Our--ahem--news

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Our--ahem--news
25
Wed, 03-29-2006 - 8:03pm

We're expecting another baby! This was not in our plan, but obviously it was in someone's, and we're very happy.

It turns out, too, that although we'd gotten rid of all our baby stuff, it's not going to cost much to restock, thanks to a series of coincidences (providences?):

1. It just so happens that my friend in Pennsylvania is moving to Utah and clearing out all her maternity clothes. Not helpful since she's so far away except that I happened to call while her parents, who live near us, were visiting. So she's sending me her whole maternity wardrobe with her mom!!

2. My neighbor and friend has just collected all her baby stuff to sell in a yard sale and is giving me pretty much everything else I'll need (actually, I wanted to *buy* it from her, but she won't take my money, so we're working out a trade arrangement, but it will cost me no actual hard cash)!

We breastfeed and use cloth diapers, so there will be very little ongoing expense until the baby is old enough for solid food, then expensive activities, then college (ugh! LOL).

SO... the only expenses left are:

Diapers (we used cloth with both our first two, and will again this time, but I gave all my diapers away and now have to restock). I plan to save money by making most of my own diapers--I made some before, and I can do it again. I use old cotton receiving blankets given to me or purchased for a dime or quarter a piece at yard sales, so it's very inexpensive. I'll probably spend an additional $25-30 on supplies.

Midwife (we plan a home birth, as we did with our first two, and the midwife charges around $800 for the birth, which is VERY inexpensive even compared to what many people pay out of pocket for a hospital birth, so we consider ourselves lucky here; there's also a $25 charge for each prenatal visit and $10 for blood tests, which are only done once unless there's a problem)

My iron supplement, which is about $30 a month (I have had trouble keeping iron levels up with both previous pregnancies, so this is pretty much a necessity)

Birthing supplies (when you have a home birth, you have to provide certain supplies, like waterproof pads, sterile cord clamps, etc.--these can be obtained for $20-$30 total)

MAYBE another car seat. This is complicated, but can at the least be postponed for a while, since my neighbor is giving me both an infant carseat and a narrower convertible carseat (necessary since we now have to fit three carseats across the one back seat)

I think that's it. What am I missing?

Dh originally wanted to buy a minivan to replace our station wagon, but after talking to a friend who is also having a surprise third baby, he's realized that we really can do it with our station wagon. I'm relieved, as this would almost certainly have added to our debt burden.

Sorry for the long post. Needless to say, this is big news and I'm trying to think of everything to avoid big expenses. Oh, yes, also--my small inheritance, I think we now need to set an additional $1000 aside from it for a third college fund, leaving us (after tithing) about $1500 to pay down debt or put in a CD or whatever. So it does change things there.

Anyway, thanks if you've made it this far. I don't blame you if you haven't! Blessings,

Heather

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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-05-2004
Wed, 03-29-2006 - 8:50pm

Heather, this is WONDERFUL news!! Congratulations! :-D It sounds like you're the recipient of lots of miracles today...your new baby is coming, and your friends and family are getting rid of their baby items at the same time! What a blessing! :-D

Hugs,
Pat :-D

Avatar for aerandel
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Wed, 03-29-2006 - 9:05pm
Congratulations! Sometimes life's most unexpected events turn out to be our biggest blessings...

                          

             

Avatar for skthurber
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Wed, 03-29-2006 - 9:17pm

Congrats, congrats, congrats!

Another blessing is that you are also going into garage sale season to pick up receiving blankets for diapers and anything else cute that you decide you need. You can also be on the lookout for pink things, in case you get a different flavor from your first two, KWIM?

Yay!!

-Sarah

Sarah


Mom to Gina & Tony


 


Avatar for cl_phocid
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 03-30-2006 - 5:27am
OMG Heather - that's terrific news!

All my best,
Danni

Avatar for cl_phocid
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 03-30-2006 - 5:32am

Another thought I wanted to add/share -


For what it's worth...


I got such a big sense of "family" reading your post - everything in your post was "we" oriented (even down to "we breastfeed") - it's so great to see how much of a team you and your dh are together.

All my best,
Danni

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 03-30-2006 - 7:23am

I am reduced to tears this morning. Thank you all for your sweet congratulations and words of encouragement. Needless to say, for most of the week all I've been able to think about is this baby. I can't express how meaningful it is, especially with a surprise baby, to hear other peoples's joy over the event. One gift I've already received from this experience, is knowing what to say to other people when they announce a surprise arrival! LOLOL Of course, all of you already know, and have already said it to me. Thank you.

And Danni, thank you for your kind words. I didn't even notice how much I was saying "we," but I guess it's deep in my thinking. It means a lot that you noticed it and said something. And I never cease to be amazed at what a great community leader you are--remembering such details about each of us, and bringing them up at important moments. Thank you.

Dh is currently looking for another job, and he's looking down South near his hometown as well as locally. I would be very sad to leave here, because I *have* managed to knit together something of a community--a neighbor to trade babysitting with and shoot the breeze and garden together with, another neighbor I trade babysitting her children for leftovers from her catering gigs (yum!), a spiritual community (Quaker Meeting) we absolutely ADORE, friends of dh's that trade handyman help--building fences and decks, fixing household stuff, installing floors, etc. And so on. But Alabama would have its compensations as well--nearness to his side of the family, a terrific botanical library and garden at nearby Auburn University, and the opportunity to own land very inexpensively (and what land! Alabama can be utterly gorgeous). I know one way or another, I could begin to build a little community there as well.

Anyway, thanks again for all the kind and encouraging words. We are very excited.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-20-2004
Thu, 03-30-2006 - 7:49am

Heather,
Congratulations! I am so happy for you and your family! You are such and inspiratin to us here on this board, and I hope everything goes smoothly for you.

Heather

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-13-2003
Thu, 03-30-2006 - 9:26am

Congratulations!! I hope you have a healthy, happy pregnancy and baby!! :)

Amy K.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-25-2006
Thu, 03-30-2006 - 10:29am

Heather,
Piling on to add my enthusiastic congratulations to the group! I'm so happy for you and as was said, unexpected events often brings unexpected gifts and blessings. :) Babies are lifes best blessings.

Peg

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2005
Thu, 03-30-2006 - 10:38am

How incredibly exciting!!!!!!!!

 

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