What a Day: Again, it's long, bear with me.

Okay, let me start with a quick update on what is going on in our world.

Yesterday mom and I were talking on the phone, and in a spur of the moment, whirlwind decision, mom met me a few exits above Atlanta to pick up Ada and take her to Scottsboro. We decided this would be best for everyone under the circumstances. Ada was excited, and it will allow me to rest and wait this labor out without worrying about getting Ada situated in the process. If nothing happens in the next several days, mom will head back this way with Ada in tow. Hormonally, I am not all together, so I have been a bit emotional about the Ada separation, but I know it really is the most practical solution. And Ada isn't worried about it. Just me.

In other pregnancy news...there is no news. I went to the doctor again today, and I was 1.5 centimeters. Woo-hoo...another half a centimeter (note sarcasm). I do think I am rather effaced, which I assume those of you who care, know what that means, and those of you who don't care, would rather me not explain. I think it's better to be effaced than dilated, right? I also scheduled appointments for the next two weeks. If I have to go to my doctor's appointment on the 16th (my due date is the 10th), it will not be pretty.

Okay, so I left the doctor a bit worn out and discouraged and grumbling to the Lord about how it felt like John would never get here despite the never-ending stop/start contractions. I also grumbled a bit to mom and then Ann on the phone. And even Scott and my college bff, Amy Speakman. I thought I might even cry a few tears of frustration, but they never came.

Well, I noticed about halfway home that my gas light came on, but I thought I had plenty of time to make it to the house without stopping because all I really wanted was to get home and into something comfortable. I was wrong.

About five minutes from my house, I ran out of gas. Completely out of gas.

So, I coasted to the side of the road, and I called Scott--at this point a few tears were falling.

Technically, I was close enough to walk home, and maybe if I had, then I would have gone into labor finally, but I didn't think I should just leave the car there, and I didn't think my body would hold out for that long of a walk. So Scott said to stay put, and he was on the way.

Well, the next thing I know, a policeman is pulling over and walking up to the car. I explained my situation, and he told me he would drive me to the QT down the road, so that I could get some gas. So, there I go, 39 weeks pregnant, climbing into the back of this police car. No joke. I laughed as I got in and said, "I've never ridden in a police car before."

Ya'll, it was a bit humiliating to pull up to that QT in the back of the police car. And then when I tried to get out, I realized you can't let yourself out, that would probably defeat the purpose, right?

Anyway, we got the gasoline, he drove me back to my car, and Scott came home anyway because I think he thought I might be an emotional wreck. And honestly, I was laughing instead of crying by the time he got here. After that, I climbed into bed and slept for two hours, and now I am anxiously waiting for the season premiere of Lost. Get excited!!!

On a completely separate note, I did want to show you a few pictures of John's room. I took most of these this evening, so excuse the lighting and picture quality. I repeat--we have been given so much.

My mom did the pictures hanging above John's bed. I love them. I actually bought the bed and bedding back when I was first pregnant with Ada. They were on clearance at Target, and I jumped the gun, thinking they were neutral enough, and I bought them. When I found out that Ada was a girl, I realized that I wanted her room to be very girly, so the bed and bedding have been at mom's since then. The glider was Ann's through all of her newborns, and mom (UPDATE: Mary Ann also bought this for me!!! I am so sorry, Mary Ann, if you read this before the update. Please forgive my absentmindedness. I know that you also bought it for me) bought it from her and gave it to me. It is a nice glider, and mom's plan is to continue to pass it around to all the sisters. I am so thankful to have it because I didn't have a comfy glider with Ada. I gave that up when I decided to redecorate her entire room:)The changing table was Ada's. I bought it off Craigslist for 25.00 when we moved into this house. She didn't have room for a changing table in our apartment. The little duck was a gift at the work baby shower, and Ada loves it. I don't think John will even get to use it. Ada hugs it, talks to it, and lounges in it. She also puts her baby doll in it and drags it around. Tutti was getting rid of the chests of drawers you see above, and we gladly took them off her hands. Thank you, Tutti!! I want to purchase a mirror to hang over those. I also want to buy some really cute Animal wall cards from Land of Nod, but that will all come in time. His room is a work in progress for now.The diapers, oh the diapers. Above you see just the size one diapers that we have been given. His changing table is stocked with newborn diapers, and below are boxes of size 2s and 3s. Really, I am overwhelmed by the generosity. My family gave me a baby shower, Scott's family gave me a surprise baby shower, Tutti and Jessica gave me a baby shower, and Scott's work gave me a baby shower. We have not bought anything for this little guy.And the clothes. Ann has given me all of Andrew's old stuff, and we have also been given several new things and other hand-me-downs. I have several precious Feltman Brothers outfits that I can't wait to put on him despite Scott's protests.

