Registry Hell

I haven't posted in a couple of weeks. Work has been super stressful and we had some family concerns. But thanks to the folks who have gotten in touch encouraging me to keep blogging! I appreciate the support!!!! I definitely plan to keep this up.

Also the part of my brain dedicated to baby/pregnancy thoughts and activities has been consumed by figuring out my registry. Let me just be clear... I HATE putting this registry together. I would rather deal with my growing hemorrhoids than with what kind of layettes to pick out. See I'm the type of person that does not enjoy shopping. I rarely go to the mall and I only go inside a store if I need something specific. And the stores I visit have to be organized. Those designer discount stores like TJ Maxx or Marshalls scare me. Even dept. stores like Macy's and H&M freak me out. Everything is thrown together, there is no rhythm or reason to how the clothes are set up and if you don't go at 9am on a weekday there are too many people and it is hot inside. This is the feeling I have been getting when even sitting at my laptop attempting to work on my registry online.

My biggest issue has been - what do I actually need to register for? I have no idea how big the baby will be when he or she is born so really not sure if I need newborn size or 0-3 months. Every crib or dresser the hubby does research on has complaints about the quality of the wood - why would I buy shitty quality furniture? There are a billion strollers and of course the one I like is $900. Do I really need a wipee warmer, diaper genie or changing table? And how am I supposed to know what kind of nipples for the bottles or diapers the baby will take to now? It's like deciding the baby's major for college 18 years early.

This whole process is giving me anxiety. The only thing stopping me from making a "personal shopping consultant" appointment at Buy Buy Baby is that I hate being sold to and that is what I feel they will do. For example, last night I finally bit the bullet and went shopping for a pair maternity jeans at Pea in Pod/Modern Maternity. The 1st two sales ladies I ran into tried to push $200 jeans on me and told me that if I wanted soft skinny jeans that was all they had. An hour later, surprise! I walked out with 2 pairs of jeans each costing 40 bucks that she happened to find somewhere in the back.

I could go on and on about how the Business of Being Born (great documentary by the way if you are open to learning about natural birth and how giving birth in America - specifically in NYC - is all a business and not about you or your baby) should go beyond the birthing experience. The racket starts from pregnancy and follows you the whole way through. It is like getting caught up in wedding spending but worse. When you over spend on a wedding you aren't doing it because someone is telling you that your gown has the highest safety rating so you don't risk hurting yourself walking down the aisle. But talk to me about how the $900 stroller has a car seat that exceeds all US safety ratings and I pull out the Amex. Bottom line I want the best for my baby and that is my Achilles heel. I mean if I could justify purchasing thousand dollar handbags throughout my twenties because I told myself Gucci will last forever, how can I scoff at the best ergonomic organic carrier for my baby or a crib made of solid wood that converts into three different pieces of furniture? See, I don't need a sales person, I'm fine selling myself.