Preludes And Nocturnes

So Jim, being Jim, has been reading up on various developmental books and stuff on genetics and whatnot with the beeb being grown right now.

He has found some studies suggesting that what the mother eats late in her pregnancy can predisposition the beeb into having a more widely accepting palate both early and later in life.  The more variety of foods the mom eats, the more likely that the beeb will be receptive to different foods (understanding that there is a period where the beeb will get fussy and hate everything).  I hit the fussy stage hard core and survived an early life on white bread with mayo (only) sandwiches.  Anyhoo, Jim now likes to take this opportunity to make me lots of different food and buy lots of neat things from the market for us to eat.  When we were in Vancouver we went for Japanese, Thai, and African food.  I have taken to calling this “flavoring the beeb”.  Usually followed by the statement “so when we cook him up later, he will be yummy!”

I shall now go eat some basil.

Hee!

Please note - my link is in the sidebar (oh, and I have a new link button I need to upload.. one day) - but here it is here too.

Okay, I’ve now made a listing for both a 3×3 and a 2×2 set of notecards. I’m wondering about if I need to include a perspective shot to really illustrate HOW CUTE the cards are!

Observe the 3×3 and 2×2 next to a regular 4.25×5.5 card:

The 2×2 I’ve listed at $4.50 for 10. I offer to stamp Thank You, I love you, or best wishes for free in the 2×2. I’ve also offered custom content in the 3×3 for a small fee - such as “handmade by rather crafty” or whatever as long as it will fit.

So questions:

What do I charge for the custom content?

Are these prices making sense?

And if you have a business, would you want something like this to send out with your products? (Please note, I’m not asking if you want me to make you cards, I’m asking if this is something people would like in theory. I don’t want anyone feeling like if they say “yes, this is good” that will mean I’ll send them an invoice… if you would like a set for real I’ll offer all my blog readers a special if they let me know they are wanting to have a set made.)

Actually, I’m wanting to get a bit more listed this month and then I’m going to offer all my bloggy type friends a discount if they’d like to buy from the shop. I’m just working on getting the listings up, getting my regular prices established, and THEN I’ll figure out all this other stuff

Good thing to remember, at any time I can alter my prices in the shop and people cannot see what I used to charge. I know one friend who soon saw that she was undercharging and just changed everything. This is good for me to remember that I’m not set in stone for all of eternity!

I have just posted some cute little mini-cards on my etsy shop.  Can you all please give me feedback on the price?  I listed them at $5 but have considered pricing them a little higher.  No envelopes with these ones, just 10 little cards (3×3) with the option of something stamped inside.

I’ll be asking you guys a variety of questions over the next little while.  I’m wanting to list a bunch more single cards and then have an option for buying three for a discount.  I am listing my single cards at $4 and figured I’d do sets of three for $10 - ie: buy two and get the third for half price.

What I wondered then is if I should bump my sets of three to $10 *or* leave them as a “discount” because they are already a set.

Or.. do I slowly just start relisting my various cards as singles as they expire and get rid of the sets completely?

Okay, more questions will come.. but this will get us all started.

xxoo

First off, I am.

Happy that is.

Thank goodness as I’ve been a bit of a bummer lately.

Okay, so did I tell you all that I found a Vancouver based website that carries all the diapers I want to get (dream list) so the pressure is off for international ordering.  I might be getting an inside line on some used via Annika, but if that doesn’t pan out I’m good with the online.  Second awesome part is that I found a LOCAL STORE that has a whole bunch of what I want new for more money, but less worry.  If I suddenly NEED something, it is there.  It is next to the wonderful store that makes me dinner when Jim is busy with work or something like that.  (Side note, best dinner place ever. They used to be caterers and now they make up wonderful dishes and freeze them and also have a selection of fresh options each day. Today I got for our dinner coconut curry chicken and marinaded veggies.  YUM!  They even sell rice or cornbread if you don’t want to do that part either.)

So yeah, the beeb store in town (not the place selling the death-trap strollers) has Bummis and Kushies.  This includes the five pack of Kushies all in ones, 6 pack Kushies prefolds infant, Kushies diaper covers, Bummis Whisper wrap covers, Bamboozle (?) or something like that by Bummis, and other assorted goodies.  Also I can register with them for any baby showers.  They also carry awesome used beeb clothes for $1.99 a piece.  Amazing onesies and and cute little outfits.

