shopping saturday

[same_sky]

Today was a major shopping expedition, and for once, we actually managed to get stuff done. We tend to go browsing instead of shopping, and then we get bored and come home. The clothing situation will be dire in just a little while longer, so I needed pants and a few shirts, plus some other essential garments of the unmentionable variety. I ended up with four pairs of pants and five shirts, plus an unmentionable number of unmentionables. So, I spent too much money but I should be able to wear clothes for a little while. Actually, I believe I made some very sensible purchases, for the most part.

Today marks a milestone--I'm twenty weeks pregnant today. That, for those of you who are uninitiated in the ways of the pregnancy week system, means that I am HALFWAY THERE. Of course, you're not actually pregnant for the first two weeks, so you're also kind of not halfway through the pregnancy, either, but that's just a sticky mathematical technicality. We marked this momentous occasion by stopping in at Babies R Us, where we wandered around in a fog. It feels a bit vulnerable in there, with all the earnest fertiles with notebooks and their numerous progeny, and all the men looking at each other like "I know what YOU'VE been up to, you randy dog!" I am not used to people looking at US and seeing a young couple planning the nursery for their first child, but in context, we were classic examples of it. We even whipped the camera out and took pictures of various cribs, and discussed the merits of various finishes. It's not unpleasant, but it does feel strange.

We also found a crib that we agree on, and now the real question: do we really want to hand over three hundred dollars for a crib? The types that we were looking at seem to range from two to five hundred, and I can tell you right now that I'm not paying that much for a crib. I bristle somewhat at the knowledge that this particular store overprices every single item, and so my bargain-hunting self wants to find it somewhere else, or wait until there's a sale. Do they even do sales? We are going to be SO BAD at this because we're so freaking cheap, and yet we're suckers for a nice-looking item. We think that one will look very nice with our floors and walls, and it feels sturdy. Decisions, decisions.

I have a definite risk of falling asleep while sitting here at the moment, so I'd better go wash my face and get ready for bed before I do. That is, before I fall asleep at my desk AGAIN...

Comments

[e11en.livejournal.com]

I was totally set to hit IKEA and get an inexpensive crib but then my mother wanted to chip in so we could get something nicer. In the end she paid for the crib and dresser and I would never have paid that much but it has been totally worth it. For one thing, our crib converts to a toddler bed so given the timing of our kids, it has been in constant use for all but 8 months of the time we've owned it. And I went to a specialty children's furniture store where they had some good deals and it wasn't that much, just more than I would have spent.

Having used the crib my brother had for his kids when we were up at my mom's this past Christmas, I have to say how glad I am to have a nicer crib. There was nothing wrong with theirs but the side rail didn't go up and down as fluidly and silently which is so key for us.

[same-sky.livejournal.com]

We don't have an IKEA unless we drive for seven or eight hours, though it briefly came up the other night as a possibility. I am so glad you said that about it converting to a toddler bed, though. I was thinking of how practical a convertible one would be, and how pretty it looks converted, but then I was worried about what shape it would be in before it was time to convert it. Yours is fine, though? I guess I have to consider that I'm going to be spending a certain amount on a crib no matter what, and then after that, the extra to get the one I want is not so great.

[e11en.livejournal.com]

Our crib is kind of like this one:


Our is a much lighter wood and it has a prettier scalloped edge on the underside of the short ends but the idea is similar. I borrowed this picture from http://www.babyuniverse.com which has free shipping. Ours cost about the same as the one I grabbed the picture of, $229 or thereabouts. That made it about $100 more than the IKEA one we were thinking of but since my mom was going to pitch in, I stopped feeling guilty about getting the one I liked.

The thing I didn't like about the IKEA cribs that were available at the time was that the side rail didn't go up and down. They may make some which do now but not then. I am too short to be able to bend at the waist and set the baby down (when they are asleep, naturally) when the mattress is at the lowest setting if the rail is up at the top.

Our crib shows no signs of wear and tear and I will probably take it to a consignment shop when Anders is done with it. Ingrid used it as a crib until she was just over two and showed signs of being able to climb out, then we converted it to a toddler bed. She stayed in that way for just over a year when she moved into a regular twin bed. We stashed it away in a closet and for seven months and then put it up for Anders.

