Wednesday, August 13, 2014

baby updates. i'm out of creative titles, sorry.

 Camilla is a week old already!! Yesterday was her 'birthday.' We helped her celebrate all day by reminding her of what was going on the previous week at that time. Like at 2 in the morning, we told her how last week at this time J called us and said you were on the way! We jumped in the car and drove as fast as we could!! At 6 a.m., we told her how last week at this time, there were SO MANY PEOPLE who love you all gathered in the waiting room at the hospital!! Five grandparents!! Four great-grandparents!! Everybody couldn't wait to meet you!! But you were still hiding inside your mommy's tummy! And so on and so forth, until we finally go to mid-day, when we could tell her how last week at this time we were holding you. That was the best part.


She's already changed and grown so much in her long life. No more newborn diapers! Already up to 3 ounce bottles!! Such a big girl. 



Matt came down with a cold (or virus or something...we'll find out soon; he's at the doctor right now) the other day, so I've been getting all the Millie snuggles to myself. I can't complain. Yesterday she slept on my chest for a few naps (she was napping, not me). I'm sure some expert or another would frown on that idea, but not me. I didn't get to snuggle her in my belly for 9 months. I will certainly snuggle her ON my belly for a few hours when I can get it.

I'm not sure if you can see it in any of these pictures, but Camilla has several distinctive physical features (besides overwhelming cuteness and extremely kissable cheeks). Matt pointed them out our first night alone in the hospital with her. Look!, he said. She has your long fingers...and my back hair!!!

Her fuzzy arms and shoulders are possibly the cutest things I've ever seen.


So how do yall feel about birth announcements? You know, the kind you get in the mail like a Christmas card. I personally love them. I know that not everyone sends them, but I always feel really happy when I get one and I usually hang it on the fridge (or in special cases, on the filing cabinet in my office) for a long time. Naturally, I've always assumed I would send them out once I had a baby of my own to announce. So I've spent a few naptimes browsing the options, and I have two major issues: A) I love them all (I'm pinning my MOST favorites to my 'adoption' board on Pinterest, if you're interested), and B) THEY ARE FREAKING EXPENSIVE. Like $1 a card (for the cheap ones!!!), IF you're buying over 100!!! This was a really depressing realization. Not to mention that they're oddly sized, meaning they'll require more expensive postage. This could all add up to some serious cash-- cash that should probably be spent on things like formula, diapers, and lawyer bills. But like...I want them. :( Wah wah, poor little me, I know. So anyway. Thoughts on the importance of receiving a proper (and lovely) birth announcement in the mail? Overrated? Just wait for Christmas cards? Skip Christmas cards and do this instead? Get a second job and do both? 

I've seen the options on Etsy where you can have a card designed for a cheap price (like $15) and then DIY the printing, but I can't figure out where/how I would get them printed so that they wouldn't look super ghetto. I don't want them to be shiny 4x6 or 5x7 from a photo printing booth at the drug store, you know? I want that matte cardstock look. As with most things in life, I have champagne taste and a beer budget. Womp.

You know what is fun? Picking out baby girl outfits and bows. I know, that's probably shocking news...but she has lots of fancy events coming up and I love thinking about what she'll wear to each!! She has several showers (for herself) (that she will attend!), her church dedication, AND her court finalization all coming up (well, relatively speaking. In the next few months). 

Well, I'd love to stay and chat baby fashion forever, but someone is insinuating she is starving to death and seems seriously concerned that I may never feed her again, so...gotta run. Happy whatever day of the week it is!! ;)

63 comments:

  1. I love the updates! Bel Jean will print the announcements if you buy a design online. I don't know how much they charge but one of my friends printed invitations at Bel Jean and they looked great. - A.J. Foster

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    1. Genius!! Didn't even think about my BFFs at Bel Jean's!!! Thanks AJ! :)

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  2. I designed my own on Walmart.com. I thought it was super cute. You can get matte finish if you are willing to wait for it to be delivered instead of 1 hour photo. :)

