Friday, May 30, 2008

The first splurge..


I bought something for baby boy finally...I splurged! I got him this cute little tee shirt paying homage to our VW van...I can't wait to get it in the mail!

Thursday, May 29, 2008

The BOB

So, since we will have two children in need of a stroller...I guess we will have to buy a double stroller. I have been doing my research on all the options, and it is a little overwhelming. The one I like the best for our families needs, is the BOB. It is $589 before tax (yikes), but this is not the most expensive one I have seen...trust me.

I really like this brand Chariot, but that one would be close to $1000 after buying the strolling/jogging/and trailer hook-ups! Why does having children have to cost so much?? CRAZY!

If you have a double stroller you love, give me a heads up...I have a few months to feel it out!

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

$$ The Price of a Child $$


The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140 for a middle income family. Talk about sticker shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition. But $160,140 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into:
* $8,896.66 a year,
* $741.38 a month, or
* $171.08 a week.
* That's a mere $24.24 a day!
* Just over a dollar an hour.

Still, you might think the best financial advice is don't have children if you want to be "rich." Actually, it is just the opposite.

What do you get for your $160,140?
* Naming rights. First, middle, and last!
* Glimpses of God every day.
* Giggles under the covers every night.
* More love than your heart can hold.
* Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.
* Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.
* A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly or chocolate.
* A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites
* Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.

For $160,140, you never have to grow up. You get to:
* finger-paint,
* carve pumpkins,
* play hide-and-seek,
* catch lightning bugs, and
* never stop believing in Santa Claus.

You have an excuse to:
* keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh,
* watching Saturday morning cartoons,
* going to Disney movies, and
* wishing on stars.
* You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, handprints set in clay for Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day.

For $160,140, there is no greater bang for your buck. You get to be a
hero just for:
* retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof,
* taking the training wheels off a bike,
* removing a splinter,
* filling a wading pool,
* coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.

You get a front row seat to history to witness the:
* first step,
* first word,
* first bra,
* first date, and
* first time behind the wheel.

You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren and great grandchildren. You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match. In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits. So one day they will, like you, love without counting the cost. That is quite a deal for the price!!!!!!!

I LOVE THIS :)
Whenever I am having a tough day with Paige, I read this. It helps, A LOT!

Missing my friends...

Now that I am getting ready to have my second (and maybe last) baby, I am feeling very sentimental. I am missing my friends from home, and their companionship. I feel so blessed to have so many wonderful people in my life, but it is hard being physically away from them...thank god for the Internet! Not that I don't love my new friends up here in Washington, but there is just something amazing about an "old" friend! This picture really reminded me of my oldest friend Lindsay....



She was the new girl at our Junior High, and she got me a present for my birthday after only knowing me for a short time. I was going through a "hat" phase....oh so chic, and Lindsay bought me some new hats. She was the cutest. We really were inseparable. That was 15 years ago (maybe 16!!!).

Call an old friend today, or drop them a line in the mail.....

Thursday, May 22, 2008

This is hillarious, considering we are on WIC! My friend sent this to me...


Create Fake Magazine Covers with your own picture at MagMyPic.com


Paige Flashback....



This is an oldie, but goodie! This ALWAYS makes me laugh...especially on days now, when Paige is proving to be quite a handful!

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

22 WEEKS......My Humps





Here is the belly....Bellywatch 2008 is now starting! Stay tuned....

I Love Anthropologie









If I were rich, I think I would shop here exclusively! They have THE coolest, colorful, unique things...and I love it! A girl can dream right :)

Monday, May 19, 2008

A busy weekend....

So, since the sun finally decided to grace us with it's presence, we took full advantage of the nice weather the last few days. Paige has been so exhausted at the end of the day from all the swimming, and running, and playing! It is so good for her. I even got to lay out on Saturday for a whole hour!!! Wow! Justin got a new kayak this weekend...(I made him sell one, before he could get a new one) and so we had to go to the river to play around with it. These shots are from Corbin Park in Idaho, and just hanging out in the front yard.



I have to start shopping around for BOY clothes since it is official! We are pretty excited to have one of each...and Paige could use a brother :)Our new due date is September 27th, and I just hope I don't go a week early on Paige's birthday...they both kinda need their own day!

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Our Saving Grace...




Since it has been so cold up here, and the weather has been less than cooperative...we have been desperate for some good activities for Paige. Our newest saving grace has been the indoor pool on base. We meet up with some other Moms and kids on Mondays and it is wonderful. Paige LOVES it, and it gives me 45 minutes or so to hang out with some other adults....yeah! :)
This week is supposed to be the first week out of the 50's, but we will see...
I can't wait to be HOT...really!