I just read on Crystal's message boards that several of the ladies are working on crochet projects, knitting projects and yes even sewing projects.  I felt a little like the black sheep of the family when I posted that I am currently working on 3 recipe scrapbooks.  LOL  I don't crochet or knit, and I wanted to finish these projects before starting a new sewing project.  Two of them are for Christmas presents for my SILs and are more than 70% done I would say.  The third one is for a friend and I haven't even started it yet.  I am hoping to get my goodies out tonight and do some work on them though.

I am done with baby quilts for now (which I took pics of and uploaded on the computer and now can not find.  LOL  So I have requests out to the mommy's to send me pics of the babies with their quilts.  When I get them I will try to post for you all!) and will move on to Noah's quilt, and then the sisters and neices aprons for Christmas presents.  I love sewing up aprons.  Many moons ago every woman had several aprons to wear while housekeeping and cooking.  Now a days, I find many of my family and friends don't have one, but when they see mine they want one so badly!  LOL  So hopefully the girls will love their aprons when they receive them.

So, the question is....what projects are you working on right now??? Perhaps you are dipping candles like Chas, or making a new Spring table runner.  Tell us if you are making jelly, or sewing up pajamas (another project for the littles for Christmas this year!), or scrapbooking.  Enquiring minds want to know!

I have to admit I have more energy than in previous weeks of this pregnancy, but I haven't accomplished much with that extra energy.  LOL  I am still dragging my feet a little, and I just need to get my booty into gear!!!  I have made a goal to get this house back into working order by next Friday!  I will work hard on it this weekend with a little help from hubs, and finish up the last details and grocery shopping and pantry organizing next week while Noah is in school!  I feel so disorganized and not myself when the house is in disaray, there is laundry waiting, etc.

So, today is Friday and Noah has no school.  He will be helping me in the toy area cleaning up, putting away and organizing.  He is a wonderful help!!!  After that is done, I will dust all the tables and such and vacuum.  Noah loves to wipe down the tables, so perhaps he will help with that as well!  In between cleaning, vacuuming, etc. I will try to get the dreaded laundry caught up today and put away before the weekend really begins.  For me that means, no laundry during the weekends.  We like to have at least one thing we don't worry about on the weekends.

Matthew will help me with dishes since my hip has been bothering me and I just can't stand very long right now.  It's one of the things he honestly doesn't mind doing.  I am thankful for his help, and hanging out in the kitchen usually puts him in the mood to bake.  LMSO  So maybe we will have some muffins or biscuits this weekend from hubs. 

Tonight Matthew has an appointment at 6 with our tax lady.  I have all the paperwork in order on the family's finances, etc. but since he has his own electrician business, he needs to talk to her about what she needs, etc. to figure his side of the taxes correctly.  We are praying for some BIG MONEY on our tax return, because I have a few bills that need to be paid in full soon.  If the tax refund is as big as I am hoping, we should be debt free except for our mortgage by the end of summer, or the end of the year at the latest!

I wrote our picture appointment for Easter pics down on the wrong day....so pics are TOMORROW, not today.  LOL  I am glad I checked with Renea last night instead of just showing up on the wrong day.  LOL I got NOah some cute sorts and polos yesterday, so I am thinking he will wear his choice of them.  

Well ladies, that is the boring antics of our household.  LMSO  Nothing too exciting here this weekend....taxes, coffee with the girls on Saturday morning, pictures that afternoon, etc,  LOL

I woke up to birds chirping outside my window.....a cool crisp air.......a little boy laughing......a hubby's kiss......oh what a wonderful day!  LOL    Ok, so I wanted to sleep in (but Noah had school), but most of the rest is true!!!  While I was running errands I had the window down from some fresh air and I have enjoyed the sun today as well!!!!!

Noah quickly got ready for school today because I spent an extra 10 minutes in bed trying to wipe the sleep from my eyes....and when he was gone on the bus, I went to WAL-MART!!!  Wally World and I have a love/hate relationship.  I love going there......and spending money.......but I hate going there....and spending money!!!  LMSO  I ended up finding a few winter shirts for Noah for next winter on clearance for $5 each and then found a pair of shorts and polo shirt he can wear for pics tomorrow.

Noah is having Easter pics taken tomorrow.  It is cheaper to have them taken now when they are running a special than to wait until his birthday in April to have his 4 year old pics taken, so I am taken advantage!  LMSO   He better smile is all I am going to say!!!

