Hello All. I hope you all enjoyed my first special edition blog. This Thursday the fetus turns 16 weeks. It seems to have taken forever and flown by at the same time. I am pretty sure the same kind of feeling that many of you that are parents have felt about your walking/talking variety of child. We are a mere 24 weeks away from full term lift off, and Emilee is beginning to show. We should be able to feel some movement here soon. For those of you who like the "science" here's where we are courtesy of BabyCenter.com:
Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.
I also want to thank those of you who have expressed your happiness and condolences for us having a little girl! I know that any child is a challenge, but I think that a girl will provide a special bit of frustration. I hope to raise her to be respectful and fearful of her father. lol
I guess what is really going through my mind though is how expensive things are about to get. We have had an outpouring of generosity in the form of clothes, furniture, toys, and most of all advice. We appreciate all of this more than anyone can appreciate. But do you want to know what scares me the most right now? Diapers.
Emilee has been doing research on everything baby related. She knows the highest rated brand for just about everything, even butt paste (we understand that's Boudreaux’s). So we, in the royal we style, have decided that Pampers Sensitive something or other is the best for little Shequisha. These things are roughly $35 for a pack of 124. I have been told we will go through 15-20 diapers per day initially. Lets be conservative 30 days at 15 diapers per day equals 450 diapers per month! Or in Rob terms; $170 per month! And that is just to keep baby dry.
So as Emilee is telling me all of this and I am figuring out where to get my 3rd job; I had a brainstorm. Feed the tuna mayonnaise. Sorry different brainstorm. What if I cut leg holes into a bucket and wrap the legs in saran wrap so there is no chance of a rash. Wipe the "this guy is a moron" looks off of your face and follow the logic. All you would have to do is empty the bucket a few times a day. I figure I can pull the whole thing off for about $5.00. If any of you have tried this I am willing to accept construction ideas.
We also have the nursery set up to contend with. Emilee is certain that we will never be able to have a nursery that she will be happy with because of the townhouse. I know it's smaller than she wants, but seriously. How many people are born into the 23 bedroom mansion? I know I wasn't. And I am pretty sure that 85% of the world's population pulls it off in houses smaller than my living room. So any ideas on proper furniture spacing are appreciated as well. I am thinking of a bunk type bed in the bathtub with a shelving unit as the changing table.
So that us where we stand right now. Tune in later this week for; "We paid how much for an above ground ultrasound we did not need?"
Stay Safe,
Rob
Okay don't worry you can out fit your entire house for about $3000 and thats before the showers. You know your friends we will leave you high and dry. Kidding !! Everyone shows up big besides its not for mom and dad its form the kid that way She doesn't have a bucket strapped to her fanny LOLOL after the 3K its only honestly about an extra $500/ month that includes diapers, formula, wipes, clothes, ( oh shop at target Not "Oshkosh" Same shit differnt label I promise and its 10%of the cost especially if you get things on sale plus in 10 weeks they grow out of the stuff) The only cost that hits you is the co-pays that first few months. everything else is relative cost wise nothing that less cigars and booze movies at home instead of out etc etc won't offset. Anyway stop worring and Relax enjoy it it goes fast-T
ReplyDeleteI got a bucket you can have.
ReplyDeleteJust remember to assemble the crib inside the nursery.....
