We had another doctor's appointment on Friday (now we're into the weekly visits, as if we didn't see the doctor frequently enough before that!) to check on Chicklet's and my status. According to the doctor, Chicklet has started her descent into the birth canal in preparation for the big day. Sometimes people refer to this as "lightening" or the baby "dropping." I wasn't really aware of it, but my legal assistant, Carol, has said for the past two days that it looks like she's getting lower. Carol accurately noticed the dropping of one of our other co-worker's babies, so I trust her on this one. I have been enjoying some easier breathing and ability to eat a little bit more at each meal. Nothing else exciting has happened in the realm of birthday preparations, other than my contractions picking up frequency and adding an element of pain every now and then. They don't really tell you about that part when you're reading up on pregnancy.
Chicklet is also weighing in at an estimated 5.5 to 6 pounds. This is good news, as long as she doesn't put on too much weight between now and her birthday and give me trouble when I'm trying to deliver her. Assuming we have another 4 weeks to go, that should put her around 7.5 to 8 pounds at birth. Of course, the doctor could also be way off on her estimate (she admited as much, too).
In terms of prepping for Chicklet's arrival, we're making strides. Slowly. We assembled the stroller (an amazing 15-minute feat!) and have that all ready for her. All of her clothes and bedding are washed and hanging in her room. The ceiling of her room is now painted, and we have purchased the baseboards. We have yet to select carpeting, but I guess it'll happen one day. At least we have the old carpet in there in the event we don't get hers in time. We also received the crib, which Kenny thinks he will be able to assemble as easily as the stroller. We'll see. I've heard about these crib-assembly nightmares. Ours doesn't have sides that lower, so at least we get to skip hardware installation on that. I can't wait to get it all put together, though. It'll look great!
We still don't have a carseat, but I suppose that will come at one of the baby showers (hopefully). I predict a last-minute babies r us run in Kenny's future if it doesn't come before that.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Your crib will arrive by your child's 3rd birthday
Cindy and I have been a little behind in getting all of our baby gear set up and in order b/c we've been completing our house renovations. I've been on a work deadline (which thankfully ends this week) and Cindy, too, has had a bunch of work. It's now time for me to lay the baseboards and get the carpet installed so that we can complete Chicklet's room in time for her arrival.
One of the major components to completing her room is getting the crib. I've been a bit of a pain in the department, as I've nixed nearly every crib I've seen in favor of a more modern designed crib. I figure that there's no reason for our (or my) tastes to be pushed aside just because nearly every crib has some sort of ornamental scrollwork or overly ornate wood trim involved. Unfortunately, though, most modern baby cribs are pretty expensive. I was in love with the Oeuf Sparrow crib when a coworker told me he might be able to get it for me wholesale (his wife is in the industry and is getting one for their soon-to-be baby), but that fell through. That one goes for about $650. Every other modern baby crib, save for the Netto Cub Collection ($550), is even more expensive. Keep in mind, this is just the crib - dressers and other furniture are additional, and are usually even more expensive than the cribs themselves. This tug-of-war between modern and typical ultimately hinged on price points - a lot of others could be found in $300 price range which allowed us more room to buy the dresser and changing table. Today we became more fully educated not only about the price of baby furniture, but also when you should purchase it.
We took a visit to USA Baby here in Austin, and even though it was nearly impossible to find (b/c S. Lamar turns into Westgate Blvd., but who knows that?), we found that they had a pretty good selection of cribs and toddler paraphernalia. Don't think about asking the help, though, if the paint is non-VOC or if the crib is made of hardwood vs. veneered particleboard. I think the extent of their knowledge is price and color. Anyway, we learned that pretty much any crib of any quality starts off at the ~$500 mark. This was a rude awakening. We were thinking that this was only baby furniture, after all. But I guess furniture is furniture, and if you want something quality, you're going to have to shell out a little bit more. Once we adjusted to that, we discovered that pretty much all quality dressers/changing tables start at pretty much the same price point. This put us right back into the price range of the modern baby cribs that we had been balking at. Our lessons for the day were not yet over - we also learned that if you want to have that crib in place by the time the baby is born, you had better order it about 2 years before you even try to conceive. Seriously though - lead time for the crib we were interested in was 8-12 weeks. 3 months! Man, were we off the mark - Chicklet arrives in 6 weeks! Ultimately it won't be too big a deal as Chicklet will be sleeping in our bedroom w/ us for at least the first few months, which gives us enough time to order and set up the crib. It did make me a little sad knowing that her nursery won't be fully set up when she comes home, but them's the breaks.
