Nesting, PCS Style: Our Non-Traditional Baby Prep

You know what I’m really good at? Like, Olympic-level good? Homemaking. It’s one of those unsharpened resume skills that won’t get you hired but should. If homemaking had a varsity team, I’d at least qualify for regionals.

I rock the trad-wife stuff — baking, sewing, cleaning (a newly acquired skill thanks to Morgan's pregnancy). But I also do the “dude jobs” — woodworking, pest control, home maintenance, landscaping. I know I sound like I’m bragging… because I am. This is my thing. While my badass, pregnant, active-duty Marine Corps wife is working 60+ hours a week, I’ve got to be excellent at something. Enter: homemaking, traditional and non-traditional.

And after moving nearly 20 times since I was 18, I’ve learned how to create “home” anywhere.

Naturally, nesting ignites my SOUL. I’ve been dreaming of it — creating a safe, cozy, intentional space for our growing family. I’ve logged hours on Pinterest combing through nursery setups, toddler-friendly layouts, Montessori designs. To me, home is where stability begins. It’s where everyone should feel safe, seen, and able to express themselves.

Ever since we moved into our sweet little cottage here in SoCal, I’ve poured so much into this space — building custom furniture, creating corners of comfort, and slowly designing a home for our future child. To say I’m a nesting enthusiast would be the understatement of the century.

But you know how the song goes:“You can’t always get what you want… but if you try sometimes…”

Well, you find out the nesting plan looks a little different when you’re moving to the other side of the world while pregnant.

I’ve had to let go of some of my vision — the mural I was going to paint, the drapery I was going to sew, the crib I wanted to build (enter Ron Swanson phase). And instead, I’ve made space for new imagery: Morgan and I snuggled up in bed with our newborn in our matching PJs. Walks through our sunny California neighborhood have been replaced by daily deep-dives into Okinawa Google Maps, searching for our next home.

This process is messy. It’s confusing. It’s chaotic. But we’re doing it — one decision at a time.

Morgan has this saying:

“There are glass balls and there are rubber balls. You’re juggling both. You have to decide which are glass — the ones that can’t drop — and which ones will bounce if they fall.”

Right now, our glass balls are simple: Morgan’s health. Baby’s health. Everything else will buff.

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Our Not-So-Typical Baby Shower

One of the more non-traditional things we did? We had our baby shower at 18 weeks. Most people wait until 24–32 weeks… but we didn’t have that luxury. Two days after our shower, our home was packed up and shipped across the Pacific. We won’t see those baby gifts again until weeks to months after arrival.

So how did we plan a registry that early — even before we knew the gender? Easy: I started researching at 11 weeks and had the registry prepped by week 12. By then, we were already planning a combo Farewell Party + Baby Shower for late May.

Was it stressful? Oh, absolutely. The early weeks of pregnancy are delicate. And while we tried to keep it low-key, planning anything in the first trimester (or just after) adds an emotional layer, especially for the carrying mom.

Now, at 21+ weeks, Morgan and baby are thriving. We’ve got an active little dude in there, kicking and stretching like he’s training for a soccer league. And even though I haven’t gotten to nest the way I imagined, I’m proud of the way we pivoted — and of what we chose to prioritize.

The Must-Ship List for Okinawa

Here’s what we knew we needed to send in our household goods (HHG) or unaccompanied baggage (UB). These are based on days of YouTube deep-dives and tips from the many Facebook groups I joined.

American-Style Furniture

Bigger, sturdier pieces (bed frames, dressers, dining sets) are harder to find on the island. If you want U.S.-sized furniture, ship it.

Area Rugs

Large rugs are rare in Okinawa. I wouldn’t have thought of this one if it weren’t for multiple posts about nursery and living room setups.

Car Seat + Stroller

We went with the Nuna travel system. Can’t review it yet — we haven’t unboxed it — but it came highly recommended and we didn’t want to risk not having it when we arrived.

Crib

We chose one that will grow with our little guy throughout our time in Japan. Hopefully, we can avoid buying a toddler bed later.

Dehumidifier

Humidity in Okinawa is no joke. Some folks say you can find them there, but others suggest bringing your own. We packed one just in case.

Rocking Chair

Apparently, these are hard to find — and in high demand. Whether we use it every day or not, it’s coming with us. At the very least, we can pass it along to another family (or sell it for a profit!).

So there you have it — our starter registry, built before most people even announce their pregnancy. It’s not traditional. It’s not ideal. But it’s ours.

And maybe that’s what nesting is really about — not the space itself, but the love, preparation, and intention behind it.