Let's talk $$

Having a baby does NOT have to cost thousands of dollars. In fact, you can get most everything you want for your baby (yes, name brand things)without EVER paying full price. I repeat, DO NOT EVER pay full price for baby things. If you feel comfortable buying things off craigslist, this is a great place to start. Often, people sell their baby things that have been used for ONE child for maybe 6 or less months. Read: Brand new. For usually around 50% off. Stores like Once Upon a Child are also useful in finding gently used baby things. If you're not comfortable or really want new things for your baby, you can find those, too! You have to find the sales and most of all, BE PATIENT. Here's a few examples of deals I (my mom) has scored. We are deal fiends!

Chicco Keyfit 30 carseat

Currently selling on Amazon for: $190

I bought for: $113

HOW? Target's semi-annual baby sale. The carseat was 30% off, bringing down the total to $133. But wait! I also had a $20 off $100 coupon on baby things at target. That brought my total down to $113.

 I saved 60% on a brand new carseat.

Babysuite 300 deluxe

Selling on Amazon for $90

I bought for: $25

HOW!? My mom was scouring the clearance aisles at target and found it selling for $25. Why? It was an, "online only" purchase. These are AMAZING finds at target. What it means is that someone bought this online, then returned it to the store. However, they don't sell it in the store, so it automatically gets marked down.

I saved 72% on a pack n play

Carter's Cotton Zip Up Sleeper

Carters.com for: $9.60

I bought for: $3.20

NEVER NEVER NEVER pay full price for baby clothes! They outgrow them SO FAST and they get ruined too quickly! They are not worth anything. I went to the Carter's outlet near my house, where there was a clearance rack.  ALSO, there was an extra 20% off clearance sale happening. While it is great to shop the clearance racks alone, patiently wait a few weeks until there is an EXTRA % off clearance to save even more money. I know people who consistently pay full price for baby clothes. Upwards of $15-20 for ONE shirt. It makes me cringe! Baby clothes are not something to invest money in to.

I saved 50% on this (and lots of other) baby clothes.

Fisher-Price Bath

Target.com for: $28 

I paid: $7

Again, this was a clearance find at Target. Just make a quick target run one time a week and you will find everything you need!

I saved 75% on a brand new baby tub

Halo Sleep Sack:

Target.com: $20

I paid: $5

Clearance, clearance, clearance!!!

I saved 75% on this sleep sack

Buying baby things is FUN!!! However, the cost of all the small things you need, furniture, essentials, diapers, wipes, etc., can really add up fast. If you are patient and wait until a good deal comes along ( I promise, it will) you can literally save hundreds if not thousands of dollars on cost. A special thanks goes out to my mom who taught me how to bargain shop, and found like 90% off these deals for me :) Thanks mom!!! She really is the best!!

Good luck in your shopping, and lots of clearance dust to you! 

XOXO

It's a BOY!!!

We are so thrilled and excited to know that we are having a little BOY in January! Eeeeeeek! While we both would have been happy with a girl, we thought it would be fun to have a boy, too. I was dreaming of pink and lacy things for a while, but Jon was CONVINCED (and dreamed) it was a boy. Looks like I'll have to defer to him in the future for guessing!

We went to an ultrasound clinic in Vancouver on Friday, July 18th. It was a really sweet little clinic. The US technician was SO nice. Our appointment was only supposed to last 10 minutes, but lasted almost 20! It was so nice of her to let us see the baby more.

She put the goop on my belly and turned the screen on (It was projected on to a nice big flatscreen TV on the opposite wall). She immediately found his little bum and it was clear he was a boy. I shouted before anything said anything, "IS IT A BOY!?" She laughed and said, "Yes! I didn't even get a chance to tell you!". Tears started rolling and Jon sat next to me holding my hand. We watched our sweet boy snuggled up inside of me kicking and squirming. He started with his head on the right side, then did a complete 360 throughout the session! He wasn't going crazy, but he was moving quite a bit. He ended up sleeping on his stomach with his feet curled underneath and his hands up by his face. It was precious! We saw the umbilical cord, his spine, his hands, feet, knees, and he looked directly at the "camera". That was awesome! The lady was kind enough to switch the video to 3D for a good 5 minutes (this generally costs way more). He started getting really active when she switched to 3D, it was SO COOL!!!

Here are some pictures

15 weeks

Helloooooo 15 weeks! Man, this pregnancy is sure flying by! (If I keep saying that, does it make it true?)

How far along? 15 weeks. Baby is the size of an apple

Gender: We find out on Friday! So far, family votes are: 7 for boy, 7 for girl. Perfectly split! uh oh! 

Total Weight Gain: 3 pounds. However, I'm going to blame these 3 pounds on what I ate this weekend and assume it's mostly water weight. We'll see! I fluctuate about 5 pounds weekly, but usually end up right around my pre-pregnancy weight.

Stretch Marks: Nada

Belly Button: In.

Wedding Rings On/Off:  On. 

Movement: Not yet. SO excited! Hopefully next week I'll get some flutters!

Feeling: Feeling great!

Cravings: Hardly any, anymore. I am not as hungry as I used to be! I fill up really fast and can almost never finish a full meal.

Symptoms: Exhaustion is my only symptom! And anxiousness at finding out the gender :)

Missing: Nothing! I could not feel more grateful for this sweet babe.

Looking Forward to: Our Ultrasound!!

Sleep: Pretty good, just really hot since we don't have A/C

Exercise:  2-3 days a week. Cardio for 15 minutes and weights. Not a lot, but there is NO AC. Let me repeat, pregnant lady working out in 90 degree weather with NO AC. I think I deserve a medal. ;)

Eating: Definitely giving in to some cravings, trying to pull back this week! Trying to start eating healthy again, this weekend was a crash and burn one...

Still not showing, which is a bummer. Even naked me does not have a belly. I'm excited for people to know, and strangers to ask. We'll announce soon :) Pretty much everyone already knows that we want to know. Facebook---eeek, who cares. My mom is INCREDIBLE and sent me some awesome nursery stuff---I'll post pictures hopefully tomorrow or wednesday after I get everything set up! We did some serious target scheming to get these deals. I am so so so excited! So far we have:

-Pack n play

-Carseat

-Stroller

Need:
-Crib

-Bouncer

-Odds and Ends

Debating on whether we need:

-Swing

-Baby bath (but blooming baths are AWESOME)

-high chair (yet)

-Baby Gym

Thoughts? We don't have a huge place, and I'd like to keep things minimalistic! 

xoxo