Six, Daddy's Fried Chicken & Adoption Stuff

Do you see that beautiful Number 6 inside the flower? Clever, eh?

So yes we are at six. Six whole days of no...ahem...spending..double ahem.

I'm here to report the truth folks, and well - as AB likes to say...it's a gateway to the addiction. I did treat my son and I to a $1 scoop of ice-cream today at Baskin Robbins. (It was a Tuesday Family Special - $1 a scoop) I didn't even feel bad about it, to be honest. We had a great time together and he loved it. So that was my only slip of the week, aside from a shared soda yesterday with AB.

Heading into day Seven makes me feel pretty good. We did accomplish our grocery shopping for the month and we did pretty good - all things considered. Our usual grocery bill/eating out bill for a month is flat out ridiculous and completely flagrant, IMHO. So this grocery receipt by comparison is a drop in the bucket. Anyway, we're all stocked up with the necessities and we've both agreed that the only items we will allow ourselves to purchase until Feb 15th are milk, prescriptions if needed, gas, and anything the baby might need (i.e. diapers, formula, etc.). Outside of that - we can't think of a reason to spend any money. (Unless of course we happen into a Baskin Robbins again...oops!)

Menu today was yum! And as commenter Lydia put so well, it is hardly sacrificing with AB in the kitchen cooking...too funny! He really is God's perfect man for me. I swear to you - I am just no good in the kitchen. It's just not one of those natural things for me. But for AB - like butta', I tell ya.

Breakfast: Really? You wanna know again? Cereal. I love me some Raisin Nut Bran. Soo good.

Lunch: Turkey and Ham Sandwiches with Cheese

Snack: BR Ice-Cream. Flavors: Chocolate Chip for QB and Peanut Butter & Chocolate for Mom

Dinner: "Daddy's Fried Chicken" (amazing!!) with Southern Style Green Beans, Loaded Baked Potatoes, and Garden Salad. Seriously, who needs to eat out over here?

(I'm not even messing with you - that's the actual platter on the table tonight. Not some downloaded picture from Food Network. Freaking amazing, isn't it?)

Now, moving on to a new topic:

ADOPTION UPDATES

First, no news on the rumor front about how far into March China will make it. I'm not hopeful, to be honest, that they will make it much further than the 8th - but I know that date will make a lot of 3/8 LID'ers sooo happy. And I will be happy right along side them!

Second, we just sent off our 3rd, THIRD, Numero 3 - set of paperwork for Keira to CIS yesterday. People...can I just say how bittersweet this was? I hated writing that big check again. I hated putting together all those details again. I really loathed being asked to prove myself worthy of being a Mom, again. But I was so happy to see it go and to know that it really was the last time I would have to do it for Keira. She'll be home this year and all this will be a total memory. I know, since I've already finished it once with amazingly wonderful and fulfilling results. (hint, hint * ridiculously cute little boy named Quint).



Third, we're in the process of re-adopting Quint and applying for his Certificate of Citizenship (two different processes, we learned) I'm just a little appalled by how costly it can be to do all of this. But as you might already know, it's really important to take these final steps in the adoption process. We have our own reasons for pushing it along now, of which the most important is that we've decided to try our best to take Quint along with us to China. We've also asked Anton's sister Lisa to join us - as we really would have our hands full with both babies traveling. I'm excited about the prospect and I think that having Quint along will help all of us get used to the change together. Well, there's also that little bit about not wanting to leave him behind for up to three weeks. EGAD! I can't even go out for the afternoon without him and not worry or miss him terribly. Jeesh - I have no hope (and neither does his doting Daddy) of leaving him for that long without terrible heartache. No, we've gone and lost our minds completely and we're gonna attempt this with the help of a third adult. More to come on that, if we can get all the paperwork and a US Passport arranged before travel.

That's all for now - see ya for 7

Day Five and We Have Molar

Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later - my baby has his first molar. And really, thank the Lord - because I was beginning to think he would spend the next five years chewing all his food in the front of his mouth, poor thing. Needless to say, this week and last have been hard on him - and he has not been his most compliant, affable, or happy self. Regardless, he still wins the most "adorable" little boy ever award from Mom and Dad, despite the many moments of crankiness we are enduring while his teeth push through.

