Budgeting 101

It's a quiet Saturday afternoon-all the boys are asleep so I thought I'd have some fun with a post about budgeting! ☺️

Before we had kids and especially before we were married-the word "budget" didn't exist in our vocabulary. If we wanted new clothes, sure why not. Out to eat every other night, you bet. But as soon as our first was born, a magic budget button went off in our brains and suddenly we started to get it. 

Live off what you make, and not any more than that. 

What a concept! 

When you have a little tiny being you're responsible for (and now two tiny beings), guessing if you'll have enough money at the end of the month becomes a little more scary. 

So we put into action some simple ideas:

1. We cut up all of our credit cards (I know, right?!) Paid them all off within a year and have never gone back. We don't have payments every month plus we aren't paying extra (or interest) on anything we buy!

2. We actually MADE a budget. We've done this before, but we made it strict this time around and made sure to include everything we ever spend money on. (Are we perfect at sticking to it-not always, but it sure helps!)

3. We found areas we could cut costs and lower bills. (Lower phone data plan, no cable package, open all the blinds and keep lights off, switched car ins companies)

4. Recently I have started making our own baby food. (Was adding up to over $100/mo just for jars of food!!)

5. Also recently started cloth diapering both kids (investment at first but will save us about $80-$100/mo)

6. We mostly only buy extras like clothes, toys, etc. when we find things on sale (again not always but it has made a huge difference)

7. I cut mine and my husbands hair! (Not a huge expense, but I never have to put it in the budget!) And we've been doing this for years now. 

8. Buying discount meat (don't worry it's still good to eat ha!) for a few weeks and freezing it. Having meals ready to go avoids extra trips to the store or going out as often. 

9. Limiting our going-out-to-eat. We have weaknesses like anyone else-we'll go out because it sounds good or it's fast, but we have really paired down from what we used to do. 

10. Our biggest expense is my hubby's student loans so I find extra ways every month to throw $ at thoseby doing odd jobs online at a website solely for the purpose of paying off student debt. 

Every household is different and every couple is unique, so I'm not preaching that our ways are the only ways-but they sure do work for us!! 

A little nugget of information to think about :)

Blessings!

Perspective

This past Saturday night, my hubby and I laid in bed talking about this and that. Our weekend conversations usually go late into the night, as he doesn't have work the next day and our topics bounce from one to the next.

A topic that doesn't get focused on enough by our society, and yes us included, is how blessed we are to have what we have. We went into a discussion and reflected on all that God has given us.

(just to name a few) People in less fortunate countries are putting their babies to bed hungry, and we are able to feed our two babies three+ meals a day. Others risk their health just to drink the only available water, and not only do we have clean faucet water, but we use it to make coffee and ice just for convenience. We mentioned how we had two sweet, healthy and growing babies soundly asleep in the next rooms over and how we were cozied into a warm bed.

We are so blessed daily by God's presence, His word and works in our lives. So often we get caught up in the newest of new everything and don't step back to realize how lucky we are to even have the items we do.

I feel beyond blessed by the gifts of love, safety, and health that I have daily-and knowing that anything can change in a moment, I will strive daily not to be taking these wonderful gifts for granted.

Jump into a conversation or ponder this for yourself-it really puts your life in perspective.

Blessings!

Everyone Else Has 3pm Coffee Time Too-Right?

oh my-I think I used to start drinking coffee because I liked the taste. Then college hit 6 years ago and I would be at Starbucks at 9pm sipping it to stay up and study. THEN I HAD BABIES. Newborn stage = whenever I could get it, just to keep my sanity. Then it goes into having it all day long. Now-a-days its right as I wake up and again about this time of day.

I digress-this wasn't the reason I got on to blog this afternoon :)

SO many new things going on in this house of little men (and one regular sized man and me).

*Our pediatrician informed us that Roman is consuming too much milk....(I didn't know that could be an issue-enter mom learning something new every day quip) So now instead of giving him milk whenever he requests we peddle h2o like crazy which he is less than thrilled about. We have decided that milk at nap is a must for naps to continue-and let me tell you, they must continue.

*We changed from disposables (on Roman) to cloth diapers over the weekend and it went GREAT! Like my previous post stated, I think people make too big a deal about all the muss and fuss. I've been through it start to finish-including laundry-and no blunders to speak of. Dominic will be getting his in a couple of weeks and I'm excited for them both to be transitioned.

