It's Another Boy!

On Christmas Eve, Chris and I decided to have an elective ultrasound done to determine the sex of the baby.  We didn't tell anybody we were having the ultrasound done so that we could surprise them at Christmas.

 We were able to Photoshop this ultrasound pic and placed a baseball hat on little boy.  I emailed it to Mom, called, and waited for her to open the email.  Of course, there were technical difficulties on her end so I was not able to hear her reaction.  Bummer.

The other reveals went much more smoothly.  After finding out another little boy was on the way, we went to Kroger and purchased two sets of "It's a Boy!" balloons.  Each set was put into a box and given at Christmas.

Chris' parents received their balloons on Christmas morning.

 

 Dad and Linda got their balloons the day after Christmas when Steve and the step brothers gathered for dinner.

We have our official ultrasound scheduled for January 18th so we'll see if he's still a boy then!

12 Weeks

How far along: 12 weeks

Total weight gain: I'm not too sure.  I do have a doctor's appointment this Wednesday though.

How much does baby weigh: half an ounce

Maternity clothes: I'm wearing maternity pants or comfy stretch pants when I'm home.  Shirts are still normal though.

Sleep: I go to bed around 10:30 or so and wake up when Ethan wakes up.  I normally have to wake up once in the middle of the night to pee.

Best moment this week: Seeing Little Bean on ultrasound this week during the NT scan.

Movement: I keep thinking I'm feeling something really low near my c section scar but I'm not sure.  A lot of people I've asked have said it is entirely possible I'm feeling baby.

Food cravings: grapes and chocolate...not at the same time!

Belly button in or out: Innie

What I miss: Nothing this week

What I'm looking forward to: Doctor's appointment on Wednesday where I should hear baby's heartbeat on the Doppler.  Thanksgiving is Thursday!  Yum, turkey dinner!

NT Scan

Doesn't Bean look great?!  Baby's heartbeat was measuring at 165 bpm.  It was really quite easy to get the necessary pictures this time versus how it was with Ethan.  The really funny part was when the tech had me cough and Bean bumped all over the place.  We'll know the results of the NT scan in 3-5 days.

My Poor Boy is having Nightmares

Ethan woke up a few times this weekend crying.  Each time he talked about spiders and snakes by his pillow saying, "die" over and over again.  After turning on the light in the middle of the night, he was convinced things were ok.  Poor kid is terrified that snakes and spiders are taking over his room!

Home Heartbeat!

We were able to locate the baby's heartbeat on the home doppler for the first time tonight!  I had just said, "ok, last try and I'm finished"  when we heard that wonderful sound.  Baby drifted away from the doppler and we lost the heartbeat.  Seconds later I said those words one more time and we heard the heartbeat again!  Seems as if baby already has a sense of humor!

Happy Halloween

This year, Ethan was a dinosaur/dragon/alligator for Halloween.  We were lucky enough to have a friend from work give us the costume, making things so much easier.

Ethan and I had a quick hot dog dinner while we waiting for Daddy to get home from work.  Ethan was so excited about the namooks (pumpkins!)  Initially, he didn't want to put his costume on but after hearing that Baby Blake next door was dressed up, Ethan quickly changed his mind.

Papa Craig came over to keep us company until Daddy got home.  I stayed to hand out candy while Ethan and Papa visited the neighbor's scary spider Halloween display.  Ethan had a blast and didn't want to leave that house.

After a rough drive through accident clogged traffic, Daddy eventually got home from work.

Ethan really didn't feel like walking around much so he and Daddy only visited three houses.  Our neighbors were super sweet to Ethan and had a special Halloween book and Pez candy dispenser just for him.

The candy quickly ran out within an hour and we retreated into the house to prepare for bedtime.  Apparently the excitement and candy was too much for Ethan because he didn't fall asleep until close to 10 that night!

Overall though, it really was a fun night and Ethan is enjoying the few pieces of candy collected!

9 Weeks

That's Peanut Baby #2 in there!  I just hate that double belly look!

How far along: 9 weeks

Total weight gain: + 3 lbs since my first doctor's visit at 4 weeks.

How much does baby weigh: a fraction of an oz.

Maternity clothes: I'm wearing maternity pants already but regular shirts.

