Happy Opening Day!!

It's opening day for our favorite baseball team! Go Cubbies!! Bo can't wait to watch his first Cubs game with Daddy!

All pictures were taken in our very own Friendly Confines.

P.S. Thanks to Aunt Manny for another cute outfit. Aunt Manny sure knows how to pick the outfits that Bo will be photographed in! ;)

Homemade Baby Food

The last few weeks have been filled with research on high chairs, making baby food, and what to feed our little guy. Of course, much of my research is conflicting...

The books that I've read include Super Baby Food, Superfoods, and Top 100 Baby Purees, not to mention all of the other childcare books that have feeding hints and tips in them as well -- as it seems every 'childcare expert' has an opinion. I've read many of them, numerous blogs, several online articles, and a plethora of websites.

All my research has helpful hints and tips but a few authors are a tad overzealous. I'm all for a healthy, happy, well-nourished baby but just the thought of feeding my child a few of the Super Baby Food's makes me sick. Like brewer's yeast - YUCK! (But I did like the book for it's information about first foods, the quick reference for foods in the back, and the preparation and freezing techniques.)

You're probably starting to think that I'm a bit overzealous about baby food... And I guess in a way, I am. I want Bo to eat healthy, mostly organic food. I want him to have the best chance to be healthy and smart. I want him to have a healthy relationship with food. I don't want to be one of those mom's who never gives their kids sweets -- but I also don't want him to think that donuts are a breakfast staple... And we definitely won't be joining the 'clean plate club' around here. Therefore, I figure it is best to start young and build from there.

We decided to start rice cereal at the 4 month mark. We are using Earth's Best Whole Grain Organic Rice Cereal. We did only plain rice cereal at the dinner time feeding for about a week and a half. Then we added the breakfast feeding with banana. I am meeting in the middle and trying each new food for 5 days before moving to the next food.

Bo's feedings look like this right now:

At some point during the night - breastfeed (this morning this wasn't until 6:15!! woohoo!!)
8 am - breastfeed and cereal and banana (1 side, rice cereal and banana, other side)
11 am - breastfeed (expressed milk on work days)
2 pm - breastfeed (sometimes expressed milk -- depending on how late I work -- good thing I'm a master pumper!!)
5 pm - breastfeed and avocado (1 side, avocado, other side)
8 pm - large bottle of expressed milk (usually 9-10 oz.)

I plan to wait another week or two before adding in a solid food feeding at lunchtime. I want to space out the introduction of each meal but we also have to wait until our highchair* arrives so that we can take the travel seat to Mom's house for the lunch feedings she will take care of during the week. Once all three solid feedings are established then I will start lengthening out his schedule. First to 3 1/2 hours and then to 4 hours. Right now our 3 hour schedule is working so well though that I am afraid to change it!!

This weekend I tackled my first attempts at making homemade baby food. I made avocado, sweet potato, and carrots. So far it is really easy and appears to be cost-effective. I made over 50 servings of homemade, organic, sweet potato, carrot, and avocado for around $5.

Here are some pictures of my baby food manufacturing.

*We didn't want a big plastic highchair. We spend a lot of time in the area where the highchair will be and we wanted something that will look nice and be functional. After much research we decided on this high chair. Even though it was more than we had hoped to spend we have high hopes for it. I'll do a review after Bo tries it out to let you know if it is really worth it.

Spring Break

We've been so busy that I haven't had time to wrap my head around (or sit down!) to write a coherent blog post for days. We're on spring break - one would think this would mean much rest and relaxation. We lean towards the opposite end of the spectrum and think "oh, we have a few days off, how much can we cram into a week??". Mike and I are making the most of our time off -- well, at least as much as we can with a 4 month old!

We drove north on Saturday morning and stayed with Grandma Sherri and Grandpa Jim until Wednesday. We had a great time and we were constantly moving! Bo's first Easter dinner was so much fun and he enjoyed spending the day with family. It even worked out that he took a nap during dinner so I was actually able to eat at the grown-up table!

