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Sunday, October 30, 2011

sweet treats at BabyLegs


Disclosure: I am not being compensated for this post.

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Half - birthday...really?

I haven't been able to believe it each time Joel has turned another month older, but half the year has gone by, and I truly don't know where the time has gone.   Six months old is bittersweet.  Our baby will only be a baby for another six months, and then he'll be considered a toddler.  I'm not sure how I feel about that.  Wait, I do know how I feel - I am so sad that he is growing so fast (yet thankful that I get to witness his growth every day)...and those infant days are almost in the past...I cried when I changed out his dresser with 6-9 mos. clothes a couple weeks ago :(
But I also look forward to when he will be crawling, walking, and talking & I am excited to watch him grow as I've done with his big brother...who will be 10 in less than three months - let's not even talk about that yet!...moving on...
*He doesn't roll over much (and it has only been belly to back), but we have reports from the babysitter that he rolled from his back to his belly at about 5 months, 1week.  It will be official when I see it with my own eyes, as I wish to believe I'll witness all his "firsts" whether they really are or not - being a working mom & all, I have that right, right?   :)
* Joel can sit by himself!!!  He sits and plays with his toys for long periods of time, and is so much more content when he is upright, even though he topples over now & then.  :)
* Not only is he eating solids, he loves them now!  He gets excited and starts waving his arms when we put his bib on and when the veggies come out.  His favorites are sweet potatoes & bananas, but really - he eats anything (as of now)  I will even mash up potatoes and carrots that we're having with dinner & he likes that :)
*He goes to bed between 8 & 9 and is pretty much sleeping through the night.  There are some nights when he will grace us with fussing at 3am, but we have recently tried turning Froggie on and giving him Monkey, and he goes right back to sleep without needing to eat.  Side note: Froggie's batteries died this week...I will be stocking up on AAA batteries ASAP. 
* He doesn't have any teeth yet, but he gums everything he can get his hands on...we are now keeping small things out of his reach!!
* He recently started to make this silly screeching sound - and then he giggles!  He squeals and giggles when anyone makes funny faces or talks to him.  He "talks" lots & likes to make his motor run :)
* Favorite toys: Froggie...mentioned above - shines stars on the ceiling and plays lullabies (from Gee & Pappy when he was born), Pooh crinkle book, O-ball, Jumperoo...he bounces like crazy in that thing & gets a serious look on his face when he plays with the jungle animals on it - we just moved it up to the second setting today...he couldn't quite reach & made a big fuss...I stuck a pillow under his feet, and he started to giggle..cute!  Monkey is still a must-have at bedtime...Another note to self - pack Monkey and Froggie on our next road trip!!!   :)
* I can't believe Joel's first Halloween & Thanksgiving will be in the past the next time I update for his 7-month b'day. 
*He weighed 19lbs. 7oz. and measured 27 1/4 in. at his six month well visit...definitely growing fast!!
* No pictures yet, but today Joel is witnessing his first snowfall. In October. Yuck.

Happy Six Month Birthday to our sweet baby boy!  We love you, Joel!
And, yes...there will be cookie cake.  Cause that's how we roll.

He looks so much like his dad and big brother :)
 
one of my favorites :)

 "tailgating" at a soccer game

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

{almost} Thursday Thoughts...

I'd be lying if I said working full time and trying to keep up at home wasn't wearing me down.  There are days when I feel like I'll never catch up...there are days when I don't even try...then there are days I work like heck to get it all done.  I cry almost daily because I feel like I'm missing out on Joel's first year.  I want to quit my job and stay home, but I can't.  Posts have been scarce, but I haven't had time for blogging as of late. 
Instead, I've been...
rushing to early morning meetings
fighting a cold
working on fourth grade book reports and other homework
helping study for math, spelling, social studies & science tests
arguing with a certain nine-year-old about said homework & practicing good hygiene habits
making lists
grocery shopping
changing dirty diapers 
scheduling & driving to doctor's appointments 
making bottles
 doing dishes
giving baths to a cute baby
cooking with Daniel
running to soccer practice two nights a week & games on Saturdays
writing lesson plans
wiping off of almost every shirt I own
playing with blocks
cleaning bathrooms 
washing, drying, folding & putting away never-ending mounds of laundry
carving pumpkins with my buddies
beginning to stress about the holidays...yes, already
living for the weekends.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Favorite shopping tips - what are yours?

The only real trick I have is to visit www.retailmenot.com before you check out when making an online purchase.  Some of their amazing offers include codes for free shipping and percentages & dollar amounts off.
There are several coupon sites that I "like" on Facebook.  They share online coupon codes, printable coupons, grocery deals, giveaways, free samples, and more! 
Target also has a daily deals site that offers great bargains with FREE shipping (the best ones sell out quick) and another site that shares free samples (these run out fast, so you have to hurry)!
There are a few awesome flash sites that have great daily finds!  They offer FREE membership, and you receive credit for referring friends.  Sweet!
Click on any of the links below to join and start saving today :)
Zulily
Totsy & Zulily are my absolute favorite finds for kids!! :)  I visit all these sites on a regular basis and purchase great finds for my kids, myself, and gifts for all occasions throughout the year.  I hope you love them as much as I do.  

I also shop online & pick small gifts up in stores throughout the year when I find a bargain.  I stockpile them in a cabinet & keep inventory so I always know what I have.  I save lots of things for Christmas (mostly stocking stuffers - but I hit Target's toy clearance at the end of summer, and I am just about done shopping for Joel!)...it is also a great go-to cabinet for last minute birthday parties, hostess gifts, and other special occasions that pop up when I don't have time for a shopping trip.  


I know you might not be thinking Christmas right now, but it's just over two months away!...Happy Saving! :)
This is just one shelf of my stockpile collection ;)
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