Nothing much going on financially. I've already wiped out my flex spending account--guess I underestimated my medical expenses AGAIN! I wish there was another system for flex spending that was less like gambling. Like if you put too much away, you get it back as taxable income at the end of the year. Would that be too hard? Or let us keep it in a tax-free account like HSAs.

Today is my first day back at work! I'm working two days a week until late June, when I work three days a week for a few weeks and then take off a full week to visit AA's grandparents in Virginia. NT is spending his first full day alone with her; he'll be home with her the days I'm working, until after the July 4th holiday.

It's a relief to not be tied to AA's side all day, but it's also really strange. I keep staring at her photos and missing her.

Also, AS went on a business trip this morning and won't be back until the weekend. It's the longest we'll have been apart in more than a decade, I believe! I'd be a lot sadder if I didn't think that AA will make the time fly by; AS and I haven't really had that much quality time recently anyway, what with the feeding, changing, soothing and general exhaustion. I think she'll enjoy the trip, so I'm just trying to focus on that.

Oh, one financial thing that I've done recently is try to figure out if breastfeeding is really more economical than formula-feeding. I looked on Amazon and it seems an average price for formula works out to about $120 per month. I spent $300 on a really good pump and $55 on an ointment to treat soreness. I also have to buy storage bags, but I don't think they're too expensive, and maybe some pads to put in my bra. So I think basically if I breastfeed for at least four months, I'll have saved money. Also, if AS uses the same pump when she has a baby, and we sell the motor after she's done with it, the cost will go down even more. If I weren't going back to work and had decided not to pump, it would've been virtually free except for the ointment and the pads. So from a financial standpoint, it's a good decision!

Oh, and here's a link to the op-ed I mentioned. I don't think this community needs to be reminded, what with all the military and spouses of military who are members of SavingAdvice, but it's a really moving editorial and worth passing along.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/06/opinion/06herbert.html