This is my last week at work…YAHOO! I have only four days left (if you count today) and soon I am going to be joining the ranks of those hardworking stay-at-homers. I am actually really eager to make the transition to housewife-future-stay-at-home-mom (which is crazy because I abhor change. I freak out whenever something is changed from the current situation. It’s just who I am & what I do.)
Sooo being able to look forward to the next step is a really REALLY big thing for me. It’s like when Howard Stern went to church. Except my step is actually real…not just an imaginary event that millions of people pray for on a daily basis.
Even more excited than me is Jeremy. Yes. My boyfriend is very happy that I will be home soon. I think it might have to do something with the fact that he does ALL the housework right now…except for cooking or my laundry….but everything else is on my boy-toy’s plate. Yes, I have been spoiled. Spoiled rotten.
And speaking of spoiled rotten, Jer-bear decided many many moons ago to give me a welcome-home gift. He has been searching for a new tank.
You see, up until recently I drove this baby:
We called it “THE HONDA”. Creative, huh?
Jeremy was concerned that I needed something bigger and badder for when Baby Bower debuts. He has spent the last six months researching on how we can get our hands on this:
Apparently they are pretty hard to come by. And slightly outta our price range.
So we decided that something moderately smaller would fit the bill. We entertained the thought of a Honda Pilot or the Nissan Armada. (I was disappointed that they didn’t have come with any explosives but sometimes you have to make sacrifices). He haggled and haggled with dealers. In the end, we decided that we wouldn’t get what we want from a trade-in on THE HONDA…so we posted a couple photos on Craigslist and prayed for a few bites. Within 24 hours, Jeremy had sold our gas-efficient white Accord and gotten very close to our asking price (which was much more than our trade-in value).
And then within 2 hours of handing over our keys to the new Honda owner, Jeremy spotted an online price reduction for one of our vehicles of choice…a 2008 Nissan Armada with lower mileage at a great price. My boyfriend is a very thorough price-shopper…and we have a policy that we don’t ever rush major purchases….but we also know that if a car can meet our VERY high standards, then we should put the petal to the metal.
We drove over and took a look at this charcoal beauty. DVD player? check. At least 5 cup holders within the reach of the drivers seat? check. Third row seating? check. The ability to sleep in a mattress in the back if the boyfriend ever suggests camping in the middle of winter? check.
Six hours later we became the proud new parents.
I love it.
And we were actually able to break this puppy in by taking it for a spin by Babies R Us to snag a new baby mattress.
See? Already this vehicle is making us better parents. Now Will won’t have to sleep on the nightstand. That’s just a joke you serious people. I wouldn’t do that. I would just make Jeremy hold him all night…Duh 🙂
So consider us officially vehicularly prepared for the newest Bower. And not just prepared for babies. This puppy can do one heck of a lot more haulin’ stuff from the home improvement store. Hollah shoppin! I don’t know that my boyfriend thought that one through 🙂 It’s pretty sweet, huh? I know it’s the nicest thing we will probably ever own! But we feel the investment is pretty good especially since we won’t wanna stop poppin out little siblings for Will. Plus, we heard that it’s sort of a trend to upsize a vehicle when expecting. Anyone else hear that rumor? Or better yet, anyone else actually spring for a bigger car or an SUV or minivan upon the news of a little one?
Um, love it!! I’m NOT expecting a munchkin and have no plans to upsize the car anytime soon, but we did upsize one of our vehicles last year. We built a garage this summer and needed a truck to haul ridiculous amounts of materials that juuuust don’t fit in a Honda Civic. : )
And I just might be drooling a little bit over your shiny new wheels. Just so you know.
Congrats on your new ride! I already drive an SUV and I’m not pregnant and have no kids (yet). I love my SUV!!! It’s awesome for those day long shopping trips, especially at Christmas. Another great thing is that is that my 6’8″ football playing brother can fit in my vehicle (my parents can’t say that).
Wow! It actually resembles the tank you envisioned! We didn’t upgrade when our daughter was born 2 years ago. But, we are currently driving….get this….TOYOTAS. For cryin’ out loud. We haven’t had any trouble with them and definately want to wait if resale will go back up. I drive a Prius and now that we are thinking of having babe #2, I want to trade in for something bigger. I can’t wait to see how the carseat fits in your Armada!
Congrats on the new addition! I think that’s what my hubby will be most excited about when it is time to add to our family – the car shopping! He’s a “car guy” and is always looking for a reason to get something else, whether it’s something new for me (like my upgrade to an Acura from my Focus) or an investment for him to fix up and flip.
O.k. Katie you have me wondering. What does it get for mileage? Or is it a hybrid?
xo
Tam in M.N.