We are ready for this little guy, if my body will just do it's thing.

Oh the weather...and other ways this day is great

No news yet...just in case you were wondering. We find out at 2:00 today, and I think the beautiful weather outside is a good sign. I said it means that this baby is going to be an easy one. Scott said it means this baby is going to be a boy. Obviously, we are joking. But I will say that I like pregnancy in the fall much, much, much better than pregnancy in the summer.

I just want to dance around outside in the sunshine and the wind, don't you? It also makes me want to head straight to a pumpkin patch and pick out some nice, round, orange pumpkins for my front porch. Maybe we will add that to Saturday's schedule.

Do you want to know other reasons this day is great?

Well, a few weeks ago, back in August, Scott and I were driving home from church, and he was putting on his seat belt after pulling out onto the road. A policeman was also pulling out onto the road, and he spotted Scott in action. Sure enough, we were quickly pulled over. Once pulled over for the seat belt violation, Scott was also ticketed for an expired license and tag. (Note: they were expired by about a week, and Scott had already taken off the following Friday to take care of these things). Still, we drove away with three tickets. I thought we were both going to cry. Mainly because Scott had already been ticketed for the license and tag in the county where he works only two days before. We were talking around 700.00 worth of tickets. Not really in the budget for August (on top of the root canal).

So...Scott did have to pay the first set of tickets, but this morning he showed up for his court date and pleaded "not guilty" to the license and tag tickets. (Are you following me?) And the judge had mercy on him. He walked away paying only 15.00 for the seat belt violation, and we are overjoyed. We were fairly certain he would be paying over 300.00, so you can imagine the relief that came when he only paid 15.00. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Lord.

Now, I must get ready to go find out--will a girl or a boy be joining us? Who knows?

And while Scott and I are making the trek across town, Ada will be at Hannah and Grant's house, where I am praying she will take a nap. I am crossing my fingers (and seriously praying). Usually she spends the morning at the Harman's house, and I pick her up before her nap. Not today. We'll see what happens.

I'll be back later today, of course. Until then...

Change of Kitchen Plans

As you know, because I keep blogging about it, we are in the process of getting Ada a new wooden kitchen. We had decided on this one, but it looks like plans are changing today.

Well, my friend Kelly (our pastor's wife) called me yesterday to let me know that a local furniture store that sells (used? discount? not sure) furniture has a kids kraft kitchen, still in the box, for 60.00. This one.Well, we are going today to snatch that thing up before anyone else can buy it. I am thrilled because the above kitchen normally sells for about 180, I think. And I don't have to use any of my swagbucks that I have worked so hard to save up. This means, I have about 70.00 worth of Amazon credit to use towards Ada's Christmas present. As always, God provides in the most unusual ways.

I have already been searching through Amazon's vast amount of Melissa and Doug products deciding on what I want to order for Ada's Christmas. And I have several months to earn more swagbucks, so I am hoping that I don't have to pay for any of her Christmas out of pocket. Thank you, Lord. He does provide, doesn't he?

Provision and this week's menu (a rather random post, I suppose)

I often feel a bit crazy for making the decision to stay at home with Ada rather than work. Not because I don't see the importance of being at home with Ada, and not even because I think that working would be so fulfilling and fun (I am not that naive, I promise), but because it seems like such a simple way to add some money to the ever tightening budget.

Just yesterday on the way to church, as Scott and I discussed lunch options, money being the deciding factor, I looked at him and said, "Am I crazy for staying at home, am I?" and I really meant it. I needed some confirmation. He quickly confirmed that, no, I am right where I am supposed to be, and I trust his affirmation as the leader of our family.

Just when I begin to wonder if we are not making the wisest decision regarding our family and our finances, God reminds me that he will provide. And, he has. Over and over and over.

This month it seems that our income is needed everywhere but in our checking account. Do you know what I mean? There are, of course, bills to pay, and there is that little thing called a mortgage. But those are the constants. This month we also had a root canal and Ada's birthday and car tags and leftover car troubles and the list could go on and on and on. (By the way, I am very thankful that here in the south, Labor Day does not mean fall weather, simply because Ada's wardrobe isn't ready for that.)

But on top of all of the extras that are asking our money to stretch and stretch and stretch, there is a little thing that I am learning about called coupon overage, and it is really helping us out this month.

Let me tell you about my grocery trip on Saturday. I was quite excited.

