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I agree with the others that the first six weeks are kind of a blur. If you're planning to breastfeed you'll be spending a lot of that time nursing to establish your supply. So I would for sure get Netflix if you don't have it already as well as some snacks that are easily eaten with one hand. I would also have the name of a good LC in case you run into any BFing challenges. I also made a ton of freezer meals before DD was born and those were a godsend.

I'm in Canada and am four months into a yearlong mat leave. It's wonderful in its own right, but I wouldn't plan on using it to "do" anything other than love on your baby. Babies have a way of taking over your whole life and forcing you to live on their terms

I hope this doesn't sound discouraging, it's not meant to!

Total blur here as well. I wouldn't recommend planning anything, honestly. Just take it a day at a time, and as you feel better, you can reevaluate and maybe start taking your LO to a park or out to dinner with y'all. Despite how much a newborn sleeps, I had very little free time. Just enjoy your LO, enjoy having so much time home with your DH, and take lots of pictures!

I had 5 months off....the first month was a blur. The last 3 months were the best of my life! I got out every single day and I think that made it fun - usually an outing and a walk. At that age they are so portable and sleep anywhere

Just enjoy it! It goes by so fast. You can't spoil a newborn, so just soak up every minute

For us, freezer meals were great. We also limited visitors so that we could get into some semblance of a routine without worrying about picking up the house or looking presentable for company. People were very understanding.

@Vegmama: That's great that you will have 6 weeks off together. My DH took 6 weeks where he only worked on fridays and it was really great. We had a really really difficult newborn (let me just say we were never both sitting down at the same time, someone was always bouncing the baby) and I really needed the extra help.

Having all that time also helped us form a really nice foundation as new parents. Because neither one of us was going to work we really embraced the baby care tasks equally. Basically I nursed the baby and DH did everything else To this day he is the best diaper changer and bath giver in the house. I have people comment on what an involved dad he is all the time and I really think that first 6 weeks was a great beginning. I was a mess with pp hormones and bf struggles and he was the master of baby care. I wouldn't say that those 6 weeks were enjoyable but they were a very important beginning for our new family!

@vegmama: That's wonderful that you and DH will have so much time off together. It will make it so much easier for you, too. Like many others have said, I wouldn't worry about planning things now. I expected maternity leave to be kind of like retirement - HA! Prepare to be sleep deprived, physically exhausted and that your baby will basically be a bump on a log (for some reason I thought I'd be able to play with my DS right away). If you BF, those nursing sessions in the first months can be long and your LO will probably fall asleep on you, so have entertainment (easy-to-read-with-one-hand book, laptop, smart phone, Netflix, etc) nearby, as well as lots of water. Keep snacks by your bed in case you get hungry during late night feedings. I hope this isn't too negative. It is difficult, but wonderful, too, and you will amaze yourself with how much love you feel for your LO. Yes, enjoy every moment because it goes by fast, but if you can't (I couldn't; I had PPD), that's okay, too. You will survive the newborn phase and around 3 months have a bubbly, full-of-personality baby to enjoy. Good luck!