Penny Pinching Baby Style

First of all thank you to everyone who gave me their advice on my previous post.  I have contacted my doctor and done some research as well.  The doctor said that he feels Caleb is fine with the 25 ounces he is getting since he is gaining weight, and doing great.  However, I did research on babycenter and I found an amazing site that helps you schedule your babies feedings by age.  I think I am going to try their method and try to make sure that Caleb gets at least 30 ounces per day until he is 9 months.  Here is the site it is amazing.

I decided to do a post showing just how much we have saved during Caleb's infancy by not being too picky about items.  I am strong willed about not spending to much on babies because they outgrow things so quickly.  I am so for accepting things for free/finding a good deal on items.  However, I am also not a germaphob or freaked out about the fact that another baby has used the same item, or do I believe I have to have everything new.  I am not saying that is a bad way to think, I am just saying I am not like that at all.

I mean, I know it is exciting when you register, and you want everything perfect and matchy matchy.  However, when it is time for baby, and you are still missing key items, and you see how much they cost your mind changes.  I mean a baby doesn't know what color their highchair is, or if it matches the stroller etc etc.

Here is my list to show you how we have saved..

Peg Perego highchair: Retails $179-229.  We got ours as a hand-me-down for FREE!! Nothing wrong with it, just maybe not the color/pattern I would have chosen.

Graco Pack-n-play: Retails $69.00-179.00. 2 Hand me downs for FREE. I may decide to buy a new one when we have another baby, simply because of the changing pad/it being the bassinet.  However, for Caleb the ones we have are working great. 

Bassinet:  89.00 and up.  We borrowed two from my great-aunt.  The one we had did the job, but I was not to happy with the wicker siding. I had it basically covered the entire time Caleb slept in it, so he would not rub his face on it. We will not use it again, but we did not waste the money to begin with. A pack-n-play will do the same job and I understand that I do not need both next baby.

Jump-a-roo: Retail $100.  I borrowed my Rainforest brand one from my brother for FREE. 

The beloved SWING!! Every new moms must have.  Retail: 100-139.  My neighbor let us borrow hers, and it was my FAV baby item.  We will need to buy a swing for our next baby, but I have loved not having to spend the money this go around.

Exersaucer-  Retail $79.00. I bought mine for 5 dollars at a yard sale and cleaned it up.  Good as new.

Bumbo- Retail 40.00 Bought for 3 dollars as same yard sale.

Britax Marathon Car Seat: Retail: 279.00.  Bought ours gently used, never in an accident, for 110 dollars.   

Total at highest retail of all items: $1134.00 (scary number!)
Total at lowest retail of all items: $935.00 (still scary)
Total we have spent: $118.00 (YAY)

I also buy a lot of Caleb's clothes at Once Upon a Child, different consignment shops, or on sale! There is to much to pay for with babies, and it is always great to save a little here and there on things that you can.  Hope this helps any mama to be understand that they do not have to break their bank. 

Formula

Okay, I have another question bloggy friends.  I was talking to some wonderful mothers yesterday about how their docs told them to schedule their babies solid foods.  It was a little different than what my doc told me, but it sounded much better, so I have transitioned more to their way.

Here is our schedule so far

8 am: 7 oz formula bottle

11 am: cereal mixed with fruit and a veggie as well. 

2-3 pm: cereal mixed with veggie and fruit

6-7 pm: veggie and cereal

9 pm: 7-8 ounce bottle

He also gets puffs/yogurt melts/real fruit after some feedings to snack

The problem is Caleb is not wanting to take in very much formula anymore. I know babies start to slow down on their formula intake, but I have also heard they need 32 ounces until they are 9 months. Caleb is maybe taking in 25 ounces a day.  I always offer him a 3 ounce bottle after each feeding, and it usually takes him an hour to finish that.  Is it okay that he is not wanting formula anymore? What was your experience with this subject?

Note: I just began giving him both a veg and fruit per feeding yesterday. He was still not wanting formula when I only offered him one solid per feeding. 

Just Because he's CUTE

Nothing new to blog about today.  I just thought you might want to see more pics of my little man from Easter weekend.  If you don't I know the g-parents will.

Daddy loves styling Caleb's hair in the tub.

Wearing his Chelsea uniform, all the way from England, to watch the game with dada.  Dada is hoping Caleb will love soccer one day. The shorts are still a little long and look like high waters, but he was oh so cute.

