Thrifty Thursday #12

Well, it's my last Thrifty Thursday*, and I can't say I'm too devastated. It was getting really tiring searching Craigslist and Ebay for items that are on my registries. It felt like a full-time job some weeks. Anyway, here it is, a Balboa Sling from the Lola collection:

Like my haircut?

Ebay Price: $35, including shipping
Target Price: $65, including tax
Amount Saved: $30
Amount Left Before I Can Justify Buying My Joya Rocking Chair: $184

I love this sling. It has great reviews, and I can't wait to wear my baby.

So, anyway, I saved a total of $516 over the course of my 12 Thrifty Thursdays, missing my goal of $700 by $184.

Even though I didn't reach my goal, I'm pretty pleased with the $516 I was able to "bank" and put toward my chair, which I'll be buying very soon. When I first started this nonsensical game, I didn't think I'd save anywhere near $700, and I didn't realize how difficult it would be to find something from my registry each week. That said, I give myself a solid B on this crazy project.

It doesn't make me feel any less crazy for splurging on my rocking chair, but it was fun for a while!

*An explanation of Thrifty Thursdays:
According to my readers, I should spend approximately $300 on a rocking chair. I've already admitted that I'll be spending a whoppin' $1,000. That's a difference of $700.

To offset this $700, I plan on saving money elsewhere. Every week, I'll buy something for the baby from Craigslist or Ebay, and the amount of money I save will go toward this $700 difference. So, say I score a $200 stroller on Craigslist for $100. The $100 that I saved will be "banked," and I'll have to save $600 more to justify purchasing my glorious rocking chair. For a more in-depth explanation, see this post.

Thrifty Thursday #11

I'd originally planned on doing 12 Thrifty Thursdays*, so this one is our second to last. Here it is, a Sealy Soybean Foam-Core Mattress:

Stock Photo

Ebay Price: $102
Babies R Us Price: $162, including tax
Amount Saved: $60
Amount Left Before I Can Justify Buying My Joya Rocking Chair: $214

This is obviously brand new. It was recommended in the Baby Bargains book and has excellent reviews.

*An explanation of Thrifty Thursdays:
According to my readers, I should spend approximately $300 on a rocking chair. I've already admitted that I'll be spending a whoppin' $1,000. That's a difference of $700.

To offset this $700, I plan on saving money elsewhere. Every week, I'll buy something for the baby from Craigslist or Ebay, and the amount of money I save will go toward this $700 difference. So, say I score a $200 stroller on Craigslist for $100. The $100 that I saved will be "banked," and I'll have to save $600 more to justify purchasing my glorious rocking chair. For a more in-depth explanation, see this post.

Thrifty Thursday #10

Danny just got home with this week's Thrifty Thursday*, which is a pretty awesome one. Here it is, a Fisher-Price Cradle 'n Swing from the My Little Lamb collection:

Yes, that cat is gigantic.

Craigslist Price: $40
Babies R Us Price: $162, including tax
Amount Saved: $122
Amount Left Before I Can Justify Buying My Joya Rocking Chair: $274

This thing is in excellent condition, and it's the exact one I registered for. Woot!

*An explanation of Thrifty Thursdays:
According to my readers, I should spend approximately $300 on a rocking chair. I've already admitted that I'll be spending a whoppin' $1,000. That's a difference of $700.

To offset this $700, I plan on saving money elsewhere. Every week, I'll buy something for the baby from Craigslist or Ebay, and the amount of money I save will go toward this $700 difference. So, say I score a $200 stroller on Craigslist for $100. The $100 that I saved will be "banked," and I'll have to save $600 more to justify purchasing my glorious rocking chair. For a more in-depth explanation, see this post.

Thrifty Thursday #9

Today's Thrifty Thursday* is something a lot of people find superfluous, but I'd rather have it and hate it than not have it and wish I did. Here it is, a Balboa Baby Shopping Cart/Restaurant Chair Cover in the Suri print:

Stock Photo; I don't have a restaurant highchair in my house. 

Ebay Price: $27
Babies R Us Price: $46
Amount Saved: $19
Amount Left Before I Can Justify Buying My Joya Rocking Chair: $396

Because of his work schedule (7PM-7AM, not including his long commute) Danny and I eat out more often than we "should." I get home an hour before he leaves, and I'd rather spend what little time we have together chatting at a restaurant than flying around the kitchen, trying to make a good dinner in 20 minutes. Anyway, I've worked in restaurants, and I know how disgusting these highchairs are. I think we'll get a lot of use out of this thing.

