1.02 2011 Year Review

By Cyndi
December 26, 2011

As this year comes to a close, I have been thinking back to what we survived and how 2012 will be different.  Let me try to give you some perspective on our lives during 2011 with some numbers (I am an engineer!):

• We have changed over 2000 diapers per child. At around $0.15 / diaper (when I have coupons and a sale), that's over $600 in diapers.  I can't wait until they are potty trained, but then I might need house cleaners to clean up their mess!
• We have recorded over 1450 feedings for each child.  We have an excel spreadsheet that we record by mL how much they eat at each feeding (since mid-February).  Why you ask?  We are not crazy. Since late February, we offer 9oz at every feeding and allow them to eat as much or as little as they want.  Matt has them in the morning, daycare for the afternoon and I do their evening bottles.  The log helps so we know how their day has gone.  As we transition to whole milk & sippes, we will stop recording how much they drink.
• Matt has averaged working an 8 hour overtime shift every other week for the entire year (I think the actual count is 28 - 8hr OT shifts).  While it hasn't been easy on either of us, we've made it work.
• We've soaked and hand washed bottles over 300 times this year.  Hopefully with sippies, we won't have to do it every day anymore.
• We've spent enough money on daycare this year to have bought another car.  We are thankful that it is only part-time or it would have been enough for an SUV.
• Tyler & Zach have flown 4 times this year, more than most infants I know and two of those flights were in business!  We've gone to Chicago twice, Phoenix & Dallas. Sadly, since we haven't bought them tickets, they haven't started to earn miles yet, but soon enough! 
• Matt has bathed the boys every single time this year, except once.  I made a huge mess with the infant tub and have been banned from this activity until further notice.
• Until the boys started finger foods, I made 90% of all their fruit & vegetable purees myself.  It was fun and I am glad to have given them natural homemade food.
• (Here's one I probably shouldn't admit publicly but ...), Since the boys have slept through the night around 3 months old, I can count on one hand the number of times we have had to console/help them in the middle of the night.  We are extremely lucky.  Like their momma, they love sleep, but still, we are so incredibly lucky.
• We have taken over 4000 pictures this year.  The shutterfly photobook I am preparing is 50 pages for 2011.  It is so hard to pick since there are so many good pictures and memorable moments.
• For T&Z to go to Purdue in 18 year from now, we would have to save $1000 per month.  Let's just say we haven't been able to do that, but we'll work up to that amount. Donations accepted.

Meigs

Zach

Tyler

Bathtime!