Rabbit- 
WooHoo 5 lbs.!! That's a great way to start off the new year!!
Unfortunately no, I don't get a long maternity leave!
They allow 4 wks. before your due date and 6 wks. after birth...8 wks. for c-section. I mean really, that barely gives me enough time to get the hang of breastfeeding, and I've got to wean him to a bottle too...all within 6-8 wks.! ARGH... It annoys me that I work for a healthcare company, and they are soo stingy with their time. Unfortunately I don't have the kind of job that I can work from home either. I could probably do 1, maybe 2 days from home, but they would never let me anyway. I get very frustrated thinking about it, I wish DH made more money, and I could stay home, but he'd have to make pretty much double what he makes now, because we have to rely on both our checks to live, and we make about the same, give or take 1K.
We do have a plan though, he's going to paralegal school starting in March. It's a 10 month program, and hopefully his company (he works in a big law firm now), will give him a paralegal position and a decent raise once he's done. He's been with them for 12 years, so he does have some pull. And judging by what they get paid, he should get an increase of at least 8K if they hire him as a paralegal.
We expect to have his debt paid off within 1.5-2 yrs., and we plan to sell my car and get something inexpensive for awhile too. That way we save almost $400./mo. in car payments, plus insurance, if we just get something to commute in. He'll, of course use the "junker" and I'll drive the XTerra.
There's a lot we could do to trim our budget too, but we both unfortunately have to work ourselves up to it...too used to living w/o a budget and not worrying about things.
In the meantime, we've been bombarded lately with costly things. My car's been in the shop for like 3 weeks...should be getting it back tonight, or tomorrow. Hoping the extended warr. covered most of that cost. Then there's the old sofa that needs to be tossed, but we'll probably have to just fix it somehow for now. Add to that the fact that my company is screwing with me, and I probably will not get another paycheck until early Feb!!
Ugh, didn't mean to turn this into a vent...sorry! Hope everyone's having a great day!!
~ The baby exercise classes do sound fun. Enjoy! ~ so glad to hear sd#2 is perfect. 
Hey all! Glad to see everyone is doing really well and I guess I nearly almost a cyber auntie! LBH - I can't believe how stingy your maternity leave is - especially as you are working for a health care company. Legislation over here is about to change - from 6 April - all mums will get 26 weeks leave (won't bore you with formulas or calculations) and if you have completed 26 weeks service by 15th week before EWC - you get to take another 26 weeks leave - but this time unpaid.
- that's just not my style 
, should probably get moving, need to walk the dogs and we're heading out to the folks this afternoon, K's helping them with some computer stuff and my mom and I have a quilt class. 