*An explanation of Thrifty Thursdays:
According to my readers, I should spend approximately $300 on a rocking chair. I've already admitted that I'll be spending a whoppin' $1,000. That's a difference of $700.

To offset this $700, I plan on saving money elsewhere. Every week, I'll buy something for the baby from Craigslist or Ebay, and the amount of money I save will go toward this $700 difference. So, say I score a $200 stroller on Craigslist for $100. The $100 that I saved will be "banked," and I'll have to save $600 more to justify purchasing my glorious rocking chair. For a more in-depth explanation, see this post.

Thrifty Thursday #8

I'm pretty happy with this week's Thrifty Thursday*. Here it is, an Ergo Performance Carrier in Spring Green:

Ebay Price: $75, including shipping
Babies R Us Price: $145 ($135+$10 tax—which I don't usually count but am this time)
Amount Saved: $70
Amount Left Before I Can Justify Buying My Joya Rocking Chair: $415

Not too shabby, eh? I've been watching Ebay forever, and these usually go for about $100 there—but this seller apparently didn't do her research and offered a Buy It Now option of $65. Wham, bam, thank you, ma'am. 

*An explanation of Thrifty Thursdays:
According to my readers, I should spend approximately $300 on a rocking chair. I've already admitted that I'll be spending a whoppin' $1,000. That's a difference of $700.

To offset this $700, I plan on saving money elsewhere. Every week, I'll buy something for the baby from Craigslist or Ebay, and the amount of money I save will go toward this $700 difference. So, say I score a $200 stroller on Craigslist for $100. The $100 that I saved will be "banked," and I'll have to save $600 more to justify purchasing my glorious rocking chair. For a more in-depth explanation, see this post.

Thrifty Thursday #0

There's no Thrifty Thursday* this week because some tool on Craigslist promised he'd hold a stroller for us as long as Danny could pick it up Tuesday at noon—but when Danny got there Tuesday at noon, the guy said he'd accidentally sold the stroller to somebody else.

It was my dream stroller (the right color and everything!), brand new, $100 cheaper than retail! Danny drove an hour round-trip for that damn thing.

And now, I have no Thrifty Thursday for you this week. However, I did bake you these lovely cookies this evening:

These are delicious. I should know—I had 4 in one sitting.

Check back next week!

*An explanation of Thrifty Thursdays:
According to my readers, I should spend approximately $300 on a rocking chair. I've already admitted that I'll be spending a whoppin' $1,000. That's a difference of $700.

To offset this $700, I plan on saving money elsewhere. Every week, I'll buy something for the baby from Craigslist or Ebay, and the amount of money I save will go toward this $700 difference. So, say I score a $200 stroller on Craigslist for $100. The $100 that I saved will be "banked," and I'll have to save $600 more to justify purchasing my glorious rocking chair. For a more in-depth explanation, see this post.

Bazaar Bizarre

Danny and I just got back from Bazaar Bizarre, my favorite annual craft show. It was so fun to check out all the handmade goodies, and of course we couldn't leave without buying a few things for Guido.

I was a good girl and only allowed myself to leave with these three carefully selected items I adore:

First, we have a sweet stuffed deer made by my dear (get it?!) friend, Jenean, of Moonlighting and Friends. Danny and I almost had strokes deciding between this one and the octopus. Go, Jenean, go!  

Next up is a fork + spoon = spork onesie by Lil' Burritos that I've had my eye on for ages. This small company is run by two people, one of whom I work with—and I've been seeing their adorable onesies pop up all over the place. I've bought their onesies as gifts before, but I'm so happy I finally have a reason to own one. 

Last but not least, we have a wooden ducky on wheels by The Sawdust Woodshop. Again, choosing just one was really difficult. Brad, the craftsman, really knows his way to a mama's heart. I loved everything, and since they're so affordable (only $10!), I should have just gotten the damn elephant, too. And possibly the whale. 

Guido loves shopping local! And he really loves shopping handmade local.

Thrifty Thursday #7

I had to convince myself that today's Thrifty Thursday* isn't gross. Yes, at one point in time, it was filled with poo, but I promise it's squeaky clean now! Here it is, a Diaper Dekor Plus with one refill:

Scooter looks like he has no soul here.

