Baby Item SWAP or Exchange

See my blog post below about spending money.....then let me know if you are interested in joining an organized SWAP or Exchange, and I am willing to all that doesn't sell or get traded if you really want to get rid of it.

Thanks!

The Army Crawl

Hudson has mastered Army Crawling. He now can look at something from across the room and determine he wants it. He for the first few days did it with both arms and elbos clasping his hand together and pushing down on his elbows and pulling himself. He now has figured out right armed is much quicker. He has gotten up n his toes much more than his knees and pulling himself around is getting quicker and quicker. I have video I will post as soon as I can edit a few together of the progress.

So baby proofing begins....

He has been using his walker for a few weeks now too and has mastered that as well. He knows how to get from carpet to tile, and over the throw rugs in the hall. He also knows how to back up, he even looks behind him while he is doing it, quite funny. He has figured out how to rotate himself to go another direction if he hits an obstacle or the wall.

He is going to be sooooooo fun once walking on his own!!! We have spend a lot of time at the park and in the back yard kiddy pool to release all this energy.

The other night he figured out how to get to something he wanted, and it was like a switch he couldn't turn off the drive to explore the entire family room. He was non-stop for like an hour. He hit his physical wall at about 930pm and crawled to daddy rubbed his eyes and passed out. It was so cute!

I love him so much, he smiles at me so big and just loves the fact he can do things on his own.

FOOD-
He is taking a bottle now atleast once a day with goats milk and breast milk. Some formula as well if breastmilk isn't in the fridge. It helps add a little more nutrients to the goats milk since it seems to digest fast he is hungry more often without it. He has eaten a few more jars of baby food, but again the second time I try it, he doesn't want it. He ate a lot of pancakes and scrabbles eggs yesturday and then I tried today and he had no interest.

Napping/Sleep
He is great at this, puts himself down for most naps, and even at night when he is really tired. He had a rough spell a few nights ago, but it was only that one night. This morning he woke up at 7:45am and then nursed and went back to bed with me until 10am, daddy had to wake him up because Nanny came for a visit. He must be growing.

My little man is amazing and each and everyday he gets cuter, smarter and more interested in being independent.

Hormones, hormones, hormones.....

Over the last week and a half I have been getting hot flashes, waves of crying and irritability and Andrew of all people has been getting on my nerves! Also I am finally getting good nights of sleep because Hudson is doing great, but when I wake up I am still tired and don't want to do anything. What is happening to me...and when will it stop?

I am not one that has experienced PMS, or atleast anything like this. I may have gotten a few cramps the day before my monthly friend, but nothing like this. At the most I get migraines....nothing else. So why the hormone influction now? I am still breastfeeding and Hudson is sleeping more so the supply is changing. Why does it have to be such a dramatic swing of emotions?

Andrew has been patient with me, but it is hard not to snap at him, or need him just to hold me or leave me alone...he doesn't know which to do when. I feel bad for him.

The last few days I have more myself, but no sign of a monthly friend yet. The cramping is getting annoying it hits me for minutes then goes away. Sleep is the hardest, I have a hard time falling asleep because I am so hot, then when I finally do the smallest thing wakes me up. I understand it is part of turning on the mommy ears...but baxter's snoring never use to wake me up.

Why do men have it so easy, and we get all the hormone glory?

You spent $$$$ on something you use for only weeks?

If you spent A LOT of money on something that you ended up only using for a short time- would you think twice about buying it again? Of course you would, (i hope). Then why is it that we spend so much on kids things.....we have no choice. Even the 2nd hand places most of them aren't really that much cheaper.

Example- I found a highchair seat at a 2nd handstore for $20 and Walmart had it new for $17. Yes we have Walmart, but for all those who spend so much on nicer, longer lasting things...that is great....we want those items to be re-used and passed on!

Help me gather these items to share with others.....

For months Andrew and I have been talking about starting this business about exchanging items of children/baby items for the next stage of life. There is so much stuff out there that you need and only use for a few weeks, one time or never at all when you have kids.

Many many people hang on to things thinking when they have another kid they will use it, or if it is a boy again I want to keep this....am I right?

Why can't all the ads on craigslist of people who want all their money back on kids items get real already? I can see trying to recoop some of it, but a 5 yr old item come on you bought it new for a reason, people are buying used for a reason, to SAVE money!

So I have this great plan and hope it works. We want to create a baby exchange. Clothes, equipment, misc items, furniture etc....I am putting the word out here on my blog to collect all things baby. Items for up to 1 year of age only right now then if it works we will go up to 5 or so. In exchange for donation you will know that I am trying to use all the things that may end up in the trash, or items people hang on to for years and never use again, will be used again over and over. Also to keep down the cost of having a kid, they are expensive why not buy used???

I want to make it affordable people to get the things they need for the first few months, and not spend so much for things that are just sitting in most peoples garages unused.

Anyway there are many details to this I am not explaining and I am sure there will be a HUGE market for this. I just need donations to see what I can get for free and also if the items are in good shape and I think will be in demand I will pay a small fee for them so people don't feel like they don't loose money on it.

I know when Andrew and I moved we went to 4 different thrift stores to donate items, perfectly good baby clothes, baby bath, a bouncy chair and a walker and no one would take them. It was weird...I know people need this stuff.....so I will collect any thing people want to give me or need to sell for cheap to get it out of your garage and into MINE.

Also please know that if you plan on having more kids if this business works like I think it would, when your ready for the next one my business will be there for you, to get what you need for cheap, and who knows something you may have donated may come back to you too!

Thanks spread the word!