Here at MomVesting, we're introducing a huge new series about non-traditional investments. These non-trads cover everything from investing in others' business ventures to investing in blogging to purchasing investment properties. We hope you'll join us as we move along in the new large investment series on Mondays!

This week has been filled with tissues, tea, chicken noodle soup and rest. Unfortunately, as you may have figured out, that means that this week was also full of sniffles, coughs and throat tickles. Ugh.

Fortunately, I was able to follow a friend's advice and “Suck it up, Cupcake”: somehow I was able to find some superhuman inner strength to whoop the cold in the butt while changing diapers and feeding the hungry...baby. Thank heavens for my newfound supermom strength – and the support of a super husband!

Okay, so I was financially prepared to have a baby. Or so I thought. I knew that diapers were not cheap. I knew that daycare was expensive. I knew that baby incidentals would add up. But I wasn't prepared for exactly how much my dear daughter would cost. Thankfully, I figured out a few things to help reduce my DD's costs, both before and after her arrival. Here's what I found:

Baby Care

Everything costs an arm and a leg anymore. Even music. With the typical download cost per song cashing in at around a dollar, the cost of building up your musical library can become astronomical. Thankfully, it doesn't have to be. Join us for a post on where you can get your favorite tunes on the cheap...or even free!

The Library

It's been a wonderful week of baby discovery and fun once again! My three-and-a-half-month-old DD has been quite busy learning to kick at her activity center and to roll from front to back with more regularity. She's also discovered that she can roll from side to side when she's on her back. It won't be long before she's asking for the car keys.

I love quotes. I also love searching the Net looking up what amounts to pretty useless information (otherwise known as wasting time). Combining the two, I recently found myself drawn to yet another page of quotes, and I came upon this gem attributed to C.S. Lewis: "You are never too old to set a new goal or to dream a new dream." Pretty nifty stuff.

Here at MomVesting, we're introducing a huge new series about non-traditional investments. These non-trads cover everything from investing in others' business ventures to investing in blogging to purchasing investment properties. We hope you'll join us as we move along in the new large investment series on Mondays!

Motherhood has come with a ton of delightful surprises. There was the week where my dear daughter rolled over effortlessly two and a half times in a row (and then proceeded to forget her newfound skill). Then there was the week that she learned to “talk” – she's all about squeals and shrieks when she chats every night. And this week, I decided to check out the public library's free Mother Goose Story Time, which I must say was a delightful hour of wonder and fun.

It may seem intuitive to bring home a baby. I mean, you've made all the preparations, right? The nursery is ready; diapers are on hand. You're ready. Or are you? Here are some last-minute (or way ahead of time, if you're lucky) preparations that can make it much easier to settle your bundle of joy into your household...from the experience of a brand new momma!

Feed the Family

Here at MomVesting, we're introducing a huge new series about non-traditional investments. These non-trads cover everything from investing in others' business ventures to investing in blogging to purchasing investment properties. We hope you'll join us as we move along in the new large investment series on Mondays!