Thrifty Southern Mama

Free Housekeeping Printable

2011-12-29T06:45:00.004-05:00

Darlene from Time-Warp Wife is offering an adorable daily housekeeping printable for free today. It has a basic list of reminders to help keep you on track. If you need a more extensive schedule, check out this post. Enjoy!

Potty Training Tips

2011-12-28T06:47:00.003-05:00

I have just successfully potty trained my second child, so I think this means I have enough experience under my belt to offer you a few helpful hints. Potty training Bug was an experiment in terror. He is a very fast learner, so the fact that I had no clue what I was doing may have had something to do with it.

I decided that Bug was ready to be trained as soon as he showed an interest in using the toilet. I purchased a big pack of Pull-ups and told everybody about how my boy was so smart that he was already going in the potty. Then I got pregnant and spent the next four months so nauseous I could barely remain in an upright position.

Right about this same time my husband had to go away for a week and Bug decided that he would scream every time he approached the potty. I gave up and had to tell everyone in our family who inquired about his progress that he was back in Luvs.

After less than three weeks of potty-training, Grumpy is now going like a champ and hasn't had a single accident at night. Here are some tips on accomplishing this feat:

1. Don't tell anyone, other than your spouse and close relatives who need the knowledge in order to care for your child, that you are attempting to potty train. Even if another mom starts to brag about how her six month old flushes and wipes himself.

2. Encourage an interest in using the toilet, but don't attempt training the first time your little one successfully goes in the potty.

3. Make a big deal about (clap, dance about like an idiot, tell daddy) every No. 1 or No. 2 that winds up where its supposed to. Cookies, stickers and toy giraffes are unnecessary, however.

4. Let your child lead. Once your little one figures out that diapers are uncomfortable, he will probably opt for going like a big boy without a struggle.

5. Don't spank or yell, no matter how many accidents your child has. If he repeatedly goes in his clothes, he's not ready for this potty training thing. Just put the diaper back on and wait until he shows an interest again.

6. Use a potty ring if instead of a chair, unless your child is terrified of the toilet. Not only is the chair messy to clean up, you may end up having to go through a second round of training to convince your child to use the big potty.

7. Don't expect little ones to sit on the potty like you do. Both of my boys preferred to hunch over the toilet like crabs, with their legs pulled up. As long as they're not making an awful mess or in danger of falling in, let them choose how to sit.

8. If you have boys and they want to "go like daddy" provide a stool so they can accomplish this amazing feat.

9. Keep using Pull-ups until you notice that your little one is consistently dry each morning for a week. Once this happens, remind your child to use the potty right before bed and try putting him to bed sans Pull-up.

10. Use a Pull-up when you leave the house for more than 30 minutes, unless there is an easy-to-access bathroom. Continue to do this until your child is 7. Okay, maybe not quite that long.

Try to keep it lighthearted and remember that your little one will eventually potty train and, if my experience is any indication, it will probably happen a lot faster if you don't stress about it.

Heard Around Our House Recently

2010-01-04T02:53:00.002-05:00

Here is a snippet of a conversation that I had with Bug yesterday:

Bug: Mommy, what is a lung?
Me: It's the organ that lets you breathe, you have two and they are right here inside your chest.
Bug: I don't want one.
Me: If you didn't have them you couldn't breathe.
Bug: Mommy, I wish I was in your nose.

Yep, he wishes he was in my nose. Apparently he wants a closer look at how this whole breathing thing works. Perhaps he will be an asthma/allergy specialist when he grows up. Or maybe just really, really weird. Either way, you've gotta love him.

Keeping Priorities in Order

2010-01-02T15:01:00.003-05:00

As I sat down to think about the goals I'd like to achieve in the coming year it occurred to me just how easy it is to get sidetracked from my priorities. As a Christian woman I know what they are. God has clearly laid them out for me in Titus 2: 3-5 - The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Why is it so easy to get sidetracked?

I really want to be a writer. I want to help out with finances, build my own sites and blogs, make a tiny little name for myself somewhere in the world. It is so easy to let that become the most important part of my day. But it should not be. Spending time reading the Bible and in prayer, helping my husband get his things together for work, kissing a boo boo and rocking a baby are far more important than any article or blog post I could ever write. Those are the things that build a home. Like it or not, we moms and wives set the tone of our homes and we can let everyone know exactly where they rank without a word.

It is also true in the small things. For example, when my phone rings I am compelled to answer it. I must know who is on the other end. If it is someone I know I must talk to them immediately. I am ashamed to say that my kids (and hubby) have been put second place to the phone more times than I can even count. I have been feeling convicted about this lately.

I have had to stop answering the phone every time it rings. If I am rocking Grumpy, having a conversation with my husband or playing cars with Bug the phone doesn't take priority. It's really hard. But Bug has started saying, "No, I didn't tell you to talk on the phone!", whenever he sees me approach it. That is not a good sign. So, I have starting utilizing the caller i.d. and returning calls when I'm too busy with my top priorities to get to it.

This was something I'd never really thought about until I read one of Elizabeth George's books (I apologize, I can't recall which one it was at the moment) where she tells a story about cooking a delicious meal for a new mother that attended her church. She had never met the woman, but was so pleased to share with her daughters the fact that she had gone to all of this trouble to help the new mother out. Then her girls asked what they were having for supper and she had to tell them it was macaroni with hot dogs...again. That hit home for me.

So, to sum up this novel of a post, maybe we should stop and ask ourselves from time to time, who is getting the best of us. Is it our husbands and our little ones or the unexpected visitor that shows up at the door. Do you show a pleasant face to the world while your "real" attitude at home is not so...pleasant? I know that I sure do. Why not make it a goal this year to give our best to our families and check our priorities every so often to make sure they are lined up with what God says they should be?

2009: Our Year in Review

2009-12-27T14:51:00.005-05:00

I love my blog. I have been at this for about a year now and I still enjoy blogging very much, although you wouldn't know it by the amount of posts I have been writing lately. This has been a very topsy turvy year for my family and I have not had the motivation or self-discipline to manage things the way that I would have really liked to.

For starters, we added Grumpy to the family. I said I wouldn't be putting up any more pictures, but I am going to make an exception to show you guys how big he's getting.

Yep, he looks that grumpy pretty much all the time. He is a handful, but he is such a blessing and I can't even remember what life was like without him. He's walking now and he just cut his first tooth! I can't believe I am mama to an almost four year old and an almost one year old, the time is just flying by.

I have started trying to write seriously again this year to help make ends meet and that has been quite a challenge. I love the fact that I can make extra money to help out and still have my boys by my side. I am finally starting to find a rhythm that works for us, although our days are still pretty unpredictable.

I am also homeschooling Bug and while I'd like to say I have it all figured out, I don't. I am slowly beginning to understand what works best with him, but I have to fight my need to treat him like a kindergartner in military school, bless his heart. I have completely abandoned any type of curriculum based learning for the past two months and have just been following his lead. I have finally started to relax about it, there for awhile I was beginning to wonder if I was cut out for homeschooling, but the insanity has passed and we are moving forward with the original plan.

So, here I am taking a review and trying to figure things out. I no longer do New Year's resolutions, that's just setting myself up for failure. I do have a few things I plan to try and improve in the coming year, including managing my time more efficiently, improving our financial situation (not singlehandedly, the husband is in on the plan), taking better care of me (sounds selfish, but everyone in my family will end up suffering if I don't) and most importantly, spending more time reading my Bible and in prayer. That is so often the first thing that slides and then, of course, I don't handle anything with grace or ease.

I also have some plans for this blog and I want so badly to begin posting regularly here again. I refuse to say I will post regularly again because if I do, it will likely never happen. I am slowly figuring out why I get nothing done. In a post earlier this year I said that I was lazy, but I don't really think that's it. I believe I just get so overwhelmed by my responsibilities and all that I have to do that I zone out. The computer has been my escape, that's a battle that I'm finally starting to win. My husband pointed out recently when I was complaining about my lack of time that I spend far more of it on the computer than I realized. I was a little upset at first, but I have discovered that he is right. Don't you hate when that happens?

Anyway, to wrap up this long and rambling post, I am excited about the coming year. I have learned so much, most importantly how truly blessed I am. Even with all of the struggles I thank God for all that He has done for us in 2009. I hope that you and yours are having a wonderful holiday season, see you here next year!

Giveaway Winner!

2009-12-03T05:54:00.002-05:00

The winner of the The Young Scientists Club Set 7: Bones and Muscles, The Senses and Light Science Kit is Abby! Congratulations to you and thanks so much to all of you who participated in this giveaway.

Help Me Someone Please

2009-11-30T20:23:00.002-05:00

Disclaimer: I love Bug. There is no one in the entire world that I love more. I realize how blessed that I am to have him. Now, on to my complaining.

Bug will not stop talking. He will.not.stop. He's always been very active and talkative, but this is different. It goes like this:

"Mommy, look, look what I can do. Mommy look, come here and look. Look. Look what I can do mommy. Mommy. Mommy. Look. Watch this. I can make footprints in the carpet. Watch this. I can make footprints in the carpet. What kind of animal am I? Mommy. Look. Come here and watch. Mommy, I put tape on bubby's head. He's o.k. Mommy, come here and look where I put tape on his head. Sorry mommy. I won't put tape on his head again. Mommy. Look....".

I have never had a three and a half year old before, so I'm assuming this is par for the course. But tonight I'm a wreck. I have a headache, it actually feels like my head is in the grip of some sort of torture device. I am a little nauseous and I'm having thoughts about opening the door and running down the road. Fast. I just need silence. Just a little silence. My hands are actually shaking. I almost started crying a few minutes ago in the kitchen because I realized it was still over an hour until bedtime.

He is currently running in circles (literally) and talking nonstop. I don't think he even notices that I am not answering.

Grumpy has only slept through the night once in the past four months (and that was only until 5:00) so I think I am just...tired. I need a few minutes of silence and a long, long nap.

I Finally Did It...

2009-11-29T15:50:00.002-05:00

I am the proud owner of thriftysouthernmama.com! I have been toying with the idea of purchasing my own domain for awhile and after some promptings from the husband I finally did. I love the idea of building websites, it's something about having control over my own little space on the web (did I mention that I am a control freak?) and I've taken my first baby step.

Don't expect anything major to change here for awhile, I am also a bit obsessive and the simple act of finding the right theme has been enough to send me over the edge. I have instructed the hubby to learn web design immediately so that he can build me a custom theme for free, but I don't think he's interested. Oh well. Hopefully sooner rather than later the new site will be up and running and too much of my hair won't be pulled out in the process. I will keep you updated!

Blessed

2009-11-25T16:43:00.006-05:00

I have always loved Thanksgiving, partly because of the food and partly because it is a prelude to Christmas. When I was a little girl I thought of it as a practice run. Now that I am officially grown up I also see it as a great opportunity to acknowledge the blessings that I have been given. Since I have a blog now I figured why not list them here...

1. My relationship with the Lord. I know I am loved unconditionally by God, I know I am going to Heaven and I never have to face a single day alone.

2. My husband. I never believed I would find someone who could be what he is to me. I can completely be myself with him, even when being myself isn't necessarily a good thing. He even loves me when my nose is all red and swollen or I don't shave my legs for a week.

3. Bug. There just aren't words for this little blessing. He will always be my "sunshine baby", even when he's forty years old! He is beautiful, gives great snuggles and has a huge heart, I can't wait to see what he comes up with everyday.

4. Grumpy. I tell my husband that the Grump is the best bad idea I ever had. He makes our little family feel complete. While he is a bit cranky, he loves to be loved. He loves kisses, hugs, cuddles, and is as good at giving them as he is at receiving. He loves me more than anyone else, and while I know that it won't last, I am reveling in it at the moment. He is a mama's boy and I wouldn't have it any other way.

5. My parents. They still treat me like I'm twelve and I love it. They buy me things, worry constantly, basically spoil me rotten. I don't plan to try and stop them anytime soon, I blame this on the fact that I am the baby of the family.

6. My brother and sisters. I have always thought it would be so lonely to be an only child (which explains why there is a Grump snoring in the bedroom) and I am so glad that I have my siblings.

7. My nieces and nephews. There are a ton of them and they are all so special to me. Sure, when Jon and Kelli were little I wanted them gone, but now that we're all adults I'm glad I didn't follow through with my plan to "accidentally" lose them while shopping. Before you think I'm insane, there are only a few years between us, I was just a little girl.

8. A nice place to live. Sometimes I get so down about the fact that we rent, but we're fortunate to have a comfortable, safe home with plenty of room for our babies. If I'm tired I have three warm beds to choose from, if I want a hot shower it's a few steps away and a drink of clean water is always available. We are warm, we're dry, we have absolutely nothing to complain about.

9. Staying at home with my boys. I am amazed sometimes that it actually worked out. I still remember the night I sat next to my husband, huge pregnant, sobbing that I didn't want to leave my baby. It seemed impossible, but thank God, here I am.

10. My husband's job. These days it's a blessing to have one at all, and he also has a company truck which saves a ton on gas.

11. Freedom. I am so thankful that I live in a place where I am free to worship, live and raise my kids the way I want to. I know our country is far from perfect, but it beats the other options in my opinion.

12. I have a history. I can trace my family's lineage back generations, I know where I belong and it's one of the most beautiful places in the world.

13. My computer. Oh how I love my computer. It helps me learn, keep up with family, earn a little extra cash, pursue my dreams, play games, waste endless amounts of time...

14. Pajamas and throws. Sure it sounds silly, but there is nothing cozier in the world than putting on my p.j.'s, grabbing a book and curling up under a throw.

15. Books. I love to read, when I get a new book to read I am more excited than I would be if I bought five new outfits.

Of course, there is a lot more that I am thankful for, but I'm not going to bore you with how much I love cheese or how happy a shirt pulled straight from the dryer makes me. I hope you all have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving!

CSN Toys and Games Online Giveaway!

2009-11-24T20:44:00.006-05:00

This giveaway is now closed, thanks to everyone who participated.

The folks at CSN Toys and Games Online are sponsoring this great giveaway for my readers. One winner will receive The Young Scientists Club Set 7: Bones and Muscles, The Senses and Light Science Kit. It is listed as "a great introduction to the field of human physiology" and I will admit, I first wanted to do a review until I realized that Bug isn't old enough to really appreciate it.

As a homeschooling mama I think these kits look promising, they have won the 2009 Creative Child Award, Parents' Choice Foundation, and a Museum Store Association Buyer's Choice award as well. If you are looking for online toys you will want to check CSN Toys and Games out, they have a great selection, everything from dolls to bicycles.

Also, if you order any of the kits you can enter the code YSC20 at checkout for an extra 20% off.

Now, time for giveaway rules. Leave a comment on this post to enter. If you subscribe to or follow this blog you get one extra entry, tweeting or blogging about the giveaway gets you two extra shots. Just mention that you subscribe, tweeted, whatever, in your comment and I will make sure that you get your extra entries. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and will end Wednesday, December 2nd at midnight. I will announce the winner on Thursday morning. Good luck!

I Am a Dork

2009-11-23T18:18:00.004-05:00

I can practically see my family and friends nodding their agreement. I was pretty excited to log in a few moments ago and find several comments. I then proceeded to delete all of said comments instead of publishing them. So...to those of you who commented, I am sorry. Sigh.

Update: I'm not a dork! Well, yeah I am, but it was Blogger's fault, not mine apparently. Some of my comments are back so I couldn't have deleted them. Maybe the rest will magically reappear tomorrow, who knows!

Some Things I'm Learning

2009-11-23T15:07:00.005-05:00

Ever since I became a stay at home mom I have struggled with organization, time management, our financial situation and trusting the Lord to provide. I have tried everything, read everything, prayed and I still end up uneasy, unsure of myself and feeling like I just can't do anything right. I have been getting serious about supplementing our income this past month or so, which means my plate has been quite full. Between cleaning, cooking, handling finances, writing, homeschooling and taking care of everybody, my plate has been pretty full. I have learned some life lessons, things I probably wouldn't have learned if I'd had more time to over think everything. Here they are, quite randomly:

1. To-do lists are not an automatic solution nor are they evil. They also don't have to be perfectly written on beautiful stationary. A white sheet of notebook paper sectioned off into meals, home, work, and kids works well. It's also o.k. to change this list throughout the day. Oh, and nothing horrible happened when I marked not a single item off my list that one day.

2. It only takes me three minutes to peel potatoes for supper, not the 22 that I had originally thought. It only takes me four minutes to fold towels and three minutes to unload the dishwasher. I have tried giving myself a limit on these tasks just to see how fast I can get finished if I try, it turns out that I am a speed demon!

3. It is possible to write a rough draft of an article while two boys are making driving sounds three feet away.

4.It feels really good to contribute financially to our household without leaving my kids with someone else. Really, really good.

5. Completely unrelated to managing a household, but some people are just not good for my family. I can make excuses all day long as to why they are the way they are, feel sorry for them, and want to help but at the end of the day it is what it is. If you have people like this in your life it's o.k. to politely ask them to go away, shut the door, and pray for them without allowing their issues to affect your family.

6. Turning things over to God is not a one time deal. It's something that I have to do over and over, sometimes all day long. I've struggled with this for so long, I would tell myself I was going to walk away from a problem and leave it in His hands, but just in case He was busy, I'd go ahead and make a Plan B. And write it down, highlighting especially important points. Then I'd feel so horrible when my prayer was answered and there I sat, holding a crumpled copy of Plan B. I'm finally beginning to understand that He isn't angry with me about this because He knows how I am. I've been able to take some tiny baby steps and I'm not feeling the need to make so many alternate plans lately.

It's amazing to me that I am 31 years old and just starting to figure out such simple things. I have a lot going on, which would normally make me nervous, but for some reason it's just making me happy and content this time around. Go figure.

FWS - Feline Withdrawal Syndrome

2009-11-21T22:12:00.004-05:00

I am suffering from a terrible case of FWS (Feline Withdrawal Syndrome). I don't think it's a real disorder, but it should be. I can honestly say that, outside of children, there is nothing in the world more beautiful to me than a cat. Sleeping, eating, pouncing, ignoring me, attacking my ankle because I didn't obey a request immediately, they're beautiful no matter what they do.

I have always been this way. From the time I was able to crawl I have been covered in cats. There are photos to back this up. I would have never believed there would be a time when I didn't have a cat, but here I am. We moved shortly after re-homing Tigger and P.J. and we aren't allowed indoor pets at our new home. Which is just as well, Bug is allergic to fleas and I'm terrified that we will once again have an infestation. I would love to have an outdoor cat (which is what I pretty much always had growing up), but we live so close to the road that I don't think it would be fair to bring a cat here.

My ideal cat is much like Dynamo (pictured above), my mom's cat that I claimed as my own. Until I moved out and they wouldn't let me take her with me. She was grumpy, aloof, hateful, and generally unpleasant to be around. She also randomly attacked guests, refused to stop scratching the furniture and would only eat the most expensive and hard to find types of cat food. But there was another side to her. She kept my feet warm in winter, snuggled with me every night and once actually reach her paw out and caught one of my tears when I was crying about something. She got me through some really tough times. Call me crazy if you want, but I miss her like a human family member. Not a day goes by that I don't think about her.

So here I am with a kitty shaped hole in my heart. I have been sad about this for awhile, but today there was a light at the end of the tunnel. We have been seeing some cats around the house, one I know belongs to our landlady. I may have possibly been putting food out back in the hopes that I would find a stray to love. My dear hubby informed me that when he was on the porch last night there were nine cats out there. All at once. That's 36 paws. He said they looked like strays.

Now, since these cats were already here I don't see any harm in adopting one. I mean, it would be helping, right? There were black ones, a calico, a brindle... I have decided to go for it. Here's the plan:

1. Choose the scrawniest, most pitiful cat as this one is most likely to not have an owner. And if it does, then they aren't doing a good job so technically, I should win by default.

2. Ask the landlady if she knows who it belongs to. If she doesn't, I proceed.

3. Feed the cat. Name the cat. Get a collar. Introduce the cat to the husband by name after the food has been purchased and the collar is in place.

4. Take pictures of said cat to post here.

5. Become faithful servant of said cat and all of it's stray buddies.

Oh, and Grumpy loves cats too. He saw one outside a couple of weeks ago and I thought he was going to pass out he got so excited. I took him out and let him touch it and he couldn't hold himself still.