Noah's bus was LATE today coming home.  I was wondering if they were every going to bring my boy home.  LMSO  I called the school and they had some bus problems and were running late.  When they got here, the bus driver said it was their 3 bus of the day!!  UGH!!!  And since they have 19 kids in kids carseats, that means they moved carseats and had to rebuckle, etc. 3 times today! UGH!

Friday, Matthew is talking to our tax lady.  I already have the paperwork all ready for her, except his receipts and such on HIS business.  So the rest is up to him and her.  I am praying for BIG MONEY< NO WHAMMYS!!!  LMSO  I already have alot of the money allocated for one thing or another, so I am hoping it comes in quickly so I can pay off some bills.  I think by the end of summer, or at least by the end of the year for absolutely sure, we should be debt free again except for the mortgage.  Then we will start putting our extra money into paying off the mortage again!!!  YEAH!

This weekend, I am having coffee (ok I dont' drink coffee, so I will have chai! LMSO) with the girls at the coffee shop.  I don't get to make it often, but when I found out my girlfriend from California is going to be there, I put it on the calendar and told Matthew I needed to go and he was in charge of Noah!!!  LMSO

Well all, I hope you have a fabulous day!!!

Today I had an OB appointment to hear a heartbeat and hopefully determine due date.  Now if you have read previous posts, you know Doc didn't think I was pregnant.  He didn't believe me after 4 home tests, a bloodtest, and morning sickness.  LMSO  He told me before Christmas I wasn't ovulating and couldn't get pregnant, so he didn't believe me.   Now, God is good ok???? Cause I was able to tell doc.....My God is bigger than your tests!  LOL  He told me he wouldn't believe me till he heard a heartbeat, so today.....when he found it.....he smiled and said...listen to that!!  He told me he was 100% sure I was pregnant!  HE believes me finally!  So of course, me being onery.......I thumbed my nose at him and said, I TOLD YOU DOC!!!  He just laughed and laughed at me.  He said the baby is squirmy and very active already and the heartbeat was nice and strong!  So, I go for a sonogram on April 6th and he will officially tell me my due date.  But for now, it is tentatively October 15th.  We are excited and thrilled of course.   

Dearest came home last night IN A MOOD.  He had a hard stressful day at work, a co-worker said some ugly things, and as soon as he walked in the door, he saw something that Noah had broke and BOOM....he over reacted. 

Later, he told me that a gal from work asks him every day how I am.  I said, oh, that is so sweet!!!  He wrinkled his nose at me and continued his story.  He said EVERY DAY she asks how I am and he says she is doing great, but a little tired.  And her response is, so she is making you do all the housework huh???  His response is, I help a little with dishes and laundrty.  Her response floors me.........Well, I think she is just faking it so you will have to do everything around the house.  Being tired with pregnancy is just an exxcise for being lazy, and she is using it to her advantage!!!

WHAT??????  Now my question is.....even if you THOUGHT such a rediculous thing.....WOULD YOU SAY IT OUT LOUD?????   My hubs has been so sweet....so understanding......and when I do offer to do something......he makes me sit down.  He doesn't complain....not at all......and I love him for it.  He loves it when I compliment him and tell him how much he has helped me.  He loves helping anyway....it's his personality.  He and this co-worker don't  talk much to each other, but all of a sudden, she seems to think he needs someone to complain to about all that he is forced to do since his lazy barefoot and pregnant wife can't or won't do around the house.   He said God was truly watching him as he shrugged his shoulders and walked away, because he said what he really wanted to do was leap over her desk and.....well it wasn't nice.

So, I ask you ladies.....why is it....when someone has an "invisible" medical situation.....people think you are just being lazy when you are tired and need some extra rest????  I say invisible because this is the way people treat people who don't have medical sickness symptoms.  People with depression are treated the same way.  Loved ones tell them to get over it........but don't you think if it were that easy....they would???   Women who are pregnant are sometimes (by people who either didn't have the same symptoms or are too old to remember them perhaps) treated like they are lazy because they often need extra rest.  I am BAKING A BABY HERE!!!  Using up more energy sitting on my butt watching Rachel Ray than she does at work sitting at her desk all day (she is handicapped, so you would think she would understand and not be so judgmental towards others....makes you think doesn't it???).

