Yeah, so it has been nearly a forever since I've posted. I get that. I have no motivation to do much of anything, and this includes cooking anything for my family to eat every night. I think I'm getting over that, seeing as how I cooked more last week than I have since my first few weeks of pregnancy. Also, I'm actually posting on my blog. I have something that has been nagging, so aside from all the great stuff that's happening right now, I'm still going to post about that too. I'll get to the great stuff at the end, kind of as a way to end happy.
Date night. It's supposed to be something that couples do, right? Well, we don't. We don't have the babysitter that we know well and trust enough to allow them to feed, keep and put down our kids for a night of fun out for Mommy and Daddy, but more so, we don't have the money. How do people have the money to do this stuff? I mean, Dusty doesn't make just beans working. He's not making a killing, but he's not doing horribly. We budget very tightly. We have enough money for all of our bills, food, and a few extras, but going out and spending $100 for one night isn't on that list. And people do this monthly, even weekly! How? A babysitter alone would be probably $30. That's almost THREE meals at Chick-fil-A!! I guess my priorities are different, but should they be? Shouldn't we take time out for us as a couple? Dusty and I have a great relationship and communication, so it's not like we're really lacking anything by not going out. Are these couples going out because they don't spend time together when they're at home? I say this tongue-in-cheek right now because Dusty has taken our kids to the store, and I get some time at home...although without this time to myself next week would be a lot harder for me. We took two hours the other day when my parents were visiting just to go and look for maternity clothes for me. It was heavenly, really, but those two hours have carried me a long way (and it has taken 3 weeks for our budget to recover from that extra $109 expenditure, I kid you not). Now, I know we have been eating out more than usual, due to me not cooking, but it's not like we're even dropping $20 when we go out to eat. Usually it's $10-15. It's the rare occasion when we spend over $25, so I know that extra money spent could be used for us to go on a date, but it's really not adding up to that much money. Anyway, I'm just not sure what is "right" here, or if there even is a right answer on whether or not we should blow our budget and go out, or if we even need to go out at all. It just feels like stigma that couples should do, and we're not following that stigma (what's new?). Whew. Got all that out there. Now for the good stuff.
We should find out on Tuesday what gender our baby is. It has been going crazy kicking the last couple of weeks. I really felt it the first time about 16 weeks when I pushed down on my stomach, and I got a reply kick. Dusty actually felt it at 17 weeks, which is the earliest he has ever felt one of our kids. I'm sure it's because it's our third child, and this is the third time my body has stretched out like this. It's probably getting pretty thin in there. The past couple of weeks I have really grown, and it's getting uncomfortable already. Lower back pain is not my friend. However, the baby has grown from 5 oz to about 10-11 oz in only 2ish weeks, so it's understandable that other stuff is adding to my growth. I'm looking forward to the ultrasound so we can see it, and make sure it's doing well. We really don't care what we're having, as long as it's a healthy baby. However, Hannah wants a girl and will name her Sylvester. Yes. That's right, Sylvester. Seth said he wants a baby brother, "but Mommy said we're not having two". He has resigned himself to letting Hannah get her way. I said recently that we don't know what it is, it could be either, it's just what God has chosen for us to have. Yesterday Hannah asked Seth, "Seth, if you have a baby brother, can I play with him too?" Guess she thought she'd only get to play with the baby if it were a girl. I wonder if she realized that she plays with a baby brother every single day. (Side note: she'll be 5 in exactly 2 months. Crazy talk.)
OK, so about that cooking for my family thing. I'm going to go start supper now, and hope they're back in time. Thanks for listening/reading, and I may or may not do this again in the near future.
You blogged! You go, you! :)
ReplyDeleteHow have the kids responded to the gender of the baby?
Love you!
p.s. I love your up-front honesty - "I may or may not do this again in the near future." lol :D
So...We don't go out...and well...I wish we would have. However, don't let that get you down because there are plenty of other things that hindsight is teaching me. You hit one on the head...communication. Do that...always...even when it might make someone angry. You can get over anger. So...make time at home. Put kids to bed early if you can and watch a movie or play a game. It doesn't have to be expensive. You just have to prioritze each other. :)
ReplyDeleteJennie, I am delighted to see you back on your blog! I missed reading about your joys and your sorrows. I was interested in your comments about going out on a date. I can remember all too well many years when my wife and I did not have enough money to go out and pay a baby sitter as well. So we just didn't go. We survived. We were not alone, our generation did not expect to spend much money on fun. Today it is different, not worse, just different.
ReplyDeleteThese days Karon and I go out every Thursday evening, usually to a movie. (maybe $20?) If there is no movie we want to see, we will usually go to a restaurant instead, and that will run from $30 to $70 depending on where we go. We're still pretty frugal. What I find interesting is that although we can now afford a much higher cost of fun, except for European trips and such, we just don't do it. So relax, enjoy your husband and your family and your friends and don't worry about missing a whole lot because going out is too expensive. You can make up for it later, and in the meantime you are just living according to your means, which I find very commendable since so many folks haven't learned to do that yet. Hold your head up and be proud!
Love you,
Tommy