Easter 2010

Easter this year was such a blessing.  Holidays are so much more fun with a little one to share them with.  We had a wardrobe misfunction on Easter morning, and were running late so we did not do Caleb's Easter Bunny basket until after church/his nap.  Church was an amazing service. They did a cardboard testimony at the end of it, and I just felt the love of God is such an amazing way. It was so great to see how God has touched others lives.

Afer Caleb's nap we did his 8 month monkey pictures and gave him is Easter Bunny basket. He loved pulling the items out and playing with them. His basket was my basket growing up, and so it is extra special. He got toys from mama/dada, grammy and the bunny. His favorite so far seems to be a push walker that the bunny found at Once Upon A Child for 8 dollars Whoop Whoop!

After he opened his bunny basket we went to Meemaw's and Granpa's house for family Easter with Meemaw's family.  There Caleb was greeted with another basket from Meemaw and Grandpa filled with books, teethers, finger puppets, and treats.  He enjoyed opening this one as well.

Caleb also participated in his very first egg hunt, and racked up 3 dollars worth of change. 

Later during the day Meemaw pulled out hubby's first Easter outfit and we put it on Caleb. It was so cute, but just a little snug.  My little man is such a chunky monkey. 

Easter was so great, and Caleb had a blast spending time with family. He was so tired last night when we got home, and he slept so well.  Hope everyone else had a wonderful Easter as well.

8 Month Bunny

Yesterday Caleb turned a whole 8 months old. WOW.  It is so crazy to think back on being pregnant, and how long 8 months seemed.  However, now that he is here 8 months has flown by.  We celebrated Easter on his 8 month b-day, and it was so fun.  I will have a full Easter post to come.

Caleb here is what you are doing at 8 months

Sleeping: You still sleep through the night.  You generally go down in your crib around 9:00 (was 8 before the time change).  You may have a couple of sleeping cries, and all I have to do is replace the binky.  You sleep until around 8 am in the morning, then you eat, and go back to sleep for about an hour.  Mama always cuddles you during this morning nap.  You then always go down for a nap at 12, and sleep until around 2. If you do not get this nap you are a grouchy boy.  You generally will take one more hour nap around 3:30. You no longer sleep on your back, but you now sleep on your side or belly, and you move all over your bed.  You like to have a toy in your bed to play with while you are trying to go to sleep.  Sometimes when I walk in you are cuddling your teether. So cute. You still have to have a binky to sleep.

Eating: You love to eat solids now, and you usually eat every 3 1/2-4 hours. You have a morning 7 ounce bottle when you first wake up.  Your next feeding you get a fruit mixed with cereal, a 3 ounce bottle, and either yogurt melts, puffs, or banana to snack on.  Your next feeding you get a veggie mixed with cereal, a 3 ounce bottle, and a snack as well.  If I cook veggies for dinner I always make you a plate. You do not really seem to like baked potatos, which is funny to me.  However, you love corn, green beans, spinach, and bread.

Size: You are wearing 6-9, 9 month, and 6-12 month clothes. I am excited because it is  almost summer time, and little rompers look so cute on you. You are wearing size 4 diapers. Still Pampers 13 hours.  You weigh 20 lbs 10 ounces!! You are so big, and chunky and I love it. 

Exciting New Things:

• You went to Florida for the second time this past month, and you loved playing in the sand. You were not a  fan of the ocean, but I think you are going to be a beach bum just like mama.
• You are so close to crawling.  You roll all over the place, and you butt scoot as well.  You right leg always gets stuck under you, but I am convinced as soon as you can get it out that you will start crawling.
• You always dance with your head now and say "I gooooooood".
• You love your sippy now, and will drink out of it with ease.
• You LOVE bathtime, and you sit in the big part of your bath tub now.  You just splash the whole time.
• You always roll over on your belly when I am trying to change your diaper. I am becoming an expert on putting the diaper on backwards.
• You have had your first major illnesses this month, and you have been on 3 different medications.  You have had a sinus infection, cough, and thrush.  Makes mama sad. 
• You hate taking your medicine, and when I try to give it to you I say "bite", and instead of opening your mouth you shake your head no.  I have been giving two of them to you in your bottle.
• You play "Where's Caleb" now. You will pull a blanket over your head until I say "Where's Caleb", and then you will pull it down for me to say "There he is"! It is so cute.
• You reach for mama and dada now when you are playing on the floor and you want me, or when someone else is holding you and you want me.  I love it.
• You throw tantrums, if we take something out of your hand that you want. There is no way of calming you down.  It is hilarious/scary at the same time. 
• You know what "No No" means.  You stop and look at me and then pucker your lip when I tell you no. 

I love you more than life my little bunny.  You have filled my life with so much joy and happiness.