Liberated!!

So we're starting a "Total Money Makeover". I told David I'd cut my spending and last week I did just that!! I only spent $26 on my credit card and only because I broke my sunglasses and needed to go to Target for a new pair. While I was there I bought Laynie a pair and had to stock up on 'back to school' supplies. I couldn't pass up 10 notebooks for $1, glue sticks for $.15 or water paints for $.88! I have big dreams of all the crafty things Laynie and I are going to do together. I also spent $20 cash, which wasn't bad considering we went to the Science Museum and McDonalds Monday then to a Mexican buffet for lunch on Thursday.

This week I'm on track to do even better!! I have $15 that's burning a hole in my purse but plan to use it when we do our MOMS Club outing this week. It's going to be so nice when my credit card bill comes to not feel bad about how David is going to feel when he sees it! I'm only grocery shopping once/week now too so that will help with the 'extra-curricular' spending that I'm so good at. It will also put a stop to the impulse spending, which I'm REALLY good at! (Although I usually buy what I need... just not when I need it)

We had a pool party at our house this morning. Laynie had a great time and took a good nap. Because it was here I had everything clean early so I was able to spend a couple hours with my feet up just relaxing. It was nice as "JR" is getting bigger and I'm feeling him move a lot more. This is my favorite part of pregnancy.

I've attached some pictures of Laynie swimming. If I wasn't so tired I'd move them down but am satisified that at least I posted them. Heather bought an underwater camera so they're a couple weeks old but fun none the less! If we weren't doing the "Total Money Makeover" I'd need one of those cameras. In all honesty, I've been trying to get David to see the benefit.... By the time I do, I'll change my mind. It seems every major purchase we make I want and he doesn't then he does and I don't. Then we go back and forth a few more times and make our decision.

I had something else I was going to post about but don't remember what it was.... The weather is still hot here. It was nice today though... only 108. I think the swimming pool makes a huge difference for us. It storms all around us but doesn't seem to make it here. Unfortunately Laynie is as brave when it comes to thunderstorms as I am. She screamed earlier because she was afraid of the lightening and I tried my best to make her feel better, I was petrified myself! I hate storms.....

She thinks she's a fish

We had a break from swimming due to David's swimmers ear and my allergies. David took Laynie out today for a while. I went out with them for a bit, mostly to get some video of Laynie swimming. I thought she'd be scared again... at least a little bit. By the time I made it out, about a half hour after her and David she was happily treading water in the middle of the pool with her little head poking up. I got in the water and she wanted to swim to me.... She's got enough strength now to hold herself up. She was coming toward me when she became distracted. David told her to kick her feet and move her hands and keep breathing. She was busy looking at the sky. I went to grab her but she pushed my hand away. "LOOK, a butterfly" she was pointing to a yellow MOTH (or what looked like a moth anyways). She's so pleased with herself. I had to try hard not to panic, luckily it was flying away from us. She's so proud of herself.... I'm proud of her too!

We went to the Science Center again this week. I was neurotic with hand sanitizer this time. I told some of the other moms we were with we were NOT taking strep throat with us again. We got to spend more time in Laynie's favorite room. Actually, most of our time was spent there. Once again I spent most of my time chasing her from activity to activity. I don't mind though... I'm beginning to realize that in a couple short months it won't be just Laynie I'll be taking care of. I hope I'm a good enough mom to handle two and get them both what they need.

We're signing Laynie up for music lessons in a couple weeks. The class is going to be similar to Kindermusik, which we had a great time doing. I think she'll really enjoy it, I hope she does anyways. We've decided to wait on pre-school for this year. I'm still torn about the whole kindergarten start time but figure I have at least two more years to stress myself out about it. Best case scenario is that the cut off will be changed to September 1. December 31 is just crazy, in my opinion.

We're down to less then 10 weeks for baby boy. Could time be passing any quicker?! On the bright side I think this is the first summer in my entire life that I haven't been stressed because summer is half over and it's going to be cold again soon. YIKES I hate the cold weather. I hear about the 'heat wave' all over the US and laugh a little. The average high this past month was almost 108. It sure didn't seem like what I imagined it would.

The battery on my laptop is almost drained so I guess that means my story for the day is over.

Already MID July

Well.... all I can say is "Time Fly's". Not just this week but time in general. I'm already 28 weeks pregnant and can't believe how fast it's going. My perfect baby is almost 3. It doesn't seem like it was that long I was pregnant with her. I'm trying to figure out a way to slow things down but haven't figured it out... yet!

