The Price of Children

This is just too good not to pass on to all who advocate for children or have children. Something absolutely positive for a change. I have repeatedly seen the breakdown of the cost of raising a child, but this is the first time I have seen the rewards listed this way. It's nice.
The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140 for a middle income family. Talk about sticker shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition.

But $160,140 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into:

* $8,896.66 a year,
* $741.38 a month, or
* $171.08 a week.
* That's a mere $24.24 a day!
* Just over a dollar an hour.

Still, you might think the best financial advice is don't have children if you want to be "rich." Actually, it is just the opposite. What do you get for your $160,140?
* Naming rights. First, middle, and last!

* Glimpses of God every day.
* Giggles under the covers every night.
* More love than your heart can hold.
* Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.
* Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.
* A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly or chocolate.
* A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites
* Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.

For $160,140, you never have to grow up. You get to:

* finger-paint,
* carve pumpkins,
* play hide-and-seek,
* catch lightning bugs, and
* never stop believing in Santa Claus.

You have an excuse to:
* keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh,
* watching Saturday morning cartoons,
* going to Disney movies, and
* wishing on stars.
* You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay or Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day.

For $160,140, there is no greater bang for your buck. You get to be a hero just for:
* retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof,
* taking the training wheels off a bike,
* removing a splinter,
* filling a wading pool,
* coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.

You get a front row seat to history to witness the:
* first step,
* first word,
* first bra,
* first date, and
* first time behind the wheel.

You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren and great grandchildren. You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match.

In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits, So one day they will, like you, love without counting the cost. That is quite a deal!!!!!!!

Love and enjoy your children, grandchildren and the children with whom you work. It is priceless!!!

pregnancy lists

http://www.babycenter.com/
Here are a few "lists" that I found interesting reguarding prenancy and the birth....
http://www.ericaehm.com/index.cfm?PID=15873&PIDLIST=15873
Wish List for Mom
Ah, pregnancy! Your mind wanders to thoughts of cute little booties, baby coos and warm, soft days nestled with your cherished bundle of joy. Then reality hits, and you realize motherhood may not be as rosy as you wish it would be. But hey, it's okay to wish a little. Here are a few things to wish for, be it fantasy or reality:
Fantasy
An effortless pregnancy, labor and delivery.
Lose all your baby weight the day after delivery.
24-hour "technical" support for your new arrival.
Built-in feeding instructions.
Baby Crying Decoder System so you know exactly what your baby needs every time.
Baby sleeping through the night the day you come home from the hospital.
A year or more of paid maternity leave.
A 100 percent safe and pain free "world" for your little one.
All the time in the world to spend with your baby.
Reality
A healthy pregnancy that results in the delivery of a healthy baby.
Reasonable weight gain during pregnancy so that weight can be lost easily and sensibly.
A network of friends, family or assistance during the first few weeks at home.
Lactation/Feeding specialists, new parent classes, reliable consultants/doulas.
The love, patience and inner wisdom to guide you in learning how to care, comfort and console your newborn baby.
To use books, videos and the advice of friends to help you and your baby develop good eating and sleeping routines.
Your legal right to maternity leave
A relatively safe and healthy start for your baby: choosing a reliable, accredited pediatrician; purchasing safe equipment, insurance for your home and health; good hygiene habits for you and your baby; and making the decision to immunize your child or not.
A realistic expectation of parenting, realizing the time you spend should be quality time, and that your love (not necessarily your time) is the most important thing your baby needs.

