Making Cents Makes Sense!

okay, so it's been a while since I wrote.
a long time.

I'm now a mother of 2. 2 perfect little princesses hold the keys to my heart and they will for the rest of their lives. I call them Ally and Mojo (Probably for the rest of their lives).

and we're done. for now. God has blessed us with two amazing little girls and hubby is worried that if we have another one, we'll be in hock up to our eyeballs so it's best we quit while we're behind. 7k behind actually.

Yep, thanks to our new van (Watson died and couldn't be resuscitated so we now have Cheyenne. She's awesome.) and some minor repairs around the house, we are now behind the eight-ball $7,000.

the truth is I haven't really taken money seriously. Not since I got married nearly 10 years ago. But this new battery has put us even further in debt and I've decided I need to start taking it seriously.

First things first, I've fallen in love with a money saving website called Stacy Makes Cents.

Stacy is one of the most amazingly frugal moms I've ever had the pleasure of reading and even tho a great deal of her tips are American or for those who don't live in a town of 600 people, it has still lit a fire under me to be more aware of my spending.

So for all those Canadians out there who want to save, let me tell you what I'm doing and if it's working. Then you can tell me what you've done and if it's working for you!

First and foremost, if you don't have a PC mastercard or a PC account; get one. (PC stands for President's Choice which is ironic since in Canada we don't have a President) Getting 20,000 PC is easy and knocks $20 off your grocery bill, so really: worth it!

secondly, let me introduce you to free.ca. This website is great to find printable coupons! (every little bit helps and is amazing)

thirdly: if you have any brand loyalty now, lose it. or at least lost most of it. (There are some things that just can't be duplicated. If you've ever had store brand Kraft Dinner: you know.) Store brands are cheaper and similar in most ways to whatever you want to get in the other brands.

That being said, I'm going to try to focus on how much things cost and how much I spend. I'm determined to get out of debt and start saving for a trip to Disneyland in 2021 (when my girls are 7-8)

Wish me luck!

So Sleep Deprived I can't even complete a senten

Well, It's been nearly a year since I've written. I have a baby now, it takes a lot out of you and of course, your free time is pretty much non-existent. She will soon be 1 year old. It makes me sad that she's getting so big but at the same time I can't wait for her to get bigger so I can take her to things like Clifton Hill in Niagara Falls or Wis Dells in Wisconsin. The reason I'm writing now is because I'm currently 12-13 weeks pregnant again! After all that time wondering if I would even get one, I'm now going to have 2 under 2 years within 2 years! My little peanut is going to be a big sister! The nausea came on stronger and earlier with this pregnancy than it did with my first pregnancy. So here's hoping there's also an early end to the morning sickness as well. We've started sleep training our first born. So if you ever see something like this: "Day 1 May 1-2 Woke up to A screaming @ 3:29am went to train. Fought with P 18-20 attempts (had to pee at 16-18) 4:36am back to sleep P kept going Success at 5:18" it's notes from me desperately trying to get my peanut to fall asleep in her own crib after a long year of having her crash with her father or I or both of us. I'm determined that she should sleep on her own and I don't want her to feel like I'm abandoning her so this works but it certainly takes time and patience... My stomach is doing weird things to me, like preventing me from eating foods I like and making me sick to my stomach at smells and textures and a lot of different other things. I can't wait to be able to eat normally again. The odd thing is that my body has been craving fruit! like A LOT of fruit! plums, grapes, different fruit juices... weird. I think that's it. Here's hoping I can get my little one to sleep before I write too many of these weird notes...

No more excuses

So, 3 weeks and 6 days ago I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl named Ally. Immediately after going back to TOPS I found that I Weighed less than I did when I first conceived my little peanut. Yay! Since than I've lost another pound ! My only worry is that at this point is that I'm going to sit on my bum holding my daughter and not get the exercise I need and blame her. I really don't want to do that. So I am resolved to eat less and attempt to exercise more and not make any more excuses. In fact, I look forward to taking my little peanut for walks and eventually runs or bike rides. I meant what I said, I want to one day be able to run so fast that my kids can't catch me.  That being said I'm training for a bike-a-thon in September and a golf fundraiser next summer.  I'm determined to weigh around 225 by the time i go home to visit my family in December. Giving me around 16 pounds to lose in 28 weeks.  Which isn't bad to be honest... Wish me luck. 225 is what I like to refer to as my "wall". I've not been under that number since I joined TOPS In January 2008. I get close then I balloon so I would very much like to blast through that wall. Wish me luck!

Fit to be {fill in the blank}

Well, I'm not far from baby time ♥. I'm getting more and more excited (and impatient).

one of the most frustrating things about this stage in my pregnancy is that I no longer fit. Not just in the clothes I love (although I don't) but at least there's always maternity clothes and hey - who doesn't love an excuse to go shopping? but I don't fit in other places too.

I haven't ridden my bike in some time because when I slide off I no longer fit between my bikeseat and my handle bars. Movies are out mostly because I don't fit in the majority of movie seats, but the bane of my existance right now with movies, shopping malls and sporting events is the turnstiles. I think they might be evil. Nothing makes you feel worse than getting wedged in a turnstile and having to get the manager with his keys to remove one of the arms to let me out.

