Baby gifts

Well I registered on target.com but I wasn't able to add some things to the registry through their site, like diapers. Maybe I'll go to the store and add those things. Anyways, after creating the registry, I tried searching for it and "Wendy Kelley" didn't bring up mine. What will work, though, is if you type in the ID number: 014399700857333.

Newborn Essentials

My baby shower(s) would probably be held in January/February, and I was thinking about ways that people can coordinate their gifts. Since not everyone lives near a Target, I don't think that a gift registry would be the best idea. Based on what I read on the internet, this is a list of things that I still need to have or borrow:

hundreds of diapers: disposable and/or cloth
infinite wipes
rash cream
baby first-aid kit
baby nail clippers
baby soap

nursing bras (my pregnant bra size is 36C, pre-pregnancy 34B)
nursing pads
nipple cream
breast pump: manual or electric
bottles
burp cloths

2 sets of crib sheets
swaddling blankets
pacifiers
baby monitor
bouncy seat

new car seat or combination car seat + stroller

4 onesies
4 pajamas
3 outfits
5 pairs socks/booties


If you get or promise something, reply to this post as anonymous and I'll remove/check the item(s) from this working list.

The Temple

It is suggested that endowed church members should visit the temple monthly. But, Steve and I haven't gone to the temple together for 6 months since before I was pregnant. But now that I'm not throwing up anymore and I can go longer without food, it was probably about time for us to go again. I am 27 out of 40 weeks pregnant, or six months, with a girl that I may name Crystal. Due March 7.

At tithing settlement last Wednesday, the Bishop reminded us to go to the temple. So, during church on Sunday, I wrote a note to Stephen about possibly going to the temple on Tuesday night and he wrote back that we'll plan on it for now.

Last night was the Tuesday night and as soon as Steve got home from work, we got dressed and left at about 5:30. First, we ate some dinner at Checkers and then we left for the temple. The colored lights at the Temple were pretty but we had neglected to bring the camera. While we were changing, Steve had to switch to a different size of temple pants because his normal jeans size ended up being too small.

We made it just in time for the 7:00 session. We planned on a Tuesday night instead of a Saturday because I figured that the session would take less time so that my bladder wouldn't explode. I kept a little baggy of goldfish crackers in my pocket just-in-case I needed some nourishment. There were only 7 of us in there. I looked as we walked past the clock after the session ended and it was 8:40 and we made it home at around 9:30--about bed time. So, it appears that one should set aside 4 hours for a temple trip on a Tuesday night.

Every Sunday, after an hour-long sacrament meeting, I have to sprint to the bathroom. I was surprised that my bladder wasn't exploding after 1 hour and 40 minutes in the temple session. So, I guess that, this was either an answer to a prayer or a result after a full day of work without drinking enough water... or both?

Future Plans

I started worrying again early this morning that we'll have to move into Steve's parents house if I chose not to work after the baby comes. The baby is due in March, in 14 weeks, and I feel that it's extremely important for me to fulfill the responsibility of raising my own child and not give her up to daycare.

So, whenever I start worrying too much about finances, I start doing research and create a survival plan. Perhaps we could buy a 3-bedroom house and have mortgage payments that are less than the rent for our one-bedroom apartment. We can be eligible to receive government assistance through the programs:
Prince George's County's Down payment on Your Dream which basically provides 3.5% of the home value if the home is within 5 miles of work or 7% if the home is in one of the "trouble" zip codes.
Federal Housing Tax Credit which gives the lesser of 10% or $8000 in a tax return.

So this is my latest survival plan:

1. Continue saving up $20,000. Accomplished by February.

If Steve never finds a new/better job by February:

2. Contact a "Down payment on Your Dream" participating lender and get pre-approved
for a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage for a $100,000 house with 20% down-payment.

3. Attending a HUD housing counseling course.

4. Start searching for vacant foreclosed homes within 5 miles of Adelphi, where Steve works, with 3+ bedrooms that are under $100,000. It appears that many of these homes are in Hyattsville. Online listings.

5. Work with a Real Estate Agent to place a contract on a property for which I can be pre-approved.

6. Return to lender with the sale contract and apply for mortgage and "Down payment on Your Dream" loan.

7. Claim the purchase on our tax return forms before April so that we can receive the $8000 first-time home buyer federal tax credit. Use the tax credit to repair/restore the home.

8. Upgrade to a better house/neighborhood in 5 years when Steve makes more money and repay the "Dream" loan. If we space our children 2 years apart then we'll have our 4th (and final?) child in 6 years when our first one is 6 years old. I think that I want to be in a better area before the oldest kid enters 5th grade or so, before middle school. But, if the neighborhood and schools are safe and good enough already then we could stay in the house forever and save money up for college and missions and so forth.

If Steve gets a new/better job before February:

Depending on his new pay, we may be able to afford something up to $150,000 and do only a 13% down payment. If PG's county is within 5 miles of new job, try to get the "Down payment on Your Dream" loan. If not, then research for other local down payment/closing cost assistance. Still get pre-approved for a mortgage, find a home, place a contract, apply for the mortgage, and claim the purchase on the federal tax return forms.


Other news: We are probably switching health insurance to Steve's work's, meaning that we will no longer be with Kaiser starting the beginning of January. We will have Oxford/USA Health. So once we get the materials next year, we'll chose a different obstetrician and perhaps change my birthing hospital/center.