Sleep: I go to bed at my normal bedtime around 10:30 but I'm typically so tired before then.  I've been sleeping through the night unless I wake once for a potty break.

Movement: Too early

Belly button in or out: Still an innie

We have a heartbeat!

Today we had a viability ultrasound followed by our first official OB apt.  Peanut has a nice strong heart beating away at 168 beats per minute.  The new due date based on today's ultrasound is June 2, 2012...our 5th wedding anniversary!!!

Peanut has little arm and leg buds sprouting from its sides. Baby even waved to us just briefly!

The appointment itself was fairly brief...health history followed by a blood draw of 5 vials.  We opted to do the NT scan on Nov. 16th at Good Sam and our next appointment is Nov. 23rd!

Confirmation Appointment

Today I had my first doctor's appointment.  Really the only purpose of this visit is to confirm whether you are pregnant or not.  As of right now, the due date for baby #2 is June 5, 2012.  I ended up fibbing a bit about the date of my last period to increase my odds of VBAC.  After a bit of prompting from the doctor, I "claimed" to not know the date of my last period so that I could have an ultrasound scheduled.  We'll hopefully get our first glimpse of Baby Bean on 10/26.

The News is Out

Nonni was the first to learn of the new addition to our little family.  Through Skype, we had Ethan show her the front of his t-shirt.  I had him turn around and gave her some time to read the words on the back.  Immediately after she read the words, "I'm going to be a big brother" the computer crashed from a dead battery!  I didn't even get to see or hear her reaction until after I reboot the computer.

We went to Chris' parents house on Saturday to celebrate Don's birthday.  As soon as we walked in the door, Kathy noticed the front of Ethan's shirt.  She thought it meant that Ethan was getting a puppy but didn't pay much attention.  After what felt like forever, I pulled Ethan over and whispered for him to have Mimi take his shirt off.  As she did, she noticed writing on the back and read the words aloud.  Afterward she immediately said, "What?  Is this real?!"  She was pretty excited!

On Sunday, I sent Dad a text telling him we were coming over to drop off some things.  When we arrived, it was only Dad home.  We walked in, talked, got out toys, talked some more, had Ethan point out his shirt, and never once got a reaction from Dad.  Eventually I had Ethan take the shirt off and STILL no reaction!  Eventually I had to say, "Dad, read his shirt!"  I think Dad was embarrassed for not noticing.  Linda came home and noticed right away!

We then Skyped with Steve and attempted to show him Ethan's shirt but the connection sucked and he was in the middle of a bar.  Instead, I just took a picture of the back of Ethan's shirt and texted it to him and Josh.  Eventually he figured it out and was pretty excited!

My first appointment is Monday, October 3rd.

Here We Go Again!

After trying for 4 cycles, Ethan is finally going to be a big brother!  At this point I'm only 11DPO so we are cautious.  EDD 5/28 or 6/1 depending on which date you use.

Had we not been trying, I never would've known I was pregnant this time.  The only indication I had was a craving for Chinese food this past weekend.  At the beginning of my pregnancy with Ethan, I was constantly hungry, needing to eat just about every 2 hours.  My boobs also hurt like crazy with him and I feel nothing this time.  Could this be an indication of a girl?!

I'll be calling the doctor today during my plan time to set up the initial doctor's visit.  We plan on telling family this weekend.  Ethan will be wearing a shirt announcing the big news to everybody!

Hold on tight!  This ride is gonna be fun!

Downward Spiral

Life is tough right now.  Chris and I have been TTC #2 for 3 cycles now and it just ain't happenin'.  I started with the intention of having a March baby and have had 0 success.  Timing has been perfect due to the fact that I'm charting and still, negative.  Looking back, things were so easy with Ethan.  Why isn't that the case now?  I already feel like a f*^* up with this whole baby making thing.  I struggle in my head about whether or not we should go on to round 4, potentially giving us a late May baby.  That would give me approximately 10 weeks off before going back to school the following year.  I just hate the rigidity of trying to make this happen at the right time.  I know I need to sit back, relax, and let God take control but it's just too hard.