My husband seems to think I need professional help to deal with this problem. This may be true, but adopting a stray is a much cheaper way of dealing with it. And a lot more snuggly, too!

I'm Still Here!

2009-11-20T21:48:00.005-05:00

I have not posted in quite some time so I thought I'd better do a quick update before somebody starts to think I'm dead (I do that with people whose blogs I read, because really, how would you know for sure?). I have been so busy lately, writing as much as possible for Demand Studios, chasing Grumpy, researching the best ways to teach Bug, Christmas shopping, etc. and so on. I miss posting here so I am getting ready to sit down and make a list of post ideas.

I cannot believe it's almost Thanksgiving already, that boggles my mind. I can practically taste my mom's sage dressing and the pecan pie. I have just about finished my shopping already, this is the earliest I've ever managed to get it done. I can't wait to put up the tree, although I am dreading keeping Grumpy from climbing it. He can't walk yet, but boy can he climb. I found him sitting on top of Bug's art desk a couple of weeks ago.

I have also added some new blogs to my blog roll that you might want to check out. Oh, and I'm getting ready to add a poll that I'd love for you to take a look at. I need some inspiration as far as what to write about and I would really appreciate your help with that.

That's pretty much it for now, I'm hoping Grumpy will go to sleep soon so I can do a little "blog tidying" and get to work on that list of post ideas. It's really hard to type when he is pulling on my arm, gumming my knee cap and collapsing in a dramatic heap in the floor. I'm thinking he needs some daddy time.

Homeschooling Bug

2009-11-08T10:44:00.003-05:00

Homeschooling Bug is a wonderful, confusing and sometimes frustrating experience. I was unsure about how to approach it, I couldn't find a curriculum that seemed to fit us, so I have been pretty much making it up as I go. He has been doing so well and most of the time he really seems to enjoy it. We usually do "learning time" twice a day, three days a week. With my uncertain schedule (a direct result of Grumpy) I am afraid that if I don't have a specific time to work with him, it just won't happen. It's a wonderful notion in theory, but Bug sometimes has other ideas.

If he's already doing something, like playing cars or playing with his brother, he is not interested in learning time. I know that at this age I'm not really supposed to pressure him (right?) but I still end up feeling annoyed because I am afraid that I won't get to it later. If that happens often he might not learn what he needs to. I think I am still s trying to make homeschooling look like "real" school and I don't think that's Bug's style.

One of the things that I love about the idea of homeschooling is the freedom we have to teach our kids in the way that is best for them. Bug may learn one way while Grumpy is totally opposite and that will be fine, I can cater to whatever they need. I just don't know where to start. I have read some about unschooling and I am really, really confused. I mean, I try to teach Bug all day, answering his questions, cheering him on when he decides to identify all the letters he knows on the back of the cereal box. Is that unschooling? I just don't know.

Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed that I get completely terrified. I don't want to mess this up. I truly feel that it's what God would have us do, so I have to stop and ask Him again to show me what to do, remind myself that I can trust Him completely. Being a mommy is the scariest thing that I have ever done in my life. I want the best for my sweet babies and I cannot fathom why God would entrust them to me. But He did so I have to figure this out.

I have sat down and considered what I want my boys to know, what I think is most important. First and foremost, I want them to learn about the Lord, to be saved and live their lives walking with Him. Nothing is more important than that. I want them to have a love of learning, to love good books. I want them to be much better at math than I ever was, we may have to call in back up for that one. I want them to learn at an early age how to manage money, the importance of avoiding credit cards, the importance of living debt free. My husband and I are learning that lesson the hard way. I want them to explore and get excited about new discoveries and never feel caged in by what they should be learning on a particular day. I want them to appreciate nature, their heritage and the mountains they are being raised in. I want them to know that college is wonderful if they choose it, but if not that's ok too. I want them to be happy and confident and kind.

Now, I just have to figure out the best way to go about this. I want to let them guide me in what they learn, but I can't quite let go of my fear that if I do that they will not learn all that they should. If any of you know of any good books or websites about unschooling I would love it if you would share. Any suggestions at all would be welcome actually. I would love to hear the approach that others take when teaching preschoolers because this is really hard!

This Link Needs to Be Shared

2009-11-05T06:14:00.004-05:00

Sarah Mae from Like a Warm Cup of Coffee posted this over at (In)Courage and I had to share it, it's a good one. I am going to try to post something more lengthy later today or tomorrow, the Grump is teething and has a bit of a fever so he is stuck to his mama like glue and he doesn't really like the computer all that much. As in, he screams if I approach the computer. He runs this house with a tiny iron fist, I think it's his red hair. Have a great day!

Update on Bug's Eyes

2009-10-31T18:34:00.003-04:00

I posted before about Bug being diagnosed with strabismus and the concern that he might need surgery. He went for his follow-up appointment yesterday and thank the Lord, they have improved. I, along with the rest of our family, have been praying for Bug's eyes to be healed as well as for the wisdom to make the right decisions. The optometrist said she'd never saw anything like it, his eyes have improved so much that she was "absolutely amazed". Praise the Lord!

She wants to see him again in four months to reevaluate and see if there is a need for other treatment, such as patch therapy. She also confirmed what I'd read, that the surgery would not correct his vision, but is purely cosmetic. I am so very, very thankful for this and I will keep praying for improvements to my baby's eyes. Thanks to those of you who have also been praying for us, it is very much appreciated.

Drumroll Please...

2009-10-29T05:19:00.004-04:00

The winner of the adorable pink lamp and my very first giveaway is Mamushi Love (Vicky)! Congratulations to you and thanks to everyone who participated in the giveaway, it turned out even better than I had anticipated.

Working Motherhood is Brutal

2009-10-28T05:54:00.004-04:00

The title of this post may or may not make any sense. I couldn't decide so I went with it. No, I'm not going back to work outside the home, I just had a flashback. For the first six months of Bug's life I worked as a legal assistant. It was horrible. Not the job, the lifestyle. My three year sahm anniversary was October 16th. I have a handful of days that I consider the happiest in my entire life and October 16th, 2006 definitely made the list.

Last night my niece Robin called and she was telling me about how her little girl had kept her up until 2:00 a.m. recently and laughing about how hard it was to get up for work the next morning. That's when the flashback happened. A typical night with Bug went like this:

10:30 - Get Bug to sleep
11:00 - Get in bed
11:02 - Get back up with Bug
1:30 - Bug is back asleep. Sob. Fall back asleep.
3:00 - Get up with Bug
4:00 - Get Bug back to sleep. Consider sobbing, decide it's too much work, fall back asleep.
5:00 - Up for the day.

Last night Grumpy woke at 3:00 screaming like he'd been abandoned to the wolves. I'm not sure exactly how long it took to get him back to sleep, but it must have been awhile because I'm running into walls this morning. I was remembering how hard it was with Bug and honestly, I don't know how I did it. I do recall one incident where I told my boss (who was super sweet and understanding) not to expect much out of me because I'd been up all night.

I pray that I will never take for granted this blessing of being at home with my boys. From lazy days in our pajamas to long weekends just spent hanging out with my husband, I would not trade it for all the money in the world.

My niece holds down a full time job and is a single mom caring for an 18 month old. Oh yeah, she's also not yet 25 and has bought her own home. I'm not sure I could do what she does everyday. I was begging for mercy eight weeks in.

So, for those of you working mamas who have no choice but to be superwoman everyday, my hat is off to you. To the working moms I know in real life, if there's anything I can do to make your life a little easier, let me know. Seriously.

Online Income Update

2009-10-25T12:49:00.005-04:00

As mentioned in a previous post, I am working with Demand Studios now. I am happy to report that so far things are going quite well. I have only published two articles so far, but both have gone through with no rewrite requests. I have already been paid for the first one and my second payment is in process. To add to my delight, the topics were actually interesting and both were something that I had real life experience with. I am praying that this will continue to work out, it seems like exactly what we need to fill in the gaps when my hubby doesn't get to work.

I also wanted to mention a website that I think might be helpful for moms trying to earn an income writing from home. 30 Queries in 30 Days is full of no nonsense advice from a work at home mom who is also homeschooling six daughters. I really enjoy her sarcastic humor, she cracks me up.

I am trying really hard to strike a balance between my real job of wife and mommy and my side gig of writing to bring in something extra. I have tried so many times to convince myself not to do it, but when I'm not writing I am miserable. I figure I might as well try to make something while I do it.

That's all for now, don't forget about my little giveaway, I will be drawing a winner on Thursday!

My Very First Giveaway!

2009-10-22T19:46:00.009-04:00

Update: This giveaway has closed and I will be announcing the winner shortly. Thanks to everyone who participated!

How adorable is this lamp? The folks at CSN Baby are giving this gorgeous lamp to one of my readers. They have a ton of beautiful nursery decor, pretty much anything you need for baby's room including furniture. I wish I'd found them when I was buying stuff for the boys!

Now, how to enter...just leave a comment here and if you qualify for extra entries (see below) make sure you mention it in your post.

Extra Entries: One extra entry if you are a subscriber (or decide to subscribe just to get an extra entry, I'm not picky).

One extra entry for tweeting about this giveaway and how fabulous my blog is (I'm kidding about that last part).

Two extra entries for posting about this giveaway on your blog.

The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

I will be announcing the winner on Thursday, October 29th. Good luck!

Is There Hope for Me?

2009-10-21T14:39:00.003-04:00

This picture was taken last January the day I was released from the hospital. Notice the bags under my eyes, the lovely ball of frizz surrounding my head and my joyous expression. Grumpy will be nine months old Friday and, well, I still look like that.

Before I became a stay at home mom I managed to pull myself together every workday because I worked in a law office and I didn't have much choice. I honestly don't know how I did it. I barely manage to get my hair combed now. Until this morning it had been about four months since I had plucked my brows and I don't even want to discuss the last time painted my toenails. I'm a mess and it's driving me insane.

I have a lot on my plate, so I've been cutting myself some slack. I am full time mama to two boys, I'm a wife, I (try to) write from home when the little ones allow it, and I am responsible for the majority of the cleaning, laundry, shopping and bill paying. I don't have a lot of spare time, but at least I get a shower and my teeth brushed every day. That's got to count for something, right?

There are some things that I need, I am starting to realize. I need time to be a woman, to do my hair, to do my nails and maybe 15 whole minutes for make-up. I need to occasionally wear something that isn't covered in spit-up, dried peaches, marker and cupcake batter (seriously, I'm wearing them all right now). I need time to style my hair. I need time to comb my hair. That would be nice. I'm just not sure how to manage it.

I honestly couldn't tell you what's in style at the moment, I can't seem to find the motivation to care. I see women all the time who have as many or more kids than me and their hair is styled, their wearing cute (clean!) outfits, and they don't seem stressed or hassled. I can't help but wonder what I'm doing wrong.

My husband says I am beautiful and perfect looking exactly the way I do (again, see photo above) and I love him for it, I really do. But I am so very tired of feeling bad about myself. I don't know really know how to start to fix this, and I don't know if that's because it's just that hard or if it's a symptom of my muddled mommy brain. I am o.k. with my features, I've finally come to terms with my curly, red hair, fair skin and big (huge!) lips, I just need to figure out how to pull myself together.

I don't mean to complain, I love my life and wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. Yet I see other women managing to look nice with little ones, I want in on the secret. If any of you have the answer I would absolutely love to know what it is. Just leave me a comment, email, an offer to babysit my kids for free while I spruce up (kidding, of course). I'll be waiting.

Easy Oven Stew

2009-10-13T07:58:00.002-04:00

My mom had an old electric co-op cookbook that fascinated me when I was a little girl, it was from the 1950's and had a picture of a woman in heels, skirt and an apron on the front. When I got married she gave it to me and I still love it. Of course, you'll not find me in that get up anytime soon, but it does have some really good recipes. My husband likes meat and potato type dishes, so last week I gave Easy Oven Stew a whirl. It was really good, Bug even liked it, he devoured every carrot he could get his fork on. Here is the recipe, contributed by Mrs. Kenneth Imhoff of West Salem, Oregon, if you want to give it a try:

Easy Oven Stew

2 pounds beef, cut up for stew
2 tbsp, flour, 1 tsp. salt, dash pepper, dash paprika
4 to 6 small onions
4 potatoes, diced
16. oz. tomato sauce
2 tbsp. cooking oil
1 cup sliced celery
4 carrots, sliced
1 cup water
Salt and pepper to taste

Combine flour, salt, pepper and paprika, roll beef in seasoned flour, toss with oil in 3 qt. casserole dish. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes, stirring once. Add vegetables and toss with meat and juices, add water, salt and pepper, pour tomato sauce over all. Cover and bake at 350 degrees about 2 hours or until everything is tender.

I didn't use as many onions as the recipe called for and I used baby carrots instead of sliced. The carrots weren't as tender as I would have liked, so next time I'm going to try slicing them. This would make the perfect meal for a cold evening, I think it's going to be a cool weather regular around here.

What's Going On

2009-10-12T11:07:00.002-04:00

I realize I haven't been posting very often lately. I've had some ideas, but by the time I get a second to sit down and type they have completely abandoned me and since I know you probably don't want to hear details about my ingrown toenail or Grumpy's diaper contents, I've just been keeping quiet.

Since we moved in July it seems like everything has been a little haywire and out of control. I couldn't put my finger on exactly what it was, but things were definitely off kilter. I finally had enough last week and spent a few days getting everything (from menu plans to closets) back in order. I feel so much better now. Maybe I will actually be able to post something interesting here, you just never know!

I have mentioned before that I really don't enjoy writing for web content companies and how torn I am because it seems like a really good way to make extra money from home. I applied with Demand Studios and got accepted and I have to say, it looks promising. The topics are interesting, they are a reliable source of income that a ton of work at home mama's rely on, and you have seven days to complete each article. I am tentatively moving forward with the notion that this is what I've been looking for. I still want to do my own blogs and sites and figure out affiliate marketing, but this seems like a great way to fill in when my hubby loses work due to weather, etc.

When I was pregnant with Grumpy I was very, very sick everyday for the first four months and phenagryn was a lifesaver for me. Unfortunately, I was near lifeless when I took it (the doctor warned me that if I took a whole one at my weight I would probably end up unconscious) but lifeless was sooo much nicer than feeling like I was going to hurl the majority of my waking hours. Apparently the wonderful sleep habits of my kids have toughened me up. This morning I woke up feeling very, very nauseous and every thing I smelled made me feel like gagging. I am terrified of throwing up, so I swallowed half a phenagryn in desperation. I expected to spend the morning too sleepy to move, but even with the gap in sleep last night (the Grump was up from 2:00-3:30) I just feel a little drowsy. I guess I have my boys to thank for that, although I would have preferred to just feel sleepy once a year when I took the medicine over losing hours of sleep every.single.night for what will likely be 18.5 years.

That's about all I have for now, I am off to try to straighten up the house. Again. Have a great Monday!

What Grumpy's Been Up to Lately

2009-10-05T12:39:00.002-04:00

My little Grumpy is just over eight months old now and he is finding his own sweet little ways to bring joy (terror) to our household. Here are a few of his current projects:

1. He has been practicing a lovely evil growling sound. There's nothing in particular that seems to set him off, he just does it randomly. I was seriously freaked the other day when he started doing it right after he spit up peas.

2. He's been polishing up his phone skills, attempting to contact the outside world whenever one of us makes the mistake of leaving the phone within his reach.

3. He has a theory that if anyone other than mama holds him for more than three minutes the world will end with a mighty bang. This is really making it hard to ditch him on my family when I go to visit them.

4. Having his diaper, shirt, pants or socks changed now results in Super Ninja Baby moves, accompanied by The Horrible Cry, which sounds a lot like he is being mauled by a wild animal. By the time I'm finished changing him I am sweating. Seriously. I really, really wish he wasn't pooping again right now, by the way.

5. He enjoys dancing at inappropriate times, like when he should be sleepy because he's been awake since 6:00. I suggest a nap, he starts dancing.

6. He has found a new game called No No Means Crawl Faster, as in I say "No, no Grumpy, don't go under the table.", and he crawls under the table as fast he can while squealing with delight.

7. He has become concerned that if I eat my food at suppertime (or breakfast or lunch) I will then proceed to eat his. To prevent this from happening he sobs hysterically every time I stop feeding him long enough to take a bite of my own food.

8. He has decided not to waste precious time and energy on things like getting a tooth or sleeping through the night. Or playing independently in his play yard. Or letting Daddy hold him for more than five minutes. Mommy apparently looks bored, so he's taken it upon himself to make sure that I stay busy. Usually from about 6:00-10:00, give or take a couple hours of naptime.

9. He loves to snag the remote during Little Bear and turn off the satellite box. Bug does not like it when he does this and screams hysterically. Grumpy dances a little.

10. He can now say MaMa and DaDa. DaDa is said sweetly, often in a whisper while MaMa (or NaNa sometimes) is only heard when I abandon him in horrible places like his Mammaw's lap or do something unthinkable like change his diaper.

Well, there you have it, the current adventures of the Grump. The husband and I have decided that if he wasn't so darn cute we'd have already shipped the little troublemaker off to one of the grandparents.

A Hard Decision

2009-09-30T05:37:00.002-04:00

Bug had to have glasses. We started noticing a few months ago that one of his eyes looked like it was "wandering", but it only did it when he got really excited. His granny told me that one of her kids used to be able to do that on purpose, we thought he was just being silly. Then it started doing it more often and we realized that something was wrong.

Turns out that my little Bug is near sighted, far sighted, and has an astigmatism. It also turns out that the optometrist started talking surgery almost as soon as he got in the chair. Of course, the mommy in me almost panicked. I can't stand the thoughts of him having to go through that. At first she was planning to send him straight to a specialist to discuss surgery, but because of my reaction (I think) she decided to give him glasses and have him come back in a month.

My mommy radar is going off big time here. For starters, I don't think a month is enough time to decide whether or not the glasses are going to work. Second, I really don't trust doctors. I mean, just because this person has gone to school for a lot of years doesn't guarantee that she has the integrity to make decisions based completely on medical necessity and not the love of a dollar. Experiences that we went through with my mammaw have taught me that. How can I be sure?

I decided to do a little research myself about the procedure and it turns out that it rarely corrects vision (and can sometimes harm it) and is almost always for cosmetic benefits. Shouldn't this information have been offered to me upfront? Instead the doctor just assumed that I would jump at whatever suggestion she had, and she was ready to rush my baby off to a likely surgery without even explaining that it probably wouldn't correct his vision in any way.
Don't get me wrong, if Bug's eyes looked really bad and surgery was going to make his life easier, we would most likely do it. Bug's eyes just don't look that bad.

We are really having a hard time with this. I am praying for the wisdom to make the right decision, whatever will be the best for him in the long run. Sometimes the responsibility of being a mommy is way more than I feel qualified for and more than a little scary.

I'm an Aunt Again!!!

2009-09-23T12:14:00.003-04:00

Well, great-aunt actually. My niece Kelli gave birth to Abigail Grace this morning, I can't wait to meet her. They tell me she has a head full of black hair and gorgeous blue eyes. Apparently Kelli and her husband Terry are going to have kids with every possible hair color. Samuel, the five year old, has the most beautiful copper hair and Noah, the almost three year old, has light brown. Now they just have to add a blonde baby to the mix (which they'll probably do next year, they are much braver than me) and they will have pretty much covered them all.

I have been an aunt since I was four years old. I am an old hat at this, counting all the nieces and nephews on both sides of our family (including those acquired through marriage) we have 22. I still get excited when we get a new one.

I just had to share this bit of news, I know that I am finished having babies, but it sure is fun snuggling the brand new ones that I can give back. :) Until the next time...have a great day!

Goodbye Old Friend

2009-09-21T06:46:00.004-04:00

Bug is now three years and five months old. He has always been a terrible sleeper, in my opinion, because he doesn't seem to do it as often or as long as he should. He is also very demanding, active, and easily upset which means that Mommy really, really needs him to take a nap everyday. Sadly folks, I think it may be coming to an end.

We had been doing "quiet time" (it cannot be referred to as a nap due to the fact that naps are evil) from about 2:00-4:00 then bedtime at 9:30-10:00. If for some reason he didn't get a nap small things like a dropped blueberry or Max and Ruby going off resulted in him rolling on the floor whining and sobbing for half an hour. Now things have changed.

