Thursday, September 23, 2010
blah
Yeah, budgeting= major failure. You can't really make a budget when you don't earn enough money to cover all of your fixed expenses. I guess I have to find another job in addition to my tutoring. Not sure how all of this is going to work out. NOT a happy camper.
Total Money Makeover
So, someone gave us Dave Ramsey's book "The Total Money Makeover" for our wedding (this was over 2 years ago). I started to read it when we got back from our honeymoon, but thought, this is only for people who are REALLY in debt. We don't make much money and we don't have THAT much debt so it doesn't really apply to us. We tried having a budget but were lazy with it and it flopped. Now, we make much less money than we did before because I am not working besides tutoring a few hours a week. Needless to say, I have started reading the book again and am inspired. Most of our debt is for my student loans from both my undergraduate and graduate school, with only a small credit card balance. The point is, we need to know where our money is going and we need to have an emergency fund and get rid of that student loan debt. We used to look at it as, "we don't have any car payments like most people, so the student loans are just like a monthly payment that we will keep paying for awhile." I realize now that this is wrong because those payments seem to get less and less. At the end of each month we end up stressed out and mad at one another because we are scrounging to find the money to pay all of the bills.
So, we begin the total money makeover as of today. I am excited and dreading it at the same time. For me, I struggle with getting a coffee or a diet coke or something like that when I'm out with Levi. While this is just a dollar or two at a time, it adds up. We find excuses to "treat" ourselves with things like take-out food or beer. We've had a really stressful day or we've worked really hard that week. While in reality, I am realizing that we are adding to the stress by doing those things. It's going to be extremely hard, but I really hope that we can be successful with this and stop having to worry about money. I want my kids to have college paid for and to be equipped with better financial knowledge than I have had, and so I think it is important to get control now before we are really out of control.
If you are friends with us, please don't ask us to do things that will cost us money. Please pray for us and encourage us as we start this very difficult but rewarding journey.
So, we begin the total money makeover as of today. I am excited and dreading it at the same time. For me, I struggle with getting a coffee or a diet coke or something like that when I'm out with Levi. While this is just a dollar or two at a time, it adds up. We find excuses to "treat" ourselves with things like take-out food or beer. We've had a really stressful day or we've worked really hard that week. While in reality, I am realizing that we are adding to the stress by doing those things. It's going to be extremely hard, but I really hope that we can be successful with this and stop having to worry about money. I want my kids to have college paid for and to be equipped with better financial knowledge than I have had, and so I think it is important to get control now before we are really out of control.
If you are friends with us, please don't ask us to do things that will cost us money. Please pray for us and encourage us as we start this very difficult but rewarding journey.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Levi at 8 months
Well, I guess it is time for a monthly update on Levi. Today he is 8 months old! Time sure does fly by! He is changing every day.
Levi's movement: Levi rolls all over the place, sits up very well by himself, scoots backwards, moves in circles, and rocks back and forth on his hands and knees. So close to crawling (finally)!
Levi's eating: At around 6 months I weaned Levi to formula completely. I guess he kind of did the weaning. He was less and less interested in nursing and with his reflux and the start of solid foods, did not care to nurse and was fussy during nursing. He does not like formula very much either, but gets enough liquid to be healthy. He LOVES regular food! Levi especially loves finger foods like cheese, bread, cheerios, avocado, and lots of other things. One thing I made him that he really loves is pineapple chicken (just a can of pineapple with chicken in the food processor).
Levi's personality: He is very happy and smiles and laughs a lot. He also lets you know if he doesn't like something! He is stubborn too (gets that from both of us I think). :) Levi is an active and also very verbal kid. He is always babbling. Curiosity is another thing that has increased with him. He is always looking around at things and wanting to grab everything and put it in his mouth (including every little piece of fuzz on the carpet).