I LOVE IT!!! Thank God you didn’t get a minivan 🙂
No car upgrade for us… My old car is paid off and more like a tank than most cars 😉 Dave Ramsey says we have to pay cash for my minivan dream… So we are saving up!!
Congrats on being on you last day of work! Being a mommy is the best! Don’t wean the boyfriend off those chores yet, these new babies don’t let you get much done 😉
Geez Louise! That thing is a monster!
I am not currently with child however I am looking to “upsize” for home improvements sake. I have an Accent and my Jer-Bear has a TIburon. Looks great, function as a moulding hauler? FAIL!
I’m curious to know what other models you were looking at. What made you choose the Armada?
-Emily
PS Does it even fit in your garage? It looks like it’s too tall!
Boys love to buy cars, don’t they? We’re on the hunt for my replacement for the beloved bug – and we’re thinking Accord – I could have just bought yours if I lived, oh, say, less than 2000 miles away.
haha, I was like “what? Howard Stern went to church?”
I’m sad you had to sell the Honda ~ we LOVE our Honda AKA Betsy. But congrats on the new vehicle! It is SO pretty and will be very convenient. In addition to our Honda, we have a Suburban ~ not good on gas but AMAZING at transporting furniture, large boxes, and small islands… 🙂
Congratulations! I have a Nissan, and I LOVE it!!! My dad has had one for almost 200,000 miles, and it’s still going strong. Mine only has 120,000, but we regularly drive it across the country, into the Rockies, over unplowed roads, and we’re really happy with it. The turning radius isn’t that great, but you get used to it pretty fast.
And, most importantly, I love the style of Nissan cars. So pretty!! And that’s what it’s all about, right? 🙂
Love it! Love the color. We are actually in the market for a new vehicle as well and will be upgrading my white 4 door sedan for an SUV, too! We are about 2 yrs. off from baby making, but since whatever we buy me now will certainly be around for the babe in 2 or so years – we figure we should get the SUV when we trade in my car. The Armada is on our list too!
Hi Miss Em,
We chose the Armada because it was smaller than the Yukon (or similar sized vehicles)…which I completely vetoed because they are tooo huge for me and my driving record…but still big enough to fit 8 people…which was on Jeremy’s wishlist. Also, it does fit in our garage…although we had to modify the garage door mechanism so that it didn’t scratch the top of the luggage rack. long story. tell ya later. And it was very highly ranked on Consumer Reports…which we run for pretty much everything.
In the end, the Honda Pilot was our second choice (it’s a similar size and has similar features) but I am really glad that we got this blinged-out baby…it’s already been the talk of the town…err…the talk of our dinner conversation 🙂
XO – Katie
Big enough for 8 people? How many siblings is Will going to have? 🙂
That’s a nice looking car.
When I was about 5 months pregnant, we thought it might be a good idea to see if the car seat we picked out would fit in our cute little Jetta (her name was Dixie). It didn’t, at least not without the passenger eating the dashboard. I had wanted an Altima for a long time but had no intentions of trading in my beloved – and paid off – Dixie anytime soon. I had President’s Day off that year and my hubby suggested I go to the local Nissan dealers and see what kind of deal they would give a pregnant girl. By the end of the day, I was sobbing as we drove out of the dealer’s lot in our shiny new Altima (named Bella) and left my poor Dixie out in the cold. I knew we needed a bigger car, I just wasn’t prepared to get one THAT DAY. I just hope Dixie is making someone else as happy as she made me!
I am so jealous! We’re expecting and getting ready to purchase a…wait for it…Lincoln Town Car. I am about 50 years too young to get this car, but it has serious hauling capabilities (21 cubic foot trunk) and will be much better for a car seat than my 2-door. My husband’s sweet Grandfather is selling it to us.
I guess the “it’s all about the children” thing is starting. So much for my vanity.
So fun! We bought a second car two weeks before the arrival of our little one, which is really saying something since I delivered her a full week late! I must admit the 2-3 weeks we spent wandering (more like waddling) through the car lot in the end-of-summer Nashville heat was not ideal, but watching the salesmen scurry about absolutely petrified I would deliver the baby right then and there was well worth it. We opted for a sedan, and really all I cared about was safety since this car is officially Amelia’s – my husband and I alternate driving to/from work in the other car and the new car stays with her as her official chauffeuring car!
We didn’t upsize as much as you did, but I definitely moved from a tiny little 2-door Dodge Neon to a (now-recalled with the Toyota stuff) Pontiac Vibe. Kids are a great excuse to get a new car!!
