Friday, January 30, 2009

Baby Bucket List and Writing Update


First, the writing update. I am officially at 29k words. I'm a little short of where I had wanted to be, but I'll explain all about that on my Week Wrap Up post on Sunday. Don't want it to distract from my topic of choice. Next week my goal is 35k words. Once I hit that I am going to start working on revising what I have done to date. I am a skipper so the 35k words should expand to around 55k once I have added proper description and a set-up or twelve.


My husband and I had a little misstep this month when we thought that we were pregnant. We are not (which is a good thing because I went to Mexico earlier this month and had mucho Margaritas--I don't want a flipper baby). While it was very much not part of the plan, but I am a disappointed that there is no Bun in the Oven (just the book).

But, that is okay. Today we sat down and made a Baby Bucket List of all the things that we would like to do before TTC (trying to conceive). The Bucket List concept is taken after the movie of the same name. It's basically just a list of things Pete and I want to do and where we would like to be financially when the little kiddo comes along. If we don't do all of it, I'm totally okay with that, but if we can do most of this list, I will be very happy.

I think that we will start TTC in about two and half years--around my 29th birthday. This was very exciting because while we have always wanted to have kids, we have put an official (albeit distant) date on the baby plans.

The amount that we put into savings each month to allow us to reach our aggressive goals is the amount we expect to spend on childcare and other baby expenses. If there are any other pre-baby couples out there thinking about adding a little plus one, I think it is a smart idea. Once our baby, we won't be on a new budget and we will be more financially ready for him/her.

The trips are used as rewards for obtaining certain savings goals, but will be saved for before taking. There are other places I would like to go someday, but these are the places I want to try before Alexander or Adeline comes along (yes, we picked names too!) What can I say...I'm a planner.

I also started working on a Kid Bucket List of activities I want to do with my kids while they are little, too. But, I'm just going to share with you my Baby Bucket List.

Lauren done with school
Lauren has PMP
Lauren has enjoyable (enough) job
No PMI on condo
Emergency Fund built up and put in "leap-frog" CDs
Baby Stuff fund
Get involved in religious community
Life Insurance
Have a budget
Join a Jr Board
Reasses Insurance
Get involved in volunteer work
Disability Insurance
Lauren exercise regularly
Lauren to dentist
Lauren starts proper pre-natal care
Lauren seeking agents for novel
Go SCUBA together
Go Mountain Climbing
Go to Vegas
Go skiing
Dance Lessons together
Run a marathon
Visit the Amazon and Rio's Carnival
Tour Greek Islands
Alaskan Cruise
Europe



Did anyone else have a list of things they wanted to do before trying to have a baby? Does anyone have a written list of experiences they want to share with their kids? I'd love to hear what your goals and dreams are. :)

24 tidbits:

Charles Gramlich said...

no list for me. I always knew I wanted to be a father, though. sounds like you guys have got a plan, and that's great as long as you're flexibile. Saving money for the future costs is very wise of you both. I applaud you.

Andrea Coulter said...

wow you guys are organized! This is a great way to make sure that you are prepared for a kid, not only financially but emotionally (ie you have no regrets over things you wanted to do beforehand). I haven't made a list of 'life experiences' to have yet, mostly because I'm focused on my main goal: writing. I should, though; I feel like I'm neglecting the non-professional goals I have. Thanks for the inspiration :)

The Blonde Duck said...

1) Make more money
2) Travel more
3) Go on a honeymoon (3 years after married)
4) Get my writing career going!
5) Get over my fear of delivery.

Lauren said...

@charles- Since I have a higher paying job we sort of have to have these financial plans if we want to pay our mortgage while I am on maternity leave :)

And we are flexible. I'd be happy if we even just got half of it done. That's why it is in order. Most important first!


@lynn- I'm such a crazy planner. I really can't wait to have kids, but I know that we have to get certain things done. It just makes me feel happier about the whole situation if I have milestones. I'm such a project manager! Perhaps I should make a Ghant Chart--if anyone is familiar with that. Now that would be funny.


@duck- Those are great bucket list items! I hope you do get to go on your honeymoon. It took us a little bit too. My sister never got hers and has said several times that she wished that they had gotten to have a honeymoon.

I totally agree with your #5. I keep joking that I am going to outsource so that I don't have to deliver...lol...but I'm just joking...mostly...

But for now, here is to fur-babies...your Bear and Bitty and my Sadie and Skittles!

Anonymous said...

Arg. The damn web ate my comment. Let's try again.

I say sleep in as much as you can. Eat at restaurants as much as you can. Go to the movies, go out on weekends, travel, and enjoy being a couple.

Finish that novel! :)

Having kids is great, but challenging.

Paul

Raph G. Neckmann said...

How wonderfully organized you are! I certainly had no list before our three came along. Maureen, though infinitely more organized than I, had no list either.

However, from our first meeting, we have had our dreams, and these we continue to follow and fulfil throughout our lives.

It sometimes feels as if we are following a path that has been created for us ...

Barry said...

You are way more organized than we ever were. But then things were a little more unpredictable back when we started having children.

I envy you.

Sepiru Chris said...

Those sound like some good plans.

