expensive, but priceless

I spent literally 28 hours over the weekend with a 3-week-old baby doll (and her mama and daddy).

When I wasn't snuggling up with said 3-week-old, trying to absorb that newborn baby smell, I was looking out their windows to views of the Statue of Liberty.

(they have the most AMAZING view of Manhattan when you walk outside to the riverfront)

It was a super short visit, but one that I will cherish and one that couldn't have been much longer due to missing my own sweet baby doll at home who actually scored a new bear that she got to pick out, dress, and name upon my return yesterday.

(I keep hearing this pink princess-y stage will end... WHEN?!)

That's right, I promised Lovie that when I returned from the little trip, we would all spend the day together doing something super special with her and she (no thanks to the HUB channel and their damn commercials) chose to go to Build a Bear Workshop.

It wasn't a cheap weekend, to say the least, but it was definitely pretty priceless:

Flying out to Newark, NJ for two nights, one day: $380.
Cabbing it to/from airport to/from apartment with sweet baby and amazing views: $90.
Snuggling with a newborn whose diaper I don't have to change: Priceless.
Going to Build-a-Bear Workshop: $47.
Coming home to a super smiley, happy-to-see-me Lovie: PRICELESS.

Do I or don't I?

So I'm a cheapass. And I'm the first to admit it. I generally don't buy much of anything unless it's on sale. And when it comes to Lovie, that especially holds true.

Take her kick ass swing for example. It normally goes for like $150 (and worth every penny in my opinion) and I got it on sale for $86 from Kohl's one day - with free S&H (and holy hell I just checked the link and Amazon's got it at $99! Nice! But, of course, not as nice as $86!).

Most of her clothes that I've had to purchase, were done so through Once Upon a Child or with a significant coupon or clearance through your normal Babies R Us, Kohl's, Carters, Old Navy locations. And while, for the most part, she has plenty of clothes, she has no shoes.

And I love shoes.

But have you seen the cost for some baby shoes? For something that doesn't even matter and something that may be worn a handful of times, if that? Insanity, I say!

Well I was looking at Old Navy's site today and then the Gap and came across these:

How friggin cute are those?! And I can get them in 12 months size which would be perfect for the fall and winter months. And the best news is that they're on sale for like $15.

But I'm a cheapass, remember? And $15, to me, is still a lot of money when it comes to something she, again, won't wear too much.

But they're cute. And she'd make them even cuter once they adorn her cute little feet. And she doesn't have any boots yet and they're NOT pink, nor are they covered in Winnie the Pooh crap (ha, nice pun!)!

So... do I or don't I get them?!? 

It's times like this when I hate being so damn cheap!

For Serious!

Another day ... another whole lot of nothing.

Ugh.

Oh but that's not entirely true.

Earlier this morning I did some actual work that took up about 15 minutes of my time.

Yes, I'm being serious.

Then at lunch I drove over to Babies R Us with my coupon in hand (25% off all clothes and shoes that can fit in a reusable tote bag they hand out upon entering) and spent $86 while saving $82 (Hells yeah!).

And now I'm online yet again.

What I wouldn't do to scoop my Lovie up in my arms, toss her in a warm outfit, grab a blanket, and head out to the park!

You people have no friggin clue how ridiculously draining it is to do nothing for 8 hours a day!!

Yes, I'm being serious!

1 hour baby doll, 1 more hour left to this work week!

Sucky Schedule

5AM - alarm sounds

5-615AM - wake and shower or wake and feed Lovie if she's awake; change Lovie's diaper and get her dressed; get myself dressed while Lovie plays with daddy; get her bottles together and my bag together and get out the door by 615.

620-645AM - drive to McDonald's for large coffee (6 cream, 3 sugar); drive to daycare and drop off Lovie, hoping she'll be sleeping when I get there so I don't have to say goodbye to an awake Lovie (kills me).

645-7AM - drive to work

7-315PM - "work"

315-330PM - drive to daycare and pick up Lovie and fall more madly in love with her as her face lights up when she sees me.

345-430/5PM - drive home in city rush hour traffic, singing to Lovie if she gets fussy but usually she just sleeps

445/5-630PM - play, talk, sing, laugh with Lovie if she's awake but she's usually napping :(

630-7PM - get Lovie ready for bed: bottle, bath (every other night), diaper change, pj's on, read bedtime stories, give hugs and kisses, turn on Seahorse, nighty-night Lovie!

730-9PM - eat dinner (take-out Mr brings home or delivery*); talk to/spend time with the Mr; clean bottles and prepare next days bottles; shit**; tidy up if there's energy to do so.

9PM - nighty night Mr

I'm lucky because Mr is a complete night owl (not me!) so he generally stays awake till around midnight so he's able to give Lovie a bottle when she wakes because she's still not sleeping thru the night. And if she doesn't wake before he's ready for bed, he'll wake her before he comes to bed so the past week I haven't had to wake at 3AM-ish to feed her because she's sleeping good, apparently.

*not sure how the hell we're ever going to lose the pounds we DESPERATELY need to since we don't cook... and it's not that we don't want to cook or know how to, it's more like WHEN ARE WE SUPPOSED TO? Sorry, but I'm not about to give up the two measly hours I have with Lovie at the end of the day to cook. And Mr. doesn't get home until after 6 or 7 at night so I'm not about to wait to eat at 9PM! Not gonna happen!!

**sure feels like I have to even schedule my shits in!!

This schedule isn't a choice. I *have* to be here at work right now. We simply cannot afford for me to be home... but we will be looking at our budget this weekend to see what, if anything, we CAN do differently. I'm more than ready to ask to switch to Part Time. Clearly (um, this blog and my others?!) this position can be moved to part time. It will save the company money so why not? But I dare not bring it up until I know for sure we can hack it. Mr doesn't seem to think we can but I have to keep the hope alive... for Lovie. And for me. I just miss her sooo much.

2.5 hours Lovie...

Today's Wish

It's April 1, 2010.

My checking account is the lowest it's been since I opened it two bank names ago!!

My wish: I would absolutely LOVE it if my checking account balance was an April Fool's joke.

Bitter Bitch

I'm really hating the moms I know who get to stay at home with their babies everyday.

One hour and fifteen minutes Lovie...

Money

One look into my checking account - and I "get" why I'm sitting here back at work as opposed to at home with Lovie. I is poor. Really. My account hasn't been this depleted since it was opened...and that was when I was like 20 or something! Scaaar-y!

It still doesn't make things any better or any easier. I miss my Lovie so much. So today instead of reading pathetic ramblings by ungrateful new moms, I actually worked a bit. May as well since I'm getting paid to sit here, right?

One more hour, Lovie. Momma's gonna see you in one more hour. Maybe you can be nice and awake like you were yesterday? And give me lots of smiles again?? I'm so excited to be seeing you again!!