Congrats on the new car! I love the gray color – that is the color I wanted! We are expecting our first in June and just sprung for the new “family” car as well. We got a blue Highlander which I love but I do wish I could have gotten it in gray. Price you pay when you are used car shopping!
Christine,
I want 4 bio kids plus adopt if we can. Also the boyfriend has promised a boy & a girl…so that might be more than 4.
Jeremy is undecided.
XO – Katie
I have only ever driven an SUV (on my third one) and can’t imagine life without one. So…when the kids come along (not preggers yet), no need for an upgrade here (already have the third row, but no DVD player).
She is a beauty! Have fun with your new ride!
Good luck learning how to park that baby! My hubby and I have opted to just trade cars for right now. He will be driving my more fuel efficient Mazda 6 and I will have baby in tote in his Xterra.
Nice ride!
I had to laugh, because we just did the opposite! We’re a couple years away from having kiddos, but we traded in my Chevy Blazer for a Civic with the idea that this will be the car I’m driving with a baby seat in the back in the future. I drive mostly in the city, so it made more sense to have a car, and my husband has a pickup truck for hauling stuff anyway.
I’m curious about the safety factor. I know that there’s the perception that you’re safer in an SUV because they’re so big, but aren’t they the LEAST safe kind of car to drive? I’ve seen report after report, over the past few years, that have said that. When I was pregnant with my second daughter 2 years ago, I remember a big report coming out about how unsafe SUVs were in terms of side-impact crashes. I’m sure you guys have already checked out the safety records of SUVs, so maybe that’s not an issue.
On our end, we opted to stay with our current cars because they’re paid off. My VW Passat is fine with the two kids, but if I opt for a third, I’ll need a bigger car for sure.
So nice!!! Congratulations! We didn’t consider getting a new car when we had our first, and we still won’t with #2. We just have our little old ’96 Corolla which works fine. But we also have a Silverado with a backseat, so we can still fit two car seats in there. But if a #3 kiddo comes along, we will probably be getting something with a little more space. I just like paid off and cheap insurance (and good gas mileage!).
Way to go !! Good choice, too.. take it from me, I have a Nissan SUV and love,love,love it ! My 11 year old (only child) can find ways to make me think that we need a bigger car at times. You will totally love all that room. (just think ahead: stroller,carseat, groceries, your purse, etc.)
Awesome, congrats! P.S. My hubby would absolutely love to go camping and spend the night in the back of a truck.
I think it is very common for newbie parents to upsize their car. I see it all the time and I work at a preschool. . .
By the way will you become a full stay at home mom or just taking maternity leave?
Hi Christine – I will become a full time stay at home mom. I considered taking maternity leave but in the end, we decided that the sacrifices we would make without my paycheck (vacations, eating out, toilet paper) would be well worth being home with Will. Lots of our friends are simply taking maternity leave and honestly, I am thrilled at the opportunity to be home but also scared to death of the responsibility. Maybe you can say a little prayer for us Bowers when you get a chance, eh?
We would love you forever 🙂
XO – KB
When I got pregnant in ’04, we’d actually felt relief knowing we wouldn’t have to upsize from my ’01 Honda CR-V. But when I found out we were having twins, I initially FREAKED OUT, thinking “Aw sh!t, we’re gonna have to get a bigger car, a bigger house, another crib, another high chair….” etc. etc. Turns out, we got a proclamation of 2 BOYS…. and I sighed relief again. The only thing we needed was another boy’s name. The 2BR house and ’01 CR-V STILL fits us just fine. We’re certainly not small people, but it feels right to us to live that way. 🙂
Traded in my car for our Durango two years ago when #1 was on the way, loooove it and will never choose to drive a car again. With #2 on the way we still don’t regret it and you won’t either!
Katie, one of the best investments you’ll ever make is “moving on up” to a carseat friendly vehicle. Trust me, I know from experience. It’s so much nicer to wrestle with strapping the little one in when it’s raining and your rear doesn’t have to be standing out in the elements. Congrats on your new wheels. You had me laughing out loud with this post.
We actually traded our Saturn with my in-laws for their minivan shortly after my daughter was born. I never thought I would love a minivan, but the extra space is AWESOME. Babies are such little people . . . why is it that they seem to require so much STUFF? At least we have the room now.
12/18 mpg. Ouch!
I neglected to write in my post earlier that i recently stumbled upon your blog and you are my daily read I look foward to–thanks Katie;) I also drive a honda accord and was considering some wheels just like the Bowers–great minds think alike!! teehee. I would so love it if you coud help me out in convincing my boyfriend that this vehicle gets better mileage than his truck (it won’t be hard to beatas I feel like were fueling a space ship). After purchasing our truck he doesn’t believe the mfg. suggested m.p.g.–our truck was so far off you feel like you were literally taken 4 a ride– so your words and experience will be golden in my boyfriends book and you’ll have another B.F.F. 😉
Thanks Katie!!
xo
Tam
Congratulations! We bought a house while pregnant (actually, we signed the contract to have it built 1 month before I got pregnant) and my OB said every single pregnant patient of hers either bought a new car or house during their pregnancy!
