I guess I have an eye for quality??
I am always picking the most expensive items. lol.

$250 for a highchair! *Ouch*

Just looking around for a highchair for DS. We will need it before too long. And I think I really like the Stokke Tripp Trapp. I'd never seen it before, but gosh it seems like a good idea. All the reviews I've read are positive. Lasts for years, easy to clean, comfortable etc..

I don't know if anyone else has seen this commercial on TV, so far I've only seen it once, but OMGosh..
DH and I were watching TV several nights back and this Ford commercial comes on. It's a woman who is saying she lost her job/laid off (?). But, Ford has such a great deal going she couldn't afford to pass it up and so she bought a new car!
I asked DH if I heard that right. He said he heard the same thing. Then we laughed about how crazy the commercial was. Yeah, she "couldn't afford" to pass that up!!!

------------------------------------------------
Baby DS had his two month doctor appointment and vaccinations this morning. He did okay - poor sweetie - one minute he's talking and smiling at the nurse and then she's poking him with needles!
He weighs 12 lbs. 3 oz. now.

DS was eight weeks old yesterday.

Having a nice summer here.

Came home from my trip Friday. Surprise! My DH had a birthday/anniversary present for me, a digital camera! It is a Lumix. Blue; my favorite color! Wish he hadn't spent the money, but money he'd been stashing away for it. I'm excited to be getting some great pics of the family.

Saturday DH, DS and I went to our county fair with friends and their 15 month old DD. Our DD was still traveling with Grandma. Our friend has family that works for the fairgrounds in the maintenance department, so we didn't have to pay! We enjoyed looking at the exhibits and spent a little money on food. I love fair food! Corn Dogs, Funnel Cakes and Giant Cinnamon Rolls. Yum. So we saved $30 on admission and spent $23 on food. The weather was beautiful, about 85F with a breeze. Glad we went on Saturday, because Sunday was 95F.

Sunday we stayed in under the AC. So NSD! We watched a movie, played with DS, took care of some chores and BBQed for dinner. My mom and DD came home that night.

Monday I treated my mom to a pedicure for her birthday. DD and I had our toes done also. $70 total. I had two doctor appointments in the afternoon. OB and derm. $0 co-pay and $30 co-pay. The dermatologist snipped off a mole and sent it in for biopsy. Just a precaution, I do have history of skin cancer in the family.
Baby DS went to daycare for two and a half hours. $10. He seemed comfortable and happy with GB, the daycare lady. Good!

Started my DH on a weekly cash "allowance". $30. Although I don't call it that with him, don't want him to feel like a child! He uses the debit card almost daily for lunch or snacks while he's out of the office working. This may be a challenge for him because I don't think he really realizes how fast his little purchases add up.

I just saved a baby bird. I feel so good.. (More about that in a minute)


I am gone from home with both DD and baby DS to visit family. Monday we drove to my parent's house, about a 2.5 hour trip. It went well. Yesterday, my mom, myself and the kids drove to my grandparents house. They live very close to the Oregon/California border, about 3 hours from my parents. They hadn't seen the baby yet and we suprised them! They were SO happy to meet Great Grandson #6! I took my grandma to a quick doctor appointment and did her grocery shopping with her. My dad joined all of us after work for dinner and then we came back to my mom/dad's house. Long day, but so wonderful to spend time with family. My grandma tried to slip me some cash for driving her around. I couldn't take it. I am glad to just help her. She's my grandma!!

About the birdie...
Today, my mom and DD started out for their trip to the coast. As they were leaving they spotted a baby bird on the lawn. Barely any feathers and it's little eyes were still closed. My DD was saying to me, "Mama, you have to do something! You can't leave it here. You have to take care of it." And I just felt so bad for the little guy/gal laying there moving it's naked little wings and kicking it's tiny little legs. I will admit I am probably a little more emotionally attached to babies right now because I have a new baby myself. I didn't want mama bird to lose her baby. Thinking about it made me heart sick..

Now, in our area we have people who do bird rescue or care for wildlife. You just pick up the phone or drive them in to a center. But, this is a little town. So I knew my best bet was to try to find the nest in the tree and put baby back. I thought I might have found it, but I wasn't sure, and it was 'up there'. Thankfully, it wasn't way out on a limb and was closer to the main trunk. I saw mama and dada bird next to baby on the ground trying to figure out what to do.
I tried parking our truck under the tree and then standing on the roof to climb on to the tree, but once on the tree I couldn't reach high enough. So, I located a ladder. I should say I am home alone (at my parents house) by this point with DS and my black lab. And I should say I don't do ladders! (My DH has all sizes of ladders and will zip up and down them all day, but he isn't here.) In order to reach the nest I had to use a 24 foot extention ladder. I managed to set it up good a solid. I said a little prayer. Tucked baby birdie into my bra and I up I went. Snugged him back into the nest and waited in the house by the window to watch. Within five minutes mama and dada took over!
Yay! Warm and fuzzy feelings!