Other fun activities during our stay included (each could be an entire blog post themselves - but I'll spare you and instead annoy you with lots of parenthesis):
*Visiting a retirement community to see Mike's Great Aunt and Uncles. (This made me miss Grandpa so much...)
*Having lunch with Mike's awesome cousin and her son (and we were thrilled to receive some of their old toys for Bo to enjoy!)
*I had a cavity filled :( (My first!! And yes, I go to the dentist up north -- long story!)
*Bo ate his first mashed banana -- a few funny faces but he eventually decided it wasn't too horrible (We are planning to try avocado on Saturday!)
*Discount shopping - I found 3 shirts for $4 each at Target (I love that store!) and 2 cute dresses to wear for Senior Awards and Graduation at the outlet mall (size 4P! - I may still have that lovely apron of flesh on my tummy but, I'm getting there!)
*An amazing dinner at a nice restaurant where Bo managed to nap the entire time
*Too much food!
*Mike surprised me with a pedicure and a massage. (It doesn't get much sweeter than that!!)
*Lots of good quality family time - lots of hugs, lots of love, and much joy spread for the Easter holiday

We returned home on Wednesday afternoon and Mike had his first extended stretch of time at home with Bo on Thursday while I went into school for a work-day with my yearbook girls. (Yes, I had them come in and work over break. I must be Satan's spawn but we are able to accomplish so much with such a solid chunk of time to work!). Mike and Bo did well together and I pumped at school for the first time.

We have three days left of spring break. And normal people would probably think that we would rest for the remainder... but we aren't that simple. On our agenda for the next few days:
1. Finish taxes
2. Acquire bids for a new roof
3. Meet with our financial planner
4. Attend Mandy's musical
5. Clean out closets for donations
6. A few projects on Mom's house before she returns from her spring break
7. And you know -- all of those normal parts of life that everyone does all the time but don't really require discussion -- grocery shop, laundry, clean, etc. that have been ignored this week while we've been on the run.

While this year's spring break isn't exactly a vacation in St. Martin, we're still having fun . All it really takes for us to enjoy our time is to be together -- even if that 'together' is grocery shopping. :)

I'll leave you with a few pictures I've taken during our break...

My place at the Easter table. Sherri did an amazing job decorating and planning for the family Easter gathering. Everyone participated in an egg hunt and egg pecking!! The eggs are Bo's and mine from the egg pecking competition. We 'unfortunately' did not win the Good Egg Award!

Bo and his first Easter basket. Doesn't he look thrilled? Hopefully he will be more enthused next year when he can have some candy!!

Easter eggs for pecking.

Bo has some tummy-time while we wait for everyone to arrive for Easter dinner.

One of the most special gifts in Bo's Easter basket this year was this strawberry hat. Grandma Sherri and Grandpa Jim went on a Baltic cruise a few years ago and while they were there Grandpa Jim spotted this adorable hat. I had recently experienced my ectopic pregnancy when they left on this trip so they knew that grandchildren were on the horizon. It's been tucked away since then waiting... My heart bursts that we all finally have a little guy to wear it! (And at some point I'll get a picture where he is actually smiling while wearing it -- but his expression here makes me laugh! It looks like he's saying, 'What the heck is on my head??')

**Yes, I really did write this at 4 in the morning. I'm not really sure why but sleep just wasn't there this morning...

Donate!!!

I just made my second donation to the March of Dimes this year. They raise money to help battle prematurity. My current donation is for Team on the Road. Until I have enough brain cells regenerate (We just returned home from leg one of our spring break... more on all of that later!) to write a real post -- go to over to Stirrup Queens and read about how you can help. Infertility is no picnic -- but prematurity and the consequences are a nightmare.




Why You Should Donate to Team On the Road

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!

Love,

Baby Bo, the duck

P.S. Thanks Aunt Manny for the fun outfit!!