Anyone else experience this???? I have a group of family members and friends who check on me regularly....and 99% of them have told me to rest, the dust bunnies will be there romorrow (LOL), and encourages me to go to bed early if needed.  But one person.....one worm in the apple so to speak......spreads such ugly comments and I start rethinking myself!!!  I even flat out asked Matthew last night.......do YOU think that is what I am doing????  NO!!!!!! He said.   Do you think I need to get more done around here????   With my help hun.....I don't want you to over do it....I have seen you overdo it and I don't want that to happen!!!  (See many don't know that I was spottiing there for a few weeks....and my nurse told me to take it easy and rest as much as possible and then slowly work my activity level back up when I finally stopped.  We didn't tell alot of people that because we didn't need the negative comments!)

I am so blessed friends.....with a hubby that truly understands ME, doesn't listen to others, but hears what my heart says, listens to the Lord and follows his guidance and loves me unconditionally.  To have  a son whose laughter is the light of our home!!  I love him so much!!!  And our new blessing........waiting to be born.......I am overjoyed!!!!!    I need to let go of this upset.......and let god pour his love and blessings on me today.  Please soften this lady's heart at work dear Lord, and watch over my husband's mouth and actions as he has to deal with her today. 

I have been waiting (impatiently) for Spring for several weeks now I have to admit!!!!  So with Spring just around the corner, I was thinking today about getting some of my Springy decorations out, the Spring pastel colored tablecloth and some other things out!!!  How about you????

Then as I was in the bathroom earlier I realized something tragic!!!  I still have my "winter snowman themed" shower curtain up!!!!  OH DEAR!!!  I was going to take it down after Christmas, but since it was wintery themed I decided to leave it up a little longer.  I took all the rest of the decorations down ages ago, but forgot about the shower curtain.  Yes, I have taken showers since them, LOL, but it's one of those things that becomes part of the background I suppose....and I just didn't notice it again until today! LMSO  It will be boxed up tomorrow with my other winter and Christmas decor!

I don't have alot of Spring decor and I doubt that I will spend any extra money buying it, but will instead search the house for items I can use for table decor, etc.  I think the spring colors will brighten my day and give me the little boost that I need.

So, what are some of the rest of you doing for inexpensive Spring-like decor in you house????  I am hoping to scour the house, and take some pics for you all of what I am doing.  I encourage you to do the same!!!!

I was awaken by hubs and little guy jumping in bed with me this morning.  LMSO  I have been tired lately due to the pregnancy, so hubs lets me sleep as late as possible, for me on school days is 7:30.  Then I get Noah up and dressed for school, get him some quick breakfast, and it's off on the school bus about 8:10.  Yesterday I even went back to bed for a few hours while Noah was at school.  LOL  It felt good to get caught up on some sleep.  

So, today while Noah is off to preschool, I am planning on mustering up some strength and getting some laundry done (mount laundry just keeps getting bigger and bigger LOL) and the main living areas tidied up, dusted and vacuumed.  Matthew has been on KP duty except for cooking, because even the non scented dishwashing liquid makes me gag and dry heave.   If I have the time and strength I will do the bathrooms today as well....if not....they will be there tomorrow (as my friend Bev likes to remind me).  LOL

We switched up the menu a little last night.  I was so tired and so we decided to have Tacos last night instead the night it was on the menu.  It was so yummy, and Matthew went back for seconds and thirds!  LMSO  Noah had a peanut butter sandwich because he doesn't do spicy well.   Here is the funny part.  I was laying in bed last night trying to fall asleep and the figures starting going through my head......of how much the meal cost.  LOL  You want to hear it???   Here is the breakdown:

1 lb roll seasoned ground turkey  $1.00

1 can chili beans  59 cents

bagged lettuce  77 cents

1 tomato    1.55 (OUCH)

1 cup shredded cheese    30 cents

6 taco shells   50 cents (a pkg of 12 costs 99 cents)

TOTAL:  $4.71   

This fed two of us last night and enough leftovers for 1 more meal.  Basically it would feed a family of 4 once.  For under $5 bucks!   Now the tomato was high....I didn't even look at the price when I bought it.....so next time I will hunt for a better buy or save more money buying a bag of tomatoes,etc. 

Here is the menu for the week:

Monday: Fend for yourself.  I can't remember what I was supposed to make, but hubs is working late and getting supper on the way home for himself and I have a migraine.  So......Noah and I ate leftover fried chicken, mashed potatoes, peas and corn)

Tuesday:  (Request from the hubs)  Chicken Parm, Pasta and Sauce, Steamed Broccoli (no he didn't request the broccoli.....lol)

Wednesday: Ham and Cheesy Potatoes, Peas, Rolls

Thursday:  Taco Thursday!!!

