You want whack?
Nov. 6th, 2004 09:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kyburgThere is nothing - or very few things, you've got to admit - weirder than assembling a crib, going out on a mad dash through the thrift stores for crib bedding and an infant carseat like you were 9.5 months pregnant, ready to pop RIGHT EFFING NOW -
And you're on your period.
I've heard from the state licensing office - they're ready to inspect the house for their records. Talking with the worker on the phone, I got a significant punchlist of items I had to have ready for her, which included having the crib set up, dressed and ready to use if I wanted to be licensed for children 0-2 years of age.
Now, I have to admit, I'm pretty sure nobody is going to offer us an infant. Less than 10% - but everyone tells me I'm likely to be wrong. Frankly, I'm fair certain our adoptive child will be older than 13.
Me, with a baby? I'd be thrilled - but. Suuuuuuure.
But you gotta do, if you want the range. And we do.
So I dragged out the crib my sister "lent" me over five years ago, and I've kept in storage - cleaned it up, checked to make sure I have all the pieces (there's a screw cover missing that I'll need to replace) and Jim put it together today.
We had to move the computer out of the guest room, actually had to take it down entirely, but we were able to move the crib into its place. I didn't have any linens, of course.
And I have to have an infant carseat as well.
I'm going to be putting together the eBay yard sale for general funds later this week - suffice it to say, I'm not going to be going to Babies R Us for anything today.
I hit the thrift stores. It was most satisfying.
I found five crib sheets, two mattress pads, four bumpers (one with a matching comforter) and a receiving blanket for about $45. The infant carseat? Nearly-new Grayco for $16. Perfect condition - and it's one of the ones with the detachable base and padded insert for really teeny infants that allows for some growth. Best part, that Goodwill had child carseats just sitting there - looks like they get a lot of them. No worries. I've been restoring child seats since 1987 when I worked at Avis -
$16. And it might as well be new. I've also got a hand-crocheted afghan I made in my teens I need to get out, and I can make some more flannel receiving blankets out of the fabric stock I've got in storage. And some silk-topped patchwork quilts out of the swatches from when I worked for the necktie manufacturer.
EDIT: HOLY CHROME. This is the one I got - different print. That's all. With shipping, that bugger would be over $100.
This is, of course, when I finish the housework. I also needed to put another smoke detector up - and Cedric came over and helped out with that.
Jim's working both nights this weekend.
*sighs* I've also had to give up trying to put together a Thanksgiving dinner at my house this year like I did last - Mom is going to either be in surgery, or have just come out of it the week of Thanksgiving. If they schedule her afterward, so be it - but it just doesn't look likely.
Doesn't that sound like fun? Big, huge, honking surgery - long recovery period - a bit more than dicey due to cardiac status and age, and here we are in the middle of the holidays! Oh, and the hospital is two hours away from me. Yippee.
There are days when I wonder if I'm really female. If I cut my hair the right away, put a rib brace on and dragged out the clothes a bit, there'd be little trouble as long as I kept my mouth shut.
But then that day rolls around and God tells you without a doubt, you're female. Wish it had more to do with something romantic, thank you. (This month, the lower GI tract decided to get in on the act as well.)
And being sick this week was just not in the plan.
And you're on your period.
I've heard from the state licensing office - they're ready to inspect the house for their records. Talking with the worker on the phone, I got a significant punchlist of items I had to have ready for her, which included having the crib set up, dressed and ready to use if I wanted to be licensed for children 0-2 years of age.
Now, I have to admit, I'm pretty sure nobody is going to offer us an infant. Less than 10% - but everyone tells me I'm likely to be wrong. Frankly, I'm fair certain our adoptive child will be older than 13.
Me, with a baby? I'd be thrilled - but. Suuuuuuure.
But you gotta do, if you want the range. And we do.
So I dragged out the crib my sister "lent" me over five years ago, and I've kept in storage - cleaned it up, checked to make sure I have all the pieces (there's a screw cover missing that I'll need to replace) and Jim put it together today.
We had to move the computer out of the guest room, actually had to take it down entirely, but we were able to move the crib into its place. I didn't have any linens, of course.
And I have to have an infant carseat as well.
I'm going to be putting together the eBay yard sale for general funds later this week - suffice it to say, I'm not going to be going to Babies R Us for anything today.
