Calling All Mothers

I helped my mom take care of my younger siblings. I used to babysit infants and small children all the time. I used to work with infants and small children in a daycare on a daily basis. I've taught middle and high school students. I have all of this experience and yet I have a sneaking suspicion that it won't be enough.

I have no real experience as a mother - therefore I don't exactly know what I'm getting into. So when the baby comes (via stork):
I know that there will be certain things about motherhood and babies that I have never even considered.

That's just the way it is. I accept that.

And all of that (limited) experience that I have working with kids at school? It means that I come into contact everyday with a lot of screwed up, misbehaving knuckleheads...

What if my child turns out like that?? I can't let that happen. Then another teacher out there will have to deal with them because I screwed up or didn't say no or in someway was inconsistent with discipline or spoiled them rotten... Then all those times I curse a kids' parents in my head will come back to bite me.

Maybe I should just start the scolding now? It's not like baby (turtle?) is going anywhere.

My mother-in-law keeps reminding me that I'm going to have to start putting together a baby registry for the baby shower soon - like in the next month or so kind of soon.

I'm not ready.

I don't know what I need.

There are hundreds of things! Or is that thousands?

Not only that, but I don't even know where I should register!

Target? Bed Bath & Beyond? Babies-R-Us? Oodles of Doodles Baby Outfitters? (Ok, I made that last one up - but I bet it exists!)

Bed Bath & Beyond has a terrific check list of suggested items for new mothers - but some of the stuff on there has got to be bogus and unnecessary...



What the heck is an auto mirror and why are DVDs on the baby checklist? Should babies wait until they are at least 1 or 2 before they start watching tv?


Why do babies have shoes? Do they need shoes? It's not as though they will be walking around? Can't we just put socks on their little feet?Should the baby even have a pacifier? What are the pros and cons? Maybe I should google that... Is it bad that my husband is rubbing off on me and I think these pacifiers are funny? Mostly just the pig snout and the buck teeth... I'm a bad person!
So, I've decided that I don't have to come up with all of this on my own. I'll just ask the ladies out there with experience.

I'm calling all mothers to aid me in developing a list for a registry.

What items would you consider to be essential to motherhood and the fantastically scary world of babies? What things would you, as a mother, never, ever leave home without? What kept you sane at 3 am when your baby needed a quick meal?

I need to know. Help?!