Friday:  Pizza and Brownies

Saturday:  Pork Loin, Vegetables, Hot Rolls

Sunday:  BBQ Ribs, Potato Salad, and Green Beans

I spoke to my sister in the law the other day.....the one who admitted can not cook.  LOL  She hates to cook and clean up and such.  So they eat ALOT of prepacked foods and grab McDonald's on the way home.  I can't blame her in a sense.  Her mom was never home to cook and can't cook either. 

She was speaking about eating out and how she enjoys eating when someone else has to do the cooking.  LOL  I enjoy being able to eat out once in a blue moon.....but here is why we don't: 1.  It's expensive!   2.  It's usually not worth the money you paid for it.  and 3.  I can cook better than any resturant in town and serve it to my family cheaper.  (Hubs and his friend Matt were talking one day and they both were bragging on their wives and how well they could cook.  LMSO  I was tickled pink to hear my hubs was saying I cook better than any resuturant around here)  When we do go out....we want to get out of town, make a day of it, and eat something I wouldn't normally cook, or am unable to cook.  One of our all time favorites is a mongolian BBQ in the city.  A little expensive and a 2 hour drive but very worth it the one or two times we are able to eat it every year.  And because we don't eat out often, it makes it that much more special!

Some people enjoy convenience and fast foods....they like pizza and cheeseburgers and fries and the like.  I would much rather my family eat lean meats, lots of veggies and toss in some fruits as well.....but alas.....I need to mix in some fast food convenience foods at home, too for my picky hubby and son.  LOL

So, we make our own pizza at home.  I make pizza dough in the bread maker (it does all the work....all I have to do it put it on the pan!!!  Now that is fast and convenient!)  I used to go to all the trouble of making a homemade sauce, because it just seems like cheating to me to use a jarred sauce for some reason. LOL  But one day, I made a huge mistake, and as it sometimes happens, it become the mother of invention.  I opened up a can of tomato sauce and poured it on the pizza and had it all spread out evenly before I realized......I hadn't added any spices and cooked the sauce....DUH!  So, I got out my Italian spices, some garlic, etc. and sprinkled it evenly over the sauce, and continued to make the pizza as I usually do.  We had company over that night and everyone raved over the pizza.  Not a one could tell I had "oops'ed".  So I have made it that way ever since.  LMSO 

Burgers and cheeseburgers are full of grease at the fast food resturants!!!  So we make them at home!!!  We can choose the leanest cut of hamburger, or even use ground turkey for an even leaner burger.  I have come to really love turkey burgers with some teriyaki sauce, a slice of cheese and a ring of pineapple.  We call them aloha burgers and don't charge a hefty $10 or more for them like the fancy resturants!!!  Fries in our house are a must when you eat burgers.  I can't convince the boys to eat a nice baked potato with a burger.....it just doesn't work.  So we make our own, or buy frozen, but we fry ours in peanut oil which is better for you than most oils, fries up well, and does not smoke!!!  We love the clean taste instead of that oil aftertaste other oils leave in your mouth!

Now I like Subway as well as anyone I suppose.....but it's just bread and lunch meat mostly, ok???  I can make bread, or buy some wonderful buns or specialty breads at home.  I can buy the turkey, ham, cheeses, condiments, and yes I can even make meatballs in sauce, a better tuna salad than they do, or chicken breast, etc. for my sub.  We make subs at home all the time, except we have a special name for them....we simply call ours Sammiches.  LMSO  Ok, so we don't have foot long bread, who cares!!!  We make meatballs sammies all the time with some cheese and sprinkled parm cheese on them that will make your tastebuds leap.  (Sometimes I even buy the frozen meatballs!)   I had a friend who used to buy their BLT subs.  WHY???  For the price of one at Subway you can surely make double that at home with double the bacon!

Another convenience fast food that we enjoy at home is BBQ.  We place some ribs or whatever meat we have in the freezer in the crockpot with our favorite BBQ sauce!  WOW....hard.  I have at times, rolled potatoes and corn on the cob in foil and cooked them right along with the BBQ!  A whole meal in one crock, and oh my it was yummy!!!  We also make our own BBQ beef sandwiches at home for a fraction of the price of that Lloyd's BBQ beef in a little tub.  And ours tastes much better, too. 

What do you make at home that is "fast food convenience foods"??? 

We had a good weekend!  Matthew was home all weekend and helped me out so much with dishes and laundry and such around the house.  I even got an extra nap in on Sunday afternoon.  I am so blessed to have a hubby who is understanding and willing to help!