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  3. I'm a long time reader who rarely comments so first I want to say congratulations on your beautiful daughter! As for the birth announcements, if you or someone you know has a Costco membership they have an awesome option where you can upload a custom designed card and have it printed on matte cardstock for about 70 cents a card. We did this for our Christmas cards and they were beautiful! It also gives you the option of using both the front and back of the card at no extra charge, so for our Christmas card we uploaded a photo design to the front and a short Christmas letter plus more photos to the back. They have online tools to help you create the card, but I just designed each side in Photoshop and then uploaded the finished image to the site. I'm sure an Etsy seller could design a card that will work with this printing option, but if you have any questions feel free to contact me :) Here's a link to the options that are available online: http://www.costcophotocenter.com/greetings/Search/Invitations

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    1. SO smart!!! I never thought of Costco, but my parents are members...I just peeked and they have some CUTE designs!! Thanks so much for the tip!! :)

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  4. Normally non-stop baby talk annoys me but from you, I can't get enough!

    As for the announcements, I think they're precious and I'd do them if I were you. You can order the digital file on Etsy and print them on non-shiny cardstock at Staples!

    -A

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    1. Hahaha nonstop baby talk drives me crazy, too. And now I'm an offender. :) Thanks- never thought of Staples!! Apparently I have trouble thinking out of the box about things, haha!!

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  5. Ohhh, and also, where did those beautiful ruffle butt outfits come from? I may need to have a baby just to have an excuse to buy them! :)

    -A

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    1. Most of her clothes are hand-me-downs or from yard sales!! But lots of the cute ruffle butt ones are Carters brand...and totally worth having a baby for! :)

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  6. Those rolls are to DIE for!!!! So so so sweet.

    Personally, I think you should do announcements. I remember this debate also, now that you mention it. But 18 months later, I had forgotten. But I do have her announcements filed away in stuff to show her as she grows up.

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  7. A) I did notice your pins and love them!! B) Have you tried finding something like that on Snapfish? C) I totally am loving these baby updates!! Highlight of my day :)

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  8. I've personally not done birth announcements because A) as you pointed out, they're expensive and B) we didn't have any good pics for them of my oldest (see also: no money to pay someone for newborn pics) and my friend, who took Aubrey's newborn pics, had an issue keeping her from getting them to us until 2 weeks ago, meaning A was almost 6 months old...yeah. But, I have a couple suggestions. 1) have them designed via etsy or 2) if you're photoshop, or a program of that nature, savvy, design your own (my older sister did that). Then, though I'm not sure cost, you could have them printed at FedEx office. I know they'll be able to work with you because my hubby works for them and they do stuff like that all. the. time. Also, I know picaboo

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    1. Sorry...phone cut my RIDICULOUSLY LONG response off because of autocorrect...
      Anyway...
      Picaboo can/will print on matte cards. Not sure if it is still way expensive, though they may have a groupon or coupon code running right now? Anyway, if you can't bring cost down, I say forgo it. In the long run, it won't matter, BUT if you can work it in the budget, totally fun!!!

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  9. I am more than happy to design some for you :) no charge, of course!

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  10. I love birth announcements!! Go for it!

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  11. I see you already have some good options of places to print, but I have used VistaPrint.com and OvernightPrints.com to print "postcard" announcements that we sent out. VP usually will do 50% off for a new customer, so I think I could get 100 cards for around $15. You can either buy the announcement design off of Etsy or make you own to save even more. My son was born in August too (though the end, not the beginning) but we did the family holiday card on one side and then his birth announcement on the back. Double whammy for the same price. Just make sure you post it on your blog for your crazy followers to oooo and aaaaahhhh over :)

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  12. Sounds like lots of peeps have already given you good feedback on the announcement debacle, so hopefully you will find a way to make it work! My only thought is if printing/mailing just ends up being too darn expensive, you could always email an announcement and then just print a few copies for yourself/the grandparents? Good luck!

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  13. Love your updates! Seriously, she is gorgeous!!! Just gorgeous. DEFINITELY do announcements, totally worth it! They are all over my fridge and I love them!!! Happy 1 week sweet girl xoxo

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  14. Adorbs! I love that new baby back hair :)

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  15. You most definitely need to do the announcements! You have waited a long time for this, and shouldn't miss out! Why not message tiny prints/shutterfly and tell them about your blog and see if they would provide them for you and you could review?! I see a lot of others do it! Also, another printing idea is kinkos! I printed my son's bday invites and they turned out super cute!

