Dave Ramsey Rocks....kind of

So Preston and I are in a financial class that we are taking through our church called Financial Peace University (FPU). It is taught by the famous Dave Ramsey. The class is REALLY good and we are learning a lot. (The reason I added the "kind of" in the title is b/c budgeting isn't really that fun and you end up doing less fun stuff...or at least that's the way it seems.) My big thing right now is trying to saving money via the grocery budget (which means anything that can be bought at Wal-Mart including other house hold things besides just food). I have done some research to find out where things are the cheapest between these stores: Wal-Mart, Target, Sams. I am committing to try store brand products at least once. How will I know if they are not as good if I don't try them? If I don't like the Target brand of something then I don't have to buy it again but at least I tried. If you want to see the results of my researsh (for things that we buy most often) click here. Most of the products are store brands, some are not.

Moms or Moms-to-be or Moms Someday, if you don't read anything else on this blog post read this:

I've found that the biggest place that I can save money is through diapers and formula. I've tried all the kinds of diapers except White Cloud (Wal-Mart) from both Target and Wal-Mart. I'm trying the White Cloud next time I buy so I'll let you know but I really do like the Target diapers. I get the same results from them as I do from the big brands. Now, they are not as cute but they are a heck of a lot cheaper. I also really like the Member's Mark (Sam's Club) infant formula. Chase really likes it and it has the same ingredients as the big brands. I did lots of research on formula and how good one is compared to another and I found that they are all good and meet the same FDA standards (but don't take my word for it, look it up yourself).

Here are some costs for diapers (I'm using Target as an example for costs):
Huggies - 19.99 for 104
Pampers Baby Dry - 19.89 for 104
Pampers Cruisers - 19.99 for 88
Target Brand - 13.79 for 104

Here are some costs for Formula (again using Target as the example for the name brands):
Enfamil - 22.79 for 25.7 oz
Similac - 21.39 for 25.7 oz
Target Brand - 11.00 for 25.7 oz
Member's Mark (Sams brand) - 19.38 for 51.4 oz

Here's the important Part:
Supposing that someone goes through a big box of diapers every 2 weeks or so (I'm going to use the prices above even though different sizes may be a little different). For the first year the Target Brand buyer will spend: 330.96 and the Huggies buyer will spend: 477.36. If that same person does like me and breast feeds for 5 months...does both for 3 months...and formula feeds for 4 months (a total of around 600 oz). The Sams buyer spends: 226.70 and the Similac buyer spends: 499.20. (I know you're thinking that to really save I should breast feed the whole first year...you're right...but that's not going to happen. :) Therefor the name brand person (as far as diapers and formula goes) spends $418.90 more than the off-brand person. Wow! That's a lot of dough. (That's a car payment for some people and two car payments for others...or a fun trip...or Mother's Day Out...or lots of clothes...etc.)

Hope this is helpful. I didn't intend on writing this much.

Doctor Update

Chase visited the doctor yesterday for his 6 month appointment. Six months! Can you believe it? That's a whole half a year! Wow! He weighs 17.2 lbs and is 27.5 inches long. Here are his percentages: 85% on height, 75% on head, and 50% on weight. Preston and I laughed and said that he is a tall, skinny, big-headed kid. haha. Come to think of it, that's a lot like him mom. hmmmm.

Oh, and I'm working on some video of him clapping. He seems to be camera shy.

oh the stupidity...

Man I hate it when I lose my keys. We have no back-up key to our car to if I lose them it's bad news. I REALLY hate it when I call and make plans with someone (say...Jen for example) and then realize my keys are no where to be found. ahhhh. My friend has had a rough week....I want to hang out and chat with her....we make plans at 1:30 to meet at 2:00....she gets herself and her kid all loaded up and leaves....I'm stuck at my house....I apologize and we decide to meet later in the week....an hour later I find my keys in my coat pocket. And you know what...like a month ago I did the exact same thing...left my keys in my pocket and couldn't find them for a while. You would think that would be the first place I would look. But no, it didn't even cross my mind until too late. Sorry Jen. :(

Anywho, here's some video I forgot I had from our trip to Colorado Springs. This is Chase and Preston in the hotel pool. Click to see the video...

A little while later:
Oh, and guess what Chase just did! Just since I wrote this post he has clapped his hands! I've been noticing he was thinking about doing it when I help him clap or when he watches me clap. Today I saw him acting like he wanted to so I clapped and then clapped his hands for him and then he did it himself! Way to go kid!

