Baby Arrival Game Plan

My due date is only two months away; let the “nesting” begin.  Nesting is an uncontrollable urge to clean, organize, and tie up loose ends to old projects brought on by a desire to prepare a “nest” for the new baby.  Understandably my unique and seemingly irrational behaviors have been driving my poor husband nuts.

As I prepare for my second baby I am reminded how difficult it was to find time to eat, let alone find time to make a meal.  Even finding time to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich was tricky while holding a cute but demanding baby.  So as I nest, I’m creating a “baby arrival game plan.”  As part of my game plan I came up with a detailed grocery list, menu plans, and freezer meals.

Grocery List. I have used a grocery list “form” for years but decided I needed to make it more user friendly so that others (if needed) can help with some shopping. I am not above asking for help this time around. So hence I came up with the “Miller Family Grocery List.” I tried to develop my shopping list based on the layout of the grocery store making it easier to get in and out of the grocery store as efficiently as possible. To adapt my grocery list to meet the needs of your family click here:  create your own grocery list.

Menu Plan. Over time I have come up with a variety of dinner menus (nothing fancy, for example I will just jot down dinner ideas on a sticky note and post it on the fridge). After the week is up I place the menu in a recipe box and eventually re-use them. When meal planning I start by planning dinners and work the leftover items into lunch.

Freezer Meals. When cooking I have started to double recipes, such as enchiladas, spaghetti pie, and manicotti and freeze the second batch. Having freezer meals on hand after the baby is born will make feeding our family fast and less stressful.

My plan (feel free to laugh at my over-organizing, I do) will with any luck make it easier for my husband to help shop for groceries and get meals on the table.  Pregnant or not, I hope these ideas will help you devise a game plan for getting meals on the table in a stress free and nutritious manner.