Please send money!

According to their site, the University of Michigan plans to charge out-of-state freshman and sophomores $31,301 for the 2008/2009 school year. Using this number as a starting value and considering a 6% tuition inflation rate (recent historical rate), this site estimates that four years of non-resident, University of Michigan education will cost $390,844.50 in 18 years. In-state tuition will be a relative bargain at $130,447.90 for four years. These prices do not include other necessities like exorbitant Ann Arbor rental rates, football tickets, and Pizza House delivery.

UPDATE: I've been learning about 529s. NM's is kind of crappy (high fees). UT's appears to be the best (low fees, nice options). MI's is pretty good (low fees, a 100% equity option with nice allocations, and tax deductions for generous Michigan-based family members). Does anyone have any experience with these? Leave a comment if you do.

Smaller than a tree!

Because of the public fascination with my belly lately (ahem), Earl suggested the fun game, "What is Jess smaller than?"

As you can see, I'm clearly not smaller than a street sign...

And I'm not smaller than a streetlight - although it's close...

But, thankfully, I AM smaller than a tree!

(As you can see, Donny didn't find this game as much fun as we did...)

I'm now finding diapers cute. This is wrong.

Earlier this week, I ordered a small supply of cloth diapers online.  I figure I can test a few different types and see if I'll need to resign myself to disposables before making a big investment. But I just can't help myself - aren't they the cutest things?