Today I welcomed my fifteenth week of pregnancy by vomiting for the first time since I peed on that fateful stick back in October. For future reference, prenatal vitamin + leftover Raisin Bran milk = blaaaaaaaaah.
In other, less disgusting news, I had my monthly ob appointment yesterday, and Number Three is doing well; very active, according to the doctor, and the heartbeat sounded strong at 150 bpm. There are a few aches and pains going on that are typical of this stage - the acting of up my sciatic nerve, for one, and a tenderness in my abdomen that was diagnosed by the doctor as being diastasis recti. I also found my first pregnancy-related skin tag ever near my collarbone, a couple of nights ago. Way to go, baby, for keeping things interesting!
Here I am in all my gestational glory:
Why do I look whiter than the Pillsbury Doughboy? And is it just me, or is that picture frame crooked? Oh, well, at least I can still fit into my regular-sized dress slacks. So long as they are cotton and sport elastic waistbands.
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At the start of the New Year I outlined our household budget through the remaining winter months, and I know these issues are only temporary, but things feel bleak, friends. Luke and I are working hard to pay off our credit card balance before the baby comes in June, which means almost every bit of cash from now until March is needed to cover our car insurance premiums, homeowner's association fees, and necessary grocery and household items as well as pay down our Visa bill. Luke and I did not exchange Christmas presents, only token stocking stuffers, and there are no travel plans slated for anytime soon, save my niece's baptism in Chicago next month.
Sometimes I feel like a complete and utter failure for not being able to manage our finances more efficiently, and then I remind myself that some things were simply out of our control: a $164 increase in our mortgage last fall thanks to a negative balance in our escrow account was the most jarring, and the random but major car repairs totaling almost two grand in September were definitely not on our radar. Luckily, there is light at the end of the tunnel: tax refunds in February and my annual raise in April should put us on more secure footing, though we have decided there is no way in hell we have any business taking on a car payment to buy a vehicle that can accommodate three car seats anytime soon. This means we'll be hauling two cars if we need to go anywhere local as a family and renting a van if we find ourselves needing/wanting to travel north. But hey, at least we have two cars that we own outright, and we can still pay our bills and put food on the table, and we don't have to talk about Luke going back to work (as if we could afford three kids in daycare, anyway), and really, this money glitch is so temporary in the grand scheme of things. Nothing on our plate is unmanageable, just really hard to get through sometimes on a day-to-day basis.
How's that for keeping it real?
This is just one more reason I have been considering launching a part-time freelancing business sometime this year. I'm not looking to replace my full-time income, just supplement it with some meaty writing projects from time to time.
Have any of you had any luck starting your own business? How did you get started? Are there any books you would recommend?
First, I don't think you are the only ones who have had $$ issues - and yours do sound minor. They are ones you are able to fix soon, and that is a good thing. Oh, and the mortgage thing - it happened to us before too. Stupid WellsFargo sent us a check because escrow was too high only to have to ask us for the money back or increase our payments less than a year later since they couldn't figure out the taxes...
And have you tried to fit three car seats in your vehicle? I know people have made it work in "average" sized cars.
Glad the pregnancy is going well even with the "fun" bits. I found taking my vitamins at night the only way as I would throw them up otherwise...
Posted by: AJU5's Mom | January 11, 2011 at 02:25 PM
It is good to hear of the new baby's health. At the start of out side life, the new baby will find things to be just fine. Work produces results. No one works more that you two parents in doing the right family actions. Keep on keeping on.
Posted by: daddyd | January 11, 2011 at 07:48 PM
You look so thin (I mean in a healthy way)! Now I know why you weigh less than you did last year.
Sounds like you're doing a good job trying to keep everything together! I'm single and stlll find myself always financially strapped!
Posted by: Kerry | January 11, 2011 at 10:15 PM
Um, is everyone else reading the same post as me? Because the first thing I need to say is HOW CUTE ARE YOU????? Thanks, I feel better. Sorry you barfed.
We got slammed this year when Marcus's insurance went up $300 a month. I definitely feel you on the financial front. Launching a freelance business sounds like a great idea. I hope it pans out for you.
Posted by: Jen L. | January 11, 2011 at 10:27 PM
Hmm, I have never freelanced or started a business. Why don't you email Amalah? Seems like a good resource and she knows you!
You look fantastic. And confident, like you've maybe done this preggers thing a couple times already:)
Posted by: eva | January 11, 2011 at 11:19 PM
I think paying off credit cards is a HUGE step in good money management. Even though it sucks while you are doing it, once they are paid off it should be well worth it. (I'll let you know if I ever get there. :-)
Posted by: Heather | January 12, 2011 at 04:02 PM
Bill freelances all the time- it's really uneven predictability-wise so we never count on the money. The best way we manage it is to take what he makes and get something off our plate right away, i.e. pay the years' preschool or dance tuition in full to help ease our monthly budget. He's a graphic and web designer though and in that realm it's all about word of mouth (and who you know) so I don't have any specific strategies for how to start things up. Good luck! {And also you are just about the cutest pregnant lady ever in that picture. I'm so happy for you guys!}
Posted by: rkmama | January 12, 2011 at 09:22 PM
You look great! I hope that you are feeling well.
Posted by: Joanne | January 13, 2011 at 12:15 PM
Yeah, we tried fitting three carseats in our Escape and realized we'd have to slam the doors to get them to shut, which might not be so good for little arms. So when we all go somewhere, we take two cars. But the upside is, that almost never happens because who wants to take three kids under three anywhere? Wait, that's not really an upside... Anyway, we figure in a year when we don't need the infant seat we'll be able to fit three and a year of inconvenience is better than 5 years with a car payment!
Posted by: lisa | January 13, 2011 at 02:58 PM
3 carseats surprisingly fit in almost any car. You just can't center the carseat in each seat. You center the middle one and have the ones on the ends closer to each door. Of course the infant carseat goes on one of the ends. Try it out. In case of emergency it is important to be able to leave with the kids if there is only one adult home. Oh, and it depends on the width of the convertible carseats. You will need the slim one's. Good luck!
Posted by: megan kalos | January 15, 2011 at 06:34 PM
There are carseats available with smaller bases so you can fit 3 across. My sister-in-law can fit 3 in their Toyota Camry. I do believe they are around $300 each but worth it to not have to buy a new car.
Posted by: Carrie | January 17, 2011 at 09:11 AM
You look great!
Posted by: eva | January 23, 2011 at 10:40 PM
Get the Sunshine Radians- they are awesome seats and are super thin. We got the Graco CarGos bc we couldn't afford the Radian and were able to fit 3 across in our Vibe! Also, remember that puzzling carseats together takes trial and error. Sometimes one SIDE of the car is larger than the other (etc), so try all possible combos. Hope that helps, from someone who's been there too!
Posted by: Julie | January 24, 2011 at 09:52 PM