On top of that, Mom called yesterday to tell me they found shadows on both breasts during her mammogram.  Unfortunately she is laid off at the moment and her health insurance is about to end at the end of the month.  I am scared for her and what the future may hold.  She has 0 support from her man friend and absolutely nobody near her to offer support.  I'd like to have her up here while going through all this but I just don't know how feasible that is.  It would be a HUGE adjustment and I question if it would make things even more financially difficult for Chris and me.

While I had a fun, relaxing summer with Ethan, I regret the fact that I spent so much time peeing on various sticks to get pregnant/ see if I was pregnant.  That's time and money I can't get back.

I'm laying my trust in God's hands and trying so hard not to get down.

Chris' Birthday

I just realized that I never posted about Ethan's birthday presents to daddy.  This year I allowed Ethan to pick out anything he wanted for Daddy at the Dollar Store.  He chose the following items:  a ceramic swan, a craft pumpkin, a Dracula Halloween decoration, parrot sunglasses, and a ceramic Asian girl piggy bank.  The gifts were a huge success and Ethan had so much fun picking out presents for Daddy.  It'll be so much fun to see how his choices change each year.

Big Boy Bed

E moved into his big boy bed over the weekend!

As soon as he saw the bed on Friday, he insisted on jumping around on it.  His little eyes lit up with excitement.  That night was night #1 in Operation Big Boy Bed and, I have to say, it went better than I expected.  E fell right to sleep after about 30 minutes and a few visits from us to put him back in the bed.  I watched the monitor all night anticipating the thud of little man hitting the floor but it never happened!

The next morning, we awoke to the sound of Ethan reading books in bed to Pengi and, eventually, knocking on the door calling for Mommy.

Naptime the next day wasn't nearly as successful.  I had to return to his room literally around 100 times over the course of an hour to put Ethan back in his bed.  He thought it was hilarious when I came back in and would pretend as if asleep the whole time.  Mommy was ready for a nap after that ordeal.

Bedtime Saturday night went awesome.  We kept E up a bit later than normal to really wear him out.  Daddy only had to go back in the room 1 time and E was out for the night.

I'm hoping this transition will continue to be easy at bedtime and get better for naps.  I'm so proud of my boy and can't believe how big he's getting.

A Day in the Life of Ethan, Part 2

One year ago I wrote about a typical day in the life of Ethan.  We've enjoyed looking back at it so much that we decided to do it again.  I can't believe how much Ethan has changed since this time last year.

8:20  E starts babbling in his crib.  Mommy starts the morning coffee and takes advantage of a few minutes to pay some bills.

8:45  Mommy goes in for Ethan who is quietly conversing with his stuffed animals.  After a fighting match diaper change, E gets dressed for the day and heads to Mommy and Daddy's room to play while we get dressed.

9:15  Breakfast time.  On today's menu we have blueberry waffles with mandarin oranges and milk.  Afterward, we play.  E reads books, chases Maggie, plays with his workbench, eats fake food, etc.

9:45  Ethan starts hiding behind a chair and saying "ewww" constantly signaling the need for a diaper change.  Luckily this one was easy because Ethan was distracted with a train book.

11:00  Ethan plays with Play-Doh and throws a fit whenever I try to join him.  To avoid complete meltdown, I sit and cut coupons while he plays.  Terrible Twos are wonderful!

11:45  Lunch time!  E starts with the fruit cup of mandarin oranges leftover from breakfast.  He takes one bite, says "ewww" then proceeds to throw the rest in his lap.  After cleaning them off his lap and putting them back in the fruit cup, he decides it's ok to eat a few slices.  Mac n cheese with peas completes the meal but Ethan isn't really interested.  Most of it gets thrown on the floor.

During lunch, Ethan made my day.  I asked him, "do you love Mommy?"  fully expecting a "nooooo."  Imagine my surprise when he shakes his head yes and says "awww, Mommy!"  Just in case he didn't understand what I asked, I asked a second time where he repeated the same answer.  Melt my heart!

12:15  Lunch is over so we head outside for a bit.  E enjoys playing with the water in the cooler and exploring Grandpa Don's shed.

Shortly after, I notice Ethan got a boo boo on his foot that needs to be cleaned so we head inside.  After four attempts at putting a Mickey Mouse band aid on his foot, it is clear that's a no go.  Temper tantrums soon follow and it is clear that nap time is coming early today.

