Meet Bob

We bought a stroller! I am SO excited. And yes, I realize how funny and somewhat scary that sounds to be so excited about a stroller, but it’s our first baby purchase, which is one more small step toward making this whole crazy experience feel all the more real.

The only reason that we bought it right now is because we knew which one we wanted (the Bob Revolution) and we heard from our pals who have it that it only goes on sale twice a year. When we saw it on sale (20% off – a nice deal even though it’s a pricy stroller either way) we figured, let’s go for it.

I went over to REI to check it out in person first and have the salesperson there show me how to use it. The funny thing about REI is that it’s not like Babies ‘R Us or Pottery Barn Kids or someplace centered around babies where all the salespeople are just waiting to ooh and aah over everything. Actually, I have no idea if the people at those stores are like that at all, but they’re probably a different breed than your typical rugged, outdoorsy and somewhat gruff REI staffer.

Still, I didn’t really need her to fawn and coo over my pregnancy, so it worked out just fine. She was all business, but she showed me how the thing folds up, how the wheels come off, how to make the seat fold back so the baby can lay down (sounds like a good idea, doesn’t it? I hadn’t even realized that was something I should be thinking about) and how to change the front wheel from staying in one place to being able to rotate around for easier handling.

So, no, we didn’t do a whole ton of research on 17 different strollers, but I still feel great about the purchase. The research we did do – taking our friends’ son for a walk in their Bob a year or so ago and really appreciating its sweet, smooth ride, followed with some Web research where we read tons of glowing reviews, followed by talking to more friends of ours who absolutely adored their Bob – was plenty for me.

I’m thrilled to have a major purchase behind us, and buying the Bob helps me with one more decision – which car seat to buy – since the Bob’s infant car seat attachment is only compatible with a handful of brands. Fortunately, those brands include some of Consumer Reports’ top-rated car seats. And since we already have the crib from Laurie and Jeff, that’s three big buying decisions already made.

Next it’s on to a considerably bigger project – cleaning out the spare room that will be the nursery. We’ve slowly gotten started unpacking and moving the boxes and mounds of other crap that are in there, but there’s still a small truckful of stuff to go. Yep, we’ve got a fun night ahead!

Something Old, Something New

Today we’re going over to Laurie and Jeff’s to check out a crib.

Their youngest just made the big move to a “big-girl bed,” and they generously offered us their old (but, Becca assures me, still in excellent shape) crib. Noah and I talked about it, and we figure that unless some sort of newer, better, super-safe-sturdy-cute-and-of-course-affordable crib has come onto the market in the four and a half years since they bought it, we might as well take it.

It certainly would save us the hassle of researching and buying a new one, and as Noah says, there’s no better way to be green than not to buy piles and piles of new stuff if you can get good stuff someone else already bought. Plus, I’m starting to get a little stressed about all the stuff we have to buy. Not about the actual purchasing, but about A) whittling down the list of what 100 different people might say we really “need” to the much smaller list of what we actually DO need/want and B) then doing the necessary research to figure out which brand/model/etc will work best for us as far as quality, safety and affordability. Agh.

And just thinking about a crib brings up even more things I don’t know about getting ready for this baby. Does a crib usually come as part of some larger bedroom set, and will I have a hard time matching all the furniture if I get it separately? What kind of bedding do I REALLY need to get? All the stuff you see at Babies ‘ R Us or Pottery Barn Kids or Land of Nod have these adorable little sets complete with fitted sheets, bumpers, skirts and quilts. I keep reading that now some people say bumpers actually aren’t safe after all, so do I get one or not? And while the quilts are cute for decor, the baby won’t actually be using it, right? And does a crib really need a bed skirt?

And what kind of furniture do you need for the rest of the room? How do I know which set of dressers and bureaus and whatever else is going to make sense for baby clothes, blankets, bibs and all that paraphernalia as well as all the things the baby will need at older ages, so I don’t have to buy it all twice? What kinds of paint colors, rugs, window treatments and other decor will look cute for a newborn but not too baby-ish for an older child?

Plus, the time between now and our estimated due date of July 4 — which seems so far away now — will no doubt speed by, leaving us less time get all this researching, buying and setting up done (not to mention all the clearing out, cleaning up and “prettying up” our place still needs) than we think. Plus, I figure that even though I’m pretty mobile, energetic and comfortable at 4 months pregnant, once I reach 8 months you’ll be reading a different story, and I’ll be of less help to Noah, who I don’t want to leave with all the (literal and figurative) heavy lifting.

The ironic thing about all this is, of course, that will I spend this empty Sunday researching baby goodies online, clearing out the baby’s-room-to-be and making other necessary preparations? Doubtful. I’ll more likely work out, go grocery shopping, spend the afternoon cooking and then the evening watching TV and reading. I sure am on the ball!