Well I didn't end up blogging last night... Surprise surprise! I feel like I'm so far behind so instead of trying to do a major catchup I'm going to start now and keep this updated.

Tomorrow starts "No Spend June". Very simple concept but not so easy to do! Other then our monthly bills, groceries, gas, and of corse our looming debt we have committed to paying off... We will spend money on nothing else. The month of May we went on a spending frenzy and it is time to pull in the reigns a bit. Preston and I will go to the store today to stock up (with the help of about 200 coupons) and get everything we need for the month.

Preston had a rough night last night. He DID NOT want to be in his crib. Around midnight he woke up and was screaming bloody murder. I went in and did my typical routine of putting his passy back in and tucking him in.. That didn't work. So I tried the popular bottom pat... That didn't work. I tried the back rub and scratch... And that didn't work either. So I got him up and started to rock... And rock... And rock. He finally fell back to sleep until I put him back in his crib. He ate a 8 oz bottle at 10 so I knew he couldn't be hungry.. Right? Wrong! This kid ate 8 more ounces. He is growing like a weed so I really should have known. He finally fell back to sleep around 2 am. Silly baby. Even when I'm exhausted and frustrated and all I want is for him to fall asleep I just look at his completely innocent face and it quickly reminds me that he is 100% dependent on me and Chip. Suck it up and love your baby (is what I tell myself) and I honestly am happy to do so.

When Preston and I got up this morning we went and played with his huge bear I got for him when I was 20 weeks pregnant. He has been to small to really "play" with the bear, and at time I have regretted buying it because it is so large and his room is so small; but today made it worth it. He loves this bear! He starred for a while, and grabbed and pulled, and tried to eat the bear. These are all qualities that Preston looks for in a friend :).

Short but Sweet

This is going to be a real quick post, but I am determined to sit down at the end of the day and catch up! I was trying to get all the dirty clothes and towels around the house to the washer machine. Preston was a little fussy and wanted to be held. So as I was trying to juggle the clothes as well as a 20 pound baby I realized something... Preston is now a "hip" baby. I remember when he was born and he was so fragile and it took both arms and hands to hold him. Now, he sits on my hip and only requires one arm. Sounds silly, but I remember thinking it was going to be such a long time before he became a hip baby, and now it's here. I'm pretty sure I mention in almost every post about how fast time is going by and I wish there was a pause button, and today I feel this desire more than ever.

5 months!!

Our little man is 5 months old today. Can I believe it? Nope. The whole not being and infant and being an actual baby thing is pretty hard for me to get my mind around... Even though he has been a baby baby for months now. He is absolutely perfect, our little butterball. He is a chunky monkey (drinking 8 oz bottles now and 2 servings of solids a day). His face could not get any more round. He is so soft and cuddly, and loves rocking and reading books. He loves music and to a lot of parents dismay, he love The Mickey Mouse Club. I watched a few minutes of tv when I was his age a turned out alright, right? :)

As fast as Preston is growing, I feel I am as well. I'm learning how to "let go" and give up some control. He not only is responsible for the joy, blessings, and laughs that go on around here, but he has improved Chip and my marriage. We know we are doing something right, and that is a really great feeling. We love you sweet Preston, thank you for being you.

Live Like No One Else

Chip and I have made the decision to start the journey of becoming (and living) DEBT FREE!!! I used three exclamation marks because I am so excited to start this process.  Will is be tough? Oh yea.  Will it be stressful?  You know it.  Will it be worth it? ABSOLUTELY!  I am in the process of reading "The Total Money Makeover" by Dave Ramsey... and I am hooked.  I want to live debt free so badly.  I want it so much it makes me emotional to talk about it.  I want to be an example to Preston while he is getting older and learning about money, I want to teach him!  I want to be the parents that even though they didnt make bookoos of money, they were able to save, and I mean really save!  I want to have no car monthy car payments, no credit card payments, and eventually no house payments.  I want to be able to keep what we earn, and not give it away to minimum payments every month where you end up spending three times as much as you owe.  I want it.  And I know we can get it.  That is what is so great about the whole debt free life concept, its so obtainable.  Spend less the you make.  Easy enough right?  Totally logical until you are walking through Home Goods and you see two fabulous lamps for $40 each, and if you get one you HAVE to get the other one, right?  Then when you get home and you set up your lamps in the living room and then you remember the electric bill is due... So what good are those two lamps gonna do you if you dont have electricity because you couldnt pay your bill on time? Now this hasnt happened, but you get my point.  We are going to start off small.  Aim small miss small.  After adding up all of our debt aiming small is the only way to accomplish it.  We are paying off our small credit cards first.  We are also going to pay 1 1/2 payments on Chip's truck every month and 2 payments on my car every month.  I am fully aware that this is a long term process, but I am so happy we are starting now.

Life Is Good

Wow, I can not believe I have let myself get so far behind on blogging! A lot has gone on this past month and I will make a strong effort to get everything posted as soon as possible.

Today was a good day. Chip did not have school or work which is always an added bonus. We have been on a mission to get our backyard landscaped which has been more then challenging. Since he was home today he was able to spend quality time with Preston while I was able to get several hours of yard work done which was great! It's a slow process, but it is coming along. I am going to try and get a few more hours done tomorrow during Preston's naps (which have now gone from a lot of 1 hour naps to 2 several hour naps a day).

I was over come with emotion tonight thinking about how quickly Preston is growing up. He is learning how to sit up on his own and getting the hang of moving himself around on his own. His face changes everyday it seems, and he is turning into a little boy. Of course I wouldn't want it any other way, knowing that he is growing the way he is suppose to, but a part of me is having a hard time coming to terms with the fact that I will never get this stage in his life back. He is single handedly responsible for bringing so much joy into our home, and I feel like I will forever be indebted to him. He is my everything.

Great Grandma

On April 19th we lost Chip's beloved Grandmother.  She was a one of a kind lady, with a one of a kind way of making everyone she came in contact with feel special and loved.  Preston and I were lucky enough to be able to spend her last days with her, and Chip was there with us in spirit.  She is greatly missed, but knowing that she is looking down on us all and smiling eases all of our minds and hearts.  I can not wait until Preston is old enough to tell him about all of the amazing acts of God that went on in that hospital over the course of 10 days.  God truly is great.  Preston, during GiGi's last week on earth, when I tucked you into bed and said my nightly prayer over you I also repeated one of my all time favorite verses.  "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return.  The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." Job 1:21

I am so upset that I never took a picture of you and Gigi, but let me tell you, she had unconditional love you Preston.  One of my favorite memories is when Dad and I brought you to Houston for the first time.  You were three months old and it was the first time you met Gigi.  Your dad and I came inside the house and Gigi was sitting down with her dinner ready to eat.  When she saw you for the first time she put her food to the side, and said "Bring me the baby, I will eat later."  During that 3 day stay in Houston she held you as much as possible.  As you get older I can not wait to tell you all about your amazing Gigi.