Now off to take care of my own hungry little birdie.

Busy past few days! My little sister (23 yo) came for a two night visit. Very nice to have the extra pair of hands to help with baby DS. It gave DH and I a welcome break from diaper changes! She took DD to the beach on Monday for some special Auntie time. The weather was so gorgeous.

Did some shopping. Monday morning I went grocery shopping. $190. We live center to every grocery store in town. Lucky, Raley's, Safeway and Whole Foods. We've found that prices are really about the same on the stuff we buy at each store. Well not Whole Foods! Ha, we like never go there. Mostly we shop Safeway. My sis works for Safeway so when I use her 'club card' number I get an additional 10% off all Safeway brands. I really like their Eating Right frozen meals for lunch. Add some fruit or a yogurt on the side to go with it and it's just right. Plus quick and healthy. Anyhow, these frozen meals are $2 each, but with the 10% only $1.80!! Wahoo! You can't beat that. I think they're a good deal at $2, much cheaper than fast food.
Yesterday my sis, I and the kids had breakfast out. $28. Then she wanted to go to the mall in the next city. I haven't been past the Sears store and into the mall in like two years, or more? Bought vacuum bags at Sears. $17. Hand soaps at Bath & Body Works. $11. Then we went to the other mall, yup there are two in town. Old Navy I bought a skirt for me, shorts and capris for DS, flip flops for sis and a tank top on clearance. The tank top was $1.38! Wahoo!! Old Navy total $56. It's hard for me to spend money on clothes (sometimes).

Baby is six weeks old today. How quickly time goes. I have six more weeks of maternity leave. We have set up daycare with an older woman who has watched DD since she was little. DS daycare cost: $4 per hour.

To all SA moms: My Avent manual breastpump I bought works very nicely. I still need more time getting used to it, but like it better than a loud electric pump. Quiet and gentle. I would recommend it.

To moms and dads: Remember to try diapers.com. Use my referral code: SWEE9706. Save $10.

It was hot here today, 94F, the AC felt so good!
A very low key day. Stayed cool inside with baby DS and DH. DD played with a friend in the AM and splashed in the pool with the neighbor kids this PM.
For dinner we had BBQ cheeseburgers with Sandwich Thins for buns. Thank You Monkey Mama! They were perfect. I am not sure I would have bought them had I just saw them in the store. Bought at Costco, so I put some away in the freezer. It was a 24 count package (3 packs of 8) for $5.69(ish).
I sat outside for about 30 minutes this evening with DS. He enjoys being outside, so much to look at. It had cooled to about 80F. Very nice.
Time to give baby his bath!

On a friend's recommendation I used Diapers.com to order my breastpump and some other baby supplies. So cool, you can get free shipping and it gets to your door next day! (mine did!) Very handy when you don't feel like running errands with baby.
I got free shipping, no sales tax and saved $19 using promotions and coupon code. Plus no driving, so I feel like I saved more like $25.

Okay, now why I'm plugging this...
If you are a new customer and enter my referal code you can save $10 on your first order and $5 on the second. Plus I get a $10 credit for the referal!!!

Referal code is: SWEE9706

Thanks!

Relaxing no spend weekend at home. My in-laws came Friday for an overnight visit with us and baby. They live about 3 1/2 hours away. When baby was born they drove their motor home down and parked it in our side yard. It is still here so when they visit they have a place to stay. It works out VERY well. LOL. I can send them to their place when I need a break.

Saturday we kicked on the AC. It was about 86F. I know not really that HOT, but uncomfortable. My DH works in the HVAC industry so we have newer and efficient furnace and AC.

My mom visited all day Sunday. My DH had a job so he was gone. DD had a friend over and they played in a little kiddie pool and the back yard most of the time. Baby DS slept more than usual, so my mom and I had lots of time to visit. We talked about when she thinks she will retire and her maybe moving to our area. She lives about 2 1/2 hours away. Even looking at buying several acres together and living on the same property. She also brought me a check for $160. I closed a credit union account I've had from childhood. They mailed the check to my mom. Putting the money toward one of the cards.

The biggest bummer from this weekend is that I talked to my boss on Saturday. He can't afford to cover my children's insurance costs. He has a lot on his plate, financially speaking, and he is moving into a new-to-us building in July. He has been in the same location for over 20 years, so it's going to be a big change. He said he'd really like to do it and we can re-visit the idea in a about 6 months when he 'might' know if he's better off $ wise. We'll see. My boss is a very nice guy, but not real great with money.. The insurance premium for the kids is $452 per month. I can't see us able to swing that right now. It stresses me. And baby will have several medical appointments within his first year. *sigh*

But, the weekend was nice overall anyway.