*Little Mr. Dominic has become mobile (eek!). Following in big brother's footsteps, he doesn't get up on his hands and knees to crawl, he pulls himself with his forearms and propels with one foot to get to where he wants to be. He can make his way around a room in no time and I feel like he was my tiny newborn just yesterday.

*I got a promotion at work (yes-I work from home!) at the end of last week and this weekend I dove headfirst into incorporating my new responsibilities with my existing ones. I'm excited about my this new adventure in my job and hope to keep expanding!

*My hubby (and I) decided we're going to start a farm, with a cow named Lucy............not tomorrow ;) But it HAS always been a dream of ours to live on a farm-so we started actually talking about it late Saturday night.

It was a fantastically relaxing weekend with our little family. And I'm so excited about all of the blessings God has brought our way. Constantly showing us His grace and mercy and showering us with love. We are undeserving, but oh so thankful.

Blessings!

Cloth Diapering (CDing???) Here.We.Come!

Guess what is apparently all the rage right now in baby land? Cloth diapering!

I didn't jump into this because it's "the new thing". When we decided to make the switch, we did it to cut the cost of $80+ in diapers each month and make a one time investment that will last until every one is potty trained. But when I began my research, my goodness all the information! The terminology, the different types, the different brands, the different reasons why certain ones are better at night and others are better for grandparents to attempt. Yep-it's all in there. I thought I would be reading "how to put on a cloth diaper" then buy them and POOF! ready to go. (Why I thought it would be that easy I guess goes to show how little about this topic I knew...I also think people make it a tad more complicated than it really needs to be...) I can't even go into the laundry aspect of it-but let's just say I read some people do seven SEVEN washes of one load of diaper laundry...did I mention some are a tad intense about this? 

After processing everything and talking it over with the hubby (I didn't even mention the seven loads of laundry part), we decided just to buy some up and give it a shot-and they are arriving today! So we will officially be "CDing" parents by this weekend. unless we fail miserably and return all of them. We won't be washing seven times, dancing on our hands, walking backwards or any other odd tricks to make this work for our family. We will just make it work for our family. Makes sense, right? Do what works for YOU. Researching on the internet can only get you so far. 

I'm excited to try something new and to hopefully make a great transition into this side of diapering! (who knew this topic could get me so excited!)

So wish us luck and pray we don't wake up with horror on our faces after cloth diapering our children over night. 

Happy Friday!

Blessings!

Holiday Weekend

This past weekend we drove back to Oregon to celebrate our smallest niece's 1st birthday! (We have 6 nieces and 1 nephew-with another unknown baby on the way from my SIL-making this the 7th 1st birthday party as Uncle & Auntie status) 

We had two celebrations and we had so much fun spending time with family. Our big little got to run and play with his cousins, bounce on the trampoline, zip-lined with momma (!), eat to his hearts content and received so many snuggles and kisses from everyone-I wouldn't have it any other way. 

Little little was passed around and loved on, got to enjoy his first swing session and played and slept (which is not really a big change up for him) ;) None-the-less, I think he enjoyed his time too. 

I know I did-my family is a big part of our lives, and even though we live far away we still make it down about once a month and seeing them is even more sweet since we know our time is limited to a few days. 

Now, tis Labor Day and the hubby is home with us! It may be a day for errands and cleaning, but everyone is currently napping and there's a coziness over our house. I'm enjoying this life I have been blessed with-from the busy to the calm-I love it all.

Happy Labor Day!

Blessings!

Organizational Blunder

Some days my house looks like a tornado hit it-and I simply walk over the piles of dirty clothes in our room and the 100th toy in the living area and just want to relax and not worry about everything being in its proper place right.that.minute.

Then other days, I get on my husband for not putting dishes directly in the dishwasher instead of just leaving them in the sink...

(I have a very patient husband) ;)

What's wrong with me??? I wish I was either completely Type A, where everything has an order, a place, a function, a cubby to fit into --OR--there's a mess and some day I'll clean it up. I'm totally and completely in the middle. I feel like that makes me more narcotic than if I was uptight about everything being put away! (Am I making sense here...? No... ?)

