Fall Festival 2009

On Wednesday night we went to the "MOPS church" for their Fall Festival.  We got there a little later than we wanted too.  Hubbie has been working long hours for the last week, but we made it!

I didn't get many pictures of the actual event since I had to "man" the MOPS carnival game for a few minutes while the boys went around the gym and did the games and activities.

I did get a few pictures of the boys in their costumes.  Bubbie is a race car driver.  Peanut is Bob the Builder.  Baby Bean is a ....... baby?!

Funny story about the race car costume.  I bought the outfit at a yard sale back in the middle of the summer.  It really was a Godsend find!  Bubbie wanted to be a race car driver for Halloween and I think I paid a dollar for it...maybe....  I knew I needed to alter it and I knew I needed to find a helmet or cap of some sort.  Like I said, this was the beginning of the summer.  So...months passed and when I thought about Halloween I figured Peanut could wear his brothers Bob the Builder costume that his brother had worn at the same age and I knew Bubbie had a OUTFIT.  It wasn't until about a week ago it really dawned on me that I needed to get something for his head and to alter the outfit!  I think Halloween kinda snuck up on me.  Its like everything in my life right now... I can get the basics done- laundry, house clean, house straightened, kids fed and clothed and to events and activities, but besides that.... HA!  If its anything else, you can forget it!  And if it is anything else, I weigh the options of getting it done with getting sleep!  Like my wonderful and WISE friend Dana said- tis the season!  So anyway, I feel like an awful mother for not putting a lot of effort into the costumes, but thankfully my children are SO young, they have NO idea!  Bubbie was fine with no helmet.  He just wants to "Trick-or-Treat" and say that he is a race car driver, because thats what he wants to be when he grows up!

So, here are my cute little men!

My Relationship With Couponing

I have a love/ hate relationship with couponing.  When I met Dana last year I knew that she was a coupon pro.  I marveled at her ability to get her family's grocery for next to nothing.  I debated and researched and thought about jumping into the wild world of coupons.  I dabbled here and there.  Never did anything spectacular.  The only way I could get my grocery budget down to next to nothing was to go without which STILL WORKS.  My first bit of advice for ANYONE trying to cut money in their budget is to go without.  Sorry my fellow couponers, but it works!  I tend to stick to the fact that cooking and baking from scratch is WAY cheaper and a whole lot healthier and those items typically don't have coupons!

So, then I decided to start small and enter the CVS game.  I do the CVS game, but still stick to the rule, don't buy it if you don't need it.  CVS's game is that you purchase certain items there and they will give you ECBs and you can use eECBs towards another purchase.  Doing the CVS game has definitely stocked us up on shampoo, deodorant and toothpaste.  Again, I only purchase it if its free AND we're gonna use it.  I know people have told me to go ahead and purchase something even if we won't use it because CVS will give me ECBs, but to me, I'm still spending money on something that we will not use.  Yes, CVS is giving me ECBs, but I could use my own money towards something else that we do need.  I know it doesn't make sense to some, but its the way I do the game.  I only do CVS on the weeks that its worth it for me to make an extra trip.  I don't or won't walk into a pharmacy/drug store unless I'm getting something for nothing.  Typically their prices are RIDICULOUS.  More times than not, I could get the same item at least 2 dollars cheaper at WalMart, but coupons DO MATTER playing the CVS game.  I don't do it without coupons!

Once I got the CVS game down pat I began to play the Publix game.  I found a wonderful website a few months ago and they will give you heads up on deals, the coupons and what to stock up on and what to wait on!  We have saved a TON of money by using coupons and taking advantage of the buy 1 get 1 free sales.  I also learned from my friend Amy that our local Publix stores consider Food Lion a competitor so I have been able to send Hubbie to Publix with Food Lion coupons that give us such savings!!!

