Months before Lily was born, she had a dresser filled with never-worn, freshly washed layettes and onsies neatly folded in the drawers. From the moment we found out she was a girl, I began shopping for and storing items, some of which are being worn for the first time now, almost six years later. Everything of hers was top of the line, shiny and new. She was my first, after all.
When Ben’s 2o week ultrasound revealed that he was all boy, the shopping commenced once again. He used her crib, stroller and highchair, but they were still in decent condition and his fresh new attire made up for the few scratches and stains she left behind.
I can count on one hand the number of new items I have purchased for my poor third child. Everything Evan wears has been worn before, and knowing that he will most likely be my last, I simply can’t justify making new baby purchases as he quickly approaches two.
The Pottery Barn crib that once was the center of Lily’s lilac, floral room now resides in the hodge-podge that is Evan’s nursery. Barely having survived four moves, I’m amazed that it’s still standing. The once shiny stroller is caked with crusty remnants of snacks long ago. As revolting as it may be, they also serve for impromptu nourishment when I forget to pack snacks– luckily, my third child has low standards. And, don’t even get me started on the highchair he used until recently. My mother literally gagged while cleaning it. It’s all just so unfortunate.
Luckily, he doesn’t seem to mind. Along with crusty hand me downs, he also makes his own rules and gets away with murder. Seems like a fair trade.
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{ 44 comments }
This is SO true. Sounds like my baby, she gets nothing new because we don’t need to buy anything. Luckily she doesn’t mind.
.-= Kim´s last blog ..A Little Help From My Friends =-.
Sounds familiar! Long about four or five, though, you have to start buying some new (new as in, purchased at a yard sale, of course!) baby things because the old stuff has disentegrated. Or in the case of my high chair, just not worth cleaning. Yuck! Worst job ever!
.-= Rachel´s last blog ..Back To School… Finally =-.
Okay, that pic with the milk? PRICELESS.
Every time I’ve seen that kiddo, he has an impish grin…or is in the process of mischief. I don’t think it will ever matter to him where things come from or who had them first – that one has much bigger fish to fry. ;)
.-= Ri, The Music Savvy Mom´s last blog ..Part 2 – Interactive Playlist #4: Movie Soundtrack Music =-.
Good point. :)
Sounds familiar. I only have 2, but both girls. M had the fancy room, great clothes, new everything. Poor Abs can barely get me to take her picture. I haven’t really even added anything personal for her to their shared room. Shame on me…she doesn’t mind yet, so I should get on the ball.
So true, Jill! I continue to shop for my oldest son since he keeps outgrowing his clothes, but poor little Dimitry gets most of his brother’s clothes and books and toys. Sometimes the guilt is too strong, though, and I shop for my baby, too! I love the the picture of Evan drinking from the carton of milk!!
.-= Loukia´s last blog ..From D.C., with love… =-.
My kinda kid. That last picture just proves it.
.-= lceel´s last blog ..Sarah – Shit on a Shingle =-.
LOL. Isn’t it always the way. He seems to not mind though, and he’ll get away with a lot more stuff too. Fair trade. =)
.-= WackyMummy´s last blog ..Breaking Out the Stroller =-.
I can well believe it. I’m far more laid back about everything with my second son. The way I see it though, the second or third child already has the best gift – a sibling to play with. Who needs new stuff when you’ve got a buddy?
.-= Lady Mama´s last blog ..Five Fashiony Things For Fall =-.
Lovin’ the pictures…omg he’s adorable!
And lucky for my husband my Mom buys Madelyn (our 2nd little girl) so many cute and NEW baby clothes :)
he’s so cute!
My little one , just this year, actually got to pick out her own clothes from a store. She’s been wearing hand me downs (and proudly) for 5 years.!
.-= Swirl Girl´s last blog ..The One Where It’s All Good** =-.
yep they sure do! the 3rd child has it good!!! mine turns 13 tomorrow!!!
I feel the same way about my two middle boys. They have not had a new thing in their lives but thankfully they don’t mind, yet.
.-= Jen, buried with children´s last blog ..Pancakes for the Cause =-.
Funny you wrote this, there has been lots of talk about a 3rd baby in our house lately. Only I would get to go shopping again, because I donated it all to goodwill, because I was so sure I was done after 2. Live and learn.
.-= Beth´s last blog ..Were Going to Disney World! =-.
Do you mean that drinking out of the milk container is wrong? I’d better stop that.
If your photos are any indication, hand-me-downs just make kids impossibly cute!
.-= Lynn from For Love or Funny´s last blog ..Labor Day =-.
I love your posts about your littlest boy. He seems like he is going to keep you on your toes for many years to come.
.-= Rheanne´s last blog ..…about kindness =-.
Boy what a cutie. Imagine if you’re a Duggar! I’ve grown to think of recycled clothes (hand-me downs) as an essential part of saving the environment.
.-= blueskyhi´s last blog ..Book Sharing Monday – How Santa Really Works =-.
It’s fun to be the baby. You get everyone’s old stuff (which means more toys and clothes than any other sibling) and you get to KEEP them…meaning no other siblings to give them to! Gotta love being the youngest.
.-= Safire´s last blog ..Crafts with a Purpose =-.
My daughter loves it when she gets hand-me-downs. She walks around all day telling people who the clothes used to belong to. I did give to charity anything that looked like it had been washed a hundred times, though. I kept all the nice stuff.
.-= Mwa´s last blog ..Rambling post filled with musings on motherhood, in which I start off pinpointing my perceived failings, and then end up being all mushy =-.
Well, it could be worse, he could be a 3rd boy getting 3rd round clothes!
