With all the tools daddy has been using lately, Landon decided that his kitchen needed to be renovated. I have Mr. Fix It’s number if you are in need of a handyman =)
Happy Friday!
Your Three Words
April 15, 2011 By
This was me. One year ago. I was 36 weeks pregnant with Baby B (anyone remember that, lol?). Looking at this photo is so surreal. I cannot fathom that my second son was in there. At this point I assumed I would be pregnant for at least another month. But Brigham had other plans. Two short weeks later he would decide he was ready to make his grand entrance.
Looking at this photo floods my brain with amazing memories of the beauty of pregnancy. And with Brigham’s first birthday quickly approaching I find myself really missing this stage of life. The anticipation of giving birth is like nothing else. Nothing could compare to that special little combination of excitement and fear of the unknown.
On one hand I cannot believe it has already been a year. It went by lightening fast. But on the other hand it feels like it has been ages since I’ve felt a full-sized baby roll around in my belly. Please forgive me as I write this. But I miss it. I miss being pregnant. Don’t get all excited. No baby plans on the horizon at all. I didn’t expect to feel this way considering we’re supposed to be done. D-O-N-E . . . DONE. But I’m always honest on my blog. To say I’m not mourning that part of my life being over would be a lie.
So there it is. One of my last belly photos.
Wow.
Make a Change Monday – Week 4
April 4, 2011 By
I’m excited. Like, really excited to tell you guys about the change I made this past weekend.
I challenged myself to use enough coupons to save $20. Guess what? I DID IT!!!
I clipped some coupons of things I knew I needed to buy. Then off I went to the grocery store with two kids in tow. Can I just say that the grocery store is no longer an easy trip. Gone are the days where I could peruse the aisles looking for the best deal. Landon is at the age where his patience for sitting in a shopping cart wears thin after approximately five minutes. I find myself doing the mom dance of trying to keep him entertained while gathering only what I need to make a couple dinners. It works but it’s stressful.
And poor Brigham was fighting a nasty ear infection this weekend. He screamed pretty much the entire time we were in the store. Good times. Few things make me sweat more than my baby crying with strangers staring at me like I’m the worst mom ever for “letting” my baby cry.
Even better was the check-out lady who gave me the side-eye when I politely told her to be patient with me because this was my first time using coupons. I expected a little chatter back and forth. She was not amused.
I don’t blame her. I only promised to USE coupons. I didn’t say I would be organized about using them. You see, I got ready to check out and out came my plastic baggy of coupons. While trying to take out the ones I was actually using the line was getting longer, Brigham was screaming louder, Landon had kicked his shoes off and thrown them across the store and some of my coupons were falling on the floor.
Organization FAIL.
So if there are any readers out there who use coupons successfully please inform me of the correct way to organize your coupons so it’s not one big mess when you get ready to check out. I need help in that department. Obviously.
Oh well, now for the good part. Saving money!
Price Chopper:
Total before savings – $65.92
Total savings – $14.14
Total after savings – $51.78
Target:
Total before savings – $152.63
Total savings – $15.85
Total after savings – $135.78
Please note that I have the Target debit card which gives me an extra 5% off every time I shop. I also have the Price Chopper rewards card, which provides extra savings. So those are included in my total savings. But still, it’s pretty darn good for a coupon newbie, yes?
I’m excited to challenge myself and save even more this week! Especially now that I know it can work. I need to do some more couponing research!
It’s time to Make a Change once again.
Here are the very easy rules . . .
*Decide one thing you will do/try to change up during the coming week.
*Blog about this change on Monday
*Come back the following Monday and blog about your successes or um, non-successes
*Also put your new challenge for change in the same post
*Link up at A Day in Mollywood and support everyone as they Make a Change!
This week I am going to change how I take care of my skin at night. A reader of mine used Make a Change Monday to promise that she would clean her face every night. I am so bad about doing this as well. Most nights I’m so tired that I brush my teeth and crawl into bed. But I bought some new face wash (with coupons, yay!) and I’m ready to wash my face like a good girl. Hopefully my skin will look better by the end of the week!
What will you change this week? Link up and tell me!
Your Three Words
April 1, 2011 By
(from L to R) Melissa, Jennie, me and Michele
I finally had a chance to meet up with some friends recently for a Mom’s Night Out! Man, did I need it!
This wasn’t your typical Mom’s Night Out. It is always kind of awkward to explain how I met these three wonderful ladies. I actually met them on a wedding planning forum back when we were all engaged and kid-free! That’s right, I met them on the internet. That makes them my e-friends!
Not only did we meet online but all four of us are mommy bloggers! They are linked at the top.
A lot of people might think meeting friends online is strange. But Jennie made a good point the other night. So many people meet their husbands and wives online these days. Why should meeting friends be any different?! And she’s right. I have met so many of my bloggin’ buddies that I consider to be my real friends. It’s a concept that might sound completely odd to some. But to me it is completely normal.
I met Jennie over the summer for a playdate. I also met Melissa and her cute twin girls in 2009. Believe it or not, I have “known” Michele since 2005 and yet I had never met her!
That finally changed on Wednesday and I am so glad. We talked about what moms of young kids usually talk about. Breastfeeding, poop, daycare, working, husbands, sleep (or lack thereof). I think we were there for three hours! I was having so much fun I completely lost track of time.
So thanks for the laughs ladies. Much love to my e-friends and now my IRL (in-real-life) friends. Let’s do Mom’s Night Out again soon!
