gifts & blessings

(but first a little note, i am SURE enjoying the cooler weather today! Feels SOOOOOOO good...)

The past few days have been exciting and have taken me off guard a bit, we've been getting baby gifts from people out of the blue, completely unexpected. But very appreciated.

Sunday we went to buy a toy from a friend of a friend whom we've met a couple times, and along with the toy, she had a gift for us - a beautiful cozy yellow blanket, some lil' goats milk soap, and a "baby on board" sign for the car.

Then Monday, a package came from the States, from a friend I hadn't heard from in quite a while, there was a very cute pair of baby sunglasses, a cuddly blanket/teddy bear thingy (not sure exactly what they're called), some very cute bibs (including one that says "that's it, i'm going to grandma's!"), and something else I'm forgetting at the moment.

Then yesterday, the social club at work threw a cake party for me and the other pregnant lady here (she's due June 15), and on behalf of my coworkers we got a very cute outfit set (onesie, pants, bib), and a fisher price caterpillar toy.

This is in addition to all the other blessings and acts of giving/generosity that have been shown to us over the past few months...I know i'll miss some, but here's a bit of a list, mostly for my own recollection so I can look back and remember how blessed we have been.

The first load was from my sister, she sent a huge rubbermaid container full of goodies - onesies, socks, sleepers, etc. from my niece's baby days that she is not using at the moment, a baby bjorn to use, books on pregnancy and raising baby, some maternity clothes, their infant carseat to use, and a whole whack of other stuff. They're also sending their change table our way when Liv is done with it.

Mom was very instrumental in helping build my maternity clothes wardrobe, she was in the states for a few weeks, and picked up all sorts of pants, etc. down there from discount racks (smart lady had measured my pants before she left so she knew about what measurement to buy, instead of relying on size which can vary so much). Then, she altered the things (both from there and things I bought) that weren't quite right so they were fully usable. THEN she sewed me 5 maternity shirts (and there was blood, sweat and tears that went into those, let me tell you - she was alterning non-maternity patterns to try to fit over this belly of mine...), and now she's onto making crib bedding and quilts, receiving blankets, etc. Oh, and then she comes and cleans my house and plants my garden and bedding plants/flowers, and comes and walks the dog and brings baking over. (she secretly loves my dog, even though she's "not a dog person").

Dad, meanwhile, has been over mudding & drywalling our new office, helping with other stuff around the house & yard, etc. which has been a HUGE help since Anthony has been swamped with school and homework as of late, and i'm not really able to do drywalling & sanding these days...

THEN, there's our other mom & dad, they have been a HUGE help and support as well. Mom has been shopping with me countless times to get baby stuff, from consignment sales (which are not fun to navigate alone) to looking for laundry baskets (see post below) and paint colors (with this mind, not fun to try to make a decision on). They've also been over helping around the house, Phil has been down in the office pulling down walls, re-insulating, etc. And they've offered to come help with the painting in the office & baby room, which i sure plan to take them up on!Even things like car-pooling to Grandma's birthday party and letting us take their car on to Moosomin have been such a blessing!

Ok, moving from family (tho i'm sure i'm forgetting someone in that category), the Owen's (Leon's girlfriend's family) have also been SO supportive and generous to us - they have a 1 year old foster baby, so they're doing round 2 of having babies in the house, and have lent and given us so much - particularly, a huge box of size 1-2 diapers that Destiny had grown out of, a baby bathtub to use, and a bunch of other stuff, along with so much support and encouragement.

And Gingerich's (technically family - Larissa's sister & bro in law) sold us their exersaucer for a ridiculously low price, then when they came to drop it off, had a TON of baby and toddler toys tha they just gave to us for nothing! So we don't even need to buy any of that stuff.

Combined with some great deals at consignment & garage sales, we have everything we need and really have not spent a lot of money at all. Basically the only things we've bought new/full price are the crib & dresser (arriving next week! woo hoo!), going home outfits for boy & girl, and...um...well, we'll be buying a stroller and high chair at some point. And that's it.

We are so blessed.