So - today's lessons:
One of the major components to completing her room is getting the crib. I've been a bit of a pain in the department, as I've nixed nearly every crib I've seen in favor of a more modern designed crib. I figure that there's no reason for our (or my) tastes to be pushed aside just because nearly every crib has some sort of ornamental scrollwork or overly ornate wood trim involved. Unfortunately, though, most modern baby cribs are pretty expensive. I was in love with the Oeuf Sparrow crib when a coworker told me he might be able to get it for me wholesale (his wife is in the industry and is getting one for their soon-to-be baby), but that fell through. That one goes for about $650. Every other modern baby crib, save for the Netto Cub Collection ($550), is even more expensive. Keep in mind, this is just the crib - dressers and other furniture are additional, and are usually even more expensive than the cribs themselves. This tug-of-war between modern and typical ultimately hinged on price points - a lot of others could be found in $300 price range which allowed us more room to buy the dresser and changing table. Today we became more fully educated not only about the price of baby furniture, but also when you should purchase it.
We took a visit to USA Baby here in Austin, and even though it was nearly impossible to find (b/c S. Lamar turns into Westgate Blvd., but who knows that?), we found that they had a pretty good selection of cribs and toddler paraphernalia. Don't think about asking the help, though, if the paint is non-VOC or if the crib is made of hardwood vs. veneered particleboard. I think the extent of their knowledge is price and color. Anyway, we learned that pretty much any crib of any quality starts off at the ~$500 mark. This was a rude awakening. We were thinking that this was only baby furniture, after all. But I guess furniture is furniture, and if you want something quality, you're going to have to shell out a little bit more. Once we adjusted to that, we discovered that pretty much all quality dressers/changing tables start at pretty much the same price point. This put us right back into the price range of the modern baby cribs that we had been balking at. Our lessons for the day were not yet over - we also learned that if you want to have that crib in place by the time the baby is born, you had better order it about 2 years before you even try to conceive. Seriously though - lead time for the crib we were interested in was 8-12 weeks. 3 months! Man, were we off the mark - Chicklet arrives in 6 weeks! Ultimately it won't be too big a deal as Chicklet will be sleeping in our bedroom w/ us for at least the first few months, which gives us enough time to order and set up the crib. It did make me a little sad knowing that her nursery won't be fully set up when she comes home, but them's the breaks.
So - today's lessons:
- order your crib when you're 6 months preggers, otherwise it may arrive after the baby's born.
- don't be afraid to spend a little bit. you may not spend it on yourself, but you don't want your baby breathing in particleboard VOCs from a cheaper crib, nor do you want lower-end construction that might not last.
- order your crib when you're 6 months preggers.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Childbirth Classes: our lack of preparedness is scary...
Scarier than the full-on, graphic video of a baby being born, and scarier than the sounds the mothers in the video made as they went through natural childbirth, was the fact that when the nurse asked the class who had purchased their car seats, diapers, etc., most of the couples raised their hands. Kenny and I merely looked at each other with a mix of horror and disbelief. I spent the better part of this week freaking out about not having our house finished, not having our car seat purchased, not having Chicklet's clothes washed and ready, and just generally not having anything purchased or ready for her arrival.
So I decided today to end some of the freaking out by buying some essentials and cleaning out Chicklet's room. I went to Babies R Us and bought diapers, wipes, baby shampoo and lotion, and a whole bunch of other little things that I assume we won't be receiving at the baby shower. If they had the car seat we want, I probably would have walked out with that as well. All in all, it was a productive day. On top of purchasing the essentials, I also washed Chicklet's clothes and hung them in her room...her room that I cleaned out today as well. Now you can actually walk more than 6 inches into the room before running into a piece of furniture or an unpacked box. I'm happy to say, there are no more unpacked boxes in Chicklet's room. The furniture that is in there now will be sold soon, and hopefully one of these days we'll get the carpet put down.
I also got our crib and changing station/dresser ordered (a modern one, so Kenny is happy. Snob.). We still need to go shell out for the mattress and changing pad, which, because they will be organic, will cost four times as much as a normal mattress and changing pad. The crib bedding is ordered and on its way from California as I type, and we have received the final installations in our pregnancy/labor/childbirth library that we'll be reading quickly over the next few weeks. I feel like I have a hold on the insanity now. I can walk into our next childbirth class with head held high, knowing that although we still haven't purchased our carseat, we will at least have diapers to put on Chicklet's butt and a piece of modern furniture on which we will change those diapers.