Nah, I’m happy with my 2005 Mini Cooper and have had no issues utilizing what is available to me. Just makes me pack smarter. Plus, we absolutely adore the gas mileage we get out of it – more money for other fun treats!
I was six months pregnant when we traded in my HONDA Civic for a new Ford EDGE. I LOVE it! I love the new ride! Baby Bower will be thoroughly impressed. Well done!
cool! We have been considering getting me a new big car too. Was this car brand new? I pointed to hubby when I saw an Armada, thought it looked nice. How much was the price for this? so I can tell my hubby about it.
We upsized to a SUV when our son was born. My parents decided that my car (which had been a graduation present from them) wasn’t sufficient for their grandson 😉 Fortunately for us, my parents let us take over the payments on their year-old SUV. Hooray for no haggling and zero interest!
I acutally just bought an 07 Nissan Pathfinder in the same gray color (I finally got rid of my 97 Ford Escort that I’ve had since college), but I’m just a soccer mom to my two little Yorkies (for now – I think I’m about 2 years out for children). Best of luck to you and your new SUV! I love mine!
When my wee one was 6 months We upgraded from my Ford Focus (20 bones to fill up & no car payment)- to a Hyundai Santa Fe, and..although it’s now roughly 40 bones to fill up, and i miss “no car payment land” i LOVE the bigger ride and it makes a huge difference!!! P.S. my coworker turned me onto your site, hilarious!
Our Honda Civic Hybrid and our Element are both perfectly adequate for our planned family of four. Not unless I was pregnant with my third would I replace our small, economical, paid off, and fuelly economic vehicles. I think the trade-up car while pregnant trend is a really silly one. Congratulations on your purchase, but no…I don’t think it’s a necessity by any means.
great car… i like this
hi katie:
i am a total fan of your blog. your descriptive words, humor, and creativity…keep me coming back for updates. we are adding another little one, and are upgrading our tsx to a suv shortly. would you be willing to share your craigslist posting? i’d love to see what you wrote, to get someone to buy so fast. and maybe we can borrow jeremy when we go car shopping! haha take care and congrats on the baby-to-be.
Hi Katie! LOVE your new car! We are actually in the process of buying a truck. we were thinking about the Pathfinder. I wanted to ask, what webisites did you guys (Jeremy!) search to find your nissan? Did you guys haggle a better price (I’m not good at that!), or did the car fit into your price range? Thanks for the time
Lakeitha_duncan(at)yahoo(dot)com
Hi Lakeitha,
I think that Jeremy used every car dealer site available online…plus he searched in Georgia and surrounding states to find the right deal. Our final purchase was found on Autotrader. And since the price was already reduced, we haggled for other perks…like new tires and a new fullsized spare and free alignment. Also, it was important to inspect every little item in our vehicle….like we even brought our own DVDs and CDs to the dealer to test the players and we were sure to call the Nissan dealership (since our dealer was a used cars place) to double check that the bumper-to-bumper warranty would still cover items like the speakers and sealbelt straps. But when it came down to it, if the price didn’t meet our price range, we have no problem walking away.
Good luck shopping!
XO – Katie
Thank you soooo much Katie for your response! We ended up going with a 2009 Chrysler Aspen which we also found on Autotrader. You know, I hate when people dissaprove of what you plan for you and your family. In my opinion getting the “big” car/truck now makes more since especially if you plan to have more kids. that way, you’ll almost have the car paid off by the time the big expenses come along (kids!). I love your truck and I think Will is going to love it too if he is like most boys and have a thing for cars and trucks like my son Nicholas! Take care girl!
oooh…snarky. Why comment if you are going to be rude? Now that you have smugly let us all know how clever and frugal you are…:P.
Hi Katie,
I know this comment is really late, but I wanted to see if you still were in love with your car. We are about to have our third and I am shopping around. How do you configure the car seats? Do you feel like there will still be enough room with 4? Thanks so much. Love your blog!
We still love it but we joke that we need a bus 🙂 We have done a couple different configurations depending on our needs. Right now they are all lined up on the first row….baby seat in middle facing backwards because that is easiest to take out, load LJ and then click in. Will is old enough to buckle himself with a booster so he has been really flexible with his seat. He loves sitting in the back 🙂
xo – kb