What were/are your......

Jojo's list is everything I would have said too!!

I also LOVED the cradle swing. DD is 4 months old and is almost out grown it already...it swings really slooooooooooooow now because she almost weighs 20 pounds. In my own opinion diaper genie = waste of money. I just put a Walmart bag outside, throw the diapers in that then take it to the dumpster.

Hijack! LOVE LOVE LOVE the Ventaire...Emad was breastfed but had to use bottles at daycare and those were the best ones that helped him after trying all the others, a God send for me!

LOVE:
-Swing
-Playard w/basinett
-Playmat
-Jumperoo (didn't initially have one, but glad I have one now)  Alex is not even 3 months old and loves it.  We use the Wii Fit board to give him the added height so he can reach the ground and push! lol
-Basinett (I didn't have one until right before we came home from the hospital.  Had my Mom run to Once upon a child and get us one.  I thought I would be okay with him sleeping in his own room from the getgo.  He was okay with it... I wasn't!)
Video Monitor (Love this because you aren't constantly running in with every little sound.  You can just look and see what's going on.  Babies make A LOT of noise while sleeping)

Don't really use:
-Bouncer
-Wrap/sling (thought I would be all over these.. I have a hotsling and a moby wrap and I don't use either of them)
-Believe it or not.. diaper bag!  (i have 3 different ones, and I still find that unless I'm going to be out for a few hours, I don't bring the diaper bag.  I just keep a ziploc with wipes and 1 diaper in my purse. )

I agree with not stocking up on newborn diapers.  We bought one pack at a time. Alex had an awesome growth spurt that one day they fit him great and the next day you couldn't even get them fastened!  But he was in them for about 7 weeks.  

ETA:  i love the nightgowns!  My LO sleeps in them too.  

My biggest 'don't bother' item, honestly, was a changing table. Floor, bed, couch, etc was used more. A swing with lots of settings was the best.

LOL, isn't it wierd how different people are.

I use my changing table EVERY time I change Jantzen. So it's a must for me.

I def think swings are a good investment. But every baby is different. I have 4 kids. three of the 4 LOVED the swing. One HATED it.

I so agree Valena...I HAD to have the matching changing table...I never used it.  They are simply not convenient...I threw a blanket on the floor, bed, couch...where ever...with my very first, I turned my back for literally 15 seconds to grab wipes that were left in the crib, and my daughter rolled off...she was only like 3 months old so not rolling yet...first trip to the ER...no mommy of the year awards for me.  The ER doc said they see new moms with babies in there constantly with them rolling off of changing tables.  Huge waste of money for using them...simply for "looks" in a nursery...in my humble opinion.

Laura 

I haven't seen this one mentioned yet, but I loved the bobby pillow.   Especially if you are planning on BFing...it was a life saver for me.   Not to mention that it functions for a baby prop too. 


Bambi

HiJack!!  Bambi how are you???  Congrats on your pregnancy!!!  I have thought about you often and wondered how you were doing.  I am so happy you have found true love again and are expecting another baby...how awesome :)  

We will have to email back and forth, as I have a ton to tell you about me.  I got my tubes tied so no longer TTC...and have had terrible health issues for the last year...down to 82 pounds...in and out of the hospital...TPN with a PICC line for 3 months...sepsis from the picc line...it goes on and on...so, we will have to catch up in private, cuz these girls do not need to read all my crap again...they know it all...lol

Love ya girlie, and so glad you are healthy and happy...how is baby girl doing?? Even though she is not really a baby anymore :)

Laura 

Hi Laura,
wow, I am so sorry to hear about all the health problems you are going thru!  I can't imagine! 
I feel bad kind of abandoning the board almost 2 years ago.  But after the kids' father passed away suddenly being a single parent, I didn't have much free time to get on. 

Doing great now!  Ben and I went to high school and we re-connected last summer.  He asked me to marry him 2 days before Thanksgiving.  Then he wanted to start the new year out right so we married on Jan. 3rd, 2009.  11 months today.  time flies. 

Anyway, found out 2 weeks before Thanksgiving that we were expecting.  And to top it all off, this baby is due on Chance's birthday!  How weird is that?  I actually think it's Chance's way of saying he's taking care of us up in Heaven!   We are naming the baby after him as well.  Either way boy or girl, the baby will have Chance as it's middle name. 

take care,
Bambi

Wonderful story...so sweet...tears in the eyes! 2nd CHANCES are awesome!