Hand-Me-Downs

When I first heard the words "It's a BOY!" I'd be lying if I said "All I could think about was how many hand-me-downs I'd be getting". Although, the thought did cross my mind after the hospital trip was over and done with.

Monster has a cousin who is a year and a half older then him (Roo), and a soon-to-be best friend Kaders who is about 10 months older then him. You'd think that would mean I'd be swamped with hand-me-down gifts.

Not so.

As you may know I am the proud mother of a Monster (and I say once again, that I use that in the most loving way possible describing his size, not attitude) who is rather large for his age. Therefor, most of the clothes his 2 year old cousin, and 1.4 year old friend are wearing would fit Monster right now. Of course, that's not the case with every single brand of infant clothing. Please Mum, Disney, Carters and Cherokee I've found tend to fit Monster almost perfect for the age suggestion.

Monster and I just got home from visiting in Kelowna, and thankfully we left with one heaping grocery bag of like new hand-me-downs from Kaders. We also left the city with 4 new sleepers, and 3 new shirts. I couldn't pass up Pekkle blanket sleepers from Costco, or the fall sale that Please Mum was having. I live for sales!

I love adding to Monster's wardrobe... But if I can't control myself I will end up bankrupt with only a killer infant wardrobe to show for it!

Note: I realize I am lucky to have any potential hand-me-downs because there are parents who don't have any family or friends living near them, let alone ones that have children close in age. I am grateful!

Gender Determination

When I was pregnant with Monster we chose not to find out his gender via ultrasound before birth. We wanted to keep one of the biggest surprises of our lifetime just that, a surprise.

It definitely worked well for us this time, we have 4 nieces and 1 nephew that we're very close with, who are all under 13. We had more then enough hand-me-downs to sift through before and after my Monster was born. We even painted his bedroom a cheery green color, which I at the time thought was gender neutral, but now realize I must have had that motherly instinct I was about to birth a boy.

I will admit, the surprise ate at my insides. Every time I walked by an infant clothing sales rack I died a little because I couldn't shop for gender specific clothes -yes I too hate yellow- at dirt cheap prices (I love a deal, and usually can't pass it up when it comes to kids clothing)!

We have already decided as a couple that next time I get pregnant we will certainly be finding out the gender of our baby. Not to ruin the greatest surprise of our lifetime, but because it will likely determine if that will be my last pregnancy or not. We decided a long time ago that we will have 2 children, the only exception being if we get two of the same gender right off the bat. We will consider a third in order to have a girl and a boy.

Not that I would be unhappy if I had two little boys running around under my feet, that will grow in to strapping men to hug, love and protect me (along side my husband :D)!