12:40  Nap time.  Mommy heads outside to pick weeds.

1:00  Mommy returns inside to the sound of Ethan still crying.  Shortly after, E falls asleep.  Mommy is able to enjoy some quiet time, eat lunch, check out some websites, and relax just in time to attempt a short nap herself.

3:00  Ethan wakes up.  He babbles for a short period in his crib then Mommy goes in and gets him.  Time for another diaper change.

3:45  Pawpaw is here to work on the shed so Ethan says hello.  We head to the Batavia Community Center to get rid of some recycling.  Ethan is not too thrilled about this car ride and screams much of the way home.

4:15  Snack time.  Pretzels and water.  Afterward, it is play time.  Ethan enjoys the work bench and toy school bus.

5:30  Ethan plays outside in the water.  It is inspection time once again with grandpa's shed.  He gets absolutely drenched so it is time for an outfit/diaper change.

6:00  Dinner time.  We attempted the mac n cheese with peas again for dinner tonight and had a bit more success than lunch time.  That being said, most of it ended up on the floor...again.

7:00  Daddy comes home!!!  He brings Chipotle with him and we all sit down for a real dinner attempt since Ethan really didn't eat much today.  He LOVED the Chipotle.  In fact, I think Ethan ate as much, if not more than me!

7:30  Bath time followed by quiet time.

8:15  After reading several stories and singing half a dozen songs, Ethan goes in his crib for the night.  However, it is clear after 15 minutes of hysterical crying that he needs a bit of help tonight.  I return to his room and snuggle for a few minutes longer.  My little boy falls asleep in my arms for the first time in a very long time.  After savoring the moment a bit, in the crib he went for the night.

8:40  Ethan is officially asleep for the night.

Pillow

I noticed during nap time today that E was actually sleeping on his toddler pillow.  Mimi got this for him quite a bit ago but he's never really used it.  I'm sitting here watching him on the monitor snuggling with Pengie the penguin and laying that sweet little head on his pillow.  Too cute.

Words, Words, Words

E has so much to say these days.  Just today he said these words for the 1st (ish) time:  Molly, waffle, ice, froggy, etc.  It seems like he's coming up with a new word almost every day.  I'm so proud of my stinker!

Ahhh...Summer!

These are what summer days are made of...completely jam packed with activities yet relaxing at the same time.  Today started off with E's doctor appointment and a trip to the grocery store.  We played and ate lunch, followed by nap time.  Afterward, we geared up for our first trek to the pool.  It was about that time that I realized I didn't have the necessary materials for dinner so we made yet another trip to the grocery store before heading to the pool. 

E absolutely loved the pool.  He spent most of his time climbing up and sliding down the Little Tikes slide placed inside the baby pool.  He was eventually able to do it all by himself and cheered so proudly for his accomplishments. 

My big boy sure was tuckered out by the end of the night with all the day's activities.

18 Month Visit...A month late!

Ethan had his 18 month visit today.  Yes, I realize he's almost (over!) 19 months but I wanted to wait until I was out of school for the summer. 

Weight:  28 lbs. (approx. 75th percentile)
Height:  34.25 inches long (90th percentile!)
Head:  48 cm (60th percentile)

He's right on track where he should be developmentally and the doc thinks he's doing a great job.

My Boy is so Big...

E went to the doctor yesterday for a pesky rash that just won't go away.  At the beginning of the appointment, they took his weight, as usual, but today was different.  He stood on the big boy scale for the first time!  E weighed in at a whopping 30 lbs!!!  As soon as the number flashed on the screen though, off he went running.  18 month old boys don't have time to stand around!

Turns out the rash itself is now a yeast infect caused by antibiotics he was on about a week ago.  That combined with eczema on his cheekies and the poor boy can't catch a break.  We're hoping the creams and lotions will help clear things up this time.

