First Time for Everything

For our Disneyland trip we did something we have never done before.

WE PAID FOR THE ENTIRE TRIP IN CASH!

We had decided to take this trip about May of last year. I started saving $25 a week. We originally planned to take this trip over Christmas as we were not able to go back to the Midwest. That fell through and Isaac got Disney money for Christmas. Our next timeframe was for his birthday, which also fell through. Next up was President's Day weekend, which I  nixed due to hotel costs. When we finally went this last weekend, we had 2 extra months of savings and gifts.

Our hotel and parkhopper tickets were prepaid before we left. I knew exactly how much cash we had to spend and loaded it onto a debit card, just for Disney.

My Disney freak and awesome friend D taught me how to share parkhopper tickets. We cut the cost of our tickets by $140.

When we got to Anaheim, my husband surprised me by pulling out a fat wad of cash that he had been saving as well. I almost cried. We took drinks into the park, so we avoided the $3+ sodas and bottled waters. We took fruit and snacks, again avoiding the great park surchages on food. We cut costs where we could, and it worked really well for us.



Because we planned and saved, we didn't worry about money ONCE the entire weekend. We paid for everything on the preloaded card and in cash. And we even came home with some!

This is the very first trip we have taken that didn't accrue credit card debt. :) I am so proud of us!

The Most Expensive Milk

My grocery challenge went really well! Like, really REALLY well! Trying to keep in the spirit, I have been dowdnsizing what I buy DRASTICALLY and paying cash for groceries.


The other day, I needed to run in the store to get milk. Milk is about $2.99 a gallon. I had just picked up Isaac and thought to myself it wouldn't be worth trying to wrangle him into the cart just for milk. He could walk with me. Big mistake. BIG BIG mistake.


He did really well walking up to the dairy case. He even stood there while I opened it to get the milk out. Then he noticed the promotional red mylar balloons surrounded a table promoting a new coupon program. He is OBSESSED with balloons (among other things). I spent a good 5 minutes chasing him around the table and finally coralled him toward the express checkout lane.


This is where it got ugly.


Not only did I have to pick him up (try making a 22 month old boy stand in line patiently), but have you ever seen grocery checkout lines? Usually there are many balloons of a vast variety. Plus there were more promotion balloons. By the time I was paying for  my milk, Isaac was incredibly unhappy, thrashing, and screaming. Not just screaming to be put down, but screaming for a balloon.


Sigh. So I gave in. I asked the checkout girl what the cheapest balloon was. It turns out the least expensive was the promotional red mylar, ringing in at $4.99. As soon as it was in his hands, Isaac was all smiles.


Do I condone what I did? Nope. But a mom's gotta do what a mom's gotta do.


I learned my lesson. That galloon of milk ended up costing me over $8.00 by the time tax was figured into the cost. And I don't want Isaac to think that behaving that way is ok.


Oh, and the balloon is still floating and providing him amusement. As well as my cats.

Grocery Challenge Update

I am pleased to say that I have completed 2 weeks of my Grocery Challenge. The last shopping trip to get me through to today consisted of 3 lbs of ground beef, one yellow onion, 2 lbs of bananas, one head of garlic and one bag of lettuce. My total was $10.41 which was fine since I had leftover from the previous trip where I only spent about $7.50. The fridge definitely looks emptier, and the cupboards are getting there.

This week is going to be a stretch. I made a list of potential meals, and some of them are creative. We shall see how it goes. :)

The Challenge Has Been Accepted

I have this almost OCD where I have to have full cupboards and a full freezer/fridge. I buy in bulk and when stuff is on sale. I got a vacuum packer for my bridal shower, and I love it. I can buy the value packs of meat and then put them in the deep freezer. I save money or so I think. The problem is I forget that I have it. Example: I buy spaghetti when it goes on sale for 75 cents a box. I put it in my cupboard. We don't use the spaghetti, and I go shopping the next week. Spaghetti is on sale again. I can't remember if I have any, so I buy more. I end up with 5 boxes of spaghetti in my cupboards. 5 boxes! That's 10 meals with that type of pasta! Another example: chicken goes on sale and I buy a value pack. I vacuum pack it into meal portions. I put some in my freezer and some in my deep freezer. I may or may not use some that was stored in my freezer. I go shopping again and this time the bags of chicken are on sale. I buy one, maybe two because 3 pounds of chicken for 2.99 is a good deal! The bags go into my deep freezer. You get the idea.

My current grocery budget is about $75-$100 a week, putting us between $300 and $400 per month. For a family of 3, that includes a toddler. Granted, my husband eats alot. And so does my toddler. And sometimes we are feeding my BIL and various other people, and we take leftovers for lunch so we don't waste a whole lot of food.

Or do we?

Here is my challenge. For the next 3 weeks, I am only alloted a grocery budget of $10 per week. This should buy fresh milk and produce and possibly bread for lunches if needed. For all other food, I have to use up what I have in the house. It's time to deplete the stash.