Sunday was a little sad.  It was the 3rd anniversary of my mom's death.  I miss her everyday, and I didn't think after 3 years I would have a problem, but that day brings back all the sad memories and I found myself in tears a few times this weekend.  Thinking of her alot lately since I became pregnant as well....she sure did love the babies in the family!  She was an awesome mother, and grandmother.

Well, I started a new pregnancy diet this weekend!!  I am feeling so much better.  No milk (makes me sick), smaller meals, and eating more often, and sipping on lemonade is my new diet.  LMSO  Oh and I have found that Saltines are my friend.  Doc wrote me a prescription for a nausea pill to take every 4 hours if needed, but now that I have changed my eating habits, I am feeling so much better.  YEAH!!!

I have my Christmas schedule finalized!!!  I will be working on a few things each month and should have my list of things done by the first of September.  I will take the month of September to make any last minute items for the baby, etc.  I will do my last minute shopping, pictures, etc. in October and this year, I am not stressing over Thanksgiving and Christmas with the new baby!!!    So this March I am making 2 recipe scrapbooks for my sister in laws and 2 aprons for my other sister in laws.  LOL  I have started on the scrapbooks and have them about 1.2 way done and the aprons are cut out and ready to be sewn on a day when I am "in the mood". LMSO

It's in the 50's all week!!!  YEAH!!!  I am so excited to have some warmer weather and Noah is enjoying it as well....we try to play outside a bit after he gets off the bus from preschool.  I might be enjoying this weather enough to save some electricity and hang some laundry this week.  LOL

I received a message from Bev from her cell phone....she is evidentially have MORE computer problems!!!! 

She told me to tell everyone not to worry, she is ok, and will be back soon hopefully.

That's all for now. LOL

After thinking and praying about all my tummy issues lately, God told me.....it's the milk!  WHAT??? Oh yeah.......I can't believe I had forgotten so easily.  I can't drink milk when I am pregnant....or at least not in large quantities.  Which is a problem since, I love milk....can drink it by the glassfull with breakfast, etc.  And I had been!  No wonder I was feeling so lousy in the mornings after eating breakfast.....and it didn't let up till just about supper time.

It's nice to know and I just need to remind myself to drink more juice and other bevevrages for a while.  I forgot this morning, poured myself a mug of milk, took a big sip.......and then.....put the cup back in the fridge.  I hadn't drank enough to make me sick thank goodness.  So hubby says he is going to put a sign on the milk jugs saying STAY AWAY AMY!  LMSO 

I've been praying about a great many things with this pregnancy and have found myself being a little whiney and full of complaints.  Craziness.  We have prayed for another baby for almost 3 years....and actively tried for a little over a year and a half for this blessing.....to do what??? Thank the Lord when we saw the positive test, and then whine for the first few weeks or icky tummy problems???? NONSENSE!!! 

I have decided to stop the whining and complaining and get on with life.  LOL  Funny how it has to hit you up side the head like a 2x4 before this happens sometimes isn't it??? I will smile in the midst of all the symptoms of pregnancy and pray that they are minimal!!!!  Complaining doesn't help.......whining doesn't give me strength!!!!

So, after some prayer, and a message from a dear new friend Desiree (thank you for your comment on my last blog hun.  I had to read it in the manner in which it was written and then pray about it....and I am so thankful for the reminder and the love in which it was given!) made it clear to me that I have everything I wanted....and yet.....I don't have a very gracious or thankful spirit.  But no more!!!! 

So today ladies, I come to you with renewed spirit, renewed happiness, and renewed health.  God is so good.  He has answered my prayers, and blessed us more than, even we, could ever imagine.  I am so thankful for my wonderful hubs.....who pampers me when needed and encourages me when needed, and our adorable son who brings a smile and laughter to my face each and every day!!  And this new blessing.........is already a blessing, and has already brough such joy and smiles to our faces, and a new excitement for the future of our family.

In the words of Rilda:  Thank you God, FOR EVERYTHING!!

I slept 9 hours last night and I am still yawning and wishing I could have slept in more.  *yawn*  Maybe I will lay down and rest some while Noah is at preschool today.  That would be the smart thing to do....but sometimes that's hard after you have been up. :)

I was up most of the night Tuesday night, dry heaving and feeling icky and not able to sleep.  UGH!  The tummy finally settled around 2:30am, so I crawled in bed and slept well until 7 when I get up to get Noah ready for school.    I felt really rough all day long and have finally decided with dry heaving all the time, and not being able to get a thing done, I might just need to call the doc and see if he can write me a script.  I vacuumed 2 rooms the other day and the motion of doing this made me gag and dry heave for 45 minutes afterwards.  Most of the time I can't walk to the bathroom to potty and get a drink and walk back without dry heaving at least half a dozen times.  Rediculous. 