Some People Don't Deserve Children

I was driving into my subdivision after running errands.  When I rounded a corner, I noticed a little boy standing in the middle of the street, wearing pajamas, barefoot, with a binky in his mouth.  I slammed on my breaks and looked around for an adult only to see absolutely nobody.  I parked my car, jumped out and went to the boy where he proceeded to run away.  I mentally fought myself on whether I should pick the child up or follow him and ultimately followed him.  All of a sudden, three smaller children walk out from around a corner.  They were maybe 6, 4, and about the same age as the tiny boy.  The conversation went like this:
"Do you know this boy?"
"  Yes he's my brother."
"How old is he?"
"1"
"Where's your mom or dad?"
"In the house."
"Go get them."

Mom walks out where I immediately let into her:
"Do you realize your son was standing in the middle of the busy street alone?"
Pointing to the 6 year old, she responds, "She was supposed to be watching him!"
"SHE'S a kid.  YOU'RE supposed to be the adult!"

The rest was all blah blah blah blah blah.  I left, so upset, crying my eyes out.  I called the police as soon as I got home.  I can't believe some people are permitted to reproduce!  I pray to God those kids are safe.

I Scored HUGE at Kroger!

Yup, I'm officially a couponing geek.  Kroger had two fairly decent sales going this week, a meat and seafood sale and the Mega Sale.  I had to split my list into two trips this week due to time constraints.  I shopped for meat on Monday and the Mega Sale stuff on Tuesday.  I purchased $108.20 worth of groceries and only spent $49.88!  That's a savings of 54%!  Here's a breakdown of what I got for $49.88:

2 packs of sausages
5 packs of chicken breast
4 packs of hot dogs
seafood salad (a craving!)
2 gallons of milk
frozen Peppridge Farm cake
chip dip
Ben and Jerry's ice cream
frosting
kroger soup
4 cans of Campbells soup
spaghetti sauce
2 bottles Propel water
2 Crest toothpaste
Cake mix
2 Lays chips

There were several coupons that I was unable to use because this particular Kroger didn't have the merchandise.  I'm contemplating going to a different location before the week is up in order to get the remaining deals.

Mother's Day 2011

Mother's Day was so special again this year.  I am so proud to have the love and support of an amazing little boy and husband.  On Saturday, we all went to a nice restaurant at Newport on the Levee with Chris' family.  This year, Kathy's birthday coincided with Mother's Day so we celebrated both that night.  I learned an important lesson that night...18 month old boys do not do well in fancy restaurants.  I have to admit I felt a tad relieved when it was over.  The ice cream and walk around the Levee was nice though.

We spent Sunday, Mother's Day, here at home as a family.  Ethan and Chris got me some beautiful flowers, including huge peonies!  I also received another Willow Tree figurine showing a mother and child snuggling.  One of my favorite gifts was the hand made card from Ethan.  What a smart, creative little boy!

I feel so honored to have been celebrated this second Mother's Day.  I have one special little boy to thank for allowing me to be a part of this day.

Pride

Ask any psychologist and they will most like confirm the following statement:  Men tend to find pride in their jobs while women find pride in their families and homes.  I believe this statement 100%. 

My family is beautiful.  We've got a handsome little man that can charm just about any person he meets.  He's happy, healthy, and thriving perfectly. 

My home, on the other hand, is less than perfect.  I must start by saying that I am extremely grateful for the home my husband and I were able to purchase.  It far exceeded our expectations as far as what we believed our first home would look like.

Recently I was asked what I dislike about our home so much.  This may seem nit picky but I want to create a home I can be 100% proud of.  As it stands right now, I'm embarrassed when  friends come over.  I feel as if we should have made so much more out of this place at this point in our lives.  I'm not looking to live in a museum or anything, I just want to be proud of my home.

