Saving Money

Yes, we are all at it. Thinking about where we can save, what we can cut down on. It's been on my mind as well, I'm not stressing about it, the thought it just always there, at the back of my mind - "Do we need this, should we spend this, can we get it cheaper somewhere else".

Well I didn't realise how much it was on my mind until yesterday. We were at a shopping centre (I know, not a great place to be when you are trying to cut costs) and I needed to pee. Me being the lazy person I am was thinking "Ugh, the toilets are ALL the way over there, I'll wait till we get home". Then we passed a McDonalds... so in I went thinking "Oh well if I use the toilet here, its saving on using toilet paper at home". WHAT? Did I just think that?? Did that thought seriously just enter my head!!?

OK, we were running out of toilet paper at home, and I had made a mental note that I needed to buy more. But we are certainly not that badly off that I need to use the toilet in public places to save a little bit extra. How much would that save anyway? A few cents? Probably less.

I was also thinking the other day about how much money we are saving since I am breastfeeding. We spent SO much on formula with Chloe. A box of formula that cost €13 would get us just over a week. That's for a whole year! Plus the cost of bottles and the cost of new bottle teats as she got older. Its quite a bit of money added up! Maybe the terrible breastfeeding rates here in Ireland will get better in "the current economic climate". Maybe the formula companies realise this, they have already reduced their prices. That box that cost me €13 a few months ago is now €10!! I was really being ripped off, as were plenty of other Mothers, shame on them!

We have started to see a hole in the "wean Chloe from bottles" plan. She is waking up at 6 or 7am, she hasn't done that in quite a while, but when she used to we would give her a bottle and she would sleep for a few more hours. These last few days she has been wrecked. I lie in bed thinking, should I give her a bottle to go back to sleep? Or is that just going backwards? She is so tired, I don't know what to do! She is also constantly hungry. Always pulling me to the fridge, but I don't know what to feed her. She doesn't like sandwiches, and I don't have much of an imagination, so any suggestions welcome. :)

First Post :)

I have never blogged before! I'm not even sure if this will last past a week or a month. I may not write in it often, and sometimes I may write more than once a day. This will mainly be to keep my family (Spear Family) updated on the Phoenix Family! The Spear Family, who are living in various parts of Ireland (and USA). My parents who are preparing to go on another mission with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, so in a few months they could be anywhere in the world. Leaving the "Spear Clan" completely separated from each other **sob sob**.

To update on where I am right now in life, I have two beautiful girls. Chloe, almost 21 months and Megan almost 5 months. Stewy is working in a cafe in Guinness (Dublin) and at the end of October he could be offered a job anywhere in Ireland. I wish we knew now where we are going to be, its scary not knowing.
A recent "big" event in Chloes life - We "weaned" her from the bottle. Not so much wean as taking it from her never to be seen again! That first night without the bottle might have been the worst night EVER! She cried for almost TWO hours! But, 3 nights later and she only cried for a few minutes. She now goes to her cot with Daddy, who reads her a story and says prayers with her. Daddy leaves, and there's not a peep out of her! WOW didn't think it was possible. Its a little different if Mommy tries to put her to bed. :) Nap time during the day she can cry for up to 10 min (usually only 2 or 3 mins) and if I put her to bed at night it can be a few mins of whinging aswell. The sudden need for "bedtime routine" was brought about when we realised that Megan was quickly growing out of the moses basket. Next step will be to put Chloe into the beautiful new bed we bought for her and giving Megan the cot. I think Stewy will do the switch this weekend while the girls and I are in Cork (I don't want Chloe actually seeing her cot being brought into our room for Megan.) Will let you know how the move goes.
Megan- Well she is growing WAY too fast! :( I had a chat with her, and begged her to stay little, and be my baby forever, but no chance. Pretty mean of her! ;) She also rolled over a few weeks ago, a few times, but hasn't since. Its something Chloe never did (lazy girl) so it was really exciting for Stewy and I. We just bought her a mobile for her move to a big girls cot, I tried it out with her the other day and she went straight off to sleep! Without a dummy, or a breastfeed, or me rocking and singing to her, amazing. Chloe was never interested in her toys, so we never saw a need to get one for her, but Megan is just fascinated.
Have I mentioned that Chloe and Megan are completely different babies! They are so different, its like being a first time Mom all over again. Chloe absolutely adores her baby sister, if Chloe has been away for the day with Daddy or Nanny, when she gets home she cant wait to see Megan and give her kisses, forget Mommy! :) Its cute. At the playground, if another child tries to even look at Megan, or if they are just passing by, Chloe will stand by the buggy and snarl at the poor child. Chloe is protective.
Me - I am trying to loose the baby weight, from both babies :) I am getting there, slowly. If I could motivate myself to do more exercise (which I do with sparkpeople.com -love it) I would lose it faster. Just need motivation, anyone else have any to spare??
Stewy- Has just set up and started playing in a football team "Ongar Rovers". Ongar is a village (town??) in Dublin, but funnily enough, most of the team don't even live in Ongar, including Stewy! The team is not doing so well yet, they have won 1 out of 3 games, I wont go into the scores, I might get into trouble! :)

Ok, well, until next time (whenever that may be, tomorrow, next week, next month??)