So, I am waiting on a call back from my nurse about the meds.  Matthew has been so sweet and understanding about some of the chores around the house falling to the side while baby is gettign settled in.  Hopefully when we hit 2nd trimester, baby will be settled, have his/her nest made and I will feel like doing things again. 

I have found that sipping lemonade is calming some of my naseousness.  Who knew huh???  LOL   If you have any tips for naseousness, please let me know ok ladies???

Well ladies, I feel more "human" today than I have in a month.  LMSO  I am feeling wonderful after surviving weeks with bronchitus, the sun is shining and melting our leftover snow away, and I finally got in to get my hair colored and cut.  IT NEEDED IT!!!  I looked like a drowned rat when I walked in.  My hairstylist, Angie looked at my roots and said, oh my, has it been that long?? LMSO   But it looks wonderful now and even though she barely trimmed it, my head feels 3 pounds lighter.  She is wonderful.

Yesterday I worked mainly on the laundry (hubs was running our of clean underwear. LOL  Bless his heart he is so sweet and understanding about it though), and wore myself out and had to rest the rest of the evening.  Matthew did dishes last night and got us caught up on those (thank you dearest) while I rested.  I even went to bed at my normal 10 pm because I could barely keep my eyes open.  Matthew refused to come to bed until things were done and spent a while longer working on the kitchen.  THANK YOU GOD FOR THIS MAN!!!

Today my tummy is feeling a little unsettled again......if I do too much I get so naseous and dry heave alot, so I am trying to take it easy.  I would like to get the floors vacuumed before I have to pick up Kaitlin, our "neice" at school.  She will have to ignore the rest of the mess (which isn't much honestly).  But it does look promising that I should have the house caught back up by this weekend.  YEAH!!  I hate playing catch up though, don't you??? Oh how I hate it.

Tonight's supper is pancakes.  Kaitlin specifically asked for peanut butter pancakes with chocolate chips because Matthew has made them before when she was here and she loves them.  Makes dinner time easy on me since Matthew will be cooking!!  YEAH!!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful day. 

Hello all.  It's Monday again!!  Time for my menu planner.  I went to the store to pick up a few things yesterday and sat down last night to make our menu planner.  This week Monday is not Meatless.  We are moving it to Tuesday evening.  Our neice Kaitlin is coming over after school to spend the evening with us.  She has requested Matthew's famous peanut butter pancakes with chocolate chips.  LOL  Of course Matthew was thrilled for a special request.

Monday:  Taco's

Tuesday:  Peanut butter pancakes (with chocolate chips)

Wednesday:  Chicken Stir Fry

Thursday:  Pork Chops, Roasted Vegetables, Steamed Broccoli

Friday:  Hamburger Steaks with gravy and onions, mashed potatoes, green beans

Saturday:  Ham and Beans, Cornbread

Sunday: Leftovers

This weekend was boring and uneventful.  Which is always a good thing.  LMSO  We didn't get much time with Matthew since he worked Saturday and then ended up working from 1-6 on Sunday as well.  :(  So hopefully he will have a slow week and we can spend time with him. 

I was secretly glad to see Monday roll around and preschool to start up again.  LOL  Noah didn't want to go to school this morning though.  He is convinced that I play with his toys and watch his shows while he is gone (which you know of course, I do! LOL)  So funny.  So he walked onto the bus with a heavy heart today whining a little.  But as he was buckled into his seat, and I  blew a kiss at him, he blew one back.  So sweet!  He will be home around 12 and will check to see if the cars he put in daddy's chair are still there I am sure.

I sat down last night (after my little shopping trip) to write out our menu for the week.  Instead of meatless Monday this week, we are having it on Tuesday.  My neice Kaitlin is coming over Tuesday for a visit and her request for supper??? Peanut butter pancakes with chocolate chips.  LMSO  It's one of Matthew's specialties, so I asked him if he could do supper Tuesday and of course he was thrilled to know she specially requested them.

Tomorrow I am super excited to be finally getting my hair done.  After being cooped up in the house for so long with all the sickness going around, I am so thankful for my health and being able to get back into my schedule of things....and my hair definately needs a pick me up!!  LMSO  Wednesday I am going over to see my great neice, Paisley.  I haven't seen her since sortly after Christmas because we have been sick, and I miss cuddling with her.   LOL  She is adorable and her momma said she is finding her voice.  She will scream and then take a breath and giggle.  LOL

Praying you all had a wonderful weekend!!!!