No kids yet for us, just the Wonder Cat, but that financial planning is definitely best started sooner. Then you can harness the wonder of compound interest.

I would just add more travel, but then the Heroine and I have always, annually, taken at least one month of off-continent vacation travel together, and double the same again for on-continent vacation travel together.

But we have always negotiated better than Europe vacation plans for her and usually I have been self-employed... and my boss believes in down-time to compensate for up-time.

Your planning is excellent. Go for it.

sribbler said...

well planned...

Unknown said...

I m kindda stunned. You have a pretty long list that you are attempting to accomplish in in two years or so. Here's our best wishes on this journey of yours...Thomas

Lauren said...

@writer- I don't think people truly miss the little things we take for granted pre-kids (like the movies and restaurants). Although after years of eating out most nights, I'm sort of over it :)

And yes, the novel. I don't know how you people with kids find the time!

Lauren said...

@raph- I'm a project manager (well, that is a subset of my job description) so stuff like that is just sort of how I work :) I'm planning on putting it into a proper chart and putting it on the fridge :)

I know of a few other people with a list. I think it's a new thing--an extension of the babymoon (like a honeymoon, but before kids), which is also new.

Lauren said...

@barry- In some ways I think it might be more unpredictable now with the whole "disappearing middle class" and everything. And I figure that I have time, so I might as well try to leverage it :)

Lauren said...

@chris- It sounds like you have a fantastic boss :-P. But seriously, many self-employed people I know are worse about taking vacation days than those who have a "traditional" work set-up. That's great that you are able to stay focused on what is really important!

And the Wonder Cat is your fur-baby :) (that's what I call my cat and my dog) :-P

Lauren said...

@justin- Thanks for visiting the blog! I always love seeing new people. Totally makes my day :-D

Lauren said...

@Thomas- Believe it or not, but stuff I have attempted over the last two and a half years would have been an even longer list! Thanks for the well wishes :)

Spy Scribbler said...

I love this, Lauren! I have no baby bucket list, because I want a baby NOW. I do ahve a baby "should" list, like "get health insurance" and "make more money."

Merisi said...

Dear Lauren,
thank you for your kind comment on my blog! I am looking forward to one day buy your novel and read it, especially the part about winter in the woods! You would have loved the scene I encountered there yesterday. I was totally unprepared, because downtown it had been drizzling, no inkling of such harsh conditions just twenty minutes towards the edge of the city. I first crossed through the city vineyards (putting vineyards into my blog window should give you some scenes of the area), with the fog intensifying, until I reached one of the highest points of the woods. I decided to pull into the parking lot there and stepped out into a winter wonderland, albeit a very stormy and icy one!

Regarding your baby plans I would like to wish you the very best!
To your BBL I would add funds or planing for funds to be able to afford as much time with the children as possible, i.e. paying for regular household help for example (the money is well spent, you will have more energy to do your writing, etc., meaning other income). Good luck!

Merisi said...

Happened to glance at the comment about delivery: as the mother of four, I would strongly recommend a Lamaze course to know what to expect and how to deal with the situation. This will take your fears away. :-)

Lauren said...

@spy- Good luck with your baby list too. And the baby--I know from your blog how much you are looking forward to being a mom and I can also tell from the way you talk and look at things that you will be a fantastic mom :)


@mersi- Thanks so much for the advice. And we will probably go the nanny-share route (one nanny for two families with just one kid) as that is much cheaper than day care in our area. Side benefit is they cook and clean on the days they are in your house. I was joking with my husband the other day that I wanted a nanny now :-P

Your description of the scene is wonderful. I love your line about fog. I can't wait to make my wintery scene :)

Lauren said...

@Merisi- Sorry, I just realized that I had a typo with your name in my above post :( The middle i got left out.

Jennifer said...

What a great list! I have the same thing! How has it been going? I'm revamping my list now, haha. Good luck!

Lauren said...

@Future Mama- We are doing okay on them. The biggest ones and therefore the first ones are taking the most time, but I think we are ahead on one of them. The other is me graduating and that will be in December. End is in sight :) Once we finish our PMI bit I think that we will revamp. Until then...just working on those two :)

Thanks for commenting. :)

Lauren said...

Making a new bucket list. Wanted to post an update. Got a bunch done, don't care about some and have to put some on hold. It was a pretty ambitious list.

Done:
Lauren done with school
Lauren has enjoyable (enough) job
No PMI on condo
Emergency Fund built up
Life Insurance
Have a budget
Join a Jr Board
Reasses Insurance
Get involved in volunteer work
Disability Insurance
Lauren exercise regularly
Lauren to dentist
Lauren starts proper pre-natal care
Lauren seeking agents for novel
Europe (twice!)

Not Done, but don't want to:
Lauren has PMP
Go Mountain Climbing

Still Want To Before Baby:
Go skiing
Dance Lessons together
Baby Stuff Fund
Get involved in religious community

Going on hold (some because can't do while preggers
Run a marathon (although I've done a few 5ks)
Visit the Amazon and Rio's Carnival
Tour Greek Islands
Alaskan Cruise
Go SCUBA together
Go to Vegas

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