I've been thinking about our next baby. Just as we're getting into a groove with kiddo, we've got to start thinking about number two. If I were thirty, I'd be happy to wait another year, but alas I am not young anymore. As it is, I'll be very lucky to have a normal pregnancy. My finger are crossed that my eggs and body are still healthy and ready to go.
We managed to buy a beautiful Stokke Sleepi crib from another person in my mothers' club. I still can't believe I was the first one to respond. Both the previous owner of the crib and many people online have commented that the bassinet is not worth the hassle. I'm still leaning towards trying it especially if it will be hubby dealing with the hassle of changing the configuration.
Since my shopping obsession has moved towards baby items rather than for myself, I started looking for bassinet bedding. It seems like everyone has quit offering Stokke bedding other than Stokke. DwellStudio has some just last year, but it's gone. I also ran across this great company called Gus & Max that had some beautiful patterns for the Stokke bassinet and crib. They closed down and were sold off to another company. I really like the birch leaf and sky sap patterns. Someone has a bassinet set in sky sap on Craigslist, but they're on the other side of the country. It's not likely I'm going to be able to buy this pattern.
I feel like I'm always one step behind. When I want something, I just miss it. It's like when my Denby Blue Jetty pattern went on clearance at Macy's. I had just added it to my wedding registry the previous month. Then I went camping for the weekend only to discover that all the dinnerware went on sale for 70% off original price and people bought it all up. Argh. Luckily, I managed to collect enough pieces to be relatively happy. I still yearn to buy some more rice bowls but I'm not willing to pay $30 for one.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Faded choices and luck
Good news, we bought a tricycle. I had been monitoring Craigslist for several weeks. I searched mostly using "Kettler" but would every so often scan "tricycle" to see what else might be out there.
As luck would have it, I found someone who incorrectly spelled "Kettler" and I guessed they weren't getting much response to their listing. Sure enough, after two weeks, she lowered her price. I e-mailed asking about the trike.
It just so happened that someone else posted a similar trike for a little less money. The only thing was they were further away. Better price, more driving... how to you weigh out what's worth it?
In the afternoon, I received responses from both of them. The trikes were in good condition, but both let me know that there was some fading. I generally like to keep things in good condition so I wasn't sure what to do.
Scanning the postings again, a new one popped up in our city. In fact, as I studied the photo of the trike, I realized the house in the background seemed familiar. The style of the facade, the window position, the textured driveway, and the L-shaped sidewalk all told me they probably live somewhere within a two-block radius. Does it seem scary to you that I could know so much from looking at one picture. Well, when you walk you local block every day, you get a good feel for the houses (especially since it's all tract homes). I e-mailed them hoping I could see if this trike was in better shape.
A few hours later, they called. As we spoke, I started to wonder if they were one of the two houses at the opposite end of our street because I know two houses had the same colors as the ones in the photo. I casually mentioned that I thought we lived in the same neighborhood. He then told me the street and I laughed, yes, I simply needed to walk 10 houses down. How easy and convenient is that?!!
Just like that, I wheeled home our kiddo's new tricycle. Whee!
As luck would have it, I found someone who incorrectly spelled "Kettler" and I guessed they weren't getting much response to their listing. Sure enough, after two weeks, she lowered her price. I e-mailed asking about the trike.
It just so happened that someone else posted a similar trike for a little less money. The only thing was they were further away. Better price, more driving... how to you weigh out what's worth it?
In the afternoon, I received responses from both of them. The trikes were in good condition, but both let me know that there was some fading. I generally like to keep things in good condition so I wasn't sure what to do.
Scanning the postings again, a new one popped up in our city. In fact, as I studied the photo of the trike, I realized the house in the background seemed familiar. The style of the facade, the window position, the textured driveway, and the L-shaped sidewalk all told me they probably live somewhere within a two-block radius. Does it seem scary to you that I could know so much from looking at one picture. Well, when you walk you local block every day, you get a good feel for the houses (especially since it's all tract homes). I e-mailed them hoping I could see if this trike was in better shape.