4 Month Sleep Regression

Bo asleep in his car seat after going shopping with Mommy, Daddy, Grandma and Grandpa We.itl when we were visiting two weeks ago. Notice he has his arm around Tony. So sweet!

Remember how I said that I had a wonderful sleeper?? Well, I did. And really, I still do. I know it could be MUCH worse. But I miss my good sleeper. I miss the little boy that would go down at 8 and wait until at least 5 (and on good days 7!) before waking up for a feeding! For the last week or two we've been up one or two times a night -- but last night - with 4 wakings, Bo set a new record.

I've used Babywise from the beginning and it has provided the basis for Bo's routine which overall has worked extremely well. But even the Babywise book mentions the 4 month sleep regression and the 45-minute intruder during naps. We've got both going on at our house currently.

Bo hit the 4 month mark yesterday and was awake more last night than he has ever been. (It doesn't help that I jinxed myself by commenting on another blogger's site, right before bed no less, that our sleep issues haven't been horrible.) He was up at 11, 12, 2, and 4:30 last night. Each time he was in a different position in the crib, always on his side, trying to roll from his back to his belly. He really is becoming quite the squirm-bug! I only fed him at 4:30 -- for the other wake-ups I just repositioned him and gave him his paci and he went back to sleep.

I thought it could be a growth spurt but honestly, I don't know how the boy could eat more. He breastfeeds every 3 hours and is having rice cereal after the 5 o'clock feeding and then taking 9-10 oz. of breastmilk from a bottle at his bedtime feeding at 8.

So it seems to me that it must be the 4 month sleep regression. Apparently, all of these new milestones that he is hitting such as rolling over from tummy to back, taking all of his naps in the crib, eating his first rice cereal, trying to roll from back to tummy, etc. are being worked through at night. I guess this really shouldn't surprise me as my brain tends to use sleep to work through various issues as well.

My mantra is "it's only a phase." How many times will I say that over the course of his lifetime?

I guess at least Bo is right on target and chose to celebrate his 4 month birthday with a little extra Mommy time in the middle of the night. I love spending time with him, but I'd much rather do it by the light of day...

*** You can read about 4 month sleep regression here. There are a ton of other sites that I have found that discuss it but I'll let you Google it for yourself. :)

Wonky Toes

The feet seen on the banner at the top of the page, those are Bo's feet, at 3 weeks old.

One aspect of Bo's birth story that I remember quite vividly is how the nurse who took his footprints, just a few minutes after he was born, had trouble fitting his massive feet on the stickers that they give new moms for baby books or scrapbooks. His feet barely fit on the keepsake stickers.

After seeing Bo's footprints, Mike said, "Look, he has your alien toe." And it's true. I do have two alien toes. The fourth toe on each of my feet is quite wonky looking with a big rounded tip and a skinny bottom. It curls under oddly with my other toes. It's just plain strange. Upon closer inspection it quickly became clear that yes, Bo was blessed with my wonky toes.

(I'll pause here for you to scroll up and examine the banner more closely. Can you see it? His fourth toe... the one that looks all wonky.... Yep. I only allowed my son to inherit the best traits from me -- wonky toes, big ears. Poor kid.)

I guess all this really shouldn't be a surprise to me. I knew all along that I had a baby with big feet. He liked to lodge them in my ribcage and I can remember countless times, especially during my 4th block class this fall, when I would rub right under my ribs and pray for my little boy to curl his feet up and give me a bit of relief. The one maternity dress I owned, and wore to work constantly due to its comfort, has a hole right at the rib line from my constant rubbing and trying to push his 'little' feet down. Even during labor, my epidural cut off at my belly button and I could feel Bo kicking off with his feet to try to shoot himself down the birth canal.