Craigslist Price: $10
Babies R Us Price: $49 ($40 for the Dekor, $9 for one refill)
Amount Saved: $39
Amount Left Before I Can Justify Buying My Joya Rocking Chair: $485

I'm still trying to get a stroller from a Craigslist seller, but he doesn't like my offers.

*An explanation of Thrifty Thursdays:
According to my readers, I should spend approximately $300 on a rocking chair. I've already admitted that I'll be spending a whoppin' $1,000. That's a difference of $700.

To offset this $700, I plan on saving money elsewhere. Every week, I'll buy something for the baby from Craigslist or Ebay, and the amount of money I save will go toward this $700 difference. So, say I score a $200 stroller on Craigslist for $100. The $100 that I saved will be "banked," and I'll have to save $600 more to justify purchasing my glorious rocking chair. For a more in-depth explanation, see this post.

Thrifty Thursday #6

Today's Thrifty Thursday* isn't something we'll need as soon as our baby arrives, but I hope we'll get some use out of it when he's 5 or 6 months old (or however old babies are when they start doing things). Here it is, a Fisher-Price Jumperoo from the Luv U Zoo collection:

Not that there's anything wrong with this house, but it isn't mine. This photo came from the seller.

Ebay Price: $59 (including shipping, which was 1/3 of the total price)
Target's Price: $90
Amount Saved: $31
Amount Left Before I Can Justify Buying My Joya Rocking Chair: $524

Still going after an awesome item on Craigslist, but the seller has a hard time answering e-mails. Hopefully next week!

*An explanation of Thrifty Thursdays:
According to my readers, I should spend approximately $300 on a rocking chair. I've already admitted that I'll be spending a whoppin' $1,000. That's a difference of $700.

To offset this $700, I plan on saving money elsewhere. Every week, I'll buy something for the baby from Craigslist or Ebay, and the amount of money I save will go toward this $700 difference. So, say I score a $200 stroller on Craigslist for $100. The $100 that I saved will be "banked," and I'll have to save $600 more to justify purchasing my glorious rocking chair. For a more in-depth explanation, see this post.

Black Friday

I'm not usually a Black Friday shopper, but I couldn't resist Carter's 50%-off-everything, then-20%-off-that-if-you-had-the-right-coupon, then-10%-off-that-if-you-arrived-by-noon sale. Danny actually enjoyed picking a few things out, and I even let him deviate from today's gray and blue color scheme because I love him so much.

So much cuteness!

Happy Black Friday!

Thrifty Thursday #5

I almost skipped this week's Thrifty Thursday* because it's so weak, but I know you won't judge me. Here it is, a Halo Sleepsack:

Maynard only looks deranged because he's kneading that sleepsack so intently. 

Ebay Price:   $7

Babies R Us Price:   $22

Amount Saved:   $15

Amount Left Before I Can Justify Buying My Joya Rocking Chair:   $555

As long as my Craigslist transaction doesn't fall through again, next week's Thrifty Thursday should be pretty awesome.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go eat more cookies. Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!

*An explanation of Thrifty Thursdays:
According to my readers, I should spend approximately $300 on a rocking chair. I've already admitted that I'll be spending a whoppin' $1,000. That's a difference of $700.

To offset this $700, I plan on saving money elsewhere. Every week, I'll buy something for the baby from Craigslist or Ebay, and the amount of money I save will go toward this $700 difference. So, say I score a $200 stroller on Craigslist for $100. The $100 that I saved will be "banked," and I'll have to save $600 more to justify purchasing my glorious rocking chair. For a more in-depth explanation, see this post.

Little Man

I was afraid I'd have a hard time finding cute clothes for our baby boy because I'm so obsessed with baby girl clothes, but believe me, I'm doing just fine.

This guy already has quite a wardrobe. (Hello, Gap Friends and Family Sale!) I keep telling myself to stop sharing every little thing I buy with Danny because I don't want him to think I'm too out of control--but I'm a sucker for little overalls, so I had to share my latest purchase with him.

Adorable!

Apparently, Danny's a sucker for overalls, too, because he grabbed them out of my hand so he could hold them, and he gasped (a happy gasp!) and said, "Oh, my God! My little man's gonna wear these!"

His little man! So cute I can hardly stand it. In four and a half months, he'll be holding his little man, not just his little man's overalls. He'll be kissing his forehead and rocking him to sleep--and just the thought takes my breath away.