Laynie's energy never ceases to amaze me and as always we're so busy with the MOMS Club. What a great organization this has been for us in terms of getting us out of the house and around other kids for her and adults for me. I've been getting antsy being home full time and realize I wouldn't have lasted a month without this outlet. We were going to send her to pre-school this fall but have decided to put it off another year. Her birthday falls right after the "kindergarten cut off" but she'd qualify for "early kindergarten" should we decide to send her. I have mixed feelings. I like the way it was in the district I grew up in .... if you weren't 5 by September 1 - you didn't start kindergarten, no exceptions. Apparently the "early kindergarten" program here is just a way for the school district to obtain additional funding. My feelings now are to wait and let her 'relish' her early childhood. There's no turning back once she starts school. Plus, I don't want to be sending a 17 year old off to college when the time comes. Maybe she'll be mature enough to handle it but in reality - she is MY daughter so maturity probably won't hit her until she's in her late 20's.

Molly - our family mutt was diagnosed with Diabetes a couple weeks ago. She's going to need insulin shots for the rest of her life and RX dog food. She's doing so much better now but we're still working on regulating her blood sugar. Being the Type A worry wart freak I am I've been doing a lot of research on canine diabetes. I stressed myself out about her getting glaucoma and not getting to live a good long life. She doesn't have any signs of glaucoma and there's no reason she can't still live a long time. She'll just be a little higher maintenance then she use to be.

All in all she's a great dog though. She's so good with Laynie, who isn't always good with her in return. Laynie loves her to pieces, just gets a little rough with her sometimes. Molly just takes it and wags her tail for more when Laynie walks away from her.

We had my mother & father in law and my sister in town for the 4th of July. I love watching them interact with Dalaynie. She thinks they're the greatest. They spoil her, she puts on a show. Most of the time they were here she wanted to do everything with "Grandma". She wanted to sit by grandma, eat with grandma. She wanted Grandma to take her potty and wash her hands. Anywhere Grandma went, Laynie wanted to be. It brought back memories of when her whole life revolved around her daddy.

David got swimmers ear really bad last week. The MD gave him ear drops and Vicodin for the pain. He was hurting so badly Saturday that I called the Urgent Care MD he saw to see if she could give him anything else. They suggested taking him to the ER. I guess that's healthcare in the South for you. He was having no part of the ER conversation so he suffered until Tuesday morning when he could get in with another MD. Things are getting better -THANKFULLY and we've all learned the importance of drying our ears after swimming in the pool.

Well theres life in the fast lane.....

Busy Week!!

Where does the time go? This past week seems to be yet another blur of time in the "Days of My Life". Our last week was busy... this week ahead of us, busy also.

We picked up my in-laws at the airport Wednesday morning and spent the day just hanging out. They had the pleasure of watching Cinderella... I've learned to just tune it out. After seeing it at least 30 times I still can't tell you many of the details.

Laynie had her recital on Wednesday. She performed wonderfully. I almost shed a tear thinking of her being all grown up, dancing to her hearts content. I attribute the emotions to hormones though... they don't normally come that easily. I was really happy my mother & father-in-law were able to be in town to see her. Grandma made her a bouquet of flowers with some lollipops. Laynie was very pleased with that.

Thursday we went on a MOMS Club activity in the morning and shopping in the afternoon. Dalaynie got another 'princess' dress, a Barbie one this time. Really frilly and pink. She loves it and I love the break from Cinderella. That evening we went to Fetal Fotos to get some 4D pictures of the 'bun in the oven'. He wasn't very compliant... the only thing he was willing to show off was the fact he is a boy. We get to go back in a few more weeks to see if we can get some better pictures. The bummer of the deal was we took my in-laws as Mothers Day, Fathers Day and birthday presents (Yes, I lack in gifts).

I don't remember what we did Friday... I guess that was too long ago. In the evening David's cousins family came to swim and visit. It was fun... we always like having people to swim with.

Saturday David & I went to a hotel for the night. It was nice. We went to dinner at a Thai restaurant.... I forgot what it was like to be able to eat a meal, in a restaurant, without "speed eating". The dining out experience is a lot different with and without a 2 year old.

Sunday we had another day of swimming and family. Laynie decided she no longer needs floats to swim and is no longer afraid of the water. Unfortunately, this brought out a whole new anxiety I knew nothing of. Needless to say she'll be starting swim lessons in the near future. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad she 'thinks' she can swim... and can actually tread water for a couple seconds... I just worry that her brave new attitude will make her forget the golden rule in our house of not going to the backyard without an adult.

I had my glucose test today for my pregnancy. Hard to believe I'm already starting my 27th week. The time has just flown. It will be interesting to see what my test result will be. My blood sugar was really low with Laynie. I'm a little older now though and don't have 'high' hopes for a repeat. Especially considering I don't feel well after I 'sugar' up.

Well... Gotta get Laynie to bed. I'll try to post more again soon!