He no longer seems sleepy in the middle of the day if he wakes up at his regular 7:30-8:00 time. I had still been putting him down because I refused to entertain the idea that he might be dropping his nap. Unfortunately it's been taking him anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour and a half to fall asleep at night and that's when we put him to be at 10:00. He doesn't cry, throw a tantrum or try to get up. He just tosses and turns and sighs dramatically.

I am not a quitter (o.k., sometimes I am, but not where naps are concerned) so I decided to start putting him down at 1:30 and getting him up at 3:00. This would mean a shorter nap time and an earlier wake time. I was pretty sure I had this figured out, but Bug had other ideas. It took him an hour and 15 minutes to fall asleep last night. That's right, he finally dropped off at about 11:15.

I hate to admit defeat, but I really think his (and my!) napping days are over. His daddy and I had a solemn conversation about it last night and we have decided to try skipping it entirely for a few days to see how it works out. I am a little concerned about what to do on those days when he inexplicably wakes up at 5:07, you know he will need a nap those days and if he hasn't been used to taking one he will likely go into a fit of pint sized rage.

Dr. Sears recommends trying to hang onto the nap until they are at least four years old, but I don't see it happening around here. I feel like having a memorial service for the nap. Oh, how I will miss it. No more naps for me, no more uninterrupted phone calls, no more Supernanny without worrying that Bug is in the corner taking notes about how best to drive me insane and take over the household. If I could play Taps I think I would...

Blah

2009-09-17T06:27:00.005-04:00

That's how I've been feeling for about a week now. We were all sick last week with everything from a fever to vomiting to a rash, so that is probably the culprit. Either way, I've been pretty quiet here and I didn't want anyone to think I had died or decided to stop blogging...again.

I have been trying to take things a little easier, reading more and watching t.v. I don't realize sometimes just how little time I take for myself and I think it eventually catches up with me. I have also come to the realization that it's difficult for me to manage my computer time wisely. Since I don't watch t.v. very much and reading makes me sleepy in the evening, I usually end up online. I didn't grasp until recently just how much I "check out" of our evenings, so I am trying to drastically reduce how much time I spend online. I am still going to write when the boys are sleeping or with daddy, but I am only going to check my email once a day and no more message boards. Those things are addictive!

Grumpy is crawling now (and he pulled up four times!) so he is absolutely wearing me out. I got rid of our play yard because he hated it and now I am questioning the wisdom of that decision. He is like a little red haired tornado, that child can fly. Oh, and he ate a bug the other day. I turned my head for one second and when I looked back there were antennae stuck to his mouth. He spit it up later, I'll spare you the details, but I will say that my husband even freaked out a little. Yep, I think I deserve the mommy of the year award.

We currently have a neighbor who will.not.leave. Seriously, he shows up as soon as the hubby comes in from work and comes right back after supper. He never comes in, but it's driving me absolutely crazy. I want to handle this in a Christian manner , but I just find myself wanting to yell, "Please for the love of all find yourself a hobby!". Probably not the best plan of action, but I think I am making the husband nervous because he keeps finding ways to keep me from talking to the guy when he comes over. I don't mean to be mean, but we like to spend some time outside in the evenings and we don't always want company over. I'm not sure quite how to handle this one, another reason for my blah attitude of the moment.

Alright, my pity party is over for now. Today is the hubby's last day of work for the week and I am going to have to get out of this funk so he doesn't end up taking a second job or going to Michigan to visit his mom to get away from me. I will see you here again soon!

I Just Had to Share This...

2009-09-08T14:17:00.002-04:00

I found this post over at Heavenly Homemakers and had to share it with you. It's not new, but I just stumbled across it and it really hit home for me, I thought it might do the same for some of you. That's all for now, have a great Tuesday!

Getting Ready for Fall

2009-09-08T13:38:00.004-04:00

My favorite season has always been summer, but fall definitely runs a close second. I love the crisp mornings, the crunch of leaves and the spicy scent that the air has. I love the idea of battening down the hatches and getting the house cozy for the cool weather and I absolutely love Halloween! Every year I try to make a point of changing some things in our house to make for a little cozier atmosphere. Here are few things that I do:

1. Dig out the throws. Oh, how I love throws! We have so many and I still want more. We have plaid ones, printed ones, solids, and I even have one with my name on it. I am a firm believer that you cannot have too many throws. I toss them over the couch, the rocking chair and on the foot of our beds. Bug is also a lover of the throw and can usually be found wrapped in one for about an hour after he wakes up on chilly mornings.

2. Fix cold weather foods. Soup, lasagna and chili are favorites around our house. I am planning to try homemade beef stew this year, the last recipe I attempted was a disaster. I would also love to give butternut squash a go, I bought one last year but I am ashamed to say it lay in the fridge unappreciated until it spoiled. This year I'm really going to use it. No, really.

3. Get the house ready for the cold weather. Our previous home was so poorly insulated that I don't think there was any hope for it, but in our new place I'm hoping weatherization will actually make a difference. We have double paned windows and the outside is brick, so surely some weather stripping around the doors and blocking drafts around the doors will help to keep it cozy.

4. Watch scary movies. I realize that this is more of a Halloween thing to do, but as I mentioned before, I love Halloween so fall always puts me in the mood for a good thriller. I don't do demonic possession and what not, but give me a good classic slasher like Halloween or a ghost story (and my hubby somewhere in the house) and I'm a happy girl.

5. Make it smell like I've been baking. As Thrifty Southern Mama you would think I baked things from scratch all the time. Sadly, that is not the case, although I do plan to start. But until then, I like to burn spicy scented candles or potpourri to make it seem as though a warm apple pie is just fixing to come out of the oven.

6. Put heavier covers on the beds. I have a heavier comforter set that I put on our bed and I add an extra quilt and blanket to Bug's bed. We also switch to flannel sheets when the temperatures drop.

There you have it, the things that I do to get ready for fall. I am hoping that someday soon we will be able to grow a garden so that I can fill our pantry with all kinds of fresh fruits and veggies and that I really will start making lots of yummy, hearty foods from scratch. Even though the highs here are still in the upper 70's and low 80's, I am still thinking fall and am looking forward to it more than I have in a long time!

It's My Birthday!

2009-09-04T16:47:00.003-04:00

I am 31 years old today. I'm not doing anything particularly special to celebrate, for some reason I've never wanted to make a big deal about my birthday. Even when I was a little girl I never wanted a party or anything like that, although any and all gifts were welcome, encouraged and occasionally requested by small decorative hand outs.

I had a friend ask me today if it didn't make feel depressed that I'm 31 years old. I can pretty much get depressed over anything, but surprisingly enough my thirties haven't done that to me. Sometimes it does take my breath to realize how fast time has flown by, but as far as the numbers go, I'm good. What does bug me is all the changes I would like to see in myself and all the little things I would like to accomplish. It just seems like time is passing so quickly and I am not really getting anywhere.

Don't get me wrong, I love my life and wouldn't have it any other way. I'm not longing to be single or to escape my boys and my responsibilities at home. I would just love to change some small things, like my constant need for advice, my desire to have the approval of certain people in my life, and my big mouth that doesn't seem to know when to close. I would also like to be able to mind my own beeswax and not borrow the troubles of others quite so often.

Then there's my writing. I would love to be bringing in even a modest income and I just can't seem to get myself pulled together enough to do it. I would also like to have at least a small desire to decorate instead of feeling horrified by the idea. I would like enjoy shopping for clothes and make-up again and maybe be a little impractical from time to time. That might be fun.

All in all though, I am happy with the fact that I'm the big 31 and don't really want to go back in time or remove the beginnings of my crow's feet (all of which were placed there during Bug's second year of life, btw) and I don't feel the need to purchase any miracle youth junk to prevent the frown lines that Grumpy's bound to give me during his second year. I am a pretty content gal, I just hope I still feel this way when I hit 40!

I Have a Problem

2009-08-27T06:10:00.003-04:00

If you've been around for awhile you might recall that I posted about my desire to eat healthier a few months ago. I had wonderful intentions, but things did not go as planned, which is why I haven't mentioned it again. I have a serious problem with food. If it's good for me, I won't eat it.

Honestly, you would think I was being purposefully self-destructive if you took note of what I consume on a daily basis. I feed Bug the healthy stuff and he gets occasional treats, but while he's having oatmeal and fruit I'm scarfing down a honey bun and hoping he doesn't notice. I eat candy ALL DAY LONG and wash it down with cola. I probably don't drink 5 ounces of water a day. It is ridiculous.

I've never had a problem with my weight, which removes a big incentive to healthy eating. I mean, if no one will know and that honey bun tastes so great, what difference does it make, right?

I do o.k. at dinner, but everything else is pretty much wasted calories. I know it would make sense to just stop, but sometimes it seems so much easier to open that honey bun than to peel a piece of fruit. Even if I do eat the piece of fruit, I still feel hungry and I crave a cake or candy bar right after, and I usually end up eating it.

I am not as dumb as this post makes me sound, I promise. I am going to be 31 in a couple of weeks and I am well aware that I am doing harm to myself. I just can't seem to muster the willpower to do any better. A few months ago I decided that the only way to break my bad habits was to just not have the food in the house. My first step was no soda. I actually panicked and left the checkout to go back and get some, I couldn't fathom living an entire week without my fix.

I know eating better would give me more energy (I could use that!), better focus, and most likely even let me hang around a little longer to annoy those I love. Being skinny doesn't protect you from heart disease, I realize that as well. So...I am trying again. My heart actually races at the thought (do you think I have a problem?!) but I am going to try. I'm off to work on the grocery list.

Is Being a Mommy and Writer Actually Possible for Me?

2009-08-23T09:36:00.006-04:00

Sometimes I sit down at my desk and fantasize about what it might be like to have two hours of free time, two hours when I was absolutely certain no one would have a poop explosion, lose their firetruck, or become terrified by the sound of their brother popping bubble wrap. I have so much writing that I want to do. I want to author more blogs, build some websites, write for Ehow and Infobarrel, try my hand at a Squidoo lens, write some ebooks. I get excited just thinking about it.

Then there's the writing I feel that I should be doing. We could, without a doubt, use some extra money right now. I feel like I should be focusing on that instead of trying to squeeze in time to do the writing projects I enjoy. I am approved to write for several web content sites, but there are not words to describe how very much that I hate it. I can earn anywhere from $5 to $15 for the work. The topics are rarely about anything that I'm familiar with, which means at least a little research and for sites like Quality Gal you are required to find a ton of links. It all seems so tedious and time consuming, especially considering the fact that I have very little time to spare. Yet I feel lazy, like I should just suck it up and do the work because at least it's money, even it is coming five bucks at a time. Of course, throw in the deadlines that I am pretty likely to miss because a catastrophe is bound to occur, and it means I'm a stressed, tired, nerve wrecked mess and not at all the mama that I want to be.

I have written for print and online magazines in the past. I enjoyed getting to choose my own topics and interview interesting people, but the time between query acceptance, publication and being paid makes it a less than appealing option.

My husband does not want me to be try to meet deadlines, work on the writing I don't enjoy, etc. He tells me that the most important thing is the kids so if something is taking my attention away from them or making me too tired and cranky to enjoy the family, then I don't need to be doing it. But shouldn't I just suck it up and put on a happy face no matter how stressful it might be? I feel like a colossal failure because I can't.

The writing that I want to do definitely has earning potential, but it's not immediate. But if I never get off the fence and really start I will never know. I'm fairly certain this is going to drive me crazy. Every time I tell myself I will just focus on what I want to do I feel like I'm just not trying hard enough.

I realize that this is rambling and whiny. I'm just trying to figure it out. I've been praying about it, but I'm great at asking, then moving right ahead with my plan to solve my problems on my own. I know what I feel the answer is, but how do I know for sure? Wouldn't everything be a lot easier if God just gave us a to-do list?

A Blog Award

2009-08-22T09:14:00.004-04:00

Kelli over at A Mountain Mama was sweet enough to give me the Kreativ Blogger Award. Since I love her blog, I was really touched that she enjoys mine enough to give me this award.

Here are the rules:

1. List 7 things that I love
2. Link back to the blog that awarded it to me
3. Choose 7 blogs to award as ‘Kreativ Bloggers’
4. Comment at each blog to let them know they’ve been chosen

7 Things That I Love:

1. Jesus, who is everything and has blessed me with more than I could deserve in ten lifetimes.

2. My husband, who is also my best friend and the unfortunate soul who gets to hear every detail of my life, feelings, annoyances, the list goes on...

3. My boys, they are beautiful, perfect (I'm their mama so I can say that) and everything to me.

4. My family, they are insane but they love me and they are always there.

5. My cat Dynamo, she was the fattest cat I have ever known. She passed away in July 2007 of cancer, I still miss her every single day.

6. Good books.

7. The freedom to write whatever I want and the potential to actually earn money doing it!

Here are the blogs that I have chosen:

1. Want What You Have
2. Mama Notes
3. Momma Molly
4. The Mom Mayhem
5. My Not So Hurried Life
6. The Preschool Homeschool
7. Replay Today

That's it for now. I have to go grocery shopping and let me tell you, I would rather wash ten loads of laundry and actually put it away than venture out of the house today. But my little ones (and my big one, too) must have food so off I will go. Dragging my feet, kicking and screaming, you get the picture. Have a great Saturday!

Just Some Quick Stuff

2009-08-19T07:27:00.004-04:00

Here are some random links that I am finding useful, maybe you will too:

I found this and it has some great tips for getting your house clean all at once instead of a little at a time. I would love, love, love I tell you to be able to do this. In fact, I'm going to try to do it today. We'll see how it goes.

I have been looking for a simple, free, Bible based preschool curriculum and I seem to have found one here. I also enjoy The Preschool Homeschool, it has some great tips and suggestions that are especially helpful to those of us who are craft challenged.

I have also been using Swagbucks lately and loving it. You just use their search and earn Swagbucks which can be redeemed for things like merchandise and gift cards. I used my first 45 Swagbucks to get a $5 Amazon gift card and have purchased the boys a Bible story book this morning.

One more thing, my nephew Jason has a blog now. He is 18 years old, cute as can be and getting ready to enter mortuary school in about a week and a half so his life can be pretty (disturbing and weird) interesting . He is also hilarious and has more unfortunate and embarrassing incidents happen to him than anyone I know. You can check it out here.

Now I'm off to try and get a shower before the boys wake up and see if I can get the house clean in one day. That would be so nice,then all I would have to do is pick up the rest of the week. I'll let you know how it goes!

Strange in a Small Town

2009-08-15T11:47:00.000-04:00

As it turns out, we're weird. We didn't have our boys circumcised, I (tried to) breastfeed, we often split their immunizations into two visits and we plan to homeschool. We aren't comfortable with the idea of daycare, Headstart, pre-school or public school, we limit junk food and offer fresh fruit as snacks, we have a set routine for our days that includes regular mealtimes, naps and bedtimes.

As I've mentioned before, we live in southeastern Kentucky. All of the stuff I mentioned above may sound like normal parenting if you're from another area, but here we are looked at as the equivalent of hippy freaks. Seriously. I actually had an acquaintance ask me if it took Bug long to fall asleep at night and when I replied, "Not usually, I help him brush his teeth, his Daddy tucks him in, then we read stories and he's usually out in about ten minutes.", she looked at me like I'd lost my mind. Sometimes I would rather take a beating than venture out into the world.

A lot of the flack, surprisingly, comes from medical professionals. I actually had a nurse practitioner scold me because I didn't have Bug circumcised, then roughly pull the skin back, something that his doctor had instructed me not to do. When I reported the incident to the doctor he apologized. I ended up stuck seeing her again and she tried to do the same thing to Grumpy. Needless to say, we will not be seeing her again and we are considering another practice a town over. I love our doctor, but when he's not available the other options are...questionable.

Then there are the vaccinations. We don't really delay, we just prefer to split the shots into two visits. We receive WIC and the ladies at our local health department insist that vaxes must be up to date before you can receive benefits. When Bug was a baby they made me wait for two hours for a fax from his doctor's office to prove that his shots weren't behind. I asked them if we could go ahead and get the vouchers that day and come back for the shots, but no, they weren't allowed to give the vouchers if his shots weren't up to date. He ended up with four shots and a finger poke that day. I still feel like a terrible mama because I didn't stop them. Now I know they aren't allowed to deny benefits, but at the time I was clueless and we needed the formula.

I really think that these women have never heard of parents choosing to delay or not vax at all. My poor niece actually had them tell her she was a neglectful mother and threaten to call social services last month because she wouldn't agree to four immunizations in one visit. She is a single mom trying to get by and it infuriates me that they treated her this way when she was trying to get the care that her daughter needs.

Wow, this seems to have turned into a rant about our local health department. I just feel like an outcast a lot of the time. I am not comfortable bringing attention to myself, all I've ever wanted is to blend in and be left alone. But I can't do that at the expense of my kids and I hate that our parenting choices, which seem perfectly reasonable to me, cause us to stand out.

I can only imagine what it's going to be like when Bug is old enough for school. I truly expect CPS to be called at some point, all jokes aside. It will probably be the women at the health department that do it. Sometimes I wish we could just be "normal". If I didn't have the knowledge that I do (thanks mom) maybe I could make all the mainstream choices that others here make and I wouldn't feel bad, I wouldn't know any better. Of course, I want the best for my kids so I don't really mean that. I just get so frustrated sometimes.

I do want to say, the parents here are not horrible. Just like anywhere else, most of them love their kids and are doing the best they can with the knowledge they have. It just seems to take our area a little longer to catch up with the rest of the world, which is a great thing in some ways. Just not this one. I'm thinking instead of wasting time feeling bad maybe I should start harassing other moms with my weird ways, pull a few over to the dark side...it's food for thought anyway!

Ok, I Give

2009-08-13T06:13:00.001-04:00

Bug did not sleep until 11:30. Grumpy has been up since 3:00. No one is sick, they are just really excited about life. I wave the white flag of surrender. That's all for now.

Homeschooling...Here We Go

2009-08-10T05:54:00.006-04:00

My husband and I decided a couple of years ago that we wanted to homeschool our kids. We live in the hills of southeastern Kentucky and homeschooling is not very common here, except for special circumstances such as illness or an occasional teen mom who chooses to finish school from home. Even then, a home based teacher is usually brought in. When we made this decision we knew that people were not going to be 100% supportive, but it seemed like it would be forever before we'd actually have to share our decision with people other than family, so I didn't let it get to me too much.

Now Bug is three and he's finally eligible to attend pre-school. The questions have started and one well-meaning educator I've known since childhood actually called the house to try and get me to send him. I feel like I've been shoved under a spotlight against my will. We're not doing this to be different or because we think our kids are better. We just want the best for our boys and as parents who have attended public school for almost 25 years (combined of course, we didn't fail each grade twice or anything) we feel safe in saying public school isn't the best for our kids.

I was a straight A, teacher's pet, never in any trouble type of gal. My hubby was well...different. We attended the same schools (we never knew each other because he's six years older and obviously a moldy oldy) and he was mischievous, always in trouble, and not exactly an ideal student. We both recall teachers who were unpleasant, unkind, out of the room more than they were in it, the list goes on. The students with money and "important" parents were always favored and most of the teachers simply did not care whether we learned anything or not, until it was time for testing at the end of the year. More than one time I've had teachers instruct me to sit with the "dumb" kids to make sure that their answers were correct on these tests so that said teacher wouldn't look bad when half of the kids in that class failed.

I realize that our bad experiences 20 years ago shouldn't be the only factor in such an important decision, so here are a few more reasons that we've decided to keep our boys home:

1. We would have to send them when they are four years old and that's just too young. If I were to send them to public school I feel like they would need to get used to being away from me before they faced all day school. This means I would have to send them to pre-school at four years old. I can't fathom waking my little guys that early, putting them on a bus and turning them over to people I don't know for several hours a day.

2. Religion is gone from the classroom. We are Christian and the Bible tells us that it's our job to teach our children about God. How can I do that if I willingly place them in an environment 40 hours a week where they are instructed that He doesn't exist?

3. Teachers, no matter how many hours of training that they may have, will never care about my kids' education as much as I do. I know that there are good teachers out there, but at the end of the day it's still a job.