I was doing a little figuring after reading on a website how much difference there is in costs in cloth diapers and disposables.  I knew you could save alot of money with cloth diapers, but wasn't sure I could save "THAT" much.  Sometimes I think they beef up the money amounts to make it sound good, etc.  LOL    And with Noah, we decided against cloth diapers because I had so many other things on my plate.  My dad died when Noah was 6 months old....mom died when he was 11 months old.  And before that...ALOT of doctor, hospital and chemo, so I was running with a newborn.  It was easier for me and for my sanity to do disposables....at least for the 1st year.

But now.....as a SAHM who doesn't have all those extra responsibilities, I am seriously thinking about doing cloth diapers and washing them every evening.  I toss a load of wash in about every other day as it is now anyway, so it wouldn't be that much to toss in a days worth of diapers, too. 

As for the cost, I figured up the cost of Huggies diapers, which is what we used with Noah because they fit better and didn't leak like the other brands are about 28 cents a piece.  Doesn't sound like much does it??? Multiply by how many you use in a day, in a month, in a year, etc.  (My calculations were for 10 diapers for a newborn and 6 diapers for an older baby)  My numbers came up to $720.00 for the first year and about $630 for the 2nd year (because they don't soil as many diapers).  That is a total of $1351.80 for the first two years of birth.  OUCH!!   Add another thousand or so if you have a late bloomer (like our Noah) who can and refuses to use the potty and wears Pull-Ups.  That's a thousand dollars we have spent in a year for PULL UPS!!!  CRAZINESS    This isn't including taxes and wipes and other diapering things needed like diaper cream.

So, after some research I found the cloth diapers I want.  They are a diaper that is adjustable and fits a newborn through toddler stage of potty training (why didn't I know about these before???).  They are a little pricey, but definately not on the high end of cloth all in one diapers.  The new price for one diaper is $18.  I figure I will need about 20.   That's $360 for those who can't do the math in their head (like me! LOL)  Often times people buy diaper inserts for these diapers (or make their own, which I might do since I have alot of flannel in the house and it would only cost me the thread and a few minutes for each insert) which cost $9 for 3.  I think I would like to have 6 packages, which comes to another $54.00.  These will be used for cleaning clothes afterwards, so there is no real loss in the purchase price.  Altogether, diapers (which grow with the child) and inserts, cost $414!!!!   Are you with me still???

WOW....I am amazed at the cost difference.  I have read reviews and these particular diapers wear very well and last throughout 2-3 years of peeing pooping and washing with very little wear and tear and no fading.  So, if I didn't have to replace ANY diapers.  I would have spent $414.00 on diapers for the next 2-3 years, as apposed to the $1351.80 for 2 years or 2351.80 for 3 years of diapers/Pull-Ups.    A savings of 937.80 (if used for 2 years) or more!!!!  That's ALOT OF MONEY PEOPLE!!!

And another plus on the cloth diapering???? I can buy these diapers on Ebay probably cheaper than the cost I have quoted you, and perhaps sell them when I am done, on Ebay to recoup most of the money spent!!!!!  If I am able to buy used, and sell them for what I had in them......there would be NO COST in diapering my child for 2-3 years!!!!!    Amazing.  (I have already searched for these on Ebay and there are several up for bid for at least half the cost of retail right now)

Now, hubby is going to have a problem with this.  LOL  He isn't going to like it, and he will try to talk me out of it again.  But perhaps if I tell him I will do all the work (which I would anyway. LOL) and show him the cost difference he would be more interested.  Of course, we will supplement a little with disposable diapers when we are out and about or when we go to church......but we will still be saving alot of money  by primarily using cloth.

Here is my other idea for saving money with babies:  Make your own baby wipes and solution!  I looked up a recipe that uses apriocot oil (which I have a liter of for some reason...can't remember why though) baby shampoo and water. EASY!!!  This liter of apricot oil should last me the whole season of diapering.  And with so much flannel in the house, I could make useable wipes!  With a few minutes of sewing I can have several whipped up.  I figure I will need about 20.  Afterwards we can use these as cleaning rags, or washcloths.  And since I have so much flannel already, this will cost.....the amount of money to buy some new thread and a little time at the machine.

I figure for $400 or less if I can obtain diapers used, I can diaper my child for at least 2 years!!  This amount would include making our own flannel wipes and wipe solution and I will be able to recoup most of this cost by reselling on Ebay afterwards!