A few weeks ago I started researching the Rite Aid SCR (Single Check Rebates).  The same friend, Amy, sent me an email with their "stock up your medicine cabinet" deals.  I looked it over and did MORE research.  I gotta tell you.  I wish I hadn't wasted so much time on CVS.  Rite Aid is SO  much better and they give you REAL LIVE CASH back.  Not any of those crappy- gotta- spend- this- money- here!  I was able to go and get medicine that WE WOULD use (saline drops, sore throat spray, etc), purchase it, go online and enter my receipt info and when I request my check, I'll receive the SCR amounts back, in check form!  I love it!  This week there are SCR on Huggies diapers.  With my coupons I'll get my diapers for $4- less than 10 cents a diaper!

I typically don't like Kroger.  I tend to find not such great deals.  The majority of the time Wal Mart is cheaper and I base EVERYTHING against Wal Mart's prices.  I hate Wal Mart, but when you are living on one income, I gotta give money to the Oh! Almighty Wally World!  Then, about a year ago, I found Shortcuts, that could be used at Kroger, but, again, I really never found a coupon for anything that I purchased.  But I gotta say, yesterday Kroger redeemed itself.  Between coupons, Shortcuts and sale items, I saved $50!  I got many items for $1 after coupons!  I bought several lbs of their 99 cents-a-lb chicken!  I just wish I had a deep freezer and I would have bought more!

A few things I've learned couponing is to ask yourself these questions- Is the store brand cheaper?  Can you make it cheaper from scratch?  Are you just buying it because its a good deal?  Or do you really need it?  I think coupons can be deceptive- it doesn't always mean you are saving money!  I do think the more times you enter a store, the more things you're gonna just "pick up" which means your grocery budget slowly dwindles and you have little to show for it!

Couponing is a part time job!  It takes time!  Coupons are great and I love saving money, but you gotta be wise.

A few of my favorite sites are My Frugal Adventures, Southern Savers, I Heart Publix, I Heart CVS, Coupon Geek, Live Large 4 Less,  I Heart Rite Aid  and if you aren't already, sign up with Vocal Point.  I LOVE Vocal Point!  They send you samples, coupons for free items and coupons to share!  Its WONDERFUL!

Its About Time....

I finally fit into a normal pair of jeans!  FINALLY!  Its been about a week or two that I have fit into my stained, unflattering, at-home pair of jeans, but after 6 weeks, I am in a good pair of Old Navy jeans!  Now....if I could get rid of my baby bulge x 3, we'll be doing REALLY good!

Now that I have recovered from surgery- Time to start on my next project- http://www.c25k.com/

Couch to 5K  http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

Now, if I can just find a friend that is as out of shape, or MORE out of shape than I am, to do this with me!

Any takers?!

6 Weeks

Baby Bean,

How are you 6 weeks?

Feels like we just met you!

You have even better head control than you did a week ago

You are trying to roll over if we put you on your belly

You are very alert and last week you smiled at us for the first time- you are very smiley

You have begun to grab things and you have a death grip- must be practicing for life with two older brothers

You still sleep pretty good and usually eat twice at night

You spit up on occasion- we are trying to figure out what has set you off every night at the same exact time

You have grown so much- not sure how much you weigh, but you have outgrown just about all your newborn clothes.....

We still aren't sure who you look like.  You are just a wonderful blend of both boys at your age.  Nana says that your hair is very similar to mine- same color, texture, etc..

We love you our little Bu-boo!

Baby's tiny foot- 5 weeks old

We are anxious to see little baby's personality evolve.  He seems to be a very laid back and content little fellow.  He likes being held and he is starting to fight sleep at night and needs Mommy... so we are pushing the pacifier a little more.  God has answered yet another one of my anxious "third child syndrome" prayers- Bean has stayed healthy.  We think he might have gotten a touch of Peanut's stomach bug from last weekend and he has also picked up a tiny bit of our cold or whatever we've had.  He has been a bit stuffy.  Thankfully it hasn't been bad enough to call the doc, so we just rotate sleeping laying down and in the papisan chair and using  saline drops!

Pictures taken by my sweet and talented friend, Dana

He's Smiling

Baby Bean starting smiling last week.  He is such a sweet and good baby.

Winner of Chicks-n-Chickens DVD!

I meant to post the winner on Monday evening, but I forgot!  The winner of the Chicks-n-Chickens DVD is no. 3 commenter, Jana!

Thanks to all that entered!

