A little bit of this, a little bit of that ...

- A new baby will be born into our family this year. My sister-in-love, Kristi and her husband Zac will be welcoming a sweet bundle of joy. She is due September 15. This will be their first baby and we are so very, very excited for them!! Even though she lives in Georgia, I can't wait to walk this journey with her.

- I've always thought Brooklyn was a 5-year-old trapped in a teenager's body. That was confirmed for me on Sunday, when during our Super Bowl party at a friend's house, she holed up in their teenage daughters' rooms playing games, watching movies, etc. She was completely in her element. And, she keeps talking about it. All. The. Time.

- The girls were playing dress up yesterday morning and convinced me to dress Liam up too. When I sent Daddy a text of his boy dressed in a bright pink frilly dress, he called me and said "Why is my boy wearing a dress?" Ahh, the joys of having sisters!

- Speaking of dress up, Tierney is all about dress up lately. At any given time, you can find her with 3-4 necklaces on, a bunch of bracelets, a play wedding veil, dress up shoes, etc. I love what a girl she is. It's so fun!

- Kevin locked himself out of his car last night. Or, as he likes to put it his car locked him out. He went to leave work. He started his car and got out to scrap ice off the windows and dust off the snow. When he was done, he went to get back in his car to come home. Instead, he called me in a panic saying he didn't know how it happened, but he was locked out and needed the kids and I to rescue him, which we did.

- Really working hard to get some real estate stuff going, so if you or anyone you know has a real estate need, remember me. It would be my pleasure to help!

- As a friend said, "There are times the enormity of shaping these little lives is overwhelming. It is such a HUGE responsibility and I feel unqualified." But, during my bible study time today I was reminded that God is using me to shepherd my children and that I'm supposed to view that as an official assignment and not just my role. And, with His help and this knowledge, I know I can do it.

- Last thing: Anyone else watch Pretty Little Liars on ABC Family? If so, who do you think is "A"?

Hmm .. I must be pregnant!

One of my co-workers just got done watering plants near my desk. As she grabbed one plant down from the high wall where it's hanging, some dirt dropped to the floor. It's still sitting there as she's gone around to water all the other plants before cleaning up any messes made along the way. I could walk over, pick up the dirt clump and throw in the trash. I mean that would be the responsible, or even nice, thing to do, right? Wrong. I am enjoying the smell of the dirt clump so much that I want to keep it there. Heck, maybe I should even go and grab it and bring it closer so the smell is stronger. Just kidding. At least I didn't take a bite, as some pregnant women do. I know I couldn't bring myself to that. But, the smell? Divine.

P.S. I know .. I'm crazy! But, I'm also four months pregnant!

What will you spend it on?

Some exciting news..

Starting in May, 116 million American families are getting economic stimulus package checks from the government. To receive a payment, taxpayers must have a valid social security number; $3,000 of income and file a 2007 federal tax return. Eligible people will receive up to $600 ($1,200 for married couples), and parents will receive an additional $300 for each eligible child younger than 17.

The economic stimulus payments will be issued according to the last two digits of the main filer's social security number. People who use direct deposit also will be among the first to receive the payments starting May 2. Paper checks will be put in the mail starting May 16.

Here's the schedule for when to expect yours to come:
DIRECT DEPOSIT (transmitted on date)
00 through 20, May 2
21 through 75, May 9
76 through 99, May 16

PAPER CHECK (mailed by the date)
00 through 09, May 16
10 through 18, May 23
19 through 25, May 30
26 through 38, June 6
39 through 51, June 13
52 through 63, June 20
64 through 75, June 27
76 through 87, July 4
88 through 99, July 11

One of the purposes of the stimulus checks? To strengthen the middle class, to create jobs and to turn this economy around, according to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California.

I've seen quite a lot of deals being made by businesses such as Best Buy, Sears, etc. to appeal to the consumer on how to spend this extra cash. I work for a newspaper in the advertising department, so we're reaching out to our clients to get them interested in running a similar ad saying come spend your stimulus check with us! It's all about spending the money as soon as you get it, huh? I guess that's the hope.

So, what are you going to do with your check? Save it? Or buy that plasma TV you've been dying to get?