So without further ado, here's a fairly extensive list of what I would love to change about my house:
1.  mulch
2.  edge all flowerbeds
3.  level the mailbox
4.  repaint the garage door
5.  change shutters
6.  lawn maintenance (a constant battle)
7.  rough wood on the fence
8.  minimize tree in backyard closest to house
9.  weed (again, a constant battle)
10.  add landscaping to side of house closest to Clearbrook
11.  shed
12.  dust, sweep, mop...general cleanliness and clutter
13.  caulking on all windows
14.  paintings on top of bookshelves
15.  make bookshelves flush with walls
16.  remove paint from entry ceiling
17.  new family room furniture
18.  wall decor in family room
19.  window treatments in family room
20.  remove and replace linoleum in kitchen
21.  add cabinets above refridgerator
22.  clean inside of fridge and freezer
23.  add screw to exhaust fan above stove
24.  window treatments in kitchen (valances?/ blind length)
25.  countertops/ backsplash (very ambitious)
26.  kitchen table
27.  fix child lock on pantry door
28.  back door bolt lock
29.  decorative telephone in kitchen
30.  new living room couches and furniture
31.  replace living room rug
32.  replace filter in living room
33.art work for guest bathroom
34.  add strip separating guest br and hallway
35.  front door locks
36.  laundry room doors
37.  new dryer (ambitious)
38.  garage organization
39.  step railing
40.  nail down attic trim
41.  hallway art?
42.  master br doorway trim
43.  new master br dressers
44.  remove/replace BR floor
45.  fix shower curtain rod
46.  patch wood holes
47.  repaint br
48.  Ethan's closet doors
49.  hang pics in Ethan's room
50.  clean all carpets
51.  new guest room dresser
52.  declutter guest room closet/bed
53.  guest room window treatments

A Full Sentence!

Ethan has spoken his first full sentence.  While it is only two words, it's still a complete sentence.  As Chris was leaving yesterday, Ethan looked at him and said, "bye bye, dada!"  He repeated the same sentence at bedtime tonight as Chris left the room.  So exciting!

Ethan is also practicing calling Grandma Kathy "Mimi."  While he can say the words, he's not able to connect the words to the person just yet.  I'm sure Grandma will be working on that a lot tomorrow night when Ethan spends the night.  We can't have Ethan calling Pawpaw over Mimi!

New Teefers and More

I noticed tonight Ethan is sprouting yet another tooth.  This time it's another bottom front tooth.  This brings our grand total to 8!

In addition, Ethan can now say the words moeeee (more) and boobs.  So proud!

In unrelated news, we took Ethan to the doctor this past Saturday for a horrible case of diaper rash.  Turns out it is eczema and just needs to be treated with Aquaphor until the weather makes it disappear.  The good news is that little man weighed in at 27 lbs!

Ethan's First Haircut

Ethan had his very first hair cut this weekend.  We took him to Cookie Cutters in Eastgate and the place is adorable.  As soon as you walk in, there's  jungle gym type equipment for the little guys to climb on.

Next, Ethan got to pick a DVD to watch while getting his hair cut.  Ethan chose his favorite show, Yo Gabba Gabba.

Then, he got to choose any seat in the place.  In honor of Great Grandpa McMillan, Ethan chose the fire engine.

Ethan sat through the hair cut patiently, just watching the show and other kids throwing temper tantrums.  He really did wonderfully.

Afterward, Ethan received a certificate recognizing his first hair cut while we placed his baby locks in a baggie for safe keeping.  What a wonderfully handsome little guy!

Meet Miss Holly

Today was Ethan's first day with the new sitter.  I was expecting the worst as I walked out the door...tears, screams, holding onto the pant legs, all that good stuff.  Much to my surprise, NONE of that occurred.  Miss Holly said Ethan was an absolute perfect angel who was so sweet.  I loved hearing that my little guy didn't cry, fell asleep easily, and enjoyed playing with all the new kiddies.  In fact, Ethan was in such a great mood when we got home.  I loved being able to spend time with him after work rather than wrestling him while getting dinner on the table.  Here's to hoping this lasts and isn't just a fluke.

We've got Molars

Ethan is sprouting his very first molar.  Yesterday, I had him hanging upside down while tickling him.  I look in his mouth to find this teeny tiny little tooth way in the back of his mouth.  This could possibly explain the cold like symptoms he's had lately.  Now I just wonder if that's what has caused the horrible case of diaper rash this poor boy has dealt with lately.

Poop

Ethan says poop now :)  I'm so proud!

Babysitting Woes

Last week, our sitter informed us that she would no longer be able to watch children.  She is needing to send her own son to preschool to help with his speech delays so she's taking a job at the daycare to offset the cost.  Initially we were really upset with her because of the way she told us...she placed a letter in our bag and let us "find" it.  No conversation about it until the next morning.