Dairy Farm

A few months ago we had seen a sign for a local dairy farm and that you could buy the hormone-free, non-homogenized milk fairly cheaply.  I was excited to see a product like this local  and the field trip opportunity for my boys or possibly for our local MOPS group.  When Hubbie and I did a little more research we realized it was a little too far away.  Then a friend of mine posted a field trip to the same dairy farm as a special "October event" every Tuesday night in October.  I was excited about the possibility of getting to go and since our family was well this Tuesday night, we jumped at the chance.

We had had a long morning at MOPS and hadn't gotten home until almost 2.  Once the boys ate lunch and had laid down, it was time to pop back up and head back out.  We left the house and picked up Hubbie from work.  After a few minutes of driving I asked Hubbie how much further.  He reminded me that this was not close at all.  I had forgotten about WHERE this place was and was bummed that we'd be making this LONG excursion so late in the day!  I don't think I would have been so eager to make the trip at 5 o'clock on a week night especially on Tuesday.

We finally arrived and I nursed the babe while the boys did the corn maze (which is why there are no pics) and then we waited for the hay ride to take us on the tour of the farm.  The farm is run by a family and has just recently being selling their milk in local stores.  The family seemed very sweet and down-to-earth.  They were very eager to teach us about their farm.  The boys were allowed to pet the baby cows.  Then we got to see where and hear about how they milk their cows.  The farm was very pretty.  It was chilly night and I had Baby Bean bundled in the Sleepy Wrap.  Once we finished seeing the milking process, we head back over to the shop and learned about the bottling and manufacturing process.  It is a very small production line.  The whole time we did the tour, Bubbie was asking WHEN would he get to try this milk.  He had seen everyone else walking around drinking the milk.  I did not want Bubbie having the milk until we got home.  We have learned that Bubbie gets car sick.  It is not pretty when he does and since we had a hour drive back home along curvy, back roads, I did not want him getting sick in the woods.  We finally finished everything, got our milk and headed back home.

It was a late night, but I am so thankful that we were able to go.  I would definitely like to take the boys back- during the day- and maybe even see the cows being milked.  Peanut was in LOVE with all the cows.  He loves loves loves farm animals and I think both of our boys could have spent all day at that place.

Pumpkin Patch 2009

After a day cooped up in the house with two "sick" boys, we decided to get the boys out and go pick some pumpkins.  The boys had a blast.  Bubbie loved pulling the wagon.  Peanut was fascinated by the yard full of "ah bahwls" (a ball aka pumpkins).  Bean just chilled with Mommy as she and Daddy chased the boys and took pictures.

It was pretty cold on the evening that we went, but we had a fun time and the boys enjoyed wandering too find the BEST pumpkin.

We love pumpkins and fun family outings!

5 Weeks Old

Starting to lose your hair a tad bit.

You have a natural mo-hawk, which freaks your Mom out a bit because it reminds her of the crazy Indians in Dancing with Wolves!

Your half smile you are starting to do!

What a joy you are to our family!  

Winner!

We have a winner for the Nature Valley Granola Clusters prize pack!

Congrats Kristin!  And thank you to all that entered!

Don't forget- we have another contest ending tonight!  Enter here!

# 2 Baby Boy is 22 Months Old

Peanut is 22 mos old today and boy! is he busy!  I don't remember Bubbie having the "terrific two's" quite as bad as this little guy.  What makes it worse is that Peanut is a heart-stealer!  He looks at you with those dreamy big eyes and flashes one of those gorgeous yet goofy smiles and you melt!  Any chance of him being punished goes down the drain.  We have really had to focus on giving him IMMEDIATE and CONSISTENT discipline, but he is a stinker.

But...with his sneaky side comes his cuddly and loveable side....  He is still our cuddly bug.  He loves to cuddle and hug and kiss.  He has started to do noises with his hugs and will hug ANYTHING.  Doors, walls, tress..... he is a huggin' machine!

