[cagnew]

Things are cruising along! My sister just announced she is pregnant and due in MAY! It made me realize how far along I am already Still experiencing some nausea... grrrrr.

So finances are getting tighter and there are a few things coming up that I need to save money for. I have no idea where I am going to pull extra money from! As it is, DH just signed us up for accident insurance (on top of our regular insurance) and that's going to be an extra $60 a month. I was pretty mad when he told me. I mean, yes, it's nice to have, but a lot of things are nice to have... and we just don't have a lot of extra money to spend. We've been to the emergency room once in the last two years. That doesn't justify the amount of money we will be paying into this program every year. BUT... what's done is done for now.

If I could just figure out how make an extra $300-$500/month it would help so much. I have some clothes to sell on ebay, but that won't amount to much. I've done some internet writing, but nothing significant enough to establish a portfolio impressive enough to be hired as a freelance writer. I could try to build my portfolio by blogging or working on eBooks and a website. The problem is, that won't pull money in right away, or even in the near future.

Bah. I know many of us are struggling with a tight budget right now so I won't whine 0 I just wish I could think of SOMETHING to do to earn some extra cash.

In other news, our air conditioner seems to have farted out. It's not blowing very strong and the temp is not budging from 80F. I hope it doesn't get too hot in here! I think the forecast for the rest of the week is in the upper 90's. Yikes!

Haha. My three year old just told the 18 month old (whoa... I didn't realize she was 18 months old til just now!) to go away because she has stinky tortilla breath. For some reason, I find that funny :laugh:

 

[sarahknavy]

I would laugh too. 3 year olds are challenging but they crack me up all the time.

I woke up last night and my right side was up about an inch or two from the left... It cracked me up so badly. I took a picture and messages it to my husband. Seems too early for lol sided belly time!

 

[Valerie11]

I know what you mean about needing a few hundred extra a month. Our only uncontrollable expense seems to be our grocery bill. It doesn't help that I am constantly craving new things that I didn't buy during shopping day.

Also, congrats to your sister!

You guys, I am so tired. I'm painting my 8 year old girl's room in preparation for her to share it with her 3.5 year old brother. By next year they will be 9 and 4. I feel bad about it, but I also don't feel bad because the two of them are always in each other's rooms watching tv or else they are never in their rooms, they are in some other part of the house. And it should only be for 2 years until we get another room built in the basement.

Anyway, it's coming along great. It's this color between blue and green called "Recycled Glass" from Behr. And I'm happy that it's looking more aqua than mint green, I was afraid it would clash with her aqua in her bedspread, but it looks perfect. My last part is just to get out the tall ladder because I can't quite reach the top of two walls since the ceiling is pretty high in that room. I've been wanting to do this since we moved into this house, but I was either too busy with other things or else I was working full time and just didn't feel like doing it on the weekends.

My next project is to paint what was my 3 year old's room. I saw a Target ad that made me want to do dark grey in there, whether it's a boy or girl. And when searching Google Images, I found this blog: http://www.housetweaking.com/2012/08/28/mabreys-room/
I am basically going to pick this exact color, because it looks so great in these pictures. Plus, the darkness will make that tiny room look bigger. And it will look good with any wood color, which I will have a few in there.

I do not have a lot of energy anymore, not like I did in my twenties, so I feel these colors will not only be good choices for my kids' rooms, but also for selling the house if for some reason we had to sell tomorrow. I just don't have the time or energy to paint again and again. I've been putting off this painting for 2 years, so here we go!

 

[sarahknavy]

That's a pretty gray. I agree that they will probably sell well.

I wouldn't worry too much about the kids sharing. I have heard before about making beds off limits so they know they always have a place to go where no one is allowed. You could also make it sort of nook-ish with a lamp and a space to put books or treasures.

 

[Valerie11]

That's a great idea. I was already thinking of book lights or lamps that don't produce too much heat. But a little curtain or something would be cute, too.

 

[DuchessTergie]

@cagnew, I'm hoping money comes your way and that your budget stretches in ways you couldn't imagine.
@Valerie11, I LOVE that dark gray. In our home we own I had our whole house painted in shades of robins egg blue. We're also big fans of nooks-- I turned our walk-in coat closet into an office and used DD1's closet as a crib nook ( we took off the bi-fold doors, painted it sapphire blue and decorated it like any other part of the room) and the crib fit in there perfectly. We wanted to room share then, but it didn't work out.... In our current home I painted our matchbox of a bedroom the darkest navy I could find and it made it so cozy rather than just looking small. But I'm not in my 20s anymore and painting is harder on my back than it once was!

AFM, I'm throwing a party for 50(!!) on Sunday so I have some serious cooking and cleaning to do. Wish me luck!

 

[Valerie11]

Good luck on your party planning Duchess!

Here it is for now. The bunk bed should come in about 2 months and then we'll do more furniture moving and redecorating. We're all really happy with the color and the way it turned out. I was afraid it was too green because it looks more green when wet, but it looks more blue dry, so my daughter's happy.

 

[entiti]

Ohh....love it! I did a color similar for my daughter's nursery when she was a baby. It had a very relaxing effect!

I am too sending financial creating vibes your way! Hubs was freaking out a bit about finances last week....and I told him just to relax, and let things come every day....you never know the millions of possibilities for positive things to happen without us worrying about the negative ones.
Well, yesterday he came home and surprised us with a project he will be working on until the end of the year that is doubling his pay!