Today, DD started her week of basketball camp. She wasn't too sure about it. But, when we got there this morning she saw a few girls she knew and happily jumped in. She is very open, social and not shy. I pick her up at 3pm. I am thinking sometime this week we'll go to the city pool after I pick her up from camp. Maybe invite one of her school or camp friends too.

breastpump.
I couldn't bring myself to type that into the subject line.

When I breastfed our DD I tried an electric pump and hated it. So I didn't pump. I'd like to try again.
Looking at buying a manual breastpump. I've been reading reviews online. I know there are a lot of mommies on SA so does anyone have a recommendation?

Today DS is four weeks old!
Wow, that went fast.



I keep daydreaming about all the fun things we're going to do together as he grows.
Like Disneyland! We really enjoy going. Actually he's already been there. DH, DD and I went in December as a Christmas gift to ourselves and I was pregnant with DS.

I am enjoying the long weekend. It's very nice to have DH and DD home all day with me and baby. DH likes making breakfast on the weekends so I've been treated to breakfast in bed the past three days!

Getting ready for summer break. DD's last day of school is this Friday. It will be nice to not pay for full time childcare because I'll be home on maternity leave for almost all the summer. I still want to give DD some time away from home. She is going to a few week long day camps. One is a really awesome horse camp with a friend from school. They went together last summer and had a blast. On Thursday they get to camp out overnight in the barn too. Me and the other mom split the driving, so that works out nicely. This camp costs $325. But I prepay so it's $300. Grandma (my mom) paid for camp this year as a birthday gift for DD.
The second camp we bought in a silent auction at DD's school's fundraiser. It's a basketball camp. Cost $170 if you prepay or $190 if you don't. We paid $120 at the auction. I thought that was a good deal!

My mom is also taking DD on two grandma/grandaughter trips. (My dad's work is most busy during the summer. So it's just the girls!) One week in June to the coast and visit my sister. And in July to tour some of the California missions. (My DD will be learning about them in 4th grade.)
As I type this I am thinking how lucky DD is! She'll also likely spend a few days with my inlaws too.
I want to plan a camping trip for us four. I hope I can find the time...and the money...

Ah, the money...
*sigh* My CC#2 balance has crept up a little this month. Spendy month and decreased income. No fabulous purchases, just regular expenses.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone!

Redeemed my credit card 'points' for a $200 payment. Received a $200 check as reimbursement for a work expense so that goes to the card also. This covers the $400 copay to the hospital when I delivered DS. So...two steps forward and two steps back...

It seems like this is a regular pattern with us. I'll have a few months where we just "break even", maybe even lose a little bit of ground. Then a few months where we gain ground, pay something off completely or make a big purchase in cash, add to savings, etc. I LOVE those months!!!

This will be a "break even" month, except for a small bump in the savings account. We are talking like $25-$40. But I feel like every little bit gets us to the goal..eventualy.

I want to go FASTER!!!

We could meet our saving/payoff goals faster if we were willing to really cut back. I'm not saying we spend a lot on a lot. Honestly, we could LIVE without the cell phones, DSL, cable, horses, breakfast out...you get the idea. But, I feel life should be comfortable. As comfortable as you can comfortably afford. And if our income suddenly dropped off/dried up we would make these cuts. I think there is a certain number of people out there that just couldn't give anything up. We could do it; we have lived without these before.

------------------------------------------------------

Baby DS had his two week check up. He is now 8lbs. 8oz. and 1/2 inch longer. He's great at nursing so I knew he was growing well.

I have a quick moment to get online and catch up on life outside my house!

Baby DS is doing very well. Two weeks old now. He has slept through the night three nights in a row now. **Knock on wood** He keeps that up!

Our water/sewer bill came, $29.30, for two months....What?? A normal bill is about $120-$140. It looks like they applied the $100 deposit we paid early last year. What a nice suprise and perfect timing too.

Feels like we've got lots of money going out and a trickle coming in....Only temporary. I'll be back on track in no time!

Back to baby watching......

Not much time to be online or even focus on bills/checkbook etc.. Good thing I prepaid most for the month so every thing is on auto pilot.

DS is VERY sweet and a VERY good baby! Lucky us!

Our DS is here!!!
He was born May 5th at 4pm.
8lb 4oz and 21 inches long.
He is so handsome and has a full head of shiny dark brown hair!

Now, to go get some more SLEEP!


Oh, and Happy Mother's Day!