Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Choose Your Own Adventure

I've always wanted to participate in Steph's linkup for the simple fact that I used to LOVE Choose Your Own Adventure books. Does anyone remember those?

Life According to Steph

March's theme was relationships, and I can't explain how appropriate this was for me. With this whole...transition going on, relationships with family and friends are forefront in my mind right now. Most significantly, I'm finding this pregnancy has brought me closer to family and friends {especially the ones with kids} while taking our marriage to a whole 'notha level, but that doesn't mean I want to get so wrapped up that I lose other relationships.
o far, everything has been a positive shift that I never expected,


My main goals have been and still are:
Make sure that not everything revolves around conversations of CQB. It's so easy to let every conversation {and blog post} involve her, but I know that could end up allowing us to miss other important subjects in each other's lives, as well as put distance between us and our non-parent friends. It's easier said than done, especially when everyone else brings her up too, but I still think it's necessary. Luckily, we still have flight school, upcoming parties, travels planned, music festivals, and impending moves to discuss.

Continue to foster the relationships that have strengthened because we got pregnant. It is absolutely amazing how you automatically feel a stronger bond with family and friends just from getting knocked up. My childhood best friend and I now text daily, it has brought out a new side of my baby sister I've never seen, my grandmother that didn't speak to me after we eloped has already showered us with gifts and well wishes, and even just other mom's that are complete strangers will take the time out of their lives to give me their advice and wisdom. When they say there is a 'mom club', they are serious, and somehow we all gravitate towards each other. Don't ask me how, but sweet baby jeeeeeeesus I'm thankful.

 Will and I need to maintain an 'adult' relationship. In every sense of the term 'adult', I hope to maintain the mental and physical aspects of our relationship and always remember that we were 'we' before we were 'three'. Other than talking about her a lot, not too much has changed, but I really want to create the bucket list I talked about to make sure we are still making memories to share between just the two of us. I also feel like he's been doing so much for me during this pregnancy, and I want to step up my game and take care of him before she comes. I know it will be more difficult to juggle it all then, so I need to do everything I can now.

                        NO EXCUSES.                     

April's theme is finances. This is obviously important for us right now because, hello, we have a baby on the way. A baby on top of me being a stay at home wife the last year, buying a house, and an impending move. The mortgage is covered by our renters, but our savings did take QUITE a hit when we decided to put down 20% on a house before knowing le baby was on the way. As such, my current goals are:

Create a Baby Fund.
Build a House Emergency Fund on top of our regular savings.
Track every penny spent on CQB, and try to stick to the plan of buying the majority of the things we need after the second shower.
Sell everything that's not nailed down in this house.

If any of you have tips on relationships during pregnancy or finances, you know where to comment. I am so thankful for every bit of advice y'all have given me, and I WANT MORE! ;)


14 comments:

P!nky said...

You have such a great head on your shoulders, I love your perspective! <3 you!

Curly Girl Confessions said...

My husband and I were a lot like you and Will during our pregnancy. I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED being pregnant. I never had issues with not stopping our life like he had it before I got knocked up. Meaning - Eric went out and I went out WITH him. We went to football games. We went to concerts. We went and did, did, did. I am so thankful we did that because oh the roller-coaster that comes once that baby arrives. Wow. My best advice is after 4 weeks set a day each week and go on a date with Will. It doesn't matter if it's just going to the grocery store or Target. Get out on your own one on one. It's so important and I firmly believe it helps each person to feel like #1 because when a little tiny baby arrives it can be difficult to keep that frame of mind.
And lastly, you have no idea what you are doing with that tiny baby I mentioned and that's totally okay. Embrace it and give yourself lots and lots of GRACE!!!!!!!

Helene in Between said...

i think it's so great you're focusing on your relationship. Everything is so exciting but you also need to think about eachother. Y'all are going to be such great parents!

Nikki said...

My advice and do with it what you wish AFTER CQB is born make sure y'all make it a point to have at least MONTHLY date niights without her. We have started doing this and it has been GREAT for us as a couple. Like you said "it was we before three" so so true!

SMD @ lifeaccordingtosteph said...

I'm glad you participated! Great goals for next month - I know you probably just want to buy it all but it's smarter to wait. I found out I'm going to be an aunt and I've gone crazy with baby stuff - and I'm not even the parent!

So important to remember how vital your marriage is even with a child on the way or in the home. It is a truly great example for your kids too.

Sierra said...

Focusing on your relationships and building goals is so essential. That's awesome that you take the time to care about this so much. You go girl!

♥ ♥ Just a Girl in Love w/ a Soldier ♥ ♥ said...

We def. splurged this past month with putting in a extend back patio, so my goal for April is to buckle down and really watch my spending to make up for it. Fingers crossed I do well it is my birthday month.
I have no doubt you'll be able to reach your goals, you are a go getter and have big dreams!!!!

My-cliffnotes said...

You will be fabulous parents!!!!

My-cliffnotes said...

You will be fabulous parents!!!!

Courtney B said...

This is still such a new phase in your life that of course it's so easy to talk about baby girl allllll the time! And that's okay because you WILL sneak in other subjects, I promise! You're going to be talking about her pretty much non stop her first year of life as well thanks to #1- your motherly obsession (ha ha) and #2- you're going to be asking "is this normal" over every little thing :) But I promise that you will have a life outside of her! It's not always easy but you are the kinda girl that's gonna make it happen!

lisacng said...

Congrats on the pregnancy! I completely agree that keeping up those adult relationships (those with and without kids) is so very important because your kids will rule almost every minute of your life, in both awesome and not-so-awesome ways. I have 2, so I have less than no time for myself but I have to carve out time. Dates with husband, girls' night out, picking up hobbies I missed, working out. You can do it! Just gotta find what works. Good luck with your financial goals. Time and money, we've all got too little, right?

Kristen said...

i've never been pregnant or a parent, so no advice there! love the 'we' before we were 'three' though, so true!

Rach said...

I so look forward to hearing all the ways you guys keep your relationship first even after the baby comes. That's something that's really important to me when we add to our family someday.

Kathy@MoreCoffeeLessTalky said...

congrats on the pregnancy! i totally agree that your marriage should be a priority along with baby. it's far too easy to let kids put your marriage/husband/each other on the back burner because kids ARE SO DEMANDING and draining.

it'll be tough at first as you adjust to motherhood/parenthood but once you find your groove, set a weekly/regular date night so that you guys can focus on you.

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