We celebrated with pie My suggestion of course

 

[cagnew]

Eh. I'm a always going through phases where I get frustrated with lack of spending money. It always passes I do have to find a way to stash away money for my sisters wedding though. I'm the maid of honor (matron of honor) and will have to buy my dress, as well as flower girl dresses (which I am pretty sure I can find used... my sister is the opposite of a bridezilla, thank goodness!). Most of all, I want to have enough money to throw her a decent bridal shower and get her a nice gift. She is my baby sister I'm going to do a kitchen/baking-themed shower and I'm so excited about it. It's not until April, but I know I have to plan WAY ahead of time with this new little one on the way. I'm going to make it a pot luck, and ask the people to make their favorite family entree and bring the recipe to give my sister to start a cookbook. Hopefully, people won't find that cheap. I think it sounds like fun (and yes, it does help defray the shower cost for me).

I'm loving all the home improvement chat and pictures! Valerie, that room is gorgeous! I have a bathroom waiting to be primed and painted... the cans have been sitting on the floors for awhile now, just waiting for me to get motivated. Y'all are helping me feel some motivation! I've got a lot of white trim to paint around the house too.

duchess: I hope your party goes swimmingly!!!!

 

[murrelet]

Sorry to have been MIA lately guys. It sounds like everyone is busy and trucking along. Good luck for your party Duchess! It sounds stressful to prepare for, but hopefully will be super fun to attend. I hope your money situation eases a little soon cagnew. It's definitely a challenge sometimes to make ends meet.

AFM, I've been processing tomatoes since Thursday. Somehow I decided that 70lbs would be no big deal and would actually produce a useable amount of sauce. Yikes! I've got 1/4 of them left to chop up and sauce today and then the last round of canning. wish me luck that the littles cooperate and stay out of the kitchen!

 

[Valerie11]

I don't know if it's just me, but I forget that I'm carrying a baby in here. I don't forget that I'm pregnant, and I don't forget that the eventuality is that I will get another newborn (love that part the most!), but I always forget that there is an actual baby in there. Maybe just because I haven't felt it yet or maybe because it's still so small. Is it just me?

 

[sarahknavy]

I kinda feel that way. Probably cause you can't feel it. Until it starts moving on it's own it's just like another part of your body like a finger or a knee...

 

[gabeyho]

I feel that way. I don't really get hardly any symptoms, so in the beginning I don't look pregnant, I don't feel any different aside from being a little more tired and hungry, and it's just life as usual. The only shape my body has taken so far suggests that I need to lay off the ice cream, not that there's a person in there. I hate the beginning because for me, just nothing is different, it's more like an idea that has not yet come to fruition. And I want to hold a baby now, dangit!!

 

[jodieanneanton]

I am that way, too! I usually don't think about there being a baby until MUCH MUCH later. Like 37 weeks or something crazy like that when I think, "Oh, my gosh! There is an actual human in there!" I also have the same feeling about my kids from time to time... Like, I look at my 7 year old and I think, "Wow! She is a person! That is so weird!"

It sounds crazy! I know! lol. But I do it all the time... whether my child is in or out!

 

[sarahknavy]

I am that way, too! I usually don't think about there being a baby until MUCH MUCH later. Like 37 weeks or something crazy like that when I think, "Oh, my gosh! There is an actual human in there!" I also have the same feeling about my kids from time to time... Like, I look at my 7 year old and I think, "Wow! She is a person! That is so weird!"

It sounds crazy! I know! lol. But I do it all the time... whether my child is in or out!

Ha! That's awesome!

 

[bren94]

Yeah it slips my mind too! It's still so tiny so it's hard for me to recognize that there's actually a little baby in me. Is it normal to have round ligament pain at 13 weeks? I'm not sure what's going on but I've been getting little pains on the right side of my groin/uterus. They're sharp and uncomfortable and they come and go.

 

[alivewithyou]

Yeah it slips my mind too! It's still so tiny so it's hard for me to recognize that there's actually a little baby in me. Is it normal to have round ligament pain at 13 weeks? I'm not sure what's going on but I've been getting little pains on the right side of my groin/uterus. They're sharp and uncomfortable and they come and go.

I think it's normal because I've been having that on and off for awhile. I've been getting very dull cramps and aches too. They aren't too bothersome so I assume it's just baby growing.

Has anyone felt a weird tightening sensation when laying still? It is super weird to me and doesn't last long... And I don't think it's gas... Is it the baby?

 

[Valerie11]

I get the ligament pain, especially if I jump up from laying/sitting too fast. And I have noticed the tightening sometimes. Must be early braxton hicks or something.

 

[alivewithyou]

Dang I was hoping it was the baby moving or something. Either way it's not painful at all and it's quick so it doesn't really worry me.

 

[TeeThatsMe]

I am that way, too! I usually don't think about there being a baby until MUCH MUCH later. Like 37 weeks or something crazy like that when I think, "Oh, my gosh! There is an actual human in there!" I also have the same feeling about my kids from time to time... Like, I look at my 7 year old and I think, "Wow! She is a person! That is so weird!"

It sounds crazy! I know! lol. But I do it all the time... whether my child is in or out!

Jodie, it's funny--I don't find it as pronounced as you do with the baby in utero, but that's ABSOLUTELY the experience I have with my older kids! I find myself looking at them all the time and going "...No way. No way did I MAKE you and now you are just a complete little PERSON with speech and ideas and opinions and everything." It doesn't seem possible!
@alivewithyou, yep, sounds like Braxton Hicks. I was having one when I read your post!