He loves school.  When a friend of ours picks Bubbie up for school Peanut gets VERY upset.  Peanut only goes to school once a week (sometimes twice if I need a break, go to appt, etc.) and on that day he LOVES LOVES LOVES to go.  He carries his lunch box (yunch-ox in P terms) and walks right into his class!  The teachers are fantastic and LOVE to cuddle with him.

Peanut has also gotten to be quite the dancer!  He does quite a boogin' move and dances a lot with his teachers!

Peanut loves shoes.  Not sure whether he likes the shoes or the act of putting them on and off more.  He also does a REALLY good job of dressing himself.

He loves ducks.  Hubbie has been taking the boys down to the pond in our neighborhood to see the ducks every day that he can- schedule and weather wise- for the last few months.  Not only does our little boy LOVE ducks, but he LOVES animals.  He can make all the animal sounds and loves to read any books that involve an animal. One cute thing that he does is every time we say a farm animal name is he begins to sway his head back and forth.  He does this so that we will sing "Old MacDonald" for him.  Bubbie has gotten VERY good at singing this song for his brother and definitely helps Momma and Daddy from not getting TOO burnt out on singing the SAME SONG OVER AND OVER AGAIN!

Peanut can say quite a few words but prefers to say "yeah" over and over again if you ask him something.  Several of his words for various things sound VERY similar so sometimes its like a guessing game.

2 more months and we'll be celebrating the second birthday!

Too Cute

My friend Christi is awesome and has been such a wonderful help these last few months!  She has come and gotten Bubbie and taken him to school several times and the days that she has gotten them have been such a help!  She already has 3 kiddos of her own and 2 kiddos to get to school, so I am extra grateful because I know her life is chaotic!  Christi gave me a gift card to Target as a baby gift and I kept holding on to it.  Every time I went into Tar-jey I would look in the baby section and think that I could spend the moo-lah on diapers, but I really wanted to spend it on something fun!

I've seen these socks everywhere and love them.  I don't often wish I had a girl, but when I see these socks, I think, why can't they have cute things like this for boys?  These socks and smocked dresses are my down falls....and the Lord knows that if I had a girl, we would be broke!

Well, wish no longer, Lu!  Guess what I found at Tar-jey yesterday?

Aren't these the cutest socks you've ever seen?  Where have these been for the last 5 yrs?!  I have to say, I'm not a huge fan of Converse shoes- uck!- but these socks are just beyond cute!  So, of course, I spent my gift card on these (and a few more child proof door handle covers for our toddler that has learned the wonderful art of opening doors!) and I gotta say, if you like these, they are ALL over the internet, but they are SUPER SUPER cheap at Target.  Online these packages are selling for almost $30.  I got them for less than a 1/3 of that at Target!  Woo Hoo!  My child is gonna be stylin' and profilin' !

Thanks Christi!

Notes on a Wintery Day

I posted a little background story and a yummy yummy Apple Bread recipe over at my cooking blog.

Don't forget the giveaway for the Nature Valley Granola Clusters "snack pack" prize pack ends tomorrow night!  Hurry and enter now!

This mama is waving the white fllag.....  Peanut woke up this am covered in diarrhea.  Not something this momma wanted to see as she was getting BACK in bed after only getting about 4 hrs of sleep (broken up 4 hrs).  Its been a LONG LONG LONG day.  A toddler having diarrhea is so much different than an older child being that kind of sick.  Bubbie can tell me that he isn't feeling well.  Bubbie can understand a LOT better that when you're sick to your stomach, you can't eat certain things and need to drink more.   Kids being older just makes being sick a little easier.  I am done with diarrhea.  I am done washing things.  I am tired and ready to get some better sleep tonight.  Gotta say though, God is again so good.  He gave us this when Hubbie is home.  There have been A LOT of times since 5 am that we have needed both sets of hands for Peanut.  I couldn't have done this alone.  We had plans today to do something fun out and about, but because of the wintery weather, it was cancelled, so again, God was gracious.  I hate us being couped up every.single.weekend because of sickies or weather or a newborn,  It also stinks that we've gone since last November without getting a stomach bug or diarrhea and now, within a week, we've gotten something twice now.  Ughhhhhh.... I'm done!

