I am sorting through my pictures from the weekend tonight but should have them up tomorrow!
Monday, August 16, 2010
Playgroup
Last Friday before we left town for Arkansas, Eli and I went to meet some other moms and kids from the residency for a playgroup at the zoo. Playgroups are usually during the week when I am working so I was glad to get the chance to catch up with some of the moms, and Eli enjoyed playing with the kids. We had planned to go early in the morning so we could beat the heat but by 11 it was already close to 100 degrees. I think the high that day was 108 degrees! It was SO hot but we had a good time for the few hours that we were there, and I think Eli enjoyed seeing all of the animals.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Is it the heat???
Maybe it is because it has been 100+ degrees every day this week... maybe it is because I have a very busy 16 month old who likes to wrestle me on the ground... maybe it is because I am almost 30 weeks pregnant... or maybe it is because I have done so many school and sports physicals this week that I could fill the form out with my eyes closed. Regardless, I AM TIRED. It has been a long week. The good news is that Eli has slept through the night every night since last Sunday. Yay! However, I must still be in recovery mode from the week before. :)
Although it has been really hot here, that hasn't stopped Eli and Marc from taking some bike rides. Eli loves riding on back of the bike. It is certainly a special thing for Eli and his daddy to do because I have no plans on getting on a bike with my big belly!
I haven't put up an update on this pregnancy in awhile so I will try to remember to have Marc take a picture of my belly this weekend. I will be 30 weeks in a few days and it seems so much closer to 40 weeks than 29 weeks did. I am starting to have Braxton Hicks contractions just like I did with Eli. They are usually toward the end of the day. I am hoping that is a good sign for a short labor when the time comes (if we can get the baby to turn before then). I am trying to prepare myself mentally for a c-section as well if it comes to that. Surgery scares me so it will probably take me the next 10 weeks to become more comfortable with it! I know that whatever happens, it is all part of God's plan. It brings me peace knowing that He is in control of this precious baby and how she will make her entrance into this world. :)
We are heading to Arkansas this weekend for my 10 year class reunion. I had a really big class (over 600) so I am not sure who all is coming that I know but it will be fun to see people and their families. We are having a family picnic on Saturday for lunch (hopefully it isn't 100 degrees!) and a party for the adults that evening. I need to start packing up tonight since we are leaving at noon tomorrow. Stay cool this weekend!
Although it has been really hot here, that hasn't stopped Eli and Marc from taking some bike rides. Eli loves riding on back of the bike. It is certainly a special thing for Eli and his daddy to do because I have no plans on getting on a bike with my big belly!
We have to really work to get a good picture these days. Eli does not like posing for the camera!
Off they go!
I haven't put up an update on this pregnancy in awhile so I will try to remember to have Marc take a picture of my belly this weekend. I will be 30 weeks in a few days and it seems so much closer to 40 weeks than 29 weeks did. I am starting to have Braxton Hicks contractions just like I did with Eli. They are usually toward the end of the day. I am hoping that is a good sign for a short labor when the time comes (if we can get the baby to turn before then). I am trying to prepare myself mentally for a c-section as well if it comes to that. Surgery scares me so it will probably take me the next 10 weeks to become more comfortable with it! I know that whatever happens, it is all part of God's plan. It brings me peace knowing that He is in control of this precious baby and how she will make her entrance into this world. :)
We are heading to Arkansas this weekend for my 10 year class reunion. I had a really big class (over 600) so I am not sure who all is coming that I know but it will be fun to see people and their families. We are having a family picnic on Saturday for lunch (hopefully it isn't 100 degrees!) and a party for the adults that evening. I need to start packing up tonight since we are leaving at noon tomorrow. Stay cool this weekend!
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Grocery Game Update
The little man is sound asleep and I am waiting on Marc to get home from a weekend moonlighting. So, I thought I would get a little update in on my new coupon/savings game. I told you I had gotten a lot of free things lately so I took a picture of my free items each week to show you. These are the past three weeks. With the exception of the conditioner in the second picture (I had to buy my hairspray to get it free) I did not pay a penny for any of these things! Other than the food items, I am collecting these free things in a bag to give away at some point.
It really is so easy! You just find the coupon you need and then pick the item up with your regular groceries. Even if it isn't something we would use, I know there is probably someone else out there who has a need for it!
I really feel like we have been saving a TON in groceries and toiletries and I am even buying more things each week stocking up on sale items. Most weeks I end up getting two for the price I used to pay for one. I feel like I am using our money more wisely which makes me feel really good. This week I spent $49.46 at Dillons and saved $34.38. I think that is around 40% savings which is pretty good. Here are the things I have learned so far playing the grocery game.
1. You do not have to make many sacrifices to what you like and prefer to save money
2. Buying extras when they are on sale saves you money, but it is also nice to have a supply at home for when things run out so you don't have to run out just for toilet paper.
3. Wal-Mart and Target prices are NOT cheaper than prices with playing this game at your local grocery store. I continue to check prices because I am still a skeptic. Today, I was in Wal-Mart and looked at the Ziploc bags I had just bought at Walgreens on sale along with my coupons. Even if I had used the manufacturer coupons at Wal-Mart they would still have been $0.75 more per box.
