You are about to begin the ride of your life. You might be busting with excitement to finally hold your newborn baby or cringing at the thought of being responsible for this new little life. You would love to have the birth experience over and done with, but are enjoying the last few weeks of peace and quiet. There are so many emotions that go along with becoming a new parent. Embrace your hormones and recognize that what you are experiencing is totally normal. Every woman has a different pregnancy experience. The one thing that we all have in common is the excitement and anticipation when preparing a home for this new little baby.

Whether you know the gender or not, the baby needs somewhere to sleep. Their nursery is where they will spend most of their time for the first year. Put some thought into making the baby bedroom as cozy and practical as possible.

Decide on your crib. The latest trend is the convertible crib. These can be used for an infant, all the way up to an adult double bed. These are typically more expensive than your average crib but well worth the money. If the budget allows, a solid wood crib can be stripped and re-stained. You will want to protect the crib from all the abuse it will get over the years. A great idea is Crib Wrap Rail Covers (available at babybeddingandbags.com). They are lightly padded covers that tie onto your crib rails to prevent damage like teeth marks or stains from oily hands. They also add a nice finishing touch to your baby’s crib.

Choosing the bedding and nursery accessories can be either fun or frustrating. You might find the design you like, but it is poor quality. You might find a nice crib blanket, but can’t find the sheets that match. It takes time to pull it all together.

Neutral with a splash of color is a great way to go, especially if you don’t know the gender of your baby. Go with beautiful white, cream or brown tones and add the accessories after the birth. This way, you feel prepared enough to bring your baby home but are not left with a bunch of yellow and greens that won’t match anything you buy later on. There are numerous people who don’t know the gender and they prepare themselves with all kinds of neutral colored blankets and pajamas. Guess which ones never get used...?

Knowing the gender makes it a lot easier. Some people find that preparing for their boy or girl is more rewarding than experiencing a surprise. It is obviously much easier to prepare but it still takes some thought. Is this baby bedding going to be used for a couple of years?

Some bedding sets look amazing for a newborn baby, but would it suit a toddler? There are so many themes and patterns available, you are sure to find something that will suit your needs.

Online shopping is perfect for this type of thing. It saves a lot of time and gives plenty of ideas. It’s also great because you can find all the matching accessories in one place.

If the nursery is small, use the space wisely. Use practical accessories to decorate with. You can find laundry hampers and storage boxes that match your bedding. Toy bags are an adorable way to display stuffed toys without using valuable shelf space. You can also store your diapers in a matching diaper stacker. There are numerous ways to decorate in a strategic way so that it serves a dual purpose.

Enjoy the rest of your pregnancy. All the effort that goes into preparing your baby’s "nest" is well worth it. There is a satisfying feeling when you finally show your newborn baby, Home Sweet Home.