Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Time to Vote!

Seriously, sorry that this will be quick. I had my appointment today and then we were to schedule our Ultrasound appt. didn't realize we'd get there so quickly, but apparently we will find out on Friday afternoon. Still deciding whether to take M or not. Hmm. It will be during her naptime so that makes it a little bit of a tough decision.

Here's the low down on hunches. I think it's a boy, Hubs thinks it's a girl, M thinks a girl, mom thought it was a boy, but today she changed her mind. The midwife originally said she leaned towards boy, but today after heartbeat and extreme movement in there she said that I may have an active little girl on my hands...so who even knows! And who really cares?! I just want a healthy human. That'd be great! So cast your vote in the side bar and I'll give you the results over the weekend!

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

The Rest of the Photo Shoot

These pics were taken on 12/14/07. Love them. I linked to Jana's blog so you could see some of them. Here are the rest of M and Cuz. Enjoy!

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Thursday, January 17, 2008

Winter Wonderland

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Snow Day!

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Wednesday, January 16, 2008

200th Post!

This is my 200th post! AND...it's snowing!

I sort of hope that there is actually snow on the ground in the morning so that M can experience it. I mean she's never experienced snow. All children should and she's at the age that it will be really fun to watch her discover it! Just wish I had a fireplace to warm her up with after it's all over. I also sort of hope that there will be ice on the roads so that I can have an excuse to keep hubs at home since he's been out of town and we've missed him. Not to mention that he is worn out from all the manual labor he did on this business trip.

Grocery Shopping:

We started to talk about this just a smidge in Mom to Mom today and I thought I ought to post about some of the basics. I do not pretend to be an expert, but lets just say that I tend to have a nack for it.

1. If you're going to do coupons, really do them. Now I know that couponing is hard. It takes organization, time, and effort. But if you are not an organizer, then do a basic organization of alphabetizing, or collect them into like categories (cleaning supplies, packaged goods, cereals, etc.) But it pays to collect alot. Get several sunday papers...you can get them at a discount at walmart or dollar stores and I think walgreens. It's better if you get them from people who don't care about coupons.

2. It really does pay to have more than one coupon of the same kind (especially if you use that product alot). Here is why. When you have a coupon, the most savings can be had when you use your coupon with the product in its smallest size or quantity. So if you need more diapers than the 30 pack, it really pays to have $1.50 coupon for a 30 pack and then another $1.50 coupon for another 30 pack. That way you've saved $3.00 on 60 as opposed to buying the 60 pack and only using the one coupon and only saving $1.50. Do you see you just saved twice as much.

3. Lots of supermarkets double coupons (look out 2-4 times a year some triple coupons). So, coupons do pay...sometimes double. usually up to .50 or .60 cents. Check and double check. One of my fave stores I thought doubled coupons, does not. It was disappointing.

4. If you want to get the best deal, then you can't be brand selective. Let me clarify. I always thought that this meant I had to get the generic, but keep in mind you don't have coupons for generic. Sometimes the brand name when on sale and combined with a coupon are way better deal then just buying the generic.

5. Buy One Get One combined with 2 coupons (yes this is legit cause you are buying 2 items, so you can use 2 coupons) is almost always the best deal! Try it and do the math. I'm serious. 2 coupons and bogo!

6. When It's at it's Lowest Price, Buy Extra! I can not express this enough. A few weeks ago I found Sirloin Steaks for 2.99 a pound, that was $4 off. We never have steak cause it's expensive, but at that price I got two packs. One we ate that week, and the other pack is in the freezer for another week. This way we can have steak twice and not have to pay the full price either time. Same with things like paper towels. I do have my favorites...paper towels are Viva and if I can get them on sale I'll buy those. I just got them almost half off in a pack of 6, or I could buy them for almost 2 times that if I just bought them one at a time as I neede them. No way. This way I have my fave paper towels for a good 6 weeks and they were half price!

7. Don't forget the coupons on the back of your receipt! That's how we get out hair cut around here for under $7!

8. If you are not a couponer and probably never will be or maybe you have fallen out of the habit (like me) shop at ALDI. If you don't have an ALDI, do the Wal-Mart thing. If you like to get all your shopping done in one place, then these are generally your best bet. You could also just shop sales (look through the adds and go to the various stores for the various deals). Only don't forget that gas is expensive and time is precious.

