The budget is my friend and other things...

With one income to support 3 people and a dog, times get tight, but until two weeks ago I had done nothing to help the situation resulting in a bi-weekly meltdown about finances. Don't misunderstand, the Lord has always provided and we have never been in need of anything; sometimes it is just by the skin of our teeth and rarely do we purchase anything that we just want.

Want to know what we were spending most of our money on? Eating out. Ridiculous, I know. I'm embarrassed to admit it.

So, for my own sanity and in hopes that maybe one day we'll have some extra spending money, I created a budget. Along with the bi-weekly budget, I track every expense and it goes into a category, then I calculate whether we over- or under-spent in that category. Sound extreme? Well, that's how I roll... at least when it comes to our money.

This budget has not only put the brakes on our eating out, but it's forced me to coupon (yes, as a verb) and plan meals ahead of time. I'll have you know that I actually kind of enjoy the challenge. Plus, I have two weeks worth of meals already decided. Who am I? What have I become?

Is it difficult and time-consuming? Definitely, but I don't mind working with numbers and by staying on top of things, I find myself a lot less stressed and a lot more in control.

On another note, Waverly has a cold. :(

On a more positive note, she's sitting up independently and babbling. I love having conversations with her. She makes me laugh all day and truly, there is no one else I'd rather spend the whole day with (sorry, babe).

Exciting news! We started Gymboree Play & Music this week! One day a week we go to a music class and another day we go to a gym class. My mom told me about the new Gymboree on Harrodsburg Rd behind their house and I told myself that I would at least try it out. Over the past five months, I've been deprived of adult interaction and now that Waverly is becoming our little social butterfly, we knew that Gymboree would be the perfect fit. And let me tell you how much of a blessing it has been so far: When I became a Gymboree member today, our New Member Initiation fee of $35 was waived, because our music teacher is amazing, and our second class, instead of being $34.50, is only $20, again because our music teacher is amazing. Instead of paying $140 today, we only paid $89 and will only pay $89 every month for two classes. God is good! I can't wait for Waverly to get comfortable in her classes and start to learn.

Slowly but surely I'm getting a handle on this "stay-at-home mom" thing. It's an unfamiliar world for me; I've worked, sometimes two jobs at one time, since I was 17, and with school I've always been around people. Then all of a sudden, I quit my job to finish school, graduate with my undergraduate degree a semester later, and become a stay-at-home mom. In the blink of an eye I have almost no social life and my career is indefinitely on hold. I've struggled a lot with "who am I" and I'd be lying if I said I hadn't cried about it a couple of times. I'm coming to terms with my new situation partly because I have an amazing husband who is appreciative of what I do and encouraging, but mainly because everyday the Lord reminds me, through Waverly, of what a blessing it is that I am able to stay home with her. She grows and changes everyday and I don't have to miss any of it. I love it.