My name is Alyssa, but you may know me as one of Walmart's Elevenmoms, or from my personal blog, Keeping the Kingdom First. I am thrilled to be guest blogging here at Baby Buzz.
Shortly after I teamed up with Walmart, I discovered that I was expecting a surprise blessing. My husband and I had decided that our blended family of two girls and a boy was complete, but God clearly had other plans. Having passed on all of my maternity clothes and baby gear to friends and others in need, I knew I had to get creative.
Frugal living and good stewardship are passions of mine. Being a seasoned mom, I have learned what is essential for new moms, and what is not. My first mission was maternity clothes, and fast. Being my third pregnancy, I was showing in almost no time at all.
One great thing about having older children, is the friendships I have built over the years with other moms. In no time at all, I acquired a whole new maternity wardrobe, simply by borrowing from friends. I bought a few pieces here and there to round out my collection, which is now more than complete.
Next on the list are baby clothes and gear. I did register here at Walmart.com for some essentials, but the rest I know can easily obtain from generous Mommy friends. One thing I had saved from my daughters' baby hood was clothing. I have bags and bags of little pink jammies, socks, and onesies. My intention has always been to pass all of it on to a friend or mom in need. But when I found out I was expecting, I naturally thought I would put it all to good use once more. BOY was I wrong!
I come from a family of four girls, myself being the oldest. Of course, I had 2 daughters, which came as no surprise. I became a step-mother when I got married in 2004 to a wonderful little boy who was 5 at the time. He has always wanted a brother, but even he was expecting yet another sister.
At my first big sonogram last month, my husband and now 3 year old daughter, waited anxiously in the room with me as the doctor inspected my baby from head to toe. After what seemed like an eternity, he finally revealed that I was having a BOY. Needless to say, I was rather shocked, but the look on my husband's face turned that shock into pure joy. I was going to have a son.
I have 3 months left until my due date, and I still don't think it has fully sunk in. Don't get me wrong, I am so excited about adding a baby boy to our family. But a small part of me still thinks perhaps my doctor was wrong. All those pink clothes are still sitting up in the attic. I have not purchased a single blue piece of clothing.
I know that when the time comes, bags of gently used blue clothing will “magically” appear. Everything had to be new with my first, but this time, I know better. I know how fast those newborns grow. How all they really need is a loving pair of arms, a warm meal and a clean diaper.
My girls are now 8 and 3, and they are 100% Daddy's girls. But my son will be different. I can hardly wait to hold him close and inhale that sweet baby smell I know so well. I will savor every moment, because before long he will be chasing after Daddy and bugging his big sisters. But until then, he is all mine.