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  16. Awwww what a CUTIE!! my little Latina has back hair too! Lol

    I went for cheap photo booth cards that I designed myself. I just couldn't bring myself to pay a tonne of money at this time. I think I'll go big for Christmas.

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  17. i love these happy baby posts! keep em coming! for photo announcements, i'd go the photo booth route. or did you try vistaprint? they might have some affordable options and they are always running sales and have coupons!

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  18. I never made birth announcements, though now I wish I had, so I say go for it :) (Isn't that helpful advice??) I do have lots of experience with newborn chest naps, though, and have to agree that they are absolutely the best. And I love that you're already telling her about the day she was born. Our girls love hearing those stories, and in many ways their stories are much less exciting than Camilla's b/c they were scheduled c-sections. I remember most of the details, though, so hopefully that makes up for not making birth announcements ;)

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  19. I love announcements and Christmas cards so I think you need to do both. Check for coupon codes and cash back on shopathome and ebates. The ideas at the top are all good too. I think Vistaprint even does cards!

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  20. First, I have to say SHE IS SO LOVELY! I miss having F nap on me. I say savor it while she is small enough :) Second, I designed birth announcements and never ordered them. I don't regret it, especially after I realized that most of the pictures of my girl would likely end up in the recycling of family and friends eventually. We saved our pennies and print a steady stream of photos for ourselves + the grandmas instead. Now, that being said...I LOVE getting them in the mail when other people spend their money on announcements, so there's that. Third, I have to apologize for my typo on my last comment (on your previous post). Your should have been you're. I shouldn't comment while also making dinner, I guess. Please, keep the photos coming!

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  21. Check out vistaprint...use the postcard option instead of event specific option. You can get 50 for about $10 and they are really good quality.

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  22. You've gotten lots of good recommendations for your Baby Announcements, so I don't really have anything useful to add there ... But, for Christmas cards, take a look at Cardstore.com. They run a 75% off deal (usually in the beginning of December) that I have used for the past few years now!

    Also, I just wanted to say that I *may* have fallen asleep with a sleeping baby on my chest multiple times ... So, do what you've gotta do! ;)

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  23. She is beautiful. She is loved.
    What a blessing.
    Prayers.

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  24. Honestly, save some some money on baby stuff (crib, clothes, toys, etc) by getting hand-me-downs from friends, and spend a couple hundred on baby announcements. SO WORTH IT. You've waited a long time to do this. It's like the cost of 1 trigger shot or something you know? You'll regret not doing it!

    Also, I LOOOVED letting my kids nap on my chest. They truly won't do it for long, so enjoy every minute of it that you can. Around 3-4 months she'll be out of the "4th trimester" and that's a good time to start getting her to sleep in the swing or crib or whatever floats your boat if you can so that she can learn to fall asleep on her own, but for now, enjoy those snuggles and don't EVER worry that you're spoiling her by holding her too much - there's no such thing!!

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  25. I love receiving birth announcements - go for it!!! Camilla is just adorable.

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  26. The purple outfit/purple headband ensemble is amazing! Cutest thing yet!

    As to the birth announcements: I'm a fan. But I'm with you, champagne taste, and I can't even afford beer. However, I have a REALLY fancy printer from design school just hanging out, looking sad and miserable and unloved. You could definitely use it if you wanted. It prints to the edge and on just about any paper you want. Seriously, you need the design and the paper and you're all set.

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  27. She is perfect in everyway. This post just made my day a 1000x better! XOX

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  28. I'm one who loves baby announcements, but that's because they weren't a big deal "back in the day" when I had my boys. The cost though, I'm not a big fan of! Hopefully you can find something that works.
    Millie is precious! The orangie (word, or not?) and blue blanket is so pretty. Oh and her toes are way cute, too!!! Every picture you post makes me smile!

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  29. I love baby announcements.we dis ours through Costco. Super high quality (similar to tiny prints) and they were $20 for 25. Plus they came with envelopes with the return address printed on them.