This should not be too hard, in all honesty. But I am really nervous about it. BECAUSE I AM A PACK RAT! I HAVE A DISEASE, PEOPLE!

This was sparked yesterday evening when I went to the store for crescent rolls and grapes and came out $50 later. Upon putting things away, I realized I already had most of the items I had just purchased or something very similar. The challenge starts today, and I don't get my $10 budget until Monday since I already went shopping. I should need milk by then, so that's my $ date. I have to get through until at least October 8th.

So here we go! On tonight's menu: Oven fried chicken, southwestern hashbrowns and leftover veggies.

How It's Supposed To Go, Right?

The other night, I had to bring up the taboo subject in our house: Money. Sigh, the root of all evil. The reason a great deal of marriages fail. The driving force behind horrible arguments.

When my husband and I talk about money it usually goes like this:

Me: "How did you blow through $200 in cash in just 4 days? Are you on drugs?"

Him: "Um....NO. Why would you think that?"

Me: "Well, I pack you lunch everyday. I buy you beer and gatorade and sodas. I buy you snacks. I just don't really see what you are spending that money on unless during your lunch you are sloughing over to GG Park to hit up your dealer."

Him:"Are you serious?"

Me, putting on my saddest face I can muster: "I just hope the crack is worth it. I mean, I am going to have to wrap our son's butt in paper towels since we won't be able to afford diapers soon. Just promise me you won't sell him."

Him: "I don't even know what to say to you right now..."

Ok, so that is a nice version of what I usually say to him. In all seriousness, we have a problem communicating about money. Mostly because I am the one who pays the bills every month and does the shopping, etc. This role was just kind of assumed. He was taking care of financials for businesses, and really, who wants to come home and do the same thing? Plus I am a control freak. So here we have me paying the bills and seeing where every cent we make goes, and him pulling in the $$$ and not knowing anything. Now, this may be a big flashing warning to most of you, but I didn't see how big of a problem this was.

My husband hears me bitch about money all the time. He hears me talk at him about not spending and how he blows too much. And he sees the numbers on his paychecks, and how much time he spends at work. He feels justified in spending money.

And you know, he's right. We do make great money. And we should be able to enjoy it. If we want to spend $146 on a case of car cleaner, we should be able to (guess who made this purchase?). If we want to take a trip, we should be able to. And I shouldn't have to check the bank accounts every monring in fear wondering how much he blew the day before on corn nuts and 5 hour energy drinks.

The other day, the light bulb went on in my head. He needed to see exactly what we paid each month to our credit cards, car payment, insurance, groceries, diapers, cell phone, loans, etc. He needed to see what we owed and to whom. So I pulled it all together. I added things up. I prioritized what I thought should be paid off first, how much we should save. I decided it was time to get on the same page. I couldn't expect him to just automatically go with what I say. I mean, he respects me, but come on. One of the reasons I love him is that he has his own opinions and dreams. And he goes after them. And he expresses them.

When he came home from work, the best thing happened. Well, other than winning the lottery. We sat down and talked like adults. Like married adults with responsibilities. We COMMUNICATED. We both laid it all out and we got on the same page. He talked about how he felt and what he wanted. I talked about how I felt and what I wanted. And we listened. We made decisions and suggestions.

That's how it's supposed to go, right? This is how married people are supposed to communicate? It only took me 5 years to figure out.

My BlogHer'10

I was really going to try to go to BlogHer this year. Like, I was seriously all gungho about it, and waiting to purchase my ticket. My husband said I could go if I kept my cost under $500-$600 and I figured out how to do it.

Well, obviously and sadly, I did not end up going. And not for change of heart, because I really really REALLY still wanted to go, both for the experience and I wanted to meet my friends.

After deep conversation with my husband, we decided it best for our family that I do something else (and by deep I mean I was probably annoying him and to shut me up he said "Look here...pick one or the other because I don't which but we aren't paying for both).

Remember how I am a science geek? Well, to enhance my geekness, I decided that I wanted to get my Professional Wetland Scientist Certification. This means hoop jumping and writing and applications...and my favorite: Classes. I love science classes and I would take them all day, every day. Sadly, these classes are only about 2 days on average. But I still love them.

I don't love the hefty price tag said classes come with. I didn't really pay for my undergrad and grad degrees, so I kinda got sticker shock when I had to register through a local college of extended learning. Ouch. And my classes are actually cheaper than credit hour classes.

Sooooo....yeah. It was kind of a decision between spending the money on my hobby and emotional outlet, or on my career. I opted for my career this time. Boy, oh boy, do I wish we had the money to do both, but we don't. Isaac needs diapers. And we need a house to live in.

Damn adult decisions. I was way sad (and still am) that I didn't get to go to NYC and meet my bloggy besties and idols. :)

Anyway, two classes were in June and one class is tomorrow and Saturday. This class is all about plants! and is hopefully my last class that I need to apply for my professional in training (still have work experience to do), fingers crossed and knock on wood. I make great friends and professional contacts in these classes, as well as learning and advancing my career.