A Week in Colorado Springs

Hello! It's been a long time since I updated! Chase and I tagged along with Preston on one of his business trips last week. I realize it's been several days since we got back but I still want to tell you all about it. The business trip was in Colorado Springs and we had a great time! We drove half way on Sunday the 8th and then the rest of the way on Monday. Preston's stuff started Monday afternoon. That day Chase and I just hung out at the Hotel. If you've never stayed at the Homewood Suites, I highly recommend it. It's basically a one bedroom apartment with someone to come clean it up everyday. Chase slept in a crib (provided by the hotel) in the living room so that we can close him off from us at night, because the little stinker flops around so much and makes a lot of noise (it was a nightmare with him in the bed with us at the Best Western on our way up). Monday evening when Preston was done with work we went out to dinner and then came back to the hotel for a dip in the hot tub (Chase got to sit in his stroller while we were in the water). Each morning Chase and I would take Preston to school...I mean work, and then come back and eat breakfast at the hotel. Tuesday and Wednesday Chase and I spent time at the hotel gym and in the indoor pool in the morning. Chase is so good to sit in his stroller while I work out (he really has fun looking at himself in the big mirrors in there). He loved swimming in the pool, though his swim trunks are a little tight. :) Tuesday afternoon we just did some shopping near the hotel...nothing major. That night we ate dinner with Preston's work team. Wednesday Chase and I went to the Garden of the Gods. It was really cool. The weather was awesome too. About 61 degrees which is great for Colorado in January. We just walked around and enjoyed the views. After that we drove around a bit. You can't get turned around in CS b/c the Mountains on the West side of the city let you know what way you're facing at all times. Oh, and the people are really nice there. That night we ate dinner in Old Colorado City at a nice little Italian place. Thursday Chase and I hung around the hotel for a while and then went shopping in Old Colorado City. It's a very cute little area...reminded me of downtown Edmond...only better. When Chase was ready to eat we stopped at a little French bakery where I had a snack and Chase had his bottle. After that we drove out to 7 Falls which was also very beautiful. It was pretty cold but we got a few pictures. We ate with Preston's work friends again that night. Friday Preston only worked half a day so in the afternoon we went back to the Garden of the Gods and then drove up to Santa's Workshop...which was closed by the way (opens again in May). We were going to drive up to Pike's Peak but we waited too late in the day. Maybe next time. That night we swam, ordered in Chinese, and watched a movie at the hotel. Saturday was a crazy day. We got up very early and drove 4 hours to Red River, NM where Preston and I skied for a few hours and chase stayed at the Little Buckaroo's Day Care. It was really fun. The snow was OK. I think it was 90% machine made...the only snow in sight was on the slopes! haha. We left Red River around 4:00 and drove all the way to Amarillo! Got there around midnight. And then on Sunday drove the rest of the way home. It was a fun trip.

Chase and Lucy

Chase really loves to watch our dog Lucy. While I'm holding him he will constantly look down at her and follow her with his eyes. Today Chase was sitting in the living room floor and Lucy realized that she had his full attention. Lucy started running around him being playful and then went and got her new Christmas dog toy. Lucy took it to Chase to play fetch and was like, "um...hello...why aren't you throwing it." haha. So cute!

Happy New Year!

Wow is it already 2006? It's been a great year for the Watterson family! Lots of life changes...and most of them revolving around a little boy named Chase.

We had a great Christmas! It was so awesome to see friends and family. We were able to be gone for about a week and a half this year. We went to see Preston's family and then my family and then went to Fort Worth to ring in the New Year. Chase's first Christmas was a hit. Everyone told me that babies are more interested in the boxes, bows and wrapping than anything else and it's totally true. Chase really likes wrapping paper. He got lots of new fun toys and clothes and even some practical stuff too. He even had fun meeting Santa at the mall. (By the way, don't go on Christmas Eve to get a Santa picture. It's madness at the mall and you have to wait forever!)

And guess what! He can sit up on his own now! It was like one day he couldn't for even a few seconds without propping up with his hands and then one day he could for long periods at a time. He really seems to like the world from his new view. His first sit was on Christmas Eve! He also took a bath in the sink for the first time and rode in the front of a shopping cart in honor of his new talent.

Here are some pictures from the last few weeks: