Over the weekend we placed the order for the nursery furniture. The first major baby purchase we've made. I'm pretty excited about it and shocked that we were able to find it in our price range. I'm not quite sure why it's so hard to find a crib and dresser/changing table in the $200 to $300 each range, but dang it was nye impossible. I would fall in love with these nursery sets that would have the crib, dresser and say another piece to complete the ensemble and they were ridiculously priced. (Okay, they were nice so maybe I shouldn't say that their prices were ridiculous...they were ridiculously outside of my budget!)
Insert my Baby Bargains book to the rescue and voila we have our furniture! I found a local baby store in the book that I never heard of before and it was named a top 21 store in the nation based on their reviews. So, I checked them out and found a crib, dresser and armoire for great prices! We basically saved about $1300. The armoire alone was $600-800 off!
I know you so want to see it don't you?
Here you go!
Fun Stuff - Registries
I've been working on my registries, which of course a lot is missing until we know what this baby is. Marvy and I suspect that it's a girl, although we really have no evidence to show for it! There are great things about either gender. Marvy, his brother and one cousin are the only males of his generation. Having a son would allow for his last name to carry on a little longer. I was the oldest and I always wanted an older brother...so having a boy would mean that our other children would have the same benefit has Marvy's siblings a great older brother. Marvy loves the idea of a little me. He sees this photo below of me and he thinks it's just the cutest little baby in the whole world. So he wants one just like her he says.
I've picked a few options in the way of bedding. One for a boy and one for a girl. Check it out and let me know which version do you think will be in our nursery.
Something I realized after the fact for the girl bedding is that it's a bird theme...which matches my blog header and the mama bird analogy I've used on this blog before. Thought that was kinda neat.
Fun Stuff - Operation Preparation
I have had a few experiences that motivate how I want this pregnancy and birth to go. My cousin, (She's the one in the photo with me above!) had three of her children at home with midwives and I learned much about childbirth through her. Then when I was 18, I had the privilege of being a labor partner for a friend who's boyfriend flaked and her mom turned into a basket case. I was called in to help totally unprepared I helped her the best I could through her labor. Then I was the one in the cesarean surgery room with her when the doctors needed to preform the c-section. Wearing scrubs and holding a video camera, I was there through the whole thing. Lastly, my neighbor across the street went into the labor and was planning a home birth. Her husband was a mess, and the midwives didn't get there in time. After the fact we realized she was in active labor for only an hour. I ended up being the one to catch her son. They put me on the birth certificate with the title of "Midwife-in-Training".
So I've seen home births, midwife births, and hospital births with first hand experiences. I've decided the right fit for me is a hospital birth with a midwife. We will have the assistance of a doula. A lovely gal who strangely reminds me a lot of me. She's short, brunette with freckles. But mostly she's highly knowledgeable, patient and empathetic. I'm really looking forward to working with her. We have Bra.dley classes starting in about three weeks. The Bra.dley method includes 12 weeks of classes. Which seem kinda crazy at first, but if you think about it, it's more like entering a training program than simply "birth classes".
A book that I've read and liked it so much I'm actually reading through it again this time with Marvy is by Erica Lyon called "The Big Book of Birth". I highly recommend this book. It covers the three labor stages with great information that can help empower woman to understand what is happening and be able to advocate for their own care. Operation Preparation is in full swing!
Fun Stuff - Dinner & Dancing
Marvy and I both work for a financial institution...just in different parts of the company. Our company is hosting a black tie client event on Wednesday and the person slotted to go to this just recently had a baby and he and his wife were just not able to go. My awesome boss selected me (and by default Marvy!) to attend the event and I couldn't be more excited. I get to put on a fancy dress, Marvy gets to wear his black suit and tie and we get to go to downtown at the Rit.z Ca.rlton for this event. This may be one of the last nights like this one in a long, long, long time. I plan on taking full advantage of it. (Well, guess I have to skip the wine...shucks!) I'll post the photo afterwards!
Just One Little Bummer - Baby Shower
I don't have a lot of close family, both logistical and emotionally. My mom is in Guatemala so I only see her once a year when she comes for Christmas. I'm very close with my MIL and I'm lucky to have a great relationship with my in laws. One of her drawbacks however is a little forethought in certain things. There was a cousin who sent my MIL a wedding invitation fully intending on her to pass the invite along to the rest of us in our family to go. And when we suggested to her that we should go to, she said that we couldn't because we didn't have a personal invite. Of course after she returned from the wedding she reported that everyone wondered why we weren't there. When my SIL had her baby shower that my MIL attended (co-hosted by my other SIL) it didn't occur to her at all that maybe I should have had an invitation too. And not because of the infertility thing. She just didn't think about it. She was confused when Marvy told her that it made me sad. "Why would she go?"
Marvy and I had an idea that it would be great to have a family shower or get together of some sort with his family and the 4 people in my family who would come. We thought we could even have it after the baby was born so that way it could be more like a family reunion of sorts and everyone could meet the baby.
While I was at the baby store deciding on which organic foam mattress to select to go with our crib, he decided to step outside and talk to his mom about the shower/get together. She pretty much shot it down to pieces. She didn't think anyone would be willing to drive to her city and get a hotel for something like that. She just couldn't see it working. The thing is I know of 11 family members that would do everything in their power to go, and about a dozen more that could feasibly be there. They are in her city pretty regularly and I'm sure for something like this they would make their best effort to go. But in her mind she would never go...so she doesn't see that other's would.
It's sad because that means that the only people we can count on to do something for us are our friends and co-workers. Seems kind of wrong that we can't count on family for something like this? Don't get the wrong message here it's not a materialistic/stuff standpoint...it's more of family support aspect. I know that it could come across the wrong way. And I can't figure out how to explain it very well.
