Although I gave birth to both my children in a hospital, my experience with hospital bags is fairly limited. The first time, I was sent directly from a routine prenatal exam to L&D—with nothing packed and ready to go, so I made a quick pitstop at a drugstore on the way there in order to buy a TOOTHBRUSH (I don't know why I was convinced the hospital wouldn't have an extra). The second time, which was a scheduled C-section, I really only packed the basics: books for the recovery room, an outfit for the baby, a few toiletries, and some baggy clothes for me.

Oh, and a hairdryer, because I remembered how re-humanizing it felt to wash and dry my hair after spending like 48 hours in bed.

Which is all to say, Elena's all-encompassing hospital bag(s!) documented on her Art of Making a Baby blog is pretty foreign to me. But even stranger: the outpouring of comments from total strangers who seem downright irritated by her packing list.

Khloe Kardashian is over-the-moon excited for the arrival of her first niece. Her sister Kourtney is due in a few weeks, and Khloe has big plans for the little princess.

At Kourtney's recent baby shower she told Us Weekly, "I have bought Kourt's daughter so many tutus. All I want to do is dip my niece in glitter and put a tutu on her!"

How adorable would that be? You know, if there was some kind of organic, non-choking-hazard type of glitter. I absolutely understand Khloe's dreams of dressing her niece in all that glitters, but I also find them a little concerning ... and not because I think she'd actually dip the baby in glitter. (She wouldn't really, would she?)

I have a confession. I hate the way baby "stuff" looks. I know, not really convenient for a woman who is about to have her first child -- and who lives in a one-bedroom apartment. The fluffy chairs, all the plastic, and the pink (oh, gawd, the pink). It's so not my style. And, as far as I'm concerned, right now, my style is my unborn daughter's style. And it will be until she's at least old enough to, you know, talk.

In anticipation of her arrival (and out of my love for interior design), I've started decorating her room. AKA the nursery. AKA the little nook in our railroad apartment that was formerly (and formally) our dining room. And, so far, I'm happy to report that it is possible to have a child's room that isn't so, well, childish.

Being that I live in a one-bedroom apartment and clutter gives me an anxiety like no other, I've vowed to not go crazy buying my baby "stuff." When I was a newborn back in the day, I don't think my mother purchased items like diaper wipe warmers and bottle sterilizers. And you know what? I turned out in one piece! Truth be told, if I had a bigger place, it might be another story, but as long as my husband, baby, and I are residing in about 800 square feet, less is more.

There are certain items I won't go without, of course. And with the risk of sounding snooty, I won't skimp on these items either. From what I hear, and from what common sense tells me, it's just not worth it. Here are five baby items I plan on splurging on.

Truly one of the most daunting things I've had to deal with thus far in my pregnancy is figuring out what to register for (I'm lucky, I know). My experience with babies and infants is scant, and my knowledge of baby "stuff" is virtually non-existent. So, of course, when it came time to put together a list of stuff my little one and I will need, I had an influx of (welcome) advice.

Most of the suggestions were invaluable. I'm now schooled in the various types of swaddling blankets, and I'm 100 percent confident in the stroller I've decided to go with. But, in spite of my lack of knowledge, based solely on common sense, other things just don't seem all that necessary. In fact, they seem completely superfluous, particularly for a person who lives in a one-bedroom apartment. Here are five items I refuse to register for.

Parents of new babies born into our world of technology are given the opportunity to have their baby's every waking breath and thought recorded, reported and assessed in every way. For neurotic parents who used to just keep a written log, this is a great thing, something we might consider progress. But for most parents, by the time the "new" has worn off and your baby is four months old or so, you ought to be able to venture out of the house without carrying an iPhone link to your baby's crib.

The problem with technology is the more we use it, the more dependent we become and the more neurotic we become as a result. Take a product like the one from Withings that is a baby scale that links to your iPhone. It seems ingenious, right? For parents like me, who had underweight babies, this would have been a godsend five years ago.

If you're currently pondering the benefits of babywearing and wondering if a sling is the right thing for your family, watching the following video may just seal the deal for you. After seeing it, you may feel compelled to run, not walk, to your local baby store and register for one or just scoop one up then and there.

In the video, this subtly sexy Norwegian guy gives a demonstration on how to wear a baby sling. Without any words, he shows how to do it step-by-step from start to finish. It's actually as useful as it is entertaining to watch.

I for one am really excited for Jessica Simpson. She! Is! Having! A! Baby!! It got kind of annoying when people were begging her to just admit it when photos surfaced or her belly looking a little filled out. Let a woman announce her pregnancy her way! And what a beautiful way it was -- dressed up in a mummy costume with her declaring the rumors were true. How sweet!

Why I am so protective over a celebrity I never met, I will never know. I wasn't even a fan of her music, but I did watch her on Newlyweds and found her quite endearing when she burped and was confused about Chicken of the Sea. So I'm going to throw her a little virtual baby shower, which of course has some great ideas for any mama-to-be. I went to my friend Lindsay, owner of the adorable online shop Darling Clementine, for some of her picks.