On that note, Hubbie ran his 10k race this am and beat his personal best.  He was so happy and sounds like it was a good race.  Pops ran the 5k this morning.  Yeah for both guys!

Things That Make Me Happy....

What makes me happy?  Here are a few things....

• smiling, happy boys- chuckling, lovin' on each other and being boys- brothers are truly the best!
  

• beautiful Fall weather

• saving moo-lah/ finding a DEAL (gives me a high and a motivation to keep being frugal and cheap!) 
  

•  talking with good friends that love you no matter how silly, anal or annoying you can be!

• nap time especially when all 3 boys are napping!  :) 
  

•  my Savior's perfect love for me 

• my MOPS group this year- God is doing something wonderful in the group and its so exciting to see God working in women's lives.... definitely a testimony to the power of prayer! 

• my husband's kisses and hugs- he still loves me and finds me attractive after over 7 yrs and 3 c-sectioned kiddos

• anticipation of seeing loved ones soon

• a good book from the library or a sewing project and a kid free afternoon to do the activity in

So...those were just a FEW things that I really love and that make me happy.....  I'm sure I could go on and on. 

Its Friday and its gloomy outside, but I'm having a good morning and I'm excited about our beautiful weekend coming up!  

What about you?   What do you love?  What makes you happy?  Have a great weekend! 

Ready, Set, Go!

We have three months out of the year that we are busy.  The rest of the year, we are a boring family! 

September, October and December we are NON-STOP!  Not sure why that is, but it never fails.  Something is every weekend or just about every day during those months.  Craziness!  This weekend is no exception.  Hubbie is running a 10K on Saturday.  We have a fun activity planned on Saturday afternoon and then Sunday afternoon we have a special birthday party to go to!  Next week will also be non-stop with a trip and more family fun!  Then the following weekend is Halloween, so we have a Fall Festival to attend and....drum roll please..... Hubbie's 1/2 marathon! 

We are praying that we can stay well so that we can make wonderful family memories over the next few weeks and also for Hubbie to stay well so that he can complete his first ever 1/2 marathon!  The training plan gets on my nerves, but he has put a lot of effort and hard work into preparing for this.  We are all so proud of him! 

Ready or not.... here we go.....

Giveaways Galore!

Don't forget that we have two giveaways this week!

The Chicks-n-Chickens Lullaby Exercises DVD here and ending on  Monday.

and....

Nature Valley Granola Clusters "Snack pack" prize pack here and ending on Sunday.

Good luck!

Month Old and Other News....

Baby Bean is a month old or 4 weeks and 2 days old.  And he continues to do great and is growing like a weed.  He now has rolls and multiple chins.  He is starting to show signs of smiling....  He still gives us worried or confused looks.....  Can't wait until he starts to show a personality.  I know this is HORRIBLE to say, but I am not a huge BABY momma.  I enjoy other ages more than the early baby days.  I mean, I love them all when it involves my children, but around 6 mos has always been a special age for me....  Maybe its because that is generally when my children start showing signs of routine, personality and the ability to go a little longer between feedings....

In the last week he has started raising his head and having wonderful head control for a 4 week old.  He will just lean back and stare at you... which is sometimes sort of freaky because he makes himself cross-eyed!  He is also trying to push himself over so that he can roll over.  Wasn't prepared for that.... one day I had him on the bathroom counter giving him a sponge bath and leaned over to grab something (hand up to catch him if he did roll) and out of the corner of my eye I saw him put his feet flat on the towel and try to flip himself over.  HA!  Gave me a scare and since then I haven't felt comfortable about putting him anywhere without things around him or buckling him in.

Bean has still held onto the title of the "Best Baby".  Although, there was a night in the last week that he decided that he needed to wake up every 2 or 3 hrs to eat.... This momma was NOT liking that change.  Thankfully, he quickly went back to every 4 or 5 hrs.  Speaking of eating, we tried the bottle and some formula the other night.  He did wonderfully and wasn't prepared for him to take the the bottle or formula so easy.  It does cause some gas and the doc said this was all normal and it would take a while for his body to get use to it, but the fact that he took it without any problems, they said, was wonderful.  Go Bean!  I hate pumping and the idea of sitting on my "nursing throne" any longer than possible does not sit well with me, but I will do what I need to do!  Maybe I'll give him half formula and half liquid gold.