Here is what I bought at Publix

1 deli sandwich (Scott was hungry for lunch) 2.50
Arnold Whole Grain Bread BOGO 1.85
1 carton of blueberries 2.00
1 pack of Hormel bacon 3.00
Cottonelle Aloe and E toilet paper, 6 pack 3.99
-.50 off Aloe and E mnfctr (equals 2.99 for 6 pack)
1 bag of baking potatoes 1.99
4 packs of Knorr sides .74 each
-2 .60 off two Knorr sides mnfctr coupons (equals .44 each pack)
4 bottles of Sundown Folic Acid 3.79 each
2 bottles of Sundown Vitamin D 2.99 each
-3 6.00 off two Sundown Vitamins Publix coupons
-3 5.00 off two Sundown Vitamins mnfctr coupons (equals Free +++++)
1 box of Splenda packets 2.59
1 box of Orville Redenbacher popcorn BOGO 2.45
-.60 off Orville popcorn mnfctr coupon (equals 1.85 for box of popcorn)
1 carton of eggs 1.29
1 pack of Italian Sausage 2.00
4 packs of Cover Girl powder puffs 2.49
-4 2.00 off Cover Girl store coupon
-2 2.50 off Cover Girl mnfctr coupon (equals free ++++)

total before coupons and sales=76.66
total after coupons and sale=11.85!!!

thank you, overage!!!

So, I went back today, and things didn't go quite as well

Here is what I bought

1/2 gallon of milk 1.79
1 big box of Huggies size 5 19.99
-3.00 Publix coupon
-1.50 man. coupon (= 15.49)
Kleenex Cottonelle Aloe & E 6 pack=2.99
-1.00 off Cottonelle man. coupon (=1.99)
2 Cover Girl eye shadows 2.99 each
-2 2.00 off Cover Girl Publix coupon
-1 2.50 off 2 Cover Girl items man. coupon (= free ++++)
Baked Cheetos 100 calorie packs 2.00
1 Sundown Vitamin D 2.99
1 Sundown Vitamin A 3.29
-6.00 off 2 Sundown Vitamin Publix coupon
-5.00 off 2 Sundown Vitamin man. coupon (= free ++++)

total before sales and coupons=43.67
total after sales and coupons=19.67

Really, I was hoping for a lower total today, and I should have bought more items to produce overage in order to lower the total, but you live and learn, right? Still, I am thankful for 31.52 as my grocery total when the budget is 100.00 a week. That is money saved, ya'll, and that is what we need this month, more than most months even.

So, what will we be eating this week based on the purchases above and my stocked pantry, fridge, and freezer?

Sunday night= homemade waffles and bacon
Monday night=sausage and potatoes italiano, broccoli, bread
Tuesday night=spaghetti, bread, green beans
Wednesday night=Chicken and rice in the crockpot, broccoli, bread
Thursday night=lasagna, veggie, bread
Friday=frozen pizza

Lunches=hummus and triscuits, ham sandwiches, PB & J, fruit, leftovers
Breakfast=yogurt and granola, eggs, peanut butter toast
snacks=yogurt, fruit

for more menu ideas, check out Organizing Junkie.

My latest money making venture

I say latest, but actually I have been doing it for a few months, and I think it's time to share the info. with you.

Have you ever seen those ads that say something like, "You're the winner. Click here for a $500 gift card to Chili's." They are pop-up ads, so I have always naturally assumed it was junk mail, and I never gave it a second thought.

That is until, I came across this blog. Carrie at Money Saving Methods has figured out a way to make these offers actually worth your time. Still, even after reading all of her advice, I was very skeptical. It just seemed too risky. But then both Jessica and Tutti decided to try it, and it worked!!!! So I jumped on the bandwagon.

So far, I have made 1,000.00 from doing these offers, in the form of two separate Visa gift cards, and I have a $500 Ikea gift card on its way. We used the first gift card to pay for our expenses on the beach trip, and I am using the latest gift card to buy groceries. We are then applying the unused grocery money to our debt snowball.

I have hesitated to blog about this because I don't even know how to explain all the details of how this works, but I know that it does. I have the money in my pocket to prove it. Carrie does an excellent job of walking you through the steps, and I highly suggest that you check. it. out!!!

CVS craziness

Well, it is super early on a Saturday morning--5:23 am to be exact. There is a pattern in my life where I get in "can't sleep" cycles. It usually happens unintentionally--I have a week where I don't get much sleep for one reason or another, then I begin to feel the affects of no sleep, then I feel the desperate need to catch up on sleep, and then I can't sleep because I am thinking so much about how I need to sleep. So...that's just a little glimpse into how my crazy mind works. I have learned over the years that it is better to get up and do something rather than just lie in bed worrying about not being asleep. Besides, it is Saturday, and my sweet husband will let me sleep in whenever I am finally able to go back to sleep. I have every intention of being somewhat rested when this day is over.