[courtesy.livejournal.com]

That crib you linked to sure is purty, and it looks like it becomes a bed so surely it's worth it? ;)

I wonder if there's a second hand one on ebay.... but if not, I personally support the expenditure :)

[same-sky.livejournal.com]

Surely it is! I figure we'll be horrified at whatever it is that we end up paying for a crib so does it really matter? ;) I did a brief Ebay search last night, and I didn't really find one. Besides which, there are major shipping problems with doing that unless it happens to be local, so chances were bad. I'm planning to keep an eye out, though!

[dbrus.livejournal.com]

We've got an IKEA crib, it was only one of four cribs that past a safety test in a swedish newspaper last month...that said, Max has never slept in it! We have a cosleeper and he sleeps next to my side of the bed.

[same-sky.livejournal.com]

Never? :) We don't have an IKEA, sadly, though the possibility of driving to Chicago (seven hours or so, maybe) was raised and then mostly dismissed. What was wrong with the other cribs? Anything in particular I should be concerned about?

[mamakoolaid.livejournal.com]

As far as cribs go, you might consider looking at consignment shops that sell baby items (do you have a Once Upon A Child where you live?). My sister got her daughter's crib there and it's GORGEOUS, almost brand-new, met all the safety requirements and only cost about $110.

I'm so excited for you about this pregnancy and I'm still keeping good thoughts for you! =D

[same-sky.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the good thoughts--I appreciate it!

We haven't started looking at used options. I think we have a store that might be Once Upon a Child, or at least it's something like that. I'm not sure they have furniture at all, though. I'll have to check into places like that, though!

[ozswede.livejournal.com]

I was going to suggest what Kirsty wrote - ebay! Otherwise I think if you love the crib, get it and enjoy it. You will find that a lot of baby stuff is overpriced. Wait until you look at strollers. And check out Carrie's posts about diaper bags. The joys of parenthood.....

[same-sky.livejournal.com]

I'm going to keep an eye on ebay, but I'm afraid that the chances of finding a great deal, especially one that's local enough to drive to to pick up, are limited. But it's worth a try. I am HATING this whole overpriced thing. We're too curmudgeon-y.

[parilous.livejournal.com]

I dig that crib because it converts to a toddler bed, then a day bed, and then you can use the back and front for the headboard/footboard on a double bed! It's like a Swiss Army Knife of beds. So cool! You figure that it will save you all but the cost of the mattress/frame when they're 5 or 6 and get to be in a "big bed".

My best friend (and new mommy) bought furniture a changing table could be flipped upside down, and the drawers re-oriented, to become a dresser. I thought that was pretty groovy, too.

As an aside, you may find this link useful. I've known Jenny since 1990 and have always trusted her for product reviews (just yesterday I bought some green tea on her suggestion and she was spot-on about how lovely it is!). So, a while ago, I suggested that she write some baby product reviews in her rarely-used LJ. So, it may be helpful to you when you're beginning to buy baby supplies.

[same-sky.livejournal.com]

The convertible aspect of it is one reason we like it. It seems that you all are enjoying the opportunity to help me spend money. ;)

Thanks for the link! I'll be sure to save it and refer to it later. I skimmed through the first page of her journal--is her husband Danish? You know--Sweden, Denmark, almost the same thing. ;) (And now, watch me run before I am attacked by the lurking Swedes around these parts for that remark...)

[parilous.livejournal.com]

Yes, Jenny's husband is Danish. They met online, but he was already in the U.S. at the time. They were married in 2001, in Denmark. I unfortunately couldn't attend! His family lives about 4 hours from Copenhagen, and they've spent weeks at a time over there while he works (he works for a Danish company).

You and her are similar in another way, too -- she and he had a hard time getting pregnant. They spent almost two year undergoing four separate series of IVF before successfully conceiving. She had a hard prengnacy (especially at the end, and was on bed rest for a couple of weeks). But, thankfully, all went well and now they have Emma, a healthy baby girl that's featured in many of her usericons. Emma was 2 in December and her favorite food is gouda. So cute! It was funny when Jenny was pregnant; she was the first of my oldest friends to have a child, so I lived vicariously through her. She said that she couldn't believe how nosey people got when you are visably pregnant, even to the point of asking if your drink contained caffeine and giving you lectures about weight gain and whether or not you should eat fish. So, be prepared for everyone and their brother's dog to offer you advice!