ReplyDeleteGuys,
ReplyDeleteMany people are born and raised in smaller places. What do you need a spair bedroom for? Anyone that matters should have their own place or be able to afford the Super 8! So, don't sweat the space. Space is proportionate. Your Master Bedroom is Size X for the two of you Adults, how much room could a baby need? By my ratios, it should only need the hall closet or powder room! No, seriously, you have plenty of room. You have a couple of years before you would even start to feel the pain of not having enough space. You are stressed and freaked out about how much things are going to cost, on and on. You don't need to add the payment of the 23 room mansion to the picture. Besides, do you think the baby will notice? Do what you need to for yourselves, not for the benefit of those who come to visit. Besides, if you have too much room and make it too comfortable, those visitors might just decide to stay, and we don't want that! lol. You will be fine, and will for a while. I was raised in an Apartment for the first several years of my life. Do you think I cared or remember? No. A child doesn't know any different and just wants two loving parents which you both will be. Could be worse, could be a studio apartment or a trailer! That's it, you could get the Cumming/Dahlonega/Dawsonville Special Edition Deluxe Model complete with real fake wood paneling, built in swivel chairs in the living room, and that cool lattice to hide your wheels underneath! Count your blessings, and remember, you didn't have to go to the trailer park to get pregnant, and you are way above living in one! MG
Great thing about diapers, once there skin thickens up, LUVS baby, 80 for $16. Bear just switch from the Pampers Sensitive last month to the LUVS. $10 price cut. Pampers Sensitive are the way to go at first. Housing wise, both of my babies cribs were in our room for the first six months, had to fight my wife off to keep her from putting the crib right next to her side of the bed. Plus, both my children have been raised so far in a townhouse smaller than yours. Why drop anymore money than you half to before you have a kid, because, no matter how much you budget, it will be off. Their damn expensive. Just happy I got 2 of the 3 knock out so far. Final thought, they just lay there for the first six months anyway.
ReplyDeleteA few comments and/or questions seem to be in order on this one, so...
ReplyDelete1. What size clothes are people giving you? I need some too, so if they appear to be of the little fat white boy variety, send them on.
2. The issue with the throw-away diapers is always the cost. That is why you pay for convenience. Use cloth diapers. If you can't afford the diaper service (like you have a chance of finding one anymore), wash them yourself and spend the money you save on dinner. After all, you may only see one or two more dinners for the next couple of years anyway. If you can't find good quality cloth diapers, use clean car rags or towels, like at Pep Boys or WalMart. If Em has a problem with that, go with the cheapest thing you can find. It'll make Drucilla tough while saving you some coin.
3. Diapers are over-rated anyway. Since Shaniqua is going to be sleeping in the tub until she is walking, why would you need diapers?
4. The bucket works okay for a while (ask MG), but once they start to move around and crawl and all, it starts to create too many messy spots to blame on the dog. Plastic seems to be the material of choice, but that may have to do with the cost. Plus it is easier to glue some rubber "leggings" to the holes to cut down on seepage. The glue just doesn't like the galvanized metal too much.
5. Do you sew much? You can make a pretty nifty "wet suit" and also save a bundle. If you check with some of the local dive shops, they may even have some the right material you can get for free. (You know, someone has torn theirs, or upgraded.) You have to think outside the box sometimes, which brings us to...
6. A basket (or even a nice warm box) works in your bedroom for a good while as long as you remember that the kid is there and don't keep tripping over them. That just wakes everyone up. Another good choice is to empty out one of the larger drawers in your dresser and let the kid bunk there for awhile. Once you get rid of all the girl thingys on top of the dresser, you then have an automatic bucket changing table close to the work zone.
You're welcome (in advance).
'Noid
OMG we need to talk. my hobby was finding the best deals. COUPONS and SALES. Don't go the Costco route with big boxes of diapers. Check cost per diaper. Also, don't go stocking up just yet--the baby may have an allergic reaction to diapers or whatever, or they just may not fit her right. Also, I never had a problem with generic diapers. Lastly, sign up for all the baby clubs you can--Pampers, Huggies, Publix, Kroger, etc. They will inundate you with coupons.
ReplyDeletewww.babycheapskate.com--I recommend checking this out too!
You know where I am, and I am happy to talk to you or Emilee about anything. I love discussing this stuff.
Love ya.
Dana
PS- I highly doubt you will go through 15-20 diapers a day when she is first home.
ReplyDeleteThe hospital will give you packs of diapers to take home too--make friends with the nurse and you should get more of a hookup! ;)
With 4 daughters, it will be ok trust me!!! Probably more like 10 diapers a day. There is nothing wrong with Luvs or a store brand diapers as long as there is no allergy or irritation. Buy used clothes at consignment shops like kid to kid or garage sales. A complete perfect nursery is a waste of money unless you are gonna be in your house a long time. Babies don't notice anyway. and if you want to practice..... I have a 15 year old you can borrow, if you can survive a teenager a baby is easy!!!!! Congrats Guys!!!
ReplyDeleteMamamedic, Who are you?
ReplyDelete