Levi's sleep: I am thankful that Levi continues to be a wonderful sleeper! He takes two naps a day. One in the morning for about an hour and a half usually from 9 to 10:30. Then one in the afternoon from about 1-3:30. Then he goes to bed at 7 and usually sleeps until around 7 in the morning! While he used to sleep on his back, he now likes to sleep on his tummy. He has found out that tummy time isn't so terrible after all! My favorite thing is to go into his room in the morning and greet him. He is so excited and gives me such a big smile. :)
Levi's size: I sat Levi on the scale the other day and it said 20 pounds! Our scale is not digital so I am guessing he is more like 19 something. Also, I am guessing he is somewhere between 28 and 291/2 inches. His 9 month doctor's appointment is going to be more like at 9 1/2 months because his doc will be on vacation when he would normally go in, so we will have to wait until Nov. 3rd to get his next height and weight check. He is growing so much these days!
Funny Levi story: The other day I was at the grocery store and while I was checking out the (woman) cashier pointed out to me that Levi had something in his hand that I probably didn't want him to have. It was a tampon that he had found in my purse! He was waving it around and putting it into his mouth. I was very embarrassed but thankful that the cashier was a woman and that she brought it to my attention!
A new experience for Levi: This weekend we are going camping for Jordan's birthday, which is on Monday. We made the decision to bring Levi with us (might regret it). I am kind of excited to bring him though, because I think he will really enjoy all of the sights and sounds and smells. There is something about the outdoors that I think babies really like. I have hats and slippers and socks and all kinds of other warm things for him to wear so I am hoping that he sleeps okay and that it is a good time for all of us. I will write about how it goes sometime after we get back and post pictures.
Levi's movement: Levi rolls all over the place, sits up very well by himself, scoots backwards, moves in circles, and rocks back and forth on his hands and knees. So close to crawling (finally)!
Levi's eating: At around 6 months I weaned Levi to formula completely. I guess he kind of did the weaning. He was less and less interested in nursing and with his reflux and the start of solid foods, did not care to nurse and was fussy during nursing. He does not like formula very much either, but gets enough liquid to be healthy. He LOVES regular food! Levi especially loves finger foods like cheese, bread, cheerios, avocado, and lots of other things. One thing I made him that he really loves is pineapple chicken (just a can of pineapple with chicken in the food processor).
Levi's personality: He is very happy and smiles and laughs a lot. He also lets you know if he doesn't like something! He is stubborn too (gets that from both of us I think). :) Levi is an active and also very verbal kid. He is always babbling. Curiosity is another thing that has increased with him. He is always looking around at things and wanting to grab everything and put it in his mouth (including every little piece of fuzz on the carpet).
Levi's sleep: I am thankful that Levi continues to be a wonderful sleeper! He takes two naps a day. One in the morning for about an hour and a half usually from 9 to 10:30. Then one in the afternoon from about 1-3:30. Then he goes to bed at 7 and usually sleeps until around 7 in the morning! While he used to sleep on his back, he now likes to sleep on his tummy. He has found out that tummy time isn't so terrible after all! My favorite thing is to go into his room in the morning and greet him. He is so excited and gives me such a big smile. :)
Levi's size: I sat Levi on the scale the other day and it said 20 pounds! Our scale is not digital so I am guessing he is more like 19 something. Also, I am guessing he is somewhere between 28 and 291/2 inches. His 9 month doctor's appointment is going to be more like at 9 1/2 months because his doc will be on vacation when he would normally go in, so we will have to wait until Nov. 3rd to get his next height and weight check. He is growing so much these days!
Funny Levi story: The other day I was at the grocery store and while I was checking out the (woman) cashier pointed out to me that Levi had something in his hand that I probably didn't want him to have. It was a tampon that he had found in my purse! He was waving it around and putting it into his mouth. I was very embarrassed but thankful that the cashier was a woman and that she brought it to my attention!
A new experience for Levi: This weekend we are going camping for Jordan's birthday, which is on Monday. We made the decision to bring Levi with us (might regret it). I am kind of excited to bring him though, because I think he will really enjoy all of the sights and sounds and smells. There is something about the outdoors that I think babies really like. I have hats and slippers and socks and all kinds of other warm things for him to wear so I am hoping that he sleeps okay and that it is a good time for all of us. I will write about how it goes sometime after we get back and post pictures.
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