Peanut and Bubbie still hold onto the titles of "Best Older Brothers Ever".   They are both very concerned if Baby Bean starts to cry or is upset.  I have only had to get onto Peanut once or twice about pushing Baby Bean off me while I fed him.  I think Peanut is getting use to this new creature stealing Mama's lap.  We still have issues with Peanut trying to sit beside me while I nurse.  Unfortunately my nursing chair is not big enough for all 3 of us, so I think I am gonna make a change on the mornings that I nurse Peanut and Bubbie is at school and in the late afternoons when we're waiting on Daddy to get home.

This weekend we had our first sick scare.  Bubbie puked at the Greek Festival on Friday night after waiting a hour in the food line to get gyros.  It was quite gross and I am still chuckling, in embarrassment, that Bubbie did that.  Nana and I rushed Bubbie out of the food tent, our arms FULL of food for the family and Bubbie said he felt fine.  We kept Bubbie confined to his room for the remainder of the evening and the majority of the next day.  Thankfully he only threw up once and had diarrhea twice... not sure if it was a stomach bug or something he had eaten, but once we got home I quickly sent an email out to a few good girlfriends requesting their immediate prayers.  I didn't want any of us to get this, but especially for this "bug" to stay away from Bean.  God was gracious and so far, no one else has had major issues.....  I am so thankful, because I have heard too many stories of newborns under the age of 6 weeks being admitted to the hospital and having all sorts of tests run on them because of a high fever, etc.  I cannot imagine the fear of having your helpless newborn being poked and having to be isolated.  God is good.

Baby Bean has a small sniffle and Peanut has a nasty nose....  thankfully its nothing else!

Our lives have continued to be very simple.  We don't run about as much as we use too.  Hubbie is my wonderful errand man sometimes.  I get cabin fever at times, but Hubbie is quick to remind me that it will not always be like this and that we DO have a newborn.  I feel that since I recovered and started to feel well so quickly, longer than 4 weeks should have passed by now.  Same goes for my pre baby clothing.  I feel as though longer has passed than 4 weeks and that I should fit EVERYTHING NOW!  I detest putting maternity clothing back on, so I've found a pair or two of pants that have a little stretch in the waist.  Hopefully that will last me another month or two until I can fit into all my pants.  As far as shirts go, I'm gonna have to get some more.  All my Fall/Winter tops aren't really conducive to nursing a lot.  I guess I forgot that last Fall, Peanut wasn't nursing every hour or two!

Speaking of cabin fever, I had cabin fever so bad this weekend.  Bubbie said he felt better, but Hubbie and I were scared to do anything that we had had planned to do because it involved driving over a hour to get to these places and we were scared that someone else would fall victim to the bug, so we chose to stay indoors. On Monday, we woke up and I was determined that we were gonna go somewhere and do something.  We went to lunch and to Books-a-Million so that the boys could play on the train table and pick out an early b-day gift(yes, I know, early, don't ask!)  I still laugh at myself, because it was the nastiest day.  It rained HARD.  There were puddles in every parking lot. We all got soaked!  It was really funny to see our jeans soaked up to our knees and Hubbie's socks were soaked!  Anyway, we came home after our short outing and I was ready to get some comfy and dry clothes on and relax for nap time!

The Plumber Came... And So Did Rest....

Not only did I have a yucky day yesterday, but I also failed in the "wife department".  I hadn't thought about dinner and really had no appetite for anything in particular.  Hubbie came home yesterday and asked what was for dinner.  I told him whatever he wanted.  I was trying so hard not to lash out at him.  The problems or issues that I had had yesterday were not his fault, but he was there for me to complain at and it wasn't fair to lash out at him.  I wanted to so bad, but I bit my tongue.  He got the boys and left the house saying they were gonna get dinner.

Baby Bean and I went and got in bed.  Next thing I knew it was about 2 hours later and I could hear Hubbie getting the boys ready for bed.  I got ready for bed, got Baby Bean, said good-night to my boys and fed the babe.  I felt so much better by sleeping just for those few short hours.  I felt like I could "face the world" again.

