I have been spending some time recently putting together baby stuff all in one place so I have easy access to it. :-) Paul and I decided on a special Bible verse that we’re using for this baby and the nursery, etc.:

“He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young.”
– Isaiah 40:11

Perhaps we’ll also give Sparkleberry her own special verse when she’s born, to keep with her as she grows up. I like that idea, don’t you? We’ll have to ponder that. This verse speaks to us as we’re becoming parents, which is scary in and of itself but combine that with general fears about the economy and our nation, and the nations around us. It’s a comforting verse I think. And it mentions lambs.

For those who are interested, I made a website for baby updates! You can get to it by clicking the “Baby Sparkleberry” link on the right. I’ve included the basic information about the baby, as well as links to blog posts and also my Flickr photo album. This might be more interesting once Sparkleberry is born. ;-) For those of you who like those countdown/tickers, I included one at the end of the the page that I found recently and really like. It’s too big for my sidebar but it looks nice there.

Another thing I included was links to our registries! I have been working the past few days on getting them to a more realistic level. Before, I went to the store and scanned anything I liked. Now, I’ve removed the stuff that’s cute but impractical. :-p I’ve done a lot of reading of reviews and I hope I’ve picked the right brands! It’s hard to know what I’m going to need and what my baby is going to like. I emailed 5 friends who have kids and asked their advice, which really helped. I’ve actually combined all five of their emails into one blog post! :-) So that will come later, if you’re interested in seeing what they thought.

I have a few questions for my mommy readers out there! :-)
– Slings: I know I want to try a sling. I know there’s a lot out there. So, where do I start? Should I have several different kinds before the baby’s here? Should I have one and then get more as the baby grows? What kinds are good and what makes them different from other slings? How do I avoid getting a sling that is bad for the baby’s posture and/or bad for mommy’s back? What can I get for Paul to carry the baby around?
– Strollers: I registered for a car seat. It also has a stroller that it can snap into. Is it a good idea to get that? Or should I get a more compact (and cheaper!) umbrella stroller, and only have that? Some of the online reviews said that umbrella strollers weren’t good for more than short walks. Would perhaps an umbrella stroller + a jogging stroller be good for us?
– Thermometers: One friend told me to be sure to get an under-the-arm thermometer. Then I read something else that said the most accurate/reliable is the in-your-ear kind. Then I did a google search and another site told me that rectal thermometers are the most accurate. And of course I see all sorts of ones at the stores that are essentially thermometers in pacifiers. So, who is right? Which is the most accurate? Which should I get?
– Bottles: I’m planning to breastfeed, but I wonder if it would be a good idea to have some bottles and a breast pump. I am thinking of for things like Sunday School, church, and Bible Study. I might end up choosing to always having the baby with me, but also knowing myself I can see myself wanting a break. :-) Any ideas for basic baby bottles that might be good for this purpose? Would a manual pump be enough, or should I spring for a nicer one? I have no idea how often I will use it – could be not at all, could be weekly.

Okay that’s all for now. My mom says I think about things too much. :-)