So I decided today to end some of the freaking out by buying some essentials and cleaning out Chicklet's room. I went to Babies R Us and bought diapers, wipes, baby shampoo and lotion, and a whole bunch of other little things that I assume we won't be receiving at the baby shower. If they had the car seat we want, I probably would have walked out with that as well. All in all, it was a productive day. On top of purchasing the essentials, I also washed Chicklet's clothes and hung them in her room...her room that I cleaned out today as well. Now you can actually walk more than 6 inches into the room before running into a piece of furniture or an unpacked box. I'm happy to say, there are no more unpacked boxes in Chicklet's room. The furniture that is in there now will be sold soon, and hopefully one of these days we'll get the carpet put down.
I also got our crib and changing station/dresser ordered (a modern one, so Kenny is happy. Snob.). We still need to go shell out for the mattress and changing pad, which, because they will be organic, will cost four times as much as a normal mattress and changing pad. The crib bedding is ordered and on its way from California as I type, and we have received the final installations in our pregnancy/labor/childbirth library that we'll be reading quickly over the next few weeks. I feel like I have a hold on the insanity now. I can walk into our next childbirth class with head held high, knowing that although we still haven't purchased our carseat, we will at least have diapers to put on Chicklet's butt and a piece of modern furniture on which we will change those diapers.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
bugaboo and babiesrus reviews
my parents just got us a wonderful baby present - a bugaboo frog stroller! we're super psyched - we were burned by the quiny zapp stroller, which was a major letdown. that thing looked like a great bugaboo knockoff (not crappy, just less expensive), but it really was not up to par. the seat didn't recline, the wheel base was too narrow (easy off-balance tilting), and small storage. we were really let down. so then we allowed the saleslady at babystyle to sell us on the bugaboo, which really wasn't hard as this thing is pretty much the most beautiful and sturdiest stroller on the market. brushed extruded aluminum frame, pretty colors, a modern design sensibility. we were very happy when my parents got it for us.
so i was checking on the shipping status of the bugaboo just now and was perusing the bugaboo frog page. i started reading the reviews of the stroller, and they were all 5/5 stars, raving reviews of how this stroller will bring about world peace and solve climate change. but then i came across the most telling review i've ever read:
"I have Bugaboo Cameleon (Similar) & the Stokke both in red bought this years ago which i bought in Europe. I don't use mine much now as it is too common. I loved then when it was available at boutique shops not babiesrus. Must I say bulky, takes up space lighter than Stokke. Of course you will look like the hip family but are you really that hip when everyone in NEW YORK CITY has the same thing. I'm on my 3rd child and will be in UK getting the next best thing.
GREAT without the canopy and for LONG walks, Trips.. so if your a city mom this is your best bet. To and from main street if you live in suburbia its not really necessary. but BETTER than Stokke"
yes, if the latest and greatest is what you want to be seen pushing your baby around in, don't get the bugaboo frog. it is just too common. suckers.
so i was checking on the shipping status of the bugaboo just now and was perusing the bugaboo frog page. i started reading the reviews of the stroller, and they were all 5/5 stars, raving reviews of how this stroller will bring about world peace and solve climate change. but then i came across the most telling review i've ever read:
"I have Bugaboo Cameleon (Similar) & the Stokke both in red bought this years ago which i bought in Europe. I don't use mine much now as it is too common. I loved then when it was available at boutique shops not babiesrus. Must I say bulky, takes up space lighter than Stokke. Of course you will look like the hip family but are you really that hip when everyone in NEW YORK CITY has the same thing. I'm on my 3rd child and will be in UK getting the next best thing.
GREAT without the canopy and for LONG walks, Trips.. so if your a city mom this is your best bet. To and from main street if you live in suburbia its not really necessary. but BETTER than Stokke"
yes, if the latest and greatest is what you want to be seen pushing your baby around in, don't get the bugaboo frog. it is just too common. suckers.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Grandparents are already wonderful...
Kenny's mom just called me this afternoon with some wonderful news- their gift to Chicklet is a brand-new Bugaboo stroller! While we're sad Adrienne and Steve won't be able to come to the baby shower (we figured they wouldn't anyway, since they'll be making so many trips down here in November), we're really excited Chicklet will now have some pimpin' wheels. Maybe my parents will pitch in for the custom rims...just kidding. This stroller is truly an awesome stroller, so I'm pretty excited about it. I can't wait to see it and spend the inevitable 5 hours it will take to put it together. At least we can get it ordered and assembled well in advance of Chicklet's arrival, as my nesting instinct has been kicking into high gear lately and causing me to stress about all of the little things we still haven't completed (like choosing a crib)!