I know I am much happier when I can have a full day of cleaning and then after that it's just picking up after the kids or a load or two of laundry here and there rather than letting it all pile up for a week. But with two babies some days I DO want to just sit with them and not clean or think about the ten loads of laundry sitting in our rooms. AM I THE ONLY ONE? I'm assuming not.

Sometimes I think, maybe we have too much "stuff" and if we didn't, "stuff" wouldn't just be laying in my hallway. But then I look around and think, well what could we get rid of........................................and then that thought ends.

I know it will all get put away eventually-and then get dirty eventually. It's the circle of life people. The circle of a beautiful, messy life :)

At the end of the day, I have healthy kids who have a plethora of entertainment that doesn't involve the TV ; and clothes on their backs that they can dirty up all they want ; and a husband who makes me desserts with dishes that end up getting dirty ; and a warm place to live that is some times a mess.

That could've been THE most pointless post to date, but that's alright with me!

Blessings!

{His direction, His calling}

I don't know if it's having two babies to think about now, or maturing in my own life-but decision making these days seems to be under a microscope for me. I don't consider myself an irresponsible person, but long gone are the days where I flippantly make a decision and hope it works out. I've gotten more involved with giving God my decision making over the years and waiting to see His response of where we should be going. Let me tell you, even for a strong believer in the Lord it is still a scary process. My human mind says "TIME OUT-this can't happen" while God is clearly saying "let me worry about the logistics, you just follow my lead". Phew. Easier put into words on a blog than possibly living out in my day to day life. 

But let me tell you-the decisions He has called us to make that didn't make logical sense in the moment have been the greatest decisions and brought us to this amazing place in our lives. It's a daily commitment, that I will admit I don't always hold up my end on, to talk to God and ask for His direction in our lives. But I find a peace when I call on Him. 

I'm blessed daily. And thankful for all He does. (even when I don't want to give it up and let Him sometimes)

***Today I'm starting a devotional alongside my sister (via text because we live 200 MILES AWAY from each other) and I'm excited to see what this new aspect will bring to my daily life. Check it out here! 

Blessings!

Let's try this again...maybe!

I've tried this blogging thing how many times? Too many to count-or remember for that matter I guess.

I don't want to write to reach the masses-I kind of just want to write. And having it out there for anyone who wants to read it is an added bonus. I flipped through my blog I bit just now and I have some editing to do to bring it up to speed! It's been about a year since I've written my thoughts out on this page. It feels good to be back! A little intimidating since my last sentences have proved I'm not very consistent at keeping up with this. But I have thoughts. I have things to say. So I think this could be a good thing-again.

A week or two from now we'll see how we're doing.

As for now, I'm going to update a little of my page and then figure this blog world out a little bit more.

Blessings!

Pregnant with a 6-month Old

I'm here-laying on my couch as my little one sleeps, blogging to the "world" about my wonderful pregnancy pains. 

I know the pains mean our little Dominic is growing and my body is compensating for his ever changing self inside of me, but I'm already feeling the give and take of having two children and I find it interesting that God is bringing this to light before Dom even arrives. I have to put myself second when Roman is awake-playing, feeding, reading, changing, and cleaning-but that also means, at times putting Dominic second since he's feeding off of me! When I come to this realization I take a breath, get some water and a snack while Roman happily plays in his jumper. 

I embrace this realization early as it is good practice for when Dominic is HERE with us and the needs of two increase. Pregnancy and wrangling an infant is all I've known with my kiddos, so I won't know what two little lives take until January, but for now I'm resting while I have the chance and thanking God for my beautiful life. 

Btw-I totally don't want to sugar coat; these pains are real, they aren't going away, and I'm sure with 19 weeks to go I haven't felt the half of it. But I've had some experience and trust in my God and the doctors around me to get me through!

Seattle {Travels}

This past weekend we took Roman to meet one of his great grandmas in a town close to Seattle, WA. You know what that meant...Seattle trip! 

We hit the prominent Pikes Place Market, stopped in at some speciality stores in the city, and of course stumbled upon a Seahawks pro shop where both daddy and Roman got some new NFL duds! 

During the time in the city and driving around the out lying towns, I thoroughly enjoyed our first travels with our son. Granted he's 6 months old, had no idea where we were and won't remember this trip no matter what-BUT all I could think of was how great it was to be introducing him to new places and how wonderful it will be to take both of our boys on trips as they grow. It will be so eye opening to watch them experience new cities, cultures, and adventures. It will be a favorite to dream up where we will take them and all that we will enjoy as a family.