So, why do my sister in laws and friends think I am NUTS???  Our parents probably cloth diapered us (ok not me....I am a youngster. LOL), and I know our grandmother's cloth diapered our parents etc.   Why do so many people think it's so icky???  It's just poop!!!  LMSO  I have had my share already and it's just part of being a mom.  I can always  WEAR GLOVES PEOPLE!!!  Besides after working as a nurses aide in a nursing home for several years.....poop doesn't scare me.  LOL

How have some of you been blessed by using cloth diapers??? Any tips or hints I should know now??? Do any of you regret using cloth diapers??? 

Today hubs is working outside the house helping a customer with her electrical needs, but we were happy to have him home in the morning to visit with.  Noah awoke this morning looking all over the house for daddy and finally found him upstairs in the bathroom and was delighted to see him.  Matthew is usually gone to work by the time he awakes. 

Oh my......I feel like I have had my arm talked off today. LOL Noah woke up very chatty today, and had to tell us everything.  He has talked non-stop since he awoke and Matthew and I both had a good laugh over it.  I love to hear him talk and tell stories, but wow.....all at once is overwhelming.  He is such a delight though and I am greatful he is feeling back to normal after being sick so long. 

I am feeling better as well.  I have some fluid still in my ears, which I hope clears up on it's own, and of course....I am tired...but that is expected in the 1st trimester.  I am sleeping much better now that I don't wake up coughing and hacking and have to take a breathing treatment twice in the middle of the night.  Hubby never complained......but he said he noticed I was sleeping better and he has slept better as well.  

Today my energy level seems to be a bit better, so I am going to try to do the dusting and windexing today as well as vacuuming.  I will also try to keep the laundry going and get it caught up today.  And I will pop something (not sure what yet) in the crockpot for dinner so I don't have to worry about supper.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!!!

I have been looking forward to tonight all week.  I am such a child huh??  LOL  Tonight is homemade pizza and movie night.  I will brown the sausage for our pizza sometime today so that when 5pm rolls about I just need to make the dough and construct the pizza.  Noah loves to spread the sauce on but for some reason won't touch the cheese....so I sprinkle on the cheese, the sausage and some pepperoni!!  I am hoping to make some kind of simple dessert for tonight as well.  We rarely eat dessert at our house, but movie night simple screams pizza and dessert!  LOL

Matthew has already rented the movies....all kids movies.  LOL  Yes, we love the Disney and kids movies.   We have our choice tonight of the Hannah Montana movie or G-Force.  I think Noah will be excited to watch G-Force! 

My evergy level has been down lately.  For instance....I put Noah to bed at his normal 7pm bedtime and Matthew and I had planned to watch a movie afterwards in bed.  I went to bed and fell asleep before he could come in and get the movie set up to go on the DVD!  So he let me sleep.  LOL  I woke up at 8am this morning when Noah came in to wake me up.  He had gotten up before I did!!! 

Chillicothe is only 25 miles from our house, and we are there OFTEN.  Hubby's job is there and our curch, alot of our friends live there...and then there is WALMART!  LOL  So, you see we are in Chillicothe often.  I just heard last night that one of the small town banks was robbed by a serial robber.  WOW!!!   This is a town of about 10,000.  Very small and nothing like this happens in our area.  Here is the link to the SHORT news story:  http://stjoechannel.com/content/fulltext_news/?cid=111362

In other news........it's THURSDAY!!!  As my friend Angel said this morning....I am on my tippy toes and I can almost see the weekend from here.  LMSO  I am looking forward to the weekend and having hubs home.  He is hoping for an extra electrical job or a computer repair job this weekend, but I am being a bit selfish I suppose and hoping he doesn't have to and can stay home with us. 

Today I am going to try to focus on getting the laundry caught up.  I have one load to fold and more on the folding table to put away, and I am hoping only one load to wash on top of that.  I hate getting behind and trying to play catch up, especially right now when I am in my 1st trimester and don't have the energy I need to do so!  LOL  The dishes will have to wait.  I just can't stand there and wash dishes for very long at this point.

Noah has been such a big helper though.  He helped me clean up the living room yesterday and when dad got home he could see I was tired and a little emotional and he pitched in and vacuumed for me. Oh what a blessing that was, because I was just worn out at that point and wanted to sit and rest so badly, but I wasn't about to ask for help.  LMSO 

Well, I am off.  The potty calls my name yet again.  It's weird to think that I am only 7 weeks along and already peeing evevry hour or so.  LOL  I hope everyone is having a wonderful day!!!