After a rough 3 months, jumping into the 4th month feels like, pregnancy isn’t all the bad. Now you actually feel pregnant and in a good way. The belly showing, face glowing and appetite like you’ve been starved for months. This is the life.

I don’t know about you, I was as big as 6 months at month 4 (I’d friends to compare with) and so I felt like I was always 2 months ahead with all my chores because at this size I’d be rolling to places by month 9.

What started as a doodle of To-do’s, evolved into a proper task list. It may seem like a silly list at the start but pregnancy had my memory all fuzzy. With a goldfish memory it was better to write the silliest and littlest than be sorry later. One thing you must know is I absolutely love making lists and love checking tasks off my list even more. It’s fair to say I spend more time making these lists. But I argue that my chores are done soon because I’ve efficiently organized them in a List !

This is where I started. Count me down !

4 months

I’m so glad I started here because it’s the most relaxed phase of all months. Sit with some tea, a snack, feet up and your favorite listing tool (With Danielle’s pregnancy I used Google Keep; it is such a beautiful app. Pen and paper is fun too)

1. Buy pillow to hug
2. Buy comfortable clothes
3. Massage oil
4. Step stool
5. Baby clothes list

I used 2 soft 40×60 pillows, one as my pillow to hug and the other between my legs and a small thin cushion to rest my belly. But if you like there’s plenty of pregnancy pillows available, buy one with super-fine micro-beads. They are so very flexible and easy to wash & dry. Also, a feature to look for is, if it can be used as a Nursing pillow. I opted to buy a nursing pillow instead, I used my nursing pillow while I was pregnant as a back rest or to lean on. Sometimes in bed too. The uses are endless so it’s worth the buy. Especially when I traveled on long haul flights this is a blessing because the baby can just snuggle up to you on the pillow and you can stay seated.

Maternity makeover time. This was the time I put away my slim fit, skin hugging, body strangling clothes. I wasn’t the slightest excited about this because trying outfits wasn’t fun anymore and online shopping frustrated me. So I just shamelessly indulged in my husbands clothes. And used belts and accessories to look fancy.

Massaging your belly hips and bumpers with a generous portion of oil is so important because it will allow your skin to stretch without bruising it. I used Bi-Oil which was oderless and was not sticky. A simple substitute is a mixture of coconut oil and caster oil (2:1). Although it has an distinctive smell and a tad bit sticky. Perfect for home use.

When I was out for a long time I used Lucas Papaw ointment. A generous portion is necessary as you progress.

A step stool for every bathroom will help you go with ease. Having your feet elevated will open up the passage internally. Also I’d lean forward as I tinkled to make sure I’m not leaving a trail as I stand up.

Baby clothes are adorable to look at and just as adorable on a receipt at the end. It’s essential to have a list of what you need and stick within. So I’d look at the stores and fill my cart but not buy yet. (Too early to buy)

Month 3

I would drive around but not a lot. There’d be an occasional long drive on weekends and it became so uncomfortable in the seat belt so I got myself a seat belt extension. It’s also safer for the little nugget.

Month 2

I am not someone who understands measurements with regard to how much space would be eaten by a piece of furniture. So I walked (waddled) into the bedroom and made sure I was getting the right furniture listed.

Most of my furniture was from ikea because it was a one stop shop. I found a baby bed that was adjustable enough to sleep a tall 3 year older. And the diaper changing station converted into a kids table with drawers.

• At Ikea I found:
  • Bed, mattress, comforter and linens
  • Napkin/burp cloths
  • Diaper changing station & foam
  • Diaper changing Accessories
  • Organizers

Month 1

Yay it’s buy buy month, bye bye patience! Buying baby clothes and furniture, accessories and everything nice for the little nugget or noodle.

1. Short list baby clothes to buy
2. Baby furniture shopping
3. Baby tools
4. Diapers
5. Formula

Hints for baby clothing size, you can take some guidance from you last scan, a crown to rump measure. The smallest sizes are usually 54 cms and that’s the new born size. My babies were born around 53 cms.

Baby tools are little things you’d need for daily baby care.

• Nail clippers (I used the baby nail scissors)
• Glass mini nail file
• Nose frida
• Nasal spray (saline)
• Bath thermometer
• Baby ear swabs
• Cotton circles
• Diaper cream ( I used Linola fat & Aquaphore)
• Tear free shampoo ( I used Hipp shower cream there’s J&J which is just as good)
• Body Lotion (Avoid powders unless prescribed it hurts the nasal passage and breathing too)
• Comb and brush
• Pack of water proof sheets
• Bathtub – Tip: Use a muslin cloth before I lay the baby to avoid bathroom opera ( I use Angelcare bath support)
• Pacifiers **

Formula is such a touchy subject. I don’t understand why ! It’s completely up to you as a mum and the baby to look for all sources for nutrition. Notice I said You and the baby, not either-or.