Bathroom stalls also don't accomidate the pregnant woman. If the wheelchair stalls are occupied I have to enter a skinny stall straddle the toilet so I can get the door closed behind me. Then I have to awkwardly back up (and I swear I hear the beeping sound a truck makes everytime I have to reverse) then rotate carefully in order to use the toilet. It's quite an affair.

ooh Speaking of bathrooms, I recently overheard a conversation while in a stall. what you need to know is that I own a beautiful faux leather jacket that I wear for spring and fall (it makes me look badass) It's pretty but at the moment I can't do any of the buttons except the top one. meaning my chest is covered but my belly protrudes and when I wear a bright red shirt underneath it's quite a sight...
Anyway, this girl announces (I'm sure for my benefit) "did you see that?" to which her friend loudly responded "if I ever get so fat that I can't close my jacket over my enormous gut, I'm getting lypo." and they left cackling. I didn't see them in the restaraunt after I left the restroom which is a shame because the only thing I could think to say to them was "I'm pregnant, and in 2-3 weeks I'm going to lose my "enormous gut" but you'll still be an idiot." which made me feel good and at the same time, a little like a gilmore girl.

anyway, there's many places I don't fit and some I wish I did. I don't fit in my shoes anymore. I have a two dollar pair of flipflops that I bought at a dollar store and a pair of crocs that I'm using at the hospital. Besides that; none of my other beautiful shoes fit me because my feel have swelled so much. they look like Fred Flintstone feet. They haven't been that swollen since I sprained my ankle 9 years ago... I miss my ankles...

so that's it. everything is a tight fit.
*sighs*
think of me?

Repelling the "What ifs"

So when I was overthinking things and letting my imagination run away with itself (as I have a habit of doing far too often) I got to thinking some pretty negative thoughts.

"what if I'm not a good mother?"
"what if I can't do it?"
"what if I hurt the baby?"

and other what ifs preyed on my thoughts. I wanted to dismiss them but instead I not only allowed them to fester, but I began to meditate on them. I know- I'm disgusted with myself too to be honest.

but the strangest thing happened tonight-The 18th of December. 4 days before I see my baby again. I heard the voice of God tell me something. Now, normally when God wants to tell me something He has to grab my face and point my nose towards what He wants to tell me. but this time He spoke in such a still small voice that it hadn't given me such a feeling of joy and peace I wouldn't have even known where the thought came from. But it was so true and just what I needed to hear to repel the negative thoughts.

"Think about what has happened. Think about my timing. Think about what I've given you. Do you honestly think I would give you this amazing gift at this time, in this place if I didn't know you were ready? Do you think you know better than me? Who do you think you are?"

Wow right?

So should these thoughts Permeate my cerebellum again, I could use your prayers please? Thanks♥

How time flies...

Well, things are definitely working faster than I thought they would be. Hubby and I had our first doctor's appt since I got my little plus sign and (after being up all night and worrying that I had gotten a false positive, even tho there have been other symptoms) She confirmed that I was indeed pregnant and that my due date was April 27th 2012 and that I was 9 weeks and 4 days in.

WHAT?!!?! NINE WEEKS AND FOUR DAYS?!?!

Okay, so I got over the initial shock and realized that I am now not only very pregnant, but I am now only 2 and 3 days (well 2 weeks even now) away from being into my second trimester!

It means I'm not waiting for Christmas to tell people! it means I get to tell people a heck of a lot sooner and that makes me more than a little thrilled because I've been wanting to tell like... everyone... all the time.

Halloween is going to be entertaining and the bike-a-thon is going to take some serious work, but at least I know where I stand.

I'm 10 weeks along. I'm uber excited and just waiting for the doctor to contact me regarding an ultrasound.



I want to see him/her/them!!!
I freaked Pat out a little bit. He was relieved when we found out because he knows what this means to me, but at the same time, I told him that just because I'm pregnant doesn't mean I'm only having one. I could still be having twins or triplets and no one knows... at least until I get an ultrasound done. His face went white. It was more than funny to me which I think makes me a little sadistic, but he's been amazing.

He's really been taking care of me.
I am so blessed to have him in my life, He's going to be a great daddy.
Keep the prayers coming!
~Ruthi

Fearless

Written the middle of September

So this week we got to go back to Ontario and share our good news with family. Things are good, lots of people were excited, some not so much, but everyone was supportive. (we haven't told everyone, just some people)

My sister freaked me out tho. Turns out someone in our family told her that in our family, boys produce a more difficult pregnancy and that I should pray to have a girl, when I've been praying so hard to have a little boy. of course My brain started telling me, "don't worry about it, The difficulty has nothing to do with the gender of the baby" and "All pregnancies are different" and "God is going to take care of us" but it couldn't get the negativity out of my mind, you know?

So we're driving down the road, and I have my little Ipod on listening to whatever pops on randomly, and This old DC talk song comes on. and as I listen to it, God just starts showing me I really have nothing to fear... quite literally, the song is called Fearless. (apt huh?)

Here are some of the lyrics that really touched my heart:

Patiently You stripped away
The walls of pride that I had raised
You revealed the child inside of me
We will run and not grow old
Soar on wings as I've been told
Together we will fly the heavenlies

Cause out of the noise I could hear You breathing
You came along knowing just what I needed
Turned me around and ya got me believin'
I would die for You

Now I'm fearless with nothing left to hide
All the doubts of yesterday, love has driven them away
And now I'm fearless when I am by Your side
It's forever me and You in this covenant of truth
Ya know I'm fearless...oh yeah

(when it reached this point I think I was in tears)

Some of us leave the vine
Some of us fall in line
All of us have a friend in Jesus
Some of us live in fear
Some of us persevere
Knowing that You are near me, I am fearless

so God totally talked to me, telling me I'm His child and my child is also His child and He's the one in control and I can be fearless.