4. I believe kids learn best in a safe, loving environment. The classroom of a public school is neither.

5. Smart boys are geeks. No, I don't feel that way, but I remember what school was like. You could be a super intelligent, straight A female student and do just fine, but if a boy had the same grades he was a "dork". I don't want my boys to lose their love of learning just to fit in or feel like they belong.

6. I don't want my kids to spend hours a day on busy work. I want them actively learning all day long, not just sitting at a desk. Everything in the world can be a learning experience for them and the potential is just so exciting!

7. They are mine. They grew inside me, I gave birth to them, and I know them better than anyone else does. I will know how each one learns best, I will have the desire to put in whatever amount of time and patience it takes to make sure that they stay on track.

8. I can get help if I need it. If there is a subject that I truly don't feel that I can do a good job teaching my boys, we can hire a helper to come to our home or they can take the class online.

I realize that I haven't addressed the big S, socialization. Bug is already plenty social. He will talk to anyone and is very well behaved. He loves grown-ups, loves other kids and is always ready to play. My boys have two (soon to be three!) cousins who will also be homeschooled, not to mention all of the other friends and family that they see regularly. We hope to get involved with some other homeschooling families as well. Add that to things like church, the grocery, the library, etc. and I am not concerned that my kids won't know what to do with themselves in a social situation.

I am not implying that people who send their kids to school are wrong or bad. If there was a good Christian school in our area I would send my boys in a heartbeat (not at four years old though!), but there isn't. I have had people react as if our decision was insulting to them, but we aren't doing this because we think our kids are better or that we are better parents. We mess up regularly and are well aware of it.

I also realize that homeschooling sometimes alarms teachers and school systems. I realize that my kids not being there means they will lose money. Maybe if more parents choose to teach at home they will be inspired to do a better job.

We are going to start some pre-school activities this year and I am sure that Bug is going to enjoy it. I'm also trying to figure out what our homeschooling style will be, what type of curriculum to use when they get a little older, etc. I am amazed at the choices and can't wait to get started!

I Think I've Got This Figured Out

2009-08-07T08:46:00.003-04:00

I realize I said that I wouldn't be back, and yet, here I am. I am not insane, I promise but over the past month I've missed this blogging thing, so I've given it quite a bit of thought and here's what I've decided...

1. I am pretty unpredictable and have problems making my mind up about things. Probably need to work on that.

2. I really truly am not ok with putting pictures of my boys online. I won't be doing that anymore.

3. I can still offer something to other moms who are struggling, even if it's just the knowledge that someone else is more of a mess than they are.

Even though I've been writing since I was a little girl and have been published several times in print and online, I cannot seem to believe that what I write is worth reading. I love to write and I dream of making a little money this way t to help my family, but I struggle so much with really seeing myself as a writer. If I ever want to get anywhere with this, I'm going to have to shake that feeling. I can't do that if I'm not writing and I'll be honest with you, I haven't written anything since my last post here. I think this blog is one way to get over that feeling, plus I have to write or everyone will think I'm dead.

Now for an update on us...we're all doing great. We did move and while I was terrified of the change, we are loving it and I'm so glad that I trusted God with that decision! The kids still don't sleep so I'm still tired, but hey, at least I'm not wasting time lounging around in bed until 7:00.

I hope that you will keep stopping by, I really enjoy reading your comments. I promise not to spaz again. No, really, I won't. Hope to see you back here soon!

Saying Goodbye to the Blog

2009-06-28T15:45:00.009-04:00

When I started this blog it was intended to be a creative outlet and a place to share my ideas about keeping house, managing money, and loving the families we've been blessed with. It has been a lot of fun and I have "met" some really great people over the past few months, but I have come to the conclusion that mommy blogging just isn't for me.

Many things have led me to this conclusion, starting with the fact that in order for me to write authentically here I have to share quite a bit about my family and our personal life, which is way beyond my comfort zone. I realize I don't have to share those things, but without them I find that I come across as "preachy" and I just don't say the things that I would like to say. I also want more time to focus on writing that will eventually earn some money for my family because, well, we could really use it.

I do love to read other blogs so if I'm a regular visitor to yours, I plan to continue. You will also still be able to find me on Ehow and through my email, annitalawson@gmail.com. I'm not really sure how to wrap a post like this up so...have a great summer and God bless!

Change is in the Air

2009-06-27T07:02:00.002-04:00

I realize that I've been MIA for a week, but you see, I've been busy having a breakdown. The hubby and I have been talking for quite awhile about moving, but now he's gotten serious about it. We've found a house that we are interested in renting. On one hand I'm excited, but I am also a nervous wreck as well. I don't do well with change.

We aren't happy with where we are now for many reasons, but I'm the type of person who would take at least six months to make a decision like this if left to my own devices. My husband is not. So, we're just waiting for the other tenant to return her key, but it seems she's dragging her feet about it. Did I mention that I am an incredibly impatient person?

I'm not sure how often I will be here over the next couple of weeks because even if this move falls through there will be another emotional meltdown to survive. If we do move, I will probably have material for more posts, things like "How to Move in One Day" and "What to Do with Broken China".

All jokes aside, this is very hard for me. I am not comfortable with uncertainty, I like everything laid out before me so that there is no doubt that things will work out perfectly. I don't know why, it's not like my life up to this point hasn't been topsy turvy at times.

So, I will try to be here to update more often this week. I would really appreciate your prayers that things will work out according to God's plan, because right now things are so up in the air that I have no idea what's going to happen. See you soon!

My Kids are Weird

2009-06-20T10:31:00.008-04:00

When I decided that I wanted to become a mommy I had a small idea of what I was getting myself into. My nephew Jonathan was born when I was not quite five years old and the babies just kept rolling in after that, so being around little ones was nothing new to me. Sleepless nights are hard, never eating a meal without getting up at least four times is a challenge and never being in the bathroom without someone standing outside the door anxiously monitoring my progress is downright irritating. All of that stuff was par for the course, I knew it going in. What I wasn't prepared for was just how, well, weird that kids can be. Yes, I have examples to back this up.

My Bug, see him sleeping sweetly up there? He exists almost entirely on chocolate milk, juice and water for weeks at a time. He periodically decides that food is unnecessary due to the fact that the muffler on his ride-on has just fell off or some other unexpected catastrophe that always happens when it's time to eat. Away he'll go to collect the required tools and just as I've started to enjoy my one meal of the day that coincides with Grumpy's nap, he will decide that it looks pretty good if it's on MY plate, so he climbs onto my lap and mutilates my meal. When he does finally start to eat again he makes his mama proud, devouring entire bowls of broccoli, packing away stir fry like there's no tomorrow and refusing candy for a bowl of grapes.

Grumpy on the other hand, always loves to eat. Unless it's first thing in the morning, of course. Should you dare to offer him anything before the mandatory 31 minutes of wakefulness he will shudder, wrinkle his tiny nose, and stare at you as if you've lost your mind. Should you not have his cereal and bottle ready by moment 33 of wakefulness you will be met with howling and screaming unlike anything you've ever heard outside of a torture chamber.

Then there's Bug's sudden moments of enlightenment. He likes to share these during any mundane daily activity and it doesn't matter if we have company over or not. For example, I was changing Grumpy's diaper the other day and Bug was watching. "I think Bubby needs more responsibility.", was his somber observation. Apparently it's time for the Grump to start pulling his weight around here. Then later that night as I sat chomping on my steak and potatoes he looks across the table and says to me, "Mommy, you are wearing me out.". Watching me eat has become too much for him. Then there is my personal favorite when he ran up and alerted me that "Mommy, mommy, I pee peed off the back porch!". The door was locked. I'll give him an A for effort though.

Next there's Grumpy's irrational fears. The vacuum cleaner he's fine with. Four-wheelers (ATV's for you city folk) are of no concern to him. If, however, you dare to put Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Friend's on when he's in the room he'll cry until his nose runs. Certain baby toys are off limits as well, especially those that are brightly colored and play soft music. Oh, and if you happen to be my nephew Jason you may not speak to him or wander into his view unless you want to be met with howls of sheer terror. Now, I realize that embalming people isn't the most pleasant of professions but Jay is a really nice person and besides, I doubt that Grumpy fully understands what he does all day.

I love my babies more than anything, but their weirdness often leaves me confused, concerned, and occasionally rolling on the floor laughing when I really should be rescuing them from evil toys and ruthless funeral directors.

Another Bit of a Hiatus...

2009-06-18T05:50:00.002-04:00

Real life is requiring my full attention at the moment, so I am going to be taking another little break. I will return to the blogosphere shortly, so don't give up on me!

How Much Stuff Do We Need? Part Two: Bed and Bath

2009-06-17T06:39:00.004-04:00

If left to my own devices, I would go completely overboard in this area. In fact, until I started getting rid of excess I had five chest drawers and a giant plastic storage bag which were all full of sheets and pillowcases. We have four beds (if you count the crib) and only three of them are in use. It wasn't too hard to figure out that I had gotten a little carried away. Here is what I've come up with:

The Bedrooms

The Grown-up Bed - One flannel set for chilly nights, two cotton sets in case of accidents and so that I'm not locked into having to wash the sheets the day I take them off. Sure, it's a good idea to wash them the same day to keep the laundry caught up, but sometimes life happens and I don't want the stress of having to wash and dry the sheets to make sure we have somewhere to sleep.

Bug's Bed - One flannel set for chilly nights, two cotton sets for a change plus one spare fitted sheet "just in case". You never know when a nighttime accident or illness is going to happen.

Grumpy's Bed - Four sheets. I'm not 100% sure this is enough for the Grump, he's a mess.

I also kept about four pillowcase changes, just to be on the safe side.

I have one comforter for our bed and one lighter bedspread that I put on in the warm weather. Bug has one comforter at the moment, I haven't been able to find anything lightweight that really goes with a little boy's room.

The Bathroom

I haven't gone through my towels yet, but when I do here is the plan:

Eight large bath towels
Four small bath towels
Twenty wash cloths
Six hand towels
Ten cleaning cloths

I have this crazy notion that if we have fewer towels and washcloths I won't have to wash them three or four times a week. It's probably not true, but a girl can hope, can't she? My goal is to have enough that it's not a catastrophe if I don't wash them when I'm supposed to while not having so many that it causes an avalanche of terry cloth when the closet door is opened.

I use cloth shower curtains and I keep one spare, just for a change. I don't do bathroom rugs. Everyone in my house is male except me. I don't think any further explanation is necessary here.

Again, the key is having the right amount of stuff for your family. I need small bath towels for wrapping around my hair after I wash it, but if you have a super short cut and four sons you probably wouldn't require those.

Tomorrow I will discuss my lofty plan for cleaning out the kitchen. I'm looking forward to this job because my cookware isn't in the best shape and I'm hoping to find lots of good excuses to buy some new stuff!

How Much Stuff Do We Need? Part One: Clothes

2009-06-16T05:35:00.005-04:00

One of the trickiest areas for me to declutter has been clothes. I had so very many because people are always giving me things that they can't wear anymore. I'm not complaining, I've received some of my favorite pieces this way, that's not the problem.The problem is that I have such difficulty getting rid of them. I think I have a hidden fear that I won't be able to buy more, so I want to hang on to them "just in case". By the end of last summer my closet was so full that my hangers were tangled too much to move, I was at the point of hanging my clean laundry on other hangers. That's when I knew I had a problem.

I talked to my husband about it and he thought going through our things was a wonderful (way overdue) idea. He had no trouble yanking things from his side of the closet, but it took me most of the day. I was quite pregnant at the time and I was afraid to toss some things because you never know what size you'll need once the baby arrives. I saved all of my bottoms that weren't tiny or too far gone to use and got rid of all of the shirts except those that I wore regularly. We donated eight bags to Goodwill. Yes, I realize that is a bit excessive for two people.

I can't tell you how much better I felt once that job was done. I recently went through my closet again just to clear out the things I'd saved for my post-baby needs and got rid of two more bags of stuff. I can actually hang laundry like a normal person, it's great!

During this painful and frightening process I had to decide exactly what we need in order to be sure that we have enough clothing. Here is what I came up with:

Me: I separate my clothes into "good" clothes (those that I wear when I go out) and "everyday" clothes (those that I wear when I'm just home with the kids). This is a necessity because between Bug's dirty little fingers and Grumpy's spit-up, I would be replacing something constantly if I didn't separate the two. So...

Good Clothes: Four bottoms, four tops, one sweater, one light jacket, one heavy coat
Everyday Clothes: Ten bottoms, ten tops.
I know it seems like overkill, but Grumpy has a great aim and I'd end up in my bathrobe if I cut this number down.

The Husband: Work Clothes: Four bottoms, four short-sleeves, four thermals, four company hoodies, one jacket, one heavy coat

Good Clothes: Three bottoms, five tops, one jacket, one heavy coat

Around the House Clothes: Five shirts, five bottoms

He couldn't care less about what he wears, so I actually have to keep his better things tucked away on my side of the closet. I've never met anyone who could ruin clothes so quickly and care so little. I had to step in to prevent our families from thinking that I ran through all the money and didn't leave him with enough to replace his pocket tees.

Bug: Good Clothes: Four tops, four bottoms, light jacket, heavier coat. I can't do a really heavy coat for him because he can't move when placed in his car seat and he has a freak out fit. We just try to layer him well when it gets really cold out.

Everyday Clothes: Ten tops, seven bottoms

No, Grumpy doesn't usually spit up on Bug, but apparently everything damp attacks him as he walks by and he cannot possibly wear clothing with a pea sized wet spot on it. We have to keep lots of clothes to prevent unnecessary Bug nudity.

Grumpy:

Good Clothes: Four rompers or onesies, four bottoms, one jacket, 549 (ok, about 15) blankets

Everyday Clothes: At the moment, about 30 onesies, five t-shirts, five bottoms, six sleepers. It's hot, he's messy and I make no apologies.

I didn't go over things like undies and socks because, I mean come on, nobody wants to know about our underwear. But I will say, I don't do p.j.'s for the boys, it seems like a huge waste of money to me. Bug sleeps in shorts except on the very coldest nights and Grumpy is in a onesie or t-shirt now and will be wearing sleepers when the cold weather comes.

I know that not everyone's list will look this way, but the important thing is to consider how your family lives. If you work outside the home you will need a lot more nice pieces than me. If your husband works in an office five days a week then obviously my list would not apply to you. The goal is to make sure that your family has the items that they need on hand without an excess that costs unnecessary money and space.

I have found one unexpected bonus that came with all of the cleaning out; the freedom to buy new stuff! I always feel bad when I spend money on myself, but now that I have a concrete idea of what I really need I no longer feel guilty when I see that I need to replace something. Ok, I still feel a little guilty, but there has been improvement. I just ordered a pair of capri's that I needed. It was ok to not yank them off the clearance rack at Wal-Mart (not that there's anything wrong with that, but if you are petite you know how difficult it is to find clothes that actually fit there), I took the time and spent a little more overall to get a pair that will fit well and last awhile.

Tomorrow I will take a look at what a bathroom really needs. I think I'll start with toilet paper...

To Sum it Up...

2009-06-15T21:15:00.004-04:00

I went to the dentist today sure that when I got home the problem would be solved and I wouldn't have to face another dentist for a long, long time. But no. My tooth was really infected so now I am on antibiotics and he won't touch the tooth until next week. Which means I'll have the joy of anticipation all over again. Don't you hate how they leave you in the waiting room for half an hour of dread and trepidation?

Bug has decided to begin his days between 5:00 and 6:00 now. I don't know why, but I do know that I wish he would get back to normal. It is especially horrible when it happens on the weekend, there's just something messed up about that.

Anyway, that's enough useless rambling for now. I will return tomorrow and do a post of value and significance. Or at least about something other than my infected tooth and early mornings.

I Keep Putting Things Off...

2009-06-14T19:13:00.002-04:00

I don't have it all together right now. Not even a little bit. I am supposed to be passing my blog award along to 15 other blogs, but haven't had the time to get it all together. It will happen, I'm just not sure exactly when.

I have to have a tooth pulled tomorrow. I hate, hate, hate going to the dentist. No, seriously, I hate it. But my jaw has started swelling again and I know it's not healthy, so at my husband's insistence, I am going. Sure, I gave birth twice, but that doesn't mean I can't be afraid of the dentist. Right?

I feel like I'm letting my regular readers down, but it seems that life just keeps happening. I plan to start doing posts that are helpful, or at the very least entertaining, soon. I promise. Until then I will willingly accept all pity and compassion that anyone would like to offer on the untimely and somewhat frightening removal of my tooth. I will let you know how it goes. Until then...have a much better Monday than I will likely have.

PMS...I've Got It

2009-06-12T10:08:00.006-04:00

Last night my husband said something that I didn't prefer. After an hour of pretending to listen to me bicker and complain while watching The Sci-Fi Channel around me, he has come to the conclusion that PMS is the root of all of his troubles. I considered poking him in the eye, but decided that would likely be a sin, so I decided against it.

I know that he's right. I hate to admit it, but he's right. I just don't know what to do about it. For about five days every month I am either depressed, anxious, exhausted or really ticked at the husband. Sometimes, like last night, I am a combination of all four. Mostly the fourth one. It seems that he picks this exact time of month to say things that are utterly unnecessary, disagree with me, or try to avoid answering me when I tell him we need to talk about something. Call me crazy, but it seems that he's showing a lack of good judgment.

Virtually all of the physical symptoms, like bloating and cramping, that I used to have are gone or a lot less bothersome than they were before. I consider that a blessing, but I am praying that I will have relief from these new symptoms and learn how to deal with my out of control emotions in a better way. Serious thoughts of poking one's husband in the eye are never good.

Anyway, I am sure to be feeling better by Monday when hopefully I can post some stuff that makes sense again. Also, Mom Mayhem has bestowed upon me the Lovely Blog Award, my very first (hopefully not my last) award. I will be passing the award on this weekend, as soon as I get the time to put another post together. I will see you soon, minus the whining I hope.

I'm Back!

2009-06-11T06:22:00.003-04:00

Grumpy seems to have recovered from his virus now, thank the Lord. This was the first time he's been sick and it was so pitiful, he just fussed and cried and looked at me like, "Mama, why don't you fix this?!". I was so relieved when he woke up with a smile yesterday morning and after a very long nap he seems to be his old self again.

I was planning a series on the things that we really need, but that is not going to happen today. I try to keep my computer time contained to early mornings when the boys are still sleeping, but unfortunately Bug woke up before 6:00 and is currently sitting on my lap making car sounds and showering me with spit. It's probably going to be difficult to form clear thoughts at this point.

An update on the cats...we had to rehome them. We tried another flea treatment, but that didn't work either so the hubby and I decided that it was best for our family to remove them. I hate that we had to do that, I have always loved cats so much. I was actively planning my future as the old lady with all of the cats when I met my husband. I have decided no more indoor pets (except my parakeets and perhaps a hamster for Bug next year) until the boys are grown. Then I plan on getting one really scary, mean female cat that will rule the house with an iron paw.

Anyway, that is an update on us. Bug is now climbing on my back like a spider monkey and singing at the top of his lungs, so I am going to give up for today. I plan to be back here tomorrow if he doesn't kill me first.

A Bit of a Hiatus

2009-06-09T08:05:00.003-04:00

My little one is still sick, so I am taking a break from blogging until he is feeling better. Hopefully that will be tomorrow, but if I don't post for a couple of days don't give up, I will return as soon as the Grump is back to normal. See you soon!

How Much Stuff Do We Need?

2009-06-08T05:29:00.005-04:00

***Disclaimer: This post may make no sense at all. The Grump was up half the night with a fever (he has a cold) and I am almost asleep. As soon as the hubster is out the door I am diving back into that bed. Unless, of course, Bug wakes up first.

I posted a few weeks ago about my war on clutter. As with everything in the life of a mama of two little ones, it's a slow process, but I am making progress. This weekend I went through all of our old bills, etc. and tossed them and this week I am hoping to tackle the kitchen. I actually enjoy this part of keeping house, go figure.

All of this planning and tossing got me to thinking, how much stuff do we need? Sure, it could be a very deep question that could fan out in all directions involving religion, psychology and all the rest, but I am thinking literally here. How much stuff do you need in the bathroom? Eight towels? Ten? What about sheets, how many sets do we actually need in order to provide our families with a cozy, clean place to sleep yet still have room to store our other stuff in a neat, orderly fashion?

