Deal Hunting for the Twins

Lincoln loves to duck hunt and I love to deal & bargain hunt!  It is an addiction that I think I got from my mother (fortunately my case is not quite as severe as hers- sorry Mom).  And just like a fisherman or  hunter likes to display his trophy catches, I want to brag on my great finds!  So here is some of what we have acquired so far.

Infant Swings

We wanted the, smaller portable options for swings.  Our space is somewhat limited, especially when you think about having to have double the stuff.  These can go where we go from living room, to their bedroom, or ours.  These retail for $60 each.  Well I got bought one for $30 and one for $25. So total of $55 for both!! Total savings of more than 50% off retail!  After you wash them and clorox wipe them down they really are just as good as new.

And, yes poor Cash is just trying to figure out what in the world is happening!!

Bumbos with tray

Bumbos retail for $40 each and the tray is sold separately for $11.  Bumbos are easily cleaned and are grown out of quite fast.  So finding them used and in excellent condition is a cinch.  I bought two Bumbos with the trays for $20 each.  That is a savings of $62 plus tax!!

Our Cribs

We went with the DaVinci brand.  I think the style is "Emily."  They do convert to a toddler bed and came with the toddler rail (for some brands the conversion parts are sold separately).  This was not a huge savings, we saved $20 off retail price on each crib for a total of $40 saved. After several months of searching Craigslist and online yard sales I determined it was nearly impossible to find TWO matching used cribs, in similar condition, that did not have safety recall issues! So I finally gave in and we bought them new.  We were able to save what we did because we found them at the most awesome store Once Upon a Child in Franklin.  It is not really consignment, it's a resale store I think.

Boppy Infant Lounger

These retail for $30 each.  I found one at Essex a long time ago for $17 and picked it up.  Well I wished I had known to wait!  I found one at Kid to Kid in Brentwood for $8 (and it was still in the original package)!!  But still for two loungers I saved over 60% from retail!

Crib Mattresses

After doing all my research I decided to go with Safety First Heavenly Dreams crib mattress.  It ranked #2 for the best crib mattresses of 2013 according to this site.  I also read many product reviews from actual users on sites like Amazon, Babies R Us, Wal Mart, and Target.  (The #1 mattress was $170, take that multiplied by 2 and I think our kids will be just fine on the #2 mattress).  At Target this mattress sells for $53.  I snagged them while Babies R Us was having a mattress sale for $37 a piece.  They were only available online, but would ship free with a $100 purchase.  So I could have paid the $30 shipping charge but instead bought a box of diapers and got my total just over $100 and they shipped free!  So two mattress and a jumbo box of diapers all for less than what just the mattresses would have cost at Target!

My Brest Friend Twin Plus Nursing Pillow

According to most of the twin info I have read if you are going to breast feed twins a twin sized nursing pillow is a must.  This retails for $75 at Babies R Us.  I found it is Essex for $37!! Savings of 50%!  I've also seen the non-twin version of this pillow at Essex.  It's the number #1 rated nursing pillow by Lactation Consultants.  Plus I saw Michelle Duggar using it and recommending  it on their TV show.  If there is anyone who knows about breast feeding it's gotta be her!

Excer-Saucer 

I'm not sure what the proper term for this is.  I bought this exact one off an online yard sale site for $20. It retails at Babies R Us for $70 and Target for $60.  So I save over 65%!!  I just washed the seat part in the washer and hosed all the plastic off and gave it all a good scrubbing with Lysol.  It looks completely brand new.

I love to save money!  We work very hard for what we have.  With a twin pregnancy we know I will probably have to be out of work for longer than a singleton pregnancy.  And once our sweet babies come the amount of time I will be able to work is unknown.  So every little bit helps!  If your thinking I should just register for all this come baby shower time just remember we need TWO of almost everything.  We will need plenty of diapers, wipes, bedding, clothes, bottles, etc., etc., etc.!!!!!!!!  

Twice Blessed!

On March 16, 2013 (the day after Lincoln's Birthday) we found out that we were expecting! We were so excited.  The first thing we did was praise the Lord and give him thanks!  The following day we told our parents.  We texted Lincoln's mom & dad a picture of the positive test and called my parents to tell them the news.  Sort of lame, yes, but both sets of parents knew that we were trying to start a family and had been praying with us.

Over the next couple of days I kept re-testing just to make sure.  My doctor had me get blood drawn on March 20 for a blood test to "confirm."  I just went to the employee clinic at work to get the test since it is cheaper there- plus I knew I could get same day results.  Well my beta HcG (pregnancy hormone) level came back really, really high.  This was our first clue that something might be up :)  Of course I was googling what high beta levels meant like crazy.

Our first ultrasound was April 5.  The ultrasound tech said, "Well you are definitely pregnant, and you got TWO!!!"  I squealed and threw my hands up in the air like I had just won a race.  I can't remember what Lincoln said just that he had the biggest smile I'd ever seen.  The ultrasound showed that baby A was 6 weeks and 2 days and baby B was 6 weeks and 3 days.

We were given the official due date of November 26, but told that with twins I wouldn't be allowed to go to 40 weeks, and that November 1st was 'realistic' due date.

That is the first picture of the two of them!

Quick background- My mother had been talking the "I hope you have twins" talk for about the last year.  Anyone who has known me since childhood knows that I always wished I had a twin, and that even from a young age I said I wanted twins!  I even found a facebook post from 2009 where Lincoln and I said we both hoped for twins.

May He give you what your heart desires and fulfill your whole purpose.

Psalm 20:4

We feel blessed beyond description that God has graciously given us two babies to love, teach, cherish, and raise.  Through this blessing my mind is continually floored at how awesome our God is.  When I try to sit and wrap my mind around this Luke 6:38 is all I can think of.  That is the scripture where Jesus says, "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”  I know that Lincoln and I have not 'given' enough to earn this blessing.  But that is what is so amazing about our Heavenly Father- we don't get what we deserve when we are in Christ, PTL!  

My cup is running over beyond anything I could ever imagine!

Here is another pic, since I know that is what you really want! And yes that is already a 'pooch' there.  I lost 14 pounds before getting pregnant, so to me it was another red flag that my belly was already poking out, and I could no longer sleep comfortably on my stomach.