Your ONE Word
March 18, 2011 By
Because three words is not really necessary this time.
I have waited a year and a half to type these words so just hang on while I wipe the tears of joy from my eyes . . .
WE SOLD OUR HOUSE!!!
It took 45 days this time. Not too shabby. We had a third showing last week and had an offer that night. I wanted to wait to post until the inspection went through. I was so nervous I felt like puking all day yesterday. But we’re in the clear!
Just waiting to firm up the details but it looks like our home will be getting a new owner on April 21st.
And now, we need to figure out where we’re gonna live. Because, you know, it will be kind of important to have a place to go when we move out of the old house. We need a place to sleep.
Seriously guys, there were times I thought this would NEVER happen for us. Honestly, I put all my trust in God this time around. I knew He would provide the answer for our little family in His time. And it was only when I let go of trying to control the process that it finally happened. Isn’t that always how it is?
Thank you to all of my readers who hoped and prayed right along with me. I cannot thank you enough!
I am so excited for the next chapter of our lives to begin. Stay tuned for photos of our soon-to-be new home!
Link up with Your Three Words at Jenni’s blog
Your Three Words
March 11, 2011 By
We celebrated Landon’s second Christmas in December 2009. At that point I was at the half-way point in my pregnancy with Brigham. I remember going to Toys R Us right before Christmas and scouring the aisles of toys looking for just the right gift for our 16-month-old toddler.
Suddenly, Naaman and I found ourselves in the bike aisle and right in front of us were the radio flyer wagons! I knew right then it was the perfect gift not only for Landon but also for our unborn son who would soon join us in the world. A double-seater it was!
In the back of my mind, I was still terrified that there might be something wrong with the baby swimming around inside my belly. The level II ultrasound with the specialist was supposed to provide me with peace of mind. But a big “what if” still hung in the air. Everyone told me he would be fine. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.
Just as we suspected, Landon LOVED the wagon. He gravitated to it immediately on Christmas morning in 2009.
I remember rubbing my belly at that very moment and imagining both of my boys, my sons, sitting in the wagon together. I hoped and prayed that Brigham would be born healthy just like the doctor said he would. I wanted to see both of them playing and having fun together with that wagon.
And 15 months later, it looks like I finally got that chance . . .
My big boy and my little boy. My sons and the little red wagon.
Link up with Your Three Words at Jenni’s Blog.
Your Three Words
February 18, 2011 By
My trip to West Palm Beach, Florida was wonderful. I can’t tell you how good it felt to take off my shoes and feel the sand against my winterized Missouri toes. A couple days were rainy but I could feel the balm of humidity on my skin.
But a couple days were gorgeous and we headed to the beach in search of a beautiful view. I think we found it (see above).
We ate lunch at Benny’s on the Beach. The crash of waves was muffled by the sound of my sisters’ voices talking and laughing and the seabirds that call this coast home. I bit into a fresh mahi-mahi sandwich, instantly bringing back memories of my honeymoon. It was glorious.
But most of the gloriousness didn’t even come from being in a warm climate. It came from meeting my precious new nephew and seeing my sister’s dream of being a mother become a reality.
Full re-cap to come . . .
Link up with Your Three Words at Jenni’s Blog.
Your Three Words
January 28, 2011 By
My sister Cindi and her husband Corey welcomed their first baby, Grayson Wayne, on Tuesday the 25th. Isn’t he a cutie pie? 8 lbs, 12 oz of adorableness! I can’t believe all that dark hair. My mom told me that she had to bring a comb to the hospital so they could brush it as he has a mohawk! How funny!
I just have to say how very proud I am of my lil sis. She was in labor for a rough 24 hours, 12 of those unmedicated with PITOCIN contractions. She is a rock star, in my book. I was so sad I couldn’t be there to support her. It was very hard not to be able to hug her and tell her what a great job she was doing. But I know Corey and my Mom took good care of her.
Cindi and Corey . . . I am so happy for you both and I cannot wait to meet my newest nephew.
Also? A little tid bit of info for ya. The hospital room next to my sister’s room is the one where Celine Dion stayed with her new twin boys! How cool is that?
Got three words of your own? Link up at Jenni’s blog!
Your Three Words
January 21, 2011 By
It’s already coming down pretty steady now. And it’s supposed to keep falling throughout the weekend. Looks like it’s gonna be one of those weekends of cuddling up on the couch with my boys and hubs. I see cocoa with marshmallows, fuzzy socks and space heaters in our future!
Your Three Words
December 10, 2010 By
I don’t think I’ve ever told you guys about Brigham’s infamous pout lip. Brigham started this from birth. I think it was papaw (my dad) who mentioned that the pout lip was a little out of control. But you guys, I have NEVER seen a baby curl their bottom lip in protest as much as my son.
I mean, seriously. By the looks of these photos you would think someone had just told him his puppy died.
When in reality, he was chewing on a block and he bit it the wrong way and hurt his gums. The pout lip is totally called for in that case, right? And the huge crocodile tears. And the snot pouring from his nose. And the drool dripping from his chin.
Wow. What a drama queen. I have NO idea where he gets it. (ahem. don’t point at me. it’s rude)
And for the record, he was fine about five seconds after I took these.
I just had to capture that pout lip so I can properly embarrass him in front of any future prom dates.
Join Your Three Words at my friend Jenni’s blog!
