Making Things Last...

Everyone knows that todays economy is about as stable as an underbaked cake... ready to sink at any time.... and being a StayAtHome, it makes me more nervous. Well, sure. I have job security and know that tomorrow is probably going to be just as busy as today. But at the same time, I know that things are guaranteed. I am so very grateful for my husbands job and the fact that I do get to stay home... in our house... and have no real problems in this world that are worth dwelling on.

But, we are also expecting another mouth to feed. And lots of diapers to change. And more and more dollars need to be spent to keep this ball rolling. But, as the Homemaker.. I am realizing that it is my job to keep those dollars a little longer and get us a little bit trimmer on the budget side. And I am trying! We have be able to pay off my car, and using Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace program, we have already paid off over $8K in debt since Christmas! But... we are still walking a fine wire.

Some little changes that have really helped this week... when we had a combined total of $114 dollars in our checking account and 10 days until payday.

- We aren't buying soda anymore. At over 40 cents a can... and 2-4 cans a day in this house.. we are drinking close to $50 worth of soda a month! Doesn't seem like much... but when you add in a $2 soda (each) when we eat out twice a week... that's another $30 a month... in worthless calories... it's just not necessary.

-We don't turn on lights during the day, and open the windows! It's gorgeous out now!! Let's get our power bills down while enjoying this weather!

-Fruit/Veggie Co-ops! I used to do this a while back, but stopped when the produce wasn't great. But we need fruit and veggies with a growing toddler and belly, and $16 gets me a whole laundry basket full of great produce!! This same stuff would cost us over $50 in the grocery store (not to mention I would just not buy it because I can't bring myself to pay that much).

-Eat from the freezer! I don't mean Eggos and popsicles! When times are good, I double up on favorite recipes... cooking a double batch on one night. Then I pack 1/2 of it up and put it in the freezer for later. When we don't have the money to eat out or grab groceries, I can still put a hot meal on the table that was made with lots of great ingrediants and we don't feel like we are down to pennies... no beans and rice! :o)

-Enjoy free activities... but stay close to home! This one is a double edged sword. We bought a zoo membership to take advantage of lots of "free" visits to the zoo. After 6 visits... it's pretty much paid for itself... but the catch is that I burn a lot of gas to get there... So, although this week would have been perfect for the zoo... we stayed home and colored, played games, and snuggled.

-Use Those Reward Points!!! I can't tell you how great of a thing this is!! Most of us save up those points so that we can go on an all expense paid trip to Fiji or something. Get Real. Right now your points are just sitting there... begging to be used. And, if you are like me... you have lots of things in mind that you'd love to spend money on! I'd love to get Bug a water/sand table for playing in the backyard, and I really want to finish painting our house so it feels more like a home. Welp, 20,000 points were cashed in for $200 in HomeDepot gift cards (that were sent priority mail... should be here by Tuesday!) and I'll be able to do both, and likely still have change!! Best thing of all... it cost me nothing! :o)

What are your tips for making things last or stretching that buck??

Belly Blossoms!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Just a little bite of belly growth... I'll update it as I go. ;o)

My current predicament.

Feeling Good!

As this pregnancy goes on, I have to say it's a night and day difference than my experience with Bug's pregnancy. With Bug, I was sick from the beginning, morning, noon and night. I lost a lot of weight but felt ok the whole time. However, I haven't been sick more than a couple times with this pregnancy (I think it's b/c I had my gall bladder removed). I have also gained weight slowly. Don't tell Bug, but I am liking this pregnancy better... :o)

However, I've had other issues, like dealing with what I am going to do regarding the labor. Before, I just planned on doing it like everyone else... what happens, happens. But then one day, I ended up with an Emergency C-Section, a healthy baby, and a 4" incision where the sun don't shine.

Although this hasn't be the most fun thing to deal with... today, Dustin and I met with a new OB and we are sooo excited to finally have someone in our corner than is going to let us try to avoid the operating table and do this the old fashioned way. Don't get me wrong... there are lots of people that would love a c-section. I am not one of them. So, I will take my 4" battle scar and smile... while praying that I don't have to go through that again. :o)

Growing Up...

I am not the sentamental mom that I should be. Honestly. I try... sometimes a little too hard, but I am too much of a realist to say that I didn't see things coming.

I mean, I didn't cry when Bug turned 1. I don't think I ever even did the "Crap, I have a One Year Old" thing. I realized he was going to turn 1 the day he was born. Just like I know he'll turn 21 some day... and I'll deal with that when it gets here.

But, I will admit that it was a shocker when this kid didn't put up a fight at all when it came time to sleep in a Big Boy Bed. This kid can't be mine... I don't deal well with changes, but he seems to embrace them! He's too little to be in a big bed, but I need the crib for Baby, so I hoped that Bug would adjust well. But we planned well in advance incase this was a tough ride. Five months in advance. Plus 4 months that Baby would likely be sleeping in my room. So, 9 months for preparing him to grow up.

And then he did it. On his own. Bummer.

Bubble Baths

No, you won't see any cute pics of my Bug on here with his Santa bubble beard or something equally cute. Nor will you be seeing anything close to me in a tub. Ever. So long as I live. And I am determined to never have a bathtub picture taken so after I am only a memory, one won't be dug up by a nosey grandchild (because we all know how grandkids can be!).

So, one of my fellow prego friends recently mentioned her love of baths right now, and it reminded me that I love bubble baths. LOVE them. And we have a big beautiful tub that allows me in all of my pregnant glory to enjoy it without cramming myself into a too tiny pool of water. And, contrary to the Southwest Gas guy who told me that I'd never have enough hot water to fill the tub... I can load that thing full of hot water and, my favorite, aromatherapy bubbles! Yum!

What I am wondering is, what are the things in your life that you forget how much you love until someone mentions them? What keeps you from enjoying them more often? And what are you going to do to change that?

As for me... expect me to be enjoying a candlelit bath in my very very near future!

Germ Sponge

I promise I haven't forgotten about you... I am under a lot of pressure right now from the Human Germ Sponge. My kiddo has been to the pedi 3 times in 1 week. He has Croup, had to get a steroid shot to help him get better, and now has conjuntivitis (pink eye)... ewwwww.

Since this isn't fun and is rather draining for a pregnant mom... I'm laying low as long as I can to get this kiddo better and pray that next year at this time, it's not two kiddos being icky.

By the way... if you have stock in Clorox... thank me for your bonus this year!