Tomorrow begins my BlogHer, I guess. Or concludes since I took some classes earlier in the summer.

And now, I have a seperate savings account for BlogHer next year in San Diego, which will be way more affordable for me, unless of course I have done so much professional development that I land a kick @$# job on the East coast and I am in the same boat again.

With that, I leave you another photo of my little Science Geek Boo at the GG Botanical Gardens with the "Squirrel Kitties" that I was terrified he would actually catch because they are so tame and used to people, and get bitten by said and most likely rabid and diseased "squirrel kitty." (Yes, he thought they were kitties, but by the end of the day he was saying "querrrrlllll!")

A Not So Wordless Wednesday

I had a photograph from Isaac's 4th of July escapades all picked out and ready to go for today's Wordless Wednesday. But then something came up last night that needs to be discussed, bumping off the photograph.

My daycare lady, Miss K, gave me notice last night.

I had a feeling it was coming. The State cut the daycare subsidy from the budget and all the State funded kids lost their daycare. This cut off some of her kids. And it really makes no sense. Low income families NEED TO WORK, CALIFORNIA! Maybe we don't pass a bill giving first time home buyers a 10k tax credit over 3 years, and we actually let people keep their jobs. Just a thought.

And then one mom lost her job, so she is at home with her son, also one of Miss K's daycare kids. Another kid went to preschool in June. She has one drop in, who comes like once or twice a month. Her last kid with Isaac was baby J, whose parents are now involved in a child support legal dispute, forcing them to move and baby J to stay with his grandma while his parents work. That made Isaac her only daycare kid. And he only goes there 3 days a week. Miss K was making less than $4 an hour. That does not put food on the table.

So anyway, I got her phone call last night. I was expecting it but I was still blindsided. I hung up the phone and cried. (I also found a tick in Isaac's bed, which didn't help matters.) Isaac has 2 weeks left with Miss K.

And I don't know what to do.

I did the number crunching a while back to see where we stood financially. All that is keeping me at work is about $1300, $500 of that goes to daycare each month, give or take. $800 was what it worked out that I was working for. $800 is all we need to cut each month to keep me home with Isaac. That isn't my full salary, so anything more than that $800 in theory is extra considering we don't blow it or have more bills (which usually happens. Inevitably, the car breaks or life insurance premiums are due, or we need plane tickets, or my husband breaks his phone AGAIN). And believe it or not, it is pretty hard to cut $800 from a household. It doesn't seem like it would be, but it is. :(

Sooo...yeah. I could stay home with Isaac. We could figure out a way to make it work. But I don't know if that is what I really want. I have worked really, really hard to get to the position I am in now, and I really like my job (most days...I mean, who loves their job every single minute of every single day?). I am developing my position into exactly what I want it to be, meaning I am making my job. I never wanted to stay at home full time. Granted, I made this decision when Isaac was small, small, itty bitty 5 month old baby peanut. He's older now. Things would be different.

Plus, we have talked about having another child sometime in the next year or so. And then I don't know how I would feel about working while pregnant, working after another newborn with 2 kids in daycare.

Miss K gave me some other options. Isaac's alternate daycare provider said she would take him full time. This is a very appealing option, EXCEPT...she's pregnant, due in December. So come December, I am making this decision all over again. However, that gives me more time to pay down bills and SAVE like a madwoman. And we might be in a better position to really consider me staying home full time. But what if I don't want to? The daycare search begins again. And what if she has the baby early or complications (god forbid) with her pregnancy?

Miss K also gave me the number for one of her friends who does daycare. This daycare is literally right across the street. Literally, we can walk there. And Isaac has met this lady, because she has come to Miss K's before. However, she has 14 kids at her daycare right now. I am sure that number will go down in once school starts up, and she has an assistant. And Isaac is a social little boy. He adapts easily, and quickly. He makes friends. The transition to a larger daycare means alot of different things, include more sickness. Less one on one time. We have an interview there on Friday afternoon.

I can start the daycare search all over again. ALL. OVER. Alot of places have closed, again, THANKS CALIFORNIA! YOU ROCK! And other places, will be CROWDED.

If I stay home, am I ready to do that? To walk away from the job I have worked so hard to have? That I am working so hard at? Would we be ok financially? Would I be able to hold onto my sanity?

I NEED HELP! I NEED ADVICE! I NEED A DRINK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have alot of thinking, and number crunching and soul searching to do.

Adult decisions kind of suck. Like, big time. And adult decisions that have to be made as a mother are not easier, by any means. I am makign decisions that affect my child's life, his well being. This is my heart, outside my body, that I am entrusting with another person.

