Here is my list of things I couldn't live without 3 babies later!
1. Brent aka Daddy! Having a supportive, nurturing husband and father is the #1 thing, all the others are just things that help us enjoy our babies even more and make our lives a little easier.2. The 1st thing we noticed that was a good thing to have especially in the hospital was scratch mitts, newborns have no control over the movement of their arms and can scratch their faces which always makes them cry the 'really sad' cry
3. Gowns- these are life savers in the middle of the night when you are half asleep and you seem to find a defect in the sleeper of the 'extra' snap! All you have to do is pull them up and down for the diaper changes.
4. 'Handsies'- With gowns you get little fold over hand covers! Nearly all gowns that we have, have them as well as the 'newborn' Carter's sized clothes. This is also good for at night when the little Houdini's wriggle their little hands out of the burrito wrapping and could possibly wake themselves up by...scratching.
5. The Burrito Baby Wrap- Nope this isn't a great new food at Chipotle!! It's the wonderful way the nurses wrap your new package! LEARN it! USE IT! Swaddling has been proven to soothe fussy babies and helps reduce the 'startle' in the startle reflex. They sleep longer so you do! We have always just used normal receiving blankets, they have the new expensive wrap contraptions, they are just costly...you can have 4 receiving blankets for the price of 1 wrappy thingy...
6. Cloth Diapers- No, I'm not that 'green' but they are the BEST burp cloths, wide enough and long enough. And the more you wash them the softer they get! If you can't do plain white adding a little ribbon or embroidery makes them colorful & fun!
7. Boppy- I have one in every room I nurse in. They are not just for mommas! Daddy can use it to just be a little more comfortable while holding the baby, it also helps with big brother/sisters to be able to hold the baby with support. With all of the nursing that is done in the 1st year and beyond your arms do actually get tired.8. Nursing stool- I didn't get this until we had Michael- but it's reclined forcing you to sit back in the seat/couch as you nurse reducing the back strain that you will feel from nursing. Mine has a foot warmer too!
9. Baby Bijorn- there are lots of imitations but I swear by the brand- it is so wonderful super easy to put baby in and out! Michael lived in it and 
Anthony is too! When you don't want to fiddle with a stroller or just want to be hands free around the house. And babies love to be close and in motion. I got a blue jean one- not too girly, Brent will wear it.
Anthony is too! When you don't want to fiddle with a stroller or just want to be hands free around the house. And babies love to be close and in motion. I got a blue jean one- not too girly, Brent will wear it.10. McClaren- The best 'umbrella' stroller ever!! We have the Techno XT- VERY light weight folds easy with handle, lays all the way flat for newborns, the handles adjust to accommodate different heights (Daddy), comes with a rain cover (or plastic bag as I call them- good for rainy, windy or cold days) and a foot muff for cold days. We also have the Techno Double stroller- same functions as the single, but the seats are independent allowing for all ages to ride, when one is up and the other can lay flat. It's the width of a standard wheelchair so it can go everywhere a wheelchair can!
11. Pack n' Play- The ones with a changing station & bassinet are the most helpful and are used thru all the 1st year and beyond. We had and have a 2 story house and being a c-section mommy having a place the baby can sleep and be changed down stairs is a must...having a place for the baby to sleep in the room you spend the most time in is a bonus as well. And a play pen is good for when they are older to play & nap in. It gives them a safe place to play when you have to be in another room doing chores or housework.
12. Baby monitor- we have one with 2 receivers (one in our room & in a room where we can't hear the upstairs) It's nice to just have ears in the room when they are little and after a while when they wake up cooing and talking to themselves! Brent and I would lay in bed and listen to the babies babble, until they would yell for us to come get them! Also, you can listen for the sound of Velcro ripping when they are older and are taking their diapers off to make messes in the crib! (Oh, yes they do this! Michael finger painted!)
13. Convertible crib- You get much more use out of them if they can be used as a toddler bed. 
Philip used his crib for 5 years, Michael is still in his. Anthony is in Philip's crib now and will use it for a toddler bed. We have British Cot Beds so they only go into Toddler beds but some American cribs actually convert into full beds once they are ready for a big bed. I've even seen some that go into a twin bed as well.