I ate dinner, fed the babe again and then we went back to bed.  I got a lot of good sleep last night.  Maybe not in long stretches of sleep like I dream of, but just a lot of good, deep sleep.

Today is a nasty rainy day.  Nana came and saved the day.  She picked Bubbie up to take him to school (since its raining- no carpool line) and will pick him up.  Not having to get the babies out of the car to take Bubbie into school is such a blessing especially since Baby Bean already has a small sniffle and Peanut is drooling like crazy since he is  my efficient teether and teething 4 teeth at once!

Getting Filled

Today I am running on "empty". I am tired.  I am drained.  The boys aren't being bad or disobedient, which is why I am ashamed to be writing this post.  I went somewhere this morning expecting and looking forward to being filled up and the whole time I sat there, I thought, I am SO not into this this morning.  I couldn't settle down.  I kept expecting to have to jump up to take care of a child... even though they were all taken care of and being good boys.

When we came home I quickly got the boys changed, fed and in their beds for nap time.  I was not patient.  I wasn't mean, but I sure didn't give more than one kiss or an extra cuddle.  The house was a wreck (not horrible, just a  lot of picking up to do from the hectic morning) and I had a sink full of dishes.  The plumber had called and said he would be out sometime that afternoon.  What I really needed on such a low day was a nap and since I had no exact time that the plumber would get here, I couldn't nap.  I was beyond frustrated.  

I don't have a boss to tell me that I'm doing a good job and I need that every once in a while.  I need someone to tell me, you're doing a great job feeding that baby "on demand" all day long and never having a break.  I am tired.  I am drained.  I am thirsty for filling up.

For the last month I have given and given and given.... I am tired and I'm ready to get.  The places that I use to get filled up at, aren't there anymore.  My time to regroup is from 2 to 4:30 everyday.  Unfortunately, I've had too many things to do and I haven't had a chance to nap in a few days.  I think I am feeling those effects. 

Psalms 63:1 "O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water."

Life is slower in a lot of ways, but I still have commitments and I am feeling drained from being pulled in so many directions.  I love my life as a wife and mother.  I wouldn't trade it for the world, but today, this Momma needs a nap!

“Oh Lord, fill my soul with Your love, Your will, and with Your goodness. Keep my heart and my life strong. Keep me from the weariness of an empty soul. Amen.”

The Short Post

Baby Bean,

You are 4 weeks old today.  I have a nice long post half way written that sums up the last week of your life and how much you've changed in just those 7 short days, but your Momma is tired..... it needs pictures added and the post to be edited.....so for now.....  I love you!

Welcome to week 4 of your life (and in 3 days- a month!)!


Love,

Your Tired Momma

Chicks-n-Chickens Giveaway

Do you remember the Chicks-n-Chickens DVD/CD Lullaby Exercises review I did during International Babywearing Week?  

If not, check out my review here.  

That was two weeks ago.  

I have since tried the whole DVD while wearing Baby Bean.

I felt like I was physically ready to do some light exercising and let me tell you, you can definitely get a work out by doing this DVD.  The best part about this product is that I got to hold and snuggle with Baby Bean the whole time.  He was OUT within a minute or two of me bouncing and doing some of the cardio moves.  

This product is a definite must for anyone with a baby which is why I am thrilled to announce a giveaway!  

The gals at Chicks-n-Chickens are allowing me to host a giveaway for a free DVD/CD set of your own!  

In order to enter, please go to Chicks-n-Chickens Facebook page and become a Fan, then come back here and comment telling me you did so!  I will announce the winner next Monday!  

Good luck!  

Do You Love Nature Valley? A Review and Giveaway!

I was given the opportunity to review Nature Valley's new product- Granola Nut Clusters.