9. Make things from scratch. This is almost always cheaper than pre boxed/packaged things.

Hope this is helpful to those who frequently ask how I do it.

*Just as a note of encouragement, even if you fell of the coupon wagon and feel drawn to a particular grocery store (like I am to Bloom right now), you too can save a good $25 every visit. Last time I saved $25 and only spent $25 (don't think I used coupons that time, just shopped the sales only). Today's visit I spent my usual $50.00 and saved $25.00. Using one coupon for diapers and a nice, fat coupon for the entire purchase. The store sends these to me the more I shop ($10 off $35). I got 4 of these for the month--hallelujah.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Almost 17 weeks

So, I can't remember alot of things...in general. And I don't remember in great detail things about my first pregnancy, so I haven't any idea how to gauge or compare this one to that one.

I am "showing" if you will. I have a friend who isn't always up on social graces who lets me know that I don't really look pregnant. Thank goodness I love and understand her in the way that I do or I would want to smack her for basically reminding me that I look more plump than bump if you know what I mean. Still, truth be told. If you don't know me, then you might thing that I have simply put on a hefty bit of holiday poundage. And yet at my last visit to the birthing center I had actually lost a pound since the day I found out that I was expecting (at about 4 1/2 wks)! I was sort of surprised since I felt like I was hungry and eating all the time...and I was never really throw up sick. Now granted I was unsettled and I was a million other kinds of sick, but I think it way have to do with the weird cravings that I have had. I eat healthier now than I ever did before, and not cause I'm trying to be such a good mom. Now really I'm totally selfish and I just want what I crave which is generally fruits and veggies in their raw form. I know! It's great, but really odd!

Only thing is that I am very uninterested in meat in general, so I'm curious about my blood work, although they said they'd call if they were concerned and they didn't call. Still, my iron tends to be low anyway. I was also concerned about my energy levels cause I was extremely tired even in the 14th and 15th weeks, but Amy (my midwife) felt sure that the up and up was coming in the 16th week. And...she was right. I'm finally feeling significantly better! Hallelujah!

So, I guess I'm to be expected to get some real things done now that I'm feeling better. My ribs finally healed from the awful strains of all that coughing, so that pain is gone (which was immense btw). Now mom and I are up to sewing and creating! I sould be fund, but boy do I have alot to learn! And I'm still a little curious how in the world we are going to make this 2 bedroom, 1 bath mill house work for our growing family. especially since I had such a hard time sleeping with a child in my room. Should be interesting. Well, my next appt. is scheduled at the very end of the month (about 2 weeks) and then we will be scheduling the U/S. So not long now till the sex and general health of the baby is determined.

And that's the update.

Monday, January 07, 2008

See Cousin Pics

Check these out! Isn't Jana a great photographer?!

Friday, January 04, 2008

This is a Review!

Seriously, I never do this, but I just have to say that I love this product. Yesterday I went to Sears to get two "tummy sleeve"s. My Aunt Martha told me about them when we visited them over the holidays and she had heard it from her dental hygenist. How odd is all that by the way.

Does anyone remember the old "Units" idea from the early 90's? Well this is only slightly similar and yet I am constantly reminded of it. It is basically a moderately thick, spandex "band" that is not too tight (cause its all elasticy), that holds up your pants and can cover your entire pregnant belly at the same time.

Now this is really good for early pregnancy when you are in between clothes and such. You put this on and you can leave your pants entirely unbuttoned and/or unzipped, and this covers it up, smooths out the lines, and holds your pants up as well. And it just looks like the bottom of a longer t-shirt. You can even get them in different colors with or without lace as a trim.

In this cold weather, I'm loving that it is another warm layer on my belly that also keeps the wind from getting in, since its fitted. And I love being able to wear some of my favorite pants still! It also saves me from having to spend a bundle on so many maternity clothes of varying sizes.

Here is an example of some really funky ones. Mine are simple one white, one black...And Sears had them for slightly less than $17!