Our hearts were broken for our little guy.  He has been been going to Miss Dawn's house ever since he was 9 weeks old.  He's used to her, her routines, her schedules, her personality.  Now, all of that is going to have to change.

We met with one girl (Miss Holly) on Sunday and she truly seems like a wonderful sitter.  The only reservations we have about her is that she seemed to smile very little.  We'll give her the benefit of the doubt and assume she was nervous.  The other thing is that she charges regardless of whether Ethan goes or not.  Since we don't pay this way now, we're worried about how much more money this will be.

We are hoping to meet one other possibility this upcoming weekend so we'll see how it goes from there.

More

Ethan signed "more" tonight for the first time.  I asked him to get more bath toys out and motioned for "more."  Next thing I know, he's imitating me.  It's always so exciting to see that Ethan is learning new stuff.

It was one of those weekends

You ever have one of those weekends where everything just seems to go perfectly?  This weekend was exactly that.  Everything started off when we received our tax return Friday morning.  It's always nice to have a little extra money in the bank.  Just one less thing to worry about.  I had the day off Friday to take Ethan to the doctor for a well visit.  I love being able to spend extra time with my little guy.

Saturday, we decided to head over to Chris' parents house just for the fun of it.  We ate dinner, hung out, and just had a great time.

Sunday morning started off with breakfast at IHOP.  While Chris and I enjoyed our breakfast, Ethan really preferred to stare at the little girl a few tables down instead of eating.  We followed up breakfast with a bit of shopping for a freezer chest and eventually nap time.  Ethan has a slight temp. from his shots and was out cold by 11:30.  While Chris grocery shopped, I was able to sneak in a short nap!

After nap time, we decided to take Ethan to the park.  I couldn't believe how different it was to take Ethan there this year.  He's able to walk the path by himself, climb the playground equipment, and interact with other kids.  His favorite part was watching the planes fly overhead.

Another shopping trip to Meijer and we returned home for dinner, baths, and bedtime.  I love long weekends with my boys.  I couldn't help but look forward to warmer spring days and summer.

Ethan's Latest Word...

Ethan can say apple now.  I showed him a flash card with the picture of an apple and repeated apple many times along with the sign.  Now he says it too!

15 Months...5 Days Late

I'm 15 months old!  Unfortunately, Mommy didn't remember to take pictures this month of me wearing my special stickers :(  I've also been pretty busy this month practicing being a big boy.

My clothes are size 18 months and I'm even starting to break out the warmer weather clothes now that we've had a few days of 60 degree weather.

I learned more new words this month:  Momma (all the time!), nana (banana),  eee eee ( monkey), Boo Boo (the book), tee chee(teacher), wow, baby, and the best of all...penis!

I also learned to sign bear and airplane.

Everytime I see the book Boo Boo,I make sure I tell everyone that Boo Boo is the main character.  I'm so smart :)

I can also help you identify body parts just in case you forget.  I can show you where to find your eyes, nose, and mouth!

Until next month...

Saving $$$ Feels Great!

Today was round #2 of our weekly coupon excursions.  Today we hit up Meijer, Walmart, and Kroger.  We spent a grand total of approximately $96.  I made a few mistakes at Meijer today and ended up buying the wrong type of cereal and bringing the wrong coupon.  Had I purchased the right items and had the right coupon, I would've saved an additional $3.

My big score of the day was Kroger.  I was able to purchase around $14 worth of product for $1.42!  I even got paid to buy a few items buy combining manufacturer coupons, store coupons, and discount cards.  I'm really starting to enjoy saving money!

Extreme Couponing

A few weeks ago, we caught a show on TLC titled Extreme Couponing.  The show followed 4 people (2 from Cincinnati) through shopping trips where they would use coupons to lower bills from approximately $1200 to about $60.  During a typical week, we spend between $120-140 at the store.  Chris and I were completely inspired to try our hand at couponing.  What's the worst that could happen? 

This past week I spent quite a bit of time looking up deals on several websites and combining those deals with coupons.  This is probably the most useful site I follow:  Stockingpiling Moms.

On Tuesday I visited Kroger and saved 55% with their $5 off 10 item sale + coupons.  Today, Chris shopped at Walmart and only spent $69.  I went to Meijer and purchased a bulk of the meat we'll need for awhile along with discounted fruit.  I only spent $30!  What a great start!