I have decided to do a little series here examining this topic. It's a way to work this out in my own mind, but you are welcome to come along for the ride. Maybe together we'll all figure out exactly how much stuff we need, toss the rest, and make our homes a little more livable!

Incredible Randomness

2009-06-07T18:51:00.006-04:00

I am really tired and feeling slightly dazed and confused at the moment. Bug and Grumpy have both had mild colds and haven't been sleeping well, so I haven't had a chance to catch up on my lost sleep this weekend. Which is just wonderful since tomorrow is Monday and I have to get up at 5:00. Sigh. Anyway, seeing as how my brain is mush I present to you some incredibly random links...enjoy!

Like a Warm Cup of Coffee - I love this blog, especially her posts on modesty. I just discovered it, which is why it's yet to be added to my blog roll.

Time and Chaos - This is the software we used at the law office where I used to work and I was thrilled, thrilled I tell you, to discover that Version 6 is now available as a free download. You can store phone numbers and addresses along with notes for each entry. You can schedule appointments and daily to-do's, it even has settings to make them automatically repeat at the interval you prefer. Scroll down about halfway to find the download for Version 6.

I Can Has Cheezburger - You may have already discovered this site, but if you haven't you must go there immediately. If my husband left me, my dog died, and my house was foreclosed on this site would still make me laugh.

Squidoo - I have just started my first lens on this site, but I really like what I see so far. I am doing a lens on breastfeeding problems, I feel like if I had had more info all in one spot maybe my breastfeeding experience would have went a little more smoothly. Anyway, it's really fun and easy to do, if you like to write you might want to check it out. You can either choose to keep your revenue or donate it to charity. You are also welcome to sell affiliate products as well.

I am off to try to survive an evening of baths, pet feeding, and corralling two boys to bed without a fight. If I survive, I will post again tomorrow!

Bug is Breaking My Heart

2009-06-04T06:20:00.006-04:00

One of the things that made me hesitate last year when we were trying to decide whether or not to have another baby was Bug. I wanted him to have a sibling to grow up with, but I was also afraid that sharing our attention would be too hard on him. I know, kids do it everyday, but I am a worrier.

He is a great big brother and Grumpy's little face lights up every time Bug talks to him. He is one of the sweetest kids you will ever meet and if you are nice to him one time he will love you for life. He is incredibly smart and not one day passes that he doesn't amaze me with something new he's learned or come up with. He is fascinated by how things work and asks a million questions, it's almost as if he just doesn't have time in his day to learn everything that he wants to. This boy is my heart, for the past three years he has been pretty much the sole focus of my world.

When he was two he had horrible temper tantrums, thank God we are past that now. But lately he's been trying to stretch his wings a little and I think that he has a few jealousy issues with Grumpy so he's been especially rambunctious. I am tired a lot from caring for the kids all day and his daddy is tired from working all day, so sometimes we aren't the most patient with him. He has always been hyper and loud and a general handful to deal with. Some days it seems like all we do is scold him for something and by the end of the day I'm pretty much in tears and swamped with guilt, like I'm cheating him somehow because I am not as patient as I should be.

Last night while I was cooking I caught him bop his little brother in the head (Grumpy was behind me in his bouncer and I just happened to turn around at the right second). Needless to say, I corrected him and told him to never, ever hit his baby brother again. He looked right at me and did it again, this time on his arm. He was doing it in a playful way, but he tends to get carried away pretty quickly, so he found himself in a timeout.

Fast forward twenty minutes and we're at the supper table. Bug looks at me and says, "Mommy why is everybody always mad and telling me no?". I wanted to give up on life and spend the next few hours sobbing. He's right, that is all that we say right now, but he is always, always doing something he knows better than to do. I tried to explain that we are trying to teach him the right way to behave and that some things (like bopping his brother) are dangerous. He seemed satisfied with this explanation and resumed his massive consumption of meatloaf and corn. I did not recover quite so quickly.

I am at a loss and drowning in mommy guilt. I'm afraid that he'll think we'll love his brother more than him or that we don't love him the way we used to. I'm afraid we'll grow apart and won't be close when he's a teenager and he'll get into all kinds of trouble that I would have been able to prevent if I had only been more patient during his third year of life. So, I am going to pray for more patience and a better understanding and that God will show me how to parent this child the right way. My Bug is a challenge and a handful and at the moment, breaking his Mama's heart.

I Totally Forgot...

2009-06-04T06:15:00.004-04:00

Yesterday was when my guest post on A Mountain Mama was up and I forgot to link to it here. So, a day late, here is a link to my post if you would like to check it out.

How to Keep Your House Clean Enough to Avoid Humiliation When Company Comes Over

2009-06-03T06:33:00.001-04:00

I recently had a horrible experience wherein I did not keep my house clean enough to avoid humiliation when company came over. You can read about it here if you missed that particular post. Most of you probably don't have this problem, but just in case here are a few tips:

1. Pick up after yourself. My mom has been offering this piece of advice for months when I would whine about how messy my house was. I am terrible about this. I leave a trail around the house and it sometimes includes things like dirty diapers (yes, I know) and paper towels full of cheese sandwich crust. By simply picking up after myself these past few days, my house is staying a lot neater.

2. Eat at the table. We always eat supper at the table, but I had been letting Bug have his snacks, breakfast, and lunch at his art desk in the livingroom. The hubby has been fussing about this for awhile, and I finally gave it a whirl. I dreaded the fuss the boy would make about it, but he doesn't seem to mind and it's actually giving us more time together since I sit with him at the table when he eats.

3. Make sure all laundry is put away by day's end. I hate, hate, hate putting away laundry and mine would lounge around getting wrinkly for three days at a time. It's much easier to just put it away because you don't have to deal with clothes that look they've been slept in when you need to run to the grocery.

4. Vacuum/Sweep your main living area everyday. It only takes a minute to do and it makes a world of difference. There's nothing quite as unpleasant as a day old macaroni stuck between your toes.

5. Swish and swipe your bathroom everyday. This is a FlyLady idea, but I had definitely fallen off the wagon. Now I wipe down my bathroom faucet, counter, and give the toilet a swish with some dish detergent that I have sitting in my bathroom. Oh, and don't forget to change your hand towel.

6. Tidy each room in the morning. This works so much better for me than assigning a specific time to make the beds or a specific day to dust certain rooms. I start in the our bedroom and work my way through. If a room needs vacuumed I grab the vacuum cleaner and do it. If there's a toy somewhere it doesn't belong, I grab it and toss it back into the toy box. When I'm finished the house feels pulled together and that's a great feeling.

7. Do not go to bed with dirty dishes in the sink. It's just a bad idea. You will likely get grouchy when you see them in the morning. The spaghetti that will be dried to your plates won't come off without a fight. It's much simpler to wash the dishes/run your dishwasher the night before.

8. Stop looking for easy solutions on the computer. The only solution is to clean up the messes that you and your bunch make. I know because I spent the better part of two years scouring the computer for a way to convince my house to clean itself. I never found anything, it was quite disappointing.

I'm not pretending to be an expert about having a clean house. I'm more like an expert on how to appear to be trying really hard to have a clean house but never quite getting there. Even after trying all of the things I've suggested here, my house doesn't really feel clean. It does feel neater and I wouldn't be ashamed for unexpected company to arrive. Hopefully as the boys get older I can master clean, but for now I'm just satisfied to avoid embarrassment.

I'm His Favorite Person...

2009-06-02T06:11:00.003-04:00

When Bug was a baby I was most definitely not his favorite person. Actually, when he was Grumpy's age I was still working as a legal secretary and he spent his days with my mom. I only got to be with him about three hours everyday, so naturally he preferred his mammaw. I remember being so upset at times because it was obvious that I was not the person he wanted. Not that much has changed really. He loves me and his daddy and his mammaw and his uncle and his cousins... and pretty much everyone. As long as you are good to him he is happy with you. Then along came Grumpy...

He loves his mama. I mean really loves me. He watches me when someone else has him and if it goes longer than he thinks it should without me getting him back he falls apart. His little face just lights up when I walk back into a room, even if daddy is holding him. I love it. It can get a little tricky sometimes, however.

He was feeling especially clingy yesterday. When I was putting away laundry he was sitting in his swing and if he would move his face a certain way the side of the swing blocked his view of me and he would burst into tears. Then I tried to mop. I pulled his bouncer right up to the edge of the kitchen door so he could see me, but I kept doing annoying things like walking over to the mop bucket, which was a full six feet away. The above photo is the face I got everytime I tried to wring out the mop. Needless to say, mopping had to wait, who could resist that little lip? No, I didn't abandon him to go get the camera, it just happened to be lying next to me on the counter.

He did the same thing when I tried to do dishes last night, only this time I actually had to be looking right at him and talking to him or the lip would come out. Seeing me just wasn't good enough. The more tired Grumpy is, the more he loves his mommy. My niece has a little boy who was super attached when he was a baby (we're all looking at you, Noah) and she warns me that it can get really difficult to handle. I don't care, I'm in mama heaven, finally I'm somebody's favorite!

Excitement All Around...My House is Under Control!!!

2009-06-01T06:30:00.001-04:00

We were out of the house most of Friday for my hubby's doctor visit and grocery shopping and when we came back I noticed that there were some missed calls from my sister-in-law on our home phone. They rarely visit so I didn't even consider the possibility as I lazed around my messy wreck of a house. Imagine my surprise when they announced they were on their way over. Yikes. It was bad. No, seriously, it was really bad.

Since they live in Tennessee I assumed it would be awhile before they arrived. We started in our bedroom and had just made the bed when they pulled up. "Quick, pick up the dirty laundry in the hallway.", was as far as I got before they were inside. I was mortified.

Let me say, this is not me. My house was messy when I had an infant and was working outside the home 40 hours a week, but not like this. I could have posted pictures, but I am not that brave. We did manage to have a pleasant visit and I'm guessing that seeing my house gave my sister-in-law a little boost in her self-esteem. I have decided that it can never, will never, must never be allowed to get into that kind of a mess again.

I have tried every method known to man to keep my house in order, but it turns out that my problem is a very simple one. I am lazy. I do have my hands full, but that means it's harder to get things done, it doesn't mean that it's ok not to bother. It's simply a matter of getting up and getting it done. Not complicated at all and well worth the effort. I'm just sad that it took a humiliating visit with my in laws to open my eyes to this particular character flaw.

On a Different Note...

2009-05-31T12:08:00.002-04:00

I wanted to mention that I will be guest posting over at A Mountain Mama on Wednesday. Kelli is doing a series about the women of Appalachia, you can read about it here. I love her blog and was so pleased when she asked me to do a post in her series. If you haven't visited her blog yet you should check it out, her family is living off grid here in the mountains of Kentucky and it is so interesting and inspiring to read.

Help! I May Have to Rehome the Cats

2009-05-31T11:56:00.003-04:00

I am starting to think the cats may need to go to a new home. No, Tigger hasn't peed on me again, this time it's fleas. P.J. does go in and out, if we don't let her just lies on the couch for hours staring out the window. I thought if we wormed them regularly, got their shots and were treated with Frontline it would be ok.

Not quite two weeks ago I spent $35 for two treatments of Frontline and applied it as directed. I have been using this stuff for years on Dynamo, my mom's cat, and it always worked perfectly. Last year we noticed that our cats were still getting a few fleas, even right after a treatment, so we tried some other stuff but none of it worked as well. This year the Frontline doesn't appear to be working AT ALL. I found 13, yes, 13 fleas of Tigger last night. I am at a loss.

There is no way I can keep these cats inside with my babies if we can't get rid of the fleas. I don't know what to do. I vacuum my floors almost daily. I can't use a powder of any type on the cats or on the carpets, I'm afraid it wouldn't be safe for the kids. It's really making my house feel unsanitary. The husband found two fleas on his sock last night. He is not a happy camper.

The Frontline package says it's not safe to treat the cats with anything more for two weeks. I am afraid we will be overun with fleas by then and honestly, we really can't afford any more than $35 a month on top of food, etc. for all of our pets. I can't stand the thoughts of getting rid of these cats, especially P.J., but I can't let my kids live in a house infested with fleas. Not only do they bite, they carry tapeworms (been there with the cats, oh so many times).

If anyone has any suggestions or ideas, please share them. If we can't get this cleared up within the next few days the cats will have to go and I do not want to have to do that.

Another Way to Earn Money Online

2009-05-28T06:04:00.004-04:00

As I've mentioned before, I am intrigued by the many ways of making money online and I discovered another interesting concept recently. I had heard of Bum Marketing , but I honestly didn't have a clue what it was. I stumbled across this site recently and it seems really promising.

It is a free course, actually free with no strings attached that I can find, that teaches you how to make money through affiliate marketing with no money upfront and no website needed. I haven't tried it yet, but I have read the accounts of many work at home mama's who say that it brings in cash. You can read more from people who have already tried it here and here.

Grumpy's Birth Story

2009-05-27T06:32:00.001-04:00

After having so much pain medication during my labor with Bug, I decided this time around that I was going to try and avoid everything except the epidural. I would have tried to avoid it too, but I was fairly certain I wouldn't be able to handle the pain without it so I never gave the thought of an all natural birth much consideration.

Since Bug came two weeks early I assumed Grumpy would probably be early too. By 38 weeks I was almost 2 cm. dilated, so I got my hopes up. I was also having a ton of discomfort, from backaches to irregular contractions. I was sure that something was going on, but the next two appointments showed no progress and everyday that passed without a baby I became a little more desperate. My pregnancy with Grumpy was much harder than my first and I was ready for it to be over. My little Grump had other ideas.

By week 39 the doctors were talking induction. They told me if I had made any progress by my next appointment they would break my water, if not I would have the choice to be induced. When I was 40 weeks and 3 days pregnant (the day before my 40 week appointment) my contractions started to get worse. I also had a little bleeding, so I was 100% sure I was going into labor.

By that night I was getting pretty uncomfortable and since we live an hour away from the hospital, my husband convinced me to go in. I kept having contractions the whole way there. They weren't unbearable, but they were worse than the ones I had when I arrived at the hospital with Bug.

Almost as soon as they put me in bed and hooked me up on a monitor, my contractions stopped. When the nurse checked me I had still made no progress. I was a little upset. My doctor offered to let me stay the night, just in case, because we lived so far away. I hate hospitals so there was no way that was going to happen. On the way home the contractions started back, only stronger.

I had an appointment the next day and they monitored the baby to see how he was doing because I was past my due date. By this time I was starting to get really tired of the contractions and I was so sure that when I was checked there would be no progress. To my surprise, I was 4 cm. and 80% effaced. They scheduled an induction for the next morning, if I didn't go into labor on my own.

We went to Wal-Mart and I began to get very uncomfortable while walking around. I actually had to stop and breathe through a couple of contractions. We went home so I could rest up for the big day.

My mom was making fish, hush puppies, and homemade french fries that night which in one of my all time favorite meals. I blame her for many of the events that are to follow because there was no way I was missing that meal.

I went to my parent's house at about 6:00 and I was incredibly uncomfortable. Mom helped me time the contractions and they were coming 4-5 minutes apart. I wasn't about to go back to the hospital until I was sure I was actually in labor, plus the food wasn't done, so I waited. By the time the food was done my contractions were coming about 3-4 minutes apart. I contracted between bites of one of the most yummy meals I've ever had.

By the time I got home it was getting hard for me to walk, so I knew I needed to go on to the hospital. The hubby was starting to freak out a little and being a bit cranky because I took the time to eat. I realize in hindsight that it wasn't the wisest choice, but I really found it hard to believe I was actually going into labor. I tried not to let him see how uncomfortable I was, but by the time we got halfway to the hospital I was starting to wonder if I was going to make it.

There were no beds available so I ended up in the hallway of the surgical suite. The good news is they gave us a $50 gas card for our trouble, the bad news is I had my cervix checked on a gurney in the hallway of the surgical suite. I was at 6 cm. and she could feel the bag of waters. I was so relieved that I was finally going to be able to get my epidural.

I was trying really hard to hold it together, but the pain was getting so bad that I was getting desperate for medication. They called for my epidural and told me it would be about 15 minutes. I wasn't sure I would survive that long, but at least I had a number to work with.

A few minutes later the doctor came in and checked me again. He announced that I was 9 cm. and there was no time for an epidural. This is the part where I almost freaked out. I didn't see how I was going to actually give birth without my epidural. I was really scared that I wouldn't be able to do it, I kept thinking what if I just can't get him out, what if he gets stuck. I started praying for the strength to do what I had to do.

I'm not sure how long it took, I know there were about three or four series of pushes before the Grump arrived. My husband was the one that almost passed out this time, I'm not sure why unless it was the stress of watching me labor without meds and seeing the birth a little more closely this time around. My niece (pregnant again, btw) was a trooper and did not almost pass out this time.

When Grumpy was born he had the same pitiful little cry that his big brother had and he weighed exactly the same, 7 pounds, 10 ounces. He kept looking around like he was terrified and smacking his little mouth. I was able to nurse him almost immediately, which was so much nicer than waiting hours like I had to with Bug.

Even though I know that our bodies were meant to have babies naturally, I am still amazed that I actually labored and delivered without any medication. It boggles my mind. Although I definitely didn't plan a natural birth, I'm glad now that it turned out that way. I felt so much better after and was able to walk to my room within an hour of having the baby. I'm not sure if I would be brave enough to attempt it again if we had a third baby (we're not!), but I think I would at least give it a try.

Bug's Birth Story

2009-05-26T07:00:00.001-04:00

I love reading birth stories and since I have a couple of my own, I decided to share. Here is how my little Bug arrived...

At my 38 week appointment I was 2 cm. dilated and my doctor decided to strip my membranes. Without discussing it with me first, I might add. I had been having some mild contractions for a few days, so she sent me to be monitored and told me that she was fairly certain that I would be having the baby that weekend. I laughed, I found it hard to believe he was ever going to come out.

I had heard that walking would speed things along, so after work the next day my niece and I decided to go for a walk at the local park. It was almost ninety degrees that day and since I was the approximate size of a small cow, this made for a miserable almost mile long trek. I persevered and headed home feeling grouchy and extremely hopeful that the baby would soon make his arrival.

The next day I was still only having mild contractions so I decided to go shopping with my parents, there didn't seem to be any reason not to. While standing in the bread aisle of Kroger my water trickled. No one seemed to notice, although by the time I got to the car my pants were completely soaked.

It was about a 40 minute drive home, then I had to get the husband and head to the hospital which was another 20 minute drive. I still wasn't very uncomfortable and was having a hard time believing it was for real.

I got home, grabbed the husband and my bag and we were off. He was so calm, I was quite proud of him. I still wasn't in any real pain, but I do remember being a little nervous. When we got there a truly brilliant nurse tried to convince me that it was unlikely that my water had actually broken. My pants (a second pair) were so wet that they squished when I walked. I knew I was in good hands at this point.

The same nurse announced (after discovering that yes, my water had indeed broken) that I would now be catheterized. I didn't think so. We argued for a bit then she called my doctor who said I only had to be cathed long enough to get a clean urine sample. I still haven't figured that one out. As soon as that lovely experience was over they started me on Pitocin.

My contractions started coming pretty regularly after the Pitocin was started, but I wanted to wait as long as I could for my pain medication. I fully planned on having an epidural, but I wanted to at least have an idea of what labor felt like before I gave in. The nurse (a much better one this time) came in a couple of times and asked me if I wanted my meds, but I still wasn't that uncomfortable. Finally, they told me my blood pressure was getting too high and that if I would take the meds it would help it to go down. I agreed since I was starting to get pretty uncomfortable.

The medication did help the pain to ease up a little, but it didn't last very long and made me feel very groggy. I remember having a detailed dream about cheese crackers and when I tried to talk my husband he had a hard time understanding me. He kept making cracks about increasing the Pitocin to speed things along and I do recall saying something along the lines of "Are you stupid? Will you please just shut that hole in your face?". But I never hit him, although the thought did cross my mind. The pain between doses of the medication was getting pretty unpleasant so when they asked if I was ready for my epidural I didn't waste any time saying yes.

By this time a ton of my family had arrived, including my niece Kelli, who I was planning to force back into the delivery room with me. I also wanted her to come back when I had my epidural, but the anesthesiologist wouldn't agree for anyone to be there, not even the hubby.

