Where did January go?

I can't believe its already February!  Our new years resolution was to be better at budgeting.  We created a budget and now that its that January's over, I can say we (just barely)met our grocery budget! Well, we met it as long as we don't include anything we bought for Ethan's first birthday party. Next year the goal is to meet our budget with his party, I'll just have to stock up on supplies slowly, instead of rushing out the morning of his party to pick up last minute items that *gasp* weren't on sale or that I didn't have coupons for!  Our budget is $175 a month for all groceries and personal care items (diapers, shampoo etc.) It works out to about $40 a week.  Its been helpful to have a set amount to spend because many times I have planned on getting something that we didn't really need. Its also forced me to plan our meals weekly based off of sales and now dinners are ready earlier instead of me scrambling to find something to make minutes before Ryan gets home.

Now onto what most people want to see on our blog, pictures of Ethan.  Here are a few recent snapshots of him around the house.

He loves to sit on top of the train table

He loves to go get the mail with Daddy, too bad it snowed again so he won't be going out any time soon.

He loves to watch the washing machine. He's really good at pulling the clothes out of the washer. If only I could get him to put them in the dryer to the right instead of on the floor!

He loves to watch Daddy outside. You can see Ryan shoveling the snow in the picture. 

He loves to walk and has managed to slip away from us several times!

He loves bath time, though he hates getting out of the tub. I'm surprised we could get a shot of him with the hood on.

He loves to pull out all the chinese takeout tupperware we've collected and stack them up. He tries to walk around the house carrying them but they are still too big for him to hold.

He loves to play with the computer now that he can reach the keys and mouse on his own.  He is also fond of pushing the power button, especially when I am in the middle of printing a coupon!