WHOO!

So we were in Vancouver for the past five days (hi Yonners!) and had a wonderful time.  We wandered downtown, visited friends, ate mucho sushi, had Thai, Ethiopian, more sushi, went to Belly & Beyond where I bought another WONDERFUL pair of jeans with the full belly thing that comes up to my armpits.  So comfy I think I might just keep wearing them - at least for big dinners like Christmas and Thanksgiving And two new to me tops that are super cute and funky.

Add to this a care package from Jill that arrived today with more maternity wear - and I think I’m going to make it through to June!  Especially as Jill send some shorts and some t-shirts.  Whew!

It is starting to piss me off.  I like the idea of used.  I think sometimes there is this feeling that everything has to be new, and this just isn’t the case.  I like the idea of items getting a full use, getting used up.

Beeb just kicked me so he agrees.

But buying stuff used is pissing me off.  Actually, many things are pissing me off these days as I think I’m very grumpy.  Please note, I’m officially on Reading Break.  I think the universe (University?) caught wind of my cranky-pants attitude and has thrown me a bone.  Praise jeebus.

So I went to buy the beautiful stroller from the shop today.  My first big purchase and it is lovely.  I love it.  Graco Quattro Deluxe or Extreme or some other slighly overstated adjective.  All in all, it was in chocolate paisely which I love.  Rolled it up to the front  and started looking at it.  Really looking at it.

“erm, isn’t there supposed to be a top to the harness so newborn doesn’t go flying out and break their head?”

It is missing.  Oh for the love of pete!  And the owner had stood there showing it off to us yesterday.  Clerk tries to hum and haw over this is why it is the price it is…

Excuse me? It is that price because it is UNSAFE?  WTF??

If I wasn’t so pissed I would have laughed in her face while saying “yeah OKAY!! Good effort!”  But instead I walked out pissed off and trying not to cry.  As noted earlier this week, that is what I do now, I cry over things.

Then I try to inquire online to a local woman about some diapers and end up in one of those things where suddenly I’m signed up to buy a bunch of used diapers I don’t know that I really want for more money than I was willing to spend right now… and they are used.  I mean, I want some more used diapers and I’m buying them locally as I find them (getting a little selection so I can see what I like), but all of a sudden I’m like “er, how did I agree to this?”

So then I have to email her back and say that I’m not needing her diapers.  And I’m grumpy again.  On the up side, I found some covers at the consignment shop for about $2 each and got a couple different styles so I can have a nice selection to try out when beeb arrives.

Man I’m grumpy.

To counter this and help with my insanity (I am totally insane lately), Jim and Julia both suggested - independently thus indicating that I’m radiating crazy lately and those around me are trying to fix it/me - that I set a budget for baby stuff and then just chill.  So Jim and I did that yesterday and also agreed that I needn’t worry about going back to work in September, that I chill about the house, and that I just buy what I’m wanting/needing for the baby.  I won’t go overboard because, well, I’m me.  So I’m ordering some new diapers and I think that will make me happy.

Welcome to the blog post known as “crazy brain”.

In other news, my prenatal went well yesterday and my belly is right on track and the beeb looks awesome on the ultrasound report and WHOO!

This week I’m ordering things online - new.  Yay.

Marking papers and quizzes. Kitties like to help so very very much! In both of these cases (two different days) I had been sitting in the chair right here working when the kitties came to see what I was up to. Chuck likes the sleep, Rupert likes the pens.

Thanks everyone, I’m feeling much better.  I have found the past few days I wander around saying me and my beeby boy and rub my belly. I love rubbing my belly - this is the firmest it has ever been, I think!
In other news, I feel huge.  Like, waddling huge.  I can’t roll over because of my hip/back and I make very un-ladylike noises trying to get up from the couch.  I get chalk on my belly in the classroom, I bump things with it, and it sticks out from my jackets.  HA!

I’m going to need an advanced pulley system by seven months in order to get out of bed or off the couch.  It will be a three ring circus, I tell ya!

So my belly has totally popped out more.  Weird thing is, I’m not gaining any more weight lately.  In total I’ve gained 9lbs, none this past week, but the past three days I’ve moved out of a number of pants.  My jeans, my new black pants *sigh* - both no go any longer.  All my pj bottoms hurt me, and yesterday my cute little low-rise panties informed me they were not going to be able to serve me any longer.

