The 30-second summary is that my nanny started last Wednesday and today was my first real day of studying while she was here. Of course I got much less done than I thought I would and I'm decently behind the paced schedule. I know it's possible to catch up but I just can't devote my full attention to it yet... PJO is taking a big test on Saturday so until that is over, I have to pick up a little slack around here.
I could wax poetic for multiple entries on my renewed love affair with Trader Joe's and how that will be the answer to significantly reducing our monthly grocery bill.
I'm also pretty excited about our new savings account at SmartyPig. While our savings is an emergency fund right now, we're really saving up for a down payment on a house. We're shooting for 15-20% since mortgage insurance is a bitch, which means that right now our projected completion of our savings goal is in 2040. Awesome. So maybe we'll have a house by the time we're grandparents.
This brings up the big thing that's been our minds but not in our conversation until after this CFA exam... possibly moving after the Bar. Since I won't be working until at least October 2010, I told PJO that next year is his big chance to try living somewhere new if he really wants to. It would be very difficult to justify looking for two jobs in a new city unless we had to, but if he could find a job somewhere new, why not give it a try for a year? We really would like to be settled in one place once our kid(s) are in school, so this upcoming year may realistically be one of our last chances to really try a new city.
This little (and expensive) apartment is becoming claustrophobic... Jumping over an exersaucer, stroller, high chair and coffee table to get from one side of the room to another is exhausting. 500 more square feet would be amazing, a backyard or a garage would just be delightful. I'm not sure I'm willing to wait 6 or 7 years to be able to afford an actual house with a yard in Los Angeles. So we've been talking about moving somewhere more affordable. You know, where you can get a house on a plot of land for less than $1,000,000. Geez, so much to ask, I know.
The plan is for PJO to look for jobs after his test is over, and if he finds something we'll move and try it out. If he doesn't, we'll stay. It takes a lot of restraint to not search for homes on zillow.com all day long, especially when the alternative is studying for the Bar.
Someday soon I'll find the time to write about the doubts and fears that have been plaguing me regarding being a working mom now that I'm only spending a couple hours per day with my baby.
Someday soon I'll find the time to review the iPod Bar Bri program and how it's working so far.
Someday soon I'll find the time to talk about the recent additions to our baby gear and how freaking big and old my 5 month old child is. And how I can't believe he's not a newborn anymore. And how I am amazed every day at how much I love being his mom. And how I could never imagine spending all day with a baby before and now I'm quite sad when I go several hours without him.
Someday I'll find the time to complain about the lack of consistent sleep and how I'm still swaddling my 21 pound baby and how I had to teach him to drink from a sippy cup this week so the nanny could avoid starving him.
But for now, you just get the boring non-update on my life. Sorry!
ok, also a couple pictures:
4 comments:
You're little one is so cute in every picture!
I can relate to your feelings about the cost of real estate (or even just rentals) in your area. I was going through the same thing three years ago, which explains a lot of why I moved to TX and decided to go to law school. Have you considered Texas? After three years, I still can't get over how affordable it is here. It was hard to give up the beach, but if it's just temporary . . .
oh my gosh! what a cute big boy! I totally can't believe how expensive real estate is out in CA. It blows my mind and I thought I grew up in an expensive city. You would think in this market things would be way more affordable right? The house next to me was foreclosed and is for sale for 89K!!!
Can I make a request? I'd like to hear more about how you found your nanny. We're going to be switching from day care to a nanny after we move, and I'm just really intimidated by the process of finding and interviewing and hiring someone for that kind of job.
Paragon - TX is basically the only place we've been considering if we leave CA. We did a road trip through there after college and liked it.
But yes, it's hard to give up the CA beach and weather. Did you live in LA? I might have to ask more about your experience later if we do move!
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