Thrifty Thursday #4

This week's Thrifty Thursday* isn't very cute or exciting--but it's practical, and we really, really needed it. Here it is, a Safety 1st Perfect Fit Gate:

Don't let him fool you. There's another doorway in that room. 

Craigslist Price:   $15

Babies R Us Price:   $50

Amount Saved:   $35

Amount Left Before I Can Justify Buying My Joya Rocking Chair:   $570

Now, I just need to save an average of $71 each week to reach my goal. (Ha!)

*An explanation of Thrifty Thursdays:
According to my readers, I should spend approximately $300 on a rocking chair. I've already admitted that I'll be spending a whoppin' $1,000. That's a difference of $700.

To offset this $700, I plan on saving money elsewhere. Every week, I'll buy something for the baby from Craigslist or Ebay, and the amount of money I save will go toward this $700 difference. So, say I score a $200 stroller on Craigslist for $100. The $100 that I saved will be "banked," and I'll have to save $600 more to justify purchasing my glorious rocking chair. For a more in-depth explanation, see this post.

Thrifty Thursday #3

This week's Thrifty Thursday* is a small item, but I couldn't resist snatching it up. Here it is, the Bebe au Lait Nursing Cover from the Papillon collection:

Ebay Price:  $11 (including shipping)

Babies R Us Price:  $37

Amount Saved:  $26

Amount Left Before I Can Justify Buying My Joya Rocking Chair:  $605

I was really hoping to wind up below the $600 mark this week, but that'll have to happen next week. Oh, and I haven't mentioned this, but my plan is to do 12 Thrifty Thursdays. This only leaves 9 more, so I better get serious. 

*An explanation of Thrifty Thursdays:
According to my readers, I should spend approximately $300 on a rocking chair. I've already admitted that I'll be spending a whoppin' $1,000. That's a difference of $700.

To offset this $700, I plan on saving money elsewhere. Every week, I'll buy something for the baby from Craigslist or Ebay, and the amount of money I save will go toward this $700 difference. So, say I score a $200 stroller on Craigslist for $100. The $100 that I saved will be "banked," and I'll have to save $600 more to justify purchasing my glorious rocking chair. For a more in-depth explanation, see this post. 

Thrifty Thursday #2

This week's Thrifty Thursday* isn't as impressive as last week's. I spent more and saved less, but here it is, a Fisher-Price Musical Gym (from the Luv U Zoo collection): 

Ebay Price: $38 (including shipping, of course)
Target's Price: $56 (Online. It's $62 in the store, but I'll be fair and go with the lower price.)
Amount Saved: $18
Amount Left Before I Can Justify Buying My Joya Rocking Chair: $631

I've seen these gyms for $20 on Craigslist, but the weather's been nasty, and I didn't feel like driving all over the place this week. Plus, this one's new, so I know it hasn't been subjected to throw up or blow outs.

*An explanation of Thrifty Thursdays:
According to my readers, I should spend approximately $300 on a rocking chair. I've already admitted that I'll be spending a whoppin' $1,000. That's a difference of $700.

To offset this $700, I plan on saving money elsewhere. Every week, I'll buy something for the baby from Craigslist or Ebay, and the amount of money I save will go toward this $700 difference. So, say I score a $200 stroller on Craigslist for $100. The $100 that I saved will be "banked," and I'll have to save $600 more to justify purchasing my glorious rocking chair. For a more in-depth explanation, see this post.

Thrifty Thursday #1

Happy 1st Thrifty Thursday*!

I'll be sharing two Craigslist purchases with you this week because they're both small ticket items. Here they are, a Bumbo and a Fisher-Price Whale-of-a-Tub bathtub:

Craigslist Price:  $20 total ($15 for the Bumbo, $5 for the tub)
Target's Price:  $71 total ($40 for the Bumbo, $11 for the Bumbo tray, $20 for the tub)
Amount Saved:  $51
Amount Left Before I Can Justify Buying My Joya Rocking Chair:  $649

*An explanation of Thrifty Thursdays:
According to my readers, I should spend approximately $300 on a rocking chair. I've already admitted that I'll be spending a whoppin' $1,000. That's a difference of $700.

To offset this $700, I plan on saving money elsewhere. Every week, I'll buy something for the baby from Craigslist or Ebay, and the amount of money I save will go toward this $700 difference. So, say I score a $200 stroller on Craigslist for $100. The $100 that I saved will be "banked," and I'll have to save $600 more to justify purchasing my glorious rocking chair. For a more in-depth explanation, see this post.

