Old stuffs for new baby...hand-me-downs, Love it!

Grandmere gave beautiful old and new clothes from family in France for Noelia. She's really a lucky baby! When my parent-in-law came to visit us last year, they are the Santa Claus from North Pole...most of the gifts wrapped for Noelia who was home barely a week from ICU ward.

Talking about her, she had an operation after the birth to let the first stools came out, and she suffered from breathing difficulties. She was in ICU for 21 days because of other complications, and was given antibiotics during the stay. She had another 3 weeks in Special Care Unit for recuperation. Although she's a full-term baby, she is relatively small whose weighed 2.67 kg at birth. She had a stoma pouch which collect her poos for about 3 months. On Jan 31st, the doctor did the closure of ileostomy (the opening of the right colon to the skin surface which attached to the stoma pouch). Now, she's growing rapidly like a sprout!!!

We received lots of prayers and thoughts from family and friends around the world. We were so thankful of all tremendous supports from them during difficult times. The gifts of baby clothes and stuffs that we received encourage us to stay positive all the time. We said to ourselves that we would like her to wear these wonderful clothes, play these toys, and read these colourful books. We survived.

During the pregancy, we bought a couple of hand-me-downs baby stuffs from Yahoo Auctions and Ebay. They are a great website to look for cheap stuffs! We pledged not to caught up in the consumption pattern for massive baby stuffs which possess most soon-to-be-parents. The growing baby will only use them the most in 4 months.

We bought white wooden baby cot which costs $50, playpen costs $50, bottles sterilizer $20, maxi-cosi baby car seat costs $150, baby carrier-Baby Bjorn costs $50, STOKKE high chair costs $280 (a month old-new one is $598), maclaren techno XT (bought when still in the box) costs $300, and lotsa baby clothes and toy's gifts. What a bargain!!

Recently, Noelia wore Ludo's baby clothes and her cousins. I can't believe her mom still keep all those baby clothes. She gave me also the good baby bibs which she sewed herself for all 4 children. Here in this picture, she put Ludo's baby outfit! Merci Grandmere! She even did a wool jacket for Noelia to wear during winter in Paris. It means soo much to us having these beautiful clothes for our baby.

A couple of months ago, my friend who has 2 beautiful children (and stop at 2!) gave us wonderful baby clothes. We have rompers, everyday outfits, booties, pajamas, hats, and etc. Who needs to go shopping? I have a supply at least for 6-8 months baby. My cousin who has cute daughter gave me some big pajamas which Noelia wears them today. Thank you Rita! Thanks Ina!

Realizing that I have started my slow year in the beginning of 2008 by limiting consumption and be creative. Hopefully, more coming for hand-me-down toys and other clothes!

In the beginning, we were really worried that baby means unbearable costs. But now as we go along, we manage to do it well so far! It doesn't cost a thing to have good friends ...