    Grace naps on my chest all the time. The nicu nurses encouraged it. I say anything they did in the nicu is probably an okay thing to be doing. She is super cute BTW. I am an expert in cute babies now that I see Gracie all the time :)

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  30. Loving these baby updates!! (And I do NOT say that very often!) I was just thinking about you today and wondering if you'd already designed the birth announcements. So yes, definitely, a must-have for sure -- she's kind of a deal, you know. A fridge should be so lucky to feature that beautiful blessing!

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  31. Definitely do the announcements- you've been waiting so long for Millie that so many ppl will want to have YOUR announcement hanging for a long time on THEIR fridge! Also- she's already out of newborn diapers?!?!

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  32. I sometimes see a groupon for them. Stalk it. Millie is so cute. But you already know that! ;) congratulations little mama!

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  33. I agree with Aubrey - get those announcements!!! I'm sure all your friends and family are thrilled to have her here and will want to show off her picture off on their fridges or at work :) Maybe vistaprint?? I always hear about sales on them?

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  34. I am feeling much like you in the birth announcement world. I sent some out when Lilly was born, so I feel like I NEED to do it for Liam too-but they are so expensive! We used Tiny Prints last time and I LOVED them. Ugh, I just don't know what to do-we have been working on our new budget for once he arrives and it's pretty ugly, I don't think there is any extra for "luxuries" like birth announcements for us...$300 a week for childcare killed that dream! That being said, I totally understand where you are coming from. BUT, I feel like you guys have waited SO long for this to happen so you should do something...you write so beautifully-what about a letter detailing some of her adoption story accompanied with pictures? I personally love getting family letters at Christmastime, but I know some people find them tacky. Just a thought! Also, she is just precious! Her toes look long too!

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  35. Also, I read in an above comment that someone suggested Costco...well, I have a Sam's membership so I headed to their site to check out the options-some are cute and it's way more affordable than Shutterfly or TinyPrints! Woo! And, LOVE chest naps! They are the BEST! Lilly napped on me for her first 6 months of life. She would sleep in her crib at night just fine but if you laid her in there while the sun was out, you were in for a scream fest! I either wore her in a wrap for naptime and did things around the house, or I laid on the couch with a movie in...it was a nice relaxing time for Mommy too!

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  36. I love that you celebrated Camilla's one week birthday by telling her exactly what was happening at that moment one week ago BECAUSE my mom calls me in the days leading up to my birthday and tells me the same thing. "32 years ago today, we were supposed to go to an art fair but I wasn't feeling quite right..." and on and on. I'm an old lady and it still makes me feel sooooo special. Never stop! C should always know how incredibly exciting and wonderful her birth was! If you don't have "On the Night You Were Born," you must, must get it. It is completely appropriate for adoption.
    Love the updates, love seeing you as a mama!

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  37. Ooh, one more point. The leader of my new moms' group (you should totally join one. such a nice way to meet friends and get reassurance) was a certified sleep trainer. She said that before 3-4 months, there was NOTHING you could do to negatively impact their sleep habits forever. Getting them to sleep is the most important and however it works is perfect especially if it means having a warm, snuggly baby on your chest.
    That was how I rocked it but my friend just told me about 12 Hours by 12 Weeks which is specifically for bottle fed babies. Worked for her and she sleeps better than I do. You don't start anything until 8 weeks. Just saying...

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  39. I didn't send birth announcements, but totally wish I would have! But then again, we are in a super small south Georgia town that you still put the baby's picture, vitals and family ties in the baby when they are born - so we did do that!

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  40. I totes love baby announcements, especially for Babies that I have really prayed for-infertility or adoption. It just makes it that more special to be able to hang that up on your fridge as a visual reminder of God's Goodness!

    As for the printing, I wouldn't go to Kinkos, but in our town we have a locally owned copy and print shop, they are MUCH cheaper for printing!

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  41. So, we decided to use Pampers diapers (I think just because we got a box of them to start with and then...go), so if you are using disposables, definitely use the Pampers points. We had enough points to pay for his birth announcements, our Christmas cards, then his first birthday invites and now we have enough to pay for Christmas cards THIS year! She is so beautiful and tiny. What a blessing she is!