We have our first family vacation booked for October to go to the coast! I can't wait for Roman to experience the sand and take him for walks around the ocean. Again, he won't have a clue what's going on, but I'm so happy we're starting these family memories now-no matter how old the babies are. 

Until next time!

I'm Back!

OH.MY.GOODNESS.

My last post was on June 2-THREE MONTHS have gone by since I jumped on here and posted. I believe my last blog post was written from bed, the night before I went back to work after maternity leave. Boy has life changed since then. 

We already knew it then, but I had yet to share on the blog that we are expecting our second baby! We found out when Roman was 1 1/2 months old that we were pregnant again and we were: stunned, thrilled, stunned, over-joyed, anxious-did I mentioned stunned? The surprise came more from how quickly we conceived again, rather than the fact we were having another baby. Clearly we know how babies are made, but the first time around it took us TWO years (hence why we felt called by God to let our second come in His timing, as we did with the first) to finally have a positive pregnancy test-we KNEW it could happen any time, but didn't know it WOULD happen so soon. All of that to say-WE ARE THRILLED to have our babies so close together, I'm enjoying pregnancy to the fullest and preparations are far under way for welcoming our second child as I am now 20 weeks along. Another exciting note to this is that we found out Roman will have a little brother (!) Dominic Alan to play, wrestle and grow up with. We are due one month after Christmas so needless to say, if I thought these last 20 weeks went by fast, the last half is going to FLY. Roman will experience all of his "firsts" holidays, we are planning his 1st birthday party very early so we can have everything ready by March, plus the added activities of every-day life...20 weeks (maybe!) will go by in a blink.

Another huge change since June 2-my hubby accepted a new job in Portland, moving us from our college town to our home town and making me a stay-at-home-momma. I was back to work after having Roman for exactly one month before I gave my notice and got to be back at home with him. Such a blessing for God to have provided a job where my husband can grow and flourish and for allowing me to be home with Roman, to enjoy my pregnancy and my time with Roman before Dominic comes.

Roman is now 6 months old and I'm having the best time watching him learn new things, try new foods and begin to understand the world around him. What a beautiful gift!

My hope now that I'm home is to blog about my wonderful, crazy, beautiful life and share my stories with whoever is out there reading them. (I know I've been home for awhile and only now getting back to blogging, but really-I'm going to do it now!)

Dying Inside Tonight

Ok that title might be a tad dramatic BUT....today was my last day before starting work back up again tomorrow and leaving my little guy for the first time all day. I had my first cry tonight and my hubby hugged me tight and reassured me that it was all going to be ok. I know eventually I will see it that way-but right now I'm picturing missing all of his funny faces, his laughs, rocking him, reading with him, carrying him around while I work on the chores, snuggling and loving on him all day long. I will be so ecstatic for 4:45 to roll around every day and speed (I mean drive slowly and carefully) home to my baby boy. 

God has truly blessed us by giving us peace of mind by having our great friend be his care provider. That has lifted a huge weight off of my shoulders and I know he will be taken care of so well. I have no doubts-but I'm still going to miss him like crazy!!!!!!!

I'm also able to acknowledge that I am very blessed that I'm able to have a job to go back to and be able to help provide for my family. The most important thing is to make sure we're all taken care of and God has shown me that this is necessary even if temporary :)

I love my God, I love my family. 

Sweet dreams blogging world. 

A Weekend of Firsts

Tomorrow our little boy has been with us for 12 weeks and in those weeks has blessed us tremendously! 

This weekend we've hit two big milestones that I didn't know would be coming so soon-he's growing up so fast! First off our baby now LAUGHS! It's the most beautiful noise and if we thought he was a happy baby before, he's even more so now that he knows how to express this new emotion. 

Second off, tonight is his first night alone in his own room. I know three months is a pretty decent age for this to happen, and a lot of people cross this bridge sooner, but I kind of expected to keep him with us longer! He's grown out of the bassinet and he's been sleeping in his crib anyway during the day-but still, my little baby is a whole room away instead of right next to my side of the bed...{mom going crazy now}

Soooo. Bittersweet weekend we've had. God is showing me how to trust in Him with letting go a little bit {even if it is just to the next room over} and watch Him continue to grow my little baby slowly. 