Where's that drink? :(

The First Shot

Before my birthday, and for about a year now, I was drooling over a DSLR camera. Specifically, I had my eye on the Canon Rebel EOS. They come with a decent price tag. I dropped hint after hint. And then I just made the decision that I would get one for myself and save up.

Well, then I got some birthday money. And after a day of browsing the internet, I discovered that with the masses of AmEx points that we have been hoarding for a vacation, I could get my camera for FREE. I pleaded with the hubs, and finally hit the submit order button for my Rebel EOS Xsi.

Turns out, I really don't remember that much from the photography classes I took in HS and college. And turns out, yep...this camera is kinda um...confusing. :) But I LOVE it!

Anyway, I have masses of photos on my computer now, and have been itching to go through them. The camera goes EVERYWHERE with me, even to work.

This is the first photo that I have come across that I really like. It could definately use some editing, and I have no idea what setting I took it on or how to make it better. But I like it.

(Notice the scab on Isaac's forehead and nose? Yep, that is from the screen incident....)

Birthday

So this year kind of got away from me. I got a card from my grandpa in the mail earlier this week and was all confused, and when I opened a birthday card, I had to walk over to the calendar. Um, yep...my 29th birthday is totally tomorrow.

Birthdays, especially mine, used to be a HUGEMONGOUS deal to me. This time 2 years ago I was ready to party it up with a group of friends at Par.ma. I drank alot, and I don't mean water. My friend H (who is preggers right now) and I were the first to my soiree and drank a WHOLE. BOTTLE. of prosecco by ourselves before anyone else arrived. And I sang MB20 at the top of my lungs the whole drive home to Sonoma.

It just isn't a big deal anymore. The focus, as it should, has shifted to Isaac and making his birthdays as memorable as mine were as I was growing up, so that he looks forward to the special day that is just his every year.

Don't get me wrong, I still think my birthday is special. There are just more important things now. I am shocked when people remember my birthday, especially when I don't even remember it!

And I still want a Canon Rebel EOS. and to meet Rob Thomas.

Sadly, I don't have the money for either. Which means my husband doesn't have the money for either. (Let's face it...we know who controls the cash flow in this household.)

What is even sadder is that I would have the money. Not for Rob Thomas, but for the camera. If I didn't buy my starbucks dark cherry mochas everyday (I know, I can't believe I even thought that, but it's true!) or I didn't buy crap. All the $20 purchase I made here and there, if I had put that $ aside, I would have more than enough. That camera was not so important to me before. I had/have a nice digital camera. But with Isaac, I want more. So I am taking what my grandparents sent me and will put $20 a week into my savings account until I have enough.

Tomorrow will be a nice day. Isaac and I are going to the Academy of Sciences (We are geeks!) to see the extreme mammals with some of my friends. Any day that I get to spend with Isaac doing something other than errands is better than any type of birthday party or celebration.

I don't need cake. I don't need a party. I don't need presents (well, except meeting Rob Thomas...if someone gives me that I won't turn it down! :) ). Cards and well wishes are nice. All I truly need is the time with my baby, my husband, my friends, enjoying the life we have built and are building.

This Weekend

This weekend....

This weekend was TOO HOT. Hello, California? Not so much fun to jump from low 80's to 104 back to 80's.


Saturday was rough because it was sooo damn HOOOOOTTTTT. Isaac just couldn't nap, so he was tired and fussy. And uncomfortable. Around 2:30, I gave up the napping fight and loaded him into the air conditioned car and we went shopping to spend Daddy's hard earned moolah. We bought some Christmas presents from....gulp....Toys R Us. Yes, I went back there. Diaper genie refills were on sale! And now that we can't change Isaac in the pack n play anymore, we go through them like no other. Plus he needed more cereal and those bastards have the biggest selection. And...the R Us locals are the only place I can find the Valupacks of the Pampers 2-3 size.


Anyway, we also loaded up on clearance 18+months clothes for next summer. They were buy one, get one for $1, so we got some shorts and swim trunks.


And I got the Handy Manny phone. It was on clearance and I had a coupon so it cost like $7. It will be for Christmas. I also realized that this store buys used video games in exchange for Toys R Us credit. Guess how we are buying the rest of Isaac's presents?


Why am I shopping so early? And why am I shopping at my nemesis stores? Well, simple. I hate them. But I hate them MORE with crazed holiday shoppers. Last year we picked up the crib 2 days before Christmas and had to listen to employees explain to the same shopper 50 times, that the Wii Fit mat, was not in fact, the actual Wii Fit bundle which they had been sold out of for days. Nope, still isn't the bundle when you take it to a different employee. Nopers, the sign in the empty display that says "we are currently out of stock and do not know when the product will be delivered" still means that they are SOLD OUT. Maybe next time don't wait until 2 days before Christmas to buy the hot item of that year, hmmmm??? And quit cutting in line to further illustrate that you are stupid and annoying and can't read. Thanks.