Marvy was really disappointed with his mom. He was very sweet and said that I deserved better than that. If the tables were turned I'd go out of my way to get people together. And he was going to make sure that when it came to our kids they would have a different experience than this.
Anywho...lot's of GOOD and FUN stuff to focus on until Oct. 9th when we find out what kind of frijole we're going to have!
I've been working on my registries, which of course a lot is missing until we know what this baby is. Marvy and I suspect that it's a girl, although we really have no evidence to show for it! There are great things about either gender. Marvy, his brother and one cousin are the only males of his generation. Having a son would allow for his last name to carry on a little longer. I was the oldest and I always wanted an older brother...so having a boy would mean that our other children would have the same benefit has Marvy's siblings a great older brother. Marvy loves the idea of a little me. He sees this photo below of me and he thinks it's just the cutest little baby in the whole world. So he wants one just like her he says.
I've picked a few options in the way of bedding. One for a boy and one for a girl. Check it out and let me know which version do you think will be in our nursery.
Something I realized after the fact for the girl bedding is that it's a bird theme...which matches my blog header and the mama bird analogy I've used on this blog before. Thought that was kinda neat.
Fun Stuff - Operation Preparation
I have had a few experiences that motivate how I want this pregnancy and birth to go. My cousin, (She's the one in the photo with me above!) had three of her children at home with midwives and I learned much about childbirth through her. Then when I was 18, I had the privilege of being a labor partner for a friend who's boyfriend flaked and her mom turned into a basket case. I was called in to help totally unprepared I helped her the best I could through her labor. Then I was the one in the cesarean surgery room with her when the doctors needed to preform the c-section. Wearing scrubs and holding a video camera, I was there through the whole thing. Lastly, my neighbor across the street went into the labor and was planning a home birth. Her husband was a mess, and the midwives didn't get there in time. After the fact we realized she was in active labor for only an hour. I ended up being the one to catch her son. They put me on the birth certificate with the title of "Midwife-in-Training".
So I've seen home births, midwife births, and hospital births with first hand experiences. I've decided the right fit for me is a hospital birth with a midwife. We will have the assistance of a doula. A lovely gal who strangely reminds me a lot of me. She's short, brunette with freckles. But mostly she's highly knowledgeable, patient and empathetic. I'm really looking forward to working with her. We have Bra.dley classes starting in about three weeks. The Bra.dley method includes 12 weeks of classes. Which seem kinda crazy at first, but if you think about it, it's more like entering a training program than simply "birth classes".
A book that I've read and liked it so much I'm actually reading through it again this time with Marvy is by Erica Lyon called "The Big Book of Birth". I highly recommend this book. It covers the three labor stages with great information that can help empower woman to understand what is happening and be able to advocate for their own care. Operation Preparation is in full swing!
Fun Stuff - Dinner & Dancing
Marvy and I both work for a financial institution...just in different parts of the company. Our company is hosting a black tie client event on Wednesday and the person slotted to go to this just recently had a baby and he and his wife were just not able to go. My awesome boss selected me (and by default Marvy!) to attend the event and I couldn't be more excited. I get to put on a fancy dress, Marvy gets to wear his black suit and tie and we get to go to downtown at the Rit.z Ca.rlton for this event. This may be one of the last nights like this one in a long, long, long time. I plan on taking full advantage of it. (Well, guess I have to skip the wine...shucks!) I'll post the photo afterwards!
Just One Little Bummer - Baby Shower
I don't have a lot of close family, both logistical and emotionally. My mom is in Guatemala so I only see her once a year when she comes for Christmas. I'm very close with my MIL and I'm lucky to have a great relationship with my in laws. One of her drawbacks however is a little forethought in certain things. There was a cousin who sent my MIL a wedding invitation fully intending on her to pass the invite along to the rest of us in our family to go. And when we suggested to her that we should go to, she said that we couldn't because we didn't have a personal invite. Of course after she returned from the wedding she reported that everyone wondered why we weren't there. When my SIL had her baby shower that my MIL attended (co-hosted by my other SIL) it didn't occur to her at all that maybe I should have had an invitation too. And not because of the infertility thing. She just didn't think about it. She was confused when Marvy told her that it made me sad. "Why would she go?"
Marvy and I had an idea that it would be great to have a family shower or get together of some sort with his family and the 4 people in my family who would come. We thought we could even have it after the baby was born so that way it could be more like a family reunion of sorts and everyone could meet the baby.
While I was at the baby store deciding on which organic foam mattress to select to go with our crib, he decided to step outside and talk to his mom about the shower/get together. She pretty much shot it down to pieces. She didn't think anyone would be willing to drive to her city and get a hotel for something like that. She just couldn't see it working. The thing is I know of 11 family members that would do everything in their power to go, and about a dozen more that could feasibly be there. They are in her city pretty regularly and I'm sure for something like this they would make their best effort to go. But in her mind she would never go...so she doesn't see that other's would.
It's sad because that means that the only people we can count on to do something for us are our friends and co-workers. Seems kind of wrong that we can't count on family for something like this? Don't get the wrong message here it's not a materialistic/stuff standpoint...it's more of family support aspect. I know that it could come across the wrong way. And I can't figure out how to explain it very well.
Marvy was really disappointed with his mom. He was very sweet and said that I deserved better than that. If the tables were turned I'd go out of my way to get people together. And he was going to make sure that when it came to our kids they would have a different experience than this.
Anywho...lot's of GOOD and FUN stuff to focus on until Oct. 9th when we find out what kind of frijole we're going to have!