And now, well, I'm in love with his little feet. I love to kiss them. To wash the toe-jam out of them. To photograph them. To dress him up and put on his great big socks (the newborn ones I bought looked like toe puppets when I tried to put them on him in the hospital!). Sometimes, I just slip his little foot out of his outfit and stare at it. Seriously, how adorable are little baby feet?? Even the ones with wonky toes are pretty darn cute to me.

Mike and Bo's feet. Bo was 3 months old for this photograph. Notice the "wonky" toe on his right foot.

More Bo toes -- still wonky.

Yep, wonky.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

One year ago today, we saw the first sign that there was a chance that Bo would become more than just a dream.

He's definitely a reality this year...

The Weekend in Pictures

A big thanks to Leslie, Jessica, and a yearbook adviser down south for all of their help! After lots of research, plenty of recommendations, not to mention buying and testing all the "fun stuff" for my yearbook staff I finally invested in a few camera accessories of my own - a new lens and external flash. Hence, a million pictures were taken this weekend as I learn and experiment with my new toys!

Can you figure out the highlights of our weekend???

Watch Baby Bo Roll Over!!

I finally captured Baby Bo rolling over! Go, Baby Bo!!

(Just ignore the random background 'Mommy' noise -- it's amazing what people say to babies...)

Symbolism

After not being able to wear my wedding set since September, (due to swelling and weight gain) I finally became 'officially' married again this weekend when we picked up my ring from the jewelry store that Mike's grandfather use to own.

When Mike and I first started talking about starting a family, I was pretty adamant that I would receive a sparkly gift for bringing a child into this world. As our infertility journey progressed I cared less and less about a sparkly gift and more and more about the real gift -- a healthy child.

By the time I was finally pregnant with Bo I told Mike that I did not want anything. Bo is the best gift and that I felt it would be smart to save the money to contribute to his college fund.* Mike said he agreed and we both left it at that.

Needless to say, about an hour after Bo's birth -- after Bo had his first feeding and we were admiring him -- Mike dug around in his bag and brought out a little gold box.

I am sure my jaw dropped, as it often does when I'm shocked. I remember Mike saying, "You didn't think I was going to get you anything, did you?" I truly did not think he would. More and more often we do not purchase gifts for each other on holidays -- instead choosing to spend the money on more practical objectives.

My wedding set, like the rest of my life, is different now. Inside the little gold box was a ring that matches my wedding band. I had expressed interest in some day receiving another band but I thought it would be for an anniversary in the future. Instead, Mike gave it to me on the night when we officially made the transition from being a married couple to a family. In my mind this ring is more special than it ever would have been on an anniversary because it represents so much more. It represents Bo. It is a symbol of our family.

Today, when I wanted to pull my hair out at work, I happened to glance down at my hand. I was instantly reminded of two of the most important people in my life -- my husband and my son.

To some people, sparkly gifts are insignificant -- and while I wouldn't trade Mike and Bo for a million diamonds -- I wear my rings with pride because they are a representation the most important aspects of my life, even when I can't be with them. To me, my ring is a symbol of love and the amazing real gifts that I have in my life.




* Yes, we did still start Bo's college fund. Given the current state of the economy my ring will probably be a better investment than his mutual funds anyway...

Skinny Songs

About a month ago I received an email from The Conversation Group in San Francisco asking me if I would be interested in receiving a free copy of a new cd, Skinny Songs, in exchange for writing a review of the cd on my blog. I readily accepted. Who doesn't like free stuff?

They found my blog (actually, my old blog) based on my desire to lose weight after my pregnancy. On the old blog there was a link that updated every week with my current weight and how I was doing at losing my baby weight. I didn't transfer this to the new blog as I didn't figure people in my real life really wanted to see a scale with my weight posted every week but weight loss and being healthy are still primary goals.

As I previously posted, I have managed to make it back to my pre-pregnancy weight. Now, I'm tackling those IVF pounds. Heaven knows how much I love weight gain from injecting myself with Chinese hamster urine! I've hit a bit of a plateau and I know it is time to start working out and really get with the program. It is vital that I lose the weight before re-starting IVF -- rumor has it the weight is harder to shed after a second pregnancy.

