I just got home from the ward's baby shower for me.
Things that I have enough of now: newborn onesies, newborn nightwear, receiving blankets, burp rags, towels, crib sheets, and a car seat. Thank you!
Things that I still need: diapers and wipes, rash ointment, rubbing alcohol and cotton swabs, baby soap, sponges, baby first-aid kit, breast pump, bottles and bottle brush, nursing pads, pacifiers, 6 month clothes, baby monitor, toys...
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Home Search 2
Well, Prince George's county just announced that it is running out of money for its NSP (Neighborhood Stabilization Program). So, I guess that we now can no longer get the $3000 from them for buying a foreclosure. Oh well.
We plan on going out one more time to visit houses on Saturday before making a decision on one. It appears that the only affordable ones are where the public schools (Templeton EM) and the crime (burglaries/car thefts) are a little worse than other areas. After moving there, if I can't get our first kid into the Robert Goddard Montessori school, then I would probably resort to homeschooling. We'll see.
Anyways, if we got a 3 bedroom house, I was thinking that we'd only live in it for 6 years before getting something bigger. So, perhaps a 4 bedroom house with some storage space would be more ideal for a longer term. I have no idea how many children we're going to have or how room-sharing would work out among the number of girls/boys. In any case, the house that we get will also require some repairs before it can be livable.
Our favorite house so far is in Riverdale with 2 bedrooms on the main floor, and 3 bedrooms in a finished basement for $89,900. It also has a huge attic with floorboards in it. Things that would need fixing/replacing: the three cracked radiators, all the broken basement windows, and the moldy wall. The hardwood floors will also need a refinishing. We'll need to see if something needs to be done to the gigantic tree threatening the power lines and other people's houses. Anyways, I don't want to spend more than $5000 on the necessary repairs. If we decide on it, we'd need to get a couple of professionals to check it out first.
We plan on going out one more time to visit houses on Saturday before making a decision on one. It appears that the only affordable ones are where the public schools (Templeton EM) and the crime (burglaries/car thefts) are a little worse than other areas. After moving there, if I can't get our first kid into the Robert Goddard Montessori school, then I would probably resort to homeschooling. We'll see.
Anyways, if we got a 3 bedroom house, I was thinking that we'd only live in it for 6 years before getting something bigger. So, perhaps a 4 bedroom house with some storage space would be more ideal for a longer term. I have no idea how many children we're going to have or how room-sharing would work out among the number of girls/boys. In any case, the house that we get will also require some repairs before it can be livable.
Our favorite house so far is in Riverdale with 2 bedrooms on the main floor, and 3 bedrooms in a finished basement for $89,900. It also has a huge attic with floorboards in it. Things that would need fixing/replacing: the three cracked radiators, all the broken basement windows, and the moldy wall. The hardwood floors will also need a refinishing. We'll need to see if something needs to be done to the gigantic tree threatening the power lines and other people's houses. Anyways, I don't want to spend more than $5000 on the necessary repairs. If we decide on it, we'd need to get a couple of professionals to check it out first.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Home Search
On Saturday, Steve and I attended a home buyer's course. Yesterday, we looked at 5 bank-owned houses with our agent. It was a new experience for us. I think that we might go out one more time to look at a few more before deciding on one. I'm looking for a 3+ bedrooms for under $100,000.
I'd like to buy something before April 30th so that we can get the $8000 federal tax credit. I was thinking that we can use that money to help pay the monthly payments for two years or until Steve gets a raise or a new job. We have about $15000 saved up so far that I would like to use on repairs and as a large down payment so that we could earn more equity faster.
One thing to watch carefully is the property tax. The last house we looked at was pretty sweet and had a low price but it was in Bladensburg where there is an additional city tax. There is no way I'd pay about $7000 ($600/month) solely on property taxes. We wouldn't have visited it if I noticed this beforehand.
Pregnancy update: 33 weeks pregnant now with 7 weeks left.
We've been attending Lamaze classes. Out of the 6 pregnant women there, even though we are all due around the same week, I seem to be the smallest. Though, my uterus has been measuring well at my prenatal appointments and I've been gaining 1 lb/week. I guess that I just have a small body to start with. I haven't any stretch marks. I almost fainted during the last class. I must not have been drinking enough water during that day.