MyBlogSpark sent me this goody box filled with 4 packages Nature Valley Nut Clusters(4 different varieties- Nut Lovers, Roasted Almond, Roasted Cashew and Honey Roasted Peanut), a hiking backpack sling, a stainless steel water bottle, a flash light and a pair of binoculars.  I couldn't wait until Hubbie got home to taste test the goodies and to show him everything that came in the box.  Once the kiddos were in bed, we both tried a "nut cluster" in our favorite nut variety.  I liked the flavor and the variety of the available packages, but I did not like the texture.  They were a little too hard for me and reminded me of peanut brittle.  Hubbie, who is VERY health conscious and has become quite snobbish of yummy goodies, really liked them and even took the packages to work.  Actually, my husband really scored with this review, because he got a new water bottle, took the backpack for his new lunch "box" for work and also took the packages to work to share with his co-workers.  Hubbie came home with his co-workers thoughts on the product.  Sounds like everyone really liked them.

Would you like to win one of these Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters "Snack pack" prize pack?

To enter to win this giveaway, leave a comment and tell me what you like to do outdoors during the Fall.

For an extra entry, follow me and/or post about this giveaway on Twitter.  If you do the extra entries, please be sure to make an additional comment and tell me that you've done what is required!

I will pick a winner next Sunday evening, October 18th.

A big thanks to MyBlogSpark and Nature Valley for sending the prize pack for us to taste test!  Good luck!

Park Days and Ice Cream Are Fun....

We have all definitely enjoyed life becoming more simple.

Trips to the park and ice cream treats as a family have become a priority especially since the weather has been absolutely fantastic.

Life has slowed WAY down.  Things don't get done in the time frame that I would prefer for them too, but I am learning to let go.......

.I love these moments.

Harry Connick Jr "Your Songs" Album Review

When I got an offer to review Harry Connick, Jr's album "Your Songs" I was very excited and I gotta tell you, I was not disappointed!  I love this cd.  The instrumental music is wonderful.  I loved the classic, old and familiar songs- songs from The Beatles, Elvis and Nat King Cole!

The boys and I turned this on in the late afternoon when we were struggling to waiting for Daddy to come home!  We would all dance and even Baby Bean fell fast asleep while rocking in the Sleepy Wrap!  It definitely was a fun cd to review!


Thank you to One2One Network for the opportunity to review!

Joshua Bell's Album Review

I was given the opportunity from One2One Network to review Joshua Bell's newest album "At Home With Friends".  I embarrassingly admit that before receiving the album, I had no idea who Joshua Bell was.  One afternoon while working at the computer, I turned the cd on and enjoyed hearing familiar songs played a little bit differently.  It had been a stressful Sunday afternoon and I hadn't felt really well that day, so once the soft soothing tunes started to play, I imagined that I was at Barnes and Nobles, childless and sipping a cup of yummy coffee.  I thought for a moment that I really REALLY needed a cup of coffee and a nice warm tub to soak in since the music was therapeutic and soothing.  I think Baby Bean even enjoyed the music!

Here is a list of the songs on the album :

Album Tracklisting (Originally performed by):

I Loves You Porgy   featuring Chris Botti, trumpet

Come Again   featuring Sting, vocals 

Oblivion   featuring Carel Kraayenhof, bandoneon 

Cinema Paradiso   featuring Josh Groban, vocals

Para Tí   featuring Tiempo Libre, various

My Funny Valentine   featuring Kristin Chenoweth, vocals

Maybe So   featuring Edgar Meyer Sam Bush and Mike Marshall, strings

Grieg: Sonata No. 3   featuring Sergei Rachmaninoff (Zenph re-performance)

Eleanor Rigby   featuring Frankie Moreno, piano & vocals

O, Cease Thy Maiden Fair  featuring Nathan Gunn, baritone

Il Postino   featuring Carel Kraayenhof, bandoneon

Left Hand Song   featuring Regina Spektor, piano & vocals 

Chovendo Na Roseira   featuring Dave Grusin, piano

Look Away   featuring Edgar Meyer, bass and Chris Thile, mandolin

Variant Moods: Duet for Sitar & Violin   featuring Anoushka Shankar, sitar

I'll Take Manhattan   featuring Marvin Hamlisch, piano

  

Thank you to One2One Network for the opportunity to review this cd.  For more information on Joshua Bell, the latest album or to purchase the cd, check out his website here.