I'm not sure what time I received my epidural. I do know that I slept through the rest of my labor. I woke some time after midnight feeling a ton of pressure and when the nurse checked me she said it was time to push.

I still couldn't believe it was really happening. I remember thinking "Wow, this is just like A Baby Story", it just didn't seem real. My husband was there of course, along with my niece Kelli who was supposed to be taking the pictures. She almost fainted, but was able to pull herself together. As much as I would like to make fun of her, she was four months pregnant and hadn't ate anything for awhile. I was still really groggy from the meds, but after only 11 minutes of pushing my 7 pound, 10 ounce baby boy was born. He had the most pitiful cry, he sounded like a little puppy whimpering.

I remember seeing his little hands first, he had really long fingers just like me. Even though I planned to breastfeed, it went almost two hours before they brought him back to me. Thankfully, he was a little trooper and didn't have any trouble latching on, though I'm sure they gave him sugar water during that time period.

There are a ton of things that I would have changed about my first birth experience, but the thing that bothered me the most was not getting to nurse Bug right away. I cannot fathom why any hospital would think it is wise to keep a breastfeeding baby away from it's mother for two hours after birth.

I had an extremely easy labor and delivery, I was at the hospital for about seven hours total before Bug made his arrival. The drugs they gave me before the epidural caused me to be unable to remember a lot of it, so I decided that night if I ever had another baby I was not having them again. I was, however, going to have an epidural as soon as I could possibly get one. If you've read the short version of Grumpy's birth, you know that things didn't quite work out the way I planned. Tomorrow I will do the long version of the arrival of my Grump. See you then!

Why Do These Things Always Happen to Me?

2009-05-25T16:34:00.004-04:00

I don't understand why my pets can't be normal. We adopted Tigger from the local animal shelter in January of 2008 and, outside of being goofy and not too bright, he has been pretty easy to deal with. He had already been neutered and he's always used the litter box. Until today...

There I sat on the couch this morning feeding Grumpy a bottle when Tig hopped up beside me. I thought he wanted me to pet him so I put my hand out to rub his head. And he sprayed me. That's right, he peed all over my robe, then hopped down and went on his merry way. For some reason the hubby thought it would be ok to laugh. It was not ok.

He doesn't seem to be sick or anything, he's used the litter box normally the rest of the day. I just cannot fathom why he did this and why this type of thing always happens to me. I was not the only person sitting in the living room, why couldn't he have marked my husband as his terrority? If anybody has any ideas about this one I'd love to hear them.

My Love Hate Relationship with Pacifiers

2009-05-24T15:29:00.004-04:00

I alternate daily between an intense adoration and bitter hatred of the pacifier. Bug refused to take one because that would have completely disrupted his plans to make my life as difficult as possible. I was determined that Grumpy would not only take a pacie, he would love it.

As soon as I found out I was pregnant I began stockpiling the pacifiers. I bought one of every single kind I came across. I had a personal hope that he would prefer the Soothie brand, but he decided on Mam. It has to be the newborn size, offering anything else makes him gag and give me looks of intense disappointment and disgust. Unfortunately, this results in my four month old bearing a striking resemblance to Hannibal Lecter, but it's what floats his boat.

This should not have been a problem. Mam's are common and easy to come by. A couple of weeks ago I boiled all of his favorite pacifiers dry which resulted in a restless night for the both of us. I bought more then promptly lost one and spent the next few days clinging to other one as though my life depended on it. Yesterday I went shopping and bought two more so that I could stop interrogating my entire family (yes, this included the cats who have been caught pacie napping more than once) once an hour about the whereabouts of the surviving pacifier. Everyone was relieved.

Within a few hours of bringing home the new ones, I managed to lose the one I'd been obsessively tracking so I decided to go ahead and boil the new ones. Then Grumpy needed a diaper and Onesie change so off we went while the pacifiers merrily bubbled on the stove. I became distracted by Grumpy's overwhelming cuteness when naked and spent way too much time blowing raspberries on his belly....the only pacies to survive this time around were the Soothies, which Grumpy hates. I was back to no pacie. I was angry.

Thank the Lord, I managed to find the one that I lost yesterday, it had rolled under the bed. Once again I will be protecting that pacifier with my very life until shopping day comes around. Bug is currently napping, but the husband and the cats have already started to look nervous.

Look Who's (Still) Sleeping in My Bed

2009-05-21T06:31:00.006-04:00

The night I brought Grumpy home from the hospital I put him into the bassinet that I had pulled up next to our bed, then settled in for some much needed sleep. Then got back up to make sure he was breathing. Then climbed back into bed, thought I heard him make a weird sound, got back up, decided he looked lonely and put him into our bed. Then I became terrified that the husband was right and he might actually squish him in his sleep so Grumpy and I headed off to the couch.

Upon discovering us the next morning, the hubby decided that for the first couple of weeks he could take the couch and me and the Grump could have the bed, just until he (I) got adjusted. Guess who's still sleeping in my bed? That's right folks, my husband has spent the last four months on the couch.

The husband has made a few comments about it, but overall he's been quite patient. I have tried to ignore him, talk over him, reassure myself that the couch is a perfectly reasonable place for him to spend his nights, etc. Now he's pretty much stopped mentioning it, having resigned himself to his new life of sleeping on the couch until Grumpy turns 12. I am starting to feel a little guilty.

Yesterday I decided to clean all of the junk out of the crib and move it over next to our bed so that Grumpy would only be about eight inches from me. The hubby was quite pleased to come home and discover this. We decided he would stay on the couch a couple of nights until Grumpy (I) got used to the arrangement, then he could move back in.

Last night at bedtime I carefully placed Grumpy into his crib then lay down in our bed next to him. He had rolled a little farther away than I expected, putting him almost ten inches away instead of eight. I got up and scooted him back toward me. He wiggled away. I got back up, stared at him for a minute, decided he looked lonely and put him back in our bed.

It's not that I don't want the hubby there, of course I do, he keeps my toes warm. I am also reasonably sure that Grumpy will be fine, especially considering the fact that he wasn't upset when I put him in his crib last night. I didn't co-sleep with Bug and I regret it, I had no idea what I was missing. I love putting my cheek against Grumpy's little head and feeling him next to me warm and safe. Nothing could be sweeter.

Let me clarify, it's not that my husband doesn't want him in our bed, he is welcome to stay now that he's not afraid that he will squish him. I can't sleep that way, I have tried with Bug when he wasn't feeling well or got scared and I always end up in the floor or at the foot of the bed. Since I already get up so early and lose sleep getting up with the baby, I think it's best that I try to get Grumpy into his crib now.

So, I will try again tonight. I'm sure he (I) will be fine. I'll just keep telling myself that...

The Marshmallow Incident

2009-05-20T06:10:00.006-04:00

I've mentioned my cats once or twice before, but for those of you who haven't met them yet, Tigger is the yellow tabby and P.J. is the tortoiseshell. Tig is an incredibly annoying goofball who is terrified of, well, everything. P.J. is a typical female with a bad attitude who terrorizes poor Tig whenever she gets the chance. She is also a bit moody. For example, she escaped once last year and her first plan of action once she made it out the door was to attack not one, but three stray kittens that were living out there. She is a menance.

In typical Tigger style he managed to step on a discarded marshmallow, I think Bug left it lying on his art desk but I can't be sure. I noticed that he was running around frantically and P.J. was following him, but it took a minute to figure out what was going on. Yes, I did take a picture before helping him, but come on, who wouldn't? P.J. didn't offer any help either, as you see in the picture, she just watched him struggle with the evil marshmallow. I'm pretty sure I heard her snicker.

I Tried Writing for Ehow...

2009-05-19T05:34:00.007-04:00

I posted before about my hopes for starting a residual income stream and I have finally managed to put some articles up on Ehow. First let me say, writing articles for this site is so much fun that it has addiction potential. It's extremely easy to use and you have instant gratification with the click of the "Publish" button. I am loving it and would probably do some even if there was no potential for cash.

I decided to do a little experiment just to see how much different my earnings would be with a article I wrote off the top of my head and one I wrote after researching keywords. So far, "How to Survive the First Week Home with a New Baby" has had 21 views and earned a whopping $0.15. I didn't do any research for this one, I just pulled the information from another article I had sitting around but had never published. I did keyword research for "How to Create Healthy Meal Plans", have had 25 views and have earned $1.11 so far. Needless to say, I think I'll keep researching keywords.

Now, I realize that $1.26 doesn't look very impressive, which is one of the reasons it took me so long to actually try writing for Ehow, but the more I read the more intrigued I am with the notion of earning money this way. I was writing articles for web content sites for $10 each, about things that were horrendously boring. If I continue to earn only $1.15 a week for this one article I will have earned almost $60 in a year's time, which is more than I ever got for a much longer article before, an article that wasn't nearly as much fun to write. I feel safe in saying that my earnings for each article will increase over time as they haven't even been picked up by search engines yet.

The only glitch that I see in the site is that their page views and earnings don't update regularly, which can be a little annoying. Mine haven't updated in two days, but from what I've read on the forums there this is par for the course and everyone does eventually get updated.

I have written four articles so far and will attempt to add one or two everyday. I don't want to try to meet deadlines right now because with two little ones, especially a four month old, it's just too risky. This seems like the perfect time to give Ehow a whirl and so far, I'm enjoying the experience. I will keep posting updates every so often to let you know how it's going.

A Brutal and Relentless War on Clutter

2009-05-18T06:00:00.005-04:00

I am not brave enough to put an actual photo of my own clutter here. It's so bad that I'm embarrassed for some of my family who visit this blog to see it. For those of you who have seen it...I'm so very, very sorry. I'm not exaggerating, the baby's crib is completely full of stuff. Bags that should have been taken to Goodwill, bags that should have been given to my pregnant niece, clothes that I keep forgetting to hang, bags of clothes that the boys can't wear just yet and of course, my purse.

I would like to say the clutter is only in our bedroom, but sadly, it is not. I, with the eager assistance of Bug, threw out a 30 gallon trash bag of stuff from the bathroom last week. And our bathroom is tiny.

I am not exactly sure when this happened. We got rid of so much stuff it was unreal when we moved here almost three years ago, but it's piled back up again. The husband and I have sat down and talked strategy about how we can maintain the house more efficiently, and we have decided that if we didn't have all of this stuff the house would be much neater and cleaner. We're going on a decluttering rampage and the bathroom was the first step. Our new motto: If we don't absolutely love it or require it to survive, we are tossing it.

I'm hoping we can get started on the bedroom this week, it's the worst room in the house with the kitchen running a close second. Surprisingly, Bug's bedroom is the tidiest. I know it's going to be hard not to hang onto stuff "just in case we need it", but the idea of living in a neat and tidy environment instead of a chaotic mess is appealing enough to encourage me to do what needs to be done.

After all of the unnecessary stuff is gone a friend (thank you Carolee!) is going to come over and help me with one or both boys so that I can do a deep cleaning of the really bad areas. I can't wait! Maybe this will be the motivation I need to actually keep my house clean enough that I'm not too ashamed for my mom to come over...

Grumpy is Growing Up

2009-05-17T15:01:00.004-04:00

Last night I cleaned up Bug's highchair for Grumpy, just to see if he was big enough to actually sit in it. It seems that he's growing tired of his carrier, two swings and bouncer so I thought I'd give him another option. I had my doubts about it, but as you can see he really enjoyed it. I'm hoping he'll be willing to sit in the highchair while I cook and clean up the kitchen, two things that are quite a challenge at the moment. My baby is growing up so fast!

Simple Ways to Reduce Your Grocery Spending

2009-05-15T07:47:00.010-04:00

When I can't seem to save money anywhere else, I can usually find a way to cut back on food. Here are a few ways that I save money on our groceries:

1. Set yourself a monthly spending limit. For us, it's $330. That averages out to just over $80 a week. I don't necessarily stick to $80 per week, if I happen to find a good sale I stock up. If I know I have $50 left in my budget at the end of the month it's not a problem because I can just use up all those things I found on sale. I am quite proud to announce that for the first time ever, I managed to make my $330 last five weeks in April. I didn't do the happy dance in the checkout , but only because I wanted to spare the husband embarrassment.

2. Cut back on portions. I'm not saying do without, but don't fix more than your family will eat. For example, when I make pork chops I only make three. It may sound pitiful, but my hubby eats two and I eat one so there's no point in making more than that. I just separate them out into meal size packages before I freeze them. Bug currently hates pork chops, but I always cut up part of mine and try to cajole him into eating it. He usually chews on it for a second and spits it back out, but I'm hoping to wear him down eventually.

3. When you plan your meals for the week think about how to use the leftovers. Either get creative and plan to use them in the next night's supper or "as is" at lunchtime. Make it your goal to toss as little as you possibly can.

4. Frozen veggies are a lifesaver. You can find them on sale at Kroger for $1 a bag, which is usually much less than fresh produce. You actually get more nutrients from the frozen veggies because they are frozen at their peak instead of lying around on a supermarket shelf. Of course, this only applies if you aren't a Southerner who can find a way to fry the nutritional value right out of any food that you come into contact with.

5. Sit down and make a list of the meals your family enjoys that are also easy on pocket book. Then, when an unexpected expense comes up all you'll have to do is get out your list instead of trying to figure out what in the world to make.

When I first left my job it seemed almost impossible to make our grocery budget last the entire month, but now it's one of the easiest areas of spending to manage. We also eat healthier now as well because I don't allow myself the freedom to toss in all of the junk that we used to buy. Now if I could just learn how to cook everything from scratch I'd be flying!

I've Got Nothing...

2009-05-14T07:09:00.000-04:00

I have nothing of any consequence to say today, it seems. The house is a bit of a wreck (shock and awe!) and I think the kids are in the process of waking up. Grumpy's already been up once, but I hear Bug wiggling around so I think my "me time" is pretty much a wash out today. Oh yeah, and it turns out that when you stop breastfeeding you really do get your cycle back pretty quickly. Sigh.

I hate days like this. I want to be happy and cheerful and a wonderful mama, but I feel like pulling the covers over my head until Saturday. Wait, no Sunday, I could completely skip grocery shopping if I wait until Sunday.

I have no idea what to make for supper as my well laid plans went out the window, so to speak, along with my attempt at roasting a monstrous chicken. I had planned to use the leftovers for stir fry tonight but by the time I got that thing finished I was so tired of looking at it that I refused to stand there and pick it apart, I just tossed it. Not very thrifty in hindsight, but PMS will make you do crazy things.

It seems like Bug senses when I'm not feeling well and he picks those times to do the most bizarre or irritating things that he can think of. Like last night, for instance. He asks me if he can empty his water cup and I said yes. I hear the back door open then close and he runs to me proudly announcing that "I threw the lid over in those weeds, Mommy!". I asked him why in the world he thought this was a good idea. His response? "Well, I just already did it. I've got more cups anyway." I considered poking him in the eye, but decided it was too much trouble.

I'm going to read my Bible, maybe get a shower and try to perk up a little bit so that when the husband calls he won't sense a bad mood on the horizon and be too terrified to come home. Hopefully I'll have something more meaningful to say tomorrow!

Pizza Casserole

2009-05-13T07:46:00.000-04:00

This is one of my favorite recipes and it's even better the next day. I actually stole it from my sister, then tweaked it to suit my bunch. Even Bug loves it.

Pizza Casserole

One package of penne pasta
One jar of spaghetti sauce (or make your own!)
Half package of pepperoni
1/2 cup mushrooms
1/2 cup banana peppers
1/2 cup olives
1 green pepper, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese

Cook pasta. Mix with spaghetti sauce then add veggies. Layer pepperoni on top and cover with cheese. Bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes or until cheese is melted.

You can also add hamburger, Italian sausage, whatever suits your fancy. I also like to sprinkle parmesan cheese on top, but then I'm a cheese freak. It's super easy, fast, great for leftovers and oh so yummy!

I Left Them Alone for Two Seconds...

2009-05-10T19:38:00.007-04:00

I was folding laundry while Grumpy played in his swing nearby and Bug tore paper to shreds. It was a picture of domestic bliss I tell you. I walked to the dryer to get a laundry basket and when I returned this is what I found:

There he sat, covered in paper scraps and looking quite happy with himself. I asked Bug for an explanation as to why he thought this was a good idea. His reply? "Well, Bubby wanted to play with my papers. So I letted him." Of course. It all makes perfect sense now.

I realize that this makes me look like a horribly neglectful mother. I can assure you, no one got hurt during the taking of this photo. I have only been mama to two for a few months. I really think there should be a rule that nothing that takes place during the first year can be held against me.

Creating a Schedule

2009-05-10T19:01:00.008-04:00

I used to have a schedule. I remember those days fondly, I didn't always succeed in getting things done, but I had a method. I didn't think things would change too much when I got pregnant, at least not until the end, but boy was I wrong. I started having all day "morning sickness" at 5 weeks and was sick all day, every single day until about week 14 of my pregnancy. Things started to slip as I spent many days on the couch surrounded by crayons, coloring books, the remote and a plethora of Bug's cars and trucks. After awhile, having no plan became the plan.

Since Bug slept until 7:00 or 8:00 in the morning, I used that time for writing, then he ended up falling asleep most days so I had two opportunities each day to get some work done. I didn't worry too much about the house and since I managed to do the dishes, put laundry away and vacuum every once in awhile, it didn't look too bad.

Then along came Grumpy. Turns out, newborns want stuff. A lot of it, all day long. He woke up to nurse before the hubby left for work and didn't usually nap again until 9:00 or 10:00. By then, Bug was up and ready to go. All of those little things I hadn't worried too much about like dusting, cleaning out the fridge, and scrubbing the tub desperately needed doing and I was left with no time to do any of it. I could barely manage to do the dishes once a day, so writing was definitely out of the question.

Now that both boys (seem to) have reasonably consistent sleep routines, I have thrown together a schedule that may or not work. Here it is:

5:00 - Get the husband off to work/Bible reading
6:00 - Write until the kids wake up
8:00 (or whenever Bug wakes up) - Breakfast and clean up
9:00 - My Shower, make beds, feed critters, vacuum
10:30 - Snack
11:00 - Play with (sneakily teach) Bug
12:00 -Do something useless that I enjoy
12:30 - Lunch
1:30 - Bug's nap
2:00 - Dishes, clean something that's really dirty, write if Grumpy naps
4:00 - Wake Bug/Snack
4:30 - Put away huge mound of laundry that is living on my bed
5:00 - Tidy house/talk to the husband for almost 3 minutes before Bug makes him go outside.
6:00 - Supper
7:00 - Dishes, bath both boys unless I can harass husband into showering with Bug, feed critters again.
8:00 - Change into my p.j.'s, give Bug snack, get on computer to read favorite blogs, check lol cats website.
9:30 - Bug's bedtime.
10:00 - Get Grumpy back to sleep. Get back up to write or talk to pitifully neglected husband. Or fall asleep drooling next to Grumpy. Husband covers me up and makes snide remarks about my lack of concern for him the next day.

So there you have it, my attempt at a schedule that might actually work for my crazy little household. I am hoping to at least feel like I have control of my days again. I'll let you know how it goes.

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-10T14:54:00.012-04:00

In honor of Mother's Day, and as an excuse to finally be able to boast about how adorable my kids are, I am finally posting real photos of my boys. With a little trepidation, I might add. They are the reason that I get up every day and even if the hubby and Bug hadn't made me a card (which of course made me bawl like a baby), I would still be the luckiest mama in the world.

I also have a mom of my own who is amazing. She still puts up with me calling 3-74 times a day to share something exciting, or to whine, and complain. She watches my boys for me so that I can rest, clean and write. And every Friday night she makes me supper, I look forward to it all week. I can remember when I was little, I always felt sorry for the other kids because she wasn't their mom too. That's just how great that she is. I would post a picture of her here, but she would likely kill me.

Here is a poem by Pamela Spurling that I found on A Christian Home . I actually have it on my fridge, it helps to keep me motivated between temper tantrums and belly aches...

Why am I a Mommy?
a message for Mama's of boys... by pamela spurling

Why am I a mommy, you ask?

You're a mommy so that you can teach that little one to know Jesus... so that he can see the Bible translated... so that he can hear how to sing praise songs to the LORD... so that you can receive dandelion bouquets and sloppy kisses... so that you can wash the feet of Jesus by washing a little bottom or face... so that you can discover other
languages: baby talk, or the language of boys playing... so that you can learn to enjoy and then even miss the smell of sour milk or dried food on your sleeve and shoulder...