First, I have to admit, I'm not a big music buff. Most of the music I listen to is music from when I was in high school or random songs that the yearbook girls have introduced me to. Most of the time, I like quiet. During the school year I'm use to 30 chattering voices all day long so when I'm in the car or at home I usually just want quiet or to have a peaceful conversation with Mike and Bo.

On that same note, I have found music to be very inspiring when I'm working out. Back in the day (2000-2004) when I exercised daily, I really enjoyed the various music that was played at the local gym and I found myself working harder during my workout and singing along with the songs later in the day. Mike bought me an iPod for Christmas just for this purpose -- to have something to listen to while I exercise. Bo and I are planning to take lots of walks once it is a bit warmer out. Unfortunately, we will probably be walking to children's tunes since there are speakers on my stroller for us both to listen to the music -- but maybe a few Skinny Songs will be thrown into the playlist.

Overall, I really like the songs on the Skinny Songs cd. The songs are catchy, fun, and motivating. Sometimes I know I need that extra motivation to get moving!! While it probably isn't a cd I would buy myself (I really don't buy cds) I might download a few of the songs to throw into my workout mix! Check it out and let me know what you think -- my favorite song is the first one -- Skinny Jeans.

Mike pushing Bo during our first walk as a family.

Bo and Tony are geared up for the walk!

Jamie pushing Bo during our first family walk. Bo slept through the whole thing!!

Eating, Vaccines, and a Healthy Baby

Bo had his 4 month checkup today (he is exactly 16 weeks tomorrow -- and will be "officially" 4 months on the 20th) and all is well.

He weighs 15 lb. 3 oz and is 25 inches long. He is in the 70% percentile for weight and seems very healthy. No issues! The doctor says he is 'advanced for his age' since he is already starting to roll over from his tummy to his back and has 'excellent head control.' (Woohoo! What mom doesn't like to hear that their baby is advanced?) Bo's biggest issue is dry skin but we are already working on that with this cream after baths.

Bo did great through the entire appointment. He smiled, cooed, and showed off his tummy-time skills. He was such a good boy -- it made Mommy proud.

Bo also had his first round of vaccines today. After doing some research we decided not to give Bo his first shots until his 4 month checkup. A big thanks goes out to Faith at Keeping the Faith for her advice and the recommendation of this book: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Vaccines. After all of our research we did decide to go ahead and do the vaccines, just on a slightly different schedule than what many doctors prescribe.

He really did well with the shots. I know I was more upset and nervous than he was! Just a couple of sticks and while he did cry for the actual shots he was just fine once I picked him up. He's a tough boy! I did remind him how many shots Mommy had to go through to make him but he didn't seem to care at that point!

Bo received a dose of baby Tylenol before his shots and we are keeping him on the Tylenol every 4 hours today to make sure that he does not have pain and does not develop a fever. So far he seems just fine -- he isn't even really cranky and was playing and having fun at Grandma's today while I went to work.

The doctor also said that Bo is free to try rice cereal anytime after March 20. I have researched babyfood (what haven't I researched???) and it seems like Bo is ready. He can sit up with support, watches us eat and seems interested, etc. Dr. J said that the only real benefit of waiting is that it could decrease food allergies but if none run in our family it really isn't something we need to be really concerned about. I haven't made my final decision on this issue yet...

It's been a crazy few days. We were at the in-laws all weekend, which was fun and we enjoyed seeing many of Mike's family members, eating out and shopping, but it feels like we have been going non-stop since Friday -- not to mention the fact that we lost an hour in there somewhere!! Needless to say, Bo's taking a nap and I need one too! Instead, I'm off to fold laundry...

Baby of Mine

Baby mine, don't you cry.
Baby mine, dry your eyes. Rest your head close to my heart,
never to part,
baby of mine.

Little one when you play,
don't you mind what they say.
Let those eyes sparkle and shine, never a tear,
baby of mine.

