All my life, people have told me that children grow up so fast. And I always nodded my head and agreed. But now that I have a child of my own, the complete truth of that statement is really starting to hit home. You really do blink and they're bigger. These past few months, Dessa … [Read more...]
Guess What! We’re Buying a House!
Surprise: we're buying a house! Believe me, it's nearly as big a surprise to us as it is to you. But, when one of the cutest houses in our area went up for sale, we decided we just had to go for it and make an offer. From there, everything just fell into place and we are thrilled … [Read more...]
7 Things to do with Your Tax Refund
It's just about that time of year again: tax season! If you're like Maria and me, you play it safe and get a tax refund nearly every year. We try hard to minimize the amount of our return (after all, a tax refund is really just the government paying back an interest-free loan you … [Read more...]
Gift Ideas for the Photographer
As a relative newbie to the world of photography, I know just how intimidating it can be to purchase useful gifts for an aspiring photographer, especially when your own photography experience is limited to taking snapshots on a smartphone. So if you have to buy a gift for the … [Read more...]
Gift Ideas for the Gamer in Your Life
As a gamer, I know how difficult it can be for a non-gamer to pick out a gift for a video game enthusiast. Maria never knows where to begin. The gaming world is a little confusing if you are outside of it. Got a video gamer that you're struggling to find a holiday gift for? Well, … [Read more...]
Fitting a Baby into the Family Budget
Babies are expensive. Not only are there the medical bills, the diapers, and the formula, but there is so much more that doesn't even occur to you beforehand. As soon as we found out that Maria was expecting, we began to prepare our finances for life with a baby. But even the … [Read more...]
My Thoughts on Fatherhood After Eight Weeks
Eight weeks ago, Dessa arrived, turning our family of two into a family of three. And, I must say, after eight weeks, I'm slowly getting the hang of this whole fatherhood thing. Some parts, like the late night feedings, were expected. Others were not things I anticipated, like … [Read more...]
Will Baby Gavin be a Boy or a Girl?
Maria and I decided early on in our pregnancy that we did not want to learn the sex of our baby. But that doesn't mean we don't wonder if it's a boy or a girl! No matter what gender our baby is, we will be thrilled to have him or her in our arms. In the meantime, it's a little … [Read more...]
Who Will Be the “Mean Parent”?
Maria and I were having dinner the other night and were, as we often do, sharing stories from our day. One story got us wondering about our future as parents. Specifically, which one of us will be the "mean parent"? You know, the disciplinarian that keeps the kids in line. The … [Read more...]