You're a mommy so that you can call the repairman only to find a Lego is the culprit behind your broken washing machine... so that you can be there to console the member of the losing team... so that you can watch food disappear... so that you can learn to mend broken hearts, broken vases, broken plates, broken windows, and broken dreams... so that you can love your husband and teach that little one how to love his wife someday... so that you can go without sleep or a meal or a new dress or a weekend away---you have a little one who needs something more... so that you can be the first one to ride in the new car of a proud teenager... so that you can learn how to face heartache and trust in the LORD...

You're a mommy so that you can be the first to notice the need for deodorant and shaving cream and razor... so that you can lose sleep waiting for the car to pull down the lane---late again... so that you can laugh at that joke for the umpteenth time... so the you can wipe off fingerprints from ceilings and doorframes... so that you can learn bravery by pulling things out of an old backpack... so that you can learn to be a good sport about water balloon tosses... so that you can assure him his voice will change and won't always sound crackly... so that you can see your husband's younger self all over again...

You're a mommy so that you can learn to be the "other woman" in your son's life... so that you can learn to wave good bye... so that you can light the candle that will be extinguished after he lights the unity candle with his new bride...and so that you can anticipate with him the birth of his first child with an expectancy greater than you have ever known.

You're a mommy because the LORD loves you so much that He wanted to
teach you to pray...

That's why you're a mommy.

This is Truly Unbelievable!

2009-05-08T08:33:00.003-04:00

I was stirred awake this morning by Grumpy starting to squirm and whimper, which isn't unusual as he always sleeps with his head pressed against me. When I looked at the clock it was 5:51. That's right...Grumpy slept through the night! Not only that, I gave him his bottle and he went back to sleep. As of right now, 8:35, he is still sleeping.

As I've mentioned here before, my kids generally have sleep issues. The issue is they don't do it. Not on a regular basis or for any length of time. It's starting to look like my kids may actually begin to sleep normally. Bug has started going into his room for 1:30 quiet time everyday without a fight, then going to bed at 9:30 without a fight and sleeping until 7:00-8:00. There may be light at the end of this tunnel after all. A girl can hope, can't she?

Our Grocery Budget

2009-05-07T05:32:00.007-04:00

Tomorrow is grocery shopping day around here, which means that I'll have to get my menu plan and grocery list together. Our newly revised monthly grocery budget is $330 and we also receive WIC vouchers for our son, which takes care of the majority of milk and juice that we need. It also provides peanut butter or dried beans, cereal and eggs. Since our chickens provide our eggs, I give those away to family members, but everything else is a huge help.

That works out to about $80 a week, which is a big improvement from the $125 we were managing to spend last fall. Outrageous electric bills put a stop to that wastefulness pretty quickly. That amount does not include other items like diapers, pet food, toilet paper, etc. We usually spend about $30 a week in that area.

My grocery shopping strategy is pretty simple. I keep a piece of paper on a cork board in the kitchen and jot things down as I run out of them. I try to keep a stock of canned goods, flour, sugar, etc. I can't keep a huge amount because I don't have the room, but enough so that if we are very low on funds or there is a weather issue we won't run out of food. By replacing these items as I go, I never have to worry about our stock running low.

I also have a pantry list of items that we use regularly that I refer to, just to make sure I haven't missed anything. I take a quick glance at each section (frozen, produce, etc.) and make sure that we have everything that we need. This is especially helpful when you are running on three hours of sleep (I'm looking at you, Grumpy) and there's a fairly good chance that you didn't write anything down on your snazzy little cork board.

After I have taken care of the things we are out of, it's time to go through the fridge, freezer, and cabinets. There's almost always something that I've forgotten about or that needs to be used up quickly. I jot these items down and incorporate them into my weekly menu plan.

I hadn't been planning our breakfast, but I think I'm going to have to start. I cannot seem to come up with anything for breakfast right now, so I think a little forethought is in order. Bug asked for an ice cream cone for breakfast yesterday and I gave it to him. I think it's time to incorporate breakfast into our menu plan.

After I plan our menu for the week I look at each meal just to be sure we have all the ingredients that we need on hand or on the list. Once that's finished I am ready to go shopping. Not emotionally ready due to the fact that Grumpy tends to tag along, often making for an experiment in grocery shopping terror, but on paper it looks good.

I don't use too many coupons because I buy a lot of generic stuff. There are a few exceptions, like coffee and flour, but for the most part I find that the off brands are just as good, sometimes even better. Also, while I do try to stick to about $80 a week, if there is a great sale on something I go ahead and stock up. For example, our local grocery had four pound bags of sugar for $0.99 a couple of weeks ago. I didn't need sugar, but I went ahead and bought the limit of four bags because I know I'll need it later and would rather not pay $2.00 if I don't have to.

As I have mentioned in an earlier post, I am trying to cut back on the processed foods that I buy and I'm not quite sure yet how that's going to affect our spending. I know that initially it will probably increase because I'll have to buy items that I don't have on hand, but everyone swears that over time it will pay off. We shall see.

I would also love to be able to incorporate organic milk into our diet, but I can't seem to find it anywhere for under $7 dollars a gallon. We go through three or four gallons a week around here and I just can't swing $120 a month for a milk at the moment. That's one of the pitfalls of living in the backwoods, I guess. Well, I'm off to work on our grocery list. Ok, I'll probably go back to bed first, but after that, I'm on it!

All About Bug

2009-05-06T05:38:00.006-04:00

I thought it would be fun to share a bit about the wonderful creature that we call Bug. He is without a doubt one of the most adorable little boys in the world, and I'm not just saying that because I'm his mommy. Here are a few facts about the boy:

1. His daddy called him conehead for the first 6 months of his life. Yep, he really had a conehead but I mean, come on, that was kind of mean.

2. So far I have managed to let him roll off the bed, get his head hung between the couch and the wall (so scary), and get his head hung behind mom's entertainment center. He still loves me, most of the time.

3. He has the most beautiful pale blue eyes.

4. He has an adorable little pug nose. We have no idea where it came from, but Grumpy has it too.

5. He would prefer to be outside, nude if possible, most of the time. He isn't allowed to go out there naked, but since he's tried so many times I would assume it would be a dream come true for him.

6. He potty trained himself right before Grumpy was born.

7. He asks about 1,276,789,001 questions everyday. Here's an example of a standard conversation with Bug:

Bug: Why are there birds?
Me: Because God wanted to make them I guess.
Bug: Where is God?
Me: He lives in Heaven, way up in the sky, too high up for you to see.
Bug: But why?
Me: Because that's where Heaven is and He lives there so He can watch over us and take care of us.
Bug: But why?
Me: Because he loves you very much, even more than Mommy and Daddy love you.
Bug: Oh. Am I God?
Me: Sigh.

8. He would skip meals, tv, baths, candy and breathing oxygen if it meant he could follow his Daddy around outside.

9. He is afraid of absolutely nothing. Not even the dark, most of the time.

10. His favorite show is Maggie and the Ferocious Beast.

11. He knows his ABC's and can count to twelve.

12. He's pretty sure he's 15.

13. He spent his entire second year of life throwing temper tantrums so horrible that I thought about selling him on Ebay.

14. He has been flogged by a chicken. Twice. (See no. 9.)

15. He loves broccoli.

16. He is a great big brother.

17. He's huge, when I carry him his feet touch my knees.

18. Telling him, "Goodnight, see you in the morning", makes him cry.

19. He trashed his room for the first time when he was 2.5 because he was mad at me, then he proceeded to lock me out of his room. See no. 12.

20. He didn't get his first tooth until he was a year old.

So there you have it, a few facts about our little Bug. He keeps us on our toes, but I wouldn't trade him for anything in this world! Lock him in the closet yes, trade him, no...

Writing and Residual Income

2009-05-05T11:05:00.009-04:00

Residual income is a dream come true. Think about it, you do work once but continue to earn from it day after day with no further effort on your part. Who wouldn't jump at a chance like that? When I was a mommy writer with an almost three year old meeting deadlines could be tricky. As a mommy writer with a three year old and a three month old, it's darn near impossible. Instead of stamping my foot in frustration and whining about it I have decided to look at it as an opportunity to explore the wonderful world of residual income. OK, after stamping my foot and whining about it. On with the post...

Another aspect that appeals to me is the freedom to write and create whatever I feel like. I cannot tell you how many content articles I have written that were so dull I wanted to shoot myself in the foot just to liven things up...topics like "How to Build an RV Awning" or "The History of Bar Codes". I love the idea that I can write about parenting, cats, gardening, all the myriad of things that interest me. I actually get excited about the possibilities, something that never happened with content writing.

It's fairly simple, you create content and submit it, then you are paid for ad clicks on your pages or for the page views themselves. If you choose your topics and keywords wisely you will earn more. The Freelance Home Writer has some great posts that you should check out if this idea appeals to you at all.

Here are a few more sites you may want to check out:

Residual Income Web
My Work at Home Blog
The Writer's Blog by Dana Prince

This seems like an opportunity with so much potential and the perfect solution for moms of little ones who can't ever make promises about things being done on time. I am just getting started, but I will post updates from time to time on my progress. Wish me luck!

I Need a Cooking Lesson...Several Actually

2009-05-04T05:08:00.008-04:00

I do not like to cook. Actually, it's not the cooking I hate so much as the cleanup. I don't own a dishwasher (hoping to remedy that sometime soon) so that can mean a lot of time spent at the sink. Grumpy doesn't take too well to being unattached to his Mama for more than ten minutes at a time, so that can make dish washing a little tricky.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, things pretty much fell apart after Grumpy was born. I have found myself relying more and more on prepackaged foods, which I had been slowly getting away from in the months before the baby arrived. I had a long way to go, but what little progress I had managed to make has disappeared. I'm even back to mac and cheese out of the box. I do cook some foods from scratch, like cornbread, mashed potatoes and occasionally, peanut butter candy, but the prepackaged foods far outnumber the homemade and the mommy guilt is eating me up.

Another of my hangups about cooking from scratch is the cost. Our favorite jarred spaghetti sauce is $0.99. I really don't see myself being able to make homemade for less than that, I could be wrong. I know that the health benefits would be worth the cost, but when money's tight it's very easy to justify tossing a jar of sauce in the grocery cart.

I'm also a little concerned about the time it will take to start preparing everything from scratch, see above reference to Grumpy. He is a pretty demanding little booger sometimes and he may not think Mommy should waste so much time in the kitchen when there's obviously rocking to be done.

My last concern, and it's not the least of them, it's how the food will taste. I'm just not the best cook. I try, I really do, but things don't always turn out the way I intended. Thankfully, the hubby will eat pretty much anything and is too scared of me to complain (kidding), but I know that I have my limitations.

Even with all of those concerns I am still planning to try and do something about my fear of cooking from scratch. I can't keep feeding my family foods with ingredients that we cannot pronounce, especially when I have a mom at my disposal who can pretty much teach me to cook anything.

I have decided to gradually replace our processed foods one at a time. This coming week I am going to tackle that spaghetti sauce. I know myself well enough to realize that if I try to change everything at once we'll be back to Kraft dinners within a week. So, I'm off to find the simplest homemade spaghetti recipe possible. I will keep you updated on my progress. Wish me luck!

50 Facts About Me

2009-05-02T14:05:00.008-04:00

I stole this idea from Heather at Want What You Have , I hope she doesn't mind. I always find it interesting to read about the authors of my favorite blogs and I thought you might as well.

1. My husband is the only person I ever seriously dated.

2. We only dated for five months before getting married.

3. We decided before we were married that we didn't want any kids. Yeah, we changed our minds about that one.

4. It only took one try to get pregnant with Bug and two tries to get pregnant with Grumpy. I will never take for granted how blessed I am to not have fertility issues.

5. I am descended from the first Italian immigrant to the US, but I look Irish with red hair and green eyes. Go figure.

6. I have one older brother and two older sisters. My youngest sister is 12 years older than me, I was a surprise.

7. I'm not quite 5'2.

8. My pinkies on both hands are very crooked. It's an inherited trait.

9. If I wasn't a mommy and writer I would be a veterinarian.

10. Halloween is my favorite movie of all time. I am terrified of Michael Myers and can't watch it if I'm going to be home alone.

11. I used to live in a haunted house. Seriously, it was horrible.

12. I have five great nieces, four great nephews, and another great niece due to arrive in spring.

13. I would rather read than watch t.v. any day of the week.

14. The only music I really like is country and gospel.

15. I have never lived more than five minutes away from my mom.

16. I eat six times a day.

17. My favorite color is red.

18. I am obsessed with making lists, not all that great with actually marking things off though.

19. I never went anywhere without makeup from the time I was twelve until I was 27, which coincidentally, was right after I had Bug.

20. I have no idea what kinds of clothes are in style at any given moment.

21. I would rather be home than anywhere else in the world.

22. I live so far out in the boonies it's unreal. I dream of moving deeper into the boonies. I'm not antisocial, I promise.

23. I am terrified beyond reason of spiders.

24. I am not afraid of snakes and really enjoy picking them up to freak out my mom and husband.

25. I actually enjoy getting up early, even when I don't have to be anywhere in particular.

26. I have been bitten by almost every animal imaginable, including a water dog (I don't care what anyone says, they do bite) and a goat.

27. I love animals anyway.

28. I would rather have a root canal than dust.

29. I don't mind cleaning the toilet, as long as it's my toilet.

30. I got my first ever side by side fridge last year and am ridiculously in love with it.

31. Sometimes I wear my p.j.'s and don't comb my hair all day until it's time for the husband to come home. Sometimes he comes home early. He says he loves me anyway.

32. My older brother is one of my favorite people even though he's a big grouch.

33. I created a website a few years ago dedicated to my cat, Dynamo. She passed away two years ago of cancer and I still miss her everyday. I need to update that website.

34. I have two parakeets, Suuny and Beak. Sunny is almost twelve years old.

35. I used to have a pit bull.

36. I was a legal secretary before I became a stay at home mom.

37. I used to be a carhop.

38. Cheese and mushroom pizza is my favorite food.

39. I am not a big fan of beef, I am always finding weird stuff in it.

40. I am still spoiled rotten by my mom and I enjoy every second of it.

41. I get my feelings hurt easily and am capable of pouting like a two year old.

42. I had postpartum depression after Bug.

43. I have naturally curly hair that turns into a pyramid shaped ball of fuzz if I use a brush.

44. I am so cold-natured that I can't wear short sleeves until the median temperature is at least 78 degrees.

45. I kill all fish that are placed into my care. I don't mean to, it just happens.

46. I am afraid of heights.

47. I would love to go to New Orleans.

48. I am obsessed with the Old South, hence my reason for wanting to go to New Orleans.

49. I whine way more than I should.

50. I can spell almost any word in the English language with no trouble at all, yet I have to use a calculator for simple subtraction.

Just a Quick Link...

2009-04-30T11:16:00.002-04:00

I don't have much time to post today (this is my third attempt) as Grumpy will not nap, but I wanted to post a link for those of you needing to make money from home. If you enjoy writing, or even think you might, check out The Freelance Home Writer. This site is by far the best resource I've found for getting real information about online writing opportunities, so if you're interested in trying your hand at writing for the web you should check it out.

I will try to do a more in depth post tomorrow, Grumpy is calling!

Disappointment

2009-04-29T06:51:00.007-04:00

I am no longer able to nurse Grumpy. I have struggled ever since he was three weeks old, my supply just hasn't been there. I have been sick repeatedly with everything from a mild stomach bug to bronchitis to an abscessed tooth that resulted in a jaw so swollen that I looked like I was chewing tobacco. I also had an outpatient surgical procedure which was promptly followed up by four gargantuan canker sores inside my lower lip. I'm sure that being constantly ill has had an impact on my supply but I didn't really think it would cause it to pretty much disappear.

I have tried increasing fluids, pumping between feedings with a hospital grade pump and taking Fenugreek and I've still had to supplement between one and three feedings for most of Grumpy's life. This weekend he started refusing the breast. I knew my supply was tanking again so I'd started back on the herbs, but this time he had apparently just had enough and he went on a hunger strike. We thought the poor baby had a bellyache and we bounced for over an hour before I finally decided to offer the bottle. He drank six ounces without spitting up any and has refused to take the breast during the day ever since. For some reason he will still take it at night, although he does fuss a little at first.

I decided I would just keep nursing at night if I could keep my supply up that much, but last night I didn't even have enough for that. So, I guess that's that. I have struggled with this so much, I'm almost relieved to see it come to an end, as bad as it may sound.

I am not one of those people who thinks that you are a monster if you formula feed, Bug was mostly formula fed because I had nowhere to pump at work and had to go back at six weeks. He has turned out quite wonderfully, if I do say so myself. I just wanted so badly to breastfeed this baby for at least the first year because I didn't have the chance to do that for Bug. I feel a little bit like a failure because it shouldn't have been this hard. Not to mention the recent reports of rocket fuel in formula.

I know some would tell me to keep trying, but honestly, I don't want to put Grumpy through that. My mommy instincts having been telling me for awhile that it was time to let this go, but I just didn't want to listen. I am going to try to stop feeling like such a failure because things didn't work out the way I had planned and that, as you probably already know, it much easier said than done.

The View from My Bedroom Window

2009-04-28T06:11:00.010-04:00

I get to wake up to this view every single morning. I can't imagine wanting to live anywhere else. Until winter hits, now that's a different story. We've had the most beautiful weather the past few days and I know that it won't be long until it's green everywhere you look, I love spring and summer!

For more Gratituesday visit Heavenly Homemakers.

A Great Work at Home Resource

2009-04-27T06:17:00.005-04:00

As I discussed in a previous post , it seems more difficult than ever for families to have a stay at home parent. For many at-home parents a return to work outside the home seems inevitable and for those aching to leave a full time job, it looks impossible.

When I first quit my job about two and a half years ago we were hit with a lot of unexpected expenses, so I decided to look into working from home. Every article I read advised me to figure out what I was good at and focus on how to turn that into an income. My choice was a no-brainer, I love to write and had actually started being published a few years earlier, so that was the direction I chose to go. For you it may be making a craft, baking, or selling merchandise through a company like Mary Kay. No matter which way your interests and abilities lean, I believe that WAHM.com will have a resource that can help you.

My favorite part of this site is the message boards. I found my first private writing jobs there and was able to bring in nearly $300 within two weeks of deciding to focus on my writing again. The women on the writing board are very helpful and willing to share any information and sources of work that they find, it's where I've gotten almost all of my writing leads and information. While I don't have experience with any of the other areas of the board, I would think that they would be just as helpful. They have boards on every type of work at home job you can imagine, be sure to check out the "Stickies" at the top of each for information about getting started.

Since writing is what I have experience with I plan to share some information over the next few days about how to start earning money almost immediately writing online as well as some information about building residual income. I think the ability to make a living from home is such a blessing for families who are searching for a way to keep a parent at home with the kids and I really believe it's possible if we set our minds to it!

Bug and Annie...Never a Dull Moment

2009-04-24T23:17:00.013-04:00

I had not planned on posting pictures of my boys, but I have been reconsidering (trying to be brave) and after talking it over with the husband we decided that shots like the ones above are within our comfort zone. I am one of the most paranoid people you will ever hope to meet when it comes to my kids, I know I probably take it a little too far sometimes. Anyway, on with this post...

The photo is of my great-niece (that makes me sound so old!) Annie and Bug playing outside last Thursday. Bug is used to playing with his male cousins and he is never quite sure what to do with Annie. She is a force to be reckoned with and when she tries to take something from him, like the lawnmower in the picture, she doesn't kid around. They are hilarious when they get together. He tries to reason with her, but being one and all she's not into talking things over yet. He is learning at an early age that there's just no understanding women.

Sleep? Not Around Here

2009-04-23T06:16:00.005-04:00

Babies sleep. They do, I've witnessed it for myself and read about it in books. But my kids didn't read these books. I remember when Bug was 3 weeks old he stayed awake from 9:00 in the morning until 9:00 at night. I was a first time mommy and thought it was a fluke. I was mistaken. He did start having two regular naps and a normal bedtime of 8:30 when he was about 8 or 9 months old...ah, I remember those days. Sure, his normal waking time varied between 5:00 and 6:30, but hey, at least I had those naps and an early bedtime.