So I am getting all the toy shopping done now, while I have coupons and while stuff is in stock. Is it worth saving a few more dollars when Christmas sales roll around? No, my sanity and the safety of other customers who have the potential to irritate me is not worth saving an additional buck or two. Plus then I can enjoy the holiday season with Isaac at home, watching Rudolph, baking cookies, and wrapping presents while the psycho cats try to knock ornaments off the tree. :)


We also hit up Bed, Bath and Beyond to get these freezer cubes. We are starting meats this month, and I want to use these. I have been stockpiling the 20% off coupons since May and we got 5 of the 2 ounce and 3 of the 1 ounce sets for $30. Hurrah! :)


And we took a stroll into Pe.tCo as well, so Isaac could see the kitties, birds, and fish. And so I could try to find a flap to cover the litter box door because Isaac is THIS CLOSE to crawling and I have visions of cat poo in my child's hands. NOT SO MUCH. And I didn't find one, but I have an idea on how to rig one up. :)

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This weekend was TOO SHORT.


Like the past 7+ months, it went by too quickly.

I finally folded up the baby clothes that have been waiting to be put away. They were in the bassinet. The bassinet that my baby hasn't slept in for over a month.


The bassinet that when he started sleeping in the crib, I still pulled right next to the bed just in case....and for my own security. Without it right next too me, there was too much space. It felt empty.


The bassinet that I worked so hard to get Isaac into, from his co-sleeper, from my arms at night.


The bassinet that I put him in a few days ago while I went to the bathroom and didn't want to leave him on my bed. He screamed because it was too cramped. He hated it.


It broke my heart.

When did he get so big? When did that happen?


The bassinet needs to be packed up soon. It just sits against the wall and I throw clothes and pillows into it. It just makes me so sad to move it.


And I packed up the bassinet sheets and waterproof pads. I took out the blanket. I just stared at the empty bassinet. :(


Isaac sits up on his own. He is pulling himself up on his knees adn . He is feeding himself Che.erios and Gerber puffs.


He's just growing so darn fast.

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This weekend was a good one.


We went to the Bod.ega Bay Seafo.od, Ar.t and Wi.ne Festival. I scarfed some beer battered fries and bacon wrapped BBQ prawns (Did you mouth just fill with saliva? Cause mine did!). Friend A and I did wine tasting while Isaac attracted the attention of all the ladies. TRUE STORY. For some reason, they flocked to my baby and not the others in the tent. What can I say, I have a ladies' man on my hands. We bought some awesome shell jewelry and had a great time. Then we went swimming. Isaac loves the big boy pool. We floated around in his raft, then I took him out and bounced around with him. Just for fun, I flipped him onto his tummy, and I SWEAR TO GOD the child stretched out his arms and started kicking his feet. I think I have a swimmer on my hands.

A Much Needed Vacation

So babies....yeah, they are HARD WORK. Rewarding work, mind you, and I wouldn't trade being Isaac's Mommy for anything. I love being a mother to my baby boy.

But it takes its toll on me. I haven't slept in what feels like DECADES (even though I have really only been alive for 2, going on 3). My personal appearance upkeep has gone to poo. I have very few clothes that fit right (because breastfeeding changes my body every 5 minutes, I think) or that do not smell like baby slobber and/or vomit. And I am ok with that. I mean, what's the point in buying new clothes so frequently when they are just going to get ruined in a few days? Especially now that I am rolling around with my littl guy, since he is THIS CLOSE to mobility on all fours. I don't have more than about 5 minutes to myself on any given day. Each moment is filled with stuff that has to be done. Like going to the potty or washing bottles. I have cut back on what I do, I SWEAR. I don't make and freeze dinners anymore (this is another topic for a later time...I have many thoughts on this). Laundry gets washed and dried but then sits in the baskets, unfolded and un-put away. This morning I literally got Isaac's outfit and bibs out of the laundry basket which was previously known as his bassinet. That is what the weekends are for...laundry. Dammit. I pay bills, I take care of my family, I work, I stock the fridge (Safe.way, GOD BLESS YOU FOR GIVING ME 60 DAYS OF FREE DELIVERY ON MY GROCERIES!), I make sure we are all able to be clean and fed, I take my best shot at making sure the house is not coated in a layer of pure disgusting filth and growing things, and then...the day is over. I attempt sleep for as long as Isaac lets me. And the cycle begins again.

I am stressed to high heavens most days and I can feel my BP rising throughout the day. I don't TRY to do this. I try anything and everything to relax myself, but you know, the other day I cried for like 2 hours at work (don't worry, I was by myself) and I couldn't stop.

In attempt to relieve my PPD state, I have been scheduling more "Me" time. Call me a bad mother, or whatever you want, but this involves time away from my baby. He goes to daycare. And yes, I feel WRETCHED for having to take him there in order to steal a few hours of sleep, or get my hair cut, or go to the DM.V. But it is what it is. I miss him, but I feel more like a person, more like a sane person, when I see him again. I don't feel all chaotic and twirly.

