Getting ready!

First, I totally recognize that my blog has turned into a pregnancy blog. Sorry. I know quite a few of my friends are not pregnant/don't have kids and are probably sick of hearing about me having gas or seeing my belly. I don't want to be that girl, but alas, my life does kind of revolve around the life growing inside me and I enjoy sharing the ups and downs with you. I hope you keep following our journey into parenthood, we do appreciate all our readers!

I will first post a picture of poor Hutch and Craig. Craig has gotten into the habit of holding Hutch on his shoulders. The cat doesn't seem to particularly enjoy it...but does tolerate it well. You tell me, does it look like Hutch is trying to get away???
So, my friend KJ, pointed me to the direction of mamabargains the other week. I didn't really understand the website at first, but quickly caught on that it's a pretty neat site to get deals. I already clip coupons like a pro and am always looking for deals, so I liked the site. I didn't particularly go nuts with the site, but I did happen upon something that piqued my interest one day.

I read reviews before I purchased the item and was impressed with the overall package. The price was still high, but I am quickly realizing that most things baby-related are pricey. I took the plunge and purchased my first baby item: a stroller that will fit our baby from six months - four-five years old. Since Craig commented on how I am never in pictures (ahem, I am always behind the camera), he snapped one of me with the stroller. According to doctors, I am 21.5 weeks along in this picture. Yeah, I feel I just look fat. (Oh, and please excuse my messy desk!)
Now for the fun part. Check out the shocks on this thing! We can take this stroller on rugged terrain and the baby won't get whiplash. In addition, there is tons of storage on this puppy, as well as the ability to full recline the baby. It also came with a rain cover and I can purchase a mosquito net if I feel like it.
Not impressed yet? No? Well, if I want to become one of those parents who takes our baby from car seat directly to the stroller, I can also purchase a base that snaps on to the frame (everything in orange and black completely removes from the frame) and attach the car seat to the stroller. Although I admit that I think I am going to be wearing our daughter when running errands...I think babies should be held as much as they can (does anyone have any good sling recommendations for me?). However, the option is nice to have since I really don't know what life-with-baby will bring. The stroller weighs only 20 pounds and is easy to collapse, as long as the swivel front wheel is in the right place. (Hutch was very fascinated by the collapsed stroller).
I also love the fact that everything is removable and washable. Babies can have messes, smelly messes, and tossing this in the wash will be nice. Especially since the color will show stains (I do love the orange though!)

The next item up on mamabargains was the carrycot that also attaches to the stroller frame. The carrycot holds a child from birth to six months and will also double as our bassinet for the first few months of our little girl's life. This is the carrycot assembled to snap to the stroller.
This is the carrycot shown to be a bassinet. I love the fact that we won't need to purchase something separate for the baby to sleep in while she is still in our room. I'm way too leery of co-sleeping, but I will want her close by those first few months when night feedings will take over my life.
We'll have the bassinet ready to snap on to the stroller frame until she is able to be placed in the orange carrier. The carrycot did come with both the rain cover and mosquito net, so she can start enjoying outdoors while she's still very young. And if she's jaundiced, I know we'll be taking her for walks.

I know the colors don't match and I really prefer the orange versus the green, but I waited too long to go to mamabargains and the orange was sold out. It's not a big deal since everything on the orange stroller option comes off when it's time to convert the frame to a carrycot stroller.

So, that's my first baby purchase. I don't think the stroller is typically the first item purchased, but I took advantage of a bargain and I think I did well.

Little by little, we're preparing for life with child. I'm excited!