Day 5 has come and gone - and we've survived. I use the word "survived" somewhat tongue in cheek, and somewhat, well...not. You see, as I've mentioned, eating out or shopping for this and that has become such a way of life that I don't think we even notice it. Now that we're almost a week into our four week challenge to stop spending, I'm realizing that we didn't really think of the many "what ifs" of our plan. For instance, what about AB's school food account that we put money into a few months ago? Is it ok for him to use that account to purchase food from the vendors at school for lunch since that money came out of our bank account a few months back? Or is that spending just the same? What if I have had cash in my wallet for roughly a month. It's just there. Is spending it for a soda breaking the rules of the challenge? What if you have a gift card for somewhere - the movies, coffee, dinner? Should you use them? Technically you didn't spend the money to get them. But is using them up kind of cheating on the process? These little issues keep coming up in just five short days. It's interesting to see how often we just steamroll right on through spending as part of our daily exisitence. (well, some of us do anyway) On the other hand, I think this is partially the point of the challenge - to step back and really look at the habits, the tendancies, the patterns of behavior that come so natural but aren't necessarily good, etc. It's all part of the exercise, I guess. Very interesting, to say the least...

Meanwhile - the menu:

Breakfast: We're boring - cereal again. You can probably look for cereal here a lot.

Lunch: Egg Salad Sandwiches with chips

Snack: We splurged and bought a soda to share this afternoon while out and about running errands. It was $1.39 - but I guess we felt ok sharing it. To put that drink to good use, I was able to actually drink it with my dinner a little while later. Whatever helps you sleep at night, eh?

Dinner: Anton's MARVELOUS BBQ Beef Ribs, french fries, and a green salad. This time, I remembered the pics - sort of. Enjoy!




Dessert: Devils Food Cake with Cool Whip (seriously ridiculously yummy)

See you for Six!

Day Four on Day Five

Sorry...I didn't forget and no, we didn't fall off the wagon. I was just too tired! Yesterday was a very full day...church, sick baby, AB's parents came over for lunch and some Wii and Football, then some friends joined us for dessert and drinks. It was a great time - but whew...tired!

So I'll keep it short and sweet, because I'll need to post again for Day 5 later on.

Yesterdays menu was simple:

Breakfast: Cereal

Lunch: Leftover Mexican Casserole (all gone now...boo hoo...)

Dinner: Leftover Chicken w. onions and potatoes and leftover Pork Roast w. Rice and Brussel Sprouts. All gone too...boo hoo hoo!

Today we have to finally get our meager shopping list taken care of, as well as run some errands. I'm a little nervous about being out and about in temptations way - but we'll see how I do. Wish me some shopper luck!

Three Days a Charm

Well, day three has come and gone and I've (we've) survived both the lack of spending and the mandatory "eating in". I think that's the hardest part to, well err..part with. Eating out has really become such a common social and convenient part of our culture that I don't think we realize just how often we don't eat at home. Or how often we just run through a drive through for something to drink (ahem...coffee) or a quick pick me up milkshake.

It's only day three and I've already started thinking about the impulse of spending and how it has morphed into a lifestyle that is completely encouraged and accepted. It's such a complete and utter knee jerk response to life in general. I'm talking, down to the simple things - just the complete conveniences that surround us day in and out, almost everywhere we go.

Now, let's just be real here my friends - I'm not saying that I'm reformed after three days of no spending. That's rediculous. I'm saying, when you just come to a screeching halt on a certain behavior - you do start to sort of analyze what you've given up. Right along the lines of dieting - when you stop eating as much, you think about food all the time? Oh, maybe that's just me? Ok...moving on...(embarrassing!)

So, AB is making 30-Days pretty easy on me so far, because as per usual he is making some amazing meals for us. One the menu for today was ~

Breakfast: Steak and Eggs over easy

Lunch: Oops...AB and QB went to play practice where lunch was provided for everyone. Mommy stayed home and slept through lunch. Ohhh the bliss of Saturday afternoon naps at 12:30 - mmmm. So they had pizza...and I had chips. I know. I know.

Dinner: Maple Glazed Pork Roast, Herb & Butter Rice, Baby Brussel Sprouts w. Butter, and the most amazing yeast rolls with honey and butter. I'm talking - this was such a great meal. Oooh, I'm so glad we have leftovers! (Half the time, actually more than half the time, AB cooks better meals for us than we could ever get by going out anyway...it's much more about convenience most of the time)

So that's that...and onto day 4. Twenty-six days left. No food pics again - but Quint-a-licious instead.

This was so cute! I was playing Wii and my buddy wanted to play too, so we gave him a Wii-mote and let him have a ball. He must have sat there for 20 minutes just playing and playing - what a doll!

Later, we played the piano together and I can't tell you how much I enjoy watching him pluck away at the keys. Especially because he really doesn't bang on the piano - but rather choses individual keys to play and tap at. It's precious...

On the rumor front - I have just this to say: I have a feeling that nothing has changed. I have a feeling that we wont see referrals that go much into March. And it's ok. I'm not bitter. I'm actually ok with it. But I hope at least for some of the early March LID'ers, that they make the cut this month. That would be really great for all those LID on the 8th...(and I know there are a lot of you!)