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  42. A. I love her and her adorable clothes.
    B. Hav you heard of visaprint? I did wedding postcards there for like $25 for 100. And post cards are cheaper to mail. I say if you've been dreaming of birth announcments, GO FOR IT!! I know you are savoring every single second!

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  43. I love birth announcements, and sent them (2 months later). I splurged and got the expensive ones on Shutterfly... justified it with "my struggle," etc. Also, why else did we bother with the pricey newborn photos?! I guess it is sort of an old-fashioned thing, but I don't care. I endured enough of them that I knew I had to send some of my own. It was finally my turn. And I sent them!

    She is so adorable I can't even handle it. Those cheeks! How do you ever stop kissing them?? (I'm sure you don't).

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  44. LOVE the arm hair!!
    I had to have the baby announcements...made mine at Shutterfly I think...no, actually I think that's wrong. The baby announcements were from somewhere else but cost just as much, if not more. There are cheaper options but I had to have just the right design and scripture on there. And we only get to have our 1st baby announcement once, right?!

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  45. Such fun!!! We just ordered birth announcements from tinyprints. They were pretty pricey, but figured we may only be doing this once. We'll probably go with Costco for Christmas picture/cards and save $ then. Looks like you are really enjoying your little one!!! She's adorable!

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  46. First, congratulations on your beautiful Camilla!!

    I'm slightly late to the game, but my opinion would be do the birth announcements. You've had many (painful) years to send out Christmas cards, but never a BA. I think you should broadcast to the world this new little girl that you finally have in your arms! Also, personally, I prefer to receive birth announcements over Christmas cards. BA are more personal and I'm pretty sure no set of parents have picked the same BA. I can't say the same for Christmas cards.

    Btw, we've used vistaprint and shutterfly for announcements and they both have fantastic quality prints.

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  47. Definitely send announcements!! So many are so excited for you!! They are so fun to look back at too. I love to look at the little card we made up for Mace and think about how new he was and how exciting it was that he was here and how we were just getting to know him :))

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  48. I'm loving all these baby updates! Someone may have already mentioned this, but check out vistaprint. They always have coupon codes going around (or just leave whatever you made in your cart overnight and they email practically begging you to come back) and are pretty cheap. Don't pay for expedited shipping even though they say it'll take two weeks to arrive. It never does. Congrats again!

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  49. Congratulations!!!!

    (You can always print on cardstock at Staples...it's inexpensive)

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  50. Yes to announcements! You can find $20 off baby announcement discounts from Shutterfly with boxes of diapers sometimes and other baby purchases…random, I know. But google it and I'm sure you can find some good coupons or someone might have one they're not using!

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  51. Mom and I noticed her beautiful hands and I told her they were just like your beautiful hands! Also, side note: I was super fuzzy...so I'm thinking that's a good trait, like her auntie!

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  52. Congratulations - your baby is beautiful!

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  53. If you really want to go all out you can have a picture postage stamp made from a photo. After three plus years of IF, three rounds of IVF, 2 m/c we totally didn't give a rats behind and added this little feature to our expensive birth announcements. Make sure you send one to the White House to get a little card back from the President for her baby book. Congratulations! I'm still waiting on a reply back from Disneyland.

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  54. Erika, I've been a blog lurker for a while (and am a former adoption social worker :) So very, very happy for you!! Congrats on being a MOMMY!!

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  55. You should totally do birth announcements. After only getting married at age 36, and having dreamed of having my own baby for years before that, and after having all my friends' birth announcements on my fridge for years, I DEFINITELY wanted them. We keep all our birth announcements, Christmas cards, etc, on our fridge for months and then we remember to pray for those friends when we see them. Also, we just went with the cheap, matte ones from Costco. It was a really cost-effective way to do it.

    Plus, don't you have major plans for your first family of three (four if you include Lola!) Christmas card???

    Send out the birth announcements. They are so worth it, and as a previous commenter said, they are the one thing you can't get hand-me-down or second hand or whatever!

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  56. Shutterfly offers 10 free baby announcements. I only got the 10 to give to those who aren't on Facebook like grandparents/great-grandparents.

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