4. Generic or store brands are NOT cheaper than name brands on sale with coupons (unless the store brand is on sale). If I don't have a coupon for something I need then I usually do buy the store brand.
What do you have to lose! Give it a try. :)
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Sleep Boot Camp
So that may be a little harsh, but this week has been no cupcake! Eli has been having some separation anxiety since we returned from Jamaica and has been having some sleep issues as a result. He has been waking up 2, 3, sometimes 4 times a night and needing LOTS of soothing from us to fall back asleep. We allowed it for awhile because we felt bad for him, especially since he was teething. Last weekend we realized it had become a habit and thus a very big problem that needed some fixing.
When Eli was born we (loosely) followed Baby Wise for his sleep routine. I say loosely because I don't think there is a sleep blueprint that fits every baby's needs. But, it worked well for us and for him. He was SO scheduled by the time he was 3 months and very happy as a result. He started sleeping through the night at 10 weeks which was a big relief as I had started back to work. We are planning on trying the same schedule with Hailey and hoping for similar results!
Since Eli was probably six months old he has slept for 11 hrs. straight at night The only times he would alter his sleep habits would be when we would travel or if he was teething or sick. He was very easy to get back into a routine once those things ended. I thought this week would be just as easy, but... that was a big, fat joke!
Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday night we let him cry when he woke up until he could put himself back to sleep. The problem was that the crying would NOT stop so he would never go back to sleep. Last time we had to let him cry it out was when he was much younger but he didn't cry more than 15-20 minutes. This week he would cry for 1 1/2 to 2 hrs. after awakening and we would eventually go in and rub his back because we couldn't stand it any more. It was SO hard to listen to him cry and everyone was quickly becoming exhausted. One morning while I was getting ready I noticed Eli had gotten really quiet in our room. I found him asleep on the floor by my bed which he has never done. Poor boy!
When the third night of sleep training wasn't any better than the 1st night I decided we needed a plan B. I had read in our Baby 411 and Toddler 411 books about the Ferber method and decided we should give it a try. It certainly couldn't get any worse!
With the Ferber method you go into the room in 5 minutes increments when your child is crying. On Wednesday night Eli started crying as soon as I put him down. After 5 minutes I went in and laid him back down (he always stands at his crib railing when he is crying). I told him it was night-night time and rubbed his back for a few seconds until he calmed down. Then, I left. He immediately started crying again. You add 5 minutes to each crying spell so I next went in after 10 min., and then 15 min. Going in the room is to check on them and reassure them that you are still there but NOT to help them fall asleep. He was asleep after 30 min. of crying that night. When he woke up at midnight I repeated the process. Last night it only took him 15 min. to go to sleep and he slept the whole night. Yay! Hopefully, that means his sleep patterns are adjusting. We are all feeling more rested today and looking forward to a great weekend. :)
When Eli was born we (loosely) followed Baby Wise for his sleep routine. I say loosely because I don't think there is a sleep blueprint that fits every baby's needs. But, it worked well for us and for him. He was SO scheduled by the time he was 3 months and very happy as a result. He started sleeping through the night at 10 weeks which was a big relief as I had started back to work. We are planning on trying the same schedule with Hailey and hoping for similar results!
Since Eli was probably six months old he has slept for 11 hrs. straight at night The only times he would alter his sleep habits would be when we would travel or if he was teething or sick. He was very easy to get back into a routine once those things ended. I thought this week would be just as easy, but... that was a big, fat joke!
Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday night we let him cry when he woke up until he could put himself back to sleep. The problem was that the crying would NOT stop so he would never go back to sleep. Last time we had to let him cry it out was when he was much younger but he didn't cry more than 15-20 minutes. This week he would cry for 1 1/2 to 2 hrs. after awakening and we would eventually go in and rub his back because we couldn't stand it any more. It was SO hard to listen to him cry and everyone was quickly becoming exhausted. One morning while I was getting ready I noticed Eli had gotten really quiet in our room. I found him asleep on the floor by my bed which he has never done. Poor boy!
When the third night of sleep training wasn't any better than the 1st night I decided we needed a plan B. I had read in our Baby 411 and Toddler 411 books about the Ferber method and decided we should give it a try. It certainly couldn't get any worse!
With the Ferber method you go into the room in 5 minutes increments when your child is crying. On Wednesday night Eli started crying as soon as I put him down. After 5 minutes I went in and laid him back down (he always stands at his crib railing when he is crying). I told him it was night-night time and rubbed his back for a few seconds until he calmed down. Then, I left. He immediately started crying again. You add 5 minutes to each crying spell so I next went in after 10 min., and then 15 min. Going in the room is to check on them and reassure them that you are still there but NOT to help them fall asleep. He was asleep after 30 min. of crying that night. When he woke up at midnight I repeated the process. Last night it only took him 15 min. to go to sleep and he slept the whole night. Yay! Hopefully, that means his sleep patterns are adjusting. We are all feeling more rested today and looking forward to a great weekend. :)
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