http://www.littlestork.com/bags.php?id=4
Things to Take to the Hospital
For mom:
Nightgown or shirt to wear during labor if you don't feel comfortable in a gown provided by the hospital (they should be loose fitting or something that can be completely opened in the front)
Robe or bed jacket
Socks (these may become stained)
Slippers
Nightgown and/or pajamas (if breastfeeding, then bring ones made for nursing)
2 - 4 bras (nursing bras if you plan to breastfeed)
3 - 6 pairs of underpants (these will be ruined most likely due to blood loss)
Toiletries:
toothbrush/toothpaste, soap, shampoo/conditioner, deodorant, lotion, comb/brush, lip balm/chap stick
Rubber band/Scrunchie or hair clip to pull hair back during labor
A photo or object to be used as a focal point during labor
Going home outfit (something comfortable/loose fitting)
Lollipops or hard candy to keep your mouth moist during labor An activity (such as pre-addressing birth announcements or crossword puzzles) or a book to keep busy during early labor
Cord Blood Collection kit (if you decided to collect the baby's cord blood)
Makeup, lip stick, scented shower gel or body powder to make you feel better after labor
Eyeglasses or contact lenses (keep in mind that you can wear your eyeglasses during labor, but you must take out your contacts)
Watch
Address book
A few small gifts or one for all of the nurses that helped care for you
A small gift for the other children at home from the baby
For partner:
Insurance information
Hospital preregistration information
Change of clothes and toiletries, if they're allowed to stay in the room
Things to be used during labor:
soothing music, something to be used as a focal point, tennis ball, rolling pin or lotion for massage, watch, paper/pen, snacks
Book or magazine for reading
List of people and phone numbers to call
Camera/film (make sure it's preloaded and in good working condition before you go)
Camcorder and/or cassette recorder with tapes
For baby:
T-shirt, socks, hat
Going home outfit Bunting/jacket (depending on season)
Receiving blanket (and a heavier blanket if it's cold)
Car seat (Keep in mind that you can't leave the hospital without it)

baby Lists

What follows is copied from a handout we received at our, "Babies, Baths, and Booties" class;
What to buy for the first six months, everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask
clothing
sleeper/undershirts (onesies) 6 $10-15 each
blanket sleepers (seasonal) 2 $10
booties 2 $5
sweater/ jacket 1 $20
hat 1 $5
bunting or snowsuit 1 $25
linens
receiving blankets 5 $18
crib sheets 2 $16-20
mattress pad 1-2 $15
waterproof pads 2 $8-15
blankets 1-2 $30
towels, washcloths 2 $16
furniture and equipment
diaper bag 1 $20
crib 1 $150-350
car seat (infant) 1 $50-70
stroller 1 $40-140
changing table 1 $40-100
chest of drawers 1 $50-250
swing 1 $39-89
monitor 1 $40
toiletries
bath/shampoo,travel wipes,
thermometer, baby scissors 1 each $20
humidifier 1 $40
feeding supplies
breast feeding
breast pump 1 $30-300
pads 4 sets $7-15
bottle feeding
bottles and nipples 6-8 $20
formula average 26-30 0z a day $360-450
diapers
cloth (if doing own laundry) 4 dozen $52
disposable 4 dozen $13(honestly it says $13)
diaper services
(pail, liner, velcro wraps, and deodorizers are usually included)
universal diaper service (phone number) $55.90/ a month for 70 diapers a week
rocky mountain diaper service (phone number) $51.20/ a month for 70 diapers a week
totals using the most conservative options
Clothing $140
linens $215
furniture and equipment $429
toiletries $140
equals $1064.00 +
breast feeding $7
or bottle feeding $480
and
cloth diapers $52
or disposable $13 (I am still laughing at this)
or diaper service $51.20 monthly

First let me say that I have to wonder when this list was last updated, and where the writer of it actually got her price estimates from because if they are accurate, I need to find that baby supply store asap because I am overpaying for everything according to even the high estimates on this list. I am especially overpaying for diapers and baby furniture according to this!
examples of what some of these items have actually cost me;
Foleys (during their big baby sale 2/03/06)
bibs (really it should say bib because it only was one) $3.99
blanket sleeper $3.59
baby socks $14.99
body suit $9.00
coveralls $4.99
basic layette $10.72
fashion layette $10.99 (the only difference I can see between them is the 22 cents)
sunsuit $6.99

Target (some off of their clearance rack)
sweater $5.99
jeans $4.99
sleeper $3.98
blanket $1.24
bibs (3) $7.99
onesies $9.99
baby socks $1.00
hoodie $4.98
joy layette $7.48 (yes it is really listed this way on the receipt)
creeper $3.48
pant $3.98
polo $5.99
slippers $1.24
mittens $2.99
cap $4.99

Hot topic (mark down rack)
south park infant sleeper $4.49
family guy infant sleeper $4.49

Babies r us
cotton layette $6.21
satin hanger layette $13.57 (who knew that hanger cost so much more?)
diaper disposal system $19.99
pinehurst teastain crib $434.49 (no delivery, we picked it up)

prairie winds gift shop (aka my hospitals gift shop where I get 25% off)
princess booties $9.75
garden swirl hat $13.50
sun suit $18.00
my family photo album $10.13

baby registry

http://www.babycenter.com/registry/1u0miso