So far, we scored some baby clothes, a rocker, a boppy, and a crib. I'm happy to accept any other hand-me-downs. Diapers are the most needed, of course. My ward's baby shower for me is for Jan 30. The family+other baby shower Feb 6th?
I'd like to buy something before April 30th so that we can get the $8000 federal tax credit. I was thinking that we can use that money to help pay the monthly payments for two years or until Steve gets a raise or a new job. We have about $15000 saved up so far that I would like to use on repairs and as a large down payment so that we could earn more equity faster.
One thing to watch carefully is the property tax. The last house we looked at was pretty sweet and had a low price but it was in Bladensburg where there is an additional city tax. There is no way I'd pay about $7000 ($600/month) solely on property taxes. We wouldn't have visited it if I noticed this beforehand.
Pregnancy update: 33 weeks pregnant now with 7 weeks left.
We've been attending Lamaze classes. Out of the 6 pregnant women there, even though we are all due around the same week, I seem to be the smallest. Though, my uterus has been measuring well at my prenatal appointments and I've been gaining 1 lb/week. I guess that I just have a small body to start with. I haven't any stretch marks. I almost fainted during the last class. I must not have been drinking enough water during that day.
So far, we scored some baby clothes, a rocker, a boppy, and a crib. I'm happy to accept any other hand-me-downs. Diapers are the most needed, of course. My ward's baby shower for me is for Jan 30. The family+other baby shower Feb 6th?
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
7 Months Pregnant
Nine more weeks left until my due date. I just bought some maternity clothes from the thrift store. If any of you want to get baby gifts, please by all means give us some hand-me-downs rather than buying anything new. There are some higher quality clothing at thrift stores than at target.
My new nurse-midwife felt that the baby's head is down low with the the butt up high. My uterus measured at 30 cm which is good at 31 weeks. I haven't had any swelling and I don't have any stretch marks [yet]. Also, my nipples, apparently, are in good shape for breast feeding and that when I will breast feed that the baby's mouth needs to be over top of the colored parts too. We may go for a tour of the birthing center on Friday. Our Lamaze class starts this Wednesday.
My mom and I haven't had much of a relationship since she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia 15 years ago, but we got to talking a little the other day about pregnancies. I was asking her about her pregnancies and childbirths and I learned some things about her that I never knew.
She had vomiting and had bedridden herself in the first trimester just like I basically did. She said that she had figured out a painless childbirth method for herself that combined Lamaze, hypnosis, and new age music, and that she was willing to teach it to me. It's funny that I just assumed that she had epidurals like everyone else but I guess that her and I are more alike than I had thought.
Steve put his resume on monster.com and he got a call from some bank. I told him that he could have an interview with them anyways but maybe not take the job unless he's willing to have a career change.
We had Steve's parents over for dinner on Sunday and they thought that catfish is a weird idea but they were okay once they tasted it. It's been my favorite fish to eat this past month.
My new nurse-midwife felt that the baby's head is down low with the the butt up high. My uterus measured at 30 cm which is good at 31 weeks. I haven't had any swelling and I don't have any stretch marks [yet]. Also, my nipples, apparently, are in good shape for breast feeding and that when I will breast feed that the baby's mouth needs to be over top of the colored parts too. We may go for a tour of the birthing center on Friday. Our Lamaze class starts this Wednesday.
My mom and I haven't had much of a relationship since she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia 15 years ago, but we got to talking a little the other day about pregnancies. I was asking her about her pregnancies and childbirths and I learned some things about her that I never knew.
She had vomiting and had bedridden herself in the first trimester just like I basically did. She said that she had figured out a painless childbirth method for herself that combined Lamaze, hypnosis, and new age music, and that she was willing to teach it to me. It's funny that I just assumed that she had epidurals like everyone else but I guess that her and I are more alike than I had thought.
Steve put his resume on monster.com and he got a call from some bank. I told him that he could have an interview with them anyways but maybe not take the job unless he's willing to have a career change.
We had Steve's parents over for dinner on Sunday and they thought that catfish is a weird idea but they were okay once they tasted it. It's been my favorite fish to eat this past month.
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