God is beautiful in His ways of provision for our little family. And with that-I will leave you with this.

His Purpose Every Day

I know every day God has a certain purpose-what to look for to connect with Him. 

My realization today (and every day since June of last year officially and many years before that...) is that His purpose for me EVERYDAY is to be a mom. And not just a person who gave birth to a child, but to constantly strive to be the best mom for my son every day of his life. God gave me this precious life for a reason. He trusted ME to be his mom, not anyone else on this planet. He blessed this baby from day one-through growth in my tummy, birth into this world and everyday that I get to hold him in my arms-He blesses him. And through that, He is blessing me and showing me that I have an incredible purpose to live out every day. Taking care of this little one He has entrusted me with and raising him up to be a lover of God. 

I think knowing I get to be Roman's mommy forever and picturing him growing up is one of the greatest purposes in life I could have.

Thanking my Lord for this amazing little boy I get to call mine :)

A Beautiful Moment

...see it's already only 3 days in and I didn't post yesterday-it happens!

My husband and I were up fairly late (and by that I mean past 10, before 11)-late for us with an 11 week old-and we were having a great conversation about Christianity, our faith, the church and how it all fits with our world around us. God's purpose in this moment was just to have us connecting deeply together about Him-it was wonderful.

We talked about raising our son and what we thought his life should look like as far as coming to know God-wanting to raise him in a Christian school and how we will financially do it, starting to teach him prayer at a very young age and that God loves him. Mind you, this is one of many conversations we've already had, we just like to delve deeper.

We also talked about how society views Christians, how our world is starting to become more and more "dark" than "light" when a percentage of our nation marks Christian when they fill out their surveys. It's an interesting concept to ponder.

We sat on the couch and talked for hours on end about so many things-I felt God's presence with us immensely and it always feels so great to share in those moments with my husband.

It's always really enlightening, uplifting and gives me a peace that God has provided a wonderful man for me to share in the same beliefs as me and to raise our family in the same way as well.

Friendships with Meaning

After tidying up the house, spending some tummy time on the floor with my son and drinking what was left of yesterday's hazelnut latte, one of my great friends came over and we shared in some much enjoyed girl time (plus one small boy presence) for the day. 

Toward the middle of the day as we were thinking back on old times, my "God's Purpose" moment came about and I sat back and smiled at it. Not looking for it in that current moment, it made me smile because I've just started this blog about putting effort into looking for His purpose daily and here it is knocking me back on the couch-it couldn't have been more obvious! 

I saw His purpose of great friendships in my life. I'll be the first to admit I don't have many people I can call my "bests" and that's not a "poor me" statement at all-it's just how it is and I like it that way. I learned early on that lots of sorta-friends or especially fake-friends are not the people I want in my life. They don't care what's best for their friends and it ends up pulling me down in the end. Whoa-took that in a different direction...back to His purpose :) The few great friends He has given me bless my heart in different ways, but I appreciate them all and I appreciate Him for helping me grow and continue these relationships. I love my people He has given me and love what I can share with them-we may not have the same opinion on everything, lead the same lives day-to-day or always be together-but I also learned early on that that's ok! We can be who we each want to be and still be bests :) 

God's purpose in my life is divine, intentional and blessed beyond imagination. 

Here We Go!

Into my life, our life, His plan for us as it is right now. 

**I meant for this blog to be called "Keeping God at the Center", but shockingly enough out of the millions of bloggers out there-I wasn't the first to come up with that name and alas the URL was taken! 

I want this blog to convey how God has a part in every day life, big and small, and particularly my life-because as it happens I think it's pretty amazing. I got some tips from a fellow blogger/online friend and decided to dive right in. Sure I put some thought into the fonts, background and layout of this forum, but ultimately I decided cut the stress of it (for now) and start writing!! 

Will I be as honest as possible-yes. Will I always write THE most entertaining posts you've ever read-maybe ;) Will I write a post every single day of the week-probably not. Because that's life! I'm writing about it, but I also want to be out living it-every day. 

As cliche, corny or ridiculous as it may be-I hope this blog touches at least one person and helps me to make some new friends with a few more.