they are great we use our double even on the beach to take
stuff to and from, they even hold kids too. " ... I hear
ya Tom. I Got one thanks to Diners Club Points. top |
Tom
Slook
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Overnight
Change
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I
don't care what anyone says/said prior to prepare you, or how many
things you can do to prepare for the change... the day after your
wife gives birth, you wake up a very changed man. Can't explain it...
no one can... you'll just have to trust me. top |
Every
Father I spoke to
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People
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I'm
telling you Babies are universal communication and friend makers.
Be wary of strangers of course, but most are just friendly people
(they bring the best out of people). Babies in places = Smiles on
faces. BTW Guys, babies are chick magnets.
top |
Dan
and Kelly, Greg Lapolla
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What
NOT to say
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Got
this one from a friend who's son loves the word "no." He
says, "try not to say no, its negative number one, but its very
easy to say (2 letters, one syllable), BUT, if you say it all the
time, its the most popular word they know." So if you ask them
something/anything, what do you think their #1 answer will be? top |
Greg
Lapolla
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Go out
after!
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For Dad to be... Regardless
of how you and your wife plan on giving birth... "plan on
going out with your buddies afterwards... there are some things that
you'll want to forget." You usually can't stay overnight
afterwards, you won't be able to go out much anymore, you need to
celebrate, and its a great excuse for many things. And believe me
(and Kevin), "there are things you will want to forget..."top |
Kevin
Lawrence (Thank you Kev, one of the best pieces
of advice yet)
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Get
use to it!
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There
are some things you better get used to... shit happens (literally);
spit-up happens too; clothes get ruined; spots on the carpet; free
time is very rare; so much for good nights sleep; things get broken;
loud crying; people staring; and the list goes on... and the list
goes on...top |
Dan and Kelly, Greg LaPolla
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No More
Pacifier!
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This one is
GREAT!
" When it is time to get the kid to stop using the pacifier
it is easy to get them to stop. Start by cutting the tip of the nipple
off. The pacifier will not work as well. Slowly cut more and more
of the tip and explain to the kid that it is broken. It will work
less and less, and they will get annoyed of it not working. Do this
to all of them except one, just in case it does not work. " |
Tom
Slook
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Parenting
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"Do
not judge another's parenting style if you do not have children. You
have no idea what it is like when you can't give them back to their
parents." |
Dee
Hardy
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Test
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Take
the Baby Test... and fail miserably like I would... |
email
anon via Christine Myers
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Travel
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If
you do use formula, or combination like we do, Isomil makes 2, 4,
and 8 oz bottles. This coupled with disposable nipples makes going
out so much easier and more enjoyable. Makes for a more sleepy baby
too if you can go out more, which stimulates them more as well (smarter
baby).top |
Dan
and Kelly
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Go Anytime,
Anywhere!
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"Even
when the baby is new, you have to go places. It does not have to be
for long, but if someone invites you somewhere, go with the baby.
The baby does not have to stop you from doing things. A new born just
sleeps eats and poops. So bring the car seat to sleep in, a bottle
for the eating, a diaper and a travel pack of wipes. All of this can
fit in your pocket. If the trip is going to be longer bring two bottles,
two diapers, and use both pockets. An extra outfit may be good too.
For even longer trips, use the portable pack and play, and a small
diaper bag. If you run our of food or diapers, they probably have
stores near by. And when you are at someone else's house who have
kids, don't be afraid to borrow their diapers."
top |
Tom
Slook
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Travel
Bags
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Get
at least two travel bags for your baby - large and small. One large
enough for overnight trips (change of clothes, full day of diapers
and food, changing supplies, wipes, extra shirt for you, bibs, blanket,
toys) and a small one to carry just enough for about 4 hours worth
(2 feedings, 3 diaper changes, bib, travel wipes). Take both with
you when you go out, leave the big one in the car and take the small
with you, you can always go back to the car for more if you have to.
top |
Dan
and Kelly
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Travel
System
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Its
a stroller, its a car seat, its a feeding platform, its a carrier,
it can go form the car to the stroller in 5 seconds, it costs more...
but its well worth it! Get a travel system, we've got the infamous
Graco
Chauffeur™ Travel System, and we love it! We even took a private
poll of parents ont his before we purchased ours... asking people
out of the blue in the mall, at restaurants... funny stories, ask me
about them sometime.top |
MANY
people!
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Travel
Pack-n-play
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This
thing is great! It serves as a sleeping station, changing station (if
needed), and it folds up for easy travel/storage. It is also great
as an extra crib-area for visiting friends/family who also
have babies!top |
Dan
and Kelly
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On Bottles
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"For
bottles when you travel, you can bring a portable little insulated
bottle bag with a cold pac or better yet pre measure the powder in
separate containers or in the bottle, then just add bottled water.
Another good trick, is when you get to someone's house, open their
fridge and put your bottles in. They wont mind. If you have money
to burn, buy the premixed travel cans. They are great for emergencies.
Oh, if you breast feed, forget all of this." top |
Tom
Slook
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"Better
you than me"
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I
Love this quote, "it's best used in the context of addressing
all new father's from a father whose kids are older and self-sufficient...."you
know the old saying, better you than me...""top |
Anthony
Cherico
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R U
Ready
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"After
spending the afternoon with Dee and her twins (Dana and Rachel), I
realized that was the best form of birth control for another 5 years
I could have ever paid for. "top |
Jodi
Olsen
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Twins?
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"Do
not wish for twins. I have had tons of people tell me, "I wish I had
twins" or "I always wanted twins." I love my girls to death, but at
the age of terrible two, it's twice the nightmare!"top |
Dee
Hardy
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"The
Curse!"
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So
true... so true...
"You will inevitably bestow The Curse "I hope you have
a child who is just like you someday" onto your children. It worked
for your parents, so you might as well pass it on. "top |
Dee
Hardy
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Gates
Advice
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The
Famous Bill Gates email advice for kids... |
eMail
anon
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Adult
Resignation
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I
used this as a joke one time and sent it to my hiring manager, she
freaked until I told her to read it carefully. Resign as an Adult
and live as a kid... actual Resignation... TAG! |
eMail
anon via Greg Plante
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Baby
Test
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Same
test as the one above... Take the Baby Test...
and fail miserably like I would... |
email
anon via Christine Myers
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Why God Created Children |
This one had to make
this list. Many thing in this email, but the best was the
story of Why God Created
Children. Also has some other items and things to
remember. |
Multiple authors, email via
Earney Klaus II (Father-in-law) |
