Wednesday, March 27, 2013

baby

As most of you know, our family will be expanding in September! Baby Taylor is due September 23rd. (I'm a little over 14 weeks.)

The picture we sent out to all our family. :) 

Baby bump at 12 weeks. 

I've felt amazing these whole 14 weeks. Between 5-6 weeks, I did have some morning sickness. But then it went away and I've felt amazing! Such an answer to prayer.
I'm trying to drink the water recommended for pregnant people, 64oz! The last couple days I've almost got 96oz in.  But that's thanks to the new exercising plan I started. (walking two miles a day.) After baby is born, I've already got a walking buddy set up for two days a week.  And I have a great paved park near my house, where I can walk. My plan after I've recovered, is to get into jogging/running with baby, so that when I'm pregnant with baby #2, I won't just have to walk. :P

In a little over five weeks, we will find out the gender of our baby. I think it's a boy and have the whole time, so we will see. :)  We've got a girls name picked out - Eliza Catherine Taylor. Eliza is a family name on my side of the family and Catherine is a family name on the Taylor's. Together the names mean: My God is my vow+pure
For boys names we have got our list down to 6 names.
 Even thought his first name would be Samuel, he would go by his middle name for a little bit.
Samuel Joseph Taylor II -His Name Is God+God shall add (another son) - His Dad's name. :) 

Samuel Lee Taylor - His name is God+meadow 
Samuel Boaz Taylor - His name is God+Strength 
Samuel Hudson Taylor  - His name is God+Son of Hud
Samuel Asher Taylor - His name is God+blessed 
Seth Joseph Taylor -Appointed+God shall add (another son)


I've already started a baby registry at amazon. They had the best prices of any other baby place. Trust me, I priced things to hours. ;P  I'm hoping to have a baby shower before the summer consignment sales. So, I'm working on a detailed list of needs and what everything will cost.  I'll be attending the HUGE sale at the fair grounds to get most of baby's things and then going to another sale on their 50% day to buy baby clothes. This isn't until July, but I'm looking forward to it already!!:)
One important thing for registering:
 If you want a lot of kids.(Like Sam and I) Register for gender neutral baby items!! bedding, stroller, swaddle blankets, cloth diapers, slings, etc.
Basically, everything but clothing and that baby's personal baby blanket. :p

Also, baby consignment sales are amazing, but I wouldn't get everything at the sales.
Here's what I'm planning on buying new:
crib - depending on what the sale has. I want something VERY sturdy.
breast pump
cloth diapers - I'm going to use these for all my kids, so it's worth it to buy new.
swing - If I don't get it as a baby gift and it the sale doesn't have the kind I want. (swing+bouncy seat.)
crib mattress
baby monitor - I will look at the sale, but because of the way the house is set up and with Grandad's tv so loud just below our room, If I'm on the other side of the house and my baby is crying at the top of it's lungs, I wouldn't be able to hear a thing. So, I really good monitor is important and to me, worth the cost.
stroller+car seat - yes, this is $$$, But here's my take on it. Car seats are only good for 6 years.(so they say!) If I buy my car seat new, I will have no problem using it for those six years and then longer, because I know it's not been in a car accident(lord willing) and it's ok to use. For the stroller, It will always be a good idea to have a single stroller. Even when baby two comes, depending on the ages apart, I don't know if I would get a double stroller.  The new baby can go in a sling and the first baby in the stroller. And then when baby is ready for the stroller, it would be a great time to teach baby #1 to hold on to the stroller/stay next to Mom. I do see at times at double stroller being beneficially, but I think a single stroller is essential to a Mom.