Hello, My Name is Diana and I'm a Baby Clothes Hoarder

Okay not literally, but let me show you what I mean. I would never have been able to afford all the clothes that come with having a little one if it wasn't for all the hand-me-downs others have given to me. My mother-in-law is a huge help and so is my mom. But there are still things that we just needed and I would feel bad for asking, couldn't wait until Birthday/Christmas, but really didn't have the extra money at the time to buy.

At the beginning of the summer, my in-laws took us to Stride Rite and paid half for my daughter two pairs of new shoes. They were having a BOGO sale so we got an awesome deal and they are quality shoes but with that they were still pricey so them chipping in really helped. We were hoping they would last until we at least went on our vacation. But they didn't make it. A week before we left, we needed new shoes for her. She went through a crazy growth spurt and we were scrambling trying to figure out how we would pay for them. My Hubby's bonus hadn't come in yet and we were thinking we were just going to have to bite the bullet and charge them.



I was randomly going through a box of clothes my sister gave me. And when I say random, I really thought there was no reason to be going through that box. In the bottom were size 6, girl, tennis shoes. Exactly what she needed. I almost cried.

Yesterday, going through the massive amount of hand-me-downs my former boss gave us, I was searching and hoping I would find some 24 month winter items. I had gone through the only 18-24 month bag of clothing in there previously. I only saw 18 month but thought she would be in that size anyway. She had been on the same growth curve since she was born, so why would that change. But that crazy growth spurt completely skipped her into a size up. And struggling to go through the closet, just searching and complaining to myself that I wasn't better organized, I found a whole other bag FILLED with 24 month clothing. Some isn't proper season but there was enough to last until her Birthday and Christmas.



With so many wonderful people in my life, who generously gave us hand-me-downs, we don't have to break the bank buying clothes for Sweet Pea. I feel so blessed.

My friend also gives her clothes too. She gets her nieces hand-me-downs and anything that she has two of (they wore the same size at the same time), she gives to us. So Sweet Pea and her best friend get to match. :)

So I guess I am using this post to say, thank you. Without you all we would go broke. I am not against shopping consignment shops or yard sales or using ThredUp, but I didn't have to. And I feel truly blessed.

Now, to just go through these clothes and reminisce without crying...

Side Note: These pictures were taken before our yard sale. Instead of the huge amount of clothes spread out over our spare bedroom, they are now shoved into closets.

14 comments

  1. I agree!! people were so very generous to us, my kids always had clothes on their back!! we had so many clothes in bigger sizes we made a special room with shelves and labeled all the clothes..it was like a store! same with shoes and sporting equipment...I am grateful for the kindness of others.

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    1. I don't know what I would do with myself if I was that organized...probably not lose stuff. Lol

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  2. With both my kids I got clothes from family and friends to last me till they were 2 to 3 years old. I even kept the best of my first, just in case I had another boy... but I was blessed with a girl. So I gave them to my neighbor. You do not know the joy I feel whenever I see him wearing one of Dylan's baby outfits.
    I am following you now on Facebook and your blog and would love for you to follow back.
    Jillian
    http://puzzlemecomplete.blogspot.com/2012/10/what-word-do-you-see.html

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    1. I am saving some girl clothes too. I figure if I have a boy, I can trade them in and get what I need. Although I do have some boy tuff too. :)

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  3. Hi Diana, just stopping by to say how delightful your blog is. Thanks so much for sharing. I have recently found your blog and am now following you, and will visit often. Please stop by my blog and perhaps you would like to follow me also. Have a wonderful day. Hugs, Chris
    http://chelencarter-retiredandlovingit.blogspot.ca/

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    1. Thanks for dropping by. I will check yours out as well. :)

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  4. Stopping by from welcome Wednesday! I love hand me downs! I also frequently visit the thrift store. I like to go on Wednesdays because clothing is half off then. Saving money is so much fun!

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    1. Saving money IS so much fun! :)

      Thanks for stopping by!

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  5. It's great to get hand-me-downs, especially when kids grow so quickly.

    http://joycelansky.blogspot.com

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  6. Hand me downs are great! We were able to get some for our first, and then now can use those for our second, we have saved some in case we have a third kid, but I've started selling some stuff, just because I know we won't need as much, and I am not much of a hoarder.

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    1. I'm not a literal hoarder. And we actually did get rid of a lot of the summer at our garage sale. But I've kept some stuff in case we have another girl and have a ton more for sizes she hasn't reached yet. :)

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  7. Wow!! Sounds like you have some amazing people in your life looking out for you!! I get the feeling that I'll probably be a baby clothes hoarder, too!

    Thanks for linking up!

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    1. I really do. I feel so blessed. Thank you for hosting the Linky. :)

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Thank you for dropping by! I would love to hear what you thought. :)

Thanks!
♥,
Diana