A few hours later, they called. As we spoke, I started to wonder if they were one of the two houses at the opposite end of our street because I know two houses had the same colors as the ones in the photo. I casually mentioned that I thought we lived in the same neighborhood. He then told me the street and I laughed, yes, I simply needed to walk 10 houses down. How easy and convenient is that?!!
Just like that, I wheeled home our kiddo's new tricycle. Whee!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Setting boundaries
In this day an age, my attitude is probably not the norm. The newest individuals of our society grow up expecting instant gratification and thinking that the goal in life is to be a celebrity. People have no sense of privacy, no appreciation for what is to live the life you have rather than intruding upon everyone else's. Somehow people have learned to equate importance with having people who want to know what you're doing every minute of the day.
I understand everyone's need to feel important, but I think it's just another reason our culture is spiraling downward. While there is a minority who strive to do justice, to share the wealth, etc., the media and big business are shaping people's behavior towards selfish ideals. Reality shows, professional sports, every special interest group creates a sense of entitlement. Being outrageous, unethical, greedy are all perceived as okay because celebrities openly behave this way without any remorse, guilt, or shame.
I digress from my original topic... . I think social media allows for a lot more learning, more expression, more creativity. But my point is that while I think there are great things about the modern communication, there lacks of sense of boundaries.
I understand everyone's need to feel important, but I think it's just another reason our culture is spiraling downward. While there is a minority who strive to do justice, to share the wealth, etc., the media and big business are shaping people's behavior towards selfish ideals. Reality shows, professional sports, every special interest group creates a sense of entitlement. Being outrageous, unethical, greedy are all perceived as okay because celebrities openly behave this way without any remorse, guilt, or shame.
I digress from my original topic... . I think social media allows for a lot more learning, more expression, more creativity. But my point is that while I think there are great things about the modern communication, there lacks of sense of boundaries.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Getting caught up in it all
My boy is growing at a fast pace. Now that spring is here, he demands outside time every day. Often, his first word in the morning is ut-si. Translation... outside.
That has brought me to our next set of purchases. Today specifically, it's a toddler tricycle. The big one, at least around here, are Kettler trikes. The most expensive model retails for some $250. Less expensive brands like Radio Flyer and Little Tykes brands carry similar looking trikes for $70. So is the price difference worth it?
I wish there was a way to directly compare all these products. Yes, you can read people's reviews, but it's a different story to touch and roll these trikes. The one big disadvantage of some much product being sold on the Internet is that there are few places to see these products in person. What is great for one child, doesn't mean it's perfect for the next. There are a couple decent videos, but the demos are usually in a store, not in a more realistic setting such as a neighborhood sidewalk. A great service would be to be able to rent items such as this like a library. (But of course, services like this rarely can make enough money to exist.)
And then there's this thought, am I just getting caught up in being like everyone else around here? Ah, that's a discussion for another day I suppose... .
That has brought me to our next set of purchases. Today specifically, it's a toddler tricycle. The big one, at least around here, are Kettler trikes. The most expensive model retails for some $250. Less expensive brands like Radio Flyer and Little Tykes brands carry similar looking trikes for $70. So is the price difference worth it?
I wish there was a way to directly compare all these products. Yes, you can read people's reviews, but it's a different story to touch and roll these trikes. The one big disadvantage of some much product being sold on the Internet is that there are few places to see these products in person. What is great for one child, doesn't mean it's perfect for the next. There are a couple decent videos, but the demos are usually in a store, not in a more realistic setting such as a neighborhood sidewalk. A great service would be to be able to rent items such as this like a library. (But of course, services like this rarely can make enough money to exist.)
And then there's this thought, am I just getting caught up in being like everyone else around here? Ah, that's a discussion for another day I suppose... .
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