If they knew sweet little you
they'd end up loving you two.
All of those people who scold you
what they'd give just for the right to hold you.

From your head down to your toes,
you're not much, goodness knows.
But you're so precious to me,
sweet as can be,
baby of mine.

If they knew sweet little you,
they'd end up loving you too.
All those same people who scold you,
what they'd give just for the right to hold you.

From your head down to your toes
you're not much, goodness knows.
But you're so precious to me,
sweet as can be,
baby of mine.

This is my new favorite song. I recently bought Martha Stewart Baby: Sleepytime after a recommendation by another blogger and I just love it!

I am posting this today in honor of Bo being with me for one year today. One year ago today, Bo's embryo was put into my uterus. I feel so blessed that he became my "baby of mine."

Sadness

I just found out that a fellow blogger has lost her son. Natalie from Relaxing Doesn't Make Babies went to the doctor today and they could not find a heartbeat at 36 weeks gestation. She is currently being prepped for an induction.

Words can not begin to express how upsetting this is.

This candle is being spread around the blogosphere in Devin's memory.

My thoughts and prayers are with Natalie and Den...

Happy Creation Day, Baby Bo!

One year ago today, Baby Bo was created.

What a difference a year makes...

Tiger Fan

My 5th Christmas - with my new bike - and standard Tiger apparel. (Bo totally inherited my ears! I'm so sorry Bobee!)

I've been a Tiger Fan since birth. My cousin played for the Tigers when I was little and my Aunt Sally always made sure I was decked out in the latest Tiger apparel.

My classroom (when I had my own) was totally decked out in Tigers. Seriously, I think have more Tigers 'stuff' than anyone I know. Even more than Mandy!

The yearbook room is also a Tiger mecca. We have a waterfall picture with a Tiger that use to be at El Rancherito, an orange and black love seat I found at a local consignment shop, not to mention our own stuffed Tiger and mascot, "Ollie".

When I went upstairs to get dressed this morning it dawned on me -- what the hell am I going to wear if I stop being a teacher? My entire wardrobe revolves around that school! All of it is either from when I was in high school, orange, has a tiger, says "teacher," "Mrs. We.i.tl," "Olnean," or is from the last 5 years when shirts are a fundraiser for different organizations at least once a month and I always buy. I have no idea what "normal" people wear!

Bo apparently has caught Tiger fever as well. On Saturday we went to the outlet mall and I originally bought a Tiger stuffed animal as a gift for another friends baby. Bo latched on to it and claimed it as his fairly quickly. It is the only toy he has been really "into" so far. I think he has found his lovey... Meet "Tony the Tiger." (Original, I know. It was either that or Hobbes -- I decided I like Frosted Flakes better.)

Bo and Tony. They were a bit tired this morning after being hyped up about the Boy's big win last night! We are going to the Final Four! Woohoo!

Bo finds Tony to be quite tasty.

Bo laughing, with Tony by his side.

Moving, Revisited.

I've been doing a lot of thinking and Mike and I have been doing a lot of talking about our pending move and what the future will hold for our family. Here's what we've come up with. Feel free to weigh-in.

I do know that not moving is not an option. There are numerous reasons but mostly because moving is what is best for Bo and Mike. I do think that my mom will eventually come with us but at this point she is going through a lot and it is unrealistic to expect her to make such a major decision at this point. I've backed off considerably but I do feel confident that when the cards fall into place her furniture will be in the moving van with ours. I still talk about "when we move" but I've been trying to put less pressure on her. Grandpa's death has been very difficult for all of us and I am trying to give her both the space and the support that she needs without being too overbearing.

The biggest road block to picking up and moving is Mike's job. We will not move without at least one of us having a job (that would just be stupid). In reality, the employed party needs to be Mike as he would like to stay working for the government and has a higher salary than I do. I probably will not be hired at another high school because I have too much education and too much experience so the move will probably mean a total career change for me, which is a factor that I am also giving a great deal of consideration. (More thoughts on 'Career Changes' later in the week...)

