So, this is baby #3 for me, but baby #1 for my husband, and there is a big gap in there between my youngest and this one. So this means that I no longer had any baby stuff left over. I really didn't think I would have any more and didn't want to hold on to all of that stuff even if I eventually did.
Starting out with absolutely nothing for a baby I have managed to amass a giant pile of stuff already (FREE! mostly). And I still need to pick up the crib and a few various other things people have for me. Another friend randomly texted me the other day saying she had a bunch of girl clothes for me, too.
I am planning on having at least one shower and one blessingway, based on friends who have asked to throw these. I don't mind at all, though I am trying to figure out the best way to make sure that anyone who will attend these events knows that "reduce, reuse, recycle" is really our thing. I don't anyone to feel obligated to bring a gift, though it's generally a given for showers, but I do want to let people know that if they would like to gift us with something what types of things would be really useful.
I registered at babiesrus.com and I think I can put a note on my registry. I'm not sure how long it can be, though, right now it just says "it's a girl"
I don't know, I always hate the idea of those cards you stick in invites letting people know where you are registered.
I was thinking of maybe having my hostess make cards to add into the invites that says something like "Gently used or thrifted clothing and blankets, chlorine free disposables and BPA free bottles, Similac Organic, or a yummy meal for the new parents freezer are all very welcome gifts. If you are stuck for ideas you can also visit the registry at babiesrus.com"
Ugh, I don't know. I don't want to sound pushy, either. But I really don't want to end up with things like bottles or diapers that are not the types I plan to exclusively use. I do feel strongly about only using certain types of items for health and environmental reasons.
My first choice is hand me downs, in order to make less of an impact in the use of materials and pollutants, the exceptions to this being bottles that are not BPA free and plastic toys, I really don't want plastic toys that will be chewed on, unless I know the grade and manufacturer. The things that can't be gotten used, like the diapers, I feel strongly about adding as little waste as I can (ha, of course, not doing cloth that I wash myself this time is kind of the antithesis of this, no?)
I don't know, I have this weird feeling about having a shower or 3 this time around (mom friends from my original AP playgroup that I've know since Max was born is doing the blessingway thing during a weekend getaway that us moms are having this summer with the kids) (a couple's thing with my friends from our day to day group of good friends that my goodest friend wants to throw) (possibly a separate for family, I generally think a family one is good separated, I would like to have a small traditional girl kind with Chris' step-mother and her mother, his step-sister, etc, and invite my mother to this one... ugh, that stresses me out to even think about, yeah, better separate)... But I've always been this way. AND heck, I had a wedding shower for my 2nd marriage (my first actual wedding, though)
But I think if I can get our message across on what we need and would like then I don't feel like anyone would be put out and it will give everyone a lot of flexibility in finding us something without feeling pressured to spend a lot of money.
I have a couple of things on the registry like the car seat and stroller that are a little more, but we have the initial stuff we need already so it's not a big deal if we don't have it when the baby is born. Those things are for the benefit of specific family members that I know all too well to have money they would like to spend on this baby and by all means if they're going to do it anyway I figured I would give them something to get :p
I know people will get what they get anyway, but I just want to gently nudge people in our preferred direction.
Thoughts? How would you do this?
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4 comments:
You know, when my son turned 1, i put a little typed piece of paper in with his invitations that said
"In the interest of conservation, we would like to encourage those planning on bringing birthday gifts to consider purchasing used gifts. Once Upon a Child and ebay.com are excellent resources for finding gently used clothes and toys in excellent condition."
Not everyone brought used stuff, but a lot of people did and i was glad not only to reduce the consumerism, but also to help out the wallets of my friends.
As far as the special bottles and diapers you want, though, i don't know how you'd word that.
I can't imagine having 3 showers for one child. I've had no showers for 3 children... I know showers are standard behavior when pregnant and insane, but I've just never bothered to do it for myself, nor had anyone around to do it for me.
What about the option of having a gathering that doesn't scream "bring a gift" and yet still celebrates the coming baby?
Great way to put it, pianomomscicle! There is a local cosignment shop that I love that I would like to send people in the direction of, so I will include that on there. Meh, with the diapers and bottles, I'll just leave them on the registry so people who may want to purchase that type of thing can find them.
Well, jin, as I pointed out in my clarifying post, I really don't see it as "pregnant and insane". Sorry you didn't get an opportunity to celebrate any of your kids in that way.
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