What the heck!!
(Of course, this is where Jim says “er, well you ARE pregnant…”)

Three of the nice transition tops I’ve been making due with also informed me today that they would no longer be comfy.  And the worst part of it all is that stuff hurts to wear it.  It rides up, it cuts, and it gives me tummy aches.  So, I have boxes some stuff up and just moved it to the spare closet.

So mom and I went out today and The Bay (Canadian department store) had their Mat wear on for 50% off!!  Yipee!!

I got a pair of mat jeans (real jeans! Not just blue polyester pants!) a cute top and the CUTEST dress ever!  It is black with little white flowery things all over, silky smooth, comfy as all get-out, and was already discounted so it came to less than $20 with the 50% off! It has a real flowy feel to it and actually looks awesome with my new jeans under it too.  You know that look, right?  I’m wearing the dress tomorrow with my new tights, (new unders - thanks mom!), and my knee-high black boots. I looked at the Maternity panties at The Bay and they were so ugly (they didn’t have the lower mat panties, only the super-GRANNY ones.  They made granny panties look like thongs. So we went to Pennington’s Plus Wear and got some 3x panties with little poodles and eiffle towers on them!)

I also bought a new pair of pjs in Plus Size which can also serve as lounge wear.  I’m lounging right now.  Grey drawstring pants with a HUGE t-shirt top.  Beeb and I are so comfy right now!

I now have three pair of official maternity pants, so I hope that will get me through along with the maternity shorts my friend is sending me.

I had not realized how much work the clothing part of this would be [/naive].  But I hope this latest batch will round things out enough so I can get through fairly well from here.  I have a pair of dress pants, jeans, black stretchy pants, seven maternity tops, unders, tights, and pjs.  I don’t want to talk about needing to get a new bra.  I’m not ready for that yet…

So what is your take on sharing with others on the whole naming process? We have had some friends recommend not sharing as one will encounter negatives before-hand that would never be appropriate after the beeb is out and officially carrying that branding.

What did you do, what would you do…

Right now we have about six names. We have two we both really like. We each have one/two that we like and the other says “meh”.

In other news, I think I’m no longer in shock about the “boy” part of this equation. I realised that I really really thought it was a girl. And then I felt guilty. I actually started crying at the ultra-sound but I think the tech thought it was the happy cry and I don’t think Jim noticed because of how we were sitting. I have had crazy guilt over the last two days about how much I wanted a girl. Boy scare me, I don’t understand how it all works (boy life). So already I’m feeling like a bad mom. And I don’t understand because a boy is wonderful and boys are wonderful, but I really thought it was a girl. So I have been really confused the last couple days.

Plus, you know, being pregnant already makes me a teeny bit insane.  But yeah, I think I’m settling down a little on the boy thing.  And I know so many great little boys, and I look forward to raising a neat kid.  I was shocked though.  More than I would have expected.

Insane.

So on to consumerism. Looking for advice on how to pick up some quality used baby items!

xxoo

And he is not shy

I just tried to drive to work (night class 40 min away) and ended up in one of the worst drives ever. And I’m Canadian… really, I DO snowy roads.

I had a fully-loaded flatbed truck end up spinning around and facing me before it slid off the road and then had to drive another 15 minutes to get to a spot to turn around to head home. There was no way I was waiting until 9pm tonight to make the return trip. It took me 25 minutes to get to a spot about ten minutes down the highway. So yeah, round trip was about an hour and I only got just out of town.

The getting back home I ended up in a bit of a situation with three other cars… as the one pin-balled off the meridian and then skid backwards down the hill towards me, I had this tight pain in my stomach - across the bottom. Myself and the car ahead of me ended up off the road and skidding out to avoid the truck sliding sideways down the hill.

I’m fine, I got home. I’m feeling all shakey and cry-y. I’m okay now, no pain, no cramps - just a little crying.

And the part that peeves me off the most, is it kinda ruins my happy day - we signed for our house today and confirmed we’re buying this amazing home for us and the kitties and the beeb.

Stupid fecking snow.

I am going to my doctor tomorrow and just get him to check out the beeb.