Jul 11, 2010  •  In Baby, Home, Pregnancy

Finally Getting Started on the Nursery…

We purchased our first item for the nursery today: a crib!

The Graco Lauren crib in espresso, to be exact.

When I first started looking at cribs I was startled at just how expensive most of them were. Especially the minimalist ones with clean simple lines, which is our style. Our own bed didn’t cost $1,000 and I certainly wasn’t about to spend that much on a crib.

The book Baby Bargains came to the rescue once again. As previously written, this is THE best pregnancy book I have (a big thanks to my little sister who bought it for me as a gift!) and has helped me make many money-friendly choices. Baby Bargains put the Graco Lauren as one of the best bargain cribs, and the reviews I read online helped solidify the decision.

At $169.99 (Babies”R”Us price), this crib is a steal — it is certainly one of the lowest-priced cribs out there, and its design fits in with the simple decor of our home.

At first I was a bit concerned that the crib would be flimsy due to its low price, but I found it to be solid and secure when I checked it out in person.

As expected, the crib had to be ordered by BRU and will not arrive for another few weeks. During this time I will start packing the contents of the guest bedroom into boxes. We are very fortunate that our condo building has very secure, private storage units available for rent — we will move the queen-sized guest bed, in addition to the boxes I pack into storage which is conveniently located on the second floor of our building (away from any possible water damage) and can be accessed at any time.

We will keep the existing dresser & mirror set as we convert the guest room into the nursery. I plan on placing a changing pad on top of the dresser and use the rest of the long surface area for accessories. We may also end up getting some shelves (like the IKEA Expedit) for additional storage, but we haven’t come to a final decision yet.

As for the item that so many new moms count as a must-have addition to any nursery — a rocker/glider — I was still not sure if I needed one. Couldn’t I just nurse on the couch or on my own bed? However, my mother insisted on buying something nice for the baby and I figured that having one couldn’t hurt. I decided on the Newco Jayden Recliner (in beige) earlier today. It rocks, glides, and reclines (at two levels, no less) and the seat is shallow enough for my short self to sit in comfortably. J likes it so much that he says we should keep it in the living room instead of the the nursery! (Undoubtedly so that he can relax in it with a beer when I’m not using it myself.)

There are now less than 3 months to go before my due date. I still haven’t noticed any “nesting” instincts kick in — as I’m finding just writing this post exhausting — and I’m not sure if I ever will. However, I’m glad that we are finally getting started.

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7 Responses to “Finally Getting Started on the Nursery…”

  1. Kate says:

    Just found your blog.. I hope you still find the time to wear your pumps with your new baby!

  2. Amy says:

    Oh how neat!! Bridal Bargains was my bible in the planning days. I had no idea they made a baby book too! Totally going to snatch a copy whenever I’m pregnant! 🙂

  3. Tripps says:

    I have that book and the crib. Thebump.com is also a good forum for advice and feedback and such. I lived without a recliner. But if you have the space, then you should definitely do it.

  4. Geek in Heels says:

    @Kate — I still wear heels, but not as much in the evenings because that’s when my feet are the most swollen (and I’m too cheap to buy new shoes). I sincerely hope that I’m not one of those women whose feet will never shrink back post-partum, because I fully intend on going back to heels on a regular basis once the baby comes!

    @Amy — I own both…and while I didn’t find Bridal Bargains to be too beneficial for my own wedding, I’m obviously LOVING Baby Bargains!

    @Tripps — I’m honestly a bit intimidated by TheBump.com. There seems to be so much animosity and judgement on those boards! However, I will peek in once in a while just to read.

  5. Tripps says:

    i know what you mean. sometimes the people can be quite catty but i try not to get involved with the drama. i mainly hang out in the photography board (they are a nice bunch) and i lurk in the attachment parenting board and breastfeeding board.

  6. Joyce says:

    I have that exact crib in white for my girl. Great pick! It’s sturdy and well made. No complaints so far.

  7. stephanie says:

    I have the crib, too. Two of ’em for my twin girls and I LOVE it. Plus, you never have to panic when you can’t remember it’s name, because it is NOT a drop side and NOT on any recall lists!

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