This past Tuesday saw the beginning of "Girls' Day." I met friends K and G in SF for some good ol' fashioned girly talk, shopping, and a chic flick. I am not ashamed to say that we consumed 2 bottles of Prosecco at the delectable lunching destination of Puc.cini and Pin.etti. It was an afternoon of good drinks and food, good convo, and a good movie (The Ti.me Trav.eler's Wi.fe) that raced by way to quickly and before I knew it, I was in the car on my way home.

I needed Tuesday so badly, I can't even tell you how much.

Sure, things are way different. For example, I learned just how glamorous my life has become as I pumped in the backseat of my car parked in a garage that smelled like pee on Mi.ss.ion. Yep, pumping never stops, folks.

I listened with envy to conversations about indulgent purchases and trips of my friends. I don't begrudge them...I just miss it sometimes.

I watched in vain as they purchased at Edi.tion (the new BR accessories store. OMG, thank goodness I live close to SF where the only one is!) and began to come up with a plan to afford the charm necklace and little blue hat that I am dying to have. Seriously, diapers aren't cheap. And the little dude eats quite a bit now. All I purchased was some body spray so I could score my free undies and some clearance Gym.boree for Isaac because I had a coupon. I missed the old Sara, who would have purchased the stuff she wanted without a second thought because she and he husband bring home decent paychecks and learned how to manage their money. Unfortunately the new budget that was born the same time Isaac was doesn't include such items. I know my priorities and they revolve around the baby. His needs first, always.

As the day went on, I saw just how much life has changed. How different my life has become from their lives. How all I have to really take up is my beautiful baby and how amazing I think Rob.eez are and how to make a kick butt baby puree.

And I am ok with it.

I LOVE BEING ISAAC'S MOMMY. I love my baby. I know he needs me and I know he needs me to be healthy and happy.

And I love my friends for giving me back some sanity, and some release from the screaming in my head. I had such a fantabulous day, and can't wait for the next one.

This is my life, and as much as it drives me insane, I LOVE IT.

Baby Crack

Someone needs to alert the police to Satan's minyons at work down at the Fish.er Pri.ce HQ....they are known distributors of baby crack...or should I say Mommy crack?

Our drug of choice? Precious Planet. Had I known that this collection would arrive soon after my newborn arrival, I would have held off on several purchases to acquire this collection. And my husband informs me that I am not, under any means, to buy an additional swing, play pen, bouncer, jumperoo....etc. I think he threw in the words "baby spending allowance" and "therapy."

Seriously, I can't stop buying the stuff. While I am forbidden on the larger scale items, I have snuck in quite a few of the smaller ones. And like a typical addict, the receipts and goods are well hidden. So far we have scored some kick butt dope in the form of hooded towels, wash clothes, a monkey bank, 2 blankets, a slew of bibs...and this:

And I am totally blaming this gal for enabling my addiction because she tweeted this link and being the twittering fool I am, I fell right into her drug ring. (Note: I don't know if this was the EXACT link, but it's pretty darn close...I followed it from my blackberry and the internet is sometimes not so hot in that form.)

Yep, this adorable little piano that Isaac can play with his feet gave me my next buzz. And I think him, too. He loves it! He's like a little Moza.rt. And see how entranced Sophie is with his masterpieces?

Ah, but the high only lasts so long and I am already looking to score my next buzz. And soon...I'm starting to shake like a dope fiend. I am thinking it's the bath toys. Those are small and seem easy enough to hide. What I really want is the booster chair. If I get really bold in my habit, it might end up in my house sooner than later. Perhaps I can distract the hubs with something from his Daddy crack habit (Ahem! Oh.io Sta.te).....

DISCLAIMER: If I have enabled any fellow FPPP baby crack addicts, I am not sorry. If I'm going down, I am taking y'all with me! Also note, if you purchase any of said FPPP baby crack and post pictures on your blog, or even mention it, you best have an alarm system because my habit might force me to score my next buzz at your house. Or least I will be insanely jealous. :)

DISCLAMER #2: If you work for FP, I realize and fully admit that you don't ACTUALLY sell crack to babies or mothers for that matter. All in good fun, my friends. Don't call the FP peeps if you really are looking for crack.

Genius Baby

I know, I know...I have been slacking in the blogosphere this week! But in my defense, it has been a busy work week and Isaac was sick for the beginning of the week. I had to stay home with him on Tuesday, which meant my extra day off occurred with nothing productive getting done other than doting on my baby boy.

Anyway...Isaac discovered the TV a while back. He REALLY discovered the TV earlier this week. In my paranoid state to prevent my horrible vision gene from becoming dominant in my child, I freaked out and refuse to let him stare at the screen. I just don't think that he can really focus quick enough before the picture changes. My husband, however, does not think this is an issue. I think he actually said something about it being OK since we had HDTV....