But, for now, I blog.

Yesterday was a record day at CVS. It was pure craziness, ya'll. I started the day with 20.00 in ECBs (extra care bucks), so that put me ahead from the very beginning. I rarely have that many accumulated at one time. On top of those 20 ECBs, I had a coupon for 5 off of 25, so there was obvious potential for some serious money saved.

Here is what I did

3 cases of diet pepsi--10.00
2 bags of Stacey's pita chips--6.00
2 bags of Lay's potato chips--4.00
3 bottles of maalox--@ 5.79 each
1 Benefiber chewables--6.89

-2x 1.00 off Maalox (when I am pregnant, maalox is my lifesaver, so I am stocking up, just in case I need it again in the future.)
-1x 2.00 off Maalox
-CVS coupon 5.00 off 2 maalox
-2.00 off Benefiber
-CVS coupon 3.00 off of Benefiber (no idea what Benefiber is or does, but it was a potential money maker for me, so I bought it)
-2 x 1.50 off of Pita Chips
-19.00 ECBs
-5.00 CVS coupon

total before coupons and ECBs=55.30
total after coupons and ECBs=8.57
ECBs generated from this transaction=20.00 (10 from the Pepsi products, 10 from the Maalox/benefiber products)

2nd Transaction

Again, I started with 20.00 and a 5/25.00 CVS coupon

1 Schick Intuition Razor=8.99
1 Gillette Shampoo=4.99
1 Gillette Shampoo=4.99
1 Gillette Fusion Gamer Razor=7.99
1 Almay Powder=12.79
1 CVS wipes=3.29 (we just needed these)

-1.00 off Almay
-2.00 off Gillette Shampoo
-4.99 off Gillette Shampoo (coupon for free shampoo with purchase of razor)
-2.00 off Intuition Razor
-4.00 off Gillette Fusion Razor
-5.00 CVS coupon
-20.00 ECBs

Total before coupons and ECBs=49.30
Total after coupons and ECBs=4.31
Total ECBs generated=19.00, plus a 5/25.00 coupon (3.00 from each of the Gillette Shampoo, 4.00 from each of the razors, 5.00 from the Almay makeup)

So, bottom line, I got 100.00 worth of merchandise for about 12.00. Ya'll, this couponing stuff, it's a high. I am telling you. Sad, I know, but so very true.

The best part is, I still have 19.00 in ECBs. Because I am attempting to not grocery shop and eat out of our stockpile, I think I am going to use the 19.00 to buy any necessities we might have for the week. It is more expensive to buy groceries at CVS, but since it will be no money out of pocket, it is really better for our bank account. If I really can make it without grocery shopping this week, my total on groceries for the week will be 12.00!!! A personal record. I think it can be done, thanks to couponing and the CVS game.

Here you will see how others did at CVS this week.

So many ways that God provides

Scott and I are in a season of life that can be discouraging at times. There are days when I am tired of budgeting and couponing and crunching numbers and cleaning and the list could go on and on. Now, when I have proper perspective on life, I realize that we live an incredibly comfortable life. We have blessings in abundance. But, I don't always have the proper perspective on life. In fact, I have been known, more often than not, to have a distorted perspective:)

I have found that in this season of penny pinching, God provides in very small ways. He, of course, meets our needs in abundance. There is no question about that. But I feel like he also meets my wants, or, maybe I should say that he meets my emotional needs.

For example, as I have mentioned multiple times, we found a wonderful photographer to take Ada's picture back in December, and the result was beautiful pictures for a very low price. Until December, I did not have Ada's picture done because I didn't want to sacrifice quality. Cindy Stansberry allowed us to get quality photos for a price that fit our budget. As a mom, I am so thankful for those pictures. It just blessed my heart, not to sound cliche. I think that those photos will always remind me of this season of our life when God provided in such small ways.

Now, it's happening again. Hooray, a program much like snapfish or Kodak gallery, is giving away a free photo book, and you have from now until January 20th to take advantage of this offer. All you have to pay is 7.99 in shipping. The book normally costs 35.00 in addition to shipping. So on top of having that wonderful photo session with Cindy Stansberry, I am now uploading those photos into a photo book, for only 7.99. I know it's such a small thing, but I am so thankful for it. It's not something we have to have, but it's such a treat. A gift.