A Surprise from Aunt Rachel

"If you know someone who has lost a child [...], and you're afraid to mention them because you think you might make them sad by reminding them that [their child] died, they didn't forget they died. You're not reminding them. What you're reminding them of is that you remember that [their child] lived, and that's a great, great gift." 

--Elizabeth  Edwards 

I just mentioned this the other day, but very few things make me happier than somebody acknowledging my lost babies. It doesn't happen very often, and I know it's not because people don't care. It's because they just don't know what to say.

My sister nailed it. Baby Celis got this sweet sheep in the mail from her today, and I got this perfect little note that got me all teary:

The note says, "Thinking about you and your little angels. Love you, Rachel." (I was going to refer to this photo as a blooper, but is it really? Every photo's better with a cat in it.)

In case anybody needs further proof that Danny's convinced this baby's a boy, this onesie also came in the mail today:

Danny got it from an Ebay shop, Little Munsters. (This is folded in half, by the way. I didn't want you to think I don't know the difference between a t-shirt and a onesie.) 

That's the first thing Danny's picked out for the baby all by himself. I guess a baby girl could rock it-- with the right accessories, maybe, as long as she's not one of those girls who looks like a boy until she's 2.

I may be guilty of buying a slightly girly onesie, but could you have resisted it?

Cute cute cute cute cute cute. Buy your own from Lucky Thirteen Design.

Didn't think so. 

Have I mentioned how difficult it is to find cute gender-neutral clothes??

Sheep Thrills

On my way into Target this afternoon, I realized I was silently chanting my shopping list, which is something I do often--only today, it happened to be "yogurt, toilet paper, present for baby." I smiled my way through the entire store (and bought way more things than just yogurt, toilet paper, and a present for baby).

I tried to find a cute outfit, but their gender neutral stuff is very, very gender neutral (ducks!), so I ventured over to the stuffed animals. I'm glad I did because I found this sheep, which just so happens to be our nursery colors:

It's less baby blue in real life. Oh, and I'm a sucker for a sweet book.
(And yes, that's a cat on the table.)

Blooper!

On an unrelated note, I'll be 13 weeks pregnant tomorrow, and Danny and I plan on telling Facebook our baby news. We're obviously very excited, but I can't help but wonder if we'll unwittingly be breaking somebody's heart. I know how painful it is to open up Facebook and get slapped in the face by a pregnancy announcement. We've been very open about our losses, though, so I hope knowing that our journey has been filled with heartache will help soften the blow for anybody who doesn't want to see baby stuff on Facebook right now.

A Ridiculous Purchase for Baby

I've had my eye on Melissa & Doug's 5-foot giraffe for ages now, so it was no coincidence that last Wednesday--the day of our awesome ultrasound--Amazon e-mailed me to let me know its price had decreased. I'd told myself that if everything went well at the appointment, I'd buy a little something for Lime, so clearly, we were meant to have this giraffe.

It arrived yesterday, and I can't stop chuckling over the impracticality of it.

Hahahahahahahahahaha.

Oh, and Scooter thinks she's his girlfriend. Didn't take a picture of that, so you'll have to use your imagination. (Don't worry; she's somewhere safe and sound now, where Scooter can't get to her.)

9 Weeks, 5 Days: A Milestone

Today's a big deal. I'm officially more pregnant than I've ever been--or ever thought I was. I've been looking forward to this milestone since the beginning of this pregnancy. With my first pregnancy, I thought I'd reached 9w4d, but the poor baby had actually stopped growing at 6 weeks. My second pregnancy was over at 8 weeks.

Today, I'm 9 weeks, 5 days pregnant. Hallelujah.   

We celebrated this happy day by going to Target to pick out a little gift for Olive. This was Danny's first trip to the baby section since my first pregnancy, though--and he got too sad to linger for long. We saw lots of things we'd planned on buying for our first baby, and it hurt me, too. That section used to be so much fun. I remember holding a tiny pair of socks in my hand and imagining our entire perfect future.

Now, the baby section represents a joy--a naivete--that we've been robbed of--feelings that we'll never again get to experience during a pregnancy, and like so many other things in our lives now, it's bittersweet.

I ended up grabbing a pack of bibs--one of which says "worth the wait."

It feels like we've been waiting for a thousand years, but someday, I'll get to watch Danny rock our sweet little baby to sleep--and yep, it'll have been worth it.