I know it is just the bright colors and movement that he likes. After consulting with my eastern mommas, I went in search of Baby Einstein DVDs. To my delight, I located the entire 26 disc set for $40! And it came yesterday! I should say that each DVD is not in the case you would get if you bought it separately, and are all in a giant DVD sleeve, but still. It cost me less than $1.50 a disc. Me likey.

We haven't watched any of them yet, but it is on the agenda for tomorrow. So begins Isaac's journey into becoming more of a genius than he already is. :)

Battery Operated Devices

One of the important things I have learned as a new mother is the importance of a battery stash. Ever notice how all things baby require about 10million gazillion batteries, which, of course, are never included? And for those of you who don't have babies yet....heads up! Seriously, our packnplay alone takes 6AA for the music/noise box and 4D for the vibrating mechanism under the mattress pad. That's 10 batteries! For one thing!


Now, when we put all our baby stuff together, I saved all the instructions and assembly garble just so I can know what kind of batteries and how many each thing requires. As things began to become assembled, it became apparent that a large quantity of batteries in a variety of sizes would be required. I guess I just didn't pay close attention to this attribute when I was registering and if I had known how much cash I was going to be throwing into the battery industry, I may have reconsidered some of our choices...or at least purchased stock in Duracell and Energizer.


Because I didn't evaluate the battery requirements beforehand, our baby boy has become accustomed to the tricks and such that these batteries produce within their respective devices. Consequently, when these batteries run out, all hell breaks loose. For example, I usually put Isaac in his bouncer and bring it into the bathroom while I take my shower (unless he is sleeping). One day, I was hastily shampooing my hair (a gift of motherhood...you learn to take 3 minute showers again) when I hear piercing wails out of nowhere. Thinking something catastrophic has occurred, I practically leap from the shower and tear the curtain down while doing so. While standing naked and shivering and covered in suds while a puddle of water drips off my body onto the tile, I come to realize that the bouncer has merely run out of battery juice and the lights, bubbles, and music no longer work and the vibrations have all but ceased to a teeny tremble, if that. Once Isaac had calmed down, I finished in the shower and searched for replacement batteries. There were none. I didn't find this to be a big deal. Isaac, on the other hand....thought this was a pressing diaster! He KNOWS what that chair is supposed to do, and therefore did not want any part of it until it was fully functional again.


After this happened (it was a month or so ago), I stocked up on batteries. And not the generic kind that I would normally buy to save some pennnies. I went all out and bought the copper tops and bunnies that keep going, ang going, and going...I was not going to have that headache again. I became panicky last night when I noticed that my husband had left the vibration mechanism on the swing on...ALL DAY. Now, the actual swing base plugs in (or takes batteries, but seriously....8D's?) but the papasan seat is removable and functions as a floor rocker, so it also takes batteries. This feature is one that keeps Isaac happy in the mornings during his nap. To have this run out of juice well.....not so pretty. I was annoyed. I checked our battery stash, and luckily, we have the replacement batteries.

Then...as I was pumping at work...I hear miss medela making a wierd sound. And then she (yep, my pump is a she.)all but died. Fortunately, I was close to the end of my pumping session and it was the end of the day. But I have been relying on miss medela to run off batteries, as the most comfortable pumping places in my home are not close to a wall outlet. For those of you wondering, miss medela takes 8AA batteries. Again, I had the replacement batteries. Had I not...it would not have been pretty.

I never understood why people put batteries on their baby registeries...until now. Those suckers get expensive! I wish I would have done so, not to encourage people to buy them (well...maybe), but to get the discount on them! From this moment on, I solemnly swear to purchase the batteries for friends if their baby gift so requires them.

B is for...

...Babies R Us. Yes, I went back to my own private hell last Thursday to pick up some things for my baby boy before he starts daycare. Why do I keep going back there, you ask? This is why: I got the bigger carseat, umbrella stroller, some learning toys, the rest of his crib bedding, pump supplies, summer rompers, a bottle warmer for daycare, and some odds and ends that totalled $290 for $175. The baby monopoly bastardos keep sending me discount coupons. I had a handful of my own coupons (I'm telling you new or soon to be moms, get a baby email address and register and every single diaper, baby food and formula, and toy site), plus a few BRU coupons and some $10 off cards. I have learned my lesson, and I do not go alone. I always take a friend with me.

...Baking and Cooking. I have made 5 nights of dinners and froze them for back to work. So far we will be having Chicken Pozole, Pork Adobo, Shepard's Pie, Tia Hessie's Tuna Noodle Casserole, and Chicken Enchiladas. I am going to attempt to make Chili tonight. After that, I only want to make 2 more. That is 2 weeks of dinners.

