running

I was totally getting back into this whole running scene and boom! positive preggo test. I did run a 5k this past weekend and placed second in my age group. I was super excited, especially being 6 weeks pregnant. I plan to continue running as long as I can. My plan was to run a half marathon in November with these girls and a couple others, however, that run is being down-graded to a walk. I might run a bit here and there, but don't want to push myself that much for obvious reasons. :)

plans for April 2010

No lack of excitement for our household. Next April will contain an exit from the military, a big move across the country, and now a brand new baby!

LOVE this laugh

finances

It is with immense joy that I tell you all...we are sooo close to being debt free I can taste it! We have one month, possibly less until our final debt (our pick-up) is paid off! Never again will we purchase a brand new vehicle. We'll let someone else take that initial depreciation and then we'll buy it from them. :)

Our budget is going well. We have largely kept to it minus a couple of totally random things that I'm sure we'll come up with a category for next month, or not because the nature of their randomness.

Aside from our emergency fund we have funds set aside for new tires for this silly truck we paid too much for our only vehicle. It's so nice to actually plan ahead and not worry where the money will come from. Trips-tires, doctor bills-insurance...you know it's coming, why not set the money aside monthly.

After this (baby step #2) is complete, we will be moving on to BS #3: 3-6 months of expenses in a savings account. This is especially important for me as my hubby will be getting out of the military and having been "in" myself for 24 years (brat/wife) I'm a little nervous about the stability of the civilian world. I'm certain we'll be fine, but what a joy it will be to start our new journey with absolutely no debt and a bit of a cushion to fall back on if need be.

By the way, we will be making the phone call to Dave Ramsey to scream: WE'RE DEBT FREEEEEEEE!!! Any ideas on a photo to remember the day?

something I said I'd never do

I clearly remember my precious niece sitting in the exact same high chair at my house mere days before our precious girl was born. I recall thinking to myself, "I can not believe that my sister is letting her child have free reign of that yogurt cup at only 18 months of age. I'll never do that with my child!"

And here we are, almost 19 months from that day, as I take photographs of my very own child doing exactly what I said "I'd never" allow her to do!

I seem to remember my niece making quite a bit less of a mess than her cousin!

What have you done lately with your kiddos that, before having the pleasure of being faced with the situation yourself, you said you'd never do?

Not Me! Monday

Half Pint has decided that she loves "boo bay-yees." This has helped wonderfully in keeping our little girl regular. There is no way that I gave her blueberries with every meal for one day. And there is absolutely no way that I would bring her dirty diaper to her father, because it was 99% blueberry and smelled as such! That is SUPER icky and I would never do such a thing. Yick!

I'm doing great at keeping with my grocery budget. It was not me that you saw leaving the house to buy D.oritos and Dr P.epper to have with wings after I had just gotten home from my routine/once-a-week grocery trip. Nope! I plan my grocery list out ahead of time and knew just what we needed. Besides, we do not eat D.oritos or drink Dr P.epper. Those things are bad for you.

The above mentioned D.oritos were not consumed less than 24 hours after purchase. They were never here in the first place.

I did not try to make my 19 month old child go to bed without dinner because she detested the eggplant I made for dinner. I realize that she's way too young to understand that. I fed her leftovers from the other night. I was not the one who called my mother to see if I should give her those leftovers. Nope, not me!

Are you embarrassed because you blew your nose in your shirt just before you were going to wash it anyway. Feel terrible for not brushing your child's teeth, again. Not me! Monday was created out of MckMama's desire to admit some of her imperfections and reveal a few moments she'd rather forget. You may find it therapeutic to join in and do the same.

menu planning

In an effort to continue to save money in our household, I've decided to get more serious about menu planning. When hubby and I first got married, I wrote out the dinner menu on Sunday evening, made a list and got to shopping on Monday for all of the ingredients. I have since learned that this isn't the most cost effective method to menu planning. There was always some obscure ingredient that was never on sale and had to be added to every other meal. I've been able to find some "stealin' deals" and I try to make my menu out of what I already have. Or at least that's what I'm going to start doing this week!

I'm just putting down a rough idea, nothing stringent that must be followed in order. If we don't feel like chicken one night, I'll make something else off the list. (I'm sure you get the idea)

BREAKFAST:
whole wheat waffles
cereal
egg/toast
oatmeal w/raisins


LUNCH:
cheese sticks/tomatoes
chicken sandwiches
leftover chicken wings
yogurt/blueberries
veggies/cheese/crackers


DINNER:
taco burgers
broccoli cheese soup
bean/cheese burritos
quinoa/black beans
papa murphy's (??) *we'll see how far I get with this one! it's worth a shot
leftovers x 2


OK, so that was easy enough. Now I have the stuff already and no guess work until having to come up with another menu. What are you eating this week?

belly button

Tonight while putting Half Pint to bed I asked, "where is you belly button?"

She put her finger into her belly button, pushed (relatively) hard and replied, "Awww gong!"

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I really do think about blogging often, does that count for anything?

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Starting to become accustomed to having only one vehicle. I've decided that if hubby can hitch a ride once a week, or I take him in, then I will survive. The kiddo and I have been doing lots of running/walking and playing to keep us busy. Half Pint has decided she really likes "cooooking" with her plastic spoon and plastic food container. Most of the time, she's making "brocaffi, ha caukie, wader." She's a trip!

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Lately, aside from cooking, A is really enjoying reading books, wrapping "bay doll"s in (dry) wipes, dancing, and singing OH! and lest we forget running around "nakee" after bath time. With keeping her so well hydrated that time has come to a close immediately after "kinkle"-ing on the rug in her room. She loves "yohgoh, ahhmeal, mealk, and boo-bayyees."

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And with as random as this post is, it is now being brought to a close.

watermelon and humidity

An example of what icky humidity does to a perfectly good camera.

Hubby was a little surprised when I said this was the first watermelon I'd ever purchased. What a good choice! super juicy

Watermelon is best enjoyed outside naked, and since that was a little obscene for me, I only got pictures of the baby!