Whit and I Have a Date!

Tomorrow.

A lovely phone call from "BOE FT.LVN" (according to my cell phone)

An awesome text from KCTV 5.

We are out of school tomorrow due to "inclement weather."

YEA! A snow day!

Oh great. That's right. I told Whit if we didn't have school tomorrow, we would clean the house... top to bottom.

Okay, bring it on! I'm ready!

Here's what we/I plan on doing tomorrow:

**General Cleaning**
1. start/finish the laundry
2. pack up the decorations on the mantel (I'm not going to say WHAT the decorations are of... I'll leave that up to your imagination.)
3. vacuum stairs
4. sweep/mop entry ways
5. take down wreath from the window above the stairs

**Living Room**
1. piano area
2. pick up
3. dust
4. vacuum living room and hallways
5. organize bookshelf
6. hallway bathroom
a. shower/tub
b. toilet
c. sweep/mop
d. counters
e. mirror
f. under the sink
g. McCoy's tub
h. trash

**Master Bedroom**
1. put clothes away
2. clean the dresser
3. clean the closet
4. vacuum
5. bathroom
a. shower
b. toilet
c. sweep/mop
d. counters
e. mirror
f. under the sink
h. trash

**Kitchen**
1. dishes
2. clean off table
3. sweep/mop
4. clean off counters
5. put away Christmas/winter dishes
6. go through magazines
7. put recycling downstairs
8. water plants
9. replace light bulbs

**McCoy's Room**
1. put clothes away
2. clean out crib
3. sort out closet/clothes
4. dust
5. vacuum

**Basement**
1. empty boxes from office
2. put some school stuff in the trunk of my car (to take to school)
3. dust
4. put up mattress (eh, maybe...)
5. vacuum
6. pick up
7. trash (laundry room trash and recycling)

**Craft Room**
1. pick up... (we may run out of time... this is a HUGE undertaking!)
2. vacuum
3. organize craft supplies

Diapers

February is dedicated to saving money/becoming a better financial keeper. Today, I did the ultimate: I stuck McCoy's butt in cloth diapers! I have been planning on using cloth for a while now (before McCoy was even conceived!) but I haven't made the switch yet. I can't keep up with the laundry just yet, I will wait to do that in the summer. But Whit's cousins, Alexis and Jess gave us a box of G-Diapers (sized medium). I have to use them before he grows out of that size. So I stuck his little tush in them today and smiled a great big smile! Yea, I made the switch. I will probably continue to use g-diapers for now, until summer time. Then I'm hoping to make the switch permanently. I can do it!

Pictures coming soon!

just... can't... get... comfortable... UGH!

The first of many has hit the Martin household. McCoy is sick. The very thought of sweet baby McCoy being sick is pulling at my heart strings. It hurts me so much to see him uncomfortable. He is looking up at me as I carry him in my arms, saying to me with his sad, sunken-in red eyes, "I... just... can't... get... comfortable, Momma!" His voice is hoarse and his cries are pathetic pleas of excruciating pain.

I got a call from daycare this morning saying that he had thrown up and needed to go home. Thank goodness my mother is so helpful! I almost cried when I was teaching my class because I know how bad he must feel. I also felt bad for ruining my mom and her friends' day together. Friendship is very important. Mom did not complain at all-- she rushed to CDC to take care of him. She even brought McCoy to me on my lunch so I could still nurse him. That made me feel so much better- seeing him at lunchtime. I wanted to come home so badly! The last place I wanted to be was away from McCoy. When he feels terrible, I feel terrible. I can't explain it, but I'm sure every mother knows exactly what I'm talking about.



Me-Maw said he slept from 12:00-3:45. Must have needed that.

These winter months are starting to get to me. I want the sun to come out and clear up this nasty weather! The snow is beautiful but it can go away until next winter. Next winter I'll be able to go out sledding with McCoy-- this winter, he is just getting sick!

I gave McCoy Pedilyte for the first time tonight. It was weird seeing something else go into his body other than breastmilk. He only drank about 1/2 ounce though. I just don't want him getting dehydrated. When I took him to the doctor's this weekend, they said that he could use some of it to prevent that from happening. Maybe he's teething already. I can't believe it, but he probably is since that runs early in our families. Well, we will try and keep him happy! I guess that means I need to go and snuggle with him right now!

Grocery Shopping Feb. 2010

Today I saved $40.36 in coupons. How's that for "be a better financial keeper"?

After-Action-Report

After-Action-Report for January.

January was "be a better wife". Did I succeed? You bet!



Although this is something that will always need work, I feel like I got on the right track. I became more interested in what Whit was saying, actually listened to him speak. I asked questions and suggested things to do together, as a couple and as a family. It made me feel closer to him and more connected. We shared many dinners together and enjoyed watching Lost nearly every night. I see us laughing more and hugging more. We kiss on a daily basis, and seem to get along better. I think if we are both conscious about the things that need to be done as a part of this family, we will continue to be close to one another. I enjoyed thinking about him all day and plan to continue for the rest of my life. Sometimes I get shaken up a bit and need to remind myself that we are in this together and he needs me just as much as I need him.

February: "Become a better financial keeper"



I will read books on how to cut my grocery bills, try not to eat out as much, take better records of things like gas for the cars, extra expenses, groceries, and bills. I will look closely to making a budget and create a savings plan. I will also track ways to get out of debt and set a goal for completely becoming out of debt (excluding the mortgage payment, student loan and new car (?) payments). All credit card debt will fall under this goal. I will explore ways to track/record expenses.

Welcome, February! I'm excited to see you! Budget and fiances are ready to be conquered!