I hit the thrift stores. It was most satisfying.
I found five crib sheets, two mattress pads, four bumpers (one with a matching comforter) and a receiving blanket for about $45. The infant carseat? Nearly-new Grayco for $16. Perfect condition - and it's one of the ones with the detachable base and padded insert for really teeny infants that allows for some growth. Best part, that Goodwill had child carseats just sitting there - looks like they get a lot of them. No worries. I've been restoring child seats since 1987 when I worked at Avis -
$16. And it might as well be new. I've also got a hand-crocheted afghan I made in my teens I need to get out, and I can make some more flannel receiving blankets out of the fabric stock I've got in storage. And some silk-topped patchwork quilts out of the swatches from when I worked for the necktie manufacturer.
EDIT: HOLY CHROME. This is the one I got - different print. That's all. With shipping, that bugger would be over $100.
This is, of course, when I finish the housework. I also needed to put another smoke detector up - and Cedric came over and helped out with that.
Jim's working both nights this weekend.
*sighs* I've also had to give up trying to put together a Thanksgiving dinner at my house this year like I did last - Mom is going to either be in surgery, or have just come out of it the week of Thanksgiving. If they schedule her afterward, so be it - but it just doesn't look likely.
Doesn't that sound like fun? Big, huge, honking surgery - long recovery period - a bit more than dicey due to cardiac status and age, and here we are in the middle of the holidays! Oh, and the hospital is two hours away from me. Yippee.
There are days when I wonder if I'm really female. If I cut my hair the right away, put a rib brace on and dragged out the clothes a bit, there'd be little trouble as long as I kept my mouth shut.
But then that day rolls around and God tells you without a doubt, you're female. Wish it had more to do with something romantic, thank you. (This month, the lower GI tract decided to get in on the act as well.)
And being sick this week was just not in the plan.
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no subject
Date: 2004-11-06 11:23 pm (UTC)If you've got any old single-bed sheets, or find those cheaper, they can easily be hacked up into crib sheets. Cut 'em in half, elasticize corners as neeed. (or is it thirds?) I helped a friend put together extra bedding for her babies that way. If you leave the elastic on the bottom ends of the "top sheets" it's easier to keep them tucked in, too. (Strangely, that family had the same carseat. I guess it's popular. I had a heck of a time trying to disassemble/reassemble that thing without a manual or experience! But eventually the daddy and I got most of the washable parts out and laundered, and before the baby arrived, even!)
no subject
Date: 2004-11-07 07:57 am (UTC)Car seats are a snap - literally. Take nothing for granted - make sure everything snaps together securely (I throw them HARD onto concrete surfaces before using them) - and you're gravy.
And they are simple enough for anyone to use. They have to be.
no subject
Date: 2004-11-06 11:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-11-07 07:58 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-11-07 02:18 pm (UTC)Basiclaly it's a three page excel workbook, pretty basic, but it's effective. I can send it to you if you'd like.
no subject
Date: 2004-11-07 03:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-11-07 04:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-11-07 01:42 am (UTC)I want to consult with you on restoring carseats sometime in the future.
no subject
Date: 2004-11-07 08:00 am (UTC)And you operate the bugger until you are satisfied that it is secure - however that might be.
no subject
Date: 2004-11-07 03:51 am (UTC)Good luck to you, dear. You deserve to have a young'un toddling about the house...
no subject
Date: 2004-11-07 08:01 am (UTC)It would be all good, far as I'm concerned, though!
no subject
Date: 2004-11-07 06:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-11-07 08:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-11-07 08:04 am (UTC)I hope things work out for your mom...what a rotten time for surgery.
Get better goblins are being sent with chicken soup and various concoctions.
no subject
Date: 2004-11-07 08:22 am (UTC)Hang in there with school, you - no fun, but you gotta do it.
Yeah, rotten time - and that's being PC about it.
no subject
Date: 2004-11-08 06:14 pm (UTC)Just be sure to check the expiration date on the car seat - I've got a certified car seat technician
PS: I might have extra stuff from Alan who is 2, if you need it.
no subject
Date: 2004-11-08 09:54 pm (UTC)Checked the Graco website - I think I'm good to go, so far!