Philip used his crib for 5 years, Michael is still in his. Anthony is in Philip's crib now and will use it for a toddler bed. We have British Cot Beds so they only go into Toddler beds but some American cribs actually convert into full beds once they are ready for a big bed. I've even seen some that go into a twin bed as well.14. A Lovey- it's comforting for the baby/toddler to have a constant that has familiar smells and a familiar touch. Our boys each have a blanket/stuffy lovey they are super soft and have bits of satin on them. I highly recommend buying 2 for a back up. They will attach to stuffed animals as they get older but the lovey will always be a favorite.
15. A Good Photographer/Good camera- these are the most important! To catch and preserve the precious moments of the 1st year and beyond. If the photographer is good they will take the time to get to know the baby and you will get the genuine smiles and sweetness! It's so great to live in the digital age...even though we lived across an ocean our family can see events that happened minutes ago in seconds! I have always tried to document to make sure grandparents/aunts/uncles etc... are apart of the boys life, even if it's in pictures. And don't worry about blinding them with the flash all of my boys have perfect vision! :0)
16. Breast Pump- this is up to the individual and the budget. I have the Avent Isis hand pump and have found it to work just fine for me. It's good to have once your milk comes in and the pain begins to relieve the pressure. And for when you start cereal to have milk on hand to mix with. Also, if you want others to help feed you can pump a bottle and have a break and having some in the freezer for back up if you are out and it's feeding time! The VIA system works great for storing and freezing milk. The Avent system is all interchangeable you can go from bottles to sippy cups with ease and use all with the pump.
17. Diaper Champ- MUCH better than the Diaper Genie! You use regular trash bags, and the only time you open it is when you are changing the bags so the smell is minimal.
18. A group of Girlfriends- they don't all have to be mommies too but it can help when you think that what just happened could have never happened to anyone else!! And to be able to hear that no it's normal! It's good to remember to take time a be a girl and with these girlfriends they will laugh with you in the peaks and help you in and thru the valleys.
19. A pretty nursing bra- I know it's silly but remember that you are a girl and once upon a time wore VS! And now your 'secrets' are leaking all over your shirt!! Not to mention the maternity panties!! It's nice to have nice pretty underclothes even when you are nursing and things are leaking everywhere! Plus, you wear a bra non stop mind as well make it pretty! Also, it's good to have good supportive nursing bras.
20. Bouncer/Swing- some place for the baby to hang out when you are not holding them! They sometimes just want to hang out with out anyone holding them. We have a bouncer that the boys loved and after the 3rd one got a swing because Anthony loves to be in motion. And sometimes the baby can't be bijorned...ie. cooking/bathing. these are your helpers.21. A good baby sitter- or an adopted Grandma. Sometimes you need to go out. Having a teenager or one of your girlfriends that can come give you a break is priceless. And plus, it's important to go on dates with your honey!
22. A reference guide- I love What to Expect the 1st Year (I have the entire series) and use it all the time! It's good to read all the way thru or read as you go...
23. A (good) pediatrician- You should be able to talk to them openly about worries and feel that they heard you and are willing to help or offer advise. If your baby likes them it's a good sign! We have been blessed to have great docs for our boys!
24. Little Luxuries- my boys love their chamois sheets, blankets and bumper. Babies love soft things and it's nice to indulge and watch them smile! Also, nappy sacks, they aren't very 'green' but if you are at a friends house or out you can put your dirty diaper in the scented sack and dispose of it in regular trash without clearing the room.
25. Diaper Bag- a good one can be hard to find, my favorite is from Land's End I think it's called the Do-It-All Diaper Bag, it opens up like a doctors bag very roomy and is bright blue on the inside so you can see things. It holds plenty it's good for 1-3 kids! We have back up stuff for Philip and Michael as well as the essentials for Anthony in it.
Prayer! Pray! PRAY! In the good praise, in the ugly pray. Don't stop! It's also a little time that you can take for you and your Father to be still and quite and know that he is God and that you won't be given anything you can't handle. When I'm having a hard time (they will come, I have had my share and know that there will be more) after talking sometimes arguing with God I always come out renewed and refreshed. And know that while you pray others pray for you and your little one as well!