...Back to work. I officially will be at work this time next week. I took Isaac to daycare last Friday while I got my hair cut and ran some errands. I forgot how quickly these things can be done without being pregnant or toting a baby in and out of the car. I stopped by my office and arranged to come in this Wednesday for an hour or so to reclaim my desk and get re-situated. It absolutely breaks my heart to leave Isaac. I only cried a little when I dropped him off, but I left him when he was happy, so that made it easier. I had myself a good cry in the shower that morning. I am trying hard not to be depressed about it. The bottom line is that this has always been the reality. I have always known I had to return to work. I could take more time, we could afford it, but that will pull from time off I want later in the year, like at Christmas. I am going to take a full 2 weeks then, when everything slows down. Going back to work is for the best, for all of us. I know, I know, Isaac can't be cared for better by anyone but mommy, but in the long run this will make our lives better. Isaac did well at daycare. He was happy for the most part, but still needs some bottle work.

...Bottles and Boobs. As the previous "B" so nicely sequed, Isaac is still have issues with the bottle. I haven't given him one the past two nights, and you will see why in the next "B." I am pretty sure he is still going through a growth spurt because he wants to eat about every 1.5-2 hours again, and my boobs are in milk production overdrive. I am getting a good 5 ounces when I pump, even in mid-day.

...Belly. I think Isaac is developing some acid reflux. He has started to puke (not spit up, puke) more frequently after meals. It makes him pretty upset, and he has returned to the fussiness of his newborn gas in the evenings. Mylicon holds him off a bit, but it wears off pretty quick, I think. If it isn't better this evening, I am calling the pediatrician. He has been so fussy, that he doesn't want to sleep alone. I have had to cuddle him. I have noticed that when on his belly, he sleeps like a rock. But belly sleeping is bad, isn't it? What if it is with Brother Kitty watching over him?

...Birthdays. Isaac celebrated his 3 month birthday on yesterday and hit 13 weeks today. He is getting so big! He laughs all the time now. His new favorite trick is to be pulled from laying into sitting and then he pushes himself up with his legs to our cries of "big boy!" It makes him so happy, so we do it in the morning and the afternoon. Still not so much about tummy time, but he can hold his head straight in line when we do the aforementioned trick. It doesn't flop back, he is able to hold it steady. If I had to fathom a guess, I would say he is at about 12 lbs. And in all the Baby hulabaloo, I completely forget that my 28th birthday is rapidly approaching. Here he is at 3 months:

...Blueberry scone. Seriously. I have been craving one for about 2 weeks now, and no one ever has them! I am on a crusade to find a good recipe, so if you have one....

...Baby nicknames. Oh the things we call our little Isaac: Big Man (this is Ben's), Mr. Man, Pumpkin, Pumpkin Face, Poodle, Oodley Poodley, Pudding, Pudding Pop, Angel Face, and my favorite...Little Monster. :)

...Baby time. My husband is gone for most of this week for a work conference. As much, as we miss him and I know he misses us, I am very glad to have these few days just me and Isaac, before I return to work.

Lazy Day

Isaac and I have been having a lazy Wednesday. We stayed in our jammies until about 12:30, and took a big long nap this morning. It is way, way, way cooler out today so I have the doors open and it is really nice and cool in the house. Isaac is currently napping (again! finally he will nap in the afternoons!) on my bed which is his new favorite thing to do. :)

When I say lazy, I guess I should clarify that I am actually getting some stuff done, like cleaning and laundry. And I have started makingmy first freeze-it-for-work dinner, Chicken Pozole. I am procrastinating doing any real work for my new side job (I will talk about it one day I swear), and instead I have decided to play around on CafeMom.com.

It just feels like such a relaxing day, and thus seems a shame to clutter it with chores and such.

Remember my project list? I did start tackling the filing one last night...and man, it has been a while since I have done that! I have stuff from 2003. And not tax related stuff. I am trying to remember my rationale in keeping it, but no can do. It's getting shredded.

I also have started to try to track down Ben's old stock option plan from his job in Ohio before we moved. I found the last statement that he received before we moved,dated for 4/2003. We moved 8/2003, so I am guessing he might have a few more shares. However, the company now has a different name, and the website provided is no longer valid. I called the company, and of course, they are closed....damn time difference. I did however, compare the stock quote from today for that company and it has tripled since receiving this letter. That is of today. I am not sure what it has done in the 6 years between, and I am not sure what happens to it when the company changes hands. I have to call the HR department again tomorrow.

Speaking of investments (which I don't do because I know nothing about them), Ben finally opened his new retirement fund with his new company! They do contribution matching (yay!) and we decided on a set amount, which is actually fairly low. We picked this amount since I haven't worked in 14 weeks, and the SDI people seem to hate on me everyday. Plus this year is debt reduction year. We can always increase it later. Anyway, the point was that he has techinically woked for this compnay for 5 years, even though he worked in a franchise store. Now he works for corporate. In order to catch him up, they took the amount we specified and retro-ed it from the number of paychecks he has received since starting there. So....yeah. It was kind of alot to take out of one check. The only good thing is that the company matched what they took so we got a good jump start on the plan.

Ok this post is boring. I have to put up a picture of my baby to reward you for reading it. :)