Therefore, we are waiting for a transfer. There are two specific offices that are close to Mike's parents that he would like to be hired into but as to how long it will be until an upward transfer is available is anyone's guess. He could do a lateral move but he really wants to advance as part of the move. A higher position would provide lots of positives -- the government will buy our house if it doesn't sell within 3 months, the government paying for our move, as well as extra salary and a few other perks. So, it is waiting for this ideal job that is the real "hold-up". It could be tomorrow, it could be two years from now. We just don't know.

I'm a planner. So I hate this "limbo land" that this situation creates. If the perfect job opened up tomorrow, Mike would go. Bo and I would not be able to move until June at the very earliest. I have no intention of leaving school until the year is completely over and our yearbook will not be complete until at least mid-June.

We've been trying to look at the "big picture". While it would be good to move now and be settled there are perks to staying where we are -- at least for a little while longer. Our ultimate goal is to be where we are going to 'plant roots' by the time Bo starts Kindergarten (I had to move when I was in elementary school and it sucked --I don't want to put my kid through that).

So, what do we do while we wait? Do we stay where we are? Do we move to the town where Mike currently works? Moving North without one of us having a job is not an option.

If we stay where we are and both continue to work at our current jobs we will be able to save a great deal of money. As of May, we will be totally debt free and this option would allow us to put all of the money that has been going towards the mortgage into savings. Potentially, this could be very good for us as the more money we can amass before moving North will mean a better house. There are some expenses related to this option. One is Mike's commute (time, gas, vehicle maintenance) which is about 2 hours each day, but we are already paying for this expense. The only 'new' expense would be paying my mom for full-time childcare when I go back to work full-time in August. Even with paying Mom it would still be well worth it financially for me to work. If we stay in Olney it would not be a wise option for me not to work, considering Mike's commute. There is no reason for him to drive two hours each day if I am not working.

Another option is we could move an hour North to the town that Mike currently works in until the ideal position becomes available. The consequences of this would be that since the cost of housing is comparable we would still be debt free but we would not be able to save as much. I have no idea what I would do if we moved there. This would eliminate the commuting cost but would add moving expenses. This town is closer to the IVF doctor so that would be a perk and I would most likely start trying for the second child a bit sooner if we took this option. (More thoughts on 'Trying Again' later in the week...)

Both options have pluses and minuses. If we stay here we would save more. We wouldn't have to move twice. But what if he is transferred in October? Could I really leave my students in the middle of the year? If we move to Effingham, we could move again in a very short amount of time. Is it worth it to buy another house and move twice in a very short amount of time?

We also know that with our current insurance we have two more fresh IVF cycles and any FET's that would go with those available. If Mike is transferred before we try again that could impact our insurance coverage, which is also a factor.

So, what do we do??

I am really trying to not get my panties all in a bunch about it, but don't let me fool you... I am worried. I'm worried about where we will live. I am worried about the fact that a house comparable to what we have now will cost at least $200,000 more than our current home. I'm worried about my career. And most of all, I'm worried about making the right decision for my family.

I am trying to just live my life day by day and be grateful for what I have. Amazingly, this is easier than it ever has been before -- now that Bo is here. He has slowed me down and made me appreciate life a lot more. I am trying my hardest to have faith that everything really does happen for a reason and that everything will work out for the best in the long run.

So far in my life, I feel like I have made all of the right decisions. Sure, there are a few blips here and there -- but when it comes to the BIG stuff -- you know, those life-changing crossroads, I've always come out ahead. I guess that is one benefit to my Type A, planner personality. When it comes time for the major decisions I really do think everything through -- and so far, that has paid off. I just have to have faith that this time will be no different.

So, I'm thinking it through... And if you have an opinion, please feel free to share it with me as I am trying to look at this from all angles and I know I could still be missing a few...