The toddler years were much the same, laying in bed crying and kicking until 10:00 or 11:00 (or 1:00) then waking up at 5:30. Grumpy started out having good naps and I hesitantly began to believe that maybe, just maybe he would sleep the way babies are supposed to. Ha! He has a good, hour long or more nap about once a week. Most days he dozes about fifteen minutes three times a day if I hold him and wakes up immediately if you try to put him down. Last night he didn't sleep until 10:30. Ten freakin' thirty! I get up at 5:00 to send the husband off to work so this morning I was zonked.

I couldn't wait for him to leave so I could crawl back between the sheets. Then I heard Bug's door open. He walked into the living room wearing just his undies and holding Teddy to announce "I woked up." . Why am I not surprised?

Staying Home with the Kids: Is it Worth It?

2009-04-22T06:08:00.008-04:00

Times are very hard right now for so many people. Many of us stay at home or work at home moms left our jobs before the economy fell apart and the salaries and budgets that we were sure we could make it on...well, not so much anymore. Thankfully, the company my husband works for doesn't seem to be heading in the direction of layoffs, but this past year has been a rough one for our family. Our washing machine died, our truck kicked the bucket, right about the time I was actually starting to bring in some money from my freelancing my computer crashed and burned, and my husband had to have oral surgery. It was not a good year financially.

As everything fell apart around us I began to wonder if leaving my job to stay home was the smartest idea. Of course, being pregnant meant finding another would probably be a little difficult so I kept plugging along with my writing, but believe me there were moments of panic. I talked to the hubby about it and he was adamant that it was best that I stay home and here are a few of our reasons for making that decision, even when our finances were begging for mercy:

1. Daycare is not a place that we would ever freely choose to place our kids for a myriad of reasons, but if we did choose to go that route, we would have about $75 every week of my take home pay left over to pay for other things like gas for me to get there and clothes for me to wear.

2. Our family life would suffer. My kids would be in someone else's care for about nine hours a day. When we all did make it back home we would be rushing around trying to get dinner, laundry, baths, stuff ready for the next day. My husband would have to help out more with the house which would mean less time for him to spend with me or the kids. Been there, done that, don't ever want to do it again.

3. The kids would suffer. I despise the idea of having to get my babies up before daylight, cram them in a car and cart them off before they are even fully awake. Not to mention having to spend that much time away from us, I don't think it would be fair to them.

4. I am a horrible working mama and my husband is slightly afraid of me when I am gainfully employed outside the home. I get mean and nasty and filled with resentment that I am not the one spending my days with my kids.

5. We have what we need. We have food, shelter, clothes and we are together. We do have a lot of luxuries too, like satellite, internet, cell phone, but if we had to lose all of those extras it still wouldn't be worth putting my kids in someone else's care for the majority of their waking hours.

I am not saying that moms who work outside the home are bad, I used to be one. I wasn't very good at it and it made me miserable, but that's beside the point. Having a parent at home is what works best for our family and I know that there are a lot more families out there like us. It's so tempting to throw in the towel and feel like being home isn't worth the struggle, but I think that if it's where you want to be and it works for your family then you shouldn't give up without a fight.

That's the reason I started trying to work from home as a writer, something I had had some success with a few years ago but had to abandon when life became too hectic. It's hard to manage time right now with a three month old, but I am slowly starting to find a new routine. It's not easy, but I'm hopeful that I will eventually have the financial security to know that no matter what, I will have the option to always be here for my kids. I know I'm not the only parent who feels this way, so in the next couple of weeks I am going to post some information and links about building income from home. We can do this!

Gratituesday: Brotherly Love

2009-04-21T06:17:00.007-04:00

I love the idea of Gratituesday which is hosted by Laura over at Heavenly Homemakers. I have learned over the past couple of years that my attitude tends to lean quite heavily on the negative, so I have to make a point to consider things I'm grateful for on a regular basis. Not that there isn't plenty, I feel blessed beyond measure, but I don't appreciate those blessings nearly as much as I should. Anyway, on with the post...

After Bug was born my husband and I decided we didn't want any more kids. I really meant it when I said I didn't want more and I actually considered having a tubal due to my issues with hormonal birth control. The baby bug bit me hard during the winter of 2007 and at the top of my list of reasons for wanting another baby was so that Bug would have a sibling. I did wonder if maybe I'd waited too long for them to be playmates, but overall it just felt like the right thing.

Last night I had Grumpy on my lap while Bug was bathing and he began to cackle out loud at his brother's silly antics. I was absolutely stunned. For a couple of weeks now his little face has been lighting up when he sees his bubby, but this was his first real out loud laugh. Bug loved it and would lean over to smile back when the baby would laugh. Grumpy would kick and try to get closer to him, it was the sweetest thing I believe I have ever seen.

Later Grumpy was in his bouncer and Bug would pretend that the baby had kicked him and fall over into the floor making his brother laugh out loud again. I can't believe that they are already interacting. You can tell that Grumpy just loves his big brother, he gets so excited every time that he sees him. I am looking forward to watching their relationship grow as they get older and am so thankful that God has given my the privilege of being mommy to these two beautiful boys!

Playdough Is a Tool of the Devil

2009-04-15T21:09:00.010-04:00

Bug loves Playdough. It is one of his favorite things so I have tried to be patient and understanding, always keeping in mind that although it is a horrendous mess, he does need a creative outlet. By about the third day of trying to remove the squished, dried Playdough from the living room carpet I begin to think that maybe his 96 crayons, 52 markers, various paints, colored pencils and inkpens really should provide a sufficient creative outlet, but a week or two later I hear "Mommy, can I have my Playdough?" in a surprisingly sweet and inncocent voice. I fall for it every single time. Because I am an idiot.

Last night I made the mistake of looking at a picture on the computer of Bug playing with the Playdough. He immediately wanted to know if he could have it, but since it was almost bath time I told him he would have to wait. I hoped he would forget. He didn't and when I got back from changing into my p.j.'s Bug and Daddy were having a blast on the coffee table with no newspaper or protective plastic bag anywhere in sight. Sigh.

This morning he wanted it again so I said yes, as long as he kept it at the kitchen table on his plastic bag and was very careful not to drop any in the floor. The photo above is what I found when I got finished with my five minute shower.

When these things happen while Grumpy is screaming, it's almost 11:00 and I haven't started the laundry and my tooth is throbbing with every heartbeat the Ugly Mommy Voice is almost guaranteed to come out. And so it did. Which is the reason that I am certain Playdough is a clever and surprisingly fun tool of the devil, designed to trip us up at just the right moment. Playdough is now an outside toy. Moonsand, too. And I refuse to feel guilty about it no matter how many times that my lovely husband rolls his eyes.

My Favorite Ways to Use Leftovers

2009-04-15T06:40:00.003-04:00

As I've mentioned before, one of the easiest places to cut back spending is the food budget and there is no better way to do that than by using leftovers. Around here Bug and I consume quite a few leftovers for lunch, but the hubby isn't too fond of them so I've managed to come up with a few ways to turn leftovers into something new and exciting and not so obvious so that he will eat them too.

One of the simplest ways to avoid tossing your veggies is to freeze them for soup. Anytime we have any leftover canned or frozen vegetables I just toss them in a big container in the freezer that I have on hand just for this purpose. Then when it's time to make what I call the World's Easiest Beef and Veggie Soup all I have to do is dump them into my kettle.

I also reinvent my mashed potatoes by turning them into potato cakes. It's so easy to do, I just add black pepper, onion powder (you could use onions of course, but I can't stand the crunch) and enough flour to make it possible to form patties that will hold together. Then you just fry them up like pancakes, they are soooo good!

I love to make roast in the slow cooker, but since there are only two of us who actually eat it (Bug will only eat hamburger...and then only in other foods, but never an actual hamburger) there would be a lot of waste if I didn't come up with a clever way to reuse it. Since the meat is so tender I shred it up and drown it barbecue sauce, wrap it up aluminum foil and heat it while my bread bakes. This works well with pork or beef and even my husband loves it.

I absolutely hate wasting food so I am thrilled to have found ways to use leftovers that we not only will eat, but actually enjoy!

The Danger of Blogs

2009-04-14T17:15:00.009-04:00

I am a blog junkie. Sure, you can't tell it from the number of posts I've managed to write here, but left to my own devices I will peruse mommy blogs until my eyes glaze over. When I found myself desperate to quit my job a few years ago blogs were such a source of inspiration and encouragement to me. I learned a ton about how to stretch our money, feed my family and run a household. The blogs also helped to alleviate the loneliness that can come when you're in the house all day with a little one and no real conversation. But I recently realized that you can definitely get too much of a good thing.

Although we haven't always made the wisest decisions concerning our finances, I can now stretch a dollar until it begs for mercy. I truly understand and value an early morning quiet time with the Lord and I have found a schedule that works pretty well to keep our house running smoothly. Yet I continue to spend time searching these blogs and comparing the way I do things to the way others do them, always feeling that my way is "coming up short".

We don't eat all organic. It's not readily available here and even if it was, we probably couldn't afford it most weeks. I do not grind my own grain, make my own laundry detergent and we have satellite television. While I do breastfeed, my supply isn't up to par and I supplement with formula. These are only a few examples of the things I regularly beat myself up about when I read about how other moms run their households and care for their families. I could actually torture myself for days and feel like I was somehow cheating my family because I didn't do many of the things I was reading about on other blogs.

My husband knows me way better than I know myself and he has spotted the problem and has offered me some very wise advice; to sum it up he wants me to prepare foods that we like, buy some Gain detergent, feed the baby whatever will keep him healthy and full, find something good to watch on television and be happy! His simple wisdom about these things is exactly what I need to hear sometimes, God definitely knew what he was doing when he gave me this man!

I'm not saying mommy blogs are horrible, they are interesting, helpful and often hilarious. I just can't read more than one or I begin to drive myself and every one in my family completely insane. I actually felt like I didn't know what I believe is important anymore and as silly as it sounds, I had to give it some thought. Here is what I finally came up with: I don't get the benefit of circumcision so we didn't have either of our boys done. We eat Hamburger Helper sometimes and I don't think it will really hurt us. I think breast is best, but formula is ok too. I think public schools are bad places and I don't intend to send my kids there if I can help it. I think the term "tomato staking" in reference to children is ridiculous. Carefully monitored watching of television by my kids is not only ok, but can even be good and educational. My house does not run on a perfectly timed schedule, is often messy and my son doesn't have certain times to play blocks or color. There you have it. My dirty little secrets are out.

No, I don't truly think you really care about my opinions on all of that. At least I hope you don't because I am just a wife and mommy struggling to make sure everything is taken care of and everyone knows they're loved. I also don't think you are horrible if you won't touch anything that's not organic, send your kids to public school and don't own a television so please don't be offended. My point is simply that it's ok for all of us to be the moms and wives that we are. If reading blogs, or anything else for that matter, undermines following your own instincts then it's time to take a step back and figure out what you believe. But that's just my two cents worth.

World's Easiest Beef and Veggie Soup

2009-04-13T07:00:00.002-04:00

One pound hamburger
One can vegetable juice (like V8)
3/4 cup water
One can mixed vegetables or frozen leftover veggies
Black pepper to taste
One medium onion, chopped

Brown the hamburger and drain the fat off. Combine vegetable juice, water, meat, veggies, black pepper and onion. Bring to boil then simmer for twenty minutes. You can leave the meat out, use a different kind of meat or add rice or pasta. I think using vegetable juice instead of tomato is what makes this soup so yummy and it's also a great way to trick kids into actually consuming a few.

Meet the Cats

2009-04-07T06:44:00.008-04:00

It just occurred to me that I haven't introduced two very important members of our little family...Tigger and P.J. The tortoise shell is P.J., or P.K. as Bug refers to her. She is bossy, mean, and terrorizes our other poor kitty. She was a tiny 8 week old stray when we adopted her. Bug was 18 months old at the time and since they have pretty much grown up together he absolutely adores her. He loves to give her hugs and kisses, wrap her up in blankies and push her into the tub. She tolerates his affection pretty well, there's hardly ever any blood drawn.

The yellow tabby is Tigger (aka Tig). He was adopted last January from our local shelter and is still terrified of everything except me. A more annoying cat you will not find, but he grows on you after awhile.

Putting Life Back Together

2009-04-06T16:25:00.000-04:00

No, no one died and I haven't been diagnosed with a terminal illness so don't let the title of this post alarm you. If you've been following this blog (and if you have I am in awe of you because I've had virtually nothing to say) you will have noticed that my posting has been scattered at best and I definitely haven't had it all under control. I have been struggling to put it mildly and my poor family has been topsy turvy ever since before Grumpy made his appearance.

I don't think that women always realize just how much our attitudes and outlook influence every part of our families' lives. A few months ago I was wholeheartedly devoted to living my life the way I thought God wanted me to and even though I fell short of that goal often, I had a goal. When my debilitating morning sickness arrived I started to let things slide. I didn't feel like praying every morning, I didn't want to focus on how to improve myself, be a better wife or mother. I just didn't feel like it. Little by little I lowered my standards until honestly, I just didn't try very hard at any of it anymore. My prayer life took a serious hit and as much as it pains me to type this, I rarely spend time in God's word or in prayer these days. And everything is falling apart.

I have been almost continuously sick since the baby was born. My house has actually been nasty at times and Bug has spent literal hours camped in front of the television because I didn't have the energy or motivation to do anything about it. It is a miracle that we haven't been hit with repeated late fees on our bills because I just can't seem to get motivated to pay them when I should. I won't even go into how I look, but suffice it to say, I've hit a low point there as well. It is embarrassing to admit all of this, but I think if I'm going to author a blog designed to inspire other women to get their homes and financial lives in order then I need to come clean about my own struggles.

I know that having a new baby is a real challenge and lots of people have encouraged me to cut myself some slack. I do agree with that, but a difficult (though blessed) time of life should never be an excuse to cut God out of the picture. It's when I need Him most. Had I brought my troubles to him and asked for help I know I would have received it. Instead I chose to go it alone and now my home is out of whack and in desperate need of being put back together. Thank the Lord that He is always there waiting for us to come back to Him!

This is Not the Way to Start a New Blog

2009-03-02T06:04:00.007-05:00

When I decided to start this blog I knew I was picking a difficult season in my life, but the urge to write again was too strong and I decided to go for it. It's been nearly a month since my last post and I haven't written an article for profit since two weeks before my son's birth so I guess I really can't do everything after all. The urge to write is still here, the time...not so much. Here are few updates on our life and why you haven't heard from me lately:

1. Our almost three year old son acquired his nickname of "Bug" for no good reason soon after his birth and it just stuck. Half the time the entire family still refers to him this way, so I wondered what nickname our latest addition would end up with. His daddy has dubbed him "Grumpy" and there is a good reason for it. The baby always looks miserable, even when he's sleeping and he doesn't tolerate it well if you don't solve his problems immediately. Should you dare to kiss or hug him when he's busy eating or pooping he actually makes a growling sound. I am looking forward to the teenage years.

2. Grumpy decided to skip the napping part of his newborn life. He also instituted a strict schedule of screaming non-stop from about 7:00 until 11:00 each night just to keep us on our toes.

3. I cannot get my house under control. My husband always said he wasn't picky about housework being done as long as he didn't have to kick stuff out of his way when he got home from work. Sorry honey.

4. Bug doesn't nap. I don't know what's wrong with my kids. Why can't we just have normal kids?!? (Disclaimer: I love my kids. I really do. They are killing me slowly, but I love them.)

Anyway, Grumpy is actually doing a little better with his sleeping so hopefully I will be able to get at least a part of my normal routine back and be able to carve out a few minutes for things that I enjoy again. In the meantime if you don't hear from me it's just because I'm struggling to care for a house, husband, a Bug and a Grump.

Our New Arrival

2009-02-05T13:14:00.004-05:00

Our new baby boy finally made his appearance on January 23rd at 10:29 p.m. but not quite the way I had anticipated. I showed up at the hospital on the 22nd with contractions, but was sent back home because they weren't regular. I knew I was going into labor since I continued to have contractions all night. I went in for my office visit the next day and I had made it to 4 centimeters so the doctor scheduled an induction for the morning of the 24th. I was eagerly anticipating a nice, highly medicated hospital birth like I experienced with Bug. Yeah...right.

I ended up back at the hospital that night with contractions coming three minutes apart. I went from 6 centimeters to 9 in about 45 minutes and guess what? No time for an epidural. I had my almost 8 pound son with no medication at all. I would not recommend it. It hurt a lot.

We have been blessed with another beautiful little boy who looks just like his daddy and big brother and I couldn't be happier. More rested, yes. Cleaner, most definitely. But I wouldn't trade our little monster for anything.

Now I'm trying to figure out how to balance a new baby, almost three year old, husband, house, pets and my writing. Ladies, I am struggling. Any tips, suggestions, and prayers would be greatly appreciated. My goal is to spend plenty of time with God, get together a routine that keeps us fed, the laundry done, and my kids well cared for while still allowing me to write from time to time. My husband has been so supportive and helpful, I am so blessed to have him! This is definitely a stretching experience for me, I am such a control freak that I almost panic when my days have no structure. But for this season I will have to just hang on and hope to learn all that God wants to teach me.

Another Baby Update

2009-01-17T13:37:00.002-05:00

Well, I went for my appointment yesterday and there's still no change. I have to go back next Friday to be checked again. If I've made any progress they are planning to break my water, if not the baby will be monitored and, if everything is ok, I will will have the choice to induce early in the week.

I'm just not sure how I feel about all of this. On one hand, I really want this baby out. On the other hand, my doctor said that if my cervix isn't ready an induction may fail and I'd have to have a c-section. But I will be 41 weeks pregnant by the time the induction is offered and there is a risk that the placenta may begin to deteriorate. I am praying that I will go into labor on my own before we have to make this difficult decision. If not, I am just praying for the wisdom to make the right choice.

Cash in the Kitchen

2009-01-16T07:00:00.006-05:00

If you are reading this blog you've probably experienced a time when the funds coming in were not quite what you expected or maybe the expenses for the week were a lot higher than usual. When you find yourself in this situation the first place to look for a little extra cash is in the kitchen. Eating out of the pantry is a great way to reduce your grocery spending and avoid wasting the food that your hard earned cash has already paid for.

Since we're having one of those hairy weeks right now I thought it would be a good time to share my method:

1. Go through your cabinets, fridge and refrigerator and make a list of all foods that need to be used up quickly. I actually try to do this every week because I am so bad for forgetting things and having to toss them. I hate tossing food! You'll probably find some things that you have forgotten about, add those to the list too. Be sure to check the date on everything.

2. Decide how much money you can set aside for groceries for this week. Aim for the lowest amount possible.

3. I keep a list on a small cork board in the kitchen and add things as I use them. For instance, if I open a can of veggies I will add that to the list so that I always keep my stock up and don't run out of things. If you keep a list like that then add those things to your grocery list first. If not, make a quick check of all items you use regularly, like vegetable oil, etc. and jot down anything you may need. Don't forget to include things like cat food, toilet paper, etc. if you buy those things out of your "grocery" budget like I do.

4. Next, I add up the cost of the necessities that I have on my list. I subtract this number from the amount I've set aside for groceries. I now know how much money I have available to fill in the gaps and make meals out of the foods I have on hand. Take a look at the items that you have on your "foods that need to be used up" list. What can you make with these items? What will you need to buy? Add those items to your list, being careful to stay within your budget.

5. Write down a list of your meals for the week, including breakfast, lunch and supper. We use a lot of leftovers around here and that is a great way to save money. For example, on Wednesday we had round steak with beef gravy, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese and rolls. Last night I made ham that was leftover from Christmas (frozen of course), potato cakes from the leftover mashed potatoes, reheated the mac and cheese for my son, opened a can of veggies and used the rest of the pack of rolls. If you can't incorporate the leftovers into your next dinner, consider using them up at lunchtime.

This is a method that I use often and it works really well for our family. When we don't have to be as careful I stock up on things, especially when they're on sale, so that when a lean week does come we are ready for it. It has also been a huge help in reducing the amount of food that we toss. If you haven't already, try visiting Mommysavers for some really helpful tips, especially on their forums.