Nursing the baby is so very important 100% , but some infants are too weak. Josef’s for instance had high count of bilirubin and was too weak to feed. The bottle was a life saver. I would pump and also monitored formula at alternative feeds. I opted for Hipp (a German brand) you can have a pediatrician recommend one for you. Formula has saved countless lives; my kids including. There is no shame in it. However I breastfed my babies just as many times and as long as they needed until weaning off.

Diapers size 1 atleast a total of 60. I used only Pampers premium protection until 2 months because it’s very absorbent and the baby’s skin gets comfortable with one brand and it’s safer to just stick to one. If you notice rashes switch to a different one with no added lotions and no fragrance, however healthy the package says it is. I slowly tried pampers all round protection which are thinner and lighter for day use.

I also bought a set of 20 cloth diapers with 2 inserts each and a roll of flushable nappy liners. However I didn’t use them until 4 months, my babies just weren’t comfortable and I’m guessing they were baggy in comparison to disposable diapers. This is not only an environmental conscious option but also the skin loves to be in them. Plus an added bonus, their bottoms look extra cute in them.

** A lot of people have a negativity towards the Pacifier. These have saved my life so many nights. These are good to help a new mum soothe the baby although I didn’t need to use it for Josef until 2 months and Dani at 4 months. It’s completely safe and really doesn’t disfigure your baby’s jaw or teeth your new born is just learner to latch on can be dismissive of the pacifier at start. I tried a couple of trick with Dani.

• Dipping only the sucker in warm water just before putting it in mouth.
• Teasing the baby by gently & slowly feeling with sucker first the lower lip and then upper lip prompting her to open the mouth.
• Dip in slightly warm breast milk or formula before offering the Pacifier.
• Keep trying these options again after every nap and when the baby is most playful.
• Avoid a all costs to force the baby especially when she is tired, sleep or just fussy for no good reason.

That’s what he said, Thank you very much mumma, thank you very much.

And he said it so formally. All because, I told him I’m going to wash his bottle and give it to him.

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Josef has grown so tall he’s in clothes of an 8 year old (He’s 3 years and 1 month tomorrow). Almost 2 months ago we flew home to India and the crew often mistook him to be a lot older than 3. The problem with that is, he’s linguistic skills aren’t as developed and leads to him being very shy.

I find children are more confident and vocal now than when I was growing up. In my home, in addition to simple speech exercises that we have, the books, interactive TV shows and game applications have all contributed to Sef’s broad range of vocabulary.

However, in the last month he has expanded his vocabulary exponentially. He probably knows about 400 words, uses 250 at least once during the week and fully understands about 100.

Having more people around him has definitely given him opportunity to have conversations; sometimes complex ones. By complex I mean involving more than 2 participants. I was so excited to notice, he’s taken my advice of; Pause, Think, Construct and then Speak. No matter how silly the conversation he’s begun to frame his conversation before uttering them. And I couldn’t be prouder of my toddler. However, the drawback is if step 2 fails, I hear a “Mumma” and he goes for a long pause and moves to another topic/ task leaving me hanging there like nothing happened. Now that happens quite a bit.

So kids do this at 2 some closer to 5. I have been patient with him and it was rewarding the first time I noticed him.

He just got out of the shower, I dried him and he was laying on the bed waiting for me to help him get dressed for bed.

He pointed out and said, “Look Mumma, what’s that?” As usual I encourage a longer conversation and respond “I don’t know baba, what do you see?”

“A suitcase mamma, a suitcase”. I say, “Where?” He gets more specific for his obviously blind mother, “Ahind (behind) you mumma, one blue suitcase”

I acknowledged, “oh! Yes sefa. A blue suitcase”. Josef quickly “ I see it too mumma, suitcase so high mumma”

I sympathize, “ Yes Darling, it is too high and mumma can’t reach it.” At this point he’s dressed and stands on the bed, stretches and softly tells his obviously silly mother, “Palli can’t reach mumma, Palli need a ladder.”

Mumma is stumped!

The end

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A little background,

• He loves to climb. The ladder was used by Papaow (that’s what he calls his grandfather) to find something from the storage; which he’s not allowed to climb and he’s always finding reasons to climb. The above situation was a well calculated one that I just walked into.
• Suitcases are his love, anything with wheels and larger than him he’ll attempt to roll it away. After a few chips off the wall, Maish (that’s what he calls my mother) retired the dear suitcases to above the wardrobes.

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Featuring in his story

Papaow, sound like me saying “ Papa how do you (insert doubt)……?”

Maish, sounds like me saying, “Ma is this (insert question)……?

Palli, thats how he identifies himself. Your guess is as good as mine. Ask him, Josef what’s your name? And you be sure to get, Palli !