My second child (whenever that happens) better be a boy because my plan is to sew frills on all my son’s clothing for a girl. And even I know that’s unlikely AND cruel so she’ll just end up wearing lots of brown. We’ll see how it goes :)
.-= Jessica – This Is Worthwhile´s last blog ..9/3/75 =-.
Oh, he’ll soon enjoy the many many perks of being the youngest (as I do) and his older siblings will be the jealous ones. :) Don’t feel bad!
.-= Belle´s last blog ..You be the judge =-.
HaHA!! Loved this! So true…I’m the 3rd, and it was the same for me…my hodge podge stuff, clothes….but great memories. I love being the 3rd :) hehe!
.-= ViolinMama´s last blog ..Moments from a Birthday Par-TEA…. =-.
Absolutely fair. And when he is older he’ll always have the cooler looking worn in clothes. Remember dragging school shoes on the pavement trying to scuff them up and “wearing in” a new pair of jeans? Maybe that was an 80s thing… But I kind of think that sloppiness is a general teenager style.
.-= Kate Coveny Hood´s last blog ..Goodbye Summer =-.
Last night as I laid Bud down in the crib I thought, “I’m so glad that we actually got to use this thing.” Baby Girl may have slept in it ten times… maybe. She is still sleeping with us. We are terrified that he is going to get to an age that he sees the difference and wonders what’s up and then wants in with us too. The first one definitely gets away with more than the second so I can’t even imagine what it would be like for a third. I guess he or she would be lucky if they got their diaper changed. LOL
.-= Jennifer´s last blog ..Happy Birthday to me =-.
I am sure that is how it will be with my poor 3rd child. Only time will tell. Although, we had gotten rid of some baby stuff, so he did get some new things.
.-= Missy´s last blog ..Free Giveaway~ Love for Earth! =-.
LOL left over snack remants on the crib! Oh girl I just love your bluntness and honesty. What a good read.
.-= dawn´s last blog ..sweet potato hash =-.
If I had a third baby, I may have let the dogs raise him.
evan’s room is adorable! no hodgepodge there at all. nicely decorated and painted. furniture looks wonderful. what am i missing?
love the pic of him drinking out of ”cleaned by evan” milk container.
”knowing that he will most likely be my last,” don’t believe this yet either ……… i said ”yet”. maybe in 4 or 5 years we might believe it.
Could not have said it any better….my 3rd just turned one and you described her to a tee.
.-= Kim Sorensen´s last blog ..Maddie first Day Pics =-.
Yes, at that age they really do not care. It is more for Mom and Dad. So he is getting a great deal. I know, I was a #3.
.-= SeattleDad´s last blog ..Toddler Nirvana =-.
having 3 children as well i can so relate to this post… I must admit you have the cutest babes geesh adorable children!
am i suppose to have my moxie button up now? I am a little slow and sometimes confused
.-= georgie´s last blog ..It’s a story… =-.
I’m going to do my darndest to NOT have any kind of third child experience thankyouverymuch.
.-= cristin´s last blog ..Back To The Bubble. =-.
My #3 is filthy. He’s sticky, his mouth is dirty, he smells rotten and he looks like an orphan with his used clothes and bare feet. But, he’s exuberant, and happy, and smart as a whip (he’s self taught, obviously). It’s kinda like living with the baby version of Indiana Jones. I like it!
.-= parenting BY dummies´s last blog ..Ask Me Monday =-.
Sounds like he’s just an easy-going guy and hopefully that will translate into easy-going toddler!
.-= T Rex Mom´s last blog ..Impromtu Photos with Mom =-.
And all this time I thought the baby got spoiled rotten?? My poor Kainoa TOTALLY gets the shaft. Although…he’s spoiled with lots of kisses and hugs to make up for his too short pants and lacking baby book.
.-= Mama Kat´s last blog ..Dear Ellen (letter 10) =-.
Absolutely a fair trade! Bring the third child is the best! I was the middle child and SO envious of my little sister. She got away with EVERYTHING.
.-= Nel´s last blog ..In case you were wondering about our sense of humor… =-.
One of the few reasons I am happy I was the oldest child, I got everything new.
The good news is, though, that he’ll never remember he had the handmedown crib or the crusty high chair.
.-= Cara´s last blog ..The Best Time Of Day =-.
That is HILARIOUS and adorable! What a cutie he is! I want a baby. when I see his little hands and his curly hair and his cheeks….oh my gosh, he melts my heart. Even with the milk dripping down his chin!
.-= Life with Kaishon´s last blog ..Heavenly Gifts =-.
Same thing here. My baby girl is so spoiled. I always say I’m glad she didn’t take a pacifier, I’d have let her keep it forever. As it is she was on the bottle too long!
.-= dysfunctional mom´s last blog ..Little Girls’ Dreams…. =-.
cute – I reused the crib, (well I tried too, none of my babies would ever sleep IN the crib-I co-sleep) & the highchair, but my little one has everything else new – I refused to put my kids in hand me down clothes b/c I ALWAYS had to wear them as a child and I HATED it!!
.-= Tiaras ´s last blog ..Yoplait Delight Your Day Giveaway! =-.
I completely understand where you’re coming from. My first is a boy and middle is a girl. We thought we were done and got rid of everything. Low and behold I got pregnant with another girl. Sophie doesn’t have any new clothes (thank you Ebay) or toys, but I spoil the bejeezus out of her.
.-= Michelle´s last blog ..I brought this on myself =-.
I love drinking out of the milk carton and I’m the 4th child! ; ) (shhhh. don’t tell anyone…)
.-= Elaine´s last blog ..Rewards & Awards =-.
Haha! I’m 34 years old and I love this blog. It’s ME all over – I am number 3 and now I understand myself better. My favorite saying when I was little “I be naughty!!!!!!”
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