Each year for the last 3-4 years I have written a short list of things I am thankful for. This year that list would be so long if I included everything. So I am only going to mention a few things.
- First is my amazing husband. We have a chemistry and friendship like no other. He is the most giving, practical, fun, loving husband and daddy in the world. He is Lexie’s hero and my sanity. I am most grateful for him and his selflessness.
- Of course, Lexie is next. She is the best thing that has ever happened to me. She teaches me new things about life every single day and helps me push my limits (of course, what else is a toddler to do?). I have more fun being her Mommy and playmate than anything I have ever done in my entire life.
- I am thankful for my part-time cleaning business and being a stay at home mom. I will start with the cleaning business-if it were not for friends encouraging me, telling me I can do it, lifting me up when it didn’t seem to be going well, and keeping Lexie so I could begin, I would not have the business at all. I don’t make a lot of money, but I make enough to cover Lexie going to school 2xs a week, and to put a little back for savings. My plan is to train newly hired maids to expand my business but I’m taking things slowly at the minute!
- Staying at home is the most amazing gift I have ever been given. Though there have been phases Lexie made me second guess myself, I would do absolutely anything to be home with her, even clean other people’s toilets twice a week. 😉 I can’t thank my husband enough for his support and encouragement so I can be a full time mama. I will never get these years back, and I am so thankful.
- Next is my family. They put up with my craziness, OCDness, and don’t mind being quiet when the baby sleeps (because she no longer sleeps through everything like when she was 6 months old). They have supported our family, our decisions (and if not kept their mouths shut), and loved us unconditionally. Most importantly, they have prayed for our family and I believe that is the most powerful blessing. Thank you.
- Here, I would like to mention how thankful I am to have a home. We bough a lot in the country this year, considered selling our house, looked at buying a house, and overall decided to stay put right where we are! To even have the above options we know is a blessing. Our home is just perfect for us, and it may take some more hard work and time, but we are going to make it even better. We did seriously think about moving home at one point though, we even looked at different estate agents on sites like getagent, and we even found some pretty nice houses as well. But then we sat down one evening and just were like why are we moving? We love the house that we are currently in, so we decided to stay.
- Last, I am going to mention the “new” baby. Although right now, all we can do it pray there is a healthy baby in there. I don’t go to the doctor until Jan 24, at 8 weeks (that’s just how they do it … And one more reason why we probably should have waited to tell the world … but we are weak!) So keep us in your prayers that everything is growing healthily and happily, and that we get a good report come Jan 24th!
A few updates:
As we save money for the few updates of the house, I am writing out my to do lists. I plan to repaint all the trim (a white, instead of the icky cream we painted when we moved in. ick), redo all (bathrooms included) cabinets, tear out that damn a wall (every time we plan to do this, I wind up pregnant. Go figure!), and put in new carpet for the nursery before baby #2 gets here. This is going to require saving money in the next few months which means an even tighter than usual budget, but I think we can do it. Another option might be refinancing, I hear that Perth Broker could help with that from what a friend told me. I might have to have a conversation with them about it.
I sometimes wonder if people on the outside realize how hard it is for a family of (soon to be four) to live off ONE middle class income-by middle class I mean less than $100,000. I get this feeling sometimes that our hard work to save, NOT use credit cards, and be frugal is overlooked. And buy “our” I mean all the families with a stay at home mom and working husband. Were it not for our budget, organization, and thriftiness I could not stay home with Lexie. I say organization, because if you’re not organized, you don’t know what you have and therefore waste money buying products already stuffed in your cluttered cabinets. Of course a budget is key-knowing what you spend on everything each month, and sticking to it. For example, when the grocery budget runs out, you eat what’s left in the pantry that month until it’s all gone, then return to the grocery when you have to. It means not wasting left overs or letting food go bad. It also means limiting eating out, going on expensive date nights that involve a sitter, and making your own laundry detergent. =) I say none of this begrudgingly. I love this life. I couldn’t ask for anything more. Literally. I love budgeting our family and organizing our home. Most of all, I love being a full time homemaker-and I feel blessed to do so.
OK … on to a more fun topic- BABY!
I changed my mind (duh). I think we will put the new baby down stairs. She will share it with my craft table. When she is old enough, she and Lexie will share a room. That room downstairs needs new carpet, so I am hoping to find some beige on clearance or closeout for the cheap, then have someone like Carpet Now – Austin Carpet Installation install it. That room also needs new blinds. Desperately-I don’t know how old they are, but they are beyond being cleaned. I’d really like to do blackout shades (for naps and bedtime) and plantation shutters (since it’s on the front of the house, and I would like them across the front eventually anyway). Since we’re not finding out the sex, I’m going to pick out my bedding stuff and have it ready to order once baby arrives. I have an antique white crib picked out, and we will refinish JTom’s dresser for the baby. We will move all of JTom’s clothes into my closet (YIKES!), which means it will require a new hanging rod, so we have a top and bottom. A family member is giving us a cover for the 4wheelers, canoes, and camper. (we just have to get it moved to Hot Springs). Once we get it here, that will free up space in the barn, where all of JTom’s hunting stuff will go. That will also become his much needed shop. Yay! He may be losing a “boy room” for his junk, but he is gaining a shop .. sorta. All of this is subject to change with the rise and fall of my hormones. I am most excited about knocking out the wall, and new carpet in the new Baby’s room.
And … on to my most precious baby. Lexie is just going to be the best big sister ever. I know it. I want to take a sibling class, so when the new baby arrives, we can be sure to make her feel just as important as she does today. For instance, letting her come in the hospital room to see us first, spend time with Mommy and Daddy, then bring in the new baby. That way we are hers (lexie’s) and the new baby is ours, as a family. I want her to know that this baby is going to love her just like we love her. I want to foster a good relationship- I don’t find it humerus when children don’t enjoy their new siblings and parents think it’s cute. I understand it is natural, but rather than laugh at this emotional upset, it seems better to foster a love for the new baby. Not a jealous attitude towards it. But hey, that’s JUST me. I also don’t want everyone coming to the house at once to oogle the new baby. I think we need time, like last time, to bond as a family and let Lou get used to our new family arrangement.
Mamas with two or more- what do/did you do to foster a healthy relationship between your young children?
-Meg