We'll Miss You Molly Girl

Today we had to lay to rest our Molly Dog.  Molly was the best dog any person could ever have.  She's been a part of my family since I was just 15 years old. 

She started out just this little ball of fur hidden within a laundry basket.  She poked her head out from a towel and sniffed the air, curious from the start.  Molly loved chasing tennis balls, snuggling in bed next to your side, singing songs in her own doggie language, getting excited at the words car, walk, and leash.  I distinctly remember when I had just broken up with my first boyfriend and I lay crying in my room on the floor.  Molly would walk up and lick the tears off my face and snuggle until she thought everything was right again.

Molly wasn't too fond of the idea of having another dog in the house to share her space.  Sure, she remained complacent with Maggie, but I'm sure she felt as though she had to take a back seat from that point on.  She did allow Maggie to take of her though, licking her face, chasing her, and getting cleaned by Maggie.  Imagine her surprise when yet another family member showed up last year.  Molly kept her distance from Ethan but did allow him to climb and snuggle every once in awhile.  In fact, just yesterday, Ethan gave Molly a hug and said "awwww."  Adorable yet heart breaking.

I know Molly is in a better place.  She's no longer suffering from pain and that's all I wish for her.  We'll definitely miss our Molly girl but memories of her will continue.

Off to the Doc We Go

E's been dealing with a morning/nighttime cough for the past week.  Out of caution, I took him to the doctor today.  All is well, he just has a cold.  The good news...E weighs 25 lbs now!  What a big boy!

When Will This Stop????

A little bit TMI but oh well.  When Ethan turned 12 months old, we cut down to just one nursing session a day.  Aunt Flo reared her ugly head again around that time.  Since that day two months ago, she has returned every 1.5-2 weeks.  That's 4 freaking periods in 2 months.  This is ridiculous!  I realize it takes awhile for your body to regulate once breastfeeding is stopped but come on!!!  I'll be calling the doc tomorrow.

14 Months Old!

I'm 14 months old today!  To celebrate, I asked God to make it snow really hard so Mommy could stay home with me.  It worked! 

I'm getting bigger and bigger now.  I eat so much, Miss Dawn calls me a bottomless pit.  I eat almost everything but sometimes I just don't feel like eating vegetables or noodles.  I don't like the slimy texture of noodles so I spit them out all over my bib.  Mommy says it's pretty gross but I think it's funny.  Since I'm getting so big and strong, I have to wear bigger clothes.  Now I wear size 18 month clothes and size 4 shoes!  I like to compare my feet to daddy's but he's got some awfully big shoes to fill!

I've learned a few more words too.  I try to say turtle, or teacher, or is it thank you?  It's hard for me to figure out what I'm trying to say too.  Just the other day, I pointed up at the ceiling and said ight (lights.)  One time I tried to say my name but it just came out eeeeeth.  Good start though, right?!  I also like to point out body parts.  I can say eyes and point them out to you.  I also know where my head, nose, and belly are.  I LOVE bellies.  Whenever I touch someone else's belly, they giggle really hard and that makes me giggle.

I have a total of six teeth now, two on the bottom and four on the bottom.  I even like to show my bottom teeth while making scary faces the way Mommy and Daddy do.  I'm pretty funny!

Well I'm off to play in the snow.  Hopefully Mommy doesn't try to put me in it again and I can just hang out in the wagon.  That stuff is too cold!

Weight Watchers Again

I've decided to join Weight Watchers again in an attempt to lose weight.  I've waited to join again until I had weaned Ethan because I feared my supply would dip massively.  Since I'm down to just one nursing a day, I decided now was the time.  I just want to feel better about myself.  I want to be able to fit into clothes hidden deep in my closet that really haven't fit since WAY before getting pregnant.  I want to be health so I can enjoy playing with my son.  And lastly, I want to be in the best possible shape I can be in for when it's time to think about baby #2.

Today was my first day and I didn't do too well.  I went over my points allowed by 4 which forced me to dip into my weekly reserves.